The Miami Student | October 24th, 2025

Sweater vest and success: Meet Miami’s winningest coach

The head coach is a pinnacle character on every football sideline, but many are hidden in the sea of jerseys and helmets. They often blend in with other coaches or players, making them hard to recognize despite their headsets and clipboards.

Miami University head coach Chuck Martin, however, is almost impossible to miss in his iconic Miami-red sweater vest. The winningest coach in program history has worn a sweater vest at all 139 of his games across 12 years with the RedHawks,

highlighting his presence on the sideline every week. Martin arrived in Oxford in December 2013 following a winless season. He broke a 21-game losing streak in his sixth game as head coach, a preview of what was to come later in his tenure.

“He's taken the program to another level,” said quarterbacks coach and Miami football alumnus Gus Ragland. “Now it’s at the level where we'll win championships. It has everything to do with him, that's who he is. He sets the temperature of the room.”

During his collegiate career, Martin played on both the basketball and

TORI FEE THE MIAMI STUDENT

Avery Caldwell, a junior primary and special education major, lives in a six-person house near Elm Street.

Following their arrival into of-campus housing, Avery and her roommates noticed something unusual about their water.

Caldwell said her hair felt waxy and straw-like, along with a general feeling of not being clean after showering. She bought resources such as shower head and drinking water flters for her home as a result.

“Showering is a lot more difcult because of the [shower head] flter,” Caldwell said, “and the water pressure isn’t as strong.”

While the problem isn’t exactly fxed by these flters, Caldwell said she could tell a diference. Her discomfort was not caused by the cleanliness of Oxford’s water, but by its hardness.

According to Oxford’s Drinking Water Consumption Confdence Report for 2024, Oxford’s Water Treatment Plant pumped nearly 841 million gallons of water from wells located near the Great Miami Buried

teams

III

He earned All-American honors as a safety and all-conference honors as a placekicker.

Martin bounced as an assistant coach throughout the 1990s, including a two-year tenure at his alma mater. He eventually landed a role as the defensive backs and outside linebackers coach at Grand Valley State University (GVSU), where he stayed for 10 years.

Martin stepped into a head coach position at GVSU from 2004 to 2009, his only other head coaching job prior to Miami. Under his leadership, the

Lakers went 74-7 and brought home two Division-II national championship titles.

The sweater vest tradition started at GVSU: a nondescript style choice that quickly became a symbol of his career, success and image as a whole.

“I became a head coach, and I had to wear something to be a head coach,” Martin said. “I don't know if somebody told me to do it, but at my frst head coaching game back in 2004, I decided to wear a black sweater vest at Grand Valley, and I've been wearing them since.”

Valley Aquifer (GMBVA). The GMBVA holds around 1.5 trillion gallons of water and is a federally designated, sole-source aquifer.

Oxford’s naturally hard domestic water supply is produced from the GMBVA. This source of water passes through deposits of limestone, con-

taining high concentrations of calcium and magnesium. These minerals are responsible for hair breakage, dry skin, mineral buildup and reduced appliance efciency.

SHANNON MAHONEY

ASST. CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR

In Armstrong Student Center, dining halls and dorms, students are buzzing about Tea Dating Service, an app that allows women to post photos and identifying information about men and rate them.

The app has already had serious repercussions for many, including students at Miami University. Ben Herrholtz, a sophomore fnance major, said he thinks the app is an infringement on people’s privacy and unfair to some of the men posted on it.

“I know that my roommate has been posted on it, actually, and it caused him and his girlfriend to break up,” Herrholtz said. “His ex-girlfriend wrote some things that I guess weren't true about him, and his girlfriend saw that.”

The app was originally designed to help women anonymously alert each other to predatory men. Other tools ofered by Tea include criminal records and reverse image searches. Despite the original intention of the app, many women have used it to air their grievances, making posts that may not be based in truth.

Natalia Salazar, a frst-year business major, said she heard about the app through a friend and downloaded it because she was interested in what was being said, especially after hearing some of her male friends had been posted on it.

“It's all fun and games, but I think that it could lead to very false interpretations of people,” Salazar said. “The things that they say about some of our friends, if you met them, it's not exactly true.”

Kate Beard, a frst-year sport communication and media major, agreed that while the app could be entertaining, it was difcult to discern the truth.

ALLISON LEE STAFF WRITER COLUMN

As Halloween approaches and students scramble to rummage through closets to pull together last-minute costumes, it can be tricky to curate the perfect one. Niche, but not too niche. Sexy, yet tasteful. Classic, but not overdone. Coming up with one costume can be hard enough, let alone enough for the entire weekend.

Although I have already chosen my costumes for this year, here are fve Halloween costumes that I totally would wear and recommend for others.

Burlesque dancer

This costume has been foating around TikTok lately, and I am absolutely in love. Although there are many intricate details that go into this costume, fnding the right pieces can be much simpler than one may think. Brands such as Dolls Kill have this costume available ready to wear, but

if you want to piece it together yourself, all you need are these: Firstly, a corset is key. Burlesque dancers are all about firtatious femininity, so having a corset that defnes the body is a must. On the bottom, you can pair it with lace bloomers for something quick and easy, or for a more authentic look, add a feather-tail fan.

Accessorize with an ostrich feather fan and a feather headpiece, and you’re good to go!

Clown classique

On the same vintage note as the burlesque dancer, the clown classique is a unique piece that is both easy and interesting – black and white are the name of the game here.

A simple black and white patterned dress is the main garment for this costume. You can pair any black and white top and bottom for this, but a plethora of patterns will achieve the best look. Patterned tights and a matching Pierrot hat and collar are all you need to complete this flm noir-esque outft.

Of course, clown makeup is a necessity. Clowns do not have to be the scary caricatures that spooked us all in 2016 — this chic makeup is the star of the show and a cute way to show your personality.

Mia Wallace From the cult classic 1994 Quentin Tarantino flm “Pulp Fiction,” dressing as Mia Wallace is a great way to use clothes you may already have in your closet.

All you need is a white button-up shirt, black trousers (or a skirt!) and a black bralette. If you have a ferce brunette bob already, the work is already cut out for you. If not, a wig will absolutely be necessary. This costume is such a classic — easy to move in, accessible and instantly recognizable. So, don’t be a square and be ready to strike up a conversation with any flm buf you may come across whilst wearing this.

GRACE FARRELL THE MIAMI STUDENT TAYLOR STUMBAUGH CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR

Paige Sandy ended her frst semester at Miami University with two phishing scams under her belt. One convinced her to enter two credit cards and two debit cards to receive a lost package. The other ofered her $300 a week to do neuropsychology research in a lab at Miami. Sandy, a biology major and now sophomore, was looking for research opportunities at the time, and, even though she thought it was suspicious, she kept emailing with the supposed Miami professor for an hour before collecting an outside source’s opinion: her parents.

“I was like, ‘Hey, this kind of seems a little bit too good to be true,’” she said.

She said the professor never asked for any credit card information, only her year and major.

The frst red fag came when the professor asked her if she could start immediately, even before her information was processed and in the middle of fnals week.

“I looked up the email again, and then I looked up the professor's name through the faculty page,” Sandy said. “I went to his Miami email, because this was a copy of his email, but it looked more like a personal email. I emailed him, and I was like, ‘Hey, just checking to make sure this is you,’ and he emailed back, ‘I'm so sorry, that's not me. That's a scam.’” Phishing is a type of online scam that targets consumers by sending them an email that appears to be from a well-known source – an internet service provider, a bank or a mortgage company, according to the Federal Trade Commission. It asks the consumer to provide personal identifying information. A scammer then uses the information to open new accounts or invade the consumer’s existing accounts.

THE MIAMI STUDENT STAFF

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CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR

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OPINION EDITOR

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CULTURE EDITOR

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DESIGN EDITOR

SARAH FROSCH

DIGITAL MEDIA EDITOR

ELISA ROSENTHAL

PHOTO EDITOR

SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR

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ASST. DESIGN EDITOR

ELISA ROSENTHAL

PHOTO EDITOR

SHANNON MAHONEY

PARKER GREEN

ASST. CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITORS

ALYA PEDEN

ASST. CULTURE EDITOR

JEFFREY MIDDLETON

ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

AUSTIN SMITH

BUSINESS MANAGER

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FACULTY ADVISER

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BUSINESS ADVISER

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Who’s Who At MU: The treasurer

OWEN MARTIN

THE MIAMI STUDENT

Miami University spends $2 billion dollars every year. This is enough money to write every single one of Miami’s undergraduate students a $120,000 check, or relocate and rebuild Millett Hall 10 times.

So, who’s responsible for managing this enormous amount of money?

The answer lies in one of the largest – yet easily forgotten – parts of the university’s administration: the treasurer. David Creamer is the treasurer of Miami, but that’s not his only job. His ofcial title is senior vice president for fnance and business services and treasurer. That’s a mouthful, but it really means that Creamer’s responsibilities stretch far beyond money, including things such as grounds management, the Miami University Police Department (MUPD) and dining services.

“Except for the provost, the breadth of my area and responsibilities are much larger than others,” Creamer said.

The treasurer oversees large parts of the university’s administration and has jurisdiction over just about everything to do with fnances. Like the provost, the wide variety of responsibilities means that no two days in the treasury department are ever the same. Despite his varied roles, Creamer said most of his daily work revolves around the campus budget, as the treasurer is tasked not just with spending the university’s budget, but putting it in short and longterm investments as well.

“Investments are also a huge part of what we do, since we do have such a large amount being invested, and the markets are rather volatile, but that funding is critical to the mission we want to accomplish,” Creamer said.

This long-term investment is at the core of the treasurer’s most important task: predicting —or at least preparing for — the future. Behind all the recent developments, like the multi-million dollar proposal to build a new sports arena or the McVey Data Center, is a coordinated efort to make sure the university is ready for the future.

For Creamer, this requires thinking far beyond the current situation.

“We need to meet current needs, but we also need to be thinking about what students are going to need in the future … not just while they’re here, but throughout their lifetime,” he said. Just like any task in administration, the treasurer’s work is deeply collaborative. Creamer meets with members of the administration on a regular basis, including the provost, budget staf and dining staf.

How does this afect students?

The treasurer has direct oversight over all of the dining halls and restaurants on campus and ensures the menus are of quality and every level of the operation is held accountable, so when the chicken tenders are out at Maplestreet Dining Commons, students should know who to call.

He played a large role in preparing for the new Chick-fl-A opening in the Armstrong Student Center, and said he is excited for the new cuisine and shorter lines at surrounding restaurants, as well.

Perhaps more important than the accessibility of fried chicken, the treasurer plays a key role in increasing Miami’s afordability. Creamer said investments directly impact Miami’s tuition costs, with profts being used to increase funding for scholarships.

“When things are going well, and we have investment success, that tends to make your education a bit more afordable for you and your family,” he said.

Besides fscal returns, Creamer hopes new projects, like the renovation of Bachelor Hall, will make life better for Miami students. Creamer also hinted that a renovation of the Rec Center is coming as well.

When asked about the treasurer, Christian Pearson, a frst-year public administration major and Associated Student Government senator, said he wasn’t entirely sure what the treasurer’s ofce does.

“It seems like a more behind-thescenes position, like most administrative roles,” Pearson said. “With all the dynamic changes we are seeing around campus, the importance of the role is amplifed.”

Alec Martin, a frst-year integrated social studies education student, said the role isn’t one most students think about.

“I don’t know much about what the treasurer does, but I didn’t realize how important the position is for a university,” Martin said.

While Creamer’s role may be a mystery to students, it’s impossible to spend a day at Miami without interacting with at least one thing the treasurer oversees.

martino9@miamioh.edu

Multiple people passed out in Oxford this week

Memorial Hospital on a psychiatric hold and charged with multiple accounts of disorderly conduct, assault and making false alarms.

Between Oct. 13 and Oct. 20, offcers responded to 12 diferent incidents, according to Oxford Police Department reports. On Oct. 13 at 11:23 p.m., in the 10 block of W. Chestnut St., ofcers responded to a crash with minor injuries. One of the involved drivers was found to be under the infuence of drugs or alcohol and was arrested.

On Oct. 16 at 11:45 a.m., a victim came into the police lobby to report being hit in the face by a beer can a few days prior in the 30 block of E. High St. A report was taken. On Oct. 17 at 2 a.m., in the 0 block of E. High St., ofcers and emergency medical services were dispatched to a male passed out outside of Skyline Chili. Upon arrival, the responders were unable to wake him up. The male was found to be underage and heavily intoxicated.

Later that morning, at 2:57 a.m., in the 400 block of E. Vine St., ofcers responded to a male who pulled a fre alarm without cause. While investigating the matter, the male confessed that he did it and started to become verbally and physically aggressive. After police detained the man, he was transported to McCullough-Hyde

On Oct. 18 at 1:14 a.m., in the 10 block of East Park Place, ofcers were waved down to respond to a man passed out with his wallet on the ground in front of him. After ofcers woke and identifed the male, he was arrested for a warrant out of another county.

That same morning, at 1:39 a.m., at the intersection of North Campus Avenue and Homestead Avenue, offcers located a passed-out male. He was found to be intoxicated and underage, and he was transported to the hospital. He received a summons for disorderly conduct and underage consumption of alcohol.

Later that day, at 3:55 p.m., in the 120 block of E. High St., ofcers responded to McCullough-Hyde for a report of an assault. No suspects have been identifed at this time.

That same day, at 7:26 p.m., in the 30 block of E. High St., ofcers responded to Brick Street Bar for an intoxicated male. Upon arrival, he was found to be underage and in possession of a fake ID. He was cited and released.

ASG discusses Rec Center classes, university dining locations at meeting

SHANNON MAHONEY

ASST. CAMPUS & COMMUNITY

EDITOR

Associated Student Government

(ASG) discussed the cost of workout classes at the Rec, issues with broken sidewalks and items removed from Miami University dining locations.

Senator Kali Barcroft brought up a student concern about the cost of workout passes at the Miami Rec Center. Although entry into the Rec is free to all students, the classes, which run in the classrooms on the second foor, cost extra money to attend.

Barcroft brought up a potential solution involving select free classes during the colder winter months.

“It’s hard for students to justify paying for those while also paying for everything else they have to pay for, but it’s also hard to workout and get exercise in when it’s colder,” Barcroft said.

Secretary Ryan Jeansonne said the Safety and Transportation and Campus Afairs committees could also create an initiative in the spring to ofer a workout or wellness series of programming during the winter months. The concern was committed to the

Campus Afairs committee.

Senator Eliane Amara said she had a student concern about damaged and uneven sidewalks on campus, citing them as a tripping hazard. Amara committed the concern to the Safety and Transportation committee.

Jeansonne said if senators noticed broken patches of sidewalk, they should take a photo and submit a physical facilities report to the university.

Senator Quinten Ahler responded to a student concern from a prior meeting regarding items being removed from the Dividends salad bar. Ahler said the products were discontinued because they were not making enough money to justify stocking them.

This is the latest of many concerns about restaurants and food services at Miami this year. Last month, King Cafe closed due to lack of business volume, and earlier this month, Red Zone closed in part due to lack of demand.

ASG will meet again at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 28, in the Joslin Senate Chambers. mahones5@miamioh.edu

University Senate acknowledges higher education concerns with Trump College Compact

EVELYN DUGAN THE MIAMI STUDENT

On Monday, Provost Chris Makarof spoke briefy to the University Senate about The Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education. This is a Trump administration proposal to United States universities which would confer preferential access to federal funds in exchange for agreeing to certain demands. The ofer was extended to any U.S. higher education institution.

“Right now, there is no appetite to even consider joining it, but I will tell you that there was one person that expressed some concern that the state, being the state, might insist that state universities join,” Makarof said.

“The administration is totally against it in every way possible, and probably the only way that it would possibly go through is if somehow or another, they threaten to cut of all funding to the university.”

Nathan French, vice chair of the senate and chair of the Senate Executive Committee, said he wanted to emphasize collaboration in governance and trust during this school year, following changes in higher education through Senate Bill 1.

“The question of trust is one that this body is navigating each meeting,” French said. “We’ve trusted our colleagues to review our Senate Enabling Act, and in doing so, we operate in trust and faith that the ofce of provost with the Board of Trustees that our eventual revisions will be welcomed in a sphere of collaboration as we work with them and make a model.”

The senate recently created an ad hoc committee to amend the University Senate Enabling Act in response to new legislation. The senate elected to accept that the proposal be pre

sented at a public hearing during a special meeting of the University Senate on Nov. 3. At the previous senate meeting, Darrel Davis, professor and chair of the Department of Educational Psychology (EDP), and Kevin Bush, professor of educational psychology and family science and social work, both spoke on new business regarding a Miami and Cleveland Clinic partnership to prepare graduates to efectively design, implement and evaluate educational programs in healthcare settings.

Davis and Bush said this Master of Education in Health Professions Education (MEHPE) would be aimed at Cleveland Clinic professionals who have educational responsibilities. The University Senate moved to recommend this MEHPE. It also provided reasons and considerations for the Board of Trustees to take into account.

A special report was given by Rachel Beech, vice president of enrollment management and student success, and Duane Drake, senior director of operations enrollment management and student success.

They presented a new policy regarding programs of study having a campus afliation for the sake of federal fnancial aid. A student’s home campus location and billing will be tied directly to their primary program of study. There will be some exceptions, including nursing students.

Jason Abbitt, professor of EDP and associate dean of the graduate school, gave a report on minimum enrollment for the graduate program. There is a new policy revision hoping to incentivise student progress towards degree completion. It would require one credit hour of enrollment in each term, with exceptions for winter and summer.

Abbitt also proposed a policy revision to limit Graduate Assistantship eligibility to fve years. The policy aims to ensure that students complete their degrees within a reasonable time frame and aligns with national practices. The University Senate’s next meeting will be a special hearing at 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 3 in 322 McGufey Hall.

duganec@miamioh.edu

City council announces memorial day, prepares application for grant

rison

CAMPUS & COMMUNITY

EVELYN DUGAN THE MIAMI STUDENT

After hearing about Miami University’s decision to build a new arena district on Cook Field, many students felt that their opinions had not been taken into account by the Board of Trustees. Bri Fitzgerald, a senior organizational leadership major, along with other students and community members, came together to fgure out what they could do to make their voices heard.

“Whether people realize it or not, if the Cook Field [arena] project goes through, it’s going to impact the entire Miami community,” Fitzgerald said, “meaning students, faculty, people living in Oxford [and] Oxford businesses.”

On Feb. 28, the Board of Trustees unanimously decided to place a new sports arena on Cook Field. The proposed arena district would also include a hotel, parking and other amenities.

This decision was made by the board after a site survey committee discovered and reported that the Cook Field location was overwhelmingly not preferred. Less than 300 responses preferred Cook Field out of the 1,500 total responses.

Cook Field is an open green space currently used by students and members of the community for gatherings and intramural activities. It’s located along Patterson Avenue, across the street from Bishop Woods. Those recreational felds would be relocated to the vicinity of Millett Hall.

“Miami proposes to allocate

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

“They want to try to get the unsuspecting person to think there’s an emergency that they need to respond to and react to,” said John Virden, Miami’s assistant vice president for security compliance and risk management and the chief information security ofcer.

He added that, by creating an environment of urgency or fear, scammers work to coerce people into sending money.

Phishing on the rise

Universities are targets of millions of cyberattacks each week, according to Science Direct. Oftentimes, fake internships, jobs or research opportunities are used to draw students in.

One of the most common scams is related to job searching.

“We’re seeing this more now, mostly because the job market is slowing and people are feeling the pressure,” Matt Schemmel, the senior director of trust for Indeed, said in a New York Times article. “Scammers know how to take advantage of that distress.” Scammers use these same tactics on Miami students.

“They’re usually looking for a research partner or job placement services, and they usually range in the salary of about $385 to about $600 and some dollars, or $800 sometimes, and those are always job scams here,” Virden said.

How students can protect themselves from scams

A new platform started last April

amid an increase in phishing scams.

“The Phish Bowl” works to spread

$200-225 million to construct a new arena, likely to be primarily funded with existing student fees, perhaps $500 per year or $2,000 over four years per student,” according to the survey.

The impacts on the physical campus environment and university budget would make it one of the most substantial projects in Miami’s history, according to the research team.

Although the site survey committee and Board of Trustees have identifed Cook Field as their preferred location, construction has not yet begun.

Miami undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and alumni have come together to design and administer a new Qualtrics survey, collecting opinions from the community. Their goal is to promote democracy and gauge the perspectives of every person who will be afected by the construction of a new arena district.

The core research team includes Anna West, a junior individualized studies and comparative religion major, Ava Nuttall, a frst-year graduate student in liberal studies and Fitzgerald. Jennifer Bulanda, an associate professor and Scripps Research Fellow, volunteered to be the faculty member featured in the institutional review board proposal; however, many of the other faculty supporting the cause have intentionally chosen to remain unnamed.

The research team said the goal of this survey project is to potentially help inform the administration’s planning and decision-making process. Summarized results will be

publicly shared after data collection and analysis.

“We’re not expecting them to change their minds at all, but I do think that it’s really important for everyone to at least have their views expressed,” West said.

The new survey can be accessed through the QR code and on posters around campus. It will be open from Oct. 2o to Nov. 10, and the results will be analyzed after. The survey research team plans on presenting results to the Board of Trustees in February.

“Inform the conversation,” Fitzgerald said. “ Your thoughts count.” duganec@miamioh.edu

The Miami University Research Ethics & Integrity Program reviewed this study and determined its exempt status, 05223e. Questions? Contact Dr. Jennifer Bulanda (bulandjr@miamioh.edu) or Bri Fitzgerald (ftzgeb6@miamioh.edu)

Must be 18+ to participate

PARKER GREEN ASST. CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY

Miami University’s partnership with the Cleveland Clinic reached new heights with the ofcial naming ceremony of Miami’s second newest building, now known as the Cleveland Clinic Health Science and Wellness Building.

It’s just one step in the university and hospital’s growing relationship, which has been in place for just over a year.

In a speech given at the naming ceremony on Oct. 15, President Gregory Crawford said the two entities frst considered a partnership after he visited the Cleveland Clinic to see their new quantum computer.

“I kind of geeked out,” Crawford said. “It was an extraordinary day, but there was something on that day that was kind of unexpected.”

He said he was surprised to have met a large number of Miami alums who worked at the hospital, or who had kids who went to Miami. From there, the partnership grew.

“We started with quantum computing,” Crawford said. “We knew a big investment was taking place in Cleveland, and that the innovation district needed talent for that efort. We raised our hand and created a quantum computer computing degree, which we believe is the frst in the world at the undergraduate level. [The partnership] went on. We started talking about internships for our students, which many enjoyed this summer.”

He added that in order to complete this partnership, Miami and the Cleveland Clinic worked together to get $7 million from the state government. When asked why a Cleveland-based company was partnering with a school in the opposite corner of the state, he said, “It’s three

things: it’s values, leadership and excellence.”

Despite the Clinical Health Sciences and Wellness Facility undergoing a renaming, there will be no change to the provider of health care for Miami students: TriHealth.

Vice President for Strategy and Design Andre Durojaiye said he sees the partnership between Cleveland Clinic and Miami expanding beyond health sciences majors..

“When we think about healthcare systems, we think about our healthcare providers, our nurses, our doctors, our [physician assistants],” Durojaiye said. “But what [Cleveland Clinic] said that’s exciting is the fact that they see everybody in their ecosystem as healthcare providers. “We hope to see that all Miami students who are interested in an opportunity like that, regardless of major, have an opportunity to engage.”

Lyndzie Padula, a sophomore speech pathology and audiology major, said she’s excited to see more internships near her hometown of Cleveland as a result of the partnership.

“I received some internship opportunities my [frst] year, but they were out of state and far away,” Padula said. “If there was something closer to home it would be a really great resource for me, and a great connection.”

Rose Anderson, a junior international studies major, said she appreciated the Cleveland Clinic and Miami’s commitment to working towards including “a broader reach” of majors.

As for why Miami chose to partner with the Cleveland Clinic?

“I would say, ‘Why not the Cleveland Clinic?’” Durojaiye said. “If you had the chance to partner with the best in the world, would you not also choose to do that?”

greenpt@miamioh.edu

awareness about recent phishing attempts to keep students and faculty safe.

The website lists recent phishing attempts and messages to watch out for, including Google Calendar invites, Microsoft 365 account verifcation and emails about MUnet ID.

Jake Harrison, a security analyst at Miami, said there was a huge increase in phishing attacks starting last April, which is about when the Phish Bowl was launched.

Though there are specifc schemes related to university students, Harrison said everyone is always at risk for phishing, and that diferent scams come in at diferent periods of time.

“There really is no predicting the high and low points of the phishing season,” he said.

Harrison said Miami continues to get bombarded with emails and attacks, with upwards of 4,000 attacks a day.

“[With the Phish Bowl], we have reduced the number of successful attacks in the last six months,” Harrison said.

By providing a resource for students to become aware of potential threats, Harrison said he hopes his ofce sees fewer reports.

Virden’s biggest piece of advice to not get scammed is to “stop, validate and delete.” He said if an email looks like it could be a potential phishing attempt, it is important to avoid clicking any links that could be suspicious. If students are unsure, the suspected email can be sent to infosec@miamioh.edu.

farrelgf@miamioh.edu

This year, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) rated 257 United States universities on their free speech. Miami University received a “D-” rating in free speech climate, ranking 69 out of 257.

The ratings were determined by reviewing administrative policies and previous instances where universities prevented students from exercising their free speech, surveying students on how comfortable they are in expressing their beliefs and examining how tolerant students are in hearing opposing viewpoints.

Other Ohio universities received

similar ratings. Wright State University had the highest rating in the state, with a “D”. Ohio State University and the University of Dayton both received an “F”. With an overall score of 61.1 out of 100, Miami was rated higher than the state average of 58.5. Miami’s harrasment, discrimination and sexual harassment policies all earned a yellow speech code rat-

ing, meaning ambiguous wording could allow for administrative abuse and unfair application.

Drew Belcher, a junior political science major and the College Republicans chairman, said he believes some policies regarding gender discrimination are poorly written.

“[It’s] kind of a policy where if you were to misgender somebody, you’re facing the same kind of punishment as if you were to racially discriminate against somebody,” Belcher said.

Reactions to the “D” grade are varied.

“Part of me is shocked that it’s that low,” Belcher said. “I have not had too many issues as far as freedom of speech.”

Rajarshi Banerjee, a former member of Students for Palestine, said he feels very diferently.

“[The grade] is unsurprising, and honestly, it should be lower,” Banerjee said. Last year, Miami threatened to suspend students involved in an encampment. Banerjee said he believes actions like these have generated fear of retaliation and caused a decrease in involvement in pro-Palestinian organizations. Threats of academic consequences and police involvement have led Banerjee to believe Miami should instead receive a “F” rating.

Connor Wike, the general secretary for College Democrats at Miami and vice president of College Democrats of Ohio, said he feels that he is free to exercise his right to free

Things to do on Halloweekend that’s not

PARKER GREEN ASST. CAMPUS & COMMUNITY EDITOR

For a lot of people, Halloween weekend in college means wearing your skimpiest costumes, gathering friends and getting absolutely wasted three days in a row. It’s great for some, but not everyone wants to do that, or is legally allowed to do that. So, here are some events, activities and ideas to keep your Halloween weekend as under 21 friendly as possible.

Carve or paint a pumpkin

An easy last minute craft is always a good idea. Head to your nearest pumpkin patch (or Walmart) and pick out a pumpkin to hack into. While this activity can easily take an hour or more, turn it into a whole night by roasting the pumpkin seeds or make something out of the guts.

Go to a haunted house

If drunk college students really aren’t your thing, you can always fee Oxford and visit a haunted house.

Yelp provides a good list of local favorites, with options in Cincinnati, Middletown and even a haunted cave in Lewisburg.

HollowQueen Drag Show Miami Activities and Programing

(MAP) is hosting a variety of Halloween activities free of charge for students, including a drag show in Armstrong Student Center. Head to the pavilion on Oct. 30 from 9-11 p.m. for these Halloween Queens.

Hockey at Goggin

Not into anything scary at all? Miami’s men’s hockey team is hosting Arizona State University at Goggin Ice Center on both Oct. 31 and Nov 1. Home game tickets are always free for students. Watch “Frankenstein” with a live orchestra

MAP is teaming up with The Miami University Symphony Orchestra to bring Frankenstein to life (pun intended). Starting at 7 p.m. on Oct. 31, this event is free and open to the public. Guests are encouraged to arrive in costume, and special performances will happen throughout the night.

Host a dinner party

If a bunch of your friends want to stay in, why not host a dinner party packed with fall recipes? There have been several fall-themed recipes tested and approved by our own Culture team, and they range from cookies to pasta. It’s the perfect excuse to dress up while avoiding Uptown! greenpt@miamioh.edu

speech, but he worries that faculty and staf have less freedom. Wike pointed to the passing of Senate Bill 1 (S.B. 1) as a cause of decreased freedom.

“At the faculty level, I think there is a little bit of squandering of what they can say and what they can’t say in the eyes of the state government,” Wike said.

Banerjee said professors should be able to discuss their political beliefs. Belcher also said he agreed, saying students would then be able to acknowledge professors’ biases and think critically about what they are being taught.

“I wish more professors were not trying to act as if they’re objective,” Belcher said. “I get my news from openly right-wing and openly leftwing news sources because I know exactly what the angle is. I think it’s better if you’re open about it.”

As faculty have become more wary about what they can say in the wake of S.B. 1, student organizations continue to work to express their beliefs.

“I do believe it’s important to engage with other people that may not hold the same opinions,” Wilk said.

“[College Republicans and College Democrats] both have a common goal of pursuing free speech on campus and pursuing democratic values as a whole.”

pfennikp@miamioh.edu

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

Initially, she thought the app was funny, but after seeing some of her friends react to posts made about them, she started to view the app in a diferent light.

“It’s not 100% accurate,” Beard said, “so I would never base my opinion on somebody just from those comments.” For male students, the stakes are high, but there is little to no control

over what gets posted since the app requires users to verify that they are female before creating an account. Adam Arling, a frst-year kinesiology major, said he knew of at least fve of his friends who had been posted on the app. For many of them, the information posted about them was a mix of truth and lies.

“They’re getting posted on this app without their consent, and it’s also anonymous comments, so they’re getting potentially false information spread about them,” Arling said.

Herrholtz also said he felt like the design of the app is meant to make it difcult for men who have been posted to address things that may be true, because the posts are attributed to them forever.

“I understand customer reviews for something like a product on Amazon, but a customer review for somebody who’s dating someone … I feel like you’re just not giving them the opportunity to change as a person,”

Herrholtz said. “Somebody’s old habits could have afected someone, but then you try and meet someone new, and then they look this up [on the app] and they see this person’s kind of a bad person. It doesn’t give them a chance to redeem themselves.”

Ellie Grossman, the assistant director for sexual and interpersonal violence prevention for Student Health Services, said she heard about it from resident assistants on campus, who said the app was popular among their

residents. Grossman said she worries that the frst reaction of a student who feels hurt or upset might be to post something incendiary online.

“I would say that the basis of the app, that’s a good thing,” Grossman said. “We want our students to know how to take care of each other. We want our students to be able to share resources. This is just maybe manifested into something that is not the ideal way we would want them to do that.” Ava Vasquez, a frst-year education major, said some women leave comments defending their friends on someone else’s post, but this fact-checking only occurred on a small portion of posts on the app.

“There are some girls [who] will comment and be like, ‘That’s my friend. He’s never done that,’” Vaquez said.

Alex Fields, director of the Ofce of Community Standards, said that while Miami has policies that protect the safety and well-being of students, there are no policies for specifc apps, like Tea. She also said that Miami does not have anyone specifcally monitoring the app, but urged students to report if they see or experience harm because of the app.

“It’s not a space for us, so if something comes up that should be shared or should be addressed, students have to tell us,” Fields said. “That’s not to say that we’re completely unaware, but we aren’t in all the same spaces that our students are.”

mahones5@miamioh.edu

In college football’s big-name era, Miami should play local

THE MIAMI STUDENT COLUMN

Last season, many Miami University RedHawk football fans were upset at the foreseeable conclusion of the Battle for the Victory Bell rivalry with the University of Cincinnati. This in-state rivalry was a fxture in the Ohio college football schedule.

As the best teams nationalize their football schedule, regional rivalries fall to the wayside, but this is a mistake.

Recently, I attended the Ohio University and Ohio State University matchup, a game where childhood friends attending both schools clashed in friendly rivalry. I saw a similar camaraderie and friendly banter when the University of Cincinnati traveled up to Oxford last year. I was surprised by the sheer number of fans from both universities who made the trip: nearly 25,000 packed

the stands at Yager Stadium.

These local rivalries are the backbone of college football and make games much more compelling. Rivalries boost interest in both teams involved and put state pride on the line. If Miami is serious about increasing fan engagement and stirring excitement, scheduling regional matchups in the non-conference slate is crucial.

Critics argue that Miami plays enough regional games within the Mid-American Conference (MAC), which is replete with other Ohio teams. However, there are plenty of local teams to be played in non-conference matchups, which provide a much more captivating game than the University of Nevada, Las Vegas or Lindenwood University. Here are a few teams that Miami should schedule matchups against in the future to create a more exciting and engaging schedule. I have chosen some Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and regionally-appli-

cable Division II teams.

POWER FOUR

University of Cincinnati

The Battle for the Victory Bell must return. One of college football’s oldest rivalries, and the oldest one in the state of Ohio, has one more game on the horizon in 2026. However, this is a marquee matchup of Miami’s schedule. The fact that Cincinnati plans to play other MAC teams is insulting when such a rivalry already exists in the conference.

Ohio State University

One of the premier names in college football, the Buckeyes are a perennial power that draws national spotlight on the RedHawks. It’s not as if MAC teams can’t compete against the reigning national champions: this season, the Ohio Bobcats kept their game within four scores.

Although it is unlikely that Miami would get the win, there is a strong connection between students at these schools, not to mention the history with Woody Hayes at both programs, that would make for a fun matchup.

University of Kentucky

The RedHawks faced the University of Kentucky Wildcats in 2022 when the latter was led by Will Levis and ranked at No. 20 going into the season. Despite this, Miami kept the game close at half, although it ultimately lost the matchup 37-17 after a dominant second half from the Wildcats.

Although a South Eastern Conference school, Kentucky is not a football power, making it a much more winnable game for the RedHawks, and I would love to see this potential rivalry explored further.

Indiana University Head coach Kurt Cignetti claims

What is the point of preseason polls in college sports?

As fans, we wait months for our favorite sports and leagues to come back from their ofseason hiatus, coining terms like ‘Hot Stove’ for the long winter without baseball.

As a result of boredom and borderline obsession, fans and pundits have curated preseason rankings and polls based on what they think will happen in the upcoming season. It is a fun exercise, with some basing theirs on previous performances and others simply guessing. . I participate in preseason rankings often, sometimes predicting playof results for college football in July. These predictions aren’t meant to be taken seriously. No one knows how Dequan Finn will actually perform under Chuck Martin’s system in June – it needs to be showcased on the feld. Last men’s basketball season, Miami was picked sixth in the Mid-American Conference standings. The RedHawks fnished 14-4 in conference play and second in the league.

Who could have predicted the jumps that the likes of Peter Suder and Antwone Woolfolk would take before last November?

At the national level, the preseason Associated Press football rankings had the University of Texas Longhorns and the Penn State University Nittany Lions ranked frst and second, respectively. Now, both teams are unranked.

The Baltimore Ravens were a preseason Super Bowl favorite this year, but they currently sit at 1-5 with quarterback Lamar Jackson still out due to injury. Anything can happen in a season, and sports are nearly impossible to predict.

The problem with preseason polls, especially at the collegiate level, is the bias that can infltrate postseason participation.

The University of Alabama Crimson Tide fnished the 2024 college football season 9-3, and analysts were debating whether they should be included in the playofs. This was not due to the results Alabama produced on the feld: it was more due to the preconceived notion that the Crimson Tide was one of the best teams in the sport. The main argument in their favor was the strength of schedule. But were their wins impressive because the teams they beat were actually good, or was it more because we all thought the teams they beat were elite?

This isn’t an anti-SEC tirade, but the conference showcases one of the more pressing examples of preseason bias. In both the 2023 and 2024 high school recruiting class rankings, there were six SEC teams in the top 10 classes.

Talent gained through recruiting does not always amount to success.

The Indiana University Hoosiers do not have a single fve-star recruit on their roster, yet they are 7-0 and ranked second in the country.

In the new age of college sports, with the transfer portal and NIL playing such a huge role, it is becoming increasingly difcult to predict

that Indiana will not schedule difcult non-conference games so that the Hoosiers can increase their playof likeliness. Well, Kurt, why not schedule Miami? A local team who draws from the same student pool and not Power Four, Miami could create a unique regional rivalry that is “an easy win” for the Big Ten team. Although Indiana’s football program is trending upward, Miami would not be an easy out.

GROUP OF FIVE Western Kentucky University Local and competitive are the two words that come to mind with Western Kentucky University. A matchup between two competitive teams can easily be a catalyst for rivalry, especially if it is a frequent series. With both teams on a similar playing level, it is a perfect non-conference measuring stick.

Marshall University Located just over the Ohio River in West Virginia, the Thundering Herd are another neighbor that we have not seen enough in recent years. Back in the day when Randy Moss went for 147 yards against the RedHawks, this was a conference matchup. In 2005, Marshall left for Conference USA, and the rivalry has only been contested four times since then. This matchup makes sense regionally and historically – it should be renewed sooner rather than later.

FOOTBALL CHAMPION-

SHIP SUBDIVISION

University of Dayton

A short trip northeast, the Flyers are a great option for a local opponent. With a similar student base, and already a rivalry for the best St. Patrick’s Day celebration, tension ex-

ists between the fanbases. This rivalry has been played 43 times; however, it has not returned to the schedule since 1978. The next most logical step for both universities is to schedule a series that will draw interest from both sets of fans.

Youngstown State University

The Penguins are one of the premier football teams in the Missouri Valley Conference in recent years, and as an Ohio school, the matchup makes sense. Although an FCS test, it will still provide the RedHawks with a capable challenge early in the regular season. There is a lot of potential, and this battle of the birds would be cool to see.

DIVISION II

Grand Valley State University

Head coach Chuck Martin’s frst head coaching job is located a few hours north in Michigan. The Lakers currently rank third in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and are consistently one of the better Division II teams. Coupled with the two national championships Martin won there, this provides a compelling backstory for this matchup.

Central State University

The Marauders provide a nuanced matchup on the schedule, as there are not many opportunities to play Historically Black College and University (HBCU) competition. Central State provides this, and they’re one hour east of Oxford. In addition, this matchup would continue to platform HBCU teams in a positive light.

meneghcj@miamioh.edu

Sweater vest and success: Meet Miami’s winningest coach

where teams will fall when the dust settles. Who would have thought the University of Mississippi would bring in a quarterback from Ferris State University, and that he would be in conversations for the Heisman Trophy midway through the year?

Nothing is guaranteed, and the chaos is immense.

The College Football Playof Selection Committee does things the right way. It waits until each team has played eight or nine games to release rankings. This gives the decision makers plenty of data points to base their decisions on.

The NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee practices a similar system. It releases a preliminary top 16 ranking in the middle of February when each team has played around 20 or so games. It doesn’t make assumptions based on preseason projections.

Preseason rankings are a fun exercise for fans. They allow people who don’t follow the sport throughout the ofseason to gauge who might be good and form an expectation of where their team may fall.

However, it is unfair for the media and fans to use these rankings against teams. It is a bad practice to blame players and coaches for not meeting expectations set upon them.

The only thing these rankings create are preconceived notions and biases against teams that weren’t projected as top teams in the ofseason. Ofcial rankings should be withheld until there are enough data points to make real arguments midway through the season.

jollifvm@miamioh.edu

After leaving GVSU, Martin moved up to the Division I level at Notre Dame University. Over the course of four seasons, he worked his way up to ofensive coordinator, helping the team achieve a 12-0 season and a place in the 2012 national championship game.

Martin announced he was leaving Notre Dame to take the head coaching position at Miami after the 2013 season. The RedHawks had previously gone 0-12 under head coach Don Treadwell and interim coach Mike Bath.

While he holds the record for most wins in program history now, Martin’s early years didn’t show the same success. His frst season saw the RedHawks go 2-10, followed by a 3-9 record the following year. One of his most notable early seasons was 2016. The RedHawks were 0-6 coming of two conference losses with six games to go, all against conference opponents. Looking back, Martin said if the season had continued down that path, he would’ve been fred. Instead, Martin led the team to fnish the regular season 6-6 with a bowl game appearance against Mississippi State University in the St. Petersburg Bowl, a performance that secured his position as head coach. The 2016 season marked a shift for the program. Three years later, Martin led the team to a MAC championship title with an upset win against Central Michigan University. The RedHawks won another title in 2023 with a ferce comeback win over the University of Toledo after losing to the Rockets in the regular season.

“He’s someone who tells you kind of what you need to hear, not what you want to hear,” Ragland

said. “He came in here with a roster that hadn’t won, and was able to get the guys that were on that team to buy in and play hard and play at a level they didn’t know they’re capable of. He has everything to do with the turnaround.” Throughout his time at Miami, Martin has had several players continue to be with the program for fve to six years due to his infuence. His impact stretches far beyond the football feld, leading the team members to make a long-term commitment and become better people through the lessons he teaches within his coaching.

“With the lessons and everything he’s taught me and how he holds his players accountable in this program, I would say I’m a better person, not just an athlete,” ffth-year quarterback Henry Hesson said, “I’ve learned more [about] how to be a good, successful person, [as well as a] father and husband in the future, [more] than anything he’s taught me with football, and I feel like that’s more important.”

Martin said he always had a different eye for the game, even as an athlete. He was pushed by his own coaches to take on coaching in the future, and he was quick to deny ever wanting to be in another profession. He said he feels this was his calling.

The accolades that Martin has accomplished over his 12 years as Miami’s head coach are almost undershadowed by the larger impact he’s had on his players and the programs as a whole.

“Do I fail these kids? I do, but I’ve never failed them because I wasn’t trying,” Martin said. “I do get frustrated and upset sometimes, but even then, I really believe that I try to help each kid be great in life.”

rosente2@miamioh.edu

KETHAN BABU SPORTS EDITOR

When looking at the club sport oferings at Miami University, many fock to the common activities: baseball, basketball, hockey, etc. But Miami ofers several niche sports as well, including martial arts, water polo and broomball.

People generally know what each sport looks like, either by playing or watching. Some aren’t widely recognized high school sports, but rather activities from gym class or recreation leagues. With the club handball team, however, many frst join with zero indication of what to expect.

“No one in [the United States] has played handball before outside of maybe a little bit in gym class,” said senior mechanical engineering major Christian West. “Outside of that, everyone comes in pretty much having no idea what’s going on … No one really knows what’s going on when they show up, and we just teach them how to play. It ends up being a great time.”

Handball is most relevant in Europe, with the European Handball Federation being the dominant league in the continent. The sport is also popular at the Summer Olympics, with Denmark taking gold at the Paris Olympics in 2024. However, handball hasn’t gained widespread recognition in the U.S. yet.

The sport is best described as a mixture of baseball, soccer and hockey, as well as elements of basketball. Teams compete with six players against six, plus a goalie on each side.

The club team at Miami was formed in 2012, but within four years, it fzzled out with a lack of interest. Andrew Kraus, a 2024 graduate and current graduate student at John Carroll University, revived the team during his frst year.

Kraus had played briefy before arriving at Miami, but his interest in bringing the team back came from meeting the coach of the club team at Ohio State University, JD Orr, who challenged him to revive the team.

At frst, Kraus’ plan wasn’t to create a highly competitive team. He wanted a place for him and his friends to meet frequently and have fun, with practices taking place at the back courts of the Rec Center.

“I came in and started the team more as a, ‘Oh, we can have a place where we can have fun, just hang out and get a group of guys together who enjoy each other’s company,’” Kraus said. “Turns out, we got to that competing part a lot faster than I expected, and we got an actual team together a lot faster than I expected.”

Pretty soon, students joined at a high rate to fll out the roster, and the team began attending invitationals and tournaments against other colleges. The RedHawks didn’t have

an ofcial jersey at the time, so members wrote their preferred numbers with a Sharpie on a blank pink shirt from Walmart.

The team won one game in the 2020-21 season, but as more people joined, especially those with previous experience in the sport, it gradually improved year by year. This past season, the RedHawks competed at the USA Team Handball (USATH) Collegiate National Tournament on April 4-6 at James Madison University, fnishing sixth place overall in Division II.

For sophomore English education major and club president Isaac Torres, handball is a sport that anyone can play, regardless of their previous athletic experience.

“[If you’ve played] any kind of sport, you can come over and play,” Torres said. “If you’re athletic, you will succeed in the sport. It’s not super hard, it’s not super difcult, but it’s just fun. There’s not a ton of commitment … There’s no tryouts [or] anything like that. It’s just a fun thing all of us do.”

The players emphasized that the time commitment is minimal for the club. The team is entirely student-run, meaning members have been in each other’s shoes before and know about external commitments.

Despite the unfamiliarity for most new players, West said the team is a good opportunity for people to do what they should be doing in college: trying new things and expanding their horizons.

“You’re new to college,” West said. “You’re going to have a long four years, hopefully a lot of great times. It’s a good chance to experience things you haven’t experienced before, and handball is defnitely something you probably haven’t experienced before. Even if you don’t stick with it, I think it’s worth coming out for a couple practices, seeing how you feel. Worst case, it’s a couple hours gone, and best case, it’s a great time.”

This season, the team practices in the basement of Phillips Hall twice a week. It upgraded from hand-drawn to ofcial jerseys, although the pink color stuck.

The roster has grown along with the overall experience on the team.

The RedHawks continue to improve each year and place higher at tournaments. They hope to make a far push at nationals in the coming years.

Above all else, the team wants to stay true to its roots: providing a fun environment for anyone to participate in.

“We’re trying to have the most fun out of any team there,” Kraus said. “We’re in our ridiculous pink shirts. It doesn’t look like we’re being serious, but we’re giving it our all … The emphasis is on enjoying yourself.”

babukc2@miamioh.edu

PETE HARTLAGE

THE MIAMI STUDENT

Since its start in 1999, midweek “MACtion” has been a core part of the identity of the Mid-American Conference (MAC).

Every Saturday, millions of college football fans tune in to College GameDay on ESPN, watching their favorite top 25 team compete to improve their rankings and playof hopes. Lower-level and Group of Five teams, however, fall under the radar.

Many are surprised when they hear there’s a Miami University in Oxford, thinking instead of the one in

As the Miami University RedHawks men’s basketball season draws near, the team looks to buildupon one of the program’s best performances in recent years following a 25-9 campaign in 2024-25.

The team made it to the Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship game for the frst time in 18 years, losing by two points to the University of Akron Zips.

The RedHawks’ averaged 80.6 points – including 10.7 triples –30.9 rebounds and 16.2 assists while allowing opponents to score 72.7 points per game. The team averaged 48.1% from the feld.

Miami’s dominance in the MAC largely came from a roster that included key returners like senior guard Peter Suder, the leading scorer from last season. He averaged 13.7 points, and redshirt sophomore wing Brant Byers, who won MAC Freshman of the Year, averaged 8.4 points while shooting 41% from the 3-point line.

Despite the accolades, Steele said the team still has work to do if it wants to make that fnal push in the championship game.

“We have unfnished business still from last year,” Steele said. “I thought we did everything to earn that win in the championship game. Unfortunately, it didn’t go our way, but we’ve used that as motivation this ofseason to get ourselves ready for that moment next time we get that opportunity this year.”

The RedHawks fnished the sea-

University of Toledo Rockets 38-13.

The following season marked the frst Wednesday MAC game when Toledo defeated the Bowling Green State University Falcons 51-14 on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2000. The number of midweek games played by MAC teams skyrocketed throughout the 2000s, and the term “MACtion” began to spread nationwide to refer to these matchups.

Overall, Miami’s record in midweek MAC games is 30-23. Since head coach Chuck Martin was hired in 2014, Miami is 19-8 in these games.

Florida. Towards the end of the 20th century, Miami and the rest of the MAC wanted to play more games on national television to increase viewership. They knew that they couldn’t compete on Fridays and Saturdays against the nationally-ranked teams, but if they played on weekday nights when no other collegiate or professional teams competed, people might give them a shot.

The frst midweek MAC game occurred on Thursday, Oct. 14, 1999, when the Marshall University Thundering Herd (now a member of the Sun Belt Conference) defeated the

The RedHawks played their frst MACtion game on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2002, when they travelled down to Marshall. Ben Roethlisberger led the team back from two double-digit defcits, but Miami ultimately lost the game 36-34 on a last-minute touchdown from the Thundering Herd.

Miami hosted and won its frst midweek MAC game the following season. The RedHawks blanked Bowling Green 33-10 on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2003. Once again led by Roethlisberger, Miami later defeated Bowling Green again in the MAC championship that year before defeating the University of Louisville in the GMAC Bowl, fnishing the season 13-1. Arguably, the most signature midweek game played by Miami was on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019. The RedHawks faced the Ohio University Bobcats during the 150th anniversary

son ranked No. 23 among mid-major programs. This actually caused an issue with creating an out-of-conference schedule. Miami’s full schedule was announced on Oct. 10, just under a month away from the season opener. Suder said this was a good problem for the team to have, as it showed that other teams were wary of Miami.

“We gotta understand that we got a target on our backs now,” Suder said. “We snuck up on some teams early on, and we ended up being pretty good later on. This year, people know who we are now.”

The RedHawks open the season at home against Old Dominion University on Nov. 3. Their non-conference schedule includes visits to Air Force, whom they beat 73-60 last season, and Wright State University, which handed them their only loss at home in 2024-25.

Steele said the main diference between year one and year four is that he and his coaching staf have established a defned culture. He said it is easier now to fnd players that ft the Miami playstyle, especially with how many returners are on the roster.

Similar to last season, Steele stressed the importance of Miami reaching its stride in March and capitalizing on the opportunities during the regular season.

“Just live out our mission statement: can we be the toughest, nastiest team in the MAC that’s committed to getting better every day?” Steele said. “It’s embracing that process. It’s a long year. We want to reach our peak in March up there in

of the game of football. Miami won 24-21 thanks to a 53-yard feld goal in the fourth quarter by Sam Sloman.

Throughout the past two-and-ahalf decades, MACtion has allowed the conference to gain national exposure. Without those Tuesday and Wednesday games, many people would not have heard about the Roethlisbergers or Antonio Browns of the college football world. Even recently, players like Harold Fannin Jr. on the Cleveland Browns have benefted from the flm of those midweek games. It may be challenging for players and coaches to adjust to weekday games in the middle of the season, but the exposure is unique and something that other conferences have begun to pick up over the last few years.

“The exposure is awesome,” Martin said. “Not only for us, but for the whole league. After that frst week, it’s like Saturday is Tuesday and Sunday is Wednesday.”

While the RedHawks make the transition from playing on Saturdays to weekdays, they get a bye week in between. For redshirt senior kicker Dom Dzioban, this provides the team with some much-needed time of and helps the transition fow smoothly.

“It’s November, and we got guys banged up,” Dzioban said. “So we get a few extra days to recover, which is good, but logistically, it all pretty much stays the same – just the days change.”

Cleveland, try to win three games in three days.”

Steele and Suder are flled with excitement for this upcoming season given Miami’s recent performance and the returning players on the roster. The team also invested in the transfer portal, bringing in Bradley University transfer Almar Atlasson and recruiting six freshmen.

For freshman guard Trey Perry, the preseason has provided an opportunity to learn from players who have already reached the MAC championship, as he hopes to make the push back to Cleveland.

“I just come in here and learn as much as I can – be a sponge to everything they got to ofer,” Perry said. “A lot of guys got a lot of experience. They got lots to give me, lots to teach me, to make me a better player. I just gotta come in here and learn as much as I can.”

The RedHawks will take on the Monarchs at home for the season opener. Winning 25 games was a huge improvement for the program, but Miami is hoping to fnish the job this season and bring home a conference title for the frst time since 2007.

“I just hope [the fans] keep coming out,” Suder said. “When they come, it truly makes a diference for the environment and how we play and the energy in the whole gym. I thank them for coming out last year, and I hope they come out this year again.”

arizzijm@miamioh.edu

After Miami eases into the adjustment, the players love playing these games. It provides the RedHawks the chance to showcase what they and the rest of the MAC are about compared to other conferences.

Redshirt senior linebacker Corban Hondru said the main diference between playing on weeknights and weekends is the environment of the stadium.

“It’s a diferent animal you got to prepare for,” Hondru said. “It’s a totally diferent atmosphere, but it’s defnitely a great experience, and I love it. It’s honestly great for the conference to be able to get a bunch of viewers seeing how wild the MAC is.” Miami’s stretch of MACtion this season is rapidly approaching. The RedHawks travel to Athens to face the Bobcats on Tuesday, Nov. 14. The following week, Miami welcomes Toledo to Yager Stadium on Wednesday, Nov. 12, before traveling again to the University of Bufalo on Wednesday, Nov. 19.

The RedHawks have won their last seven MACtion games, with their last loss in 2022. Powered by not only the experience of Martin but the players as well, Miami looks to keep its success through conference play rolling and extend the midweek win streak to 10 games.

hartlapo@miamioh.edu

Songs that feel like watching the leaves fall through your bedroom window

ELISA ROSENTHAL PHOTO EDITOR

COLUMN

I’m a person who frmly believes that there’s a playlist for every occasion, especially when that occasion involves anything fall. Whether you’re studying on campus or curled up in your room, this playlist provides the perfect vibes for yearning, refecting on the changing seasons and coming to terms with the cold suddenly plaguing the air. Here are some of my favorite songs out of the 35 (which are all amazing):

‘Pyramids’ – Frank Ocean

This song is almost 10 minutes of literal perfection. It has the most incredible tempo for power-walking around campus and soaking up the last bits of sunlight the season ofers. The background music and beat are undeniably fall to me, and I will not

be accepting any criticism of this song or its inclusion in the playlist.

‘Same Ol’ Mistakes’ – Rihanna

I am a fervent Tame Impala lover (did you know it’s just one guy?), and this Rihanna cover is ridiculously underhyped. I don’t think enough people know about it, and the iconic song gets an amazing revamp here that feels more in sync with the changing of the season, and I almost like it more than the original.

‘Trouble - Unpeeled’ –Cage the Elephant

Live music feels more appropriate for fall in a way I just can’t explain. I love this song, and the live version makes it so much more complex and impactful to me. It feels to me like the looming threat of gloom will come peacefully, showing how cozy fall should be before the real cold sets in.

‘Creep - Acoustic’ – Radiohead This song is so purely fall in a way that connects the festivity, allure

of Halloween and the crisp air the weather brings. The acoustic version strips away the rock concept of the original and makes it more raw and intimate, a sound that feels more autumnal and vibey to match the tempo and beats of the rest of the playlist.

‘Mind Over Matter (Reprise)’ – Young the Giant

“Mind Over Matter” is the song I play to remind myself that whatever I’m stressing about is not the end of the world. The reprise is a slowed, softer version of the original that feels more suitable to this kind of chilly weather. The message remains that throughout time, everything keeps moving and literally references how when the seasons change, how some things will still remain.

‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ – Elton John Elton John is one of my favorite artists of all time, and I’m honored to say I’ve seen him live. This song is so meaningful to me, and I fully sobbed hearing it live, especially knowing it was his last tour. It feels like saying goodbye to summer and warm weather, and entering a new era of pumpkin spice and family drama.

‘Thought of You’ – Ole 60 Ole 60 is incredible, especially with their lyricism, and this song is a great example. It’s a perfect song for fall yearning, capturing the picturesque romance of falling in love in the fall. The lyrics directly mention November, so it felt almost sacrilegious not to include this. I know the genre might not match the vibe, but the lyrics and sentiment defnitely do, so give it a fghting chance.

I’m a self-proclaimed playlist connoisseur, and I hope this playlist will solidify my role for all you lovely readers.

rosente2@miamioh.edu

How to show up and show out with your Halloween costume this year

(the online clothing store Yandy

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Although this costume is ideal as a couple’s costume, do not be afraid to pull this one out alone. From Wes Anderson’s 2009 hit flm “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” this costume is simple, yet rooted in pure whimsy. For Felicity Fox, all you need is a yellow sundress and a pair of fox ears. If you have a Mr. Fox joining you, then they will need a white button-up top, khakis and a neck tie… and, of course, matching fox ears. Mr. Fox will also need a faux fox tail to clip to their khakis, a direct nod to the movie, to make this costume even better.

Retro Alien

My fnal costume pick has to be the stereotypical vintage alien. This costume can be purchased readyto-wear by many diferent retailers

leeam8@miamioh.edu

Romanticize your fall: A guide to cozy media

KATHRYN HIPPE THE MIAMI STUDENT COLUMN

Fall is more than a season; it’s a script. As the harvest season draws near, immerse yourself into the season by reframing the trite, small town of Oxford into a movie set of your making. Whether you’re watching, reading or listening, this season’s media picks can turn an ordinary collegiate week into a romanticized montage — so

light a candle, cue a soundtrack and step into your own narrative with these media must-haves. What to watch: As we trade our summer highs for seasonal depression, let’s fip the script and embrace the season for what it truly is. As the blueprint for cozy fall shows, “Gilmore Girls” combines the best elements of the season into one. Whether born of realistic determination or fctional narration, Rory manages to make the chaos of college an aesthetic to embrace. Fueled by coffee and a hint of academic validation,

grab your nearest chunky sweater and get to studying!

“Vampire Diaries” is the antidote for those craving mystique. Throw on a leather jacket, grab a late-night bite at Skippers and let the shadows of Mystic Falls seep into Oxford’s streets as you wait for someone equally tortured to fnd you under the lamppost.

“Good Will Hunting” is a well-renowned classic, and it is the perfect watch for that mid-college existential spiral when you start asking yourself, “Who am I meant to be?” For anyone convinced they could have gotten their over-priced education from the

library, follow Will as he navigates youth, purpose and a little autumnal love.

What to read: For slower afternoons and the not-so-gentle reminder that books still exist, here are a few reads that pair perfectly with chai, blankets and the kind of gloomy grey skies that are practically begging for a good book.

“The Secret History” involves dark academia, secret societies and the kind of brooding intellect that makes you want to reread your syllabus. It’s a solid read for those who’d rather romanticize their studies without committing to their (actual) required reading, and possibly those in Greek life who survived hazing that was lowkey cult-adjacent.

Yes, “Twilight” was a book frst. For those who think human life is far too mundane, swap your exam-overthinking for Edward Cullen fantasies and, who knows, maybe you just might be swept of your feet this spooky season.

Starry nights, whispered secrets and a foggy, aromatic atmosphere; “The Night Circus” is just the thing to spark a ficker of magic into an ordinary autumn day. This one’s for anyone who’s looked at the Uptown Farmers Market and thought, “This could use some tarot cards and top hats.” What to listen to: Last but certainly not least, tune into your inner monologue with these autumn hits — because what’s a narration without a soundtrack? Let’s be

honest: anything can be fall material, but here are some of my personal favs to queue up in the chilled air.

Fleetwood Mac has plenty of beloved classics for anyone feigning for jazz bars, red nails, cigarettes and black cofee. Tune into “Silver Springs,” “Dreams” and “Rhiannon” for autumn hits of the ages. Sexy, effortless and cultured, Fleetwood Mac is perfect for those curated autumn evenings.

My dad introduced me to Matchbox Twenty, and somehow they remind me of my 2000s teenage-angst era — which is impressive, considering I wasn’t even born yet. Tap into that side of yourself that wants to grab your battered black Converse and air-guitar your way to class. My personal favorites are “Push” and “3AM.”

Tune into classics like “Sweater Weather,” “Softcore” or “Cherry Flavored” from The Neighbourhood for late-night drives and crisp morning vibes. Perfect whether you’re going for a soft background beat or full-on jam session, these hits will have you itching for more.

Let these media must-haves show you how to feel fall — in the music, the mood and the color palettes. Pick your favorites, uncover those underground gems and curate your very own autumn narration.

hippekl@miamioh.edu

Reneé Rapp delivers vocals and the performance of a lifetime at the ‘Bite Me’ tour

STELLA POWERS

EDITOR

CULTURE

COLUMN

Musical theater sensation-turned pop star Reneé Rapp took the stage at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on Oct. 8 to perform her “Bite Me” tour. Rapp was accompanied by Syd, her opening act, who sang her heart out and got the crowd excited for what was to come. Before Rapp took the stage, a pre-recorded video was shown on the screen where she played herself, as well as everyone else in her life. The video features everyone she knows demanding diferent things from her until she fnally snaps, telling them to leave her alone. Rapp opened the show with a snippet of “Everything to Everyone,” a track from her debut EP, transitioning into the hit lead single from her album “Bite Me,” “Leave Me Alone.” She also performed “Kiss It Kiss It,” “Talk Too Much,” “Shy” and more. The setlist also included “Swim,” a

deluxe track from the album “Snow Angel.” During this song, Rapp did a barricade walk around the entire pit, saying hello to her fans. Rapp ended her set with “At Least I’m Hot,” but not before giving a nod to her time in “Mean Girls.” She released a song with Megan Thee Stallion for the “Mean Girls” musical movie called “Not My Fault.” Rapp began playing the beginning of “Not My Fault,” only to transition into a bit halfway through where she decides she doesn’t want to sing the song. Instead, she sang “At Least I’m Hot.” The song features some spoken dialogue by her girlfriend, Towa Bird, which was said by a fan at the show. Rapp had visited that fan earlier in the day at her dorm to flm a TikTok. As soon as the song ended, Rapp left the stage. The show was fantastic and I enjoyed every second of it, but I was surprised by the fact that there wasn’t a single costume change. Rapp left the stage in the same outft she entered in. There was also no encore, which shocked me. I can’t remember the

last show I went to that didn’t have at least a pre-planned encore. Regardless of the lack of costume changes and an encore, the show was fabulous. I went with my family, who had never seen Rapp before, and they were blown away. Her vocals are unmatched — she was born to perform live. Her musical theater and Broadway backgrounds were showcased not only through her vocals, but also through her expressions. Her acting was fantastic.

I frst saw Rapp live in 2023 at the “Snow Hard Feelings” tour in Indianapolis, and while she was wonderful then, the “Bite Me” tour took everything to a new level. Seeing her perform in an arena with a set as opposed to a small concert venue was a huge shift, and she killed it. It wasn’t just a concert — it was a performance, a show. Rapp was able to do it without fashy costume changes, which says a lot about her as a performer.

Rating: 8/10 powers40@miamioh.edu

CULTURE

ELIZA SULLIVAN STAFF WRITER

COLUMN

As I settled down in my dorm room with my Bell Tower gyro bowl and clicked play on my computer, my expectations were low. I was about to watch Sergei Eisenstein’s “Alexander Nevsky,” a 1938 Soviet propaganda flm about a 13th-century Russian prince who defeated the German Teutonic knights, preventing them from invading the kingdom of Russia. This movie was not my frst choice of entertainment that afternoon, but rather part of a homework assignment for the Havighurst Colloquium.

I’m not particularly interested in the Middle Ages, and I don’t like battle stories, so I expected this to be an interesting piece of propaganda and nothing more. But in the midst of the movie, I caught myself rooting for the Russians, hating the invading Germans and becoming genuinely upset when it looked like one of the protagonists was going to die.

Moreover, I didn’t check my phone a single time during the movie. Usually, when I watch a movie, I end

STELLA POWERS

CULTURE EDITOR

COLUMN

Hello again! Welcome back to

“In the editor’s rotation,” the column where I publicly reveal what I’ve been streaming in the weeks prior. As we’ve learned from my past few columns, I’m a bit of a musical theater nerd. However, Taylor Swift released a new album, so I‘ve dedicated a bit of time to listening to that, too. See, I’m capable of changing things up from time to time!

‘Hello, Dolly!’ — Bette Midler, ‘Hello, Dolly!’

It’s easy to overlook the classics for the incredible, fun new musicals being released today, but sometimes an older musical theater tune is just what you need. “Hello, Dolly!” is unbelievably catchy and guaranteed to get stuck in your head, whether you want it to or not.

‘Popular’ — Ariana Grande, ‘Wicked’

I’ve known every word to this song since the seventh grade, and Grande’s version for the “Wicked” movie only made me love it more. She adds such a fun spin to the showtune we all know and love, and it’s the perfect track to lift your spirits and improve your mood.

‘Elizabeth Taylor’ — Taylor Swift

I know “The Life of a Showgirl” was controversial for Swift fans, but personally, I love it. It may not be my favorite album of hers, but “Elizabeth Taylor” is quickly making its way up the list of my favorite Swift songs. My roommate’s mom also loves it, so it has to be good.

‘She Used to Be Mine’ — Jessie Mueller, ‘Waitress’ In high school, “Waitress” was my absolute favorite musical. I saw the show live on my 17th birthday, and it totally changed me. I even chose to sing “She Used to Be Mine” for my senior solo in high school choir. This song has recently re-entered my “on repeat,” and I’m not upset about it. It’s so beautiful.

‘Alive Forever’ — Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard, ‘Death Becomes Her’

I fnally got back to the Lunt-Fontanne to see “Death Becomes Her” and fell in love with this song all over again. It’s so beautifully written and heartfelt, but manages to maintain just the right amount of comedy throughout.

‘Sometimes’ — Reneé Rapp I didn’t immediately fall in love with this track when Rapp released her album, but after hearing it live, I’m obsessed. Her vocals and song-

ends up taking a class in an old movie theater in Los Angeles. The class, Folklore 517: Local Legends and Urban Myths, is taught by a woman called the Professor. The woman spins tales of urban legends and magic that leave Holland curious. In her search for the truth, she meets a local legend called the Watch Man, whose watch tells you when you will die. In their meeting, the Watch Man reveals that she will die tomorrow at midnight, unless she performs a task for him, leading her deeper into a world of magic she never thought possible.

‘Girl Dinner’ by Olivie Blake — Oct. 21 Known for her books “The Atlas Six” and “Alone With You in the Ether,” Blake takes her frst steps into

up doing one of three things: getting distracted by my phone, working on a crochet project or falling asleep.

“Nevsky” was the frst movie I had paid complete attention to in several years. I couldn’t help but ask myself: Why did I like this movie so much? After some self-refection and soul searching, I think I have my answer. First of all, “Nevsky” was original. It was revolutionary for its time — no other Soviet flmmaker would have dared to make a medieval prince into a modern proletarian hero. But this new perspective on the story was refreshing to me.

We’re all aware of the plethora of sequels and remakes that are plaguing theater screens today. IMDB lists 431 “sequels, remakes, reboots, prequels, [and] spin-ofs” made or announced in the last seven years. I have been craving something fresh, and this movie from the 1930s was exactly what I was looking for.

“Nevsky” is also easy to follow. I can appreciate a symbolic movie rife with deeper meaning and societal critiques, but if the movie doesn’t also have an entertaining, easy-to-understand plot, I get bored fast.

This doesn’t mean the movie

has to be simple — I enjoyed “Fight Club,” which is known for its twist reveal and thought-provoking plot, because it is easy to follow from scene to scene. The characters’ motivations are clear, and I understand why each scene is happening. When watching newly released movies, I often fnd myself wondering: What is the point of this scene? Or worse, what was the point of that movie? “Nevsky” doesn’t fall into that trap — every scene moves the plot forward in some way, and it has a satisfying ending.

I have never taken a flm studies class, so I’m aware my critiques might be simple, or that I might be missing the deeper meaning behind certain movies. However, from a layman’s perspective, I think movies should be entertaining, not just artistic. “Nevsky” was created with the proletariat in mind; it was meant to be consumed and enjoyed by the common man. I am included in that audience, and I enjoyed it immensely.

Rating: 9.5/10

sullivei@miamioh.edu

writing are unmatched, and I’m so glad she’s fnally starting to get the recognition she deserves.

‘The Fate of Ophelia’ — Taylor Swift

The lead single from “The Life of a Showgirl,” “The Fate of Ophelia” didn’t become an instant favorite of mine; however, seeing the music video in a movie theater, as well as hearing the inspiration behind the song and what all went into it, I’m obsessed. Unfortunately for my Spotify stats, Swift’s album has very quickly infltrated my streams.

‘Nobody’s Son’ — Sabrina Carpenter

This song has been a bop since day one, but her performance of it on “Saturday Night Live” really helped solidify what a great song it is. Despite being controversial, “Man’s Best Friend” is a fun, catchy album flled with hit after hit. Carpenter can’t miss.

‘No One Ever Leaves a Star’ — Nicole Scherzinger and Tom Francis, ‘Sunset Boulevard’

I fear my “Sunset Boulevard” obsession is still ongoing. Scherzinger’s performance of this specifc number gives me chills every time. I’m obsessed with her portrayal of Norma Desmond.

powers40@miamioh.edu

the horror genre with “Girl Dinner.” In the novel, everyone’s lives coincide with The House, the home of the most exclusive sorority on campus. Nina Kaur, a sophomore, hopes that her newfound sisterhood will protect her from the future, all while Dr. Sloane Hartley, The House’s academic liaison, revels in the alumnae’s wealth and power.

However, it is not until they both discover the sorority’s arcane rituals that they realize that being invited to the table comes at a price.

‘The Tortoise’s Tale’ by Kendra Coulter — Nov. 4

After being taken from her home, a giant tortoise fnds shelter on the grounds of a wealthy estate in southern California. For generations, the tortoise, named Magic, watches as the estate and the world change around her — encountering social, economic and environmental changes. It’s heartbreaking. It’s uplifting. It’s human. What more could a person ask for?

‘Cold Wire’ by Chloe Gong — Nov. 4 In a dystopian world, people live

HAILEY CRAVER THE MIAMI STUDENT

COLUMN

Din Tai Fung (DTF) has risen to international fame, thanks in part to its viral popularity on TikTok. The restaurant is best known for its delicate xiao long bao (soup dumplings) and other dim sum specialties. Din Tai Fung has locations in just seven states — New York, California, Washington, Arizona, Oregon and Nevada — and other international locations. Over fall break, I had the chance to visit its Las Vegas location.

Our reservation was at 9:15 p.m. on a Saturday, and the place was still packed, with many people still waiting for a table. My friends and I had done a lot of research on the must-try dishes.

Our waitress came by and was very helpful, and recommended, of course, the xiao long bao. We ended up ordering string beans, cucumber salad, sweet and sour pork, baby back ribs, korobuta pork xiao long bao, chicken spicy wontons, noodles with spicy sauce and chicken fried rice.

The dishes arrived almost immediately and were served as soon as they were ready. Within fve minutes of ordering, our entire table was flled with food. For the soup dumplings, our waitress explained to us that we had to make a special sauce for them. In our sauce tray with strips of ginger already in it, we added vinegar, soy sauce and chili crunch for dipping.

The dumplings were perfect. It made it even better that we could watch the chefs through a window, wrapping each and every dumpling before they were plated. The dumplings were soft and juicy and were a fan favorite at my table. The sauce defnitely boosted the favor as well.

The cucumbers and garlic string beans were light and fresh. The cucumbers were marinated in fresh garlic with sesame oil and the signature DTF chili oil. The string beans, which were coated with minced garlic, had a rich umami favor and were simple yet delicious.

The sweet and sour pork baby

back ribs might have been my favorite menu item. They were so tender and coated in the DTF house-made sweet and sour sauce; an absolute musthave if you get the chance to go.

The spicy chicken wontons were probably my least favorite out of everything, but they were still delicious. They were marinated in the DTF house spicy sauce and topped with garlic and green onion.

The chicken fried rice – a classic – was also delicious and was one of the best fried rice dishes I have ever had. They toss the rice over high heat to enhance the light favors, and it shows. The noodles with spicy sauce were one of the things I was most excited to try. The sauce was very spicy (so beware), and the noodles were house-made thin egg noodles. Another simple, yet satisfying dish. Obviously, we couldn’t leave without trying a dessert. We decided to get the chocolate and mochi xiao long bao with the sea salt creme foam. And, wow. The perfect way to end the meal. The dumplings literally burst with chocolate, and the sea salt was the perfect dip to balance the sweetness.

I went with four friends and we shared everything. It ended up being $40 per person, with tip and tax included – defnitely worth the price and the experience.

In conclusion – yes, Din Tai Fung lived up to its hype and then some. From the famous dumplings to the inventive dessert, every dish felt carefully crafted. It’s easy to see why this restaurant has become such a phenomenon — both online and in real life.

Rating: 9.5/10

craverhj@miamioh.edu

in two societies: in the upcountry, a sparkling virtual reality that allows citizens to live in a digital world, or in the downcountry, the real world that has been ravaged by rising seas and uncontrollable epidemics. If you can aford a subscription to the virtual world, you have access to all that the upcountry has to ofer.

However, it is far from perfect. Even in a digital society, a cold war between two powerful nations, Medaluo and Atahua, threatens to upend the lives of average citizens and orphans, who are required to enroll at Nile Military Academy. In their journey just to survive, two orphans begin to understand that their lives are the cogs of a powerful conspiracy, and it is up to them to solve it.

‘Brigands & Breadknives’ by Travis Baldree — Nov. 11

In the world of complex fantasies, why not read one that doesn’t leave you still confused halfway through the book (says a certifed fantasy lover)?

Back in the cozy atmosphere of “Legends and Lattes,” this book follows Fern, the foul-mouthed book-

seller, as she moves to the city of Thune to open up a new store next to her friend’s cofee shop. She hopes to live a nice, comfortable life with her books and maybe even get a nice renovation of the store. That is her plan, until she wakes up from a drunken night miles away from home, and in the company of a legendary warrior and chaos-loving goblin. In their company, Fern learns to reconnect with the person she is without the stress of her job.

‘Before I Forget’ by Tory Henwood Hoen — Dec. 2 Following her father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, 26-year-old Cricket Campbell is not exactly taking adult life easy. After moving back into her family’s lakeside house, Cricket realizes that as her father loses the past, he is able to predict the future. However, as Cricket listens to her dad’s prophecies, she recalls a past she had shut away a long time ago, and she realizes that the only way to move forward is to go back.

pedenae@miamioh.edu

Restoring the magic: Why our public libraries should not be defunded

LAYLA NORRIS

THE MIAMI STUDENT

Growing up, a core location in my life was the local public library. My grandma would pack a bag and let my brother and me roam free through the shelves. The kids’ section had puzzles and puppets. I would fnd a book about fairies or princesses, nes-

tle into a beanbag and immerse myself in the fantasy world. Libraries foster a certain kind of childhood magic no other place can achieve. However, these important establishments are in danger. In March, the new Department of Government Efciency (DOGE) began to cut federal funding for the Institute of Museum and Library

Services, which is vital to public libraries. These grants help provide a large portion of their overall budget in order to stay open. If these funds are reduced, it puts them, especially smaller libraries located in more rural areas, at a major risk of closing. Ohio is specifcally at risk of these cuts.

The state budget for fscal year 2026-2027 is proposing a $25 million budget cut for funding public libraries in Ohio. With this large loss in funding, libraries would have an increasingly difcult time remaining open and funding their resources and activities. Funding for these institutions is essential – they are pillars of society and have a great impact on people everywhere, of all ages.

Libraries are a vital public service and play an important role in education. They ofer free and easily accessible learning opportunities to the public, and they allow people who do not have the privilege of receiving adequate education or educational resources to fnd such opportunities in one place, for little to no cost.

Libraries are a hub of infnite information.

The books, computers and people within libraries can provide more educational insight and help than most other public places in the world. This access to free education is a public service we cannot lose in our society.

There has been a recent trend of declining literacy rates in the Unit-

ed States. In 2024, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), approximately 34% of fourth-grade students are below the basic reading level. This is quite a substantial percentage, and it raises alarms over literacy rates in our schools.

Ensuring that public libraries remain open is one sure way of increasing reading levels. Encouraging kids to read and giving them free access to do so is vital for their education.

Creativity is also fostered in public libraries. With the broad range of content, there are endless possibilities of what knowledge one can consume. The seemingly infnite shelves hold countless genres, authors, characters and stories just waiting to be discovered. This allows people to go beyond the knowledge they know and discover new possibilities.

Public libraries create a safe and magical place for children to fnd sanctuary in. A majority focus their audience towards children, and they do not center solely around books. When I was a child, my public library hosted craft activities, plays and even a worm race. Activities such as these open young children to broader horizons and allow new opportunities they would not have otherwise. It also creates a safe place for them to express their creativity and emotions and be encouraged to do so.

Public libraries have always been

a staple in U.S. towns. They are integral to education, creativity and childhood development. It is increasingly important for people everywhere to continue and support our public libraries.

The Oxford Lane Library is close and accessible to everyone. I encourage people everywhere to continue to visit your public library, show your support and ensure this vital institution stays alive within our society. norrisl3@miamioh.edu

Diet culture and the misinformation about nutrition on social media

MARIA BUZOGANY

THE MIAMI STUDENT

Imagine yourself scrolling through TikTok and fnding out that the Cheerios you eat every morning are slowly killing your gut microbiome, seed oils are causing infammation and that quinoa is a poverty-level peasant food spawned by misinformed radical vegans. While this may sound alarming, never fear because the “holistic nutritionist” claims that a multi-day juice cleanse, a 1,200 calorie defcit or consuming only raw milk and red meat are the perfect liver detoxing and gut healing diet you will ever need.

Does this sound familiar? Infuencers on social media apps such as TikTok and Instagram are spread-

ing misinformation about nutrition and instilling fear into the lives of consumers. Their promotion of “diet culture” encourages food restriction, idealization of thinness, glorifcation of weight loss and stigmatization of certain body types through their persistent guilt-inducing messages.

A systematic review published by the National Library of Medicine concluded that 48.8% of the quality and 48.9% of the accuracy of nutrition-related information were low across various social media websites. The study also concluded that information related to weight loss or supplements received a larger proportion of false information and inaccuracy compared to other topics.

Dr. Paul Branscum, a professor in the Kinesiology, Nutrition and Health Department at Miami University with a doctor of philosophy degree in health promotion and education, teaches topics related to public health behavior change and nutrition. He said how the misinformation about nutrition on social media afects college students, particularly those with nutritional goals.

“Achieving specifc diet-related goals, such as gaining muscle mass, will be a very difcult endeavor,” Branscum said. “So if a social media infuencer says something you want to hear, you are more willing to listen and accept it without actually verifying or fact-checking the information.”

TikTok’s algorithm-driven content prioritizes short, engaging videos flled with buzzwords, eye-catching infographics and emotionally related content, allowing infuencers to

forsake evidence and credibility for views. This undermines the trust in public health professionals and science-backed interventions.

“The question becomes, ‘How accessible professionals, such as your primary care physician or dietitian, are?’” Branscum said. “The internet is often in our backpockets, and if we are hearing information we want to hear very easily, it can become rewarding very quickly; this will allow us to ignore seeking professional advice.”

Virginia Willard, the vice president of the Student Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics on campus, is a nutritional educator for Talawanda’s Oxford Pantry & Social Services. She provides nutritionally backed information on her Instagram, @simplyhealthywith_v, and explains how students idolize infuencers on social media.

“I educated students on ftness during a debunking food myths event at the seal, and it was shocking how many students fall for misinformation on social media,” Willard said. “For example, students actively wash their poultry, which spreads bacteria, adopt fad diets such as the keto diet or restrict their carb intake while actively trying to gain muscle mass.”

Willard also said the number of followers or views a creator has can create a false sense of credibility.

“Students will blindly follow someone who spreads myths about gluten, dairy or the consumption of sugar just because they have a large following, thinking that if the infuencer is restricting certain food

WHITNEY WILSON-HARRIS THE MIAMI STUDENT

You may be familiar with the waves of students that line the sidewalks on campus during the “peak times.” We’re all going to or coming from the same place: an academic building, a dining hall, King Library or maybe Armstrong Student Center. I’m much like the other students that are in these waves, with one exception: when I get to my fnal destination, I can’t take the stairs if the elevator takes too long or is too full, or use a regular bathroom stall if the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant one is occupied. If I’m driving to class or my job at the Recreation Center (likely as I’m a commuter student), I can’t just park in any open parking spot. If I’m riding the buses around campus, I can’t just sit in any open seat or board through the back door because everyone else went through the front door.

Too many times, I’ve waited way too long for the elevator, only to fnd it full of students who could have taken the stairs. Several times, when I’ve been eating in the dining halls, I’ve witnessed the able-bodied student workers go straight to the ADA stall in the bathrooms, despite me being in the process of maneuvering to it in my wheelchair.

I’ve also had to call the Miami University Police Department far too many times because people parked in the handicapped parking spots

groups from their diet, they should too,” Willard said. “However, you should treat nutrition as a personal thing; it’s a personal plan.”

It’s appalling how frequently exclusion diets and detoxes promote unrealistic, hypothetical, magical transformations that are ultimately unachievable, leading only to a continued sense of failure and dissatisfaction. Growing up in a digitized world, I often found myself falling for false promises and disordered eating plans that led to continued mental stress and guilt.

So, how can we stay safe from all the misinformation circulating in the media?

Willard said she advises students to actively look for keywords such as dietitian, or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), who are recognized medical professionals whereas nutritionists are a self-proclaimed title. She also recommends students utilize the resources ofered on campus, such as the weekly Lunch and Learns in Phillips Hall from noon to 1 p.m. or through consultations with the campus dietitians. Branscum said there are multiple options and ways for students to accomplish their goals.

“The best way to achieve nutritional goals, such as weight loss, is to fnd a method that works for you,” Branscum said. “And if you are having a hard time fnding that through your lifestyle, it is benefcial to try diferent methods: seeking support systems, professional help or surgical and medical options. There are a lot of options out there, so it is important

without a placard. Oftentimes, this was the last accessible spot, and I not only depend on them because of my disability, but also because I drive a van that is accessible for my power wheelchair. Without these spots, I cannot park and get in and out of my own vehicle.

Riding the bus around campus should make things easier on me, but that isn’t always the case: most of the time, despite the driver’s instructions, students – and some grown adults – storm the front door, where the ramp is, leaving me to board last. If they step on the ramp while it is deploying, the fuse blows, and it won’t work unless the driver operates it manually. I don’t mind if this happens when I’m getting of the bus, but I’ve been soaked in the rain one too many times. Additionally, people tend to go straight for the seats in the front of the bus, which are reserved for those with disabilities. Those seats lift up so that mobility devices (wheelchairs) can be safely secured. I cannot ride anywhere else but there, as it’s both against the law and unsafe for me to ride without my chair being secured. This becomes the diference in me being on time for class or work and being late. It is not my intention to call out those who have invisible disabilities. When I’m not using my wheelchair (I

and

to do your homework and research.” I wish I could tell younger me that the promotion of diet culture was not worth my time or energy, but only caused restrictive eating habits and poor mental health. Our media is saturated with harmful dietary choices and eating behaviors, so it is important to learn how to avoid these false perceptions of health. Remember – if you are ever struggling with nutrition, it is always OK to seek out professional help or someone you trust.

buzogamc@miamioh.edu

Maria

wilso724@miamioh.edu

OPINION

Miami: You’re a liberal arts college, not a polytechnic institute

ABE HAGOOD

THE MIAMI STUDENT

“I am Miami,” voices echo around the stadium at the convocation, as frst-year students recite the Code of Love and Honor, a pledge designed to instill the values of the university into its pupils.

“I believe that a liberal education is grounded in qualities of character and intellect,” but does Miami University’s administration agree?

Recently, Miami has pushed to defund and sideline this liberal arts education, even in a time when the threat of artifcial intelligence (AI) is making it more important. The university constantly touts its liberal arts education and its status as “public ivy.”

In September, the university published an article about its placement in a new college search guidebook, “Dream School,” by author Jef Selingo. The book discusses how the “Miami Plan’s core curriculum gives students in all majors the fexibility to take 27 credits across the humanities, the sciences and global perspectives.” Despite this, the administration has continuously pushed to defund and sideline the humanities.

Earlier this year, the university implemented its new budget system. The new system changes how funding for departments is calculated. Now, 40% of instructional revenue will be given to a student’s primary major, a large increase from the 25% set aside previously. This means that a department will get far less funding for offering courses to students from other majors, emphasizing ones that mostly ofer courses to its own students and punishing ones that participate heavily in the Miami Plan.

In doing so, the university incentivises the destruction of the very liberal arts program it holds so closely to its identity.

This is only the most recent efort from the university to defund the humanities. In 2023, the university pushed to eliminate or consolidate humanities majors they saw as having “low enrollment,” a move which was met with backlash from students

and faculty. Furthermore, the Division of University Advancement, which facilitates fundraising for the university, has clearly sidelined the humanities.

Its current campaign, which hopes to bring in $1 billion for the university, has four cornerstones for the future, which include scholarships, business and entrepreneurship, clinical health sciences and digital innovation and technology. These cornerstones sound far closer to those of a polytechnic institution than a liberal arts university.

This trend isn’t unique to Miami. Similar changes have been implemented at other institutions around the country. The University of Tulsa, for example, also blamed economic reasons when it attempted to defund its own liberal education programs in 2019, a move that went so poorly it led to massive student backlash and a vote of no confdence in the president and provost.

While the university hasn’t said exactly why they are implementing these changes, it stands to reason that it, like many other universities, is following the trend of the growing economic importance of the tech sector, which is now responsible for over 50% of the S&P 500’s total return, according to the New York Times.

But a high market share is not always correlated with a high number of jobs in the sector, and even as the number of graduates with computer science degrees continues to grow, the number of jobs has vastly shrunk. According to TechCrunch, just last year, 150,000 people were laid of in the tech industry, in large part due to the threat of AI on computer science jobs.

If Miami wants to capitalize on the computer science trend, it is 20 years too late. The threat of AI has had an apparent dampening on enrollment in computer science degrees, which had quadrupled between 2005 and 2023 but is now starting to slow. The Atlantic reported that this year, enrollment only grew by 0.2%. jobs in creative and academic industries are inherently safer from the threat of AI, making them more attractive for stu-

dents entering higher education.

Even for jobs in the tech sector, it’s clear that technical skills alone will not set students apart in the job market. Students increasingly need to develop soft skills and focus on the human things that AI can’t do. In other words, students need to focus on the aptly named humanities.

Miami continues to advertise one kind of education to students while displaying another when fundraising and building the budget. Searching for over one billion dollars to transform the university into a completely diferent kind of institution. As one university senator said at the annual budget symposium this summer, “I understand you need to stay aware of national trends, but if we only inform Miami’s future to follow what others are doing, we’re going to lose what makes it special.”

If the administration continues down this path, humanities faculty and students may fnd themselves pushed further onto the sidelines in increasingly compressed and defunded majors while STEM majors graduate into oversaturated job markets without any humanities-based skills to help them stand out.

hagooda@miamioh.edu

About Abe Hagood

Abe Hagood is a frst-year student double-majoring in emerging technology in business and design and creative writing. He is a member of the Miami Game Design Club and Miami YDSA.

The gift of guilt

JACOB VAN RIPER THE MIAMI STUDENT

“No guilt, no apologies.”

“Protect your peace.”

“You don’t owe anyone an explanation.”

I began noticing these types of phrases this past summer, on posts, in conversations and even in how people talk about relationships. They sounded uplifting – and sometimes they are – but something felt of about it.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized how easily those messages can turn into excuses to stop looking inward. Life moves fast, and most of us don’t have the time or patience to sit and contemplate our negative feelings. So we tell ourselves these things, even when uneasiness leaks out.

Sometimes, we’ll drown ourselves in school or sports, trying to escape what we don’t want to face. We may also vent to friends who will tell us exactly what we want to hear, not what we need to hear. Some even turn that avoidance outwards, breaking meaningful relationships and shutting people out entirely. Somewhere along the way, the line between healing and hiding got blurry. We’ve gotten good at not fnding peace, but constructing illusions of it. We push out regret, sadness and uncertainty, but they don’t go away. Every emotion, no matter how nuanced or uncomfortable, exists for a reason, and therein lies a lesson to be learned.

We rarely see it that way. More and more, it feels like we’ve started pathologizing guilt and pain. We mistake emotions for symptoms and look for quick ways to fx them, as if something must be wrong with us because we feel.

We all do this in diferent ways. Emotional avoidance often hides behind self-righteous language. We justify what we feel guilty for, just so we don’t have to feel bad. We paint people as toxic, not because it’s true, but because it makes our decisions easier to live with. It’s a lot easier to rewrite a complicated story than to admit we were at fault.

Without catching yourself, you can quickly build up an identity around your wounds. The vultures from the past convince us that we’re always victims of circumstance. But guilt prompts us to do the opposite, and to take ownership.

Of course, mental health matters, but so does accountability. There’s nothing noble about refusing to feel bad when you’ve done wrong, and nothing healthy about wallowing in guilt either. It’s about striking that healthy balance of guilt that lies between arrogance and shame.

Guilt hurts, and it’s supposed to – but it’s also a tool. It points to where we fault and where we’re weak, and ofers us a chance to grow in those areas. By facing our guilt and mistakes honestly, we can use that pain as a catalyst for actual personal growth. If you’ve hurt someone, genuinely apologize to them. If you’ve been hurt by someone, forgive them. Recognize where you’re not living up to your potential and take action. It’s not easy, but guilt can be harnessed as the exact motivation we need to push past our hesitancies and actually better ourselves. It’s easier said than done, and I’m still working on this, too. It’s a constant battle to resist the human instinct to fee from discomfort, but what’s important is that we try. I invite you to join me in doing just that, in trying to embrace the gift of guilt, because we are not made for comfort, but for greatness.

vanripjl@miamioh.edu

The unavoidable politicization in modern space exploration

CHARLEY BABB THE MIAMI STUDENT

I’ve had a love for space exploration for as long as I can remember. I was the kid who wore NASA shirts and talked about the Apollo program to anyone that would listen. I distinctly remember watching rocket launches in my middle school library with classmates and arguing about the space shuttle. Something about staring up into the stars and dreaming about other planets, our future way out there, captivated me. The idea of humanity spreading into the galaxy, seeing how far we can go, entranced me. It also aggravated me, because we weren’t there yet.

The Apollo program ended in the ’70s, and humans have not left low Earth orbit a single time since Apollo 17 in 1972. We made immense progress and did what no one thought was possible, but we have betrayed that legacy. The shuttle trapped humanity in low orbit, and a chronic underfunding of NASA did even more damage. In a better world, humanity would be much farther into the stars.

So, I got excited when I frst heard of a company called SpaceX, or Space Exploration Technologies Corporation. Its stated mission, from day one, has been to “make life interplanetary.” By the time I learned of it, it was no longer the scrappy underdog of an industry that barely existed – it was vertically landing rocket boosters

on ships and pads and rapidly scaling up its production.

I was impressed. It seemed like an organization that was fnally righting the wrongs of the American space program, and even if it was a private company rather than a governmental organization like NASA, I was excited. It was doing good work, and some really impressive things.

For a number of years, I stayed impressed. I was fascinated by the company and dreamed of one day working there, helping to build that interplanetary future that it promised.

But, as years passed, cracks began to show. While SpaceX has remained fairly apolitical and out of the spotlight, it became caught up in the absolute mess that was its founder, Elon Musk. To put it lightly, the man is divisive. Between throwing his weight into anti-transgender advocacy, buying X, formerly known as Twitter, backing President Donald Trump and then doing full-on Nazi salutes on stage, he has become a lot of things –a lot of things I don’t agree with, and a lot of things I fnd disgusting. Suddenly, just as SpaceX was beginning to test Starship (it’s 400-foot tall, stainless steel mars rocket), it became difcult to support. By watching and talking about SpaceX, people began to assume I liked the other

things that Musk came to represent.

He turned the dream of space, that apolitical calling that so many people have shared for decades, into a divisive right-wing ideology. It makes it hard to be enthusiastic. It’s hard to appreciate the good that the company has done and acknowledge the scientifc progress it has made. The company has done things that even I, who has been watching the company’s streams and social media feeds for years, found to be almost unbelievable. Not only is it the single largest launch provider on the planet, outmatching the entire rest of the world combined with the cadence of their launches, it lands boosters to be reused. It’s not even just landing; the booster for the Starship, fttingly named Superheavy, isn’t landed for reuse, it’s caught. SpaceX caught a 230-foot tall, 30foot in diameter rocket booster out of the air at the same pad it just took of at. There is no way to spin that that isn’t wildly impressive and borderline unbelievable.

It’s hard to separate the art from the artist, and this is no diferent. My enthusiasm may be tempered by the knowledge of what else is happening, what horrible things Musk is doing, but I am not going to let my happiness fade.

that

babbce@miamioh.edu

Efforts underway to soften local water

The City of Oxford’s Water Treatment and Distribution Division serves over 22,500 customers, providing water to Miami University as well as Oxford homes and businesses.

Todd Kehr, Oxford’s Water Treatment Manager, describes a typical work day as performing daily water sample tests, which include documenting water pumped the day before and keeping a general overview and maintenance of the plant.

“We test chlorine and fuoride on a daily basis,” Kehr said. “There are other chemicals required by the [Environmental Protection Agency] that

we test for on a quarterly basis.”

Faculty of the treatment plant ensure the safety and quality of Oxford’s drinking water through the use of rapid sand flters and a water booster station located near Contreras Road. These systems help remove possible contaminants from the supply and maintain adequate water pressure for drinking and distributing Oxford’s water. While the quality of domestic water is clean and safe, the hardness of Oxford’s water still causes some concern from students. Kehr said the city has begun early engineering of a water softener system to help ease these concerns.

“It’s in the very early stages,” Kehr said, “but it is a project that the city is working on and looking forward to getting started.”

This water softener would remove more hard minerals like calcium and magnesium from the water used by residents. Benefts of removal include better protection from mineral buildup, reducing maintenance costs and increasing the efciency of water heaters, boilers and other equipment. Water softeners also improve cleaning as soaps and detergents are more soluble in soft water than hard water.

Until the water softener is put in place, Oxford residents can use some simple techniques to combat hard

water, such as making homemade cleaning solutions and buying utility modifcations.

The addition of baking soda or vinegar to washing machines can help prevent damage to clothes by breaking down hard water minerals; however, caution should be taken for this method, as some clothing materials don’t react well to baking soda or vinegar.

The use of citrus when cleaning can help dissolve hard water minerals through natural acidity. This means residents can create their own natural cleaning solution by mixing water with a squeeze of lemon juice. The most common ways to combat Ox-

ford’s hard water include installing a shower head and water flters, like Caldwell and her roommates did.

Kehr emphasized the importance of keeping clean and high quality water for Oxford residents.

“I’ll just reiterate the amount of efort and pride that the operators put into maintaining this plan,” Kehr said, “to ensure that the distribution department keeps up on the testing and systems.”

The City of Oxford looks forward to this new addition, as do many students and staf at Miami.

feeta@miamioh.edu

51st annual Hefner Lecture: Prehistoric predators, using the past to inform our future

VENEZIA MCHENRY STAFF WRITER

Larisa DeSantis, a vertebrate paleontologist, spoke at Miami University at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 16, for the 51st annual Hefner Lecture. During the lecture, DeSantis discussed her research on saber-tooth cats, dire wolves, coyotes and pizzly bears.

Steven Sullivan, director of the Hefner Museum of Natural History, started the lecture by noting the importance of this event and how it aligns with the mission of the museum – to connect people to nature.

Sullivan said the annual Hefner Lecture ofcially began 51 years ago, but before that, Miami professors brought in scientists from across the nation to talk in their kitchens and parlors about various scientifc topics. Fifty-one years ago, these conversations were opened to the public to enjoy and learn from.

DeSantis started presenting her research by introducing her connection to science, animals and nature.

“We have a solid understanding and knowledge [that] climate change is real,” DeSantis said. “My aim is to clarify biotic responses to climate change, and how animals and plants are responding with climate change.”

Much of DeSantis’ research focused on the La Brea Tar pits, an active research site and museum in Los Angeles.

DeSantis said that La Brea represents the last 50,000 years of history. During this time, the climate changed, people came into the landscape and some animals went extinct.

“The La Brea Tar Pits [are] a really special place,” DeSantis said. “In part, because of the fact that it’s a ‘tar’ seep so it traps animals in a unique way, much like fies on food paper.”

She went on to discuss how teeth and morphology can reveal a lot about the extinction of many prehistoric animals. She said the chemistry of the teeth can help scientists understand what animals were eating. For example, some animals were eating grass and fesh, while others ate seeds, tubers and bones.

DeSantis presented a data graph of broken teeth in animals she has studied and how it could reveal how they lived at La Brea. The graph showed that for modern wolves, coyotes and lions, only about 5% of the teeth are broken. However, fossil coyotes, American lions, saber-toothed cats and dire wolves had higher rates of 10% to 30% of canines broken. The idea of “tough times” came about following a paper published by Blaire Van Valkenburgh in 1993 that cited the animals at La Brea must have been competing with humans for prey, resulting in the broken canines. Through her research, DeSantis said she questioned this theory because of the lack of stress indicators to prove this and her fndings that many predators’ teeth were more likely to have been broken through hunting larger prey.

Lastly, DeSantis covered the idea of hybridization and that the polar bear and grizzly bear hybrid – a “pizzly” or “grolar” bear – may be bringing hope for the polar bear species in a warming climate. She said the hybrid may be able to withstand the weather changes and expand its diet

to survive.

DeSantis ended with a message that tied up the purpose of her research.

“It’s really important to study our past, and whether that be our historic past or prehistoric past, it’s important to understand the context of diferent ways that things are changing,” DeSantis said. “I also want to end with the importance of museums such as this, where the collection is saved when you study. You never know what new technologies and new techniques can bring to studying old specimens and telling new stories.”

Katie Middleton, a junior biology major, said she attended the lecture last year and loves that she learns something new every time she goes.

“This time around, I didn’t even know what a pizzly bear was.” Middleton said, “so it’s kind of interesting to learn what that was and that they’re fertile, which is amazing because you never really see animals like hybrids that are fertile.”

Ashley Sideri, a junior zoology major, said she heard about the lecture when DeSantis came to her mammalogy class, BIO 510.

“It’s inspiring that we can use the past to predict the future,” Sideri said. “There’s so much information you can unpack from the past in order to help conserve the species today.”

After the lecture, Sullivan invited the audience to a reception in the Hefner museum, where new taxidermy specimens were unveiled, such as a polar bear and saber-tooth cat.

mchenrvg@miamioh.edu

mission, shared some of his concerns.

A

in their homes when the system is under stress during peak hours. For example, utility providers could turn of a hot water heater for a brief period of time or slightly raise your thermostat if many people in

your neighborhood are blasting their air conditioners on a 95 degree day, in order to relieve pressure on the grid. Consumers have the option to opt-in to these programs and be compensated through credits or a fee. The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) would set and oversee these rates. Additionally, utility companies may beneft. They can sell “saved” electricity demand and utilize proceeds to fund consumer credits. Voluntary demand response programs aren’t just useful for companies and consumers, they also have a positive environmental impact. By lowering demand during temporary pauses to service, utilities relieve strain on the grid. Utility companies can prevent reliance on extra fossil fuel plants,

meaning fewer greenhouse gas emissions and reduced air pollution. In essence, it’s energy conservation through crowdsourcing.

“I don’t really think about my energy setup much,” said Akua Osei-Bobie, a junior strategic communications major living of campus. “But if my utility provider could adjust my [air conditioning] a little during peak hours and I got a credit for it, I’d defnitely sign up.”

Osei-Bobie’s willingness to participate illustrates the potential of voluntary demand response programs to support a more sustainable energy system while giving consumers a fnancial incentive.

“It seems like an easy way to save some money and do something good for the environment without really

changing my routine,” Osei-Bobie said. However, not everyone is convinced of these programs’ efectiveness, and some raise concerns about equity and privacy. Darek Sanabria Valderrama, a ffth-year political science major and recent renter in Oxford, shares some of these worries.

“I like the energy efciency principles behind this,” Valderrama said. “I’m just not sure if I like giving away control over my appliances. It seems like it could be frustrating.” Renters, students and low-income households may not see as much of a return as wealthier homeowners who have larger appliances or central heating. Jim Vinch, an adjunct professor at Miami and member of Oxford’s board of environmental com-

“Primarily homeowners with central air and newer appliances are the ones who’ll qualify and reap the benefts, while renters and lower-income families who often live in older housing may be left out entirely – that’s a problem,” Vinch said. “The people who could really use the bill credits are the least likely to have control over their appliances” Ultimately, H.B. 427 is a matter of decision, since participation is optional. Customers have the right to opt out or override actions, but their

The better boyfriend alternative

Wet pants: How NOT to react when facing a fake Jason

ANA ELIZA DE MELO GARCIA THE MIAMI STUDENT

Halloween is one of the most anticipated holidays in America—it’s the one night a year (I’m so Mean Girls today) when kids (or people) go crazy and do exactly what they’re told not to do the other 364 days: take candy from complete strangers.

In many countries, this tradition is still weird. People don’t go around knocking on doors in costume asking for sugar handouts. But in the U.S.? It’s basically a national sport — the winner is whoever gets closer to diabetes. And of course, like all good American customs, Halloween didn’t stay put. It spread around the world faster than pumpkin spice lattes in October — the ones people count the days for. Nowadays, everyone wants to dress up — whether it’s as a bloodsoaked zombie (seriously?), a sexy vampire (why?) or just their favorite TV character with absolutely no effort.

When I was 14, I didn’t expect that isolated places in faraway countries would treat Halloween like an Oscars-level commitment.

It was a pitch-black night. No stars. No moon. Just a bunch of kids

sitting under a tree on a dimly lit street, swapping horror stories like it was our version of therapy. There were about 10 of us, sitting crosslegged on the sidewalk like a low-budget version of Stranger Things. Every story was more terrifying than the last: aliens, ghosts, haunted houses and even creatures from Brazilian folklore (because what’s scarier than something your grandma swears actually happened when she was 10?).

Fear does weird things to your brain. It’s like your senses go full ninja mode — every rustle is a serial killer, every breeze is a whisper from beyond. And just as we were all leaning in to hear one last spooky tale, it happened.

We didn’t notice the man step into the street. He was wearing a Jason mask and had a fake chainsaw that sounded way too real—like it had been bought from a store that does not ask questions. I wonder if that was even from a costume store?

One second, we were telling ghost stories, and the next, it was The Purge: Neighborhood Edition.

We scattered like cockroaches when the lights came on — screaming, some even wetting themselves (I won’t name names — mostly because I was one of them), and ran in com-

CONNOR OVIATT HUMOR

EDITOR

For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of meeting me, you may not know that I am a member of Short King Nation. Rather than being ashamed of my diminutive stature, I lean into it, often for a cheap joke. The Halloween season is no diferent, as my most notorious costume was dressing up as Mike Wazowski (while my 6-foot, 230-pound roommate was Sully). It was electric. However, I think that dressing up as Wazowski (and SpongeBob, and Danny Devito) is overdone. So, this year, I went on a deep search for the best costumes for those of us who live a little closer to the ground.

Lord Farquaad and Napoleon

I’m putting these two guys in the same group. Before you yell at me, I KNOW Lord Farquaad is overdone. I don’t care. He’s my chosen character for this year, and my nickname in high school was Farquaad, so I feel as though I have the right to rep the man (plus my roommate is painting his body green to be Shrek, which will be a sight to behold).

For those of you who want to be a little more unique, go with Napoleon. Not only does he represent the overcompensating that we all do, but being extra enough to dress up as Napoleon will show that you have a Napoleon complex. Nobody REALLY cares if you have an overdone costume (unless you go as the Lorax), plus arguing that you chose Napoleon for his bravery and success really shows that you aren’t confdent.

Just accept that short jokes are funny.

Yoda

For how cool Yoda is, I think he is criminal-

pletely diferent directions like it was a chaotic game of tag. One kid fell and scraped both knees. Another tried to climb a bush (a bush? Are you joking?).

And all the while, this dude — this Halloween psychopath wannabe — was just standing there, cackling like a Disney villain, clearly having the time of his life. And as he’d mysteriously appeared, he vanished into the darkness — probably to go scare another group of emotionally fragile kids or teenagers. Eventually, after half an hour of mutual trauma counseling and group denial — or just 30 minutes — we mustered the courage to investigate. We crossed the street to the spot where “Jason” had popped out — only to fnd more masked people on the other side of the bridge, waiting like some twisted haunted welcoming committee.

Apparently, their goal was to scare us and anyone else they could fnd. And well… mission accomplished.

As I touched my pants and felt the unmistakable dampness, I realized: they didn’t just scare the pants of me, they just updated my trauma list.

demeloa@miamioh.edu

ly underrated as a Halloween costume. I’ve only seen one of two people rep the coolest green gent. Plus there are so many benefts with the costume. Yoda’s robe will keep you nice and warm as you frolic around Oxford during Halloweekend.

Plus, you can tell the police that your slurred and grammatically incorrect speech is part of the bit for the costume. And, if you’re really committed, you could carry Yoda’s ID around with youshowing that you are, in fact, 900 years old and can legally purchase alcoholic beverages.

Christmas Elves I just heard half of Oxford groan. Yes, I do agree that Christmas should not be discussed until after Thanksgiving. But being an Elf is a great symbol for the spirit of Halloween. Just like Christmas, Halloween comes once a year, and allows us to do/believe in things that don’t exist. For example, wearing an elf costume will be the only time that a girl above the height of 5 feet, 1 inch will come up to you in public and call you adorable.

Halloween has also started to take a few pages out of Christmas’ book. On the spiritual front, Halloween is a weekend that is emblematic of the meaning of life (partying) for many college students. Tons of students embrace the meaning of all that is holy and make the pilgrimage to the temple of this town (Brick Street) to talk with their spiritual leader (Will Weisman, or Ted Woods, if that’s what you believe. We don’t judge). Plus, that elf costume might be the only chance you dummies have of staying on the nice list after your weekend shenanigans.

oviattcc@miamioh.edu

SHANNON STANLEY

MAHONEY

ASST. CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY EDITOR

Everybody knows the Gen Z dating scene is a dumpster fre. The bar for what counts as a good date is truly on the ground, yet some men bring shovels and just continue to dig. Fear not, I, the (not so) humble Stanley have come to save the day and prove I’m better than any of your crusty boyfriends could ever be. After all, who needs a boyfriend when you could have a giant water bottle. In this essay article, I’ll prove that I’m a much better alternative to a boyfriend because I’m loyal, customizable and can protect you. (You think your boyfriend could use ethos, logos and pathos in an essay? Not without ChatGPT writing it for him, he can’t!)

First, I’m loyal, and I’m not afraid to go everywhere with you. Do you think you would catch your boyfriend at an 8 a.m. pilates class with you? Absolutely not, but I’ll be there, providing hydration and emotional support. Not only that, I’ll be with you through the whole day. When you’re sufering through your Spanish class, I’ll be there. When you’re waiting for an hour to get your Panera order, I’ll

be there. When you’re breaking down in your dorm room because that one professor just does not understand how to use Canvas and the assignment is due at midnight, I’ll be there. Also, I’m customizable. Your boyfriend, with his fragile male ego, won’t even hold your purse when you go out. Do you really think he would get decked out head-to-toe in hot pink and wear a fower charm? Plus, I’ll already match your phone case and other accessories; a boyfriend takes a minimum of three years of concentrated efort to pick up a halfway-decent sense of style.

I’ll even protect you. You may be wondering how a bulky water bottle can put up a fght, but it’s all about the element of surprise. Let’s take a real-life example. Say your boyfriend is ignoring your texts and calls with the excuse that “weekends are for the boys.” All it takes is setting me on a conspicuously open windowsill and then a well-timed “accidental” budge, and I’ll plummet towards his head like his grades after a midterm. Your musty boyfriend clearly can’t compete with the attention and support you’ll get from me. Love me. Pick me. Choose me.

(See, I’ll even watch “Grey’s Anatomy” with you.)

mahones5@miamioh.edu

CARLEY RAPP THE MIAMI STUDENT

To completely understand my desire to write for the humor section of The Miami Student, I have to give you some background information. If you’re wondering where my impeccable sense of humor came from, this article is for you. No talent, no problem

It all started when I realized I had no strong attributes. Smart people have big brains and hot people have jawlines. But funny people? All we need is an awareness that we have neither, then we can make a joke about it.

In fact, my biggest achievement might’ve been in kindergarten when I got a gold star for not eating glue. I guess I peaked early in life.

As far as the upsides to having no talent go, I’m happy to have the capability to make a cute guy laugh … but then I remember it’s only because my face naturally does jump scares while storytelling. When you can’t charm people with symmetrical bone structure or intellect, you learn to adapt with humor.

(And to my parents, if you’re reading this, I know you only called your 6 year old daughter your pretty princess because ugly jokester would’ve earned you a visit from CPS).

Fame and fortune

Another major reason I joined the humor section was, obviously, because of the celebrity lifestyle I’ve acquired along with it.

I constantly have the eight people who actually read the paper lining up to ask me, “Aren’t you that girl who made the joke about being average?” Why, yes. Yes, I am. Do you want my

autograph, or should I just sign your forehead so you can get it tattooed?

It’s hard to not let the fame get to me, honestly. I can’t even sneeze in public without someone saying, “Bless you, my comedy Queen.” I try to stay humble, of course, which is why my friends book appointments to talk to me.

It’s a heavy crown, but someone needs to wear it. Honestly, I wonder if I’ll ever live a normal life again. Low stakes I didn’t join the humor section because I’m naturally hilarious. Though I probably could’ve. I mean, come on, how many times have you laughed already? (If it’s zero, just gaslight me.) I joined because my other options involved efort, intelligence and the ability to write with perfect sentence structure. None of which I have. Heck, my editor probably had to fx that sentence. And this one. And probably the next one too. As a humor writer, I’m basically the clearance rack of the newspaper. What section sounds more enticing to write for than that? Sometimes I feel like a stand-up comedian, but then I remember my audience didn’t pay for a ticket to my show and they just want me to shut up.

The Need to Feel Important I decided to write for the humor section, not because I’m especially funny, but because life seems to fnd me funny. If I were relevant enough to receive a senior superlative in high school, I probably would’ve been given “Most likely to just be there.” After all, I am currently writing this paper at 10 p.m. on a Friday night instead of being out drinking with the normal folk.

rappcr2@miamioh.edu