ESTABLISHED 1826 — OLDEST COLLEGE NEWSPAPER WEST OF THE ALLEGHENIES
Volume 171 No. 2
Miami’s civics center faces potential changes in proposed bill
Miami University — Oxford, Ohio
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2026
Long-term injuries: Taking the ‘athlete’ out of ‘student athlete’
OWEN MARTIN
CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY EDITOR Less than two weeks after it began offering courses, Miami University’s Center for Civics, Culture and Society is facing a potential restructuring from the same body that created it. The center was created to fulfill a legal mandate from Ohio Senate Bill 117 (S.B. 117), which required all public colleges in Ohio to establish a center for nurturing civic thought. The center hosts events, conducts research and fosters a dialogue related to the historical ideas that have “shaped American constitutional order,” according to its website. The center’s main role is teaching three courses, with curriculums that have been scaffolded by S.B. 117 and Senate Bill 1 (S.B. 1). Now, however, that curriculum may be subject to change, as proposed legislation in the Ohio General Assembly seeks to give university civics centers more autonomy. Senate Bill 461, which was proposed by Senator Jerry Cirino, would give the civics center power to make their own curriculum, hire and fire professors and determine their salaries. The bill would also turn the civics centers at the University of Toledo and Ohio State University into their own academic colleges. Miami’s center, which is the largest center by volume, would not become a separate academic college. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
MYCHAL YHARBROUGH TACKLES A PLAYER IN GAME AGAINST THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI. PHOTO BY JESSICA MONAHAN
ELISA ROSENTHAL MANAGING EDITOR
Adidas-branded pants with a Miami logo, backpacks adorned with large red M’s and shirts that read “Issued by Miami Athletics”: this is what most student athletes look like as they walk around campus. They often travel in groups with other athletes, walking or scootering around campus. But what happens when scooters get switched out for crutches and practice time is spent watching from the sideline or bench? Injuries are a part of sports, rarely avoided, even by the best athletes in the world. According to a National
Health Statistics Report, roughly 8.6 million sports and recreation related injuries occur annually, with children and young adults (ages 5-24) accounting for more than half. When young people become injured, it affects more than just the body part involved. Depression, anxiety, isolation and identity crisis can all play a factor in recovery. The mind can prevent the body from fully healing. There’s a correlation between physiological injuries and psychological symptoms, meaning mental response can be exacerbated by injury, according to a research article published in Sports Health in 2023.
Injury often comes with mental health implications, especially when the injuries require surgery and long recovery times. At Miami, professionals like basketball athletic trainer Chris Elmore are often the first to recognize injuries as well as the mental health struggles that may accompany them. The athletics department has a sports-specific mental health professional that athletes are referred to when mental health concerns arise. Athletic trainers serve as the connection between the athlete and Student Counseling Services. Elmore said since athletic trainers spend more time with players than
most coaches or other support staff, sometimes they are the first to notice, and the task of helping athletes with mental struggles can fall on them. “People see the physical side of [injury]; they miss the mental side of it quite a bit, and the struggle that they have to go through to get back, basically regain their identity of a student athlete,” Elmore said. “We see that on the front lines more than just about anybody else, so it’s one of our jobs as athletic trainers to recognize that, and talk to them, and then guide them to the resources they need.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
Student researchers Women’s volleyball opens season with winning record and fiery duo aim to build a at Bearkat Invitational better Miami GRAHAM YOUNG SPORTS EDITOR
SARAH KENNEL
GREENHAWKS EDITOR As the fall semester kicks off at Miami University many students nearing graduation are putting the skills they’ve learned into use and beginning hands-on research experiences. From waste reduction to native plant restoration, these projects aim to provide educational experiences while promoting sustainability and benefitting future generations of Miami students. Will Sayner, a graduate student in a masters environmental science program, said a waste reduction project that he and colleagues at the Office of Sustainability have been working on since spring will come to a close at the end of this year. The final goal of the project is a comprehensive waste reduction plan, which will guide departments across the university as well as inform the 2040 Climate Action Plan. This comprehensive plan will be created using the feedback of stakeholders across campus, such as Dining Services and recycling services, which Sayner and his research partner Shannon Albert have been gathering in interviews over several months. “[I hope to see] everything that we talked about over the past year put into an action plan and coming to life on campus,” Sayner said, “hopefully changing the behavior of students and staff on campus and trying to get everyone involved in zero waste even if they don’t know it [by] making it as
In this issue
easy as possible for [them] to recycle and compost and take care of their waste correctly.” Undergraduate students in the Institute for the Environment and Sustainability are also gearing up for research experiences this semester. Sarah Dumyahn, professor of environmental science, is leading handson student research and gardening experiences. Students in her independent study course will choose between two research projects. The first focuses on the Kitahkinaani garden, a small garden home to native plant species. Students will work alongside the Myaamia center to care for existing plants and incorporate new native plants to the plot. The garden contributes to an ethnobotanical database called “Mahkihkiwa” that works to develop the Myaamia language through species documentation. The second will work towards establishing a food forest on the Miami farm, with edible plants from root to canopy and a focus on native plant species. This farm would serve as a sustainable form of agriculture that future generations of students could interact with and learn from. Dumyahn also said it will be a big step forward for the farm after experiencing budget and staffing hardships in 2024. CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
CAMPUS & COMMUNITY
Outrage or apathy: Students divided over removal of Grubhub robots - page 5
The Lady RedHawks have already made a name for themselves to open the 2026 fall season. The team traveled over 1,000 miles to compete against teams from three separate conferences, building early momentum before Mid-American Conference (MAC) play. Miami University has a strong attack that relies on its front hitters, keeping opposing defenses on their toes and making matches exciting. “We have two really good left sides that can score and keep us in every match we’re playing in,” head coach Dan Gwitt said. Those players are senior outside hitter Chelsea Williams and sophomore outside hitter Molly Creech. Despite the age gap, the two have already formed a bond that will contribute to the team’s chemistry. “We build off each other, especially in practice,” Creech said. “If I’m having a bad game, hitting wise, Chelsea will take a step up and make up for it and vice versa. We found a way to work together in those moments, especially when we’re down.” The Miami women’s volleyball team (2-1) traveled to Huntsville, Texas to open its season with the Bearkat Invitational from Aug. 28-29. The four-team tournament, hosted by Sam Houston State University Bearkats, also included NCAA Division I opponents McNeese State University Cowgirls and California State University Fullerton Titans. Miami beat McNeese and Cal State Fullerton, then went toe-to-toe
ANNA MCCLURE BUMPS THE BALL UP IN GAME AGAINST WESTERN MICHIGAN. PHOTO BY IVY KLEINMAN
with the eventual tournament winner, Sam Houston State. This combination of dominance and intensity provides hope for an exciting and successful season. “Everything we do now is going to make us more capable of winning matches in the MAC and getting into the tournament and having the chance to go on a run,” Gwitt said. Miami vs. McNeese State: Miami, 3-0 For the first time in program history, Miami faced McNeese in volleyball on Saturday, Aug. 28 at 11 a.m. Two comeback sets pushed the team to its first win of the season. Williams led the team in kills with 17, Creech following close behind with 15. Freshman setter Holland Van Deusen also contributed to the series win, leading the team in assists (19) and digs (13).
SPORTS
OPINION
What happens when the world stops coming to campus? - page 11
Preview: RedHawks launch regular season against Pittsburgh - page 7
“Van Deusen played pretty much every match and every set,” Gwitt said. “She really learned and got better as the weekend went on.” Although the RedHawks swept the series, each match came within three points. Clutch kills and resilient finishes sealed the deal from Miami. They closed out the first set scoring the final three points, the final four points in the second and the last four of six points in the third. Final scores: Miami 26-24, Miami 25-22, Miami 25-22. Miami vs. Sam Houston State: Sam Houston State, 3-2 The RedHawks faced their first setback of the season against the Bearkats at 7 p.m. that same day. After a back-and-forth first set both teams took turns winning sets by six or more points. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
CULTURE
Remembering a legend: Dolly Parton - page 9