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Letters to the editor

Greater athletic success needed to overcome '(OH)'

In regard to Mike Zoller's Dec. 7, 2007 Miami Student article, "MU gets no respect nationally," I believe his argument is way off base. To the average sports fan, especially those who live outside of the state of Ohio, many have not heard of our school. When someone I talk to asks where I go to school, the most common comment results in, "the weather must be nice!"

He states that our RedHawks are referred to, by the media, as a "second-tier" program. Regarding the most revenue generating sports, football and men's basketball, we are exactly that. While we are competitive in the Mid American Conference, Miami's athletic program has not generated the same level of annual success seen at many other schools. Miami's student-athletes are held to a higher standard than many athletic power universities.

The University of Miami, has a rich tradition in athletics, especially football. While we are known for the Cradle of Coaches, the University of Miami has the upper hand-five national championships. I don't think some of the people in Coral Gables want to be confused with the same team I saw twice on ESPN2.

In order to get rid of the "(OH)," I suggest we start to consistently compete at the highest level. Next time you go on USCHO.com, or any other college hockey Web site, take a look at a scoreboard. You won't see a (OH) next to the hockey team, because the "(OH)" can easily be replaced with "#1."

Jeff Griffingriffijf@muohio.edu

Actual MU Diplomat prices higher than represented

Last semester, which I spent in Luxembourg, was the most expensive time in a long time to be in Europe. Any of my fellow classmates at Miami University Dolibois European Center (MUDEC) can tell you the pain of an ever worsening exchange rate between the dollar and the euro. However, one thing I never worried about was the cost of food. I applaud MUDEC for maintaining a reasonable cost for room and board in the face of the rising exchange rate, which provided us with two hearty meals every school day, and a kitchen stocked with pots and dishes if we chose to use it for our third.

And then I returned to the Oxford campus. Of course, food prices have risen since I was here in May, again. I bought a wrap today that cost $4.15 (and on top of getting sticker-shock from the price, my wrap was definitely skimpy on the salami). $4.15!? I could buy ingredients at Kroger to make myself wraps for a week at that price, and never have to wait in line or even leave my room.

But how much did I really pay for that wrap? It rang up under my "Diplomat dollars" as 2.90, which certainly seems much more reasonable. But there is a hidden cost to the Diplomat meal plan. Remember the $1,120 fee you paid just to have the meal plan? That's in addition to the

"Diplomat dollars," or meal points as they are officially called, themselves. With the $600 Diplomat meal points plan, which is approximately what I've used each semester for the past two years, I'm paying $1.87 in fees for every "Diplomat dollar" I spend-so that wrap that was priced at $4.15, with my so-called "Diplomat discount," actually cost me $8.32-nearly double the already exorbitant price.

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I thought everything in Europe was expensive. But even there, I never would have paid the equivalent of $8 for a skimpy-on-the-salami wrap. I'd much rather shop at Kroger and cook my own meals in the kitchenette in Bishop Hall's basement, but I am not given that option-if you live on campus, you're required to buy a meal plan. We, the students who choose to live on campus, are being scammed, big time.

Hayley Kilroykilroyha@muohio.edu