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Miami's Top Ten

Margaret Watters

1. LOOK AROUND

Sure, Oxford has red bricks, trees and surrounding cornfields, but have you ever really stopped and looked around?

Singer/songwriter Kate Voegele started writing songs in her Miami University residence hall. At age 22, she has released two top selling albums and acted in an episode of One Tree Hill. She's been everywhere now, touring the country promoting her new album A Fine Mess (released in May). Voegele said there were so many amazing things she did during her time at Miami, and she's glad she got it all in.

"One of my favorite things I ever did was go to Pfeffer Park with my friends in mid-October and just sit on the swings and walk around," Voegele said. "Oxford in the fall is pretty exquisite, and it was awesome to just spend a day taking it in!"

So, before you strike it big and leave the 45056, take an afternoon and pick something about Oxford that you find beautiful.

2. LEARN YOUR HISTORY

Know where Miami came and decide where you want it to go. Student Body President Jonathan McNabb lives most of his days dealing with Miami's present or future challenges.

He lives in the future, but said he loves to explore the university's past.

"To understand who we are today and see the bigger picture, you have to understand where we came from," McNabb said. "(We need) to be able to use our past as a frame of reference to see where we're going forward."

McNabb suggests meeting Miami's first president, Robert Bishop Hamilton. He's a great listener and buried in the formal gardens, surrounded by late blooming fall flowers.

If you're craving a road trip, McNabb said he also suggests visiting the Miami tribe in Miami, Okla. And to top off your experience at Miami post-graduation, take your last Oxford picture on the seal after the threat of failure has passed.

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3. GET A SENSE OF HUMOR

President David Hodge said he doesn't think April Fool's Day has to happen just once a year. Before you graduate, Hodge would like you to pull a really good practical joke ... on anyone but the president. Hodge did not comment on his past personal jokes but said he encourages students to get creative. Collegiate Chorale sold pink flamingos for $5 in preparation for April Fool's 2009. The president said he loved the joke and fundraiser but wants new material.

"Well, that's been done now!" Hodge said.

4. BE SO COLLEGE

Own it, these are the four years you can get away with being a little bit of an idiot. Miami alumnus and independent filmmaker James Flynn said every Miami student needs to make the most of Oxford's nightlife and local eateries.

"Do the walk of shame at least once after eating some drunk-soaking Bagel & Deli breakfast," Flynn said.

Flynn's favorite bagel is the Tommy & Donny, a vegetarian bagel that offers not one, but two meals. Flynn's time at Miami (in and out of bars and classrooms) is the inspiration for his film Eastern College to be released Sept. 15. Eastern College has been included in the Oxford International Film Festival, The Dances with Films Festival in Los Angeles and The Queens International Film Festival in New York.

"I can't even recall a lot of the parties," Flynn said. "That's actually probably a good sign. That probably means I did it right."

5. PARTY WITH THE LOCALS

Wait, who else lives here? According to the city of Oxford Web site, our quaint college town has a population of 22,000 people, and 44 percent are between the ages of 20 and 24. Name three things you know about that other 56 percent.

Senior Erin Stearns and her friends set out to do just that last spring with a trip to J.W. Dink's Saloon in neighboring Millville. Stearns said she loved getting out of the Oxford bar scene bubble and meeting locals.

"One of the most interesting parts of this whole experience was that there were people our age and people in their 60's and 70's," Stearns said. "They were just people going to bars to hang out with other people. There wasn't the aggressive hitting on you get in Oxford."

Outside of local watering holes, Stearns said she suggests meeting residents at the weekend uptown market or go to a town hall meeting.

6. COLLEGE, NO PARENTS

Do something to make you (and your mother) terrified. The Miami Dropouts are here to oblige. Senior Adam Schmucker, club president, said the student-lead skydiving group has been jumping out of planes since 1972. The Dropouts provide a financial incentive for college skydivers by offering discounted rates. For example, a tandem skydive is $239, but Dropouts pay $174.

Miami's Outdoor Pursuit Center (OPC) also offers chance for adventure. Jen Silko, associate director at the OPC, said a great option for students are the sprint classes taught by full-time OPC staff. After learning about safety, logistics and proper technique for seven weeks, students get to hone their skills in a trip that ends the course. Sprint classes offered this year include flyfishing, rock climbing and backpacking.

7. FIND YAGER

2008 Homecoming Queen Monica Aranez was crowned at her first Miami football game. Under the diamonds and satin sash, Aranez said she had a feeling of guilt.

"I didn't know which side was home and which was away," Aranez said. "There are a lot of things I regret not doing because I put so much emphasis on school. I wish I could come back and do them all."

Miami has earned itself the name the Cradle of Coaches. Miami's coaching greats include Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler, Ara Parseghian, Weeb Ewbank, Paul Brown, Sid Gillman and currently, Mike Haywood.

So, go. Check it out. Win or lose, there are always hot dogs, and they take Diplomat Dollars.

8. HOOK UP IN AN ACADEMIC BUILDING

Take a risk and up the ante in your sex life. A senior, who would prefer to remain anonymous, strongly advocates the on-campus hook up. She and her flame decided spur of the moment to spend some together time late night in a Miami classroom.

"I think doing it spontaneously is the most important thing to remember with the on-campus hook-up," she said. "It's the best way to not get caught and is fun to do it on a whim."

She said she loved the scandal of not knowing if they were going to get caught or not.

"Yeah, yeah, it was a lot of fun," she said.

9. TAKE IT EASY

Take a day off from the rough life of a college student. Powerspace guitarist and 2008 graduate Tom Schleiter said sometimes, students should be the ones to decide how much snow is too much to make it to class. Winter, spring, summer or fall, grab your best friends and take a day off just to hang out. Schleiter said one of his favorite memories was the day his friends ditched class, sat in the snow and had a barbeque.

10. DON'T BE A SHUT-IN

What could be better than a beer in Germany? Wine in Paris or a Guinness in Dublin? More than 1,500 Miami students study abroad each year, according to the Office of International Education.

Senior Kate Armstrong studied at the Luxembourg campus and was in Berlin for the German win at the 2008 EuroCup.

"There were people climbing poles, setting things on fire, swarming the streets," Armstrong said. "Riot police were everywhere. It was both terrifying and awesome at the same time."

For a recession friendly, riot-free option, Schleiter suggests a big beer at Steinkeller's. He said if you click the steins together just right, you could be in Munich's Hofbräuhaus.


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