Campus & Community

NEWS

Mike DeWine named 2020 commencement speaker

By Tim Carlin and Rachel Berry | February 5, 2020

DeWine is a career politician, having served as a U.S. senator from 1995-2007 and Ohio attorney general from 2011-2019. He has also held roles as lieutenant governor of Ohio and U.S. Representative. He earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Miami and has periodically returned to the university to teach government courses. DeWine’s wife, four of his children and four of his grandchildren also attended or are currently attending the university.

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NEWS

Oxford stores out of masks, disinfectants

By Rachel Berry | February 5, 2020

Cold medicine, bandages and cremes line the shelves in the pharmacy section of Walmart, but one row remains empty. Where the masks usually reside sits a taped sign: “We do not have any face masks. Sorry for the inconvenience!” An identical bright orange message is posted on the pharmacy window. 

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NEWS

How did Miami handle suspected cases of the coronavirus?

By Hannah Horsington and Ceili Doyle | February 4, 2020

A week before students returned to campus, Miami University’s Institutional Response Team began to formulate plans with the Butler County Health District and Ohio Department of Health in case of a possible outbreak of the coronavirus.

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NEWS

A ‘thousand miles away’: International students react to the virus infecting their hometown

By Caroline Haubenstricker | February 4, 2020

As Shaoyang Zhou walked through Armstrong Student Center to class last Tuesday, he knew people were watching him. Some stopped and stared, but this was exactly the reaction he was hoping for.  Zhou purchased a hazmat suit, and on Tuesday, Jan. 28, he decided to wear it around campus to raise awareness for the 2019 novel coronavirus itself and the devastating impact it has had in his community in Wuhan. 

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NEWS

‘Did you get a haircut?’ and other thoughts about black hair

February 4, 2020

How many times did the black girl in your class switch up her hairstyle last semester? Isn’t it crazy how it was down her back on Friday, but then she came back on Monday with it shoulder length? What’s that all about?

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NEWS

Myaamia Center sees change in leadership

By Julia Arwine | February 4, 2020

Though neither woman was born into the tribe, Burke and Powell were instrumental in growing the presence of Myaamia students at the university and in instituting the Myaamia Project in 2001, which would become the Myaamia Center twelve years later.

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NEWS

Suspended professor reinstated

By Julia Arwine | February 4, 2020

Following hearings that took place throughout the fall of 2019, Gladish signed a resolution agreement to cease termination procedures against him and return to his position as a professor of biology and biological sciences on Wednesday, Jan. 29. This includes the reinstatement of his tenure, Miami’s AAUP chapter president, Cathy Wagner, said. 

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NEWS

Miami students, alumni and faculty selected as Fulbright semifinalists

By Dan Wozniak | February 4, 2020

Thirteen Miami University seniors and three alumni have been named semifinalists for the 2020-2021 Fulbright U.S. Student Program grant competition. This is the most semifinalists the university has ever had named in a single year.

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NEWS

Miami students kick-off support for 2020 democratic primary campaigns

By Abby Bammerlin | February 4, 2020

Given that the Ohio primaries are only a few weeks away, many Miami students decided to take a more active role in campaigning for their candidates.

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NEWS

The anti-drinking culture: prohibition in Oxford

By Madeline Phaby | February 4, 2020

The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibited the “manufacture, sale or transportation of intoxicating liquors,” was ratified on Jan. 16, 1919 and went into effect on Jan. 17, 1920 — a little over 100 years ago.

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NEWS

Layoffs mirror Miami's reaction to 2008 recession

By Rachel Berry | February 4, 2020

Almost two weeks ago, Miami University announced the elimination of 39 staff positions across all campuses due to budget reallocations. This isn’t the first time measures like this have been taken. 

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NEWS

ASG to hold blood drive

By Skyler Perry | February 4, 2020

Miami University’s Associated Student Government (ASG) is out for blood.  ASG is co-sponsoring their first blood drive on Feb. 11 in Armstrong Pavilion A/B. The blood collected during the drive will go to benefit 23 different partnering hospitals and health centers including McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital, Dayton Children’s Hospital and Fort Hamilton Hospital. The blood donated will service 15 counties in total.

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NEWS

Health officials confirm: no coronavirus at Miami

By Staff Report | February 2, 2020

Two Miami University students suspected of having coronavirus tested negative for the virus and are no longer under isolation. Dr. Amy Acton, director of the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), confirmed the two students, who have been isolated since last week, do not have the 2019 novel coronavirus in a press conference at the Gross Student Athletic Center on Sunday night.

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NEWS

University Senate votes to modify cap on teaching, clinical professors, lecturers

By Madeline Phaby | January 30, 2020

University Senate approved a resolution to modify the cap on the number of teaching, clinical professors and lecturers (TCPLs) across all academic divisions at its meeting on Jan. 27.

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NEWS

Coronavirus still unconfirmed, two Miami students under isolation

By Ceili Doyle | January 28, 2020

Following reports that two Miami University students are suspected to have the coronavirus after traveling in China over J-term, the university held a joint press conference with the Butler County General Health District and the Ohio Department of Health to address concerns.

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NEWS

Budget reallocations leave 39 Miami employees without jobs

By Rachel Berry | January 28, 2020

Thirty-nine Miami University employees will lose their jobs by July 1, as the university expedites its previously planned budget cuts and reallocations. 

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NEWS

Miami plans $3.6 million indoor equestrian center, other construction projects

By Hannah Meyer | January 28, 2020

The university is currently completing seven large construction projects, including a $3.6 million indoor equestrian center. 

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NEWS

Empathy across lines

By Briah Lumpkins | January 28, 2020

Miami University professor Hillel Gray knows that empathizing with others who hold opposing views can be frustrating. Gray aims to close this gap by teaching his students firsthand how to empathize with some of the most controversial groups in the nation.  Empathy and the Religious “Enemy” is an ongoing fieldwork project led by Gray. Students participating in this project have had the opportunity to interview members of the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) and the Neturei Karta, an Orthodox, anti-zionist Jewish group since 2017.

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NEWS

Nerf Wars cause community disruption

By Abby Bammerlin | January 28, 2020

The snow was still crisp as Oxford Police Department (OPD) Lieutenant Lara Fening was answering a call about an alleged trespassing on a local Oxford community member’s property. There were footprints on the resident’s upper and lower decks. When Fening looked closer, she noticed that the imprints were of bare feet. With two kids of her own in high school, she knew the culprit.

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NEWS

Armstrong installs new accessible features in elevator

By Justeen Jackson | January 28, 2020

Over winter break, an elevator inside the Armstrong Student Center (ASC) became more accessible with new buttons installed on floor panels both inside and outside the elevator.