Miami puts out the smoke on campus

BY SEEMA A. CHOUDHARY
SEPT. 11, 2007

The Miami University Board of Trustees has ruled that all Miami campuses will be smoke-free for the 2008-09 school year. The resolution for a campus-wide smoke ban passed with all but John S. Christie, a vocal advocate for student rights, in affirmation.

Kerry McCormack, student member of the Trustees, said, “the Miami Inn, Marcum Conference Center, and all other university run lodging facilities would be exempt from the ban.” These places are exceptions because visitors utilizing these facilities may not be aware of the universities adopted policy.”

The board has yet to determine enforcement and regulation stipulations for a smoke-free campus. Board of Trustees member, Dr. Lolita McDavid, asked about enforcement of violations of the ban. More discussion on this issue is to take place at the next meeting.

The idea for a smoke-free campus came after the Ohio statewide ban took effect last Dec. 7. The university considered providing designated smoking areas or banning smoking entirely on campus. As of now, smoking is prohibited within 25 feet of any Miami building.

Students like Brian Southard, a first year at Miami, and an occasional smoker, will be among those affected the most by this change. “They treat it like it’s a problem, but it’s a lifestyle choice,” Southard said. He strongly disagrees with the proposed ban since it will affect friends who are already addicted to smoking.

Tom Shelly, senior American studies major, feels so strongly about the ban that he blogged about it online on the Internet source, Facebook. “They also offer ways to quit smoking,” Shelly said in his blog. “What if you don't want to quit? Since when is it mandatory to quit smoking? Sure, it's bad for you, but you don't see Miami becoming a dry campus (since alcohol is just as bad for you). You don't see fast food places being shut down (since America's number one disease is obesity)... It's an infringement on smokers' rights, and just the administration passing legislation to meet their First in 2009.”

Other members of the university community advocate a proactive approach to problems caused by smoking. Richard Nault, vice president of student affairs, feels that the smoking ban will benefit the university financially. He also noted that “less university money will have to go to health care.”

Peter Mueller, a smoker who graduated this May, sees the ban as a waste of time. “During my time at Miami I spent many hours at the library and I would take smoke breaks in between, outside of King Library. I couldn’t imagine having to walk off campus just to take a smoke break.”

Meghan Kennedy, a Miami junior and non-smoker, said she believes “…the ban will help improve the aesthetic look of the campus. With all the programs to quit smoking Miami provides, it will help people have a healthier lifestyle.” Some students who smoke said they would not seek help at the health center as their first option to quitting. The Board of Trustees meeting concluded its discussion on the vote with, “….pledging to continue and develop programs to help students quit smoking (i.e. counseling, hotlines, and possibly free nicotine patches),” said McCormack.

"Miami students, not greek Miami students"

BY SEEMA A. CHOUDHARY
SEPT. 25, 2007

Greek Week kicked off last Thursday with opening ceremonies at Millet Hall. The theme was “Greek Week 2007: Work Hard, Play Harder: Without the Greek, It’s Just a Week.” This week-long competition brings all the fraternities and sororities at Miami together with events ranging from volleyball, a blood drive, and this year a leadership conference.

The events of Greek Week are based upon a point distribution system. Each event is declared either a major or minor event. Major events require more people to participate, attract larger audiences, and hold traditional values such as Puddle Pool and Bandstand. The range of points begins at three and can weigh as much as 50 points. The leadership conference was valued at 20 points, carrying a larger weight in the competition.

The Perlmutter Leadership Conference is sponsored by the Student Activities and Leadership Office. Denny Roberts, associate vice president of student affairs, gave the welcome address. “Miami has numerous leadership learning opportunities, including clubs, organizations, service, conferences, and residential groups. The largest of these is the Annual Perlmutter Leadership Conference,” said Roberts. “One of the greatest benefits of Perlmutter is that participants get to know one another and they learn more about the other leadership programs included as part of "Miami's Leadership Commitment." In the past year those in attendance included, Associated Student Government (ASG), Campus Activities Council, Resident Hall Association (RHA) and Program Board (PB) Members.

Graduate student Liz Householder is the newest 2007 advisor for Greek Week. There currently sits two student chairs so Householder views herself more as a coach. She mentors the chairs making sure ideas are fully thought out. This conference has only been used one other time for Greek Week. Jeremy S. Bragg, assistant director of student activities and leadership, worked with the Greek executive council to move the conference earlier in the fall to make it a part of the week’s events.

This year Panhellenic and the Interfraternity Council waived the registration fee for two members from each chapter to attend. Since the conference targets the development of leadership, Greek week coordinators wanted to use this conference again since leadership “…hits close to home, and is what the Greek community values,” said Householder. “It even helps to boost the attendance for the conference.”

Andy Ferguson, a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and an off-campus senator for the Associated Student Government, last year attended the leadership conference for ASG. This year, he came to support his fraternity. “I think it is great that the Greek community is being a part of Perlmutter because they are the largest organization of leaders, even larger than ASG,” he said.

Toward students who aren’t Greek and feel left out due to all the dominant influence on campus, Householder noted, “…that in itself is the worst consequence that happens, and we never want to corner Greek culture.” Householder commented that since the week has ended, the executive committee is re-evaluating its goals, debating whether the week is building community or tearing it apart. “We want to be known as Miami students, not Greek Miami students,” said Householder.

The closing of Greek Week took place Sunday with a dance competition, “Bandstand,” at Oxford’s uptown park. The sorority Delta Delta Delta took first place with Sigma Pi winning the competition for the fraternities.

Miami students and alumni remember, it’s tradition

PHOTO AND STORY BY
BY SEEMA A. CHOUDHARY
OCT. 9 2007

Miami University alumni will congregate to the Oxford campus this weekend just in time for the 2007 homecoming celebration. The theme as chosen by Campus Activities Council (CAC) is “It’s Tradition.” The goal behind the theme is to make the student body aware of Miami’s extensive history and continue to pass on the legacy.

The week will be full of spirited events and will conclude on Saturday Oct. 13 with a local football game versus Bowling Green State University. Monday marked the official kick off with the primary elections for homecoming king and queen. A free movie was also featured on central quad presenting “Knocked Up” and “Bad Boys 2.” Laura Walaszek, vice president of CAC, said “about 100-150 people were in attendance for the movie, which is a promising starting point for the week.”

CAC is the main sponsor and planning commission for homecoming but works with other student organizations to bring the event to life. Gary Manka, director of student activities and leadership, will help ensure that homecoming becomes a collaborative effort from all campus partners. He said that if homecoming is going to be a success, it needs to be a campus wide initiative and not just a CAC event.

This year, two major changes occurred regarding homecoming. First, a wider range of invested campus partners joined forces to execute the week’s events. The different administrative and student organization ranged from the President’s Office and student affairs, to Miami University Student Foundation, Program Board, Black Student Action Association and the Greeks community. Second, homecoming is now a week long event as opposed to lasting only two days, Friday and Saturday.

The move to a week long event this year is considered a tactic to revive an event that has “eroded over time,” said Manka. He states that this is caused by television revenue and delinquent scheduling by the Mid-American Conference. It is events like the parade, pep rally, concert and the football game that act as a staple to ensure the success of the week’s events. These are the events that produce the highest attendance and are favorites of the student body, faculty and alumni each year.

Many recent graduates also find their way back to Miami to take part in all the festivities. “I look forward to catching up with some of my old friends at the bars we used to spend far too much time at,” said Andrew Reid, recent Miami graduate. “I'm also excited to see how Oxford has changed.”

School spirit at Miami has always been a major concern of the David Hodge, university president. The administration fears alcohol plays a hefty role on the Miami campus that deter students from partaking in new events.

“I would like for us to be successful in achieving school spirit and tradition at Miami University,” says Manka. “I personally feel that because of our privileged students, there is too much of an emphasis on alcohol and entitlement with alcohol around events that diminishes school spirit as a whole.”

The list of the remaining week’s events is as follows:

* Tuesday Oct. 9, Program Board presents Comedian Dan Ahdoot in the Shriver Multipurpose room at 7p.m.
* Wednesday Oct. 10, final court elections will be held from 11a.m.-4p.m. at Bell Tower, Shriver and at the Miami seal.
* Wednesday evening at 7p.m., Miami Trivia at Buffalo Wild Wings with Pizza Pass Outs at the Phi Delta Theta Gates at 1a.m.
* Thursday Oct. 11, Red and White Day, where all Miami supporters should show their school spirit by wearing Miami’s school colors. There will be free pass-outs at the Miami seal and inflatables located on the lawn of Roudebush hall from 11a.m.-3p.m.
* Friday Oct. 12, The homecoming parade which will run Uptown to the lawn of Millet beginning at 6p.m. Following the parade at 7PM is a pep rally and a free cook-out and concert with Mat Kearney on the Millet lawn. At midnight, AfterDark will feature “The Bourne Ultimatum” at Shriver.
* Saturday Oct. 13, The home football game versus Bowling Green State University. Kickoff is at 3p.m

Students forewarned of gun protest at Miami University

BY SEEMA A. CHOUDHARY
OCT. 25, 2007

Miami University highlighted the term “empty gun holsters” in its university-wide e-mail sent on Oct. 17 to students and faculty last week alerting the Oxford community of a nation-wide protest. The email, issued by the University Institutional Response Team, was used to alert students about the activity on campus.

Students who strongly felt that any person should be allowed to carry a concealed weapon on college campuses and universities were seen wearing empty gun holsters around their waists in protest to this law. Students hoped to spark conversation and expand knowledge on gun possession issues.

After receiving word of the protest, Miami’s administration alerted the entire community and staff via e-mail and then alerted the police in order to monitor the situation.

Richard Nault, vice president of student affairs, said he didn’t believe there was any harm in wearing a piece of clothing and didn’t fear the protest turning violent. Nault considers speech extremely symbolic and holds the First Amendment as the most sacred in the United States Constitution. “…Any time we try to limit speech, it is destructive to the community,” Nault said.

The organization, Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, set a goal to recruit more than 100 universities and colleges in the US to participate in the protest. In Ohio, Ohio State University, Cleveland State University and the University of Cincinnati participated in the event.

Greg Bieler, a senior member of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and a Miami member of the Gun Club, participated in the nation-wide protest. “The reason I think that a lot of people are afraid of it, is that they feel that it is going to turn into the wild, wild west…where people are going to pull out their guns and start shooting at each other,” Bieler said. After spending time with the military he considers himself a responsible gun user and knows that in a heated situation pulling out his weapon is not his first instinct. “According to the law, my No. 1 duty is to retreat, so I can’t get into a confrontation,” said Bieler.

Some students feel that there is nothing wrong with owning a weapon, but believe places of higher learning should be off limits. After a traumatic break-in at his off-campus apartment last winter, fifth-year senior Dustin Abney purchased a personal handgun. Abney currently does not have a conceal carry permit. Within two hours he was able to register and pass a background check in order to obtain a weapon. His reasons for the purchase: “self defense, protection, and peace of mind…mainly for self defense.”

“Students should not be allowed to carry weapons on campus per se due to the lack of maturity and responsibility,” said Abney, but he feels that one should be allowed to own a gun for personal use if they choose to.

The Ohio Concealed Carry law, also known as House Bill 12, was passed in January of 2004 and enacted April 8. The bill was authored by former State Rep. Jim Aslanides and has since then been debated numerous times to add amendments to clean up vague language.

Those wishing to own a gun in the state of Ohio must be 21 years or older, successfully pass a background check free of drug or felony charges, and receive a minimum of 12 hours of handgun training. Handgun training consists of classroom time and range time. Through this training one must display a responsible competency through written and shooting exercises. Upon submitting an application to the county sheriff’s office and completion of the requirements, the applicant will receive a concealed carry license good for five years.

Owners of concealed weapons are restricted from bearing arms within specific locations such as university campuses, court houses, and government-owned or functioning offices. In the state of Ohio, guns are permitted in motor vehicles, with strict constraints that the vehicle must be locked, as well as restraints to how the weapon must be transported and holsters containing the weapon need to be in plain sight.

In 2006, Ohio residents obtained 19,000 licenses for guns according to the Ohio Attorney General’s Annual Report. In Butler County, for the second quarter of 2007, there were 341 licenses issued, six suspended, two revoked, eight were denied, and one license process was suspended.

It is mandatory under Ohio law for the attorney general of the state to publish a book listing the most up-to-date amendments to the conceal-carry law, safety issues, and other essential information in order to keep gun owners current on changes made for the protection of themselves and others. “I want to ensure that the process for obtaining a concealed-carry license…is efficient, and yet maintains adequate safeguards so that law-abiding citizens are not threatened,” stated Attorney General, Marc Dann, from the state website.

“The debate always has centered on not whether hand-guns, themselves, are problems, but whether their presence invites abuse and accidents,” Dann said. “The facts are that hand-guns are safe when owners obey the law, use common sense and act responsibly.”

Offensive display troubles Miami University

BY SEEMA A. CHOUDHARY
NOV. 6, 2007

Tuesday afternoon brought the town of Jena, LA., a little closer to Oxford, Ohio, and Miami University when seven noose-like ropes were displayed on a campus tree. Students offended by the display informed the police, who took it down.

That evening, Miami president David Hodge issued a university email, expressing that he was “deeply troubled by this incident and the insensitivity that it reflects.” A comprehensive plan then followed, calling for a complete report of the incident, meeting with students and staff to discuss the event, and community discussion.

Miami’s Associated Student Government, likewise, responded, in a two-and-a-half hour meeting where legislation was originally intended to condemn three student artists for their display. As the meeting continued, the Student Senate decided, instead, to discuss the matter to encourage debate, rather than denounce the students responsible. A representative on behalf of the artists, “James,” fielded questions at the ASG meeting.

The identities of the artists have not been disclosed on the grounds of protection.

According to their representative, the artists completed the project for an introductory art class. The specific idea was verbally approved by their teacher and another member of the art department. The display was set up in a tree across from the art building on Patterson Avenue. The display was meant to be viewed from 8a.m. until 5:30p.m. Police were notified and arrived on the scene at 5:20p.m.

The Student Senate questioned what the project was supposed to represent. James explained the tire swing represented childhood, and the scaffold knots represented death. The way they were attached to the tree was even taken into account. Internally, it was to be a reflecting piece on life, death, and why lies between the two.

Brian Wood, ASG vice president of management, asked “What measures were taken by professors to possibly change symbolic references of the project?” James responded that the project initially consisted of nooses hanging in the tree with plank swings. It was later changed to the tire swing in order to symbolize life and the circular motion of the scaffold knot.

In response to the incident, ASG will schedule discussions for the student body.

Jacque Rupert, a junior and off-campus ASG senator did not see the actual display. As president of Edun Live, however, she was appalled by it. Edun Live is a social entrepreneurship group on campus that was founded by U2’s lead singer, Bono. The group works with African-American workers to produce African cotton T-shirts, which are then sold in the United States. The goal of the organization is to teach individuals in Africa how to sustain a proper lifestyle for themselves and work for real wages to support their families. “For someone to display an action that goes against what our organization works for- - to give African Americans a chance to live a successful and productive lifestyle without racism and hate, - -I find intentionally hurtful,” Rupert said.

The historic symbolism of the noose dates to the 16 to 18 century in England as well as Colonial America. The symbol is known as the hangman’s knot or hangman’s nose which is the most common visual symbol associated with the act of hanging, especially, hanging associated with racial violence.

Events involving nooses in Louisiana increased the seriousness of and attention to events at Miami. On Dec. 4, 2006, six African-American teenagers were charged with the assault of Caucasian student Justin Barker at Jena High School in Jena, La. The town has been grappling with high racial tensions sparked by a symbolic tree at the high school. Three nooses were hung on what students know as the “white tree” which led to a black student asking permission to sit under the tree. The accumulation of these events grew to numerous protests and hate crimes in the months that followed.

These events in Jena generated widespread media coverage such as Congressional hearings and even a song called “Jena” by singer John Mellencamp. Coverage of the events at Miami quickly spread, as well, the Cincinnati Enquirer to TV in Cincinnati to nationally recognized media such as MSNBC.

Cool, calm, collected...changing Miami, one warm smile at a time

PHOTO PROVIDED BY MIAMI UNIVERSITY
BY SEEMA A. CHOUDHARY
NOV. 20,2007

He gets dressed every morning in his business attire always looking professional yet still managing to keep a friendly and welcoming demeanor to those he greets throughout the day. Today his agenda is quite packed as Ms. Kimberly Sue Sens tries to keep as much order as she can to his busy schedule. “Your 9:30AM appointment is here”, she says with a smile as she peaks her head around the corner to the office in 109 Kreger Hall. Dr. Richard Nault swivels in his chair away from the papers he was reading on the desk and smiles up at her, “Send her in”. The office appears somewhat plain. One painting hangs on the wall behind his desk in the corner. A large dry erase board rests on the adjacent wall with many numbers scribbled in black ink signifying work to be done and budgets to be scrutinized over. A bookshelf stacked to the top rests to the left of the desk for easy convenience with a leather chair sitting in front of it. Across the chair rests a comfy couch, warm and inviting for the many students that have entered his office. He greets you with an engulfing hug, and through your conversation you realize that this “cool, calm, and collective” man comes to work everyday, not for the paycheck, but for the purpose of the goals that drive him, and the commitment he has to making sure justice exists when it comes to including students. So who is this man? He is the Vice President of Student Affairs to Miami University.

His job is a “very mixed experience.” Today he will be attending some meetings, with an emphasis on budgets, “figuring fiscally how to do things.” Lunch and dinner don’t allow any lee way for a quiet meal at home, for both will be held with students to discuss specific issues. Yesterday wasn’t a vacation either. Nault had to deal with numerous parent complaints about a single case of meningitis found on campus. He then had to talk with the Health Center to make sure enough medications were available in case of an outbreak. Later in the evening he went to support the students participating in the Miami production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, which in Nault’s opinion was “off the charts, incredible!” Throughout all of the policy issues, long term goals, and crisis management he deals with from day to day, he always tries to make time for students.

He grew up in a very small working class town in Northern Indiana where most every family was supported by jobs in the steel mill or oil refinery. His father was a steel worker and his mother an elementary school teacher. Three years separated Richard and his sister. They were “sometimes very close and sometimes very hostile.” “As our parents became ill, we became very close, because only your sibling can understand [you].

The Methodist family had strong inclinations of young Richard going to college. By the time his senior year of high school rolled around, Richard was ready to take the plunge set to attend DePauw University in Indiana. It wasn’t until the “beautiful yet imperious” homecoming queen announced her bossy self would also be attending DePauw. Richard said to himself “We’ll I’ll be damned if I am going to be bossed around by Lenore Colins for four more years,” so he marched right into the guidance counselor’s office and demanded the next school east. The counselor told him, “Ohio Wesleyan University.”

Dr. Nault received his Bachelor of Arts from Ohio Wesleyan University with concentrations in history and education. From there, he attributed his success to the Methodist university which put a lot of emphasis on community service for Nault, “so the notion of giving to others was very important.” He was also significantly shaped by his working class family “where you were expected to do well or people wanted you to do well.”

He then went on to teach public elementary schools in Maryland. “In all those experiences,” sitting back and reflecting, “it was most joyful for me when you set an environment where people can be successful and then you can fade in the background.” Later he decided to get his doctorate from the University of Chicago while working as a staff associate at the Midwest Administration Center. Following his time spent there, he went to St. Louis to work at the Washington University where he resided both as the Assistant Dean and the Assistant Professor of Education of the college. From 1983-1992 Nault worked as the University Director of the University Honors Program at Miami, at which time he helped to create the Harrison program and the Scholar Leaders program. Nault then went on to become the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, which led into 2002 when he became Vice President of Student Affairs.

At the end of this year, Nault will be retiring from his beloved Miami University, but will not quite be leaving it behind just yet. By state law he must be away for two months until he can return working part time. So what will he do for two months? Nault has a great love for gardening and holds no real interest in seeing any exotic places while retired. He’d rather spend his time tending to his bougainvilleas in a soon to be world class garden while visiting friends he has made over the years. After that time, Nault will return to help with Miami’s Honesty and Integrity program. He modestly states that he isn’t coming back for the money but for the things that are joyful to him. “When it comes to academic dishonesty and integrity, the students here at Miami are no worse, but they are no better either.” This program will also reach further into the university scrutinizing the sorority/fraternity selection process which at times is not as fair as it seems. Even student organizations need to be looked at in relation to how they spend their funds.

“My relationship with the students are the richest part of my experience here,” he says with a smile. “I think when students come to college they are young adults but they seem to develop more over the course of four years. So one of the richest things for me is seeing them take on increasing responsibility growing as a person, that is joyful…what is wonderful about that is I stay connected with several after graduation, so I can see them get married, have kids, and that is what is truly wonderful.” Today when students explain to him how they created charts, and did so much research to end up at Miami, Dr. Nault just chuckles and recalls, “all you had to do was look where the homecoming queen was going and go somewhere else.”

A familiar face pops in very often. Meeting formally once a week with Nault, he stops in once a day usually nagging him about outrageous tangents. Jens Sutmoller has known Dr. Nault since his freshmen year and now in his senior year as student body president to the university, has acquired Nault as a formal advisor to the Associated Student Government. Jens claims, “Most of the time we are completely on the same page,” the grinning blonde remarks. “Dr. Nault has the personality I envy because he can take two people who are completely different and highly argumentative, and sit them down and bring them together into consensus within minutes…he makes people want to work together.”

ASG has always been a growing seed in Richard’s garden. Back when he was a formal advisor, he made “colossal” mistakes. Earlier this year Dr. Denny Roberts stepped down from the position to fulfill other career goals, while Nault stepped back into the role. ASG this year has been wonderful for him, he knows how things are structured and [this year] ASG is at its best with very strong senators and a great cabinet. A strong student government is one where people can have arguments with each other but still can remain friends and respect one another. “I want ASG to be successful,” Nault humbly states, “I don’t want any of my fingerprints on it, I just want them to feel supported in making a difference”. For meetings with the ASG cabinet at night, you can find him in shorts and sandals. The cabinet has had two different retreats at his house, where he has baked cookies and demonstrates how relaxed he is. In Dr. Nault’s mind, getting away from campus or going on retreats are very beneficial to leaders and groups working together. It allows you to “let down your guard, and peel back some of those layers.”

Laura Walaszek knows of this support first hand. Currently she serves as Vice President of Campus Activities Council (CAC) and frequently uses Dr. Nault as a significant aid. This year he has worked with her for homecoming and other multicultural concerts and lectures which they are bringing next year, such as the Harlem Gospel Choir. “He is someone always giving constructive criticism, he even signs his emails “I appreciate you, or thank you for your hard work…he is just very appreciative of what we do.” Laura, like other students who have been advised by Dr. Nault, admires the fact that he gives advice without trying to steer you in one direction. He will give you his opinion, and you can take it or leave it. He really stresses that students should be leading and not managing, doing the “bureaucracy type stuff,” and that we should really be trying to challenge, going beyond the status quo and reinventing the wheel.

Dr. Nault is unlike any other administrator on campus. “We have interactions with a lot of the Vice Presidents on campus, but he is just very welcoming,” Walaszek beams “He is someone who you wouldn’t think of in such a high position which is really neat that you can go into his office and talk to him…I don’t even know if you can do that at other universities.”

Throughout his life, there remain no regrets. “I think you can look back at the time and say well I wish I had made a different decision, but at the time you didn’t have that knowledge. So I have always felt, I have never spent a lot of time regretting things because I think I made the best decision I could make at that time.”

“Well, Dr. Nault, is there anything else you would like to add?” “No, Not really, other than you are terrific!” he says with a warm smile and another hug, a phrase he hasn’t once forgotten to say, but still feels just as comforting as the first time the words left his mouth.
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