2008 Woodie Awards
Letters to the editor
Issue date: 4/25/08 Section: Editorials
Double major registration process must be fixed
Once again, I find myself planning out my schedule and preparing for the year ahead, and once again I have found myself locked out of half the classes that I need in order to graduate. I am a double major in political science and music, and it has been frustrating to me to see the lack of action the university has taken to address the needs of those students in my situation. We double majors choose to go above and beyond what is required of us academically; we chose to sacrifice our time in order to expand our minds and what do we see in return? Error messages. Thanks again, Miami-I'm really looking forward to this tedious day of force adding.
Scott Padden
Paddensg@gmail.com
Stolen presidential portrait should be returned quickly
Regrettably, the portrait of Paul Pearson, Miami University's 18th president who served from 1981-1993, is missing from the main entrance in Pearson Hall. The portrait was painted by a Miami alumnus who attended school during President Pearson's tenure and installed in the Pearson Hall lobby at the request of the late president's family. Fortunately, Pearson's wife, children and grandchildren were able to view the portrait before it was reported missing, but needless to say, its disappearance is a terrible disappointment and very painful to the family.
If you have knowledge of the whereabouts of the painting or can arrange its return, please contact me at snydersd@muohio.edu or via my cell number, 513-330-2012. The return of the painting to its rightful place has nothing to do with sanctioning or blaming anyone involved in its safe return. It has everything to do with allowing the Miami community to continue to honor a beloved and widely admired former president and to convey to the Pearson family our university's everlasting respect for their husband, father and grandfather.
Steve Snyder
Secretary to the board of trustees
snydersd@muohio.edu
As Democrats still search, long process boosts voters
Another primary has come and passed and the Democratic Party doesn't have a nominee. Fear has struck the face of Democrats nationwide, or has it? Although the results in Pennsylvania do not point to a definite winner in this heated Democratic primary, we are still in a good position for the fall. We are fortunate to have two extremely qualified candidates who are making history and exciting voters nationwide.
This primary is giving a voice to those who are often overlooked in the primary process. Normally, the states that have their primaries later in the year do not have the opportunity to see the candidates as closely as they have this year. Our candidates have created ample dialogue with the voters in these states and-because of the heated competition in this primary-have developed solid cores of volunteers in areas that were not as mobile in past elections. This enlarged group of active participants puts the party at a great advantage for the presidential elections in November.
Not only does this primary create more exposure for the candidates, but it also has created a greater understanding of the positions that both Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Barrack Obama (D-Ill.) hold on important issues. This basic knowledge of the candidate's views is great for the American public. Consequently, when elections roll around this November, you will see a more knowledgeable and involved voting bloc that will be able to choose the candidate that they truly believe in.
This year, the Democratic primaries saw voters turning out in record numbers. Pennsylvania saw voter registration for Democrats increase drastically; in two historically Republican counties in the state, Bucks and Montgomery, registered Democratic voters significantly outnumbered Republicans. This is a trend that directly results from the enthusiasm voters have for our two candidates. Clinton and Obama both have a clear advantage over their competition, and no supporter of the Democratic Party should be discouraged.
Aaron Bly
Communications Chair
College Democrats
blyar@muohio.edu
Hard sciences provide numerous research opps
I read, with some dismay, a letter to the editor (April 18, "Miami science programs not geared toward research") in the recent Miami Student. The correspondent expressed frustration that very little "biology" was offered at Miami, and that the vast majority of course offerings were geared toward pre-med students. I am glad to have the opportunity to offer a very different picture of the biology that is available at Miami, and, in particular, the interest in ecology that Jessica Brown expressed.
The home department of individual faculty often provides little clue to their specific research interests. Semantically, biology is the study of life, zoology is the study of animals, botany is the study of plants, microbiology the study of microbes and so on. But let's go beyond these disciplines and consider what biological researchers at Miami do. For instance, Miami faculty in the fields of ecology and evolutionary biology are found in at least five departments (botany, geography, geology, microbiology and zoology).
Even within a single department, the breadth of research interests might surprise a student. For instance, some faculty in zoology study tree roots, and some faculty in botany study birds, E. coli and microscopic fungi. Students could learn a great deal by talking to faculty about their research. Contrary to popular opinion, most faculty really, really like students. Nearly all faculty in every department in the natural sciences offer undergraduates the opportunity to engage in research projects that go far beyond the regular class material and very few work directly on medical questions.
As a testament to the number of students already following their passions, the recent undergraduate research fair included oral presentations and posters by more than 240 students, including many topics in animal behavior, ecology, evolutionary biology and environmental sciences. Undergraduates that have done research with me have presented their research at regional and national meetings and published scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals. This is not unusual-most faculty welcome the opportunity to help students follow their dreams. Faculty Web sites offer a lot of information on research interests and opportunities for research. Once you have found faculty whose research sounds interesting, go talk to as many of them as you have time for. More often than not, they will be eager to get you started. Good luck and happy hunting.
Hank Stevens
Assistant Professor
Department of Botany
hstevens@muohio.edu
Once again, I find myself planning out my schedule and preparing for the year ahead, and once again I have found myself locked out of half the classes that I need in order to graduate. I am a double major in political science and music, and it has been frustrating to me to see the lack of action the university has taken to address the needs of those students in my situation. We double majors choose to go above and beyond what is required of us academically; we chose to sacrifice our time in order to expand our minds and what do we see in return? Error messages. Thanks again, Miami-I'm really looking forward to this tedious day of force adding.
Scott Padden
Paddensg@gmail.com
Stolen presidential portrait should be returned quickly
Regrettably, the portrait of Paul Pearson, Miami University's 18th president who served from 1981-1993, is missing from the main entrance in Pearson Hall. The portrait was painted by a Miami alumnus who attended school during President Pearson's tenure and installed in the Pearson Hall lobby at the request of the late president's family. Fortunately, Pearson's wife, children and grandchildren were able to view the portrait before it was reported missing, but needless to say, its disappearance is a terrible disappointment and very painful to the family.
If you have knowledge of the whereabouts of the painting or can arrange its return, please contact me at snydersd@muohio.edu or via my cell number, 513-330-2012. The return of the painting to its rightful place has nothing to do with sanctioning or blaming anyone involved in its safe return. It has everything to do with allowing the Miami community to continue to honor a beloved and widely admired former president and to convey to the Pearson family our university's everlasting respect for their husband, father and grandfather.
Steve Snyder
Secretary to the board of trustees
snydersd@muohio.edu
As Democrats still search, long process boosts voters
Another primary has come and passed and the Democratic Party doesn't have a nominee. Fear has struck the face of Democrats nationwide, or has it? Although the results in Pennsylvania do not point to a definite winner in this heated Democratic primary, we are still in a good position for the fall. We are fortunate to have two extremely qualified candidates who are making history and exciting voters nationwide.
This primary is giving a voice to those who are often overlooked in the primary process. Normally, the states that have their primaries later in the year do not have the opportunity to see the candidates as closely as they have this year. Our candidates have created ample dialogue with the voters in these states and-because of the heated competition in this primary-have developed solid cores of volunteers in areas that were not as mobile in past elections. This enlarged group of active participants puts the party at a great advantage for the presidential elections in November.
Not only does this primary create more exposure for the candidates, but it also has created a greater understanding of the positions that both Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Barrack Obama (D-Ill.) hold on important issues. This basic knowledge of the candidate's views is great for the American public. Consequently, when elections roll around this November, you will see a more knowledgeable and involved voting bloc that will be able to choose the candidate that they truly believe in.
This year, the Democratic primaries saw voters turning out in record numbers. Pennsylvania saw voter registration for Democrats increase drastically; in two historically Republican counties in the state, Bucks and Montgomery, registered Democratic voters significantly outnumbered Republicans. This is a trend that directly results from the enthusiasm voters have for our two candidates. Clinton and Obama both have a clear advantage over their competition, and no supporter of the Democratic Party should be discouraged.
Aaron Bly
Communications Chair
College Democrats
blyar@muohio.edu
Hard sciences provide numerous research opps
I read, with some dismay, a letter to the editor (April 18, "Miami science programs not geared toward research") in the recent Miami Student. The correspondent expressed frustration that very little "biology" was offered at Miami, and that the vast majority of course offerings were geared toward pre-med students. I am glad to have the opportunity to offer a very different picture of the biology that is available at Miami, and, in particular, the interest in ecology that Jessica Brown expressed.
The home department of individual faculty often provides little clue to their specific research interests. Semantically, biology is the study of life, zoology is the study of animals, botany is the study of plants, microbiology the study of microbes and so on. But let's go beyond these disciplines and consider what biological researchers at Miami do. For instance, Miami faculty in the fields of ecology and evolutionary biology are found in at least five departments (botany, geography, geology, microbiology and zoology).
Even within a single department, the breadth of research interests might surprise a student. For instance, some faculty in zoology study tree roots, and some faculty in botany study birds, E. coli and microscopic fungi. Students could learn a great deal by talking to faculty about their research. Contrary to popular opinion, most faculty really, really like students. Nearly all faculty in every department in the natural sciences offer undergraduates the opportunity to engage in research projects that go far beyond the regular class material and very few work directly on medical questions.
As a testament to the number of students already following their passions, the recent undergraduate research fair included oral presentations and posters by more than 240 students, including many topics in animal behavior, ecology, evolutionary biology and environmental sciences. Undergraduates that have done research with me have presented their research at regional and national meetings and published scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals. This is not unusual-most faculty welcome the opportunity to help students follow their dreams. Faculty Web sites offer a lot of information on research interests and opportunities for research. Once you have found faculty whose research sounds interesting, go talk to as many of them as you have time for. More often than not, they will be eager to get you started. Good luck and happy hunting.
Hank Stevens
Assistant Professor
Department of Botany
hstevens@muohio.edu
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