Voting early important in 2008 election
As almost everyone knows, Election Day is Nov. 4, and like a lot of students, I've already voted. On Oct. 15 I went down to Hamilton and cast my vote for Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) for president. Until this year, no one was allowed to vote early in Ohio unless they had some reason why they needed to do so. This year, for the first time, everyone who is registered can vote early.
I voted for Obama because I believe he is the candidate that is going to make the right decisions on the issues that matter to me: I want my education to be more affordable; I want to have a chance to get a job when I get out of school; I want my children and their children to grow up in an environment that's not progressively more polluted and unlivable and I look forward to living in a country that's safe, secure and no longer engaged in needless wars. Obama is the one who gives me hope that such things are possible.
It was because of all these things that I was so excited to vote in my first presidential election. The chance to vote early made this first time all the more exciting, because I know it's what Obama has encouraged all of his supporters to do. When I voted, it took less than 15 minutes from the time I arrived to the time I left. I just filled out a form with my name, the last four digits of my social security number and then I voted. That's all it took. There were no lines, there were no hassles. I still had plenty of time left in the day to study for my midterms. It was my first time voting, and it was even more exciting because I know I am contributing to an historic election, with maybe more at stake than has ever been at stake before. The chance to vote early is historic, as well-this is the first time we have all had this chance.
The polls are open every day Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., extended hours Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. and 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., respectively. If you're registered in Butler county, you can go down to 1802 Princeton Road, Hamilton, Ohio any day during those hours, fill out a ballot and cast it today. Cast your ballot now so that it's counted first. Our future depends on it.
Kelly Diturnoditurnkm@muohio.edu
Amusement house ad issue troubles some
As a faculty learning community on inclusion, we read the Sept. 25 issue of Amusement and found a number of things to be both problematic and offensive. We recognize that it is within the parameters of free speech for you to speak your mind. While your goals may have been to be edgy, irreverent or humorous, there is a responsibility that you have to the Miami University community related to the messages conveyed by your paper. Promoting controversial material in a public forum has a cost.
We cannot ignore Miami's historical exclusionary practices, which negatively affected students, faculty and staff. This campus has either held a reputation or been characterized by the perception of having a lack of understanding of diversity and diversity-related issues (see Princeton Review). Exclusionary practices, such as the content of the Miami University Supplement (Sept. 25, 2008) provide a comfort zone for a hostile climate, leading to challenges in recruiting and retaining faculty, students and staff, and running counter to the clearly stated mission of Miami to be an inclusive campus for everyone.
Some key points that we would like you to clarify about the issue relate to the following segments:
One statement, "most girls hit their prime at about age 14," (p. 4) was made in the context of other sexually provocative statements. Are you aware of the ambiguity of that statement? The statement appears to promote pedophilia. Did you know one in three females and one in four males are sexually abused before the age of 18?
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The story on the bottom of page 9 was particularly disturbing. Did you intend to connect skinning human beings, especially those with black skin, as the equivalent to shoe leather? Given the treatment of ethnic minority groups in America and across the globe, we are confused about why your publication presents these ideas as humorous.
We would like to understand more about the list on the back page that states that diversity should be protested on the Miami's campus.
As we consider the patterns of the past here at Miami and your position as young adult students, the hope for its future, we have great concerns about the overt and covert messages in this publication. Our position is that using the language of hate further establishes a campus climate of exclusion and intolerance. It is painful and damaging to both the individuals who are personally offended as well as to the community as a whole. Our hope is to use this as a teachable moment and address it through dialogue, open meetings with students and faculty and disseminating faculty talking points about this teachable moment.
Ronald B. Scott FacilitatorFaculty Learning Community for the Enhancement and Developing an Inclusive Campus Climatescottrb@muohio.edu
Editor's Note
In response to the university's current financial situation, as well as community concerns about the editorial content of Amusement, the publication will no longer be a separate publication from The Miami Student. It will now appear as a weekly section in the Friday edition of The Miami Student.
The decision for this change was challenging, but we are confident that this will allow us to improve The Miami Student and still maintain the alternative voice Amusement provides to the Miami University community.
As readers, you should expect this section to provide the same humor, wit and perspective with more journalistic quality.
As always, we welcome you to share any thoughts, ideas or concerns with us. We are looking forward to this change to our publication and are confident this decision will improve the publication.
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