Culture

CULTURE

Notes of nostalgia: ode to a foggy first day of classes

By Will Gorman | February 4, 2020

Aug. 29, 2016 was my fifth day on Miami’s campus after I’d first set foot on the red bricks and moved into Thomson Hall. My phone lit up, abuzz with my alarm at 7:00 a.m. I’d been using a “sleep clock” app that a Buzzfeed listicle called a “college essential.” I’d read an array of similar posts to help me develop some sense of preparation for my first-ever undergraduate courses. The alarm ended up being helpful – it woke me up at seemingly the perfect time.

---

CULTURE

Humans of Oxford: An imagination unleashed

By Kelly McKewin | January 28, 2020

What’s black and white and has monsters all over? Well, that’s how most of Nick Felaris’s drawings can be described.  “I can’t stop drawing monsters,” Felaris admitted.

---

CULTURE

Miami students kiln it in the art department

By Leanne Stahulak | December 3, 2019

The pottery wheels hum softly as nine students bend over their work, hands gently wrapped around the spinning cups and bowls. Bright sunlight blazes in from the almost-full-length windows spread across two walls of the room, illuminating the space and the students’ faces.

---

CULTURE

OPD raises money and forgoes the razors for No-Shave November

By David Kwiatkowski | December 3, 2019

 This year, the Oxford Police Department participated in its third annual No-Shave November fundraiser. Each year, the entire force is allowed to voluntarily grow out their facial hair if they donate to the local charity the force chooses.  

---

CULTURE

Rebecca Andres: A strong, independent woodwind

By Lisa Arcure | November 26, 2019

Spending her childhood forging her musical talents, Rebecca Andres eventually found herself playing for Cincinnati Broadway Across America’s "Wicked." In the 96 performances that followed, Andres further fine-tuned her flute skills. Andres found her passion for music in the fourth grade. She comes from a family of musicians — many of her relatives play piano and her sister plays the violin. Andres tried to play the violin, too, but found that it wasn’t a good fit. 

---

FOOD

Muslim Students' Association Decorates and Donates

By David Kwiatkowski | November 26, 2019

  As the leaves swirled down from the trees outside of Armstrong on Friday, Nov. 15, Miami’s Muslim Students’ Association (MSA) swirled ornate designs onto the arms of students who stopped at their booth. Adjacent to a card table covered with various canned foods like Campbell’s soup and JIF peanut butter is another table occupied by a student practicing an ancient art form: henna.

---

CULTURE

Miami student ‘warms hearts’ through charitable business

By Sam Cioffi | November 26, 2019

Sophomore Owen Dame balances classes, clubs and running his own company. Six weeks ago, the entrepreneurship and economics major launched Warm Heart Clothing Co., a business that sells affordable clothing and donates 15 percent of the profits to various charities. 

---

CULTURE

Rock steppin’ RedHawks swing through the semester

By Leanne Stahulak | November 12, 2019

Ten weeks ago, many of these students would not have known the difference between a rock step and a half box. But in KNH 110S/T: Social Dance, learning these basics and more is the first step toward becoming a more experienced dancer.  

---

CULTURE

Review: ‘Pippin!’ showcases Stage Left’s range

By Erin Glynn | November 12, 2019

Stage Left’s production of “Pippin!” was absolutely worth that exclamation point. Miami University's only student-run musical theatre organization brought their characteristic enthusiasm to a performance equal parts amusing and disconcerting. 

---

CULTURE

Colorful for a cause: Theta hosts vibrant fundraiser

By Aly McVan | November 12, 2019

 Although most Miamians were still snuggled in their beds early Sunday morning, members of the Kappa Alpha Theta (Theta) sorority were up and about, motivated by the beginning of the second annual Color Run. 

---

CULTURE

Korean Thanksgiving dishes out food, friendship and festivities

By Sam Cioffi | November 5, 2019

Armstrong Pavilion is a large room, but last Saturday it felt small as people of all different backgrounds came together as one to celebrate the Korean holiday “Chuseok.” This holiday, which is typically celebrated in September, is a Korean Thanksgiving, with the purpose being to gather with family and share stories and food. 

---

CULTURE

Former Kosovo president wants gender equity and you to visit sometime

By Chloe Murdock | November 5, 2019

 Atifete Jahjaga, former Republic of Kosovo president, described her career path in male-dominated, post-war fields that led to her 2011-2016 presidency in a talk on Monday, Nov.  4. Before delving into those topics, however, she began by thanking her audience and asking Miami students and faculty to visit Kosovo.  

---

CULTURE

Stories in seconds

By Skyler Black and Maggie Peña | October 29, 2019

 Some stories delve deeply into the lives of their subjects. Others seek to capture the human condition in just a few words. Modeled after journalist Brady Dennis’ 300 word stories that explore the unfiltered intimacy of the everyday, these pieces, written by first-year students, offer a glimpse into the untold experiences of college life.  

---

CULTURE

Close encounters of a Starbucks kind

By Chloe Murdock | October 29, 2019

 In the spirit of the daily understaffed chaos witnessed in the campus Starbucks’ this year, here’s a look back at the former Starbucks attached to Maple Dining Hall. Maybe we’re nostalgic, but fall 2017 felt like a simpler time. 

---

CULTURE

Taking spooky crafts to the next dimension

By Lexi Whitehead | October 29, 2019

The Makerspace, located on the 3rd floor of King Library, was decked out for Halloween. Paper bats and garlands hung from the ceiling and fake spiders were strewn about. Candy buckets adorned most of the tables. Some of the staff also embraced the Halloween spirit with t-shirts showcasing a skeleton or black cat.  On Friday, Oct. 25, King’s Makerspace hosted a Halloween-themed event for students to make “creepy crawly crafts.” The Makerspace offers students an area to use the numerous available machines and be creative. The machines, including 3D printers and electronic cutting machines helped students make stickers and heat transfer vinyls and sewing machines. They could design book covers and bind the books themselves, personalize tote bags or clothes with the heat press and make a sewing circuit. 

---

CULTURE

Spooky spectacle: the author behind the mask

By Kelly McKewin | October 29, 2019

  After graduating from Miami University in May, Holly West wasn’t sure what kind of job she’d get. She certainly wasn’t expecting it to be spooky. She has been working as an actress in a Halloween show at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio since September. In the show, called “Midnight Syndicate: Creatures of Darkness,” West plays a mannequin that comes to life.

---

CULTURE

What does Family Weekend mean to international students?

By Joseph Puckett | October 22, 2019

The excitement and promise each August holds for new and returning students is accompanied by the pain of goodbyes. For an international student, this goodbye can be especially difficult. Most international students only see their family over winter and summer breaks and in some cases, international students go years without seeing their families. The International Student Orientation Program begins two weeks before classes start, according to Miami’s Division of Student Life. They learn how to navigate the university, manage their classwork and form their social lives in a new country, Santiago Lopez, a first-year student from Argentina explained.

---

CULTURE

The "Good Morning Miami" autumn essentials

By Emily Dattilo | October 22, 2019

 As we begin trading humidity and blaring sunshine for falling temperatures and leaves, it’s time to unveil the list of “Good Morning Miami” autumn essentials, which ensure a productive and pleasant day.  

---

CULTURE

‘Between Shades of Gray’ author talks totalitarianism and Stalin

By Leanne Stahulak | October 22, 2019

The first question for New York Times bestselling author Ruta Sepetys was not about her own historical fiction works but another “shades of grey” book that came out the same year as her debut novel.  The “Between Shades of Gray” writer turned toward the audience with a hand under her chin and a wry smile.  “Lithuania has never looked so sexy,” she said, before bursting into laughter and breaking character. The audience roared along with her. 

---

CULTURE

Don’t DHOP me now: Pancakes for a cause

By Grace Killian | October 22, 2019

 On Sunday morning, the sun shone down as Tri-Delt began its annual Delta House of Pancakes (DHOP) fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Under the Uptown park pavilion, they set up tables to serve pancakes, bacon, sausage and coffee.