Hello from Mobile, Alabama!

Last night the Miami RedHawks played in the GoDaddy.com bowl and defeated the Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee State University 35-21. I have been down in Mobile since Wednesday to partake in the bowl festivities and support the RedHawk football team. The festivities included a Mardi Gras Parade, a fireworks display, and of course pep rallies for each team. The Miami University Marching Band and Cheerleaders were on hand to get all the RedHawk faithful pumped up for the big game. While the floats were quite amazing, the best part of the parade was watching the football players try to catch the beads and moon pies that were being thrown into the crowd. Miami University President Dr. Hodge and Athletic Director Brad Bates were both in the parade and yes, they threw beads too! The hotel I stayed in was the team hotel and the staff was nothing but accommodating, they even decorated the lobby with Miami Flags and signs of support from the student body and the Oxford Kroger. Staying in the team hotel also meant many funny encounters with the members of the football team.
The team left for Mobile last Saturday and they have enjoyed the Southern hospitality to the fullest extent. While in Mobile they were able to visit the USS Alabama battleship, and participated in and WON the bowling tournament pitting the two teams against each other in a competition not on the football field. Possibly a sign of things to come…

When Thursday finally arrived the team was electric with excitement, this was Miami’s first bowl since 2004 and we had a chance to make NCAA history. A RedHawk win in the GoDaddy.com Bowl would mark the first time in NCAA history that a team went from double digit losses to double digit wins. The players went through their normal game day routines and boarded the buses to go to the stadium. The game was long and hard fought through the first 3 quarters but in the 4^th quarter the defense stepped up into high gear and intercepted Middle Tennessee’s passes multiple times. The interceptions stopped touchdown trading that had occurred the first three quarters and sealed the victory for the RedHawks of Miami University. Under the direction of interim coach Lance Guidry and under the watchful eye of new head coach Don Treadwell the Miami University RedHawks became the GoDaddy.com bowl champions and added to their already historical season. Worst to first in the Mid-American Conference, a nine game win improvement (tied for most in NCAA history), and the first team to ever go from double digit losses (1-11 in 2009) to double digit wins (10-4 in 2010) in NCAA history.

Well it’s time to board my plane and head back to Oxford so I can continue to read applications and answer all of your questions. Don’t forget our last application deadline is February 1st! I’m also going to leave you with some pictures from my trip.

Love and Honor! Go RedHawks!

A couple of floats from the Parade

Miami Representatives in the Parade: President Hodge, Athletic Director Dr. Bates, & the MUMB (Miami University Marching Band)!

Some of the guys on Gameday (Left: Tight end Ken Bruton; Right: Defensive linemen Austin Brown and Will Diaz)

Welcome New Members of the Miami Family (Left: New Head Football Coach Don Treadwell; Right: Newly Admitted Class of 2015 Student Curtis Jefferson)

Miami Players Celebrate their 10th win! (Clockwise from top-left: Wide Receiver Armand Robinson; Linebacker Evan Harris; Linebacker Austin Moore; Defensive Lineman Jordain Brown)

It's A Great Time to be A RedHawk!

It’s the beginning of December and the atmosphere around Oxford is electric. This week we found out that our Mid-American Conference Champion football team will be competing in the GoDaddy.com Bowl in Mobile, Alabama on January 6, 2011. The RedHawks (9-4) will face the Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee State (6-6) in a game televised on ESPN. I have never been more excited in my life, and the way that we won the Mid-American Conference is an even better story. (Prepare for a short game recap…in case you missed it.)

Miami was a 17 point underdog going into the Mid-American Conference Championship game last Friday against then #25 Northern Illinois (NIU) but the RedHawks never let that get them down. We scored first after an amazing run by Thomas Merriweather (later named MAC-East game MVP) placed us in the redzone but NIU answered quickly. The game was a dog fight until the end. By the time the 4th quarter was winding down to its last 2 minutes Miami was down by 1 point. All we needed was a field goal to win but knowing that NIU had already blocked one of our extra point attempts and a field goal attempt we actually needed a touchdown to “seal the deal.” The Miami crowd (including President Hodge) stood in the stands nervous about what would happen. Hopes were high after we were given a short field with NIU punting out of their endzone, but we knew we had to be efficient and not lose the ball. The crowd stood still with anticipation as Austin Boucher started guiding the team down the field then the movement stalled and the RedHawks faced what seemed like an impossible 4th down and 20 yards to go situation. The NIU crowd was convinced that the game was over, there was less than 2 minutes left, what did they have to worry about? Austin Boucher’s completed 31-yd pass to Chris Givens is what they probably should have worried about. The pass was tipped by NIU and fell into the hands of Givens sending the Miami fans into a frenzy (and later being one of the top plays on SportsCenter!). It was unbelievable, the RedHawks were in field goal range and still had time to go for the endzone. Two plays later Boucher completed a pass to Armand Robinson who was wide open in the middle of the field and Armand ran straight into the endzone with 33 seconds left in the game. The RedHawk fans cheered louder hoping our defense could hold NIU and preserve our win. An Austin Brown sack as time expired finally sealed the deal for the RedHawks as the team rushed the field. Final score: Miami – 26 NIU – 21.

Miami completed a true worst to first turnaround going from 1-11 in the 2009 season to 9-4 and MAC Champions in 2010. This is only the third time this feat has been accomplished and Miami students, fans, and alumni could not be any happier. Now as we prepare for a trip to Alabama there is plenty of action going on in the friendly confines of Millett Hall and the Goggin Ice Center to keep everyone occupied. The men’s basketball team is currently 1 – 1 against cross town rivals, beating Xavier by 11 and losing to Dayton by 12. Next up is the University of Cincinnati on 12/21 at Millett. Ice Hockey just completed a series against Notre Dame which the RedHawks and Fighting Irish split. Next up the Brotherhood (the nickname for Miami’s Hockey team) will travel to Florida for the Florida College Classic before taking on Ohio State in Columbus.

Before I end this post I would like to also let all the readers that have already applied know that we are still processing your transcripts and recommendation letters. Please allow at least 10 business days for your paperwork to be processed and updated on your appcheck website. If you know these forms have been submitted do not worry, you are still eligible for the Early Action deadline! If you have problems with your application other than the transcript/recommendation letter please make sure you contact us (513) 529-2531.

I am going to leave you now with some pictures from the MAC Championship Game. Enjoy. Go RedHawks!


The RedHawk Offense


Lining up for the 4th and 20 Miracle Play


The Video Screen


Love and Honor! Let the Celebration Begin!

The Miami Community--It lasts a lifetime

Happy Halloween! I love this time of year at Miami because it provides that sense of community that is on campus. Whether it is an English class full of students dressed up as Robin Williams from Dead Poets Society or a Finance class coming to the Farmer School of Business dressed as doctors, football players, and animals, you get that feeling of everyone just loves being at Miami right now, and it is a very powerful thing.

It is funny to think about the strength of the Miami community. While I was out on the road throughout the month, the campus kept pulling me back to Oxford. I was able to finish my travel season in time for Homecoming. To see all the alumni coming back from places like Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and Denver, in addition to Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati, really put into perspective how special this place is to those who have attended the university. Whether it was seeing the masses of people uptown after the football game, or the rowdy crowd cheering on our hockey team to two wins with a combined score of 13-1, or the people watching the parade floats drive by with the new generation of Miami students waiving to us alumni, the sense of the Miami Community was palpable.

When we talk about that sense of belonging to something bigger than yourself when you attend Miami, this is what we’re talking about. We’re talking about being able to go up to a complete stranger wearing Miami gear and becoming instant friends, simply because you both lived in Emerson Hall. Even if it was twenty years apart. It’s being able to talk to alumni who remember Miami having a struggling hockey program that played its games in a much smaller venue but still knowing that his passion for the RedHawks is as strong as your passion for the National Championship contender you see every year. It’s standing in line for bagel and deli, reliving a memory from sophomore year and hearing the Miami ’98 grad talk about the time he was waiting in line his sophomore year. It’s knowing that Miami is place that sticks with its alumni forever, and they just keep coming back every year.

I hope that as you enjoy your trips to Oxford and that you feel this sense of community as you visit campus. Because as an alum who just spent homecoming with thousands of others Miami family members, that feeling never goes away.

Admissions Note:
Today is the deadline for Early Decision. As long as your materials are POSTMARKED by November 1, they will be accepted for Early Decision. As a result, if have sent them through the mailed and we have them with a Nov. 1 date or earlier, they may be processed after the Nov. 1 deadline, but they will certainly be accepted.

Dalai Lama at Miami

Yesterday, Miami University was graced with the presence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet. While he interacted with students, faculty, staff, and trustees in various settings, his lecture on "Ethics in the Modern World" was delivered to a sold out crowd in Miami's Millett Hall and sold out remote viewing locations, totaling close to 12,000 viewers.

His messages were powerful, to say the least. But what I was most anxious to share with you was his reflection on the 20th Century, and his hope for the 21st Century. He indicated that the former was a century that will be remembered by bloodshed, concentrating on the violent "solutions" to human differences that were employed in this time. But he looked forward, too. He charged us, the younger generation, to ensure that the next century is one of dialogue. He stressed that we have ninety more years to make this century into what it will be remembered for. Dialogue, he stressed, is how we can take difference of opinion, policy, religious affiliations, and come to a productive understanding that is mutually beneficial.

As he sat with his shoes off and his legs curled under him, he talked about the root of happiness and internal peace. Genuine affection, both showing and receiving, can allow us to flourish as humans. He called on the audience to remember how we feel when we are treated with affection and love, and how we feel when we are treated with mistrust and fear. Without ever using the term "karma," he was clear in his message that we receive what we put out in the universe.

Miami has made a commitment to provide a global education, primarily achieved through opportunities like Study Abroad. His Holiness the Dalai Lama's visit to Miami is indicative of the ways in which the Miami education provides a global experience right here in Oxford, Ohio. To learn more about the Dalai Lama's visit and the many opportunities for students to interact with him, visit www.muohio.edu/dalai-lama.

Future Cincinnati Opera Idol?

I am so proud to work at a university with such talented and amazing students. The best part, though, is that we have such a wide variety of student success. We get constant updates on scientific research, business proposals, archaeological digs, and volunteer work that students are doing. I just found out something that I just HAD to share!



Mark Aiken, a senior music education major, made it to the finals of the Cincinnati Opera Idol competition! And just like the TV show, he needs votes to win!! Aiken, who is from Cincinnati, will compete against five other finalists for the title. To vote, go to http://www.operaidol.org/. Deadline to vote is July 19, so don't waste any time!

Macy’s Day Parade

I know what you’re thinking…its June, why am I blogging about the Macy’s Day Parade now? Well, we just got word that our Marching Band will be marching at the parade this year, which I think is amazing. As a former band member (both marching and concert), I know how much of a major accomplishment this is and I will finally be able to proudly say: that is OUR marching band out there and cheer them on from my comfy couch at home. This is definitely going to be one more thing added to the holiday lists of “to dos.” Are you going to watch?

Go Green, Miami!

Are you going green? So is Miami! Miami University was recently recognized for having the first residential hall in Ohio to receive a 2010 Energy Start from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Heritage Commons are on-campus student apartments that include a single room for each person, a joint bathroom used by two, and a common living and kitchen area. Only 5 years old, Heritage Commons accommodates up to 108 students who prefer the apartment-style living but want to stay on and near campus. The EPA gave kudos to Miami for meeting requirements in the categories of indoor air quality, energy performance, thermal comfort, and lighting levels. The university closely monitors all electrical and water usage on campus and has made strives to conserve energy when possible, saving the university substantial amounts of money. Miami is excited to receive this award and is encouraging others to find ways to conserve everyday resources. Go green!

Digital Games

Digital Game Studies
Do you love video games? Wouldn’t it be great if you could study video games in college? Miami University has lots of ways for you to study and earn college credit for your passions. A Digital Game Studies minor or Interactive Media minor might be something to consider. Miami also offers a series of classes in these areas that you could choose for a Thematic Sequence outside any major. All students complete a Thematic Sequence as part of the Miami Plan.
Miami University Digital Game Studies was named one of the top 50 programs in the nation! Miami has a program that includes a game lab, the world’s largest virtual reality space, and rapid prototyping where students can design 3-D models and more!
Pictured above are participants in the 2010 Miami University Global Jam, an event with students age 16-35 who spent a weekend on campus creating a game from concept to completion.
Miami University offers a liberal arts education that you can customize to fit your goals and areas of interest. Follow your passions to have the best college experience and to open a future in areas you love!
Links to help you discover more:
http://aims.muohio.edu/game-studies-minor/
http://welcome.eas.muohio.edu/global-game-jam-comes-to-miami/
http://www.miami.muohio.edu/academics/index.html

Yummy

Once again Miami University’s housing and dinning services won gold, silver and bronze awards at the Loyal E. Horton Dining Awards which is sponsored by the National Association of College and University Food Services. Miami actually received the most honors in the competition and we will compete for the grand prize during the national conference this July!

So, if you are visiting us this summer or fall, please feel free to stop by one of our award winning dining facilities on campus for breakfast, lunch or dinner. If you would like information on what is being served at the dining facilities and the calorie content as well, please visit http://www.hdg.muohio.edu/EatingAtMiami/.

Hop on the bus!

Miami University offers a metro bus system to all students who want to get around a little quicker. Transportation is available to and from the Oxford/Hamilton campuses, uptown Oxford, and various places around the Oxford campus. Miami University recently received a grant to expand its Metro destinations! Starting in fall of 2010, Miami Metro Busses will occasionally provide transportation to and from Wal-Mart in Oxford as well as Jungle Jim’s International Market in Fairfield, OH. This exciting change will allow students who do not have cars to do some extra shopping in their free time, especially if students are browsing for international food. Miami is happy to provide services to students of all backgrounds and making the community at Miami more inclusive.

On the ice.

From Broomball to Synchronized Skating we are really known for our sports on the ice! This past weekend we hosted the International Skating Institute (ISI) at our Goggin Ice Center. There were more than 100 teams and over 1,000 skaters on our campus from ages 4-81. At the competition all three of Miami’s synchronized skating teams preformed during the exhibition portion. The senior team currently holds the third place U.S. National Championships while the junior team finished in fifth. For more information about Miami’s Synchronized Skating Team, please visit: http://www.muredhawks.com/sports/w-syncssk/mioh-w-syncssk-body-main.html.

Another team on the ice doing well is our Men’s Ice Hockey team who will be playing in the final four after a 3-2 double-overtime victory over Michigan at the NCAA Division I Midwest Regional. For more information about the game and/or information about tickets, please visit: http://www.muredhawks.com/sports/m-hockey/mioh-m-hockey-body.html.

A Gleeful Weekend

There’s always something exciting going on at Miami! This past weekend, the Miami University Men’s Glee Club hosted the Intercollegiate Men’s Choruses National Seminar (IMC), a three day event that including concerts, luncheons, discussion panels, and an all-conference get-together. The seminar included 12 colleges, 3 high schools, and 4 other choir groups, from various parts of the country. IMC Vice President and Conductor of the Miami University Men’s Glee Club, Ethan Sperry, opened the concert series with 100 members of the Miami University Men’s Glee Club. Other featured performers included Dr. Jameson Marvin of the Harvard Glee Club in his 32nd and final year as conductor. It was an exciting weekend to welcome many visitors to campus. If you are interested in learning more on the Men’s Glee Club, visit their website at http://www.mugleeclub.org/ Miami has many music ensembles for students of any major may join. Check out this link for more information on acapella, choir and instrumental ensembles: http://arts.muohio.edu/music/ensembles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5lYAB0bk38

More than just a shirt...

Miami University is home to EDUN Live on Campus, which is the first student-run business that enables campus organizations to customize ethically-produced T-shirts in the entire country! What is it? It is a social conscious, student-run, apparel business, with the mission to assist with employment opportunities in Africa. These shirts are 100% African made which includes the growing of the cotton, to the manufacturing of the fabric, to the fabrication of the t-shirt.

EDUN Live on Campus has reached a milestone with sales of 25,000 shirts in just a little more than three years! An even bigger accomplishment is that 100+ jobs that have been created in sub-Sahara Africa as a result of this business.

If you are interested in more information about Miami’s chapter or want to learn how to get involved with this organization, please check out the following link:

http://www.fsb.muohio.edu/centers/social-entrepreneurship/edun-live-u

Miami Peace Corps Record

What are Miami students doing after they graduate? Alumni report doing a variety of things after their time at Miami, including 43 students now working for the Peace Corps! This number places Miami 4th on the top 25 list for amount of students serving from medium-sized colleges and universities. In 2009, Miami placed 7th, and our increase in student volunteerism within the program has upped our ranking! If you’re not familiar with the Peace Corps, it is a nonprofit volunteer organization that hires young adults to live in various parts of the world to promote international development related to education, agriculture, environment, or business, just to name a few.

The Peace Corps volunteer population is quickly growing, and in the past 48 years, 825 Miami alumni have participated in the program. Miami is holding a Spring Career Fair on February 16 to showcase opportunities for Miamians after graduation. The Peace Corps will be present to recruit even more volunteers at 6:00pm on February 17. This is just one of many organizations invited to participate in the Spring Career Fair, where students can see the myriad of possibilies for life after Miami!

Mobile unit is hitting the streets soon!

Miami University will be welcoming a Mobile Health Initiative this week to Oxford. The unit is a prototype for student health promotion on college and university campuses around the nation. The mobile unit is a student-run, student-focused project that is designed to help college kids become more aware of their own health, and health issues in general. The unit will also utilize “hands-on” and interactive experiences to help students understand health and wellness issues. The unit is funded by The Ford Foundation, along with a partnership with Armor Mobile Systems, to improve the health of students throughout college campuses. For more information, contact Reginald Fennell at 513-529-3226 or fennelr@muohio.edu.

Are you an accepted student?

If so, CONGRATULATIONS!!

Would you like to chat with current Miami University students, faculty, and staff? This opportunity is available for you tomorrow, Wednesday, February 24th. We will be participating in an online chat most of the day for accepted students. For more information please check your e-mail since we sent you important log-in information on how to find us online. Meanwhile, if you have any questions/concerns, feel free to leave us a message on the blog!

Miami Makes Guinness World Record

What is it about Miami students that creates life-long relationships? More than 14% of Miami alumni have married another graduate of Miami. Dubbed “Miami Mergers,” these love birds tally up to a grand total of 26,472 scattered across the globe. This number is believed to be one of the largest of its kind in the country. Valentine’s Day is approaching, and Miami is preparing to send out Happy Valentine’s Day cards to all Mergers, a tradition that began in 1973.

On February 2, Miami was pleased to receive word from Guinness World Records that we officially broke the world record for the most couples renewing their wedding vows at once. Last June, 1,087 couples returned to Miami last summer for alumni weekend to renew their vows. Robert Frame (1938 graduate) and June Frame (1939 graduate) were there and were recognized as the oldest known Miami Merger. Special thanks to the Miami University Alumni Association for organizing such a successful event. We even have three Mergers working here in the Office of Admission. Shout out to Carol Richmond, Ann Larson, & Ann Bader! Traditions live long at Miami!

What is Miami Doing?

Last week, Haiti was rocked by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, affecting over 3 million people and devastating the poverty-stricken country. Organizations across the world have reached out to help this country with monetary donations. One of the great benefits of being part of a college community is the depth of opportunity to which you are able to get involved in relief efforts such as this one. Many students have used their connections within student organizations and leadership positions to assist in these efforts. Miami students started a Facebook group: “Miami University Haiti Relief Efforts” to share their plans and implementation strategies.

Miami has partnered with the World Food Programme (WFP) to send monetary donations to directly distribute food and water to Haiti. Currently, food and water donations cannot be accepted due to logistical complications from the quake. WFP is one of the only organizations who was previously equipped in Port-Au-Prince to distribute food and water supplies, and Miami’s Office of Community Engagement and Service strongly suggests monetary donations to organizations like WFP and the American Red Cross. To donate now, visit https://donate.wfp.org/supporter/donatenow.do?n=gbss&dfdbid=1115409 and choose “Miami (OH)” from the pulldown menu.

Share Your Miami Experience

As you may know, Miami has over 300 student organizations available for students. Two of these organizations work closely with the Office of Admission and share with prospective students their reasons for choosing Miami University. Every spring, we encourage current students to apply to be campus tour guides, who are trained to answer frequently asked questions about the university and share their experiences while conducting tours of campus. These students of course, must brave chilly weather, hot summer days, and the occasional rainfall.

Another organization to look into is called Miami University Student Ambassadors (MUSA). MUSA is a volunteer organization that meets biweekly, gets involved in fund-raiser events, and social events for fun. One of the duties of MUSA is to greet families who are checking in for campus tours and get to talk with them before the campus information session begins. These students also reply to emails, make phone calls to prospective students, and hosts receptions on campus for visitors. If you have any questions for current students, feel free to contact a MUSA member at miami100@muohio.edu.

Both organizations are an excellent way to get to know Miami students and help out students just like yourselves who are searching for the best college. Good luck college shopping!

REACH OUT WITH A RED MITTEN!


Miami Students make a difference in the lives of local families with many different volunteer activities and the Red Mitten Campaign is a great example. The Farmer School of Business’ Buck Rodgers Business Leadership Program organizes and staffs this wonderful community service project annually, connecting Miami students, faculty and staff who all join together to help local families with needs in December.
The volunteer picks a Mitten and returns with the item and attaches the mitten so the gifts can be delivered. This is just one of many examples of the Miami campus/Oxford community connection that makes the Miami experience in a small College Town so fantastic.
Miami graduates continue after graduation to be leaders in volunteer activities such as Peace Corps where Miami ranks 7th in the number of Alumni volunteers for medium sized Colleges and Universities for the 2008 report. Many current Miami students participate in alternative spring break options with Habitat for Humanity and international volunteer destinations enriching both their lives and the lives of those they help in our global community.
Still time to Apply to Miami for fall 2010. Regular Decision deadline is February 1st on line at: www.muohio.edu/apply

After Dark: something else to do on the weekend

Prospective students often want to know what’s going on during free time aside from studying and writing papers. Throughout the school year, a student-run organization called After Dark hosts free events welcome to the whole student body. The first major kick-off event occurs before classes begin with a “party on the patio” behind our student union. All first year students are encouraged to enjoy music, food, and entertainment while getting to meet new friends. Miamians are also invited to recent movie showings throughout the year in our student union, and popcorn is free! When it’s nice outside, sometimes they’ll have movie showings on a large projector screen outside on our main quad. Some other events include a guest magician, an arcade night, and ice skating. We once invited casino card dealers to show off what they were made of to anyone who dared playing them on our casino night (don’t worry, no real gambling occurred).

You might even be interested in joining the After Dark crew. This is only one of over 300 student organizations on campus, and there are also leadership opportunities in After Dark. If you want more information on upcoming activities or how to get involved, visit the After Dark website. Have fun!