Along Slant Walk

First in MIT competition

Their idea of harvesting rainwater to solve Jerusalem’s water crisis took first place in the economic category and earned international studies majors Ann Davis, Michael Lin, James Orwig, and Amanda Zazycki four fellowships worth $50,000 each to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Miami’s winning proposal was the culminating project for the students’ international studies capstone seminar, “Problems in the Middle East,” taught by Mark Allen Peterson, associate professor
of anthropology and international studies.

MIT sponsored the international competition, which was part of a larger “Jerusalem 2050” project.

Unearthing farming’s future

Combining elements from his three majors, environmental studies, history, and American studies, John Obrycki ’08 will spend this year studying the history and future of southwest Ohio’s agricultural community as recipient of Miami’s 2008 Joanna Jackson Goldman Memorial Prize.

He plans to investigate how the area has responded to changes in agriculture since the early 1800s, collecting oral histories from farmers and agricultural specialists.

“One interesting point will be to compare how different groups have related to the land throughout history. Also, what types of crops … and market structures have been most successful?” His goal is to share the results “with as many people as possible” before he pursues a doctorate in history.

John Obrycki ’08, Goldman Prize winner

Planning starts for new student center

Miami trustees have approved proceeding with planning for a Bicentennial Student Center, a new building that would fill a gap in on-campus space for social interaction — a need students have identified in surveys and focus groups.

The approval does not include details of the plans nor financing yet, but initial ideas include a central location on Spring Street, a 600-seat theater, large- and small-group meeting space, and retail and dining areas.

The university hopes to break ground in 2009, Miami’s Bicentennial year, and to raise at least half of the estimated $80 million construction cost via gifts.

“It is incredibly important that our curricular and co-curricular efforts are combined in a way that brings student success,” said Miami President David Hodge. “This student center will fill a gap that allows those efforts to come together. This will be transformative.”

Trustees passed a separate resolution to award architectural and engineering contracts for the center’s design not to exceed $8 million. Details are at www.muohio.edu/bsc.

Larger, stronger class

Miami’s freshman class next fall looks to be larger, more diverse, and even academically stronger than last year, according to the high number of students confirming their acceptance by the May 1 deadline.

“We have 3,714 first-year confirma-tions at this point, which is exciting. But, we know based on experience that about 150 will actually choose to go elsewhere,” says Laurie Koehler, director of admission. “We anticipate having about 3,550-3,575 when classes start, and that’s at least 100 students over our goal of 3,450.”

An early look at the class of 2012 shows its middle 50 percent ACT score range is 24-29, and it has 12 percent more U.S.-based multicultural students confirmed than the same time last year, with multicultural students representing 9.5 percent of the incoming class. International student confirmations are up 107 percent. A little more than one-third of the class is from outside Ohio.

Books for South America

Craig Beaker ’08, who graduated with a double major in diplomacy and foreign affairs and Latin American studies, had few resources when he taught English to kids in a village near Santiago, Chile, last summer. So this past school year he worked with Greek groups at Miami and an elementary school in his hometown of Toledo to collect 4,500 books to ship to the South American school.

Dorms ‘green’ clean

As part of Miami’s commitment to using environmentally friendly pro- ducts, building staff last summer started cleaning with “green” products in McKee Hall, tying into McKee’s environmental living-learning community.

The green seal certified products include all-purpose surface cleaner, glass cleaner, disinfectant cleaner, carpet shampoo, restroom cleaner, floor finish and sealer, and floor finish remover. Toilet tissue and paper towels made from 70 percent post-consumer waste have been used in residence halls for many years.

By this August, all residence halls will use the green cleaning products.

A Goldwater Scholar

Iordan Ganev, a mathematics and statistics and environmental science double-major, has been awarded a Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship — the most prestigious award of its type for under-graduates in mathematics, the natural sciences, or engineering.

He is among 321 selected nationwide. Working with several faculty mentors, he has con- ducted statistical analyses on how data from field studies of prairie voles can be used to interpret the species’ social organization and behavior.

He also has participated in research involving algebraic groups. After graduation, he plans to earn a doctorate in mathematics.

Studying in Dubai

Janine Saliba, a double major in French and finance at Miami who is minoring in economics, is studying Arabic, economics, and finance at the American University in Dubai this summer as a William J. Clinton Scholar.

Ten students were selected nation- wide for the program, designed to immerse them in the culture and allow them to observe firsthand the econo-mic and democratic development of a modern Arab state.

“I love languages,” she says, “and knowing Arabic, French, and English will allow me to go anywhere in the Middle East, which is where I want to work.”

Saliba, in Miami’s honors program, president of the Arabic Language Club on the Oxford campus, a member of Miami’s Model Arab League, and secretary of Pi Delta Phi, the French honorary society, also received a U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarship to study Arabic in Tangier, Morocco.

Third in recycling contest

Miami placed third out of 400 schools competing in RecyleMania 2008 this spring.

Miami recycled 70.69 cumulative pounds per on-campus student, just under Rutgers University Newark/New Brunswick’s second-place win with 71.29 cumulative pounds per on-campus student. First place went to California State University-San Marcos with 76.15 pounds per student.

Miami also placed fifth in the Gorilla Prize competition for highest gross tonnage of recyclables regardless of campus population.

During the 10-week contest, 58.6 million pounds was recycled, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WasteWise office. This equates to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions approximately equivalent to 15,439 passenger cars not driven
for one year or 9,568,241 gallons of gasoline or 196,038 barrels of oil.

At Miami, a total of 479,425 pounds was recycled during the contest.

For complete contest results, go to www.recyclemania.org.