Miami University - Recensio Yearbook (Oxford, OH)

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OXFORD CISJ MIAMI UNIVERSITY If you want to feel as green as a first-quarter freshman, take a walk- ing tour of-Oxford and ask its resi- dents how Miami University has affected Oxford, Ohio. The usual response is a patient, amused shake of the head and the obvious answer that Oxford 18 Miami University. There was no Oxford before the chartering of Miami University in 1809. When the surveyors arrived in 1810, the total population con- sisted of several squatters living along the creek. The area was com- pletely forested and an Indian mound stood where Stoddard Hall is now located. The university opened officially in 1824 with twenty students. Not surprisingly, the original Slant Walk soon emerged as a well-worn dirt path from Franklin Hall, the first build- ing, to the saloons along High Street. The campaign against liquor was initiated in the first years and was finally won in 1905, after the cook from Oxford College lost his month's wages by gam- bling at one of the bars and shot himself. Oxford is now a town of 20,000 residents, most of whom are the 14,000 Miami students. Although the dimensions have changed, the dependence of Oxford on Miami remains. This is exceptionally clear in View of the fact that about half of Oxford's workers are directly employed by the university. Many businessmen rely for their exis- tence on the student trade. What other midwestern town would have five banks, five bars, two travel agencies, and a rumored seventeen stores that sell wine? Town-gown conflicts have appar- ently been few and, for the most part, minor. Several of the uptown merchants were disturbed when they learned that the new Univer- sity Center, started in 1956, was to include a bookstore and restau- rants. They felt it was unfair that their taxes should go to support competition. More recently, during As exemplified by these Pike's who often hang out outside of the Tallawanda Theater, hanging out uptown was indeed popular dur- ing the 1950's. Although the past decade has brought many transformations of High Street even during the 1960's it was Oxford's booming business district.

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Fighting for the league champi- onship, the Pike's scare again. The Greeks have played an imporn tant role in the continuation of in- tramural sports. Founded STET in 1902, Delta Zeta was the first sorority on cam- pus. By 1920; it had been joined by Delta Delta Delta, Chi Omega, and Alpha Omicron Pi. The 1930's saw a dozen sororities 0n Miami's campus. Like fraternities and liter- ary societies, sororities first met in Classrooms. They now lease suits on the first floors of Hamilton, Richard, and MacCracken Halls. 1 , Today, one out of ten fraternities .. ' . .. i. 9. . . H ' 4 ..... in existence was founded at ' H V V i 1 Miami, and one sixth of all frater- nity members helohg te fraternities The Sigma Chi fraternity was Chartered at Mlaml- Wlth the addl' founded after closing hours in this tion of the Phi Mu sorority in 1975, Drug Storeolocated b910W tWO 0f . . . . the founder s apartment. Miami has twenty sororities and twenty-six fraternities on campus. ... Gail Saville GREEKS: THE DOMINANT FACTOR Since its beginning the bike race of Greek Week has gone through many changes. This Greek Week spectacular ini- tiated by Delta Upsilon still draws a crowd, just as it did in 1956. 13

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One of the first sidewalks in Ox- ford, this elm-shaded path was built of flagstones soon after the Civil War. Professor McGuffey's octagonal desk, which he used while he was a professor at Miami. It adorned the library in Old Main for several years. the Viet Nam War protests of 1969, there was a good deal of tension between the townspeople and the students, and the leaders of the conflict conducted themselves with considerable restraint. The only property damage was one broken window, and most of the trouble was caused by Oxford citizens who overracted to what they saw as a threat of uprising. The latest con- troversial issue has been the liberalization of the liquor and marijuana laws, which many feel certain was brought on by the stu- dent vote. When both proposals passed on November 4, 1975, Ox- ford made the news for hundreds of miles around. Once known as the 3.2 capital of the world, Oxford was named Pot City, U.S.A. and sprouted a healthy crop of wine venders. Most of the businessmen inter- viewed agreed that, if it weren't for Miami, Oxford would be just another College Corners. The cul- tural events, such as lectures and concerts, the sports competitions, and the summer conventions at- tracted by Miami's facilities are a part of the force that keeps Oxford from being nothing more than a large farm town. But mentioned most often as the main advantage of living in a college town was the youthful and active spirit the stu- dents lend to Oxford. The townspeople enjoy keeping up with the happenings on campus and guessing which fad the stu- dents will come up with next. The town endured the streaking of re- cent years with surpressed amusement and surprisingly few complaints. And, as one busi- nessman pointed out, the students kept their youthful humor even during the disorders of the spring of 1969 - in protest one evening, they played volleyball under the street lights uptown. Once the situation is surveyed, one is brought to the conclusion that what was suspected is true m Oxford would not exist in any form camparable to its present state without Miami University. But the dependence is not a one way affair. Miami could not hold the affection and loyalty of its students the way that it does if it weren't for the school's location in this backwards little town that we all ridicule but deep downl truly cherish. - Ann Marshall 15