Ron Tammen: The Phantom of Oxford

On Sunday, April 19, 1953, at 8:30-ish in the evening, Ronald H. Tammen, Jr., disappeared from his second-floor room in Fisher Hall on Miami University’s campus in Oxford, Ohio. He left everything behind — his wallet, his string bass, his car, his clothing, even his toothbrush. No one could figure out what happened to Tammen. Miami University officials were mystified, the Oxford PD outwitted, the FBI flummoxed. Since the spring of 2010, I’ve been conducting my own search for Tammen and what his disappearance might tell us about this enigmatic 19-year-old who landed himself squarely in the middle of one of the most bedeviling mysteries ever to hit the state of Ohio.

The Phantom of Oxford pt 1

The Phantom of Oxford pt. 2

What do you think happened?  

Do your theories match these?

Crime vault: What happened to Ronald Tammen (Part 1)

Crime vault: What happened to Ronald Tammen (Part 2)

A Good Man Is Hard to Find — My Search for Ronald H. Tammen, Jr.

The Ron Tammen case is the most notorious but certainly not the only unsolved Miami mystery...

Phobophobia

What happens when your fear is greatly exaggerated or completely irrational compared to the actual risk?

Phobias are actually quite common, affecting more than 10% of the U.S. population. Phobias are the most common mental disorder in the United States, but far more women than men are affected by phobias. In many cases, people are able to recognize that their fear is irrational and therefore take steps to overcome their phobia. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, only about 10 percent of reported cases become life-long phobias.

Use this list to solve the 'Phobia Puzzle' before your classmates.

How are Phobias named?  Check their greek and latin roots.

Create 3 new 'phobias' of your own and define them. For example...."Ebolaphobia:" the fear of contracting Ebola.

Or do you suffer from 'Verbophobia:' the fear of words?

The Odds of Dying

Take a look at this list of ways you could die and rank them from 'greatest risk' (#1) to 'least risk (#30).

Corona, Heart Attack, Suicide, Drowning, Bicycle Accident,  Lightning Strike, Vaping, Body Piercing, Stroke, Plane Crash, Terrorist Attack, Robot Car,  Nuclear Bomb, AIDS, Skin Cancer, Dog Bite, Car Accident, Tornado, Contact Sports (football, soccer), Shooting, Asthma, 4-Wheeler, Suffocation, Drug Overdose, Earthquake, Underage Drinking, Snake Bite, Asteroid, Falling Down, Mr. Kelly Attack

1) Fear of death is a natural human emotion; but are we misjudging our risks?

2) Why do our brains fear the wrong things?

3) According to recent reports what is the #1 cause of death in Butler County and what is being done to prevent it?


Listen to the song 'People Who Died.'   Should we fear the reaper?  Another One Bites the Dust.

Why Fear and Anger Are So Effective In Politics

They are hallmarks of modern American presidential races: a campaign rally claim about what life would look like should your opponent win, or a television ad that seems like a trailer for a horror film. For example, former President Donald Trump telling voters that an administration under Kamala Harris would, "destroy your country." Or, a Harris television ad stating that in office, Trump will seek "vengeance." This charged language is used for a reason: it's effective. But, why? And, why isn't hope a central theme for campaigns as weeks turn to days before the 2024 presidential election?

1. Why might fear be an effective way to persuade people to support a political leader or policy?
2. How does anger differ from fear as a political tool? What kinds of reactions might each emotion produce?
3. Why might people pay more attention to a frightening or upsetting story than to a calm, factual explanation?
4. How can politicians use a real problem to create a sense of urgency? When might that urgency be justified, and when might it be exaggerated?
5. What role do news organizations and social media play in spreading messages designed to make people afraid or angry?

Fear Factor!

1) What is your favorite scary movie? Why?

2) What makes a movie scary?

3) Why do so many people enjoy being scared out of their wits while others do not? Which are you?

4) How do horror stories help us cope with real life?

5) What stories in the news right now scare you the most? Why?

Since the first silent films, through the 'Golden Age' of Hollywood, the horror movie genre has been one of the most popular and profitable.

Use what you've learned about fear mongering and the link below to make your own movie poster for a 'FNORD' taken from today's headlines.

1) Find an example of a 'FNORD' (fear mongering) in the news.

2) Search images for your poster.  'Control Save' them to your desktop.

3) Make your own movie poster.  Be sure to include taglines, credits, and movie rating.

Rosebud

Citizen Kane was a brutal portrait of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. When Hearst learned through Hopper of Welles' film, he set out to protect his reputation by shutting the film down. Hollywood executives, led by Louis B. Mayer, rallied around Hearst, attempting to buy Citizen Kane in order to burn the negative. At the same time, Hearst's defenders moved to intimidate exhibitors into refusing to show the movie. Threats of blackmail, smears in the newspapers, and FBI investigations were used in the effort.

 

Who was the REAL 'Citizen Kane?'

Was it the greatest movie ever made?

What was all the controversy about?

How did Hearst run his newspaper business?

What do you think 'Rosebud' means?

Answer these questions and then write your own movie review.

Did your movie make this list?

 

My First Lie and How I Got Out Of It

 

MY FIRST LIE, AND HOW I GOT OUT OF IT 

By Mark Twain – Adapted

Mark Twain was a famous American humor writer who often used exaggeration to teach lessons about human behavior. In the story 'My First Lie and How I Got Out of It,' Twain describes a situation where a small lie begins to grow bigger and more complicated. Each attempt to fix the lie creates new problems and confusion. The story humorously shows how difficult it can be to keep track of lies once they start. 

1) Why do you think the narrator told the first lie? 

2) What happens when the narrator tries to maintain the lie?

3) What lesson do you think Mark Twain is trying to teach?

Were we lied to about George Washington and the cherry tree?!

Today, misinformation can spread quickly through social media, news outlets, and public figures. Read the scenarios below and answer the questions.

Scenario A: Social media feeds are awash with Iran war misinformation

Scenario B: Without Providing Evidence, Trump Pins School Bombing on Iran

Scenario C: Donald Trump said prices are “all coming down now.” They’re mostly going up.

4) What clues suggest these posts might not be trustworthy?

5) What steps could someone take to verify the information?

6) What might happen if thousands of people share misinformation?