2
Cincy Streetcar
The city’s streetcar remains a polarized issue even after commencement
4
Bengals Opinion
TNR’s take on who the Bengals should focus on drafting
THE NEWS RECORD / UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI THURSDAY, JAN. 19, 2017
NEWSRECORD.ORG
Misty future of the Affordable Care Act
Congress’s attempts to repeal the ACA may have consequences for UC students PRESTON PARRISH | CONTRIBUTOR
With a GOP-controlled Congress and an incoming Trump administration, a potential repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, is on the minds of every politician in the country. The full effect of such an action is uncertain, both for those in Washington and for members of the University of Cincinnati community. Earlier this month, senators voted 51-48 to approve a budget resolution that Republicans will use as a vehicle to speed through the repeal of the ACA. Democrats offered amendments to the resolution that they knew would fail but would put senators on record voting for or against some of the more popular provisions of Obamacare. Those include a provision barring insurance companies from refusing to cover patients with preexisting medical conditions and keeping young people on parent’s insurance until age 26, preserving children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). While President-elect Donald Trump and several other GOP leaders in Congress are pushing for both a quick repeal
of the ACA followed by the passing of a new healthcare bill to follow afterwards, the exact timing and nature of this plan is unknown since no GOP-drafted bill has been revealed to address the large and sudden growth of the uninsured that would exist should the repeal come to fruition. While Trump said during his press conference on Nov. 11, 2016, that the repeal and replacement would happen at the same time, that is “technically impossible,” according to Politico. Among college students, those who gained health insurance through the ACA’s exchanges could face very immediate and expensive problems with key provisions in the healthcare law being responsible for some having continued health insurance, according to Adjunct Political Science Professor Dr. William P. Umphres. “Two of the more salient issues for college students involve the ACA’s provision that dependent children be allowed to stay on their parents’ insurance until age 26 and the mandate that birth control be covered by insurance,” said Umphres. “Eliminating the ACA would mean that college
students would likely be forced to find their own independent plans, rather than remaining with their parents’ insurance until they enter the workforce.” Without the exchanges set up by the state and federal governments, this is likely an expensive proposition and would mean women’s access to birth control would become more expensive, according to Umphres. “All in all, the financial consequences for college students would probably be steep,” said Umphres. Some students, like second-year liberal arts student Theo VanDiest, expect a negative outcome due to the uncertainty surrounding the law. “Last time I checked, they were planning on keeping the provision regarding coverage of the child up until a certain age, but I haven’t seen a new plan come forward that kept any provision like that,” said VanDiest. “So if that is still true, it wouldn’t have a direct effect on the students that would still be under their parent’s plan, but it could impact the parents negatively since premiums will likely go up. I don’t see a real positive outcome no matter what they keep or replace.”
OLIVIER DOULIERY | ABACA PRESS | TNS
U.S President Barack Obama holds his final press conference on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017 in the White House briefing room in Washington, D.C.
UC investigated for
being sexually hostile ZACHARY PERRIN | STAFF REPORTER
“Gary Clark is a problem” DAVID WYSONG | SPORTS EDITOR
The idea began with a tweet in 2011, but now has blossomed into a university-wide slogan: Gary Clark is a problem. Aaron Rountree tweeted about Clark – a basketball player from Clayton High School in Clayton, North Carolina – saying that he was a going to be a problem in regards to opposing teams. Clark then went on to enroll at the University of Cincinnati and the phrase was tweeted by others numerous times, but it finally become notorious on Jan. 6, 2015. Jon Rothstein, a college basketball insider for CBS Sports, tweeted the five simple words that day. That was the same day Clark collected 16 rebounds, as well as accumulated four blocks and four steals against East Carolina University as a freshman for Cincinnati. It was retweeted 85 times and additionally quoted by
several fans. Since that game, Rothstein has tweeted the phrase 13 more times and more people have caught on. In addition to fans and students tweeting how much of a problem Clark is, the UC athletic department went as far as to create a GIF with the phrase, tweeting it out last week. Clark said he looks at it as being a problem on the defensive end of the floor. “As far as blocking shots, dominating on the rebounding side, getting steals and helping my teammates out, being that kind of problem. If I am playing defense pretty well, then it is more likely that I’m in a groove on the offensive end as well,” said Clark. He additionally stated he wants to be a problem in all aspects of the game. “Just being a problem on both ends of the court and getting steals, rebounding, finding my teammates. Just all aspects of the game, [I
am] trying to dominate,” said Clark. Clark found a lot of success last season during his sophomore campaign, scoring 10.4 points per game, 8.8 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.5 blocks. His numbers this season are slightly lower, but his field goal percentage is the highest of his career at 57.7 percent as of Jan. 17. However, Clark has averaged 12.1 points and seven rebounds during the Bearcats’ current eightgame winning streak. This includes a 26-point, 10-rebound performance against Marshall University on Dec. 22, 2016. Head coach Mick Cronin has said Clark needs to work on his aggressiveness night-in and night-out. Cronin said that aggressiveness has been there during this winning streak. “It’s just the maturation process as a player,” said Cronin. “He’s getting better, he’s playing harder as
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he gets older. He’s more consistent with his effort.” Cronin knows, though, that his team needs to give Clark the ball more in the half-court offense, as the Bearcats are 32-9 since the 2014-15 season when Clark scored 10 or more points. “We’ve got to know that [when] we catch the ball, he is available on a post-up,” said Cronin. “He’s got to get it, that puts pressure on the defense.” Despite Clark being tied for third in scoring on the team, Clark prides himself on a solid defensive outing over having a big offensive night. Clark was awarded the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year last season. “If I can get a couple blocked shots, a couple steals; I love getting steals off the ball,” Clark said. Staff reporter Claude Thompson contributed to this story
University of Cincinnati student Jennifer Schoewe sparked a federal investigation of UC for mishandling students’Title IX cases. Early Sunday morning on Aug. 23, 2015, Jennifer Schoewe, a fourth-year finance student at UC, tried to leave a party thrown by her friends and go home by herself. Tyler Gischel, a male student who she had not recalled meeting, followed her, according to Schoewe. Gischel had assured her friends that she would get home safely, she said. “But he did not walk me home. He walked me back to his apartment and he had sex with me and then he apparently let me go by myself to find my own way home in the very early hours of Sunday morning. And I woke up the next afternoon with no recollection and a lot of pain,” said Schoewe. Schoewe filed an official report with the Title IX office and the UC Police Department about two weeks after the assault. Multiple officials at UC, including former Title IX Coordinator Jyl Shaffer, told her that her attacker would be interim suspended until a hearing was held, according to Schoewe. But Jennifer Rowe, the Victims Services Coordinator at UC who worked with Schoewe, the police department and Title IX throughout the case, later contacted Schoewe through her UCPD detective and told her to disregard what the university had told her, and that the attacker was not going to be suspended. “I felt unsafe,” said Schoewe. “I could barely go to classes. I was a mess. I couldn’t retain any information and I would cry almost every time I walked on campus because I was terrified.” Schoewe said she contacted the Office of Student Affairs, asking them to follow through with the suspension, but was told that the office needed a legal indictment first before they could
suspend him. “This is not true because the majority of victims don’t go through both mediums to report. If they’re going to report, usually a college student will just go to Title IX. It’s very rare for them to go to the police too,” said Schoewe. Schoewe was told that if she felt unsafe on campus, she could stay home, not attend classes, have other students take notes for her and have her professors email her the assignments. “Essentially, they would almost suspend me, and I felt victimized, betrayed and almost like I was being punished for being assaulted and for doing what everyone told me I needed to do and for what I thought was right by reporting,” said Schoewe. UC suspended the attacker after he was indicted by a grand jury. In Nov. 2015, Schoewe contacted the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights in the belief that UC had mishandled her case and were mishandling others as well. In March of 2016, the OCR sent her a letter stating they were opening an investigation on UC to determine whether the university mishandled sexual assault cases. Schoewe’s attacker was expelled in March of 2016. “I suspect that’s one of the reasons why [he] got a full expulsion rather than any sort of suspension because I’m assuming that they knew that they pretty much already messed up my case and if they mishandled it anymore, they would be scrutinized even further,” said Schoewe. The investigation will be lengthy as the Office of Civil Rights has to look deeply into every case, so the findings will likely come out years after she graduates, she said. Schoewe’s case is not exceptional. University records reveal that in 2015, more than 400 Title IX complaints were filed against the university, and only four punishments were handed out by UC.
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2 / NEWS THURSDAY, JAN. 19, 2017
Streetcar remains polarized issue TIM GOLDENBERG | CONTRIBUTOR
AARON DORSTEN | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
The Cincinnati Bell Connector drives through downtown Cincinnati , January 16, 2017.
Since its operational launch on Sept. 9, 2016, the Cincinnati Bell Connector has remained a deeply polarizing issue within local politics, extensively drawing both ire and adoration from Cincinnati residents. The five-vehicle line runs in a 3.6-mile loop past various local attractions like The Banks, Findlay Market and the Great American Ballpark. It can frequently be seen throughout the downtown area. The concern is more about the amount of people choosing to actually board the streetcar for a ride. With the project having a final cost of $148 million for purchase of the streetcars and installation of the route, there is the expectation for the streetcar to be a functional transportation method that
brings in eventual profits for the city. However, since opening, streetcar ridership numbers have continued to raise concern on that front. While ridership initially exceeded expectations, there has been a significant drop-off in the number of people riding the streetcar since November. The December report for the Cincinnati Bell Connector indicated that there were 49,920 rides taken in the month of November. This is already down from November’s report indicating 95,286 rides for the month of October, and even more so from October’s report indicating 133,322 rides for the month of September. By the Southwestern Ohio Regional Transit Authority’s own estimates, there needs to be roughly 3,000 daily weekday riders and 1,500 daily weekend
riders for the streetcar to break even. For November, ridership averaged at roughly 1,600 on any day, almost half of what is needed to be seen on weekdays. Second-year architecture student David Prentice expressed doubt about the streetcar. “The city’s investment in the streetcar hasn’t really been worth it due to low usage,” he said. While some shortcomings of the streetcar are addressed now, such as the implementation of a new, more user-friendly interface for purchasing tickets, people still appear to lack the interest in using the it. Talk of possible real estate and business investment along the route has served as a glimmer of hope toward creating a catalyst for ridership growth. Still, efficiency remains the number one doubt.
Prentice used the Metro Bus system extensively before having a car on campus, but hasn’t taken any rides on the streetcar. “I’d consider using it if it was cheaper than the bus, faster than the bus and had stops around campus for easier accessibility,” he said. A potential expansion to the University of Cincinnati campus is a proposal that has been up for debate, but it is likely that stable and profitable ridership numbers would need to be seen from the initial launch before any additional routes were implemented. Prentice feels that the streetcar simply doesn’t meet the standards overall as a method of transportation. “Basically, if it was a more efficient way of getting from point A to point B, I’d use it,” he said.
Cincinnati startups expand with investments PARKER MALATESTA | NEWS EDITOR
Cincinnati’s startup ecosystem is emerging with the help of corporations, investors and mentors throughout the city. Accelerators and incubators have found homes in the city, as they plan to help entrepreneurs enhance their brands’ image in return for a piece of the company. The Brandery is consistently ranked in the top 15 startup accelerators in the United States by the Seed Accelerator Rankings Project. They share the historic Union Hall building in the heart of Over-the-Rhine with Cintrifuse and Cincytech, two additional tech companies investing time and money into Cincinnati’s small business sector. “We’ve created an open space for collaboration,” said The Brandery Program Manager Justin Rumao. Networking events and panel discussions happen often and usually draw a large crowd. Cincinnati has joined other cities like Pittsburgh and Detroit in what is a mission to land small business growth in the Midwest, especially those related to the tech industry. The Brandery accepts roughly 10 applicants a year to go through their four-month accelerator program that is focused on mentorship and entrepreneurship curriculum. For a 6 percent stake
in the company, accepted startups receive a year of office space, seed funding and other benefits. These startups connect with top companies in the city like Kroger and Proctor & Gamble to use their resources. This is a strong reason The Brandery is ranked first in the nation in Mentorship in Industry Specific Knowledge by the Seed
Accelerator Rankings Project. At the conclusion of the program, each startup can present their idea for venture capitalists, investors and possible consumers at The Brandery’s exclusive Demo Day. Rumao has only been working there for a year. Coming from the corporate world, adapting to his new job environment wasn’t easy.
AARON DORSTEN | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
The Brandery is located on Vine St. in Over-the-Rhine, January 16, 2017.
“It was a complete 180. I went from a job where everything was structured to a job that has no structure,” he said. While it has no structure, the entrepreneurial environment is exciting because of the communal, collaborative vibe. Entrepreneurs openly share their ideas and listen to others, creating the possibility for collaboration. “My favorite part about my job is getting to work with people who are extremely passionate,” said Rumao. Dr. Erwin Erhardt, an economics professor at the Linder College of Business, highlighted the potential benefits of small businesses settling in the area. “Tax incentives and property purchases can help boost the local economy,” Erhardt said. Allowing proper space for the development and flow of ideas is the number one priority for The Brandery. “Detroit is struggling to build a solid foundation of tech startups because Dan Gilbert is just throwing money at companies. You have to let these things happen organically,” said Rumao. Tech startups are materializing all over the country, even in smaller cities. Overall, the growth in the entrepreneurial sector is beneficial for the diversification of the domestic economy.
Millennials consistently earn less than elders JUSTIN REUTTER | NEWS EDITOR
With a median household income of $40,581, millennials earn 20 percent less than post World War II baby boomers did at the same stage of life, despite being better educated, according to a new analysis of Federal Reserve data by the advocacy group Young Invincibles. The report compared data between 25 to 34 year olds in 2013, the last available census data, to similarly aged boomers in 1989 Millennials also have half the net worth of boomers, according to the report. Additionally, their home
ownership rate is lower, while their student debt is drastically higher. The median net worth of millennials is $10,090, 56 percent less than it was for boomers. The home ownership rate for millennials decreased to 43 percent from 46 percent in 1989, although the rate has improved for millennials with a college degree relative to boomers. While millennials earn less than boomers, college costs continue to rise. The average student debt has skyrocketed from $9,634 in 1989 to $26,682 in 2012, according to Pew
Research Center. Though the median household income has risen from $30,000 in 1989 to $50,000 in 2012, if incomes kept pace with college costs the median household income would be above $90,000. The proportion of 25 to 29 year olds with a college degree has risen from 23.2 percent in 1990 to 35.6 percent in 2015, according to a report this month by the Brookings Institution. While education does help boost income, the average college educated millennial earns only slightly more than the average baby boomer without a degree
in 1989. Racial disparity is also evident in average earning. While young white people’s median income has decreased more than 21 percent to $47,688 per year, the median income of black millennials is $27,892, a decrease of 1.4 percent since 1989. Meanwhile, Latino millennials earn a median of $30,436. While this represents an increase of 29 percent over their boomer predecessors, blacks and Latinos still earn more than a third less than whites on average. “The challenges that young adults face today could forecast the challenges that we see down the road,”Tom Allison, deputy policy and research director at Young Invincibles, told USA Today. This trend bodes ill for the economy in the long run, said Director of the UC Economics Center Dr. Julie Heath.
“This has the potential of economic hardship not only for them, but also the rest of the country,” said Heath. A reduced earnings stream means that millennials will be less able to afford to buy homes, to save for their children’s education and for retirement or to achieve a “middle class” lifestyle, according to Heath, who adds that home purchases increase the stability of the economy and allow owners to build wealth. “The inability to save for retirement or for their children’s education will burden an already [overburdened] student loan industry. We rely on consumers to keep the economy strong – 70 percent of the economy is based on consumer spending. If consumers are unable to spend in adequate numbers, economic growth will suffer,” said Heath.
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LIFE & ARTS / 3 THURSDAY, JAN. 19, 2017
Cincinnati Bearcats show team pride JOEY MORAND | CONTRIBUTOR
MEL MELCON | LOS ANGELES TIMES | TNS
Pedro Cadima takes a selfie of himself and his wife Eva in front of the Broad Museum’s dimple-like window on May 27, 2015, in Los Angeles.
Museum
Selfie Day
in Cincy ERIN COUCH | STAFF REPORTER
Imagine you are at the Cincinnati Museum Center’s latest exhibition on Vikings. While gazing at the longest Viking ship ever discovered, you snap a photo, but immediately panic. How will your 963 Facebook friends ever know that you were looking at this ancient floating vessel in the flesh or if you were just ripping a photo off of Google images? Not to worry. Every museum in America has you covered with the latest online craze: Museum Selfie Day. Museum Selfie Day — a nationwide internet event — is as simple as its name implies: Just show up at the museum, snap yourself in front of your favorite piece and upload it to social media with the hashtag #MuseumSelfie. While the official Museum Selfie Day was Jan. 17, the Cincinnati Museum Center is still in full support of the virtual sharing platform. They are extending the day’s festivities into the entire week, so any selfie you share now through Jan. 20 on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram has a chance of being reposted by CMC. If you want the full experience of taking a selfie at a CMC exhibit from the comfort of your own home, there are online exhibitions available for your viewing pleasure. “Cincinnati Under the Sea” has instructional videos about Cincinnati fossils from the time the land the Queen City inhabits was once submerged in the ocean. You can also check out “World War I Propaganda Posters: Art That Shaped History,” which paints a picture of civilian life during World War I. Obviously, your museum photography isn’t limited to just CMC, so here are a few other noteworthy exhibitions you can still go to in the area and take selfies.
Cincinnati Art Museum
Varying by day, CAM offers tours at 1 p.m. of the permanent, contemporary or antiquities collections at CAM. These tours allow for plenty of opportunities to find a painting with a color palette that matches your eyes. You may even learn a thing or two about that painting you look so good standing in front of. Current exhibitions at CAM also include “Employed: A Staff Art Exhibition,”“The Book of Only Enoch” and “The Poetry of Place.”
Taft Museum of Art
Celebrate your Cincinnatian heritage at the Taft’s latest exhibition, “Forgotten Cincinnati: Photographs From the 1880s.”With pictures of Cincinnati landmarks, streets and civilians, these photos have survived over a century, so it shouldn’t be hard to find one you vibe with enough to take a picture in front of.
Contemporary Arts Center
If contemporary art floats your boat, check out CAC. In addition to its regular viewing hours, CAC has a few events coming up this week as well. You can take an hour-long tour on Saturdays that includes viewing the 21C galleries and the current exhibitions.
The Cincinnati Bearcats men’s basketball team is currently ranked No. 20 in the nation. Though the players on the court deserve a tremendous amount of credit for the team’s success, the fans in the stands are just as much a part of each Bearcat victory. Coming off an eightgame winning streak, the team is sitting in first place in the American Athletic Conference as of Jan. 18. The sixth man in basketball commonly refers to the home team’s fan base because their energy and enthusiasm can ultimately change the outcome of any game. At the University of Cincinnati, the sixth man is known as the Ruckus. For those of you who do not know, the Ruckus is the official student section for the UC Bearcats, and per their Twitter page it is “the heartbeat of our athletics program!” Some athletes can be superstitious and perform specific rituals before each game, and a few members of Ruckus are no different. Ally Kampel, a secondyear early education student, is a big supporter of UC basketball. “I love game days here,” said Kampel. “The excitement can be felt around campus, and I feel that the energy carries over into the stands.” When Kampel isn’t going
crazy in the Ruckus, she enjoys going to local restaurants to watch the game with some close friends. Her favorite gameday hangout spot is Mio’s Pizzeria Pub, located on Short Vine. The Bearcats’ success on the court this year has students who may not normally follow basketball starting to take notice. Julia Von Allmen is a firstyear marketing student and has never made it to a UC basketball game until this season. “I was never interested in going to the basketball games until I actually went to one,” said Von Allmen. From that moment on, Von Allmen said she has been a big supporter of UC basketball and has gone to several games so far this season, and she rarely misses a game on TV. “Even if I don’t go to the game, I’ll go over to my friend’s apartment and watch the game there. If the Bearcats win, we normally will go out to celebrate. If they lose, we still go out to forget the pain,” said Von Allmen. One way in which the University helps to bring in crowds to the game is by offering students the chance to purchase ticket packages. The packages are a great way to bring in a big crowed and to ensure that every student at the UC gets to experience the Ruckus. Jake Tiernan, a second-
year urban planning student, tries to make it to as many basketball games as possible. “I go to a lot of the games with my dad,” said Tiernan. “He has been taking me since I was a little kid, and
every year we get the same tickets right next to the Ruckus.” Jake said that his dad can’t make it to every game, so he uses his student package to go with friends.
Regardless, if you are in the stands screaming your head off in the Ruckus or at a buddy’s house putting back a few, the Bearcat fan base will be a huge factor for the games to come.
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‘La La Land’ a refreshing view SAMANTHA HALL | SENIOR REPORTER
JEAN PLEITEZ | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Local artists display their artwork for the public at Rhinegeist, Sunday afternoon, January 15, 2017.
Rhinegeist Brewery lets local artists display work ISABELLA JANSEN | ARTS AND LIFE EDITOR
Once a month, popular hang out spot Rhinegeist Brewery opens up its doors to artists around the city, giving them the opportunity to showcase their very own talents and passions. This is true of the plethora of vendors present at Jan. 14’s Art on Vine event. What started as a class project for James Jenkins, the founder of Art on Vine, is now a successful monthly event that hosts over 60 vendors ranging from handcrafted jewelry and home goods to beautiful artwork and delicious treats. For many vendors, producing art is not a full-time job. It is simply a product of what they love to do and a way they can share a piece of themselves with the community around them. “We love it here! The energy is really good, and the vendors are all really rad,” said Cierra Garret, founder of Ann Marie’s Pearls and a first-time Art on Vine vendor. Ann Marie’s Pearls creates beautifully crafted jewelry using natural pearl and leather, all from the United States or using fair trade. It is a company where the imperfectly imperfect is adored. Dericole Designs owner Nicole Derifield traveled from Columbus to share her unique hand-fabricated metal jewelry with the Cincinnati community. Like many, this is not Derifield’s main source of income, but it is her passion and something she tries to do whenever she has some spare time. Customers perusing Dericole Designs’ merchandise will find cuff bracelets, pendant necklaces and earrings featuring Ohio symbols or various sayings.
Apart from jewelry, there were many local artists selling their artwork this weekend. “I put a little piece of myself in every piece I do,” said Greg Matsey, owner and creator of Matsey Designs. Matsey, a Cincinnati artist, creates breathtaking paintings using acrylics on various materials, while practicing techniques such as pointillism, impressionism, realism and spontaneous realism. University of Cincinnati graduate Linnea Campbell took her passion and turned it into a part-time job. Campbell combines her interests of the ecosystem and the creatures within them with her one-of-a-kind ceramic wares. All of Campbell’s pieces are unique, durable and intended for everyday life. She even takes custom orders, making it easy to find something. Aside from handcrafted jewelry and home goods, tasty treats were also in abundance. Chesapeake Popcorn Company provided visitors with finely crafted popcorn, with flavors ranging from old-fashioned caramel to Cincy chili. Each batch is made from scratch in their home and offers “a taste of summer by the bay,” said owner Rueben Schwartz. Art on Vine, while supporting non-profits, provides a platform for local artists to showcase their work and allows them to get a start. If you’re a lover of Cincinnati, enjoy a nice beer, or need a fun excuse to get out of the house, then Art on Vine is the perfect escape.
The dynamic duo of Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone returned to the big screen this December in a musical drama, fusing two time periods of style and genre into a single cinematic masterpiece—“La La Land.” The film began in the rush hour traffic of Los Angeles, where its full cast broke into song, capturing the essence of color and jazz in a strong, lively way that exists throughout each scene, instantly encasing its theme within its first jam. Unlike many moviemusicals, “La La Land” is designed in a setlike manner, where the appearance of a film rather than a play often doesn’t exist. Set designs were created to appear as a live Broadway performance, which was both aesthetically pleasing and refreshing to see. Director and writer Damien Chazelle put work in to the details of every scene, creating a contrast of colors and giving the movie a classic “Gatsby” vibe without the overpowering wealth. This is not the first time Chazelle has successfully created a film where the storyline fully matches its aesthetic, which is notable in his directed films “Whiplash” and “Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench.” Both of those movies grab hold of the jazz scene as well. The leading characters Sebastian and Mia are introduced in conflict along the freeway of L.A. The pair’s distaste for one another eventually dissipates after several unexpected run-ins and the true story begins; a story of jazz, passion, love and dreams. The chemistry between Gosling and
Stone’s characters truly comes out during their first number together, “Lovely Night Dance,” where Mia struts in a bright yellow dress, complimenting the light and playful tone of the duet. “La La Land” has found a niche within the musical world, separating itself while still existing with the greats like “Hairspray,” “West Side Story” and “Funny Girl.”The 1920s influence for color, style, music and overall theme flowed wonderfully with scenes where iPhones and Toyotas still existed, creating a generation of its own that possibly left viewers in a psychedelic state of viewing a world never experienced. Heartstrings were pulled while watching the transformation of lovers Mia and Sebastian, who shared equally intense and blissful emotions for their passions, which could only be pursued in a city they somewhat despised. The film breaks from a conventional mold and takes viewers to places unexpected, while avoiding the unrealistically painful strong presence of heartbreak and sadness, but still being able to reach those emotions in a comfortable way. The dazzling twilight where “La La Land” exists captures everything a great film needs and more, moving between the struggles of reaching personal goals, romance and comedy, the world of showbiz and Hollywood and what it means to take a chance. The love story of Sebastian and Mia is both satisfying and desolate, leaving viewers walking out of the theatre feeling content without the story taking the expected path.
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4 / SPORTS THURSDAY, JAN. 19, 2017
Reaction to Fickell and other coaches DAVID WYSONG | SPORTS EDITOR
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File art from UC vs Tulsa at Nippert Stadium on Saturday November 14, 2015.
As the new semester came around, the University of Cincinnati football team finally met their new head coach. Luke Fickell replaced former Cincinnati head coach Tommy Tuberville, and Fickell quickly put his new players to work. “He didn’t waste any time,” said defensive end Caleb Ashworth. “The first day back, he had us out in the snow doing bear crawls at 6 a.m. He’s getting straight to business, and I like that about him.” During their first meeting, Fickell left quite the first impression on the studentathletes. “When first meeting him, he came off as a guy who demands respect, but, in return, he will respect you not just as a player, but also as a human being. He is very sharp and direct when [he] talks,” said running back Taylor Boose. Fickell doesn’t care about the team’s past, despite Cincinnati recording their
first losing season since 2010 last year and the team failing to win a bowl game during Tuberville’s tenure. “The main message of this whole thing is having blind faith,” said running back Joshuwa Holloman. “What matters to him is us and our time that we have now. He asks us to have blind faith and it’s up to us, as men, to wake up in the morning and make a choice to be bigger.” Since his hiring, Fickell has added additional members to his coaching staff: Brady Collins, Joker Phillips, Jon Tenuta, Marcus Freeman, Doug Phillips and Mike Denbrock. Collins and Phillips both followed Fickell from his previous team, the Ohio State University, as Collins was the strength and conditioning coach and Phillips was the offensive quality control coach. In Cincinnati, Collins will be the director of football sports performance and Philips will oversee the wide receivers.
Tenuta has coached collegiate football for 35 years and will coach the safeties. Freeman will be the defensive coordinator and linebackers’ coach after spending the last four seasons at Purdue University as their linebackers’ coach. Phillips will be the special teams’ coordinator following a one-year stint as director of player personnel at Iowa State University, and Denbrock will be the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach after being at Notre Dame University from 2010-16. The new faces on the team have impressed the current players thus far. “They want to help us be the team we know we can be,” said Holloman. “After meeting all the coaches and seeing them having that drive to get down with us makes us want to work more.” Holloman is especially encouraged by the sight of
the team’s strength staff. “Those guys make me feel like [they] were a part of the Justice League or Avengers. We just have to come ready to work and they’ll get us ready for battle for any day, anywhere and anyone,” said Holloman. Additionally, he stated that things around the team are already different. “There is not one thing that I can tell you is the same, and not only me, but the entire team likes it a lot,” said Holloman. However, some players are hesitant when saying how this team will be different next season. “Too early to tell right now, but we will have to see April 1, which is the spring game, and Aug. 31 is the first game, so the world can do their own comparing,” said wide receiver Avery Johnson. Others already have an answer to what will be different, and it is simple. “We will win a lot more ball games,” Ashworth said.
Who the Bengals should draft ETHAN RUDD | STAFF REPORTER OPINION
The Cincinnati Bengals were once a young team with youthful players, and the window was wide open for them to make a postseason run. But those young players aren’t that young anymore. Andy Dalton will turn 30 years old in October, and A.J. Green and Geno Atkins will be 29 years old next season. Gone are the days when the Bengals could afford to sit their top prospects, as they are now in need of young players who can contribute quickly to open the door to the promise land. Fortunately, the Bengals have the No. 9 pick in this year’s NFL draft and could snag someone who could provide a spark.
Derek Barnett
Barnett, a 6-foot-3-inch junior defensive end from the University of Tennessee, could immediately address a huge need for the Bengals, assuming both Myles Garrett and Johnathan Allen are off the board. The Bengals saw their sack production fall from 42 total sacks in 2015 to 33 in 2016. Outside of Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins — who combined to a record 17 sacks — no one else generated consistent pressure on the defensive line. Barnett is an edge rusher who possesses great speed. He abuses offensive players who can’t cover ground well. In the Music City Bowl against the University of Nebraska, Barnett regularly exposed the Cornhusker’s offensive tackles by beating them to the edge before they could even place their hands on him. More of the same happened
when Barnett lined up against the University of Florida and the University of Alabama this past season. His explosion and ability to bend a corner separates him as a pass rush specialist.
Solomon Thomas
Thomas, a defensive lineman from Stanford University, is another intriguing prospect. The Cardinals moved Thomas all around their defensive formations. At 6 foot 3 inches tall and 273 pounds, Thomas, at his best, looks like the Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald. Like Donald, Thomas is a strong bull rusher who gets great leverage and can stand offensive lineman up. However, he may be better served staying in the interior at the next level. Cincinnati’s linebackers were abused in coverage by running backs and tight ends in 2016. The Bengals would do well to inject youth and speed into the position.
this Western Michigan University product is a purposeful route runner who actively uses his hands to beat the press. His route running appears more fluid than Clemson University’s Mike Williams, who is a little inconsistent versus press coverage. Davis accumulates a lot of yards after the catch, as he demonstrates a second gear in the open and a willingness to draw contact. He didn’t only run past MidAmerican Conference guys either. Davis finished with six receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown against the University of Wisconsin in the Cotton Bowl, topping off his performance with impressive moves in the open field. Cincinnati could improve their speed opposite of A.J. Green by drafting a burner like Davis, and by the time his potential rookie contract would expire Green would be 33 years old.
Reuben Foster
Foster, a 6-foot-1-inch junior linebacker from Alabama, could suit the Bengals’ needs. A violent hitter who played as a three-down linebacker for the Crimson Tide in run stunts, coverage and pass rushing situations, Foster has great acceleration and closing speed. Preferably, he would become more adept at consistently making quick reads at the line of scrimmage in the NFL.
Corey Davis
Davis may very well be the best wide receiver prospect in the draft. At 6 feet 3 inches and 213 pounds,
JOSE CARLOS FAJARDO | BAY AREA NEWS GROUP | TNS
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) congratulates with teammate Malcolm Mitchell (19) after scoring a 56-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. New England defeated San Francisco 30-17.
TNR chooses who
will make Super Bowl DAVID WYSONG | SPORTS EDITOR JASON SZELEST | STAFF REPORTER ETHAN RUDD | STAFF REPORTER OPINION
Four teams are left in the NFL playoffs, as two games this weekend will decide who will play in this year’s Super Bowl 51. David, Jason and Ethan, our sports experts, selected who they think will win and go on to play in the biggest game of the season. CURTIS COMPTON | ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION | TNS
Washington tailback Myles Gaskin, left, is knocked out of bounds by Alabama defenders, from left, Reuben Foster, Rashaan Evans, and D’Shawn Hand during the second half in the Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016. Alabama won, 24-7.
WHO IS THE BEST OF
UC?
! e d i c e d You 23 n a J , y a d on Vote by M www.newsrecord.org/bestofuc2017
The Green Bay Packers at the Atlanta Falcons David: Green Bay | Jason: Green Bay | Ethan: Atlanta Jason: The Packers just
keep on rolling. They have now won eight consecutive games, including a road victory over the No. 1 seeded Dallas Cowboys. After a rough start, by his own standards, Aaron Rodgers rejoined the conversation for best player in the league, racking up 4,428 passing yards and 40 touchdowns this season. The Falcons are hot as well, winning their last five games by an average of 19 points. Atlanta also boasts a solid quarterback. Matt Ryan has tossed 38 touchdowns and tallied 4,944 yards. Expect both these quarterbacks to put up big numbers in this game. Much like the regular season, where the Falcons edged out the Packers by a final score of 33-32, I expect both teams to score into the 30s in this contest. Ultimately, this game will come down to whoever has the ball last, and I believe that it will be Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers will lead his team down the field, yet again, on a game-winning drive. Ethan: Atlanta and Green Bay have two of the best offenses in the NFL, but they feature defenses that gave up 25.4 and 24.2 points during the regular season. Defense isn’t exactly a forte for either team, but Aaron Rodgers is 0-3 versus Atlanta’s head coach, Dan Quinn, who was the Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator from 2013-2014. No one has done more with less than Aaron Rodgers has this season, but I’m taking the Falcons.
The Pittsburgh Steelers at the New England Patriots David: Pittsburgh | Jason: New England | Ethan: New England Jason: Pittsburgh must
like their odds, as they possess, arguably, the most lethal trio of offensive weapons that the NFL has ever seen. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has thrown for 3,819 yards this season, despite missing time due to injury and rest. Running back Le’Veon Bell has shown he’s possibly the best running back in the league, rushing for 1,268 yards and seven touchdowns, while also catching 75 passes for 616 yards in only 12 games. Receiver Antonio Brown is also considered by many to be the best at his position, and he racked up 106 receptions, 1,284 yards and 12 touchdowns this year. However, that trio will not play defense, where the Steelers will have to stop one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time in Tom Brady. With the Steelers’ biggest weakness being in the secondary, look for the crafty veteran to exploit the openings at every opportunity. Ultimately, I think the home field advantage in Foxboro will be the biggest difference in a game between two evenly matched teams. David: Look up our article from last semester. I chose the Packers and Steelers to meet in the Super Bowl before the season even started, and I will not stray away from that pick. Like Green Bay, the Steelers are one of the hottest teams in the NFL, winning nine consecutive games. In addition to their explosive offensive weapons, their defense has picked up the slack as they handled the Kansas City Chiefs’ explosive superstars, Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, with ease last week. If the Steelers can follow the Houston Texans’ defensive blueprint by attacking Brady with pressure, they can win this ball game and make it to the Super Bowl.