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Bunbury Festival
See the lineup and top hits of this year’s music festival
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Cross Currents
Bukang Yu Kim’s art is showing at DAAP
THE NEWS RECORD / UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI THURSDAY, JAN. 26, 2017
NEWSRECORD.ORG
Local sports writers weigh in on UC-Xavier memories DAVID WYSONG | SPORTS EDITOR
The University of Cincinnati and Xavier University have played each other in basketball every year since 1946, and within that time-period there have been many memorable moments. During these classic, heated matchups, local Cincinnati sports writers have been there in attendance watching and reporting. Bill Koch, Paul Daugherty, Michael Perry and Tom Groeschen have been a part of numerous shootouts and have
formed a number of memories. While there have been many close games between the two schools, Koch and Daugherty – who have both been covering the rivalry for over 30 years – think the best game they have seen happened in November 1996. Going into the game, UC was ranked No. 1 in the country, and Xavier was not ranked. However, the Musketeers came away with the win after guard Lenny Brown sunk a buzzer-beating shot to upset the Bearcats 71-69. Koch, author of “Inside
the Crosstown Shootout: Cincinnati vs. Xavier: The Rivalry That Captivates a City,” thinks that game was so memorable because of what happened in the matchup prior. “In January of 1996, UC won that game 99-90, and Danny Fortson scored 40 points and had 17 rebounds,” said Koch. “So Danny went from having that kind of game against Xavier to 10 months later he’s on the bench because he had fouled out, and he’s watching Lenny Brown throw that shot up there that knocked off the top-ranked team in the
country.” A couple of the most memorable moments with these teams on the same court, however, had nothing to do with the outcome of the game. On Jan. 19, 1994, No. 22 Xavier defeated No. 19 Cincinnati 82-76, and former UC head coach Bob Huggins refused to shake former Xavier coach Pete Gillen’s hand. “Huggins wouldn’t shake his hand, and Pete mouthed the words ‘f---ing cheater’ as Huggins walked away. That was a good game,” said Daugherty. In addition, during a
game on Dec. 8, 2011, the two teams took part in a brawl and the game ended 9.4 seconds early for everyone’s safety. “All these bad forces kind of gathered at one particular moment,” said Daugherty. “It was frightening. I was afraid something really bad would happen. I haven’t been afraid too much in my life at a sporting event, but that one [scared me].” Perry, who has been a beat writer for both teams, did not cover this game, but he was shocked when he watched Cincinnati’s Yancy Gates punch Xavier’s
SEE XAVIER PG 4
JEAN PLEITEZ | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Kyle Washington (24) watches his teamate Jarron Cumberland (34) shoot free throws after being fouled in the second half of the SMU game at Fifth Third Arena, Thursday January 12, 2017.
UC will not alter campus gun policy after new law EMILY STOLTZ | CHIEF REPORTER JACOB FISCHER | CONTRIBUTOR JUSTIN REUTTER | NEWS EDITOR
JEAN PLEITEZ | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Jeffry Smith, a gun rights activists stands outside on McMicken Commons, Wednesday, January 25, 2017.
Although the Ohio Legislature passed HB 48, a bill allowing concealed carry on campus, it is unlikely the UC Board of Trustees will allow any change to current policy – no concealed weapons on UC’s campus. Members of the board are not “interested in raising the issue in any formal matter,” according to Vice President for Governmental Relations and University Communications Greg Vehr. Legislators put a permissive clause in the bill that allows the Board of Trustees to make the ultimate decision, said Vehr, adding he was appreciative for the clause because it allowed “people who know the campus and the area best to make the best decision.” Although the Board does not plan to respond to the bill, they will still discuss the matter and continue to encourage student feedback, according to Vehr. “It’s always important to us to know what our students are thinking,” he said. Some students believe that concealed carry weapons could increase campus safety. “I think it’s great that we are finally exploring other options to keep students safe,” said Matthew Brookins, a fourth-year political science student. Concealed carry could potentially be an asset in light of an emergency
on campus, according to Brookins. “I personally support allowing students and teachers with CCW to carry on campus, but I do concede that there are places where it should not be allowed,” he said. Others believe that weapons on campus would only add to students’ concerns about safety. Allowing concealed carry weapons on campus could make other students uncomfortable, according to Ellen Huggins, a thirdyear political science student. “It’s not exactly fair to make certain students feel safer on campus at the expense of other students’ sense of security,” she said. Jeffrey Smith, a UC alumnus and gun rights advocate, has spent numerous hours over the last three days standing in front of the Tangeman University Center with multiple firearms on his person, including a PS-90 carbine, in addition to two Glock handguns. This is to “raise awareness,” according to Smith. Smith’s actions prompted UC Public Safety to send out an e-mail Wednesday evening, addressing student concerns. “In the state of Ohio, open carry of a firearm is legally permitted in public spaces, pursuant to the United States and Ohio Constitutions. Ohio courts have consistently ruled that state universities are public spaces, however, open carry is not permitted
inside university buildings including classrooms,” said the e-mail from Director of Public Safety James Whalen. Smith was spotted being escorted from McMicken Hall early Wednesday afternoon by a UC Police Department officer. Brigette Schoenung, a graduate student, said she did not see Smith walk into McMicken, but that he was escorted by the officer back to the protest on Main Street. “(He) was walking out of the building,” said Schoenung, adding she did not know the details of how or why he was in McMicken. Student reaction to Smith varied. Some students are comfortable with it, as long as he has proper credentials. “As long as you’re certified and responsible with it, I’d trust him with it,” said Corey Konigsberger, a first-year computer science student. Some students feel unsafe with Smith on campus. Rachelanne Bulos, a fourth-year archaeology, anthropology and classical civilizations student, asked a UCPD officer to stand by him, as she felt unsafe walking by him. Their response was that they were “watching him” from up top. But the officer on duty had his back turned, according to Bulos. As of 3:30 p.m., another officer was watching him from a ramp to MckMicken Commons.
UC’s Win by Quitting program supports tobacco ban ZACHARY PERRIN | STAFF REPORTER
In August 2016, the University of Cincinnati Board of Trustees voted to make UC campuses tobacco free as of March 1, 2017, but the students who use tobacco will still be here. UC’s Win by Quitting program aims to help community members quit smoking. The UC Barret Cancer Center hosts the program, which is free for students as well as all members of the UC community. “[The ban] comes from a good place; it’s just the university trying to make everyone healthier,” said Caroline Bekker, second-year electronic media student whose own smoking habit will be affected by the ban. “I would consider joining,” said Bekker. “Any type of support group that makes it easier is a good thing.” The program is designed to get patients to slow down on their tobacco use, rather than try to get them to quit cold turkey, and it provides medication to assist them with slowing down, according to Richard Simmons, second-year
business management student, who works for the Win by Quitting program. The program takes six sessions over the course of 12 weeks and involves an individualized approach to each specific smoker’s needs. “Our appointments are one on one from the very first appointment to the last appointment,” said Simmons. “At least for myself, I found out that a lot of people kind of shy away from the group thing. I get a lot of phone calls, and they ask ‘is it group?’ If I say yes, then they kind of don’t want to do it, but if it’s individual I found out that a lot of people would go.” Of the first 376 patients who completed one visit and responded to follow-up contact, 46 percent have quit smoking. For the 250 patients who completed at least three sessions, 54 percent of them quit. Win by Quitting utilizes behavior modification techniques as well as prescription medication to help smokers quit. In the first session, the physician reviews the smoker’s medical history to see if certain prescription
smoking cessation drugs are safe for the patient. The patient is then asked to report where they lie on a depression scale, a nicotine dependence scale and their history of quitting, or trying to quit, smoking. The program operates by helping smokers identify their reasons for quitting,
obstacles that may be in their way and then teaches the techniques to cope with their nicotine cravings. On “Quit Day,” the smoker is helped with the disposal of smoking paraphernalia and is prescribed medicine to help them quit according to their needs. Most participants are prescribed a nicotine patch
(NTP), sometimes along with the drug bupropion, which reduces craving and withdrawal symptoms. Another option is the drug Varenicline, which reduces cravings while also reducing smoking’s pleasurable effects. Since the program began in August 2004, it has had 1,550 people register, 981
patients have actually shown up for their first appointment and the total number of visits to the program’s sessions is 3,512. The program is not just for students. In fact, the average age of participants is 49.3 years old, with 38 percent of the patients being male and 62 percent of them being female.
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2 / NEWS THURSDAY, JAN. 26, 2017
Navient sued for allegedly creating unnecessary obstacles for customers PARKER MALATESTA | NEWS EDITOR
JEAN PLEITEZ | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
One Stop is located on the second floor of University Pavilion, Wednesday, January 25, 2017.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau sued Navient Corporation Jan. 18, claiming the nation’s largest federal and private student loan service generated countless obstacles for customers. The CFPB stated that it was seeking to help borrowers who were deeply affected by Navient’s malpractices. It is estimated that Navient services one in four Americans with student loans. The student loan behemoth, a spinoff of Sallie Mae, faces allegations that they hurt customers by providing incorrect information, processing payments improperly and ignoring borrower concerns. Navient replied to the allegations calling it a “midnight action,” referring to the lawsuit landing in the final days of the Obama administration. Republicans have highly
criticized the CFPB, an agency created during Obama’s reign after the financial crisis of 2008. The GOP claims that CFPB Director Richard Cordray violated federal law regarding rules on auto lenders in 2015, in an effort to oust the watchdog regulator that is considered too aggressive by some conservative leaders. The CFPB lawsuit highlights one of the company’s practices that has affected consumers with less stable financials called “forbearance.” Navient has allegedly pushed financially distressed borrowers into new repayment options instead of helping them apply for a less expensive loan program. With forbearance, customers can suspend monthly payments at the cost of their debt continuing to grow with the unpaid interest adding to their loan debt. According to the CFPB, Navient finds this plan attractive
because it results in lower operational costs. They reported that Navient has added as much as $4 billion in extra interest charges to the initial balances of loans that were in the forbearance program. “We believe that Navient repeatedly creates obstacles to repayments by misallocating and misapplying payments,” said Mr. Cordray on a call with reporters. In a memo released in mid-January, the U.S. Department of Education said it has overstated student loan repayment rates at most universities and trade schools. In an analysis done by the Wall Street Journal, at roughly 25 percent of schools in America, at least half of the students had defaulted or failed to pay down at least $1 on their debt within seven years. After mortgages, student loans are the nation’s second-largest consumer
Trump begins to act on his many
Founded 1880
campaign promises MOUNIR LYNCH | STAFF REPORTER
After the ceremonies and protests of the inauguration, President Donald Trump went straight to work trying to fulfill his campaign promises as well as undoing several actions of the Obama presidency. Trump signed many executive orders in just the first few days of his presidency. These executive orders include the withdrawal from the Trans Pacific Partnership, a federal hiring freeze and reviving the controversial Dakota Access and Keystone XL pipelines. Madalyn Stefanak, a second-year electronic media and fine arts student, sees the executive orders as a danger for the country. “The first few days of his presidency have already put future generations and the planet at risk, and everyone should be concerned,” said Stefanak, urging both young and older people to be involved in the government. “Although talking about the issues is super important, it’s even more important that people of all generations take action. Call representatives, volunteer, attend rallies and sign petitions instead of just talking.” First-year accounting student Charley Heintel is more enthusiastic about the new president. “It is exciting to see change in Washington, and it’s a new experience to like what the president is doing. I think Trump has gotten off to a strong start and his presence is encouraging in the midst of negativity. I can’t remember my peers voicing their opinions on the actions of the president as much as now,” Heintel said. A number of protests spurred by Trump’s
inauguration drew participation from some UC students and has created a lasting impact toward further advocacy. President Trump was officially sworn in last Friday, with an audience of thousands of enthusiastic supporters. However, as expected, protestors did not ignore this inauguration. It is reported that many thousands more people attended various protests on the day of or on the day after the inauguration. The largest of these marches was the Women’s March on Washington, which prompted many “sister protests” all over the world. These sister marches attracted a massive amount of protestors in dozens of cities worldwide, including western Europe and Mexico, and across nearly every major U.S city. The latest election cycle and the beginning of a new presidency has UC students intrigued and involved. Grace Nemeckay, a second-year biomedical engineering student attended a women’s march in Cleveland last Saturday. “I took part in the Cleveland Women’s March, and for the first time since this election season I felt as if I had a voice, and that that voice was heard. Marching through the city with 15,000 human beings that cared the way I do for the things that I do just felt revolutionary. I took my sister with me, [it was] her first march. At the end I asked her how it made her feel, and she said emotionally lifting and morally enlightening,” said Nemeckay. Time will only tell what Trump’s presidency will bring. For now, UC students remain alert and ready to discuss President Trump’s every move.
DAVID GIFREDA | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Thousands of people participated in the Womens March on Washington Sister March near Washington Park in Cincinnati on Saturday January 21, 2017.
debt market, with a total of 44 million total student borrowers owing a combined $1.4 trillion. In an interview with the Washington Post, Navient CEO Jack Remondi was pressed about the service complaints of many customers. “The number one complaint that comes to me from our customers is asking for a courtesy credit bureau retraction. They’re trying to buy a house and they’ve had delinquent periods in the past on their student loan debt and it’s impacting their ability to get a mortgage,” said Remondi. New York Times “Your Money” columnist Ron Lieber wrote up a few tips regarding student loans in light of the Navient lawsuit. “Know your loans, stay enrolled, no forbearance (if possible), drop a co-signer and check your credit score often,” he wrote.
University of Cincinnati 45221-0135 Newsroom 509 Swift Hall 513-556-5912 chief.newsrecord@gmail. com Advertising 510 Swift Hall 513-556-5902 newsrecordbiz@ gmail.com The News Record is the editorially independent student-run news organization of the University of Cincinnati. It serves UC students, staff, faculty, alumni and the Cincinnati community with award-winning news and information on a variety of media platforms. The free newspaper is published on Mondays and Thursdays and is distributed to more than 80 locations on and near UC campuses. TNR’s website, www.newsrecord. org, is updated as news breaks and offers video, audio and interactive features. TNR’s app and podcasts are available for download on mobile devices. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook TheNewsRecord Twitter @NewsRecord_UC Instagram TheNewsRecord SoundCloud The-News-Record-1 STAFF JEAN PLEITEZ | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Carl H. Lindner College of Business, Wednesday, January 25, 2017.
Bearcat Launchpad connects students to business world RYAN CLADY | CONTRIBUTOR
Bearcat Launchpad is the university’s student-led business accelerator. They help students fuel their bright ideas by providing funding, mentorship and an education to help students connect with the #StartupCincy ecosystem. The Queen City has a multitude of skilled and talented entrepreneurs who love to help students. Bearcat Launchpad is attempting to build a bridge with these successful people to assimilate with the Cincinnati business world. Bearcat Launchpad has partnered with Design for America to put on a Startup Saturday this weekend. Startup Saturday is a great place for entrepreneurs to introduce themselves to the UC startup environment and learn about what it takes to run a company. Speakers are scheduled to talk about the design process, how to build a product from a problem and how to pitch a company to investors. Throughout the day, teams will be formed with the goal of networking with other students to build a comprehensive product. Assistance along the way will be offered by mentors for Launchpad, Design for America and people from the Cincinnati small business community. At the end of the day, teams will have a working idea and a product to pitch to a group of judges for a cash prize and admittance into Bearcat Launchpad. Throughout the semester, group members will work on products and get further help from mentors every week. At the end of the semester, Launchpad holds an event that is meant to be a celebration of their selected group’s success and to commemorate the
end of the program. Teams will have the opportunity to pitch their companies and products in front of dozens of people in the Cincinnati community. A panel of judges consisting of highranking Cincinnati entrepreneurs and angel investors will award the top performing teams with up to $5,000. With these funds, entrepreneurs will have the chance to bring their product to life and have their entrepreneurial ability develop further. “I went through the program last year. You learn an immense amount of information in a really compressed amount of time, and you make a lot of connections in the community with a lot of students that are really like minded,” said Riley Krutza, a third-year marketing student and the marketing and operations manager for Bearcat Launchpad. Bearcat Launchpad works closely with The Brandery, a nationally-ranked startup accelerator that leverages the expertise of the Cincinnati region, namely by helping with branding, marketing and design. The Brandery funds Bearcat Launchpad to further help events and student-led startups. This is a great way for a top accelerator to connect with the university and the flow of entrepreneurial ideas that are continually evolving on campus. “We would like to strengthen our relationship with universities in the region,” said Justin Rumao, Program Manager at The Brandery. Bearcat Launchpad hopes to serve as a catalyst for entrepreneurial idea collaboration between Cincinnati business professionals and university startup groups.
Editor-In-Chief Jeff O’Rear Managing Editor Lauren Moretto News Editors Justin Reutter Parker Malatesta Chief Reporter Emily Stolz Life & Arts Editor Isabella Jansen Opinion Editor Karly Williams Sports Editor David Wysong Copy Editor Cheyenne Krieger Photo Editor Shae Combs Chief Photographer Jean Pleitez Online Editor Stephanie Smith Designer Gabrielle Stichweh Broadcast Reporter Emily Wilhelm Videographer Michelle Fisk CORRECTION Jan. 23’s “CCM holds ‘Moveable Feast’, annual fundraiser” should have stated CCM Dance students performed the ballet pieces “Scenes de Ballet” and “Warm Hands and Hot Feet” at Moveable Feast and the ballet program is recognized as one of the “three top programs to consider” by Dance Magazine.
LIFE & ARTS / 3 THURSDAY, JAN. 26, 2017
DAAP’s All-Star art showcase at Reed Gallery NOELLE ZIELINSKI | CONTRIBUTOR
The University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP) is currently exhibiting the School of Art All-Star Showcase in their own Reed Gallery. The students whose pieces were selected to be in this exhibit were selected based upon their individual proposals, allowing students to think in depth about their work. This particular exhibit displays a variety of different art styles, such as painting, ceramics, oil paint and pastels, illustrations and sculptures. This creates an incredibly diverse collection of art that showcases just a few of the many talented artists here in DAAP. Many of the individual pieces have several
Erin Couch | Staff Reporter
components to them. For example, a piece created by Sophia Grollmus includes different types of plaster being poured over foam. Another by Joseph Greulich was comprised of several individual digital print illustrations. “Hai Life” by Kena Dillon, a fourth-year fine arts student, was particularly striking in its design and story, depicting a shark’s fin, made of pine, inside of a steel-welded cage. “This piece is about finning,” said Dillon. “The fin has been placed in a cage to protect itself from humans, just as humans use cages to protect themselves from sharks.” Dillon is accustomed to woodworking and welding, and she explained her work on this to be very labor intensive, dedicating 30 hours on the fin alone. The steel cage was formed
geometrically around the fin, which is propped up as if peeking out of water. “I tend to use metal to create geometric abstractions of parts of my life and sometimes incorporate a softer, more organic element by using wood,” said Dillon. Gillean Dublow’s “The Miracle of Life” includes vibrant colors as well as undeniably intriguing detail and content. Dublow, a fourth-year fine arts student, found inspiration for this piece when she stumbled upon an event in history while looking for macabre facts. “One of the facts was a brief synopsis of an experiment in 1880 where a doctor supposedly attached a recently decapitated head of the murderer Louis Menesclou to a living dog simply out of curiosity,” said Dublow.
Dublow’s piece is similar to her current body of thesis work, which she has been working on since May 2016. “Blending this intense admiration with my proclivity for horror, the macabre and screenprinting/painting, I create outlandish scenes featuring bizarre details and grotesque, usually mutilated, characters in surreal Technicolor,” said Dublow. The All-Star gallery explores the creative minds of a handful of DAAP’s undergraduate artists, allowing these students to put themselves in a realworld situation where they must apply professional and studio practices. A combination of discipline and diligence is shown through every piece of art in the exhibit, along with an incredible amount
Bunbury Music Festival
Tuesday’s release of the 2017 Bunbury Music Festival lineup proved to be an interesting turn for the predictably alt-rock summer fest, with a solid array of electronica and hip-hop to spice up a festival that has been, more often than not, an indie paradise. 2016 proved to be a year with a rise in the electronic music scene, but it’s still unexpected that a fest like Bunbury – whose last year’s alt-friendly headliners were The Killers and Florence and the Machine – would feature producers like Pretty Lights and Bassnectar as stars of the show. Also notable is the hip-hop influence. Two of the five headliners are household names even the most devoted Bunbury hipster would recognize – Wiz Khalifa and G-Eazy. Of course, Bunbury sticks to its roots with some alternative crowd-pleasers, touting tough-to-book acts like Muse, Death Cab for Cutie and, the ultimate testament to the indie paradise archetype, The Shins. The festival will take place at Sawyer’s Point and Yeatman’s Cove June 2-4.
Thirty Seconds to Mars try listening to:
the kill
AFI try listening to:
Bassnectar try listening to:
miss murder
reaching out
Death Cab for Cutie
D.R.A.M.
Flogging Molly
try listening to:
try listening to:
try listening to:
i will follow you into the dark
G-Eazy
broccoli
salty dog
MUSE
Jon Bellion
try listening to:
me myself and i
Mutemath try listening to:
try listening to:
all time low
The Shins
try listening to:
finally moving
Tech N9ne
The 1975
try listening to:
uprising
Pretty Lights
typical
erybody but me
try listening to:
try listening to:
chocolate
try listening to:
new slang
Wiz Khalifa try listening to:
black and yellow
of talent. The exhibit contains immeasurable talent and immense diversity, allowing visitors to recognize the ability of these artists from the selection of photographs,
sculptures and video clips combined with sculptures. The premiere of the All-Star Showcase was Thursday, Jan. 19. The exhibit will remain in DAAP’s Reed Gallery until Jan. 29.
ESTHER GEORGE | CONTRIBUTOR
DAAP Fine Arts student, Adam Grace’s oil painting “Face Off, Stairway, Roadtrip, Porthole, Canyonlands, At Dusk” hangs in the DAAP All-star Gallery in Reed Gallery.
Bukang Yu Kim showing at UC RAEGAN ELY | CONTRIBUTOR
University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP) Galleries is hosting artwork from artist Bukang Yu Kim. The exhibition opened Jan. 23 and will be open through Thursday, March 2. The exhibit is located on Main Street in the Steger Student Life Center near Starbucks. When you have time between classes, it is the perfect opportunity to grab a coffee and explore the works from the very talented Kim. Kim, a Korean-born artist, left Korea several years ago and believes that the United States has influenced her art in many ways. She has been successful in holding on to her Korean culture, allowing her to produce a blend of techniques and cultures within her work. She is known for combining the work of Asian arts and American abstract expression, creating beautiful works of art known as “calligraphic expressionism.” Her thick layers and dynamic brush strokes are known for depicting deeper meanings and a sense of intentionality. With that being said, art is subjective and everyone perceives it differently. Each of Kim’s exhibitions over the past 30 years has been titled “Journey.” Every individual piece within an exhibit often contains something that represents her personal journey. “I feel like my life is a journey. One day there is a problem, the next day it is gone. That problem is nothing compared to the whole journey,” Kim said in a past interview with the New Republic. As an artist, Kim is very versatile. Her works tend to contain different mediums and colors. “We do painting shows all the time, so we try and space it out so we have different mediums each show,” says Lauren Post, a graduate student in fine arts. Some of her displays
are created using mixed mediums, such as acrylic on paper or oil on canvas. Kim worked with DAAP in putting together her exhibition by helping with picking the placement of her pieces and even helping with lighting, allowing her to display her artwork in a way that was satisfying to her. Many artists choose to let DAAP put the exhibition together themselves and not be a part of it, while Kim chose to work hand in hand with DAAP. “It’s nice to see the artist come in and do that kind of thing; you don’t see that a lot,” said DAAP graduate assistant Shandelle McDuffie. Once each exhibition is complete, DAAP is in charge of completely flipping the room and preparing it for the next exhibition to move in. DAAP provides each student, as well as staff members, the opportunity to be exposed to many talented artists for no price at all. Each exhibition that DAAP organizes varies in duration and style. Typically, there are two exhibitions on display each semester within Steger, with an addition two inside of DAAP itself. Post says there can be as many as three within a building when DAAP is feeling ambitious. This exhibit will be available to students through March 2, where there will be a closing reception from 5-7 p.m. Be sure to experience all that DAAP has to offer, and come see the works of Bukang Yu Kim and other artists throughout this semester.
JEAN PLEITEZ | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Bukang Yu Kim’s exhibit “Cross Currents” is displayed at Steger Student Life Center, Wednesday, January 25, 2017.
Ryley Walker a surprising delight for even the pickiest of music lovers STEPHANIE L. SMITH | ONLINE EDITOR
As I grow older, my love for music lessens. I have become too picky. I want less auto-tune and processed sounds and more literary lyrics with a natural, organic sound. To avoid continued disappointment, I stick to my tried and true on iTunes and Spotify. Occasionally, though, I’ll discover hidden gems like I did with Ryley Walker and Billy Alletzhauser on Monday night at MOTR Pub in Over-the-Rhine. Touring in support of his August 2016 release “Golden Sings That Have Been Sung,” the lanky and scruffy Walker spent an hour on stage, turning the audience into close friends with his endearing awkwardness, quirky sense
of humor and love for Adriatico’s Bearcat pizza. “It’s really good pizza. $32 and you get, like, this much,” said Walker, over-exaggerating with his hands referring to the pizza size. It was the music that pulled me in to Walker’s world, with his mellow folksy guitar playing and warm, monotone voice. His lyrics felt as though they were giving me a glimpse into his mind, such as with the show’s opener “Roundabout,” a song, whose lyrics Walker explained in an interview with Metro Gallery. “I was thinking about a bar just outside of Appleton, Wisconsin, called The Roundabout, that I’d sometimes go to with my parents,” said Walker. Yet, the lyrics are
about more than a bar. They’re indicative of the 27-year-old musician from Chicago being an old soul. Walker sings “I’ll take the roundabout/‘cause I like to see St. Jude/again and
again.” – a roundabout is more than just a traffic circle. According to Merriam-Webster, a roundabout is defined as “not following a short direct route” – such as
JEAN PLEITEZ | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Ryley Walker performs at MOTR Pub during his U.S. tour in OTR, Monday, January 23, 2017.
life. With St. Jude being the patron saint of hope, hope mixed with regret exudes throughout the performance as Walker aches over growing older, constantly wanting to go back home, while his father wishes he had a daughter instead. To help balance the life reflections and questions Walker’s songs evoked, he – along with guitarist Mike Vallera and drummer Ryan Jewell – would jam out for about five minutes before each tune, channeling jazz and Indian influences, building the performance and the audience up to a crescendo before Walker would count down and dive back in to his peaceful, murky world. While everyone went wild over the long segues, I found it redundant, and it
ate up Walker’s set list. I’d have rather enjoyed more of his lyrical stories than the five he did in his hour slot. Billy Alletzhauser of The Hiders opened with an acoustic set that I enjoyed more than Walker’s performance. With Alletzhauser’s raspy voice and The Hiders’ altcountry sound, it was easy to compare them to Wilco’s early days of “A.M.” and “Being There.” An added bonus? He flipped on the mental movie projector in my mind – what often happens to me when I hear good music – and I spent his hour’s performance imagining I was hanging out in Harlan, Kentucky, with Raylan Givens and Boyd Crowder of FX’s “Justified.”
4 / SPORTS THURSDAY, JAN. 26, 2017
Bearcats compete for Queen City supremacy CLAUDE THOMPSON | STAFF REPORTER
Every season, two local Cincinnati basketball teams collide in a contest for supremacy in the Queen City. This match, sponsored by Cincinnati treasure Skyline Chili, is known as the Crosstown Shootout and pits the University of Cincinnati against heated rival Xavier University. The Bearcats head into the Crosstown Shootout as winners of 10-straight games and remain the only team in the American Athletic Conference to be undefeated against AAC competition. Cincinnati is ranked No. 19 in both polls and has been steadily rising, despite playing considerably weaker teams than Xavier has. Winners of three-straight Shootouts, Xavier enters the week after dropping again in the NCAA rankings for Division I men’s basketball following
three consecutive losses – albeit each loss was to a team currently ranked in the top 12 in college basketball. Xavier is now ranked No. 24 in the Associated Press Poll and No. 22 in the Coaches Poll. The teams are evenly matched on the stat sheet, only being separated in some major categories by single digits, and dead even in others. For instance, both teams are averaging 77 points per game, and Xavier is only averaging one more rebound per game, according to ESPN. Cincinnati believes they finally have the talent needed to break the three-shootout loss streak against Xavier, as they made multiple additions in the offseason. This includes noted North Carolina State University transfer, forward Kyle Washington. Washington averages 13.4 points per game, secondbest on the team, while
also leading the team in rebounds per game, despite playing an average of seven fewer minutes per game than guards Jacob Evans and Troy Caupain. Caupain is in his senior year at Cincinnati and has yet to notch a victory against Xavier in the Shootout. “I want it real bad,” Caupain said. “My squad wants it real bad. We’re just preparing to win. We’re not going to let the hype of the game affect us or make us play any different. We’re just going to go out and play it as if it were a conference game.” Cincinnati head coach Mick Cronin will be leading his team for the 11th time against Xavier in the shootout. “I’m thankful for being the head coach of Cincinnati and [the Crosstown Shootout] is a big part of being the head coach at Cincinnati, whether you like it or not,” Cronin said. “In a game like
this, the battle for every loose ball may be a little more heated, the battle for rebounding position may be a little more physical, so yeah, you better be prepared for that and you’d be foolish not to be prepared for that.” Cronin believes his team will be ready because of the key games they have been a part of this season already. “When Xavier played at Butler last week, it was World War III,” Cronin said. “In a couple weeks, we’re going to [Southern Methodist University] and it’s going to be World War III, so it’s not like we don’t play in these types of games. The spotlight, locally, is obviously on this right now.” The Crosstown Shootout will take place at Fifth Third Arena tonight at 7 p.m. The game will be aired on ESPN2. JEAN PLEITEZ | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Troy Caupain (10) cheers as the Bearcats scored off a counter during the first half of the SMU game, Thursday January 12, 2017.
Reviewing the Crosstown Shootout JASON SZELEST | STAFF REPORTER OPINION
PROVIDED
Across enemy lines:
Xavier students give opinion of UC DAVID WYSONG | SPORTS EDITOR
There are many hostile feelings that come with rivalry matchups. The hatred between players and coaches are always talked about, but sometimes students of rivaled schools bottle up the most anger of all. The University of Cincinnati’s rivaled school is Xavier University, and with the basketball teams facing off tonight, The News Record went across enemy lines to hear what Musketeer students think of UC. Some students are frank about Xavier’s feelings toward UC. “People don’t like UC. Most Xavier students think low of UC,” said fourth-year criminal justice UC student Caleb Demeritt. Some recognize the positive aspects of their rival school three and a half miles away. “I think that each school has its own unique identities,” said doctoral candidate of education Ty Fields. “Xavier is probably more on the conservative side, based on its Jesuit traditions, and UC is more outgoing. Both schools have wonderful campuses and well-respected traditions. However, my loyalties lie with Muskie blue for obvious reasons.” The proximity of the two schools is what makes the rivalry more special than others. “Cincinnati is big on tradition and many students who attend – or have attended – each of the schools, once graduated, will stay in the area. This makes the ‘bragging rights’ more significant. I just wish that one day there could be a football version of the shootout between the schools,” said Fields. The rivalry has brought many memories, but one
that sticks in the head of many, including Demeritt and Fields, is when the two schools finished their game in a brawl during their December 2011 matchup. The game was ultimately concluded early, with Xavier being awarded the win for safety reasons. “Ultimately, this situation taught us something about sportsmanship and sportsmanlike behavior that extends far beyond the basketball court,” said Fields. “Both teams have a wonderful fan base which includes many young people who look to the players to set good examples and represent their respective schools boldly and honorably.” The matchup tonight is between two teams ranked in the top-25 of the AP Poll, UC at No. 19 and Xavier at No. 24. Xavier’s head coach Chris Mack has high praise for this year’s Cincinnati team. “I think this year, probably more than any year, and I could be wrong because I’m not coaching Mick [Cronin’s] team, but I feel like they have the answers at every position in terms of scoring the ball. Sometimes if you’re coaching it feels like you’re playing four-on-five when you play teams like that,” Mack said at the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout VIP event Tuesday. Fields believes Cincinnati is fun to watch, especially during their runs to sixstraight NCAA tournament, but Demeritt believes there is one thing that holds the Bearcats back. “They have a good team, but as long as Cronin is the coach, they will never be what they were under [Bob] Huggins,” Demeritt said. Cincinnati and Xavier play at 7 p.m. Thursday in Fifth Third Arena.
Once again, it is time for the annual rivalry between the University of Cincinnati and that other school that somewhat resembles, on an academic level, the South Harmon Institute of Technology from the movie “Accepted.” Unfortunately, the school from across the way has played a style of basketball lately in which nobody is accustomed to seeing from them – winning. While Cincinnati holds an alltime series lead of 49 wins to 34, the glorified community college on Victory Pkwy has dominated lately, winning seven of the last nine contests. This makes things a little more difficult to rehash fond memories of the best rivalry games between Cincinnati and that school who is famous for losing to Marshall in football. However, within this rivalry, there are moments to be remembered. Without further ado, I will break down my top three memories from this lopsided annual encounter. No. 3: Jan. 6, 2011 At this point in the season, the Bearcats were undefeated, having won their first 14 games of the season. As per usual, the clowns from across town came in
overconfident and thought they were going to hand Cincinnati their first loss – even though they clearly did not have the talent to compete. Cincinnati native Yancy Gates, who decided to play ball at the one real school in the 513, quickly showed them that no amount of praying was going to stop him that night.
The junior went off for 22 points and 14 rebounds, leading Cincinnati to a 66-46 butt-whooping of a victory that really was not as close as the score indicated. Following the game, coach Mick Cronin recognized the desire Gates had to reclaim the Bearcats’ city. “It was quite obvious that Yancy Gates decided it was his time to win the Crosstown Shootout,” said Cronin. Perhaps an even more indicative moment of just how that game went came from local pariah Tu Holloway, who had a poor reaction after realizing the game was out of reach. Most likely frustrated by the fact that his parents named him Tu, he decided to unleash his anger upon an innocent UC player, flailing his elbow in an egregious and unwarranted attack that garnered a technical foul from the ref. No. 2: Dec. 19, 1999 This one I
remember for all the wrong reasons. The Bearcats had a star studded cast that included the likes of Kenyon Martin and Steve Logan. They were ranked No. 1 in the nation and, most likely, looked at the local laughingstock they were about to face as nothing more than a minor inconvenience they had to deal with on their way to a historic season. However, on that night, that laughingstock somehow found a way to weasel their way to victory, knocking off the Bearcats 66-64 in one of the biggest upsets to ever take place in the rivalry. No. 1: Dec. 10, 2011 If you do not remember this day, you should immediately transfer to a different school. Whether good or bad, “The Brawl” will forever live on in University of Cincinnati history. While nobody really remembers who won that game or what the final score was, everyone will remember how those self-proclaimed “men of the lord” attempted to start a fight they were not prepared to finish. Although I certainly do not condone violence, the events that happened toward the end of the game can only be viewed as self-defense on the Cincinnati side. After being attacked by several players from the halfway-house in Norwood, led once again by the illtempered Holloway, Cincinnati decided to fight back. The fight ended
quickly, after local punk Kenny Freese was dropped by Gates following a few uttered words that Freese probably wishes he could take back. Only time will tell if tonight’s game will offer the same excitement as these examples, but, as always, the intensity is sure to be off the charts when these rivals collide. PROVIDED
FROM XAVIER PG 1
Kenny Frease in the face. “I’ve watched a lot of an intense games and a lot of pushing and bantering, but to see the swing and the connection was jarring,” Perry said. Despite some games bringing out ugly sides of players and coaches, there is something special about the rivalry between the schools three and a half miles apart. “Supremacy in the city is important to both sides,” said Groeschen. “Sometimes, the coaches especially tend to downplay it, but it’s no question it’s the most talked about game of the year. And it gives fans bragging rights for the whole year.” With both teams being two of the top-squads in the nation this season, none of the four writers could make a prediction on the outcome of the game tonight.
“It’s a coin flip. If I really thought I knew which one
might win I would tell you, but I literally think that
game could go either way,” said Perry.
JEAN PLEITEZ | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Kevin Johnson (25) calls for the ball during the first half of the SMU game at Fifth Third Arena, Thursday January 12, 2017.