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Deschutes Brewery Armory XPA
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Men’s Basketball
Bearcats aim to win conference
THE NEWS RECORD / UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI MONDAY, FEB. 27, 2017
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Students for Survivors stands in solidarity with OU, demand justice NOELLE ZIELINSKI | CONTRIBUTOR
University of Cincinnati Students for Survivors (SFS) demanded justice for Ohio University students in a protest on Friday outside of Tangeman University Center. SFS organized a protest to take action against Ohio University Professor Andrew Escobedo. In March 2016, allegations were reported to Ohio University that Escobedo had sexually touched two graduate students without their consent and sexually harassed them. SFS held this protest to show their support for OU and to urge their administration to take action against Escobedo. “I think it’s important that we realize and acknowledge that this is happening across several universities,” said
SFS co-founder Grace Cunningham, referring to the group’s battle for reform at UC and across the country. This situation was brought to light in 2016 and in the past year, little to nothing has been done, protesters said. “This perpetrator is still able to live his life without consequences,” said Cunningham. On March 24, 2016, the Office of Equity and Civil Rights Compliance received its first complaint. Escobedo was then put on paid administrative leave. On Dec. 3, 2016, Escobedo attended an end-of-the-semester party where he was accused of inappropriate sexual actions. Only 12 days after the end-of-the-semester party, the Office of Equity and Civil Rights Compliance
concluded that Escobedo did, in fact, sexually harass female students and engage in sexual conduct without their consent. On Jan. 31 in a letter to faculty members of the Ohio University Department of English, Escobedo said he did not claim the students consented to his advances and said he should not have become so intoxicated in the presence of students. He denied abusing his power over the students and asked faculty to recommend disciplinary measures short of termination, according to The Post Athens. Ohio University faculty members held a vote on Feb. 7, with 24 members agreeing that Escobedo should face sanctions for his actions, according to WOUB Digital, a broadcasting station out of
Athens. In another vote, 14 members said he should be considered for termination and/or loss of tenure, provided by a public records request made by WOUB. The results and explanation of the vote were sent to Executive Vice President and Provost Pam Benoit. Benoit has 30 days to respond to the letter, and her decision will then be sent to the president of OU. Amplifying the legal battles for Escobedo, Chicago-based attorney Michael Fradin is pursuing a civil rights lawsuit against him on behalf of two complainants in the investigation. “It is unacceptable that we don’t automatically expel for sexually assaulting someone, and that someone in a position of power can negotiate what happens,”
said Michaela Dietz, thirdyear English literature student and member of SFS. Students for Survivors showed their support and unity with OU by speaking out against this injustice and shedding light on the situation. The group also gained the
support of various students walking by who decided to join the protest. Protesters held the general opinion that the power in voice and truth played a key role in making the protest an effective one, bringing attention to and raising awareness for the situation.
JEAN PLEITEZ | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
UC students protest rape culture, Friday, February 24, 2017 outside of TUC.
‘Creating Black Feminist Futures’ ERIN COUCH | STAFF REPORTER
SHAE COMBS | PHOTO EDITOR
‘Pink tax’ elimination introduced JUSTIN REUTTER | NEWS EDITOR
A bill was introduced to the State of Ohio legislature to eliminate the “pink tax,” which is a luxury tax placed on feminine hygiene products such as tampons, pads, menstrual cups and sanitary belts. Ohio House Bill 61, which would eliminate the tax, was introduced by State Reps. Greta Johnson of Akron and Brigid Kelly of Oakley. Currently, the state makes $4 million a year in taxes on feminine hygiene products, according to a Legislative Service Commission analysis. “Continuing to nickel-and-dime women adds up, especially for minimum wage workers who will lose an even greater proportion of weekly earnings to this unfair state tax,” Kelly told the Enquirer. “This unfair tax ultimately means women have less money to save for their future and things like car repairs, medical costs and childcare.” The legislators estimated eliminating the tax would save an average Ohio woman $632.50 over her lifetime. Feminine hygiene products are
currently taxed at a rate of 5.75 percent. Gov. John Kasich (R-OH) has proposed raising the rate to 6.25 percent in his latest state budget proposal. Kelly represents the 31st Ohio House District, which includes a number of Cincinnati neighborhoods, as well as all or parts of Norwood, Silverton and Amberley Village. State law exempts medicine and medical supplies from sales tax. UC Student Government Director of Women’s Affairs Madison Landkrohn said she was in support of removing the pink tax. Landkrohn pointed out that the pink tax does not only affect feminine hygiene products, but also includes products that typically have the same functionality of men’s products – the only difference being in color, hence the word “pink.” The products are more expensive for no specific reason, said Landkrohn. “I also think it is important to mention that this not only affects cisgender women – there are queer, non-binary and trans people that this affects,” said Landkrohn. “So, it is safe to say I disagree with pink tax and
think reform and legislation would greatly benefit literally everyone.” UC Wellness Center Director Brandy Reeves also supported removing the tax, as the extra tax makes it harder for students to purchase necessary products for their health and hygiene. “Anything that can be done to make it easier for our students to care for their health and wellbeing is a step in the right direction.” First-year political science and international relations student Caroline Lembright voiced her support for the bill. “I think it’s long overdue,” said Lembright. “Women pay upwards of $600 in their lifetime in Ohio taxes for menstruation products. These products are considered medically necessary devices and by that, [the products] should be tax exempt.” In July of last year, a federal bill was introduced by Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA) to eliminate the “pink tax” on a national scale. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and no further action was taken.
The UC Women’s Center promoted black feminism Friday at TUC with the symposium “Creating Black Feminist Futures,” which touched on themes pertinent to black women in today’s society and paid homage to the struggle black feminists have faced in the past. The symposium featured paper presentations, workshops and roundtable discussions from presenters hailing from universities spanning locally and nationally. Issues addressed in the symposium included black women’s roles in academia, police brutality and the media. However, the overlying message the symposium expressed was that intersectionality — the concept that different forms of oppression like racism, classicism or gender identity discrimination come hand in hand — is alive and well in today’s society, and black feminism works to address that. Nneka Dennie, event coordinator of the UC’s Women’s Center and symposium initiator, said black feminism’s ultimate goal is just this, and the symposium will address that in various perspectives. “I think it’s important for black women to feel empowered, simultaneously challenge racism and sexism and all forms of oppression, not one above the other,” Dennie said. “That’s something that’s really the basis of black fem, not just challenging sexism and not just challenging one struggle. It seems like feminism is for the white woman, and anti-racist work is for black men. It’s important to realize black women oppressed by these systems at the same time.” With a strong stigma toward today’s media presenting inaccuracies, many argue marginalized groups are being misrepresented. Fourth-year Xavier student Jessica Robinson agrees that they are definitely not depicting black women accurately. “Black women are being portrayed in the media, just not necessarily
as feminist or in good lighting,” Robinson said. “We do have some things that are positive, with like Beyoncé, Serena Williams — a lot of the different accomplishments they do in that regard, but through reality TV and things of that sort, we can have a dim light shined on us.” Tanisha Ford, associate professor of Black American Studies and History at the University of Delaware, delivered the keynote address. Her writing and commentary has been featured in numerous news outlets, including The New Yorker, Ebony and The New York Times. Ford’s address discussed black women in today’s society versus in the past, and she took the perspective that material culture greatly influences social movement, especially in black feminism. She focused heavily on fashion and how it tells black women’s stories. “Those of us who work with black women know it’s hard to find us in the archive,” she said. “We have to find new approaches and ways to get our history. For me, using a material culture approach allows me to draw in source material and put things in conversation.” Ford cited an example from the civil rights movement that because women couldn’t be stripsearched by the police, they would be locked in a hot car until they sweated through their clothing to reveal any contraband. Ford’s book “Liberated Threads” focuses on the rise of the global fashion industry and its connection to the black freedom movement, reflecting themes brought up in her keynote address and in the symposium.
JEAN PLEITEZ | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Dr. Bleuzette Marshall speaks at UC Womens Center Inaugural Black Feminist Symposium, Friday, February 24, 2017 at TUC Great Hall.
FREE
2 / NEWS Kasich proposes new legislation for teachers MONDAY, FEB. 27, 2017
PARKER MALATESTA | NEWS EDITOR
In his 2018-2019 fiscal budget, Gov. John Kasich (R-OH) proposed a provision that will require all working teachers applying for a license renewal to complete “an onsite work experience with a local business or chamber of commerce as a condition of renewal.” If the change is signed and passed into law, it will be effective for any teachers looking to renew their licenses. According to the Beacon Journal, the thought for the new provision derived from the governor’s Executive Workforce Board. “The board contains one superintendent of a career and technical center in central Ohio, two current or former heads of community colleges and no representation from local school districts, whether teachers or administrators. Instead, the group is packed with legislators, a couple of county commissioners, a hospital administrator and mostly company executives,” the newspaper wrote. At a recent event honoring innovative schools, Kasich shared his thoughts on the developing
education system. “Are our schools preparing our students in a real way? Never let the education get in the way of learning,” he said. Melissa Cropper, president of the Ohio Federation of Teachers Union told Cincinnati’s WLWT that she thinks the proposal could benefit some teachers, but she’d rather have it be strictly a recommendation of policy. “Education policy over the past decade has been highly focused on college readiness and has overlooked the potential on career readiness. We definitely need to take a deeper look on how to get students ready for college and careers,” she said. Future educators at the University of Cincinnati have mixed feelings on the proposal. Third-year education student Rebecca Plaatje said the proposal puts too much on the plate of potential educators. “I think it should be more a suggestion, just thinking of how much work educators have so far with re-doing lessons plans and having to go back to school for a masters. It just adds extra time and
stress for something that we probably won’t need,” she said. Others, like thirdyear education student Patrick Haley, feel that the experience could be beneficial. “There are a lot of things that I wasn’t taught in a high school, like how to do
taxes and live in the real world. I feel like if teachers go out and experience that, they can teach their students that a lot better,” he said. Overall, Kasich’s proposal is simply too overbearing for prospering educators, according to third-year education student Rachel
Dornoff. “Teachers are already required to not only keep up with the material they are teaching, but keep up with the standards, keep up with the parents and keep up with different curriculums over the summer. I think it’s our responsibility to teach
OLIVIER DOULIERY | ABACA PRESS | TNS
John Kasich speaks during CPAC 2016 on March 4, 2016 in National Harbor, Md. The American Conservative Union hosted its annual Conservative Political Action Conference to discuss conservative issues.
City of Cincinnati faces $25M deficit in 2018 JUSTIN REUTTER | NEWS EDITOR
FILE ART
Cincinnati faces a $25 million deficit on its 2018 budget, according to a new report from the University of Cincinnati Economics Center. The current estimated expenses for 2018 are $414.1 million and the estimated revenues are $389 million, making a $25.1 million gap. Earlier this year it was projected to be between $7 and $9 million. The problem is primarily caused by the earnings tax, which is the city’s main source of revenue, which is failing to meet projections. Earlier this year, the UC Economics Center predicted that earnings tax would grow more than previously predicted, but this is not the case. Net income tax revenues are now projected to grow at 2.3 percent from fiscal year 2017 to 2022, which is slightly lower than the average annual rate from 2003 to 2016, according to the report. The shortfall of the earnings tax was not helped by Mayor John Cranley and Cincinnati City Council giving city unions 5 percent raises this year, 5 percent next year and 4 percent in 2019, which has a cumulative cost of $25 million, with $9 million in 2018 alone. The deficit has grown over the last three fiscal budgets. The 2016 projected budget deficit was $3.8 million. The 2017 budget deficit was $13.9 million. City Manager Harry Black had objected this plan and proposed an alternate plan of giving 3 percent raises over 3 years. This plan was projected to cost $8 million in 2018. Black recommends that public safety
forces prepare to make a 3 percent budget cut and all other departments should prepare to make a 10 percent cut, according to a memo sent to city council. The Economics Center has not made any official recommendations, according to Senior Research Associate Jennifer M. Shand. Mayor John Cranley ran on a platform that included getting budget spending “under control.” The city budget has actually increased by $35.6 million under Cranley, from $352.3 million in 2013 to $387.9 million this year. The projected budget deficit may have an effect on the 2017 mayoral race and council races. Councilwoman and mayoral candidate Yvette Simpson was critical of the deficit, releasing a statement calling Cranley fiscally irresponsible. Her campaign also claimed that the budget shortfall was the “worst since the Great Recession,” which was caused by the collapse of the housing bubble in December 2007. Former chair of the UC Board of Trustees Rob Richardson Jr. released his own statement, saying that the budget shortfall is another example of how incumbents think mostly about what is next politically instead of what is best for the city. “It’s a total lack of leadership by the incumbent mayor and the incumbent council member [Simpson] who voted in support of the process and budget. We need leadership that will not just focus on what’s politically convenient and expedient at the moment,” Richardson said. The 2018 budget will be officially presented May 17, and a final vote to approve or reject it is due before the start of the new fiscal year on July 1.
UC Health to build $60.5M outpatient center RYAN CLADY | CONTRIBUTOR LAUREN MORETTO | NEWS EDITOR
The University of Cincinnati and UC Health revealed that $4.5 million in donations were recently made to help build a $60.5 million outpatient center in Corryville, which will treat people with neurological and psychiatric diseases. The announcement was made Feb. 16. The UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute, located at 223 Piedmont Ave., will be a fourstory building that brings together more than 100 faculty doctors and researchers with specialized staff when it opens in 2019. The university expects that about 50 people will be in newly hired positions, including doctors, medical assistants, therapists, technologists and other support staff. The building of this facility will better allow access to advanced clinical trials. Construction began Feb. 13 on the Piedmont Mews apartment complex off of Martin Luther King Drive between Eden and Bellevue avenues. The apartment complex dates back to 1965. The building is owned by UC and is located near the UC Medical Campus, which is UC’s flagship hospital and the second
largest in the surrounding area. The Perkins+Will architecture and design firm will design the 114,000-square-foot building, UC disclosed on Feb. 16. The Chicago-based firm, which also designed the UC Health Sciences Building, is already working with patient committees to design a structure with ease and accessibility in mind. A general contractor hasn’t been finalized yet. “The UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute building will be tailored to our patients’ unique needs,” said Dr. Joseph Broderick, director of the institute and a UC professor of neurology and rehabilitation medicine. “Functionality and innovation will align, giving our patients the best care possible.”The building will include a café, a lounge for the patients, an auditorium, an outdoor rehabilitation area and an underground parking garage. About $26.6 million of the money donated will help pay for the building, and $28 million will go toward program costs. The remaining funds needed for the project are to come from the university and UC Health. Recently, three
students to be ready for life, but there are business professors and vocational teachers that know about businesses that can teach businesses. I think its spreading teachers too thin,” she said. Managing Editor Lauren Moretto contributed to this report.
other groups donated $4.5 million to benefit areas within the UC Gardner Institute, including brain health, post-traumatic stress disorder research and neurorecovery. Dorothy “Bunny”Whitaker and her daughter D. Elizabeth Price made a $3 million donation. A $1 million gift from the Chris T. Sullivan Foundation will be used to establish the Chris T. Sullivan
Foundation PTSD Fund. Finally, a $500,000 donation from the Oliver Family Foundation established the Oliver Family Neurorecovery Fund. UC Health expects the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute to be a landmark. Conceptual renderings shared with potential donors show a building with floor-to-ceiling windows, but the new building could appear
much different. These gifts provide support to continually advance care and treatments for patients while also allowing the UC College of Medicine to recruit and retain the best researchers and practitioners in the field, according to Dr. William Ball, dean of the UC College of Medicine and senior vice president for health affairs.
Founded 1880 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 Editor-In-Chief Jeff O’Rear Managing Editor Lauren Moretto News Editors Justin Reutter Parker Malatesta Chief Reporter Emily Stoltz 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
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Videographer Michelle Fisk
LIFE & ARTS / 3 Urban Artifact hosts free concerts MONDAY, FEB. 27, 2017
JACOB FISHER | STAFF REPORTER
JEAN PLEITEZ | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Samurai armor from the 16th century is exhibited at the Cincinnati Art Museum, Friday, February 24, 2017.
‘Dress to Kill: Japanese Arms and Armor’ NOELLE ZIELINSKI | CONTRIBUTOR
The Cincinnati Art Museum presented an Art After Dark series entitled “Dress to Kill: Japanese Arms and Armor” Friday, featuring a variety of Japanese artwork and samurai culture from the 16th century through the 19th century. The 130 warrior-related objects came from both the collections of the Cincinnati Art Museum and Mr. Gary Grose, a local collector. The exhibit featured 11 full suits of samurai armor, as well as a wide variety of arms. Additionally, there were battle prints, paintings, metal crafts, banners and garments. Along with this exhibit, the art museum had a guest DJ, FUSIAN sushi, Kendo performances, origami and showings of different samurai movies. A piece entitled “Boy’s Day Banners” displayed
two large, colorfully painted banners with several different images. This painting was made to depict the Japanese tradition of Boy’s Day, which celebrates the development, health and growth of young boys and their importance to the family. Rico Rodriguez, a secondyear electronic media technology student, said that his favorite piece in the exhibit was entitled “Playing the Koto on an Autumn Day.”This ink on paper hanging scroll combines so many different elements. It seems to flow from object to object as the viewer’s eyes move from the top to the bottom of the scroll. “He uses positive objects to create negative space. You can almost see his rhythm through his painting,” said Rodriguez He also comments on Japanese calligraphy and the simplistic nature of
it. “It seems so complex, but in a simple way,” said Rodriguez. Trent Sulvain, a secondyear liberal arts student who has always been interested in Japanese culture, enjoyed the samurai uniforms the best. “They are so basic, yet efficient. They were designed to protect warriors, but they are also so intricate, “said Sulvain. “I always ask myself what was going through the artists’ minds when they were painting this.” This exhibit drew in audiences from a variety of different backgrounds and for many different reasons. Local Cincinnati resident Cliff Bradford said he has always liked Japanese art, but the swords are the most interesting to him. “How they make the blades is so interesting and different,” said Bradford. “I love events like this. The art is beautiful, and I like the social aspect of it as well.”
Another feature to this event was an exhibit of woodcuts of Kosaka Gajin. These woodcuts were incredibly detailed and beautiful to see. Each piece was handmade and unique to the gallery. Both exhibits included a balance of Japanese culture and war history. This event combined several aspects of Japanese culture into one venue and made it an entertaining night for all who attended. “This event blends so many aspects and perspectives together into one event,” said Rodriguez. “Dressed to Kill: Japanese Arms and Armor” created an opportunity to appreciate the skill and craft of various Japanese art forms and craftsmanship, as well as to better recognize and understand samurai culture and its historical relevance.
Local craft bar and music venue Urban Artifact was this week’s prime entertainment hotspot, hosting fresh and innovative sounds from three local artists Thursday evening. The free concert was open to all ages and featured live performances by Sylmar, Observationist, and Current Events. Sylmar, the opening act, is a self-described “rock ‘n roll, stoner jazz band” whose single “Even Now” is available on Spotify. In August 2016, the band raised over $2,000 via a Kickstarter campaign to fund their first full-length album, which they plan to complete in May of this year. As of November 2016, the band finished recording four songs for the album. In a Facebook post hours before the concert began, Sylmar announced that their performance would be acoustic. The five-member band was missing a drummer, who was unable to attend the event due to illness. “[I]t’ll be our set in a different light,” Sylmar wrote. “Should be a [sic] grand evening.” The group’s unique, mellow sound and casual demeanor struck a chord with the audience, who gathered at the foot of the stage to sing along as the band performed “Honey,” a local favorite. The performance that followed was by indie rock band Current Events, a relatively new group whose influences include The Early November, Copeland and American Football. The band’s first album, “Need What You Leave,” released on Spotify in August 2015. Vocalist Jacob Aufdenkamp briefly addressed the audience before the performance began. “What we lack in skill, we’ll make up for in sweat and saliva,” he said. Aufdenkamp also referenced the recent $1.9 million sale of WNKUFM radio station to Bible
Broadcast Corporation, calling it “a sad day in Cincinnati.” The energizing performance included a preview of the band’s new single “Cupboard,” which they plan on recording in the near future. Interested listeners can check out an acoustic version of the song on the band’s Facebook page. Current Events will perform at The Southgate House Revival in Newport, Kentucky, on March 4 at 6 p.m. and at Bunbury Music Festival during the first week of June. The event concluded with a final performance by Observationist, an alternative rock group that describe themselves as a “mix of genres and originality.”The band recorded, mixed and mastered their first album “Brainwork” at 3rd Street Records in Hamilton, Ohio, and has been active since 2014. A spokesperson for the band said various artists influence the group, including Slipknot, Pink Floyd and The Beatles. Audience members enjoyed a wide variety of tunes spanning the group’s career, including renditions of songs from their new album “Insult to Injury,” which released at the end of 2016 and is available for stream and download on Spotify. This popular craft brewery and music venue in Northside hosts live performances from local talent throughout the week. Located in the lower level of St. Patrick’s Church, the brewery boasts a full bar and spacious taproom designed to accommodate hundreds. Music lovers and beer enthusiasts interested in enjoying an engaging live performance from local artists or sampling one of the brewery’s unique wild beers should check out the events calendar on Urban Artifact’s website. The venue opens at 4 p.m. weekdays and at noon on weekends.
BrewCats: Deschutes Brewery Armory XPA RUSSELL HAUSFELD | SENIOR REPORTER
Deschutes Brewery has been perfecting the art of craft brewing for close to three decades. They have had a lot of time to experiment over that time and have decided to let the public in on their everevolving creations with the Armory XPA — eXperimental Pale Ale. The 2015 edition of Deschutes’ Armory XPA won gold in the International Brewing Awards, so one can only think they have continued improving as time has gone on. “While most Deschutes beers endure rigorous testing at the hands of our pub patrons before receiving six-pack approval, with Armory XPA we want you to share in the process with us,” Deschutes’ website says. The mission of the Armory XPA is to discover the next great hop. It replaces
the traditional Citra hop with the humbly-named Tropical Hop #07270, to great success. Mixed in with that are Nugget, Northern Brewer, Cascade and Centennial hops, paired with Crystal and Pale malts. After that is brewed up, it’s bottled for a tasty beer with a 5.9% ABV. The Bend, Oregon, brewery’s concoction pours an opaque light brown with radiating caramel vibes. The modest head that appears as the beer is poured quickly dissolves into white bubbly islands among a carbonated orange-brown sea. The Armory XPA does not give off a strong odor; however, there is a lingering rusty and foamy smell — which, as I see it written down, sounds really gross. But, it didn’t take away from the experience. The first gulp is like velvet, smooth and gentle. Like the smell, the taste is very subtle and one might be tempted to say “non-existent.” After a few sips, you
exhale deeply and realize your mouth is coated in the bitter, frosty aftertaste of hops. The XPA is an interesting brew that leaves your mouth feeling like you just bit into a Granny Smith apple, but goes down smooth and silky without any kind of bite. This is a great beer for anyone who appreciates the way a really hoppy beer can coat your palate long after it has been swallowed. Your breath might smell invasively boozy to outsiders after a pint of this, but — to you — the inside of your mouth will feel tart and fresh. ARMORY EXPERIMENTAL IPA BY DESCHUTES BREWERY
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Are You Feeling Sad or Down? Do You Have a Parent With Bipolar Disorder? If you said “YES” to both questions, you may qualify for a research study at the University of Cincinnati Researchers at the Department of Psychiatry of the University of Cincinnati are conducting a research study looking at the effects of a dietary supplement (N-acetyl-cysteine) on mood symptoms and brain functioning in adolescents and young adults at familial risk for bipolar disorder.
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The purpose of this study is to investigate if taking this dietary supplement helps to improve mood in adolescents and young adults who are at familial risk for bipolar disorder and are feeling depressed. Participation includes doing two MRI scans. The MRI scans will help to investigate the effects of this dietary supplement in the brain. Participants need to be between 15 and 24 years old and be available for study visits over 8 weeks. Parents need to be available for one interview to confirm the diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Participants may receive up to $200 in compensation for their transportation and/or time for study visits. All study visits, tests, and procedures will be provided at no cost to participants. For more information Contact Max Tallman at maxwell.tallman@uc.edu or (513) 558-4102
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4 / SPORTS MONDAY, FEB. 27, 2017
Women’s basketball missteps, has one game remaining DAVID WYSONG | SPORTS EDITOR
The Cincinnati Bearcat women’s basketball team has begun to falter at the wrong time. After defeating the University of Memphis last week and jumping up to No. 4 in the American Athletic Conference standings, UC has now dropped two-straight games and is two games back from the fourth spot with one game remaining. Cincinnati lost on Wednesday to East Carolina University, which is in last place and had only won one conference game prior to their meeting. They then traveled to Philadelphia Saturday and fell to Temple University 88-64. Despite the last two games, Cincinnati head coach Jamelle Elliott is positive about her team moving forward. “This team is good enough to beat anybody if we come out and play
our game,” Elliott said to Bearcats TV after the team’s lost to Temple. “Unfortunately, the last two games we haven’t done that, but we played more like ourselves than not this year, so we’re going to put these behind us.” The Bearcats are fifth in the conference and failed to clinch fourth place in the regular season AAC standings. The top-four teams in the standings clinch a first-round bye in the conference tournament. Fighting for a bye in the tournament is a far cry from UC teams as recent as last year when they went 8-22. Elliot has attributed the difference in play to one of her players. “It’s been fun to be on the winning side of games, as opposed to last year,” Elliott said after UC’S 68-57 win over Memphis Feb. 18. “I think Shanice Johnson has single-handedly really changed our team with
her addition. She came in and really made us better, both offensively and defensively.” Johnson is in her first
season with the team after transferring to the school from Monroe Community College. Prior to the win against
CAROLE POSTER | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Memphis, Johnson had a four-game stretch where she was shooting only 30.3 percent, including only making two-of-10 shots against Tulane University Feb. 15. Over the past three games, Johnson averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds per game on 44.7 percent shooting. “My team, coaches, they never let me lose confidence,” Johnson said. “Having them was definitely a big part of that. And just maintaining the same confidence that I had this whole season, and trying to help my team the best way I can.” Cincinnati has one more game remaining Monday at 7 p.m. They will matchup against the University of Tulsa at home. “We got the most important game of our season coming up Monday,” Elliott said. “Why? Because it’s the last time our two seniors [play]. And, finally, we get to have a senior
night at home. And we want to honor them – not only for what they have done the last four years, but we want to honor them with the way we play, especially to start the game.” The two seniors who will be honored Monday are guards Brandey Tarver and Bianca Quisenberry. The two have not had as much success while at UC as they have had this season. The Bearcats’ 16 wins on the year are the most for the school since 2011-12. “We had talked about it in the preseason – how good of a team we could be this year – and it all just depended on people’s commitment and dedication, and people have bought into that so far,” Quisenberry said. Cincinnati concludes their regular season on Monday, then travels to Uncasville, Connecticut, March 3-6 for the AAC Women’s Basketball Tournament.
What power five conference
should University of Cincy join? DAVID WYSONG | SPORTS EDITOR OPINION
FILE ART OF UC UT MARTIN
SHAE COMBS | PHOTO EDITOR
Freshman guard Jarron Cumberland (34) jumps through three Memphis defenders to add to UC’s demanding first half lead, February 23, 2017.
The University of Cincinnati’s newly appointed President Neville Pinto said it is a goal to join a power-five conference in his interview with The News Record last week. The Big 12 Conference has decided to keep UC in the friend zone for the time being, so it is unclear what conference UC would join. There are five options – some better than others – and here are their rankings on the best conferences for UC to join. 1.Big 10 The Big 10 Conference might already have 14 members, but it would be the best landing spot for UC. The traveling would be perfect. The longest trip is 751 miles to the University of Nebraska, but other than that, most of the schools are either in surrounding states of Ohio or actually in the state. The drive to Ohio State is a short one-hour, 47-minute commute. Some are concerned about having two Ohio teams in one conference, but Michigan and Michigan State are both in the Big 10 and have built a strong rivalry over the years. While it may take a few years for UC to climb in the football rankings since the Big 10 is a strong football conference, they would be able to dominate in basketball and still play some respectable programs year-in and year-out. 2.ACC The Atlantic Coast Conference would be fun. The Bearcats saw their former inner-conference rival Louisville leave the American for the ACC a few years back, and now they flourish. The same could happen with UC. All the teams are on the east coast, making traveling doable, and they would be the first Ohio team in the conference. This year’s college football national champion, Clemson, came out of the
ACC, so it would take some time for UC to be able to compete with them. Yet, they would be well-respected in basketball as they would play powerhouses like North Carolina and Duke every year. 3.Big 12 I don’t know about you, but I am tired of the Big 12. They cannot decide if they want to add an impressive university like UC, even though they have Baylor, a laughing stock of an institution, enjoying the benefits of being in a powerfive conference. Traveling would not be as great, but they would help West Virginia have some closer away sporting events. The competition for football would be good for UC, however, as they are probably one of the weaker football conferences, and they have a strong basketball tradition that would help Cincinnati gain respect and recognition. The Big 12 would make some sense for UC, but the thought makes me puke. 4.SEC This conference simply does not make sense because of the name, the Southeastern Conference. Even though people from Cleveland claim that Cincinnati is not actually in Ohio, we are, and Ohio is not a southern state. However, the University of Kentucky is only a onehour, 28-minute drive from UC, meaning that traveling is not that horrific. The Bearcats would get creamed in football, as the SEC is one of, if not the strongest, football conferences. But UC would battle UK for the top position in basketball, given they are weak in that sport. 5.Pac-12 I am not even discussing this one. All the schools are on the west coast; the closest trip would be a short 1,200-mile hike to the University of Colorado. This conference does not make sense, and it will not happen.
Reds may have a better season than some think CLAUDE THOMPSON | STAFF REPORTER OPINION
Baseball season is finally upon us. As America’s pastime graces our newsfeeds once again, all local eyes turn toward the Great American Ballpark and the Cincinnati Reds with high expectations and dreams of another World Series title for the Queen City. To get back to the Fall Classic, however, the Reds have a lot of work to do, but maybe not as much as you’d think. The Reds finished last season at the absolute bottom of the National League Central Division and tied with the San Diego Padres for the worst win percentage in the entire NL – second only to the Minnesota Twins for the worst win percentage in MLB. The healthy return of catcher Devin Mesoraco is one of the keys to the Reds returning to compete with the triumvirate of the NL Central, composed
of the Chicago Cubs, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the St. Louis Cardinals. Having been limited to only a handful of games in both 2015 and 2016, a lot hangs on his ability to stay healthy and try to repeat his 25-home run performance from 2014. Tucker Barnhart, his replacement, hit only seven home runs last season. That dramatic change in rungenerating production could have swung multiple games in the Reds’ favor – or, at the very least, helped them avoid the 10 shutouts they suffered. On the topic of home runs, three returning players hit more than 20 home runs in 2016. That includes Adam Duvall, Joey Votto and Eugenio Suarez. Duvall hit 33 home runs, tied for the 19th most in the league with former Reds’ outfielder Jay Bruce and Rangers’ second baseman Rougned Odor – who gained notoriety last season for his fistfight with Blue Jays’ player José Bautista. Zack Cozart hit 16 home
runs last season, and it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility to expect him to cross the 20-home run threshold himself. Think that’s not enough home runs? What if I told you a team won the World Series without a single player hitting more than 25 home runs? The 2015 Kansas City Royals defeated the New York Mets in the World Series, with Kendrys Morales and Mike Moustakas leading the team with 22 home runs each. Power is not directly tied to victory, and it’s not the only way the Reds can return to relevance in 2017. One big move by the Reds before the season started was trading All-Star second baseman Brandon Phillips for two minor-league pitchers. While the move was highly contract-related, the team has clearly made young pitchers a priority for the future, with four of the team’s five projected starting pitchers at 26 years old or younger.
That’s not counting Homer Bailey, 30, who will miss the beginning of the season after having offseason surgery for bone spurs in his elbow. Defense is, arguably, the biggest concern for the team going forward, starting with the uncertainty around Mesoraco’s health, the youth of the pitchers and the trading of Brandon Phillips, who won four Gold Glove Awards while in Cincinnati. If this team, with the second-youngest roster in the MLB, can figure out a way to limit the number of runs scored, they should find great success and grow as a unit. The Reds have an opportunity to catch the Cubs in a celebratory hangover, and the Cardinals and Pirates have never been as vulnerable as they are now. I predict a winning record for the Reds at 90-72 and a trip to the NL Wild Card game.
JEAN PLEITEZ | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Jacob Evans (1) drives to the hoop while being guarded by Rodney Purvis (15), Saturday, February 4, 2017 at Fifth Third Arena.
Bearcats aim to win conference JASON SZELEST | STAFF REPORTER
With one week remaining in the regular season, the University of Cincinnati men’s basketball team aims to finish off their best campaign since 2001-02, as they currently hold a record of 26-3. While they most likely will not be playing for the No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament that the squad from 15 years ago earned, this team still has a lot to play for. Cincinnati can clinch at least a share of the American Athletic Conference title if they handle business at home against the University of Houston and on the road versus the University of Connecticut. Southern Methodist University currently holds a tie with the Bearcats for first place in the conference, with both teams only conference loss having come against the other. If the Bearcats are able to win out, it would be their second conference championship in the fouryear history of the AAC. So, how do the Bearcats stack up against the two teams standing in the way of their path toward a championship? Houston features two of the league’s top-four scorers in senior guard Damyean Dotson and junior guard Rob Gray Jr. The combo is averaging 37.9 points per game and has Houston sitting in third place in the conference. “You have to guard everything, obviously, but you know they have three guys that can shoot the lights out in Gray, Dotson and [Wes] Van Beck,” said UC head coach Mick Cronin following Cincinnati’s 67-58 win over the Cougars Jan. 7. As a team, Houston is shooting 40 percent from the three-point range this season, which is No. 17 in
the nation. If the Bearcats are going to sweep the season series against Houston, they will need to keep them off the three-point line, as they did last time when limiting them to 3-of-19 shooting from beyond the arc. On paper, the road game to finish off the season against UConn seems like a much easier matchup, as the Huskies have their worst team record-wise since the 1986-87 season. Dubbed by many as the favorite to win the AAC this year, UConn was hit hard by injuries early in the season, losing two starters for the season within the first four games. Cronin believes that much of the team’s struggles of adjusting without those players that led to their 1414 record are over. “You have to throw out a lot of stuff when you look at them,” Cronin said before Cincinnati’s 82-68 win Feb. 4. “When you see who they are now, once they got to the pieces that they had to play with, they became who they needed to become to win games.” While the Bearcats look to handle their own business, they will also need a loss by SMU to earn the conference championship outright for the first time, as they split the glory with Louisville in the 2013-14 season. The Mustangs finish off their season with two home games against the University of Tulsa and the University of Memphis. Should they drop one of the two and UC wins out, the Bearcats will also be assured of the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. UC’s matchup against Houston tips off at 7 p.m. on Thursday, then they will travel to Connecticut for the season finale against UConn at noon on Sunday. The Houston game will be aired on ESPN2, while CBS will televise the Connecticut contest.