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Student Government
Thousands to be spent on retreat and speaker combined
Suicide Girls
Burlesque show to spice up Cincinnati
THE NEWS RECORD / UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI THURSDAY, OCT. 1, 2015
More gender neutral, handicap restrooms to be implemented Janice Allen, a 1978 UC graduate, said in her four years on campus there were no gender-neutral restrooms. As the University of Cincinnati continues to Since Allen attended UC, the university has added over incorporate more gender-neutral restrooms on campus 70 gender-neutral restrooms. and prepares to make changes to existing restrooms, the “During that era individuals that were transgender did UC community pauses to consider not openly share that information,” whether the university’s efforts Allen said. are sufficient. Allen said the conversation about As a public university, UC has According to Title IX these facilities has come to the an obligation to make all of its Coordinator Jyl Shaffer, the Title forefront in recent years. She said students feel comfortable and IX office, UC Public Safety and she feels more of these facilities the LGBTQ Center secured a should be available. at home. grant in May to make the current “I do feel gender-neutral ALEXUS WIMBISH gender-specific restrooms on restrooms could solve the problem campus more inclusive. and not have these individuals Inclusive restrooms allow affected be made to feel like they have to choose in such accessibility for handicap students and their caregivers an uncomfortable environment,” Allen said. and implement changing stations, Shaffer said. UC adopted policy in 2010 that instructs all new Shaffer said accessing a restroom is a personal issue buildings added to the university to hold at least one and therefore Title IX office is working to incorporate gender-neutral restroom, according to the LGBTQ gender-inclusive restrooms to expand options for Center’s official website. students. ALBERTO C. JONES | CONTRIBUTOR
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DAN SULLIVAN | PHOTO EDITOR
The University of Cincinnati introduced gender neutral bathrooms in every building to accommodate students.
GOP PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL VISITS CINCINNATI
CARSON CONTINUES HEATED MUSLIM RHETORIC
SG advocates for mental illnesses MATT NICHOLS | COLLEGE LIFE EDITOR
STEVE BEYNON | COPY EDITOR
Dr. Ben Carson, GOP presidential candidate, addresses supporters on his platform for the 2016 presidential elections during a Sept. 24 rally in Sharonville. STEVEN BEYNON | COPY EDITOR
Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson held a rally on Sept. 24 at the Sharonville Convention Center, delivering an evangelical and conservative message to hundreds of supporters. The GOP hopeful has been in hot water over controversial remarks he made on the United States having a Muslim president on NBC’s “Meet the Press” and said his words were taken out of context. “I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this country,” Carson said to Chuck Todd during NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “I absolutely would not support that.” The retired neurosurgeon doubled-down on his comments in an interview on Fox News’“Hannity” saying, “We do not put people at the leadership of our country whose faith might interfere with them
carrying out the duties of the Constitution.” With Carson regarded as one of the more religious presidential candidates, critics argue his heated rhetoric on Islam stems more from Islamophobia rather than criticisms of a politician’s relationship with a religion. “His statement that Islam is not consistent with the constitution. His argument is not just that he, as a Christian, doesn’t want a Muslim president. It is the radical and bigoted idea that Muslims do not, or should not, belong to the American polity,” said politics reporter David Graham in The Atlantic. In a meeting with the press before the Cincinnati rally, Carson further detailed his views about the Islamic faith not matching American values, specifically regarding the treatment of women and gay people.
“What about somebody who is of a faith that does not traditionally separate church and state, that traditionally has a theocracy, that traditionally treats women in ways different than we do, that treats gays in different ways than we do, that subjugates other religions?” Carson said at the rally. “Obviously that would not be something that would be consistent with American values.” Carson’s opinion on Muslims did not phase supporters who came out for his rally – most agreed with him, saying his statements were being used against him and that political correctness is hindering the country. “The liberal media just wanted something to attack him with,” said Cincinnati local Bethany Sampson. “He was just saying they don’t match the constitution.” With Republican disapproval of the
Relieving stress in a college setting often seems impossible, especially with a plethora of exams, homework and countless the countless other needs of the average college student. To help alleviate these concerns, University of Cincinnati’s Student Government has partnered with the Center for Entrepreneurship and Commercialization (CEC) to provide a stress-relief oriented lecture Monday afternoon in Tangeman University Center’s MainStreet Cinema. The event is part of UC’s 20,000 Bearcats campaign, which spreads awareness for the massive student population affected by mental illnesses, starting Monday and runs through Saturday. The week kicked off with a Thriving with Stress seminar Monday in to help students overcome the stress involved with college life. “Sometimes this is one of those topics that people don’t want to talk about, but the reality is it doesn’t matter who we are, we will experience stress in our lifetime and doing that effectively can help set you apart,” said Dr. Thomas Dalziel, CEC’s executive director. Leading the seminar was Dr. Frank Wood, a clinical psychologist and corporate shrink, who delved into the nuances of the over-stressed college student mind with a short video starring Jamaican running sensation Usain Bolt. The video clip showed Bolt false starting at an Olympic competition, which ended up disqualified him. Wood asked the crowd of students if they had ever false-started a conversation, not started a conversation with professors or not prepared well enough for exams. “What if you guys, in the midst of demand, were able to sell yourself so you could perform closer to your best in the midst of whatever is happening, and just restart?”Wood asked. In his hour-long lecture, Wood presented two methods of stress relief that are clinically proven to help reduce student stress. The first method, the two-part map, is SEE 20,000 PG 3
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Catholic campus minitstry travels over 500 miles to see Pope Francis KATIE COBURN | SENIOR REPORTER
Among the hundreds of thousands of people who flocked to Philadelphia Sunday to celebrate mass with Pope Francis, stood 53 University of Cincinnati students eager to catch a glimpse of the popular pontiff. “When I found out Pope Francis was coming to the United States, I told myself that I would do anything I could do to go,” said Laura Benry, a third-year international relations student. “He spreads joy and love with his presence, and that is just something that is worth seeing in person.” To make this over 500-mile journey a reality, Benrey boarded a charter bus late Friday night alongside other students that are also a part of UC’s Roman Catholic campus ministry, formally known as St. Monica-St. George Parish Newman Center. Sunday was not Benry’s first papal experience. In fact, it was her third. Benry’s previous pontiff sightings both occurred at World Youth Days, with the first being of Pope Benedict XVI in Madrid in 2011 and the second of Pope Francis in Rio de Janeiro in 2013. For other students participating in the Philadelphia pilgrimage, such as fourth-year biology student Maria Diersing, the trip presented the first attainable opportunity to see the pope. Philadelphia served as the final pit stop of Pope Francis’ six-day first-ever apostolic journey to the U.S. Diersing described the papal journey as one of her favorite trips. “It was so cool to see so many Catholics gathered together from all different backgrounds celebrating mass — celebrating everything that we stand for.” Both Diersing and Caroline Baker, a third-year marketing student, defined the visit as a once-in-a-lifetime experience and noted traveling to Philadelphia was much easier than visiting the pope at the Vatican.
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Roman Catholic Campus Ministry students pose near the Liberty Bell during their visit to see Pope Francis in Philadelphia.
Aside from being able to see the pope in person, Baker had never been to Philadelphia and was curious to see what the city had to offer, adding she appreciated its lack of hills compared to Cincinnati. The amount of youthful Catholics present for Pope Francis’, however, impressed Baker the most.
“It was really refreshing to see how many young people were there and to see that the Catholic Church is so alive,” Baker said, noting she met students her age that traveled more than 2,600 miles from San Diego, California to see Pope Francis. Ian Eckart, a third-year communication student, jumped on board to the bus to Philadelphia when he realized he might never get another opportunity to see the pope. “My Catholic faith is a very important part of my life, so seeing the pope say a mass was an opportunity — I knew I couldn’t miss,” Eckart said. “There were people there from different states and countries, and that really shows how much of a global community the Catholic Church is.” During Sunday’s mass, Eckart said Francis’ message of love inspired him to focus on spreading God’s love through positive daily actions. The mass took place outside the Philadelphia Art Museum and concluded the 2015 World Meeting of Families — a weeklong international event of prayer, catechesis and celebration in which attracts global participants and seeks to strengthen bonds between families. Campus Minister Michael Schreiner, who planned and led the Philadelphia trip with Campus Minister Sister Leslie Keener, described celebrating mass with Pope Francis as a profound experience that greatly benefitted students who participated. “Not only did the experience deepen their personal faith, but I think being with each other helped deepen and grow our faith community on campus,” Schreiner said. Students spent Saturday touring Philadelphia and visiting historical landmarks such as the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and the Betsy Ross House. Select students also helped service efforts of Project HOME (Housing, Opportunities, Medical, Education) — a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering SEE POPE PG 3
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