Jan. 25, 2016

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Army scholarships

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Army offers scholarships to medical students in exchange for military service

New football coaches

Tuberville fills vacancies left by post-season departures

THE NEWS RECORD / UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI MONDAY, JAN. 25, 2016

CINCINNATI POLICE TO PURCHASE BODY CAMS CPD HOPES DEVICES CAN AID IN COLLECTING EVIDENCE, AS SEEN WITH THE INVESTIGATION OF THE DUBOSE SHOOTING

BY CAROLINE CORY | STAFF REPORTER

The Cincinnati Police Department will soon provide their 1,053 officers with body cameras as part of their standard uniforms to help document the actions of officers and civilians, following in the steps of the University of Cincinnati Police Department.

The cameras will cost around $1.6 million.

Law enforcement officers wear these devices in an attempt to improve accountability and gather more evidence regarding circumstances that may arise while the officer is on duty, possibly helping any issues in civilian oversight of police departments.

Protecting the interests of both sides of an encounter is one of the paramount reasons for body cameras.

Josh Adkins, a UCPD officer, ensures documentation for both civilians and officers and assists in clearing up situations where police brutality may be debated.

“If the other people want to claim that there’s any police brutality, we can show them there wasn’t or that there actually was,” said Josh Adkins, a UCPD officer. “In the rare instances that it does happen, they have proof as well.

So, it goes both sides, both ways.”

Andrew Naab, Student Government president and fourth-year international relations student, feels the money would be worth the investment.

“Although body cameras come at a significant cost, the money is well spent if it means we can better protect and serve communities and the respective officers,” Naab said.

“Body cameras provide the needed assurance, which is if unlawful conduct occurs, it can and will be seen.”

According to Lt. Steve Saunders, a CPD public information officer, the department has implemented an agenda to test out multiple body cameras, which may be in use as soon as this summer.

“We have a request for a proposal to see the different companies and what they have to offer before scheduling to do some testing coming up in February,” Saunders said.

“Then, we’re going to make a decision on which vendor we’ll go with in April and we’ll most likely have the first round of cameras going out into the field in the summer.”

UCPD has already instituted the use of body cameras as a part of uniforms worn by on-duty officers. The cameras were vital in the investigation of then-UCPD officer Ray Tensing’s shooting of Samuel DuBose.

UCPD was among the first to institute the use of body cameras on police officers, according to James Whalen, director of public safety.

“UCPD began using body cameras in October of 2014.

The university is an early adopter of body cameras,” Whalen said. “Many forces, including municipal police departments, don’t yet use them.”

Historically, body cameras have had a positive impact on both the public and police officers thus far.

One can be found in Rialto, California, where all 70 members of the police department were given body cameras to wear on duty in 2012.

According to PoliceOne.com, the addition of body cameras to Rialto’s standard police uniforms reduced officers’ use of force by 60 percent and public complaints against officers by 88 percent.

However, there are also a few physical limitations to the cameras, such as not filming at the same level as the human eye. The single-camera view may also be unable to

NICK BROWN | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

Cincinnati Police officers will soon be equipped with body cameras as part of their standard uniforms in an attempt to improve accountability and gather evidence in circumstances that may arise while the officer is on duty.

provide enough evidence due to a lack of angles.

The UC body camera policy addresses the issue with the camera angle by using the audio recorded by the device.

Naab also highlights the transparency in the use of body cameras on police officers.

“It’s incredibly unfortunate that body cameras are necessary,” Naab said. “But I do believe they are essential because that transparency, accountability and safety that they provide — that’s absolutely crucial.”

Saunders predicts the use of body cameras on law enforcement officers will become increasingly widespread as the accountability factor counts into daily interaction between civilians and officers.

“You’re going to see more and more law enforcement agencies going that route,” Saunders said. “Body cams used by officers are just another form of accountability between what the officers do and what the public does and how they interact. It’s just another layer of accountability.”

Jay Sparks, a fourth-year French and English student, feels that body cameras should be a part of every officer’s uniform, extending beyond Cincinnati’s borders due to validity and accountability found on camera.

“I think all police officers should be using body cameras,” Sparks said. “Plus, footage they get of citizens committing crimes could be evidence of what is really happening, and convictions could be less of he said she said and more of look at this. This is what happened. I think this all applies to UC police too.”

The body camera’s ability to protect the officers as well as civilians is what most see as the main advantages of the devices.

“I think, in the long run, it’s going to be a benefit to law enforcement and can help us with allegations of the success of the force,” Saunders said.

Grant allows on-campus assault tests KARLY WILLIAMS | STAFF REPORTER

Sexual assault victims will have access to on-campus forensic examination services thanks to a $12,400 grant by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office for the University of Cincinnati Department of Public Safety.

The grant comes from part of Ohio’s Federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding. VOCA provides grants to all 50 states to support monetary compensation for victims of crimes and aims to fund victim assistance, such as criminal justice advocacy and counseling.

Students seeking care will no longer have to leave campus for access to sexual assault forensic exam services.

Currently, the Department of Public Safety has not established an opening date, or designated an area for the location.

“When the funds are released we can establish a timeline,” said Whalen. “We are currently exploring location options.”

Whalen also said the exams will be free to students, even those who opted out of the university’s health insurance.

Attorney General Mike DeWine allocated $3 million of Ohio’s VOCA funding earlier this year to specifically target improving sexual assault education, outreach and medical care on Ohio’s college campuses.

All grant dollars will go to establishing the office location and providing Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) services, according to University of Cincinnati Director of Public Safety James Whalen.

According to the Ohio Protocol for Sexual Assault Forensic and Medical Examination, published by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), a general physical assessment, pelvic exam and completion of an ODH sexual assault collection kit or any other kit that meets ODH standards are implemented in exams by SANE nurses.

These kits contain items used by medical professionals for obtaining and preserving physical evidence of a sexual assault, such as DNA evidence.

“On-campus SANE services will benefit victims who may express concern about going to the hospital or leaving campus,” said Jason Goodrich, UC chief of police,

in a Jan. 13 press release.

The location will provide survivor support assistance in addition to medical care, such as counseling and psychological services, Title IX services and a host of Cincinnati organizations like Women Healing Women.

The on-campus services could lead to a continuation of increased reporting of sexual assault at UC and boost campus awareness of sexual crime on campus.

“I think survivors would be more comfortable going to UC for an exam than going to a hospital. It’s more approachable,” said Meredith Hotchkiss, a third-year criminal justice student. “I think reports of sexual assault will go up as a result of opening the center.”

UC defines sexual assault as sexual conduct or contact, as well as other activity of a sexual nature, without the consent of the other person or when knowing the other person is unable to consent because of age or impaired mental or physical condition.

According to the UC Campus Crime Reduction Committee’s 2014 crime report, sexual imposition and rape reports rose 500 percent from 2013, and was up a total of 114 percent when compared to the fiveyear average from 2009-2013, despite an overall decline in UC main campus crime.

“It’s important that when people report sexual assault to treat it very carefully, and to make sure the individual doesn’t feel victimized again,” said Hotchkiss.

PROVIDED BY MARY CLARE RIETZ

Mary Reitz, a master of fine arts student in DAAP, will lead a guided walk titled “Outside/In” through Washington, D.C. to showcase the movement for statehood.

DAAP student to lead DC statehood walk RUSSELL HAUSFELD | ARTS EDITOR

Selected from a national pool of artists to lead a guided walk in Washington, D.C. Feb. 6, Mary Clare Rietz — a fine arts student at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture Arts and Planning — will address the issue of D.C. statehood.

The College Art Association (CAA) selected Rietz and one other artist to put together a guided walk that will take place during the College Art Associational Annual Conference.

Rietz plans to showcase the movement for statehood in D.C. by breaking it down at federal, local advocacy and eventually individual impact levels. Areas and local guides along the route will represent these levels of engagement.

Because Washington is a federal district under the U.S. Congress, residents do not get the voting representation other U.S. citizens receive. That amounts to over 670,000 underrepresented citizens.

This issue has been around for years. The phrase “Taxation Without Representation” GRAPHIC BY RUSSEL HAUSFELD

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Sittenfeld visits UC Democrats AMIR SAMARGHANDI | NEWS EDITOR

ALEXANDRA TAYLOR | PHOTO EDITOR

Undergraduates and medical students gather in the auditorium of the UC College of Medicine for the Health Professional Scholarship Program presentation at the Military Scholarship Night.

Army scholarships aid med students ELIZABETH SCHMITT | CONTRIBUTOR

The U.S. Army held an information session at the University of Cincinnati medical campus Thursday to promote the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HSPS).

The program provides full tuition, books and a monthly stipend to students during all four years of medical school. A wide range of medical careers is available for undergraduate students with the scholarship — including physicians, veterinarians, psychologists and nurse practitioners.

The Army is the fifth-largest healthcare provider in the world, according to June Ciaramitaro, the Columbus medical recruiting company commander.

Ciarmitaro said the Army works to make sure students in their program have all the tools necessary to be successful and has a $1.3 million budget for medical research.

Dr. Alvin H. Crawford gave a presentation at the session on how the military kick-started his career. Crawford was part of a similar scholarship program that the Navy offered in the 1960s.

Crawford became the first African American to graduate from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine.

Now a retired Navy captain and professor of pediatrics and orthopedic surgery at UC’s College of Medicine, he has performed thousands of cutting edge surgeries.

Crawford strongly endorses the HPSP because of how much more the scholarship currently offers students.

Those awarded the scholarship can attend medical school at almost any university that is located in the U.S. or a U.S. province. The recipients’ tuition is covered along with a monthly stipend of $2,150.

To receive the scholarship, applicants must agree to devote a year of service to the Army for every year of schooling and also attend basic training sessions over the summer. The program also gives them the chance to shadow medical professionals already working for the Army.

There are currently six students of UC’s medical college who are recipients of the scholarship.

“I’m hoping to go into primary care, so it interests me to interact with soldiers and soldiers’ families,” said Robert Manger, a second-year medical student and HPSP recipient. “I really do think that there is a great need for primary care in general, especially for compassionate care in the military — that’s what I’m really inspired to do, be a compassionate heart.”

UC is affiliated with the HPSP because it is one of the largest medical colleges in Ohio.

“It was close to home, it’s a good school,” said Kristi Ngo, a second-year medical student and HPSP recipient. It’s number one in children’s family medicine and primary care, especially in Cincinnati, primary care is heavily valued, which is something that is not anywhere else.”

U.S. Senate hopeful P.G. Sittenfeld visited the University of Cincinnati’s College Democrats Thursday to discuss his Queen City roots and his platform, which he believes highlight a number of key differences between himself and his opponents.

Sittenfeld is up against former Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland and incumbent Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio). He is complimentary towards both men, but points out their records with the National Rifle Association, which gives the Republican Portman an A rating and Strickland, an A-plus rating.

“They’re both very, very wrong on the issue,” Sittenfeld said in a podcast with The News Record. “If you look at their records, Strickland has been more extreme than Portman. He voted against every background check, against a ban for assault rifles — even voted against child safety locks.”

Strickland also came under fire from Sittenfeld for his lack of stance on the Keystone Pipeline, which he said was “too divisive” last August.

“Most of the major, important issues you face as senator are controversial,” Sittenfeld said. “This is not acceptable.

Everything that matters is controversial. Women’s choice is controversial. Protecting Social Security is controversial. Foreign policy is controversial. You have to take a stand on these things.”

Sittenfeld takes it as a compliment that Strickland has refused to debate him, but also believes it is detrimental to the electoral process.

“What is our democracy all about if we don’t debate?” the 31-year-old Cincinnati City Council member said. “To duck the debates entirely is to duck the process and duck the voters. Voters deserve better than that.”

Sittenfeld said that he continues the national progressive wave of ideas that have a commitment to affordable college, climate change, women’s rights and marriage equality, but it goes beyond that for him.

“These are really important things and there’s a lot at stake but I also think there’s a huge appetite for fresh voices and for new leaders and new thinking and I’m uniquely situated to offer that in this race,” he said.

“Instead a stale, tired pointless argument about the past, let’s make it an exciting conversation about the future.”

Before Sittenfeld spoke to the room of around a dozen UC Democrats, the group discussed President Obama’s final State of the Union address and the most recent Democratic debate.

Response to Obama’s address was positive — with one member comparing it to his second inauguration speech — as was their reaction to South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s GOP response.

“It was interesting, probably the best response I’ve seen,” said Aditya Roy-Chaudhary, president of the College Democrats.

Other items mentioned in the group were efforts to work with other political groups on campus to combine UC into one voting precinct for this fall’s election.

The group will host Strickland on Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. in Nippert Stadium, which is open to anyone with their UC ID.

PHILIP HEIDENREICH | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

P.G. Sittenfeld spoke o the Univeristy of Cincinnati’s College Democrats Thursday in TUC. Sittenfeld is one of the candidates for U.S. Senate in Ohio this year.

UC cyber security group reboots, talks vulnerability JAMES DOLLARD | STAFF REPORTER

A group focused on cybercrime and system vulnerability recently rebooted on the University of Cincinnati campus.

Cybercrime Cats held its first laboriented meeting of the semester Thursday.

The group’s goal is to cultivate the next generation information security , or insec, professionals at UC to to protect the USA and private businesses from unethical cybercrime practices.

Students at the meeting ran a controlled lab created to mimic a vulnerable operating system, and received guidance outlining the steps to exploit these vulnerabilities.

Cybercrime Cats President Matthew Sepela, a third-year information

technology student with an emphasis in cybersecurity, became president after the group had been dormant for a period of time.

Sepela sees education in cybersecurity as imperative, regardless of what field of work a student may get into.

“We have half of us making labs for the masses, so people who are brand new to infosec will have nice and easy labs with directions that are easy to read,” said Sepela.

He also feels approachability is necessary to expand the scope of the group to include people who may not be an information technology student or proficient in hacking.

Corey Smith, a third-year political science student, shared similar sentiment

with Sepela. According to Smith, hearing someone actually explain the subject matter makes the labs more inclusive to those with little experience.

“It’ll put you way ahead of people in your field if you’re applying these techniques,” he said.

The other half of Cybercrime Cats is competition-based, Seepla said, where a group of eight to 12 people assert their proficiency in hacking. One even is a capture-the-flag type competition where a vulnerable system will be littered with “flags” that are exploitable. The group must find all the errors in a timely manner.

Competitions are not just about being offensive. The national Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (CCDC) is about fending off invasive hackers and fixing

existing problems in a provided computer while staying online.

Elle Russo, a second-year actuarial science student, said it is important to know the way these vulnerabilities present themselves.

“There are a lot of user friendly programs and operating systems, such as Apple, and while they may be less prone to viruses, there is always a way to get around that,” said Russo.

Sepela said that understanding security is imperative to all computer users.

“Most problems all come back to the end user — you can have the most expensive setup with layers of firewalls and that means nothing if the user hasn’t a clue of how to protect themselves and identify what is an unsafe practice.”

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Matthew Sepela, a third-year in information technology student, recently became president of the rebooted Cybercrime Cats club after it had been dormant for a period of time.

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COLLEGE LIFE / 3 MONDAY, JAN. 25, 2016

MONDAY, JAN. 25, 2016

SOPHIA GAINES | COLLEGE LIFE EDITOR

Minority students of all ages are narrowing the education gap with white students, but a noticeable divide still exists.

White-black and white-Hispanic achievement gaps were 30-40 percent smaller than in the 1970s, according to a study for the Stanford Center of Education Policy Analysis.

The National Assessment of Education Progress records test scores since the 1970s are evidence of the racial education success gap narrowing.

From 1978-2012, math scores for 9-year-old black students increased 32 points, for Hispanic students increased 31 points and white students increased 26 points.

Although white students have higher scores, their progress is not as fast as minority students.

Of the three races recorded, white students scored the highest, Hispanic students the second highest and black students the lowest among students 13 and 17 years old.

Just as the 9-year-old white students, 13- and 17- year-old students’ scores did not increase at the pace of blacks and Hispanics.

The subject of reading test scores shows the same types of trends.

Littisha Bates, assistant professor in the University of Cincinnati Department of Sociology, conducted a study in 2013 identifying possible reasons for issues black youth experience in school.

“The results indicate that black children receive worse assessments of their externalizing behaviors (e.g. arguing in class and disrupting instruction) when they have a non-Hispanic white teacher than when they have a Black teacher,” Bates’ study reports.

At the university level, racial disparities in graduation rates are apparent in the UC’s Main Campus 2015-2016 Student Right-ToKnow Statistics for the 2009 cohort group.

White bachelor degree seeking students’ six-year graduation rate was 66.8 percent, 53 percent for blacks, 63.3 percent for Hispanics, 68 percent for Asians,

80 percent for American Indians and 61.5 percent for nonresident aliens.

The headcount included 3,105 white students, 200 blacks, 60 Hispanics, 125 Asians, five American Indians, and 52 nonresident aliens.

The Fall 2015 UC Student Fact Book reports the amount of students in each ethnic group belonging to the different colleges UC offers.

White students make up at least 34.9 percent and have the highest percentages of enrollment in every undergraduate, graduate and professional area of study except for engineering and applied science at the graduate level.

Nonresident aliens make up the highest percentage in that area, at 71.3 percent, with a college headcount of 1,206 students.

Although the Fact Book does not report the headcount of each ethnicity in specific majors, individual students notice the amount of diversity they see in their specific programs.

“There are only two black students in my learning community and the rest are white,” said Madeline Schumann, a first-year sports administration major.

Schumann’s LC has about 16-18 members, and she is one of only two girls. Sports administration is in the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services.

The Fact Book reports that whites make up 74.2 percent of the college and blacks make up 11.8 percent.

Other ethnic groups each account for less than five percent of the enrollment.

Even after graduation, black and Hispanics tend to do less well than whites and Asians and make a lower salary.

A study by St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank showed in 2013 the median family income by four-year college graduates was $94,351 for whites and $92,931 for Asians.

On the other hand, it was $68,379 for Hispanics and $52,157 for blacks.

Possible explanations are “job market difficulties specific to Hispanics and black college graduates,” said the study, as well as financial decision making during the Great Recession, higher borrowing and debt among blacks and Hispanics to achieve middle class status more quickly, and more professional degrees among whites and Asians.

Therefore, a four-year college education does not always provide equal support for all ethnicities.

GRAPHIC BY RUSSEL HAUSFELD

CECH talks diversity at annual conference LAUREN JACOBSON | STAFF REPORTER

Diversity issues were the main topic of discussion when students and professors gathered for the College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services Diversity Research Day. Meeting on Thursday, three days after Martin Luther King Jr. Day, University of Cincinnati students displayed original research on diversity issues with the goal of bringing people together to address possible solutions.

Diversity Research Day’s purpose is to highlight work on diverse populations and statistics done by undergraduate and graduate UC students in CECH, according to LaTrice Montgomery, assistant professor in the School of Human Services.

“There has been a lot of movement on campus when it comes to addressing this issue, but I believe we still have a long way to go,” Montgomery said. “As you can see from the posters out in the hall, there are a ton of solutions out there ... but if we can come together and share ideas, we’re in a much better place.”

CECH said the college serves as a model and resource for diversity that actively supports, empowers, prepares, respects and celebrates its students.

Amy Bottomley, graduate student and adjunct instructor in teacher education, helped create one of the poster boards presented.

She worked through an organization called Wordplay Cincinnati, self-described as “Cincinnati’s creative writing and

NICK BROWN | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

Teminijesu Ige spoke on the elimination of Polio in Nigeria for the CECH Diversity Research Day, with the goal of bringing people together to address possible solutions.

learning center.”

Word Up is a program within Wordplay that offers students a chance to both write and collaborate after school. The program is currently established at Hughes and Aiken high schools in Cincinnati.

“Our research is looking up specifically how they deal with word consciousness, but our presentation today ended up being more about the students spreading messages about what Word Up means to them and what they do,” Bottomley said.

Bottomley, also a former high school teacher, expressed her thoughts on modern day classrooms, which she thinks play an important role in spreading messages.

“You could just feel the tension in the room when conversations about diversity and race came up. Am I allowed to have these conversations? Teachers need encouragement and a community that supports this discussion,” Bottomley said.

Mona Jenkins, a graduate student in CECH, attended the conference with a group of students from a class she teaches at Hughes High School.

She remarked how little her education taught her about social justice leaders.

“Education, as Nelson Mandela said, is the most powerful weapon.,” Jenkins said.

“When I was in school as a young kid, we just didn’t learn that much about social justice leaders.”

Jenkins spoke about the importance of emerging oneself in and learning about other cultures.

She also said everyone should have the opportunity to study abroad.

“Studying abroad is so important because in order to really have cultural competence and to really understand, you have to have those experiences,” she said.

After the orations by various speakers, including Lawrence Johnson, dean of the Teacher’s College, attendees looked at the posters and shared their thoughts.

The message repeated over and over was the same: In order to solve problems, people must be able to talk about them.

GRAPHIC BY RUSSEL HAUSFELD

Minority education gap persists, but shrinks

Students find de-stressing in drumming ALLIE ALU | STAFF REPORTER

Students and faculty members from the University of Cincinnati gathered in the Corbett Center for Performing Arts Thursday for an hour-long de-stressing drum circle.

What would a drum circle have to do with releasing stress? According to Be Well UC representatives, “drumming with a group has many health benefits including stress reduction and improvements to the immune system and mood.”

Amy Denison, program manager at the College Conservatory of Music’s, hosted the event with the help of the Be Well UC initiative.

“I’ve been facilitating drum circles for several years with my certification in health rhythms,” said Denison. “Research has shown that drumming can reduce stress, increase relaxation and music appreciation.”

Denison created the idea for drum circles at the university with the help of Ashley Varol, director of the Be Well UC initiative.

Whether it is to try something new, relieve stress or both, the Be Well UC initiative and Denison are working towards getting more and more students to attend the monthly drum circles.

This event is an important thing students can do, Denison said.

“We as a department reach out to the 40,000 and more community of UC with these drum circles,” said Denison. “This is a way we can serve the large community of UC. The drum circles give us a way to connect with a variety of students and faculty. So much of CCM is performance based, but a lot of people don’t get the chance to actually play.”

Denison also mentioned that people of all musical levels are welcome and encouraged to participate.

Denison said that being involved with CCM allows her to find people at all musical levels to participate.

At this month’s drum circle, students with little musical experience were in attendance, along with people who have practiced for years.

The drum circles occur monthly through May on the third Thursday of each month.

These workshops pose as a way to extend the resources of CCM with no added cost for participants.

Denison and other faculty members who run the drum circles work with college age special education students in an effort to include those students more.

Be Well UC representative Hayley Benninger, a health education student with a concentration in exercise fitness, also takes part in drum circles.

“We really try to get people out of their houses and offices to go and try new activities,” says Benninger. “Drumming is a huge stress relief and a different activity for people to try.”

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Blue Ash comic store worth drive from campus ALEX BARHORST | STAFF REPORTER

Tucked away in a strip mall on Pfeiffer Road just off Interstate 71, Up, Up and Away offers a nice change of pace for those who want to venture a little further from campus to search for comic books.

Once there, they will find a comic shop that adds a little pop to its design.

Up, Up and Away comic shop has original artwork decorating the building, created by owner Kendall Swafford.

Swafford put a great deal of effort into making the shop a comic reader’s dream.

“I personally believe that my store is the world’s greatest comic shop,” Swafford said. “It definitely is the largest in the Midwest anyway.”

The store spawned from the original Up, Up and Away in Cheviot last October where it had been for 10 years.

“The owner thought it would be a good idea to branch out his business for customers and open a store with broader variety,” said Justin Pence, an employee at the Blue Ash location.

Blue Ash has perhaps one of the best designed and stocked stores too. Each room has walls lined with current comic book series and characters of our time, as well as sports and pop culture merchandise.

However, Swafford’s own artwork, created from thousands of Legos and displayed in the store, is sure to capture viewers’ interest as they are browsing comics.

In the main room, which hosts the most recent comics, customers look up to find the huge face of Galactus from Marvel’s “Infinity Gauntlet” series staring back down at them with his glaring Lego eyes of fury.

On the walls of a side room in the building, reside two large-scale Lego murals of popular comic book characters Batman and The Green Lantern in their full glory.

Built with 70,000-100,000 Legos, Swafford calls them a product of a new-found hobby.

“I built the murals myself on my free time as a show

piece for the store,” he said. “I thought it was a fun project to do at the time and it turned out great.”

Alongside cardboard cut outs of Batman and a nice coat rack with Superman’s cape, the works of art compliment the store perfectly.

While looking at the murals, some customers may feel a sense of déjà vu, especially if they are regular comic book convention visitors. Last September, the two Lego pieces were shown at the Cincy Comic Con beside the “Bricks on the Banks” display, which hosted dozens of

Lego artworks from various builders.

Although it is not guaranteed that the “Bricks on the Banks” display will come back this year, the two Lego murals from Up, Up And Away will be displayed at the store’s own booth.

If you’re wondering what good comic books are out or if you are just looking to get out of the dorms for a trip to Blue Ash, it is worth a trip to at Up, Up And Away comics.

ALEX BARHORST | STAFF REPORTER

Up, Up and Away Comics owner Kendall Swafford claims to have the best comic shop in the Cincinnati area. He decorates it with his own personal artwork.

REVIEW: ‘Dirty Grandpa’ an uneven ride RYAN HOLBROOK | STAFF REPORTER

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Did you ever think Robert De Niro and Zac Efron would be side by side in the same film? Maybe not, but this odd pairing is what makes “Dirty Grandpa” a rollercoaster ride.

Directed by Dan Mazer, “Dirty Grandpa” tells the story of widower Dick Kelly (De Niro) and his grandson, Jason Kelly (Efron), as they rekindle the close bond they had when Jason was just a boy.

When Dick’s wife dies, he asks Jason to drive him to Boca Raton, where he and his wife would always go that time of year. Even though Jason has his wedding coming up and a busy job at his father’s law firm, he agrees.

Along the way to Boca Raton, Jason finds out his grandpa is a party animal that enjoys hitting on college girls and behaves much like a younger man. The pair runs into Shadia (Zoey Deutch), a college friend of Jason’s, along with Lenore (Aubrey Plaza) and Tyrone (Brandon Mychal Smith). To the dismay of Jason, Dick agrees to meet the girls and Tyrone in Daytona Beach.

Through all the partying, mistakes and experiences in Daytona Beach, both Dick and Jason start evaluating their lives and begin to think differently not only about each other,

but about their paths in life.

“Dirty Grandpa” is not a film you want to watch with your grandpa, unless your grandpa is Dick Kelly. It is raunchy, classless, shocking and, in some cases, over the top. There were moments in “Dirty Grandpa” that had the audience both in laughter and disgust.

From the language to the shock factor, “Dirty Grandpa” fits into the same lane as 2014’s “Neighbors” — also starring Efron — and “The Interview.” If someone had told me this was the premise to a Seth Rogen and James Franco collaboration, I would have believed it.

This film certainly has its issues.

Though it has two different storylines, only one is fleshed out entirely and actually feels organic.

A love story is also shoehorned in and very poorly executed, making it seem forced.

While a good deal of the jokes landed fantastically, the rest fell flat on their head. These jokes were typically the more over-the-top, lowbrow ones. These could be funny if done correctly, but it felt like they were simply thrown in for shock value.

Going in, I was very interested in seeing how a veteran like De Niro and a younger actor like Efron would compliment each other on

screen. I was pleasantly surprised.

The two seemed comfortable with their roles and the chemistry was definitely there.

Plaza’s character did not deliver the humor I expected, though. Often times, the lowbrow jokes came from her. Maybe we can blame that on the writing, as it is difficult to act out bad writing.

Tyrone was a character that did not need to be there. I am still not sure what purpose he served in the film.

While some of the film’s jokes were centered around the fact he was gay, they were not all that humorous or smart.

The most redeeming aspect of “Dirty Grandpa” is the underlying message presented. Comedies are not exactly the most messageoriented genre of film, but “Dirty Grandpa’s” message of making your own decisions and not letting others think for you is one that I found to be relatable.

Overall, “Dirty Grandpa” is a fun movie to see with your friends (not your parents, or grandparents), but it is not a particularly great comedy. If you are looking for a fun time at the movies and have already seen all the newest blockbusters, “Dirty Grandpa” is one worth checking out for a few laughs.

RUSSELL HAUSFELD | ARTS EDITOR

Queen of Jeans’ self-titled debut album, released Friday, is a sonic journey navigated by lead singer Miriam Devora’s omnipresent and overpowering vocals.

The Philadelphia-based indie-pop band — consisting of Devora (vocals), Matheson Glass (guitar), Nina Scotto (bass) and Patrick Wall (drums) — describes their sound as crockpot pop, denimcore and, my personal favorite, “estrogen on ice.”These titles can be translated as a harmonious mixture of surf, psychedelic and dream-pop influences.

The cover art of their debut, created by artist Steven Arnold, is a cotton candy-colored dreamscape blossoming with mushrooms and flowers, where some little girls stand consoling a sad goat boy.

The strange image serves as an extremely fitting lead into this hazy, funky and extremely dance-worthy EP. The first track on the album, “Dance (Get Off Your Ass)” gives off some surf-rock vibrations. The lyrics, “Get off your ass and make me dance,” pair well with the fact that this song will make you want to get up and tip-toe around the room to Devora’s rolling waves of hooky melodies.

Queen of Jeans slows it down in their second track, “Pup,” with drawn-out, elastic twangs from Glass’s guitar.

The angelic transitions of Devora’s voice guides listeners through the slow, flowing sea of drums and guitar strokes.

If the esteemed Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker were a female, “Pup” is what his music would sound like. That is in no way intended to devalue Queen of Jeans’ take on the sound, as it is impressive in its own right.

“Rollerdyke,” the third track, takes a bit of a punkier, sharp-edged approach to the band’s style — guitars squeal and amps screech. Yet, the muffled drums and light taps of the cymbals keep it within the same laid-back realm of the previous two songs.

Devora’s voice exists within a fog of ethereal drones that catch and compliment the notes that she hits in the fourth track, “Won’t You.”This creates a very soft and roundedoff sound which is amplified by the heavy use of Scotto’s bass guitar.

“Won’t You” fades into the folk-inspired “Moody.”

Devora’s voice takes on a deeper, huskier inflection, while the guitar and drums continue to pad her voice in that psychedelic fuzziness.

Finally, the EP ends with “Waffles and Madmen,” and, as the name suggests, is a really fun song from an artist’s perspective. Devora uses this final track to prove — as if she hadn’t already — the wide range of her voice as it dips, crescendos and blossoms up through the everpresent drone of reverb and snares.

“Waffles and Madmen” provides an appropriate end to this funky album, as it could easily be the closing call song that couples sway to in a dance hall at three in the morning — slow, numbing and euphoric.

MCT

Robert De Niro and Zac Efron in “Dirty Grandpa” (Lionsgate)

SEE TOUR PG 1

even showed up on the city’s license plates in 2000, when the Washington’s Department of Motor Vehicles approved it.

The first leg of Rietz’s walk will be in the Capitol and National Mall area. She has been working to invite the district’s congresswoman, Eleanor Holmes Norton, to speak during the walk.

“She serves in the House of Representatives,” Rietz said.

“But, the way that the law sets up her role is that she can introduce legislation, but she can’t vote on anything in the House. So, the D.C. public literally has taxation without representation.”

Regardless of whether Rep. Norton joins, Rietz said starting in the Capitol and mall area of D.C. will symbolize the focus of power, where 69 square miles would be designated as the District of Columbia — not as a state.

There, people will share stories and experiences about the federal perspective on D.C. statehood.

The walk will make its way to the John. A. Wilson Building, where both the City Council and the D.C. Statehood Delegation meet. The D.C. Statehood Delegation exists primarily to lobby Congress in favor of D.C. statehood.

“It’s this strange elected office that probably doesn’t exist anywhere else in the United States,” Rietz said.

On the way to the Wilson Building, Rietz’s group will meet with organizers from Free D.C., a local grassroots organization. When they arrive, they will meet shadow Senator Michael D. Brown, who will speak from an advocacy standpoint.

As a shadow senator, Brown received no funding from the U.S. government and cannot vote in Congress, but works with the D.C. Statehood Delegation to try and bring full representation to D.C. Finally, the walk group will gather on Freedom Plaza. They will hear from individuals who have been personally impacted by the fact that DC does not have statehood.

“Some areas of personal impact that exist include that the federal government, in the past, has prevented D.C. from approving needle exchange programs that they wanted to have to decrease HIV instances,” Rietz said.

“And then, D.C. wanted to pass a marijuana law — and the D.C. citizens voted to pass that — but the federal government was blocking it. But, the mayor was very strong and she pushed, and now it is actually a law. So we will hear from a few citizens on some of those issues.”

This is the latest project that Rietz has worked on to bring communities together. It represents an area within fine art called social practice art — a medium that brings together community organizing and engagement with fine art strategies.

In social practice art, the artist creates a platform for people within communities to interact with and engage one another and think about the area where they live, rather than an artist imposing their own work or ideas on a community.

With her guided walk, as well as with much of her practice, Rietz hopes to provide a frame within which those who live an issue are the ones who voice the work.

5 / OPINION MONDAY, JAN. 25, 2016

MONDAY, JAN. 25, 2016

Republicans, Democrats both use fear in speech CASMIR THORNBERRY | CONTRIBUTOR

Listen carefully to the words of almost every Republican candidate when they are on the debate stage: They use words such as “radical” and “attack” as loosely as they use auxiliary verbs.

Others invoke images of the terror attacks that took place on September 11, 2001, and its aftermath.

These candidates use fear to influence and control the masses. It is this fear that sparks hate and anger towards another group of people.

However, the Republican candidates are not alone.

Democrats use fear on a daily basis, as well. Bernie Sanders spins tales of an unfathomably rich and secretive 1 percent with the hidden agenda to enslave the lower class, as shown in a recent speech in New York about Wall Street reform.

A cornerstone of Hillary Clinton’s campaign is to defend from a Republican “war on women.”

Her own campaign website says she will “stand up to Republican attempts to defund Planned Parenthood, which would restrict access to…health care services.”

The mainstream media also uses fear.

Major news outlets purposefully put inflammatory articles on the front pages of their websites to gain readership and spark controversy.

This was especially evident after the California massacre on Dec. 3 when, referencing multiple conservative politicians asking for prayer, the New York Daily News published an article entitled

“God Isn’t Fixing This.”

However, it is not limited to national outlets. Our own school newspaper printed an opinion piece on the front page of a recent issue, blaming Republican rhetoric for recent murders related to Planned Parenthood: “The unapologetic assault on Planned Parenthood has been a coordinated set of lies launched by politicians and right-wing media.”

The American people allow fear to infiltrate their lives and control their thoughts and actions. It forces them to cling to radical beliefs with no chance at compromise for fear that they will lose their livelihood, or worse, their lives.

Americans allow our politicians and media outlets to claim that we are in a constant war with another group of people.

They force us into believing people who disagree with our political beliefs, or even religious beliefs, are our enemies.

In some cases, such as ISIS or radical Islam, this is true. However, in reality, our real enemies are fear and hate.

All evil comes from a deep misunderstanding and fear of what is different. No human being is predisposed to hate another.

Rather, it is the fundamental lack of understanding and love that causes the hate that is so common in this world to spread like wildfire.

By proving to the world that compassion and understanding is the foundation of peace and prosperity, author and sociologist Morrie Schwartz said it best — “love is the only rational act.” So let us act rationally.

JIM VONDRUSKA/XINHUA/SIPA USA/TNS | MCT

A woman holds up a sign which reads “Black Lives Matter” in Ferguson, Mo., on Monday, Aug. 10, 2015. A state of emergency was declared for Ferguson and the rest of St. Louis County Monday following a gun battle between police and protesters Sunday night on the anniversary of Michael Brown’s death.

Crime holds back movement MACK DAVIS | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

As much as I love what the Black Lives Matter movement stands for, I think it is a bit premature.

I say this not to disrespect any of the great work they have done, but there is a lot of work that needs to be done amongst black people first.

There is a deep dissention amongst African Americans that makes almost any movement pointless that attempts to seek large scale changes in the way we are treated in this country.

To progress any ideas of improving the way we are treated by the police or anybody else, there has to be unity amongst ourselves. At this very moment, we don’t have that.

The main reason the Civil Rights Movement progressed is because there was a united front to push for change among African Americans.

Today, in inner cities across the country, African Americans will commit crimes against each other and nobody will even blink.

As soon as we receive unfair treatment from the police, or the police happen to kill one of us, the entire community is in an uproar.

We have to stand up against any crime against our community, regardless to the race of the person committing the crime.

During the summer of 2015, there were more shootings of African American children in Cincinnati than I can ever remember. Yet, there were no marches or boycotts for those crimes.

One of those incidents happened on July 30, 2015, when a drive-by shooting ended with a 4-year-old African American shot in the head.

There is no excuse for children of any race to be shot, but for African American children to be shot by other African Americans right under our noses is highly unacceptable.

Then you have the incident July 19, when Ray Tensing shot Sam Dubose for no reason at a traffic stop. The African American community came together in a huge outcry.

I mean no disrespect to the late Sam Dubose or his family, because from what we have all seen, there is no legitimate reason that man should be dead. That being said, I was concerned with the shootings of the children more than the shooting of Dubose.

There cannot be this huge amount of attention paid when someone of another race kills one of us, then when we do it to ourselves, it is like business as usual.

Every crime against African Americans has to be met with the same anger and outrage, not just the ones that other races commit against us.

I fully grasp the fact that there are various social, and economic issues that African Americans face in this country that promote our self destruction. We have endured the same issues for quite some time and things seem to be getting worse.

At some point, we have to take full responsibility for our actions if change is ever going to be on the horizon.

To move forward with any movement that involves the progression of African Americans in this country, it has to start amongst us.

We cannot honestly ask for fair treatment from the police, or anyone else without first loving ourselves wholeheartedly. Until then, that dream that Martin Luther King had will remain just that — a dream.

Would you like to give your opinion?

Email newsrecordopinion@gmail.com ILLUSTRATION BY MICHAEL HOGUE | MCT

FOR RELEASE FEBRUARY 8, 2016

PUZZLE

geles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

Down 1.

Banned chem. Pollutant 2.

Pitching stat 1.

Basil sauce 3.

South-of-the-border sun 6. Pops, to baby 4. Youngsters 10. Sacred assurance 5.

Michael of “Caddyshack” 13. Sound from a lily pad 6.

“Git along” little critter 14. 88 or 98 automaker 7.

Edgar _______ Poe 15. Give a ticket to 8.

Pres. before JFK 16. Birds on United States seals 9.

Stubborn animal 18. Longing feeling 10.

Post-race place for a 19. Old time hue NASCAR winner 20. Started the poker kitty 11.

Catchall check box 21. Explosion noise 12.

Dandelions, e.g.

24. Commonly multi-paned patio 15. Kayak kin entrances 17. Earth Day mo.

27. Hop out of bed 20. Poisonous snake 29. More like a cad 21. Low operatic voices 30. Send a racy phone message to 22. Sports venue with tiered seating 31. Changed into 23. Versatile, as a wardrobe 34. Apt anagram of “aye” 25. Shipping container 37. Reptiles known for their strong 26. Organic fertilizer jaws 28. Fuel additive brand 40. Actor McKellen 31. ____-watching: TV viewing spree 41. Briefs, informally 32. Put the kibosh on 42. 50-and-over organization 33. Movie SFX 43. Somber melody 35. Tremble-inducing 45. Red-nosed “Sesame Street” 36. Trembling tree character 38. Good vibrations, in the cat world 46. Bank transport vehicles 39. Sticky road stuff 51. Poetic nightfall 44. Ancient Aegean region 52. Quicken offerings 45. Real-estate holding account 53. Reebok rival 46. Smartphone wake-up feature 55. _________ Spumante 47. Riveting icon 56. Musicians found at the end of 48. Desert plants 16-, 24-, 37- and 46-Across 49. Patronized a help desk 61. Costa_____ 50. Big truck 62. Word for the calorie-conscious 54. Zoom up 63. Fertile desert spots 56. Dr. Jekyll creator’s monogram 64. “I’m not impressed” 65. Arrived at second base headfirst, 57. Saudi Arabian export 58. “_____the Force, Luke” perhaps 59. Confident crossword solver’s 66. Little singbirds tool 60. Escaping-air sound Across

By David Steinberg

2/8/16

6 / SPORTS MONDAY, JAN. 25, 2016

UC football team introduces new assistant coaches DAVID WYSONG | SPORTS EDITOR

University of Cincinnati’s head football coach Tommy Tuberville introduced the team’s new coaches for next season Sunday at a press conference.

Former interim offensive coordinator for the NFL’s Miami Dolphins Zac Taylor, former Dolphins offensive line coach Jim Turner and former Auburn University offensive line coach J.B. Grimes were hired earlier this month.

Taylor and Grimes will fill the same role with the Bearcats and Turner will be the team’s new running backs coach.

The hires followed the departure of former offensive coordinator Eddie Gran and former quarterbacks coach Darin Hinshaw, who both left for the University of Kentucky.

“I am really excited about the new coaches we have here,”Tuberville said. “It is very difficult this time of year to recruit and hire coaches, but we’re very fortunate to have the opportunity here at the University of Cincinnati to bring in these three guys with their experience and their background of offense… They’re technique guys, they believe in what they do and that’s one reason I hired these guys.”

The Bearcat’s offense was one of the best in country last season, but often hurt themselves in games with the lack of toughness.

“What we needed was some experience, some mental and physical toughness with our coaches, after watching what happened last year, and I think that is exactly what we got,” Tuberville said.

Tuberville spoke highly of how these new coaches could

have ended up anywhere else, but chose to come to UC. Taylor said he chose to come to Cincinnati because of his belief in Tuberville.

“I got a chance to meet all the coaches when I was up here visiting. I really felt great about the relationships all those guys have with each other, I’m excited about that,” Taylor said. “There’s high expectations here at Cincinnati and that’s what I wanted … We wanted to be at a place that expects to win and that’s the expectation here and we feel like we have to live up to that standard.”

Taylor is excited to be working with the two new coaches the team has hired on.

“I’m excited about these two guys that came with me, coach Grimes and coach Tuner, I have a lot of belief in those guys,”Taylor said. “They’re going to be disciplined, their guys are going to play hard, they’re going to be fundamentally sound.”

Tuberville said there will be some similarities in the offense, since they have had success in the past, but the new coaches will work on getting the unit playing consistently and not shooting themselves in the foot with numerous penalties.

“I think discipline starts in practice,”Taylor said. “In regards to penalties and turnovers, in practice we got to be hard on those guys and make sure it starts right there.”

Tuberville also mentioned news about quarterback Gunner Kiel, who did not go to the team’s bowl game because of personal issues.

“Gunner Kiel is back in school and he’s doing well after his personal problems,”Tuberville said. “We’re excited to have him back on the team. He’s working with the team

again.”

The UC head coach says Kiel has a new life in his eyes now.

“He is really excited about Zac and the other new coaches being here and what they bring,”Tuberville said. “This is his last and senior year coming up, I expect him to be a leader.”

NICK BROWN | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

University of Cincinnati’s head football coach Tommy Tuberville introduced the team’s new coaches for next season Sunday.

Golf alumni reunite at California Pro-Am OPINION: Hard call on nation’s best team DAVID WYSONG | SPORTS EDITOR

Three former Bearcats from the men’s golf team reunited Thursday through Sunday to take part in the CareerBuilder Challenge PGA pro-am in LaQuinta, California.

Former players Jim Herman and Brad Wilder were alongside former coach John Reis in the four-round tournament.

Herman played for UC from 19972000 and was recently inducted into the James P. Kelly University of Cincinnati Athletics Hall of Fame. He played in the PGA Tour the past five seasons and won the Moonah Classic tournament in 2010.

Wilder was a year behind Herman.

He played for the Bearcats from 1998-2001 and earned two team MVP awards, developing into one of the top amateur golfers in the country.

Wilder advanced to the semifinals of the U.S. Mid-Amateur Golf Championship and took second place in both the Crane Cup and the Stocker Cup Invitational this past summer.

“It is awesome to get to spend a week with Jim given it is so difficult for us to catch up with each other,”Wilder said. “To be able to do it from inside the ropes is awesome. It’s especially great to be able to share it with our former coach Jim Reis.”

Reis, who was Wilder’s caddy over the weekend, coached the Bearcats from 1996-2000. He is considered one of the top rules officials in the country for the United States Golf Association.

“I have kept in very close contact with these two young men throughout their professional golf (Herman) and financial management (Wilder) careers,” Reis said. “To spend a week in the desert reliving the great times we had at UC, seeing their families and

watching them enjoy the great game of golf is special, very special.”

Current UC head coach Doug Martin talked about how great it was for the three men to spend time together.

“It’s always neat to have former players from Cincinnati to follow on the PGA Tour and at amateur events,” Martin said. “In this case, it’s great to see all three guys take part in this event and get to share some quality

time together.”

The event included 156 PGA Tour professionals with different amateur partners each day. The tournament was founded in 1960 and was known as the Palm Springs Golf Classic. The tournament was called The Humana Challenge from 2012-2015, but after changing sponsors it is now called the CareerBuilder Challenge.

PROVIDED BY UC ATHLETICS

Bearcats hold on to tame Memphis Tigers JASON SZELEST | STAFF REPORTER

The University of Cincinnati men’s basketball team is well known for their suffocating defense and tenacity grabbing rebounds. However, against the University of Memphis, these strengths were not displayed.

Despite poor rebounding and allowing 72 points, the Bearcats’ offense ― only able to reach the 60-point mark one time during regulation in their past four games ― erupted for

NICK BROWN | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

Troy Caupain (10) goes up for a layup Thursday afternoon during the Bearcats game against Memphis in Fifth Third Arena.

76 against the Tigers, while also shooting 50 percent from the field.

The Bearcats were outrebounded 35-29 and surrendered 11 points more than their season defensive average.

The Bearcats improved to 14-6 on the season and 4-3 in the American Athletic Conference, while the Tigers fell to 12-6 and 3-2 in the conference.

The Bearcats’ success on offense was sparked by a hot start, as they surged out to an early 12-4 lead by making four of their first five shots.

Junior point guard Troy Caupain attributed the intensity out of the gate to the pregame leadership of senior forward Octavius Ellis, a Memphis native.

“He had a different kind of tone to him,” Caupain said. “He was amped up for the huddle and before the game. He took this one personal and we fed off his vibes.”

The prospect of playing against his hometown team, which features six players from the Memphis area on the roster, was not the only motivating factor for Ellis and the rest of the squad in this game.

Former Bearcat and No. 1 pick in the 2000 NBA Draft Kenyon Martin, whom coach Mick Cronin compared Ellis to earlier this season, was in attendance for the contest.

“Having him here just brings us positivity, gives us happiness that the people from back then still show up and give us love,” Caupain said. “It means that we’re not playing for just us but for them too. We have their rep to hold.”

Inspired by the presence of Martin and fueled by Caupain’s 15 first half points, the Bearcats took a 41-38 lead into halftime.

Both teams traded blows in the second half, with neither possessing the ability to pull away.

The largest lead was held by the Bearcats, following a quick spurt of points that extended the Memphis deficit to nine.

A fast-break alley-oop from senior forward Shaq Thomas to sophomore forward Gary Clark electrified the crowd, followed by a 3-point basket from junior guard Kevin Johnson off of an offensive rebound, provided the Bearcats with a bit of breathing room.

Memphis then answered back with 12-straight points to take the lead.

Senior forward Trashon Burrell score 8 of those points for the Tigers. He finished with 24 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists coming off the bench.

Despite the career game from Burrell, the Tigers continued to surrender points to Caupain who handled the ball down the stretch, making four free throws in the final 68 seconds to extend his scoring total to 25 for the game and effectively putting the Tigers away.

Caupain’s 25 points were a career-high and also a seasonhigh for all Bearcats’ players.

Shaq Thomas joined Caupain in the scoring effort, chipping in a season-high 18 points.

DAVID WYSONG | SPORTS EDITOR

Since the preseason polls were released for NCAA men’s basketball, five changes have occurred at the No. 1 ranking, with a sixth one likely to happen this week.

The question is: Who is the best team in the nation?

On Jan. 18, the University of Oklahoma Sooners became the fifth team ranked in the top spot. They had a 15-1 record, with their only loss being in triple overtime to the previously-No. 1 University of Kansas Jayhawks.

While the team gained their first No. 1 ranking since 1990 that morning, they lost to No. 19 Iowa State later in the day.

The Sooners’ loss likely means that the preseason No. 1 University of North Carolina Tar Heels will jump back into the top spot.

Does that mean they are the best team in the nation?

The Tar Heels are one of seven two-loss teams and one of the hottest squads in the country - not losing since Dec. 12, 2015 to the University of Texas.

A key part of their success is Brice Johnson, who averaged nearly 21 points and 10 rebounds so far this month.

Despite not losing a game in over a month and the overachieving play of Johnson, the Tar Heels are not the best team in basketball right now.

No. 10 Texas A&M University and No. 4 Villanova University have not lost in over a month and are playing their best basketball right now.

Texas A&M’s last loss was Dec. 5, 2015 to Arizona State University. The team has reeled off 10 straight wins since.

According to ESPN, Jalen Jones is averaging 17.4 points with seven rebounds this season. He averaged 20 points per game during the team’s 10-game win streak.

Villanova has only lost once since their Dec. 19 loss to the University of Virginia, falling to the Providence College Friars in overtime Sunday. Their three losses this season came at the hands of quality opponents.

They lost to Oklahoma ― the current No. 1 team ― Virginia, ranked No. 13 and Providence, ranked No. 16.

Villanova defeated better teams than North Carolina or Texas A&M, with a 31-point win against No. 5 Xavier University and another victory against No. 18 Butler University.

Josh Hart is the best player for Villanova, averaging 15.5 points on the year and 17 points this month, according to ESPN. He performed well against good teams, putting up 15 points against Xavier and 22 against Butler.

There is a wildcard among these squads – the American Athletic Conference’s own Southern Methodist University.

SMU was the last undefeated team in the country before falling to Temple Sunday. They have not played any topranked teams this year, but they defeated most of their opponents pretty handily.

The Mustangs are one of the best passing teams in the country, ranking 10th in assists per game. They average 80 points per game.

Ranking SMU among the nation’s best is tricky – the team violated NCAA academic rules and is banned from any postseason play this year.

Even if they are the best team in the country they cannot prove it.

Despite their record, I do not believe the Mustangs are the best team. Their postseason ban will not have an effect on the determination of who is.

Right now, Villanova has defeated the best competition and their losses are better than anyone else’s, making them the best team in the nation.

However, there are still plenty of games left to be played and anything could happen.

ROBERT WILLETT/RALEIGH NEWS OBSERVER/TNS | MCT

North Carolina’s Marcus Paige (5) drives to the basket against Georgia Tech’s Travis Jorgenson (10) during the first half on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016, at the Smith Center in Chapel Hill, N.C. The host Tar Heels won, 86-78.