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Brewcats beer review
New holiday brews for winter break
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Jessica Jones
Netflix has another win under its belt
THE NEWS RECORD / UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI THURSDAY, DEC. 3, 2015
Kobe Bryant says farewell to NBA DAVID WYSONG | SPORTS EDITOR
My heart can take the pounding, my mind can handle the grind, but my body knows it’s time to say goodbye. KOBE BRYANT
Long-time Los Angeles Laker legend and decorated NBA player Kobe Bryant announced his retirement Sunday. Bryant made the announcement through
Fracking’s short term gains not worth impact
a letter published by The Players Tribune. Fans received a copy of Bryant’s letter during the Lakers game against the Indiana Pacers that same Sunday. “My heart can take the pounding, my mind can handle the grind, but my body knows it’s time to say goodbye,” Bryant said in the letter. Bryant entered the NBA in the 1996 Draft out of Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania. He was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets No. 13 overall, but was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he spent his entire career. Bryant and the Lakers won five championships, three of which were won
consecutively from 2000-2002. They also won back-to-back in 2009 and 2010 and earned the Finals MVP award. Bryant has been selected to 17 All-Star games and was the 2008 league MVP, according to the NBA’s official website. One of Bryant’s most memorable moments was when he scored the 81 points during a game against the Toronto Raptors in 2006. That was the second highest amount of points scored in a single game. Bryant was also one of the best players in the league during the 2012-13 season. The player averaged 27.3 points per game and six assists, according to the NBA’s official SEE KOBE PG 3
CHARLES FOX | PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER/TNS
Kobe Bryant waves to the crowd after a 103-91 loss against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015.
OPINION: THREAT OF RIGHT-WING EXTREMISM
WAR ON PLANNED PARENTHOOD
RENEE GOOCH | MANAGING EDITOR
Although hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” has increased job opportunities in 32 states and decreased oil costs across the U.S., University of Cincinnati students and faculty presented research Monday regarding downfalls of the drilling process. Hydraulic fracturing pumps a fluid consisting of water, sand and chemicals, prominently silica, into the ground at high pressures. This fluid fractures shale rocks deep in the ground and releases natural gas from the Earth for mechanical use. Problems arising from fracking include a downgrade in U.S. drinking water quality, as well as the health concerns of well workers and community members in surrounding areas, according to Amy Townsend-Small, an assistant professor of geology, ecologist and the course instructor for Monday’s symposium. “I was a proponent for fracking, but now, I don’t know,”Townsend-Small said. She explained the flowback water — a remaining 10 to 15 percent of water returning to the surface following the drilling process — becomes so contaminated during the process of hydraulic fracturing that there is little to no ability for further use of the water. “It’s saltier than seawater,”Townsend-Small said. “It uses too much energy, the cost isn’t worth it.” Utica shale formation substantially uses more water than any other oil formation in the U.S., according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), with each well requiring approximately 5.1 million gallons of water per fracking operation. From 2001 to 2014, Ohio has totaled 4 billion gallons of water for the use of fracking. Due to Ohio being surrounded by the five great lakes, Townsend-Small said this excess loss of water is not of high concern; however, in other U.S. states water loss is becoming too expensive to continue on with the process of fracking. The flowback water is handled in multiple ways following the operations, including, but not limited to, underground disposal, treatment followed by disposal to surface water bodies or recycled for use in future SEE FRACKING PG 2
FILE ART
In light of the Ohio House voting to defund the $1.3 million Planned Parenthood receives in Ohio, the organization will face possible closure and be forced to seek funding elsewhere. The Cincinnati location is one of three Planned Parenthoods in the state that provides abortions.
on whether this is a smart choice, we ignore the threat of domestic-born terrorism. he attack on a Planned Parenthood clinic in During the second GOP presidential debate Fiorina said, Colorado Springs that left a mother of two, an Iraq “I dare Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama to watch these tapes. War veteran and a police officer dead sent shock Watch a fully formed fetus on the table, its heart beating, its waves through the political landscape in the midst of legs kicking, while someone says, ‘We have to keep it alive Republican Presidential candidates putting abortion as their to harvest its brain.’” top domestic issue. This video does not exist – there have been four However, the GOP has resurrected the abortion debate congressional investigations against Planned Parenthood with political strategies going beyond the below-the-belt since the release of the heavily doctored videos from the punches or simple intellectual dishonesty. anti-abortion group, Center for Medical Progress. The unapologetic assault on Planned Parenthood has been Fiorina’s statement received virtually no challenge in the a coordinated set of lies launched by politicians and rightdebate, within the GOP or subsequent ring-wing media wing media. coverage. In the 2016 race, there is seemingly This kind of rhetoric is very little ammunition against the dangerous, especially to the person All signs point to this Democratic challengers aside from who does not closely follow current talking points such as Hillary Clinton’s events. The idea of selling baby parts attack being another in emails and trying to frame Democratic for profit is incredibly heated and is a long series of domestic Socialism as tyranny. not the sort of rhetoric that should This is a sign of a wounded party that terrorist attacks against go through their own party lines chooses to go after a popular health unchallenged. Planned Parenthood. organization instead of the opposing All investigations show Planned party’s policies. Parenthood innocent of all accusations Police are still trying to determine the motive of the profiting off of fetal tissue or abusing federal funds. Despite suspect Robert Dear, 57, of Hartsel, Colorado. this, there is a fifth congressional investigation coming News coverage has been muddy. The New York down the pipeline, making this issue reminiscent of the Times reported Dear said, “no more baby parts” when Benghazi hearings. he surrendered to authorities, a possible reference to Fiorina is not the only player in the assault on the women’s Republican rhetoric such as presidential hopeful Carly health organization. All GOP candidates support defunding Fiorina’s mistaken assertion Planned Parenthood was Planned Parenthood and have used the doctored videos as harvesting parts of aborted fetuses for profit. SEE PLANNED PARENTHOOD PG 2 Eyewitnesses say he spouted this line while on his shooting rampage, as well as unspecified statements about President Barack Obama. It is unclear when “no more baby parts” was said, if at VIOLENCE AT ABORTION CLINICS all, but all signs point to this attack being another in a SINCE 1977 long series of domestic terrorist attacks against Planned Parenthood. There have been eight murders, 17 attempted murders, 42 bombings, 186 arsons and various other crimes including acid attacks and trespassing since 1977, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. This violence has been cyclic, based on the leanings of the media and political scene. Most of the violence was committed in the 1990s at the peak of the anti-abortion movement and the height of radical right-wing organizations such as Operation Rescue, Promise Keepers and Army of God. Americans are very centered on the issue of Islamic terror. If a jihadist shot two civilians and a police officer, SOURCE: NATIONAL BUREAU OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH the country would scream for war. While we can debate STEVE BEYNON | COPY EDITOR
T
8 Murders 17 Attempted Murders 42 Bombings 186 Arsons
Winter break season to bring some of UC basketball’s toughest challenges DAVID WYSONG | SPORTS EDITOR
The men’s basketball team will take on some of its toughest season play yet over winter break. UC will have eight games, playing the likes of Xavier University, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), Iowa State University and Southern Methodist University (SMU). Cincinnati will face their crosstown rival Xavier University Dec. 12. With both teams ranked in the nation’s top-25, this matchup will prove to be a classic. Both teams have had blowout wins so far and have beaten teams from one of the Power Five conferences. Cincinnati will travel to Xavier for a 5:30 p.m. game in the Cintas Center. The Bearcats will take on VCU one week after their game against Xavier. VCU has two losses against dominant basketball programs — Duke University and the University of
Wisconsin. Both teams participated in last season’s national championship. VCU’s experience in tough matchups could be a problem for the Bearcats and it will not help with the game being played in Virginia. Cincinnati travels for a 4 p.m. match up Dec. 19 in Richmond, Virginia. Three days later UC will take on the Iowa State Cyclones. The team is anticipated to be the best the Bearcats will face all season. The Cyclones are currently 6-0 and ranked No. 5 in the country. They were a No. 3 seed in the tournament last year, but were upset by the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Iowa State has one of the top offenses in the nation by scoring 87.3 points per game, according to ESPN’s official website, but the Bearcats will look to play its elite defense to slow them down. The game will be played 7 p.m. Dec. 22 at Fifth Third
Arena. UC starts American Athletic Conference play Dec. 29 against Temple University and then moves on to play SMU Jan. 7 ― the reigning AAC regular season champs. SMU is currently undefeated under their hall of fame head coach Larry Brown. They are also ranked No. 22 in the nation. The team passes the ball better than many teams in the nation, being No. 8 in assists per game at 20.5, according to ESPN’s official website. This game will prove to be a tough inner-conference matchup for the Bearcats when they play them at 7 p.m. Jan. 7 in Dallas, Texas. UC head coach Mick Cronin said he picks the tough matchups to make his team better, but it is difficult for him to find good teams to play because the nation’s top programs, like the University of Louisville, already have obligations. SEE BASKETBALL PG 3
THE STUDENT VOICE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
FREE
2 / NEWS Growing debate on US ground force deployment against Islamic State THURSDAY, DEC. 3, 2015
ALEX MUTNANSKY | CONTRIBUTOR
Is the best offense a good defense, or a good offensive? The Alexander Hamilton Society sought to discuss these issues Nov. 3, by hosting a panel on the U.S. intervention in the struggle against ISIS. Richard Harknett, head of the University of Cincinnati’s Political Science department, moderated the panel. Peter Mansoor of the Ohio State University’s History department opened the discussion by giving the history and his perspective on the convoluted situation in Syria. “The invasion of Iraq in 2003 was the starting point of what lead us to Syria,” Mansoor said. “This lead to the DeBa’athification of the Iraqi society.” De-Ba’athification sought to remove all public authorities affiliated with the Ba’ath party in Iraq. The policy was created by the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq, which was a transitional government following the Iraq Invasion by the U.S. This was a controversial policy in the eyes of the U.S. “The De-Ba’athification lead to the U.S. aiming their policies specifically at alienating the Sunni-Arab population,” Mansoor said. “This has preceded to cause the Iraqi government to be ineffective.” In 2008, the Sunni religious affiliation surged to power within Iraq gaining many offices within the government. “The most important election in a new democracy is the transition of power,” Mansoor said. The U.S. did not support the elected official, chosen by the Sunni voters, which left the door open for new terrorist groups. “ISIS is the successor of Al-Qaida in Syria,” Mansoor said. “The air campaign is not very effective and is only mowing the grass. ISIS is spreading throughout the globe. The way to deal with ISIS is
to destroy it in their homeland by using ground soldiers.” Rebecca Sanders, an assistant professor of UC’s Political Science department followed. “The Obama Administration has a cautious, prudent, realist approach because of the fear we will have another issue in the Middle East,” Sanders said. “Thus far, they have supported various ineffective groups in the region.” Sanders said the U.S. does not want another drawn out war with their administration tied to it. “Critics have suggested that the Obama’s administration has bolstered the Assad regime,” Sanders said. “[Critics imply] if it was possible to eliminate Al-Qaida, then it is possible to defeat ISIS.” Sanders suggested there is not a long-term effective way to deal with ISIS. “I don’t think the U.S. can defeat ISIS at this point but it can push influence to other moderate rebels in the region,” Sanders
said. She also hopes the U.S. can help fund a sustainable future for Syrian refugees. “Boots on the ground is not the best response to the issue in Syria,” Sanders said. The panel discussion followed by opening the room to audience questions. One audience member, Anthony Johnson, a third-year international affairs student asked, “How will boots on the ground by the U.S. work with Russian intervention?” Mansoor responded by proposing a division of the country giving Assad, the president of Syria, one portion that would settle the Russians’ backing of Assad. Harknett closed the panel discussion by thanking the Alexander Hamilton Society for hosting these events and encourages more discussion of these contentious issues, stressing the difficulty of this issue rests where counter-insurgence and geo-political tensions collide
A quick look at virtually any politician’s agenda and the federal budget shows one of America’s biggest priorities is taking care of the troops. In 2014, veteran’s benefits consumed 5.86 percent of the federal budget which is comparable to virtually all other spending programs aside from the Department of Defense. According to the Bureau of Fiscal Service, the Veteran’s Administration’s budget alone has increased 92 percent since 9/11, due to a combination of baby boomer veterans aging, as well as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan causing a swell in service-related injuries. While America’s politics and budget are on-message to economically protect the nation’s troops and veterans, servicemen and women still struggle and fall behind the rest of the general population. The American Journal of Health reported in 2014 that while veterans makes up 11 percent of the U.S. population, they are 26 percent of the homeless population,
ALEXANDRA TAYLOR | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Rebecca Sanders (above) and Peter Mansor discuss the threat and intervention of the Islamic state with students in an open discussion Monday evening in 60 W Charlton, hosted by The Alexander Hamilton Society.
making them one of the most at-risk demographics. The same report also found veterans are twice as likely as any demographic to become chronically homeless, which is defined as continuously being homeless for at least a year or having four separate periods of homelessness. Young veterans who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have the greatest struggle with employment, despite political efforts and public support. The Bureau of Labor Statistics found in 2014 the jobless rate for former troops between ages 18 and 25 last year was about 21 percent on average, roughly triple the national average. The overall rate for veteran unemployment was barely above 6 percent during that time. Tom Tarantino, a representative for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said in a CBS interview, “It makes me a little angry to hear veterans are finding issues with employment. Coming out of the military, we have a lot of soft skills — management, leadership. But we also have
JACOB LANGSTON | ORLANDO SENTINEL/MCT
Army veteran Jose Mirabal from Winter Garden, Florida, holds two of his Army Commendation Medal certificates that he earned while serving in Iraq. Mirabal was in Iraq for 11 months and has served in the Army for 12 years as an enemy prisoner of war military police. Like other veterans returning home from war, Mirabal is having a hard time finding a job.
a lot of hard skills. All these people have transferable skills.” Tarantino also believes a struggle young veterans face is a market with employers who are unfamiliar with the military, unlike the post-WWII private sector that were familiar with what a veteran could bring to the table. “It comes from a lack of understanding,” Tarantino said. “This is the first generation in America, where our business leaders have largely never served in the military.” Monster Worldwide, the company the founded the employment websites Monster.com and Military.com, conducted a study in 2014 and found that two-thirds of young veterans do not know how to communicate their skills on a resume in a way civilian employers can understand. Additionally, more than two-thirds of employer respondents said veterans have unique talents would make them more qualified to fill positions than non-veterans including self-discipline, leadership and teamwork. Another factor preventing the economic success of veterans is the reality of traumatic brain injury, disability and posttraumatic stress disorder, which affects about 13 percent of all young veterans, according to the Veteran’s Administration. Drug abuse and binge drinking are also serious issues within the military community. The National Institute for Drug and Alcohol Abuse found in 2014, 20 percent of all active military personnel are binge drinkers and that only grows with troops whom have combat experience to 27 percent. The Center for Disease Control found 12 percent of veterans between 25 and 34 years of age suffer from alcoholism, which is double the civilian rate. Younger veterans are also twice as likely to be alcohol dependent than veterans 35 to 74 years-old. “The war is now, and the problems are now,” said Richard McCormick in the New York Times, a senior scholar for public health in Case Western Reserve at the University in Cleveland. “Every day there is a cohort of men and women being discharged who need services not one or two or five years from now. They need them now.”
Preview: QueerCon aims to celebrate social justice activism JUSTIN REUTTER | STAFF REPORTER
Celebrating social activism in students, the University of Cincinnati will be hosting QueerCon in Tangeman University Center Feb. 26 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. According to the group’s official Facebook page, QueerCon is a “studentorganized conference that centers on feminist, queer and trans* studies and politics.”The conference will feature several speakers and discuss a variety of different topics. The floor is open to anyone who has a proposal accepted, including students, faculty, staff and activists from all over the country, according to Maria Merrill, the graduate student assistant at UC’s LGBTQ center. “Some of the most pressing issues for the LGBTQ student population include transgendered-specific healthcare, visibility, inclusion and education,” Merrill said. “Transgender students often do not receive healthcare that they need to help through their transition.” The speakers have yet to be chosen as the deadline for proposals has been extended from Tuesday to Dec. 13, said conference chair Jo Teut. “Social Justice Warriors” will be the theme of the event.
political ammunition. The one exception is Donald Trump, who has not used abortion as a major part of his platform. The GOP has been very successful in attacking Planned Parenthood’s federal funding, including a 62-30 vote in the Ohio House to defund the health organization, which will put Ohio’s 27 clinics at risk. Gov. John Kasich is expected to sign the bill. In response to reports about the Colorado attack, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said, “I think there’s been some vicious rhetoric on the left blaming those who are pro-life. I’ll tell you, I’m proud to be unambiguously pro-life.” He is not wrong. Progressives should not attack the pro-life movement on its own and there are plenty of liberals out there who are uncomfortable with abortion. This is where we have an honest debate on what is medically considered life, what point is it OK to terminate a fetus and if tax dollars should fund such procedures. However, spouting lies of Planned Parenthood harvesting baby limbs and selling them for profit is the type of intellectual dishonesty contaminating the national conversation, and excites the right-wing base to a point of historically leading to violence. It would be dangerous to suggest domestic-born terrorism is a greater threat than Islamic-extremism; there’s no evidence to suggest right-wing terror have fantasies of getting a nuclear weapon into New York City, but this brand of terror has been a serious threat since the end of the Civil War and will continue to threaten the United States in the foreseeable future. FROM FRACKING PG 1
Young veterans face economic trials after service STEVE BEYNON | COPY EDITOR
FROM PLANNED PARENTHOOD PG 1
The term “Social Justice Warrior” is often used in a derogatory manner on Internet forums like Reddit and 4chan, meaning someone who is overly politically correct and verbally attacks others. QueerCon aims to flip this stereotype on its head. “A Social Justice Warrior is a fierce
Some of the most pressing issues for the LGBTQ student population include transgendered-specific healthcare, visibility, inclusion and education it’s time to say goodbye. MARIA MERRILL
advocate for the social, political and economic equality of marginalized peoples,” said co-conference chair Kyle Schupe. “Social Justice Warriors seek to right the wrons of an unjust and oppressive society.” Teut said the conference will focus on three main topics of queering the academy, theory in motion and virtually queer.
Queering the academy means incorporating critical, queer and feminist theories into one’s academic work with an emphasis on intersectionality; promoting transformative policies and procedures within higher education and student affairs, and creating an inclusive, just and welcoming environment for students, faculty and staff at the collegiate level. Theory in Motion means practices of queer and feminist organizing, incorporating theory into political actions by implementing best practices within an institution and organization. Virtually Queer means organizing social media advocacy campaigns and online consciousness-raising, and engaging in the digital world through blogging, video games, online communities and social sites. QueerCon is a place to place to synthesize, develop and learn new ideas about, theories regarding and strategies for achieving social justice, Teut said. “Though Social Justice Warriors are often portrayed as whiny, shallow, and even fanatical, we are reclaiming this term with pride for those who struggle against and resist imperialist white-supremacist capitalist cis-hetero-patriarchy and other systems of domination,” Schupe said.
fracking operations, according to USGS. “Loopholes within the government are concerning,” said Joe Harrell, assistant vice president of UC Utilities. A February 2015 report conducted by Food & Water Watch parallels Harrell’s ideas, summarizing that respirable silica can cause silicosis, lung cancer and holds association with disease like tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, kidney disease, among other autoimmune diseases. Well workers mix the silica into the water and sand mixture on site, before it is penetrated into the ground. Harrell said, “Those masks are not required to be worn.” According to Food & Water Watch’s report, residents living in nearby operations are highly prone to the same health risks of the well workers, and with over 50,000 active natural gas wells in the U.S. the problem is of major concern. The National Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted a study at 11 well sites, finding results of exposure to silica exceeding thresholds set to protect workers health within the fracking industry, according to Food & Water Watch’s report. She said each site holds six to 12 hydraulic fracturing well, and the outreach of silica may get as large as up to a 10-kilometer radius of each well. “We’re talking about distribution of gas for domestic use,”Townsend-Small said. “At 33 percent efficiency — it’s horrible.”
UC partners with Uber, New York Times in classroom HUY NGUYEN | CHIEF REPORTER
Free Uber may soon be available to students as part of a collaboration with University of Cincinnati NightRide. The possible collaboration was announced Wednesday between Student Government, NightRide and Uber in order to decrease wait times. SG President Andrew Naab is hopeful this will help UC NightRide handle student demand. “We were made aware of what the University of California is doing with Uber and how they are cutting their wait time,” Naab said. “They’ve cut their wait time down from 20 to 30 minutes down to less than five minutes.” Due to the collaboration still being under discussion, transportation distance is undetermined, but the service will definitely be free to students for a base rate paid by the university. Safety precautions and liabilities are also being discussed, since Uber is a separate organization from UC. “I’m sure there’s always outliers, however we consulted with vice president Engel for safety and reform, as well as then chief Goodrich and director Jim Whalen from Public Safety,” Naab said. “We believe and know that it checks out from a safety aspect.” In addition to the possible Uber collaboration, discussions with the New York Times for a new online access program were announced. New York Times education manager Kandace Rusnak came to discuss working with Langsam Library to introduce the academic sight license program, a project to provide yearlong student access to New York Times articles and additional resources. “We started at three academic years ago, and we’re now upwards of 200, over 200 institutions throughout the country,” Rusnak said. The sight license will be free for students and includes multiple exclusive components like a save feature, research access, videos and the mobile app. “It’s actually kind of a struggle to get informed — I mean, some kids will go into the rec and then they watch CNN for like three minutes as they’re spinning, and then that’s their news for the entire week,” said John Lewnard, senator of the College of Engineering and Applied Science. “So, if we can somehow get news to be more accessible, then I think this is a great idea.”
SPORTS / 3 THURSDAY, DEC. 3, 2015
Blue Jackets’ huge shift after coach change KYLE MARTIN | CONTRIBUTOR
With the NHL season heading into its quarter mark, the Columbus Blue Jackets fired its head coach, the Montreal Canadiens are off to a dream start, rookie players are making and breaking records and the overall formation of the league has changed drastically. The Blue Jackets came into the season riding high expectations. After an injuryfilled season caused them to miss the playoffs last year, they ended on a high note by winning 15 of their last 17 games and finishing as one of the NHL’s hottest teams. As the offseason rolled around, the Jackets were able to pick up the two-time Stanley Cup winner Brandon Saad, 22, which caused expectations to only get higher. This was until the season started and the Jackets got off to a 0-8-0 start ― the worst the NHL has seen since the 1943 New York Rangers started 0-11-0. The slow start led to the firing of head coach Todd Richards and the hiring of John Tortorella, who has the most wins of any American head coach in the NHL. Since the coaching change, the Jackets have been able to climb back to a 10-15-0 record and have found themselves seven points out of the playoffs. Another storyline thus far for this season is the hot start of the Montreal Canadiens.
The Canadiens got off to a dream start and were able to win their first nine games. This was due to the help of their defense and goaltending, which gave up a 1.33 goals against average, according to the Canadians’ official website. Expectations were high for the Canadiens, as they are yet figure out their identity to capture a league-high 26th Stanley Cup. The Edmonton Oilers also stepped up their game by selecting Connor McDavid during an offseason draft. Scouts have been raving over the 18-year-old center and claiming him to be the “next Wayne Gretzky.” This leads to the third-biggest storyline of the year – the play of McDavid and other stellar rookies. Before being involved in a nasty collision ultimately breaking his collar bone, McDavid was able to post five goals and seven assists for 12 points for the Oilers in the 13 games he played, according to the NHL’s official site. This cemented him as one of the league’s top young stars. Jack Eichel is another player who has been playing exceptionally well and is the second overall pick. Eichel got off to a quick start by scoring in his first-ever NHL regular-season game. He has been able to post an impressive eight goals and four assists for 12 points in his first 24 games of his NHL career, according to the NHL’s official website.
KYLE ROBERTSON | COLUMBUS DISPATCH/TNS
Nick Foligno (71), Ryan Johansen (19) and Ryan Murray (27) skate off the ice after a 4-2 loss against the New York Rangers at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on Friday, Oct. 9, 2015.
The last big storyline proving to be crucial for every team this season is the change of the overtime format in the league. NHL has changed its overtime format this year from a 4-on-4 to 3-on-3. The change eliminates the need for shootouts by giving the players more room on the ice, and therefore more chances to score. The change came after an increase in the
Opinion: Selecting the conference champions ADAM KING | CONTRIBUTOR
The best teams in the Conference Championship Week for college football will prove their worth on the gridiron Saturday. The game one on the schedule is the American Athletic Conference championship at noon between the No. 19 Houston University Cougars and the No. 22 Temple University Owls. Houston has made a huge turnaround since hiring former Ohio State University offense coordinator Tom Herman as their head coach. According to ESPN’s official website, they have averaged 42 points per game this season. Temple has only lost two games to quality opponents. Temple’s offense can sometimes struggle to get things going behind junior quarterback P.J. Walker, who does not always show up. Houston’s defense loves to swarm to the ball and their ability to shut down the run game could cause major problems for Temple. With Temple’s inability on offense, Houston could pull out the win by doubling the Owls’ score 42-21. The Southeastern Conference Championship has game scheduled at 4 p.m. Saturday, when the No. 2 University of Alabama Crimson Tide plays the No. 18 University of Florida Gators. Alabama turned everything around since a loss to Ole Miss early in the season and has looked nothing short of dominant. The only issue with Alabama this season is they are a one-dimensional offense. If Florida can shut down junior running back Derrick Henry, this could be a game. Florida’s defense will be its only hope, as the team’s offense went out the window the second they lost their starting quarterback Will Grier. They have not been able to produce any offense in recent games and could not score more than two points against Florida State University. The first night game on Saturday will be the Pacific-12 Conference Championship game at 7:45 p.m., featuring the No. 7 Stanford University Cardinals and the No. 20 University of Southern California Trojans. This game is a potential play-in game for Stanford to get into the College Football Playoff. USC has shocked everyone by their amazing turnaround since firing head
coach Steve Sarkisian. Clay Helton has taken over as the official head coach of USC and although he is not the “Hollywood type” everyone is used to seeing at the school, he won his players over. The team started their run to the conference championship with a dominating win against the University of Utah, and has looked amazing on both sides of the ball ever since. The defense has been relentless and the offense, led by senior quarterback Cody Kessler, makes them look like a completely different team. Stanford beat USC by 10 points earlier this season, but both teams were playing differently than they are now. With the way USC offense has moved lately and the way Stanford’s defense has struggled, USC is likely to have the edge. Another late game on Saturday is the Big Ten Championship game between the No. 4 University of Iowa Hawkeyes and the No. 5 Michigan State University Spartans at 8 p.m. Everyone has been waiting to get to answer the question on how good Iowa is. The Hawkeyes are ranked as a top-five
team in the country, but nobody really knows anything about them. The team is undefeated on the year, but does not have a marquee win on their resume. With both teams being evenly matched, the difference in this game is Iowa has not been able to get their run game going all year and it will be hard to start against Michigan State’s tough front seven. The last game on the schedule Saturday is the 8 p.m. Atlantic Coast Conference Championship between the No. 1 Clemson University and the No. 10 University of North Carolina. North Carolina’s offense has clicked on all cylinders since an opening week loss to the University of South Carolina. They have also been one of the quickest at scoring touchdowns in the country. Clemson’s defense is nothing to be shrugged over – it has been the backbone behind their climb to the top. Although Clemson has faced numerous tough teams this season, North Carolina’s offense is the best they will see. The defense could struggle with the vertical passing attack of the Tar Heels, maybe giving up some big plays.
displeasure of shootouts as players and fans alike claimed it does not show the true winner and said when dealing with such skilled player, a shootout is basically a coin flip. Overtime format has been an exciting for everyone involved in the game and has done exactly what it was put in place to do, draw in more fans and limit the number of shootouts.
FROM KOBE PG 1
website. He led the Lakers to the playoffs during that same year, but tore his Achilles tendon in one of the final games and was out for the remainder of the season. Bryant has not been able to get over the injury bug, as he played only 41 games over the following two seasons, according to Basketball Reference’s official website. Bryant has also struggled through this season. He is averaging 15.8 points per game and is only shooting 30 percent from the field. The low efficiency for Bryant ultimately led to his decision to retire. “I think the retirement is a truly sad moment for me,” said Jacob Sowry, a second-year criminal justice student. “As soon as I heard about it I just thought about the vintage days. I do believe it is time for him to retire, but I wasn’t ready for it.” “He has been my favorite athlete of any sport and the NBA is going to be different without him. He was our era’s MJ [Michael Jordan] and there will never be another Kobe. I hope he decides to take a position with the Laker organization because it would mean a lot to the fans.” Sowry is not the only one to compare Bryant to the same NBA legend, Michael Jordan. The two all-star players have been compared for the entire duration of Bryant’s career due to their similar numbers and style of play. “I got to watch one of — if not the last — players with a killer mentality. Jordan had it, Bird had it and Kobe had it,” said Drew Jennings, a second-year psychology student. “Players like that don’t come around often so it’s sad to see him go.” Bryant and the Lakers are currently 2-15 this season, but NBA fans everywhere hope they can find a little bit of success to send the star out on a positive note. FROM BASKETBALL PG 1
KIRTHMON F. DOZIER/DETROIT FREE PRESS/TNS
Michigan State celebrate after a 17-14 win against Ohio State on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015, at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
“When you call somebody [to schedule a game,] for me Rick Pitino, he’s already got to play Michigan State in the Big Ten-ACC challenge. He also has to play Kentucky every year, he’s in a tournament every year. He has so many home games to pay the bills for the athletic department. So it is tough for teams in those leagues to play us,” Cronin said. Despite the Bearcats’ tough schedule of play before Christmas, Cronin thinks it will be harder to win games after Christmas. “There’s two seasons — pre-Christmas and post-Christmas,” Cronin said. “It is much harder to win games post-Christmas, so you have to be focused on whether your team is improving.”
4 / LIFE & ARTS THURSDAY, DEC. 3, 2015
Cupcake sale sweetens exam week LAUREN JACOBSON | STAFF REPORTER
The cozy halls of Tangeman University Center were sprinkled with hungry students Tuesday who wanted to help raise funds for survivors and those battling breast cancer through purchasing cupcakes. Organized by the University of Cincinnati organization Cupcakes for the Cure, the bake sale embraced the club’s passions for raising funds by enticing students with baked goods in exchange for a small donation Tuesday. The club donates all proceeds from its sales to the statewide organization Pink Ribbon Girls, a nonprofit that provides breast cancer patients and family members with healthy meals, housekeeping and transportation to, and from, treatment. Pink Ribbon Girls relies on the generosity of corporations, organizations and individuals for financial support, and UC’s Cupcakes for the Cure took on some of this responsibility during the event. To have a part in the baking process, members signed up via the Internet to either bake cupcakes or work the stand. Andy Gebhart, a second-year pre-pharmacy student, was one of the Cupcake for the Cure members working the stand. “We have numerous bake sales throughout the semester,” Gebhart said. “We’ve been around on campus for the past four or five years, I believe, and each year we’ve gotten more successful.” The club raised around $400 during the 2014 promotion for breast cancer support, Gebhart said. According the Pink Ribbon Girls website, $96 feeds a family of four for one week, $100 provides housekeeping for one week and $1,752 provides meals and housekeeping throughout treatment. At each sale cupcakes are sold for $1, with each bake sale generally selling about 70 cupcakes. Kaila Yamamoto, a second-year cellular and molecular biology student and president of Cupcakes for a Cure, discussed some of the organizations past success with bake sales. “We bring in about an $80 profit each sale and people are always really generous with the donations,”Yamamoto said. Bernadette DiStasi, a fourth-year communication student, was another Cupcakes for the Cure member attending the bake sale. “Each bake sale is in a different venue,” DiStasi said. “We had one before the Homecoming game that was super successful, but we try and have them in different places to get all different types of people at different times.”
Globally, breast cancer now affects one in four of all cancers in women. However, the five-year relative survival rate for female invasive breast cancer patients has improved from 75 percent in the mid-1970s to 90 percent today, according to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. While the UC organization is still relatively small, Yamamoto said the club is planning to expand in the upcoming semester. “We are adding an educational aspect to the club this year,”Yamamoto said. “We’re planning on inviting either a member of UC Health or one of the physicians to come speak about breast cancer awareness and prevention.” The organization’s bake sales are advertised via flyers and through the club’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts. “We try and use as much social media as possible because that’s really the best way to get the word out to students.” Gebhart said. STEPHANIE L. SMITH | STAFF REPORTER
Moerlein’s Holiday Harvest Lager is a treat for the season, with floral yeasty aroma and a wheaty, bready flavor.
Brewcats: Moerlein offers holiday options STEPHANIE L. SMITH | STAFF REPORTER
CAROLINE CORY | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
UC students purchase cupcakes at the Cupcakes for a Cure bake sale Tuesday Afternoon in the Mainstreet Expressmart lobby. All proceeds go to raising breast cancer awareness.
‘Jessica Jones’ fights superhero stereotypes RICHA KAVALEKAR | STAFF REPORTER
Self-loathing and sarcastic as they come, Jessica Jones is not your typical superhero. She curses like a sailor and can undoubtedly drink anyone under the table. However, not only does she crush bad guys with her superhuman strength, she also crushes every stereotype and guideline we typically see in the Marvel universe. This superhero survival tale follows Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter), who solely uses her powers for a private detective job to pay the bills for her crummy office-comeapartment in the city of Hell’s Kitchen. She stays in her own lane and attempts to live her life in the shadows, until the dreaded Kilgrave returns to harm her loved ones. Wrapped up and tied with themes of drug use and violence, “Jessica Jones” is not afraid to overstep the boundaries of what is usually accepted. Like most Marvel series, we always see the death of civilians as collateral. Conversely, this show unapologetically focuses on using these deaths as major plot elements.
MYLES ARONOWITZ | NETFLIX
Krysten Ritter in the Netflix original series “Jessica Jones.”
Hollywood has been known for restricting Ritter to chick-flicks and comedies, playing the black-headed beauty with a sharp tongue. We have seen her overplay this role in movies like “Life Happens,”“What Happens in Vegas,” and “She’s Out of My League.” It was in “Breaking Bad” that we first got to see the many layers of Ritter’s talent — her looks and sarcasm are just the first of many things she has to offer. Kilgrave, portrayed brilliantly by “Doctor Who’s” David Tennant, is possibly the darkest and most powerful villain to ever emerge from the Marvel universe. His power and mind-control abilities prove brains trumps brawn. Kilgrave’s psychotic obsession with Jones drives the show. He can make your skin crawl and toes curl using just words. He can ruin lives and spill blood without lifting a finger. The audience assumes Kilgrave is not a character they could relate to, yet this show trudges through the dark past and daringly examines the becoming of this villain. No matter their shelf life on the show, each character in “Jessica Jones” is imperative. It discards the notion a show requires two-dimensional characters to fill up plot-holes. It is also unexplainably refreshing to see a superhero constantly being pushed past their breaking point, showing us not every battle won is noble and not every fight lost is a failure. Jones is a superhero without the whole flashy superhero aspect, making her relatable. Apart from remarkably surpassing the Bechdel Test, which evaluates if two women in a show talk to each other about something other than a man, “Jessica Jones” discusses the pivotal role of female friendships. This show is one of the firsts to see the love interest as a side story, instead of the plot revolving around a romantic relationship. Marvel fans were in for a treat when they saw different universes cross paths. Rosario Dawson made a cameo in the season finale, appearing as the nurse she plays in Netflix’s “Daredevil.” What makes “Jessica Jones” such a unique show is Jones role as one of the most relatable superhero to exist. She does not have a costume, but rather an extreme drinking problem and her relationships are far from perfect. She has strength and weakness — she loses more than she wins. Maybe it is counterintuitive to be able to relate to a superhero so closely, but in the bigger picture Netflix’s “Jessica Jones” teaches us it is the small victories we win everyday that matter.
Artist Feature: Fashion student shares inspiration ALBERTO JONES | STAFF REPORTER
Although there are a variety of reasons people choose one profession over another when deciding a topic to study in college, Kayla Kendrick chose a career path that will push her past her own limits. Kendrick is a first-year aspiring fashion designer at the University of Cincinnati’s school of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning spoke with The News Record over her inspirations in the fashion industry, her artistic process and her future plans. The News Record: What inspires you to be a designer? Kayla Kendrick: Being able to push myself further past my limits in order to create great things, collaborate on huge projects and things of that nature. I am an innovative thinker and in this day and age, that’s a powerful thing. TNR: Who do you look up to in the industry? KK: Charles James is one of my favorites for right now. He has an exhibition of his wonderful work down at the Cincinnati art museum. I can tell that he had so much fun in the process of making those funky yet functional garments. He incorporated the works of geometry for his more structural garments. Who he was as an artist and designer shows through his work. He is just amazing. TNR: When designing what is your artistic process? KK: In order to have a successful finish, a foundation is necessary. In this case, inspiration would be the foundation. Once you have your inspiration, you research what your inspiration is and so many things pop up. Research also allows you to narrow down from a more broad perspective. That’s only if you go deep enough in your research. TNR: What do you love most about UC DAAP’s fashion program?
KK: The DAAP building itself gives you a sense of belonging — with its weird hallways, grand staircases, specialized rooms and fake human beings chilling on one of their staircases. The consistent display of the student’s works around the place offers visual appeal. TNR: What is the best piece of advice that you have received on becoming a fashion designer? KK: You have to believe in what you’re doing in order for it to be fun but successful. Exercising your skill sets is always the way to go. I want to be able to wake up in the morning and say, “OMG! I got work today, YAY!” Instead of, “OMG… I got to go to work. Kill me now!” TNR: Do you find yourself as a designer critiquing fashion all the time? KK: I have a good eye for interesting, funky and eccentric items of clothing. Sometimes there are garments that look as though the wearer of it put it on in the dark, but everyone has their own unique style. Everyone should dress the way they want and how they feel. Unfortunately, everyone’s decisions are influenced by what someone else might think. Just be your beautiful self and then you will be happier than ever. TNR: What are you looking to do in the future upon graduating? KK: I am a versatile artist meaning that I do not want to stick in one area. My skill set ranges from computer skills to being certified in the woodshop. I want to explore and enjoy every one of my valuable assets, skills, etc. I know for sure that a stylist, creative director, radio host, party host, wedding planner and president of the United States are going to be under my belt by the time I’m 45.
Moerlein Brewing Company’s new holiday brews prove that German tradition matters to the company, regardless of the season. The brewery follows Reinheitsgebot — a purity decree, which limits the ingredients used in the production of beer in Germany. Bavaria adopted the law in 1516 and allows only water, hops and barley as ingredients. After the discovery of yeast, the fungus became the fourth legal ingredient. While Moerlein’s Christkindl looks like a traditional, thick winter warmer with its deep reddish-brown hue, it is actually subtle in aroma and flavor. One has to inhale deeply to pick up any trace of the toffee sweetness and a pinch of holiday spices, mostly cinnamon and ginger. As for taste, it is malt heavy — faintly toasty, nutty bread is at the forefront with a combination of chocolate essence and a slightly bitter hoppy-caramel middle, with a dry spice finish. The 6.95 percent ABV is disguised almost too well, to the point of it maybe being mistaken for a session beer. Yet, it is underwhelming as a winter warmer. Instead, it is suggestive of mildly spicy brown ale. A better representation of the winter warmer style can be found in Moerlein’s Shiver Chai Porter. Holiday Harvest Lager is Hefeweizen influenced, combining elements of the classic German beer — floral yeasty aroma with a wheaty, bready flavor — but winterizing it, making it much heartier. The breadiness is more pronounced and warm on the tongue, ending with a pleasing blend of spices. Adhering to the Reinheitsgebot can be a challenge and results in the majority of Moerlein’s beers, such as Christkindl, are fairly low key. There are a few that are wow-worthy, however, and Moerlein’s Holiday Harvest Lager is one.
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LIFE & ARTS / 5 THURSDAY, DEC. 3, 2015
Q&A: Hillary Clinton logo designer visits DAAP MOLLY COHEN | ONLINE EDITOR
A graphic design alumnus from the University of Cincinnati from the 1970s, returned home to a packed crowd Nov. 20 to share his wisdom from working in the graphic design world. Michael Bierut, now a partner at Pentagram in New York City and cofounder of the website Design Observer, shared his journey from Cleveland-born college student to graphic designer in the big city. Some of his major designs include the Saks Fifth Avenue shopping bag and The New York Times building signage. His latest project, which is still garnering attention, is the creation of the Hilary Clinton campaign logo, the “H” with an arrow. The News Record followed up with Bierut after his speech to discuss DAAP history, critiques and the design process. The News Record: Do you have a favorite memory from your time at DAAP? Michael Bierut: Once, I ate at Skyline — the one on Clifton and Ludlow — four times in one day. I had skipped breakfast and got to the studio at DAAP and someone said they were going at about 11 a.m. or so, and I went along. Then we went again in the afternoon at about 4 p.m. or so. Then again, for what I thought was the last time, at around 9:30 p.m. Finally, it was one in the morning, someone said, “Skyline?” and I said what the heck. This was very typical of my life — and many of our lives — in those days. Long hours at the studio, no distinction between day and night or one day and the next. It sounds like torture to me as a middle-aged man, but I loved it at the time. TNR: What was your favorite DAAP project? Bierut’s Gorilla Clock, 1979 DAAP MB: Professor Joe Bottoni used to give an assignment that involved studying an animal at the Cincinnati Zoo and creating a stylized image based on it. I picked a gorilla, and I still remember doing drawings at the zoo on a warm spring day. TNR: You got to critique a graphic design class at DAAP when you visited. What was the experience like from the other end, being able to critique the graphic design students’ work instead of being the one critiqued?
MB: I must say when I was on the receiving end, it never occurred to me how hard it is to do a whole morning of critiques: one project after another, coming up with something fresh about each one, both positive and negative, bringing as much energy to the last critique as the first. I remember how I used to hang on every word, which makes for additional pressure when the words are coming out of your mouth. TNR: Did the DAAP critiques prepare you for critiques in the working world? MB: The DAAP critiques were much harder than the “real world” ones. TNR: Any advice for getting through critiques? MB: Pay attention, listen to everything, don’t be defensive and ask questions. This is good advice in the professional world as well. TNR: What is your design process like? MB: I almost always start with drawings, or even handwritten lists of words. The design process actually starts in your mind. Attaching a lot of tools to it early in the process tends to inhibit your imagination.
industrial designers, cartographers and civil engineers, as well as a very smart bunch of people at our client, the NYC Department of Transportation. Because of the way our office is set up, I can be working on a large-scale longterm project like this in the morning, and something fast and hands-on in the afternoon. TNR: Many of your earlier designs are in black and white. Do you ever feel limited when working in a black-and-white color palette? MB: I love working in black and white. There is something about that on-off, yes-no, high-contrast world that I really enjoy. I occasionally worry that I may be colorblind. TNR: How do you stay inspired and avoid designer burnout? MB: Two ways. I have people of all ages on my team at Pentagram and I learn from all of them, from trusted vets to brand new interns. You’re never too old to have a
mentor. Also, if you’re lucky enough to work on things you’re genuinely curious about, like I am, you will never get bored. TNR: During the talk at DAAP you mentioned the relationship between communication and design. How has your communication changed since working professionally in graphic design? MB: I would say the main difference, since I graduated in 1980, is that 35 years ago, communication — at least mass communication — was something that only skilled professionals could undertake. Photography, typesetting, filmmaking and publishing were all things that required specialized knowledge and access to expensive equipment. Now, anyone with a smartphone and an Internet connection has all those tools and more. This places more importance on ideas. We have so many different ways to communicate now, but do we have anything worth saying?
TNR: For your New York Times building signage, you had to turn a graphic design into a 3D object. What is that process like turning a design into a 3D form? MB: All design is exciting, but doing 3D work is its own kind of excitement. With flat graphic design, the prototypes you make can look exactly like the final product. With large-scale architectural projects, you will never know exactly what it will look like until it’s built. Often we know what effect we want, but we need to work with architects, fabricators, installers and so forth to make the project really come to life. Often our collaborators make contributions that improve on our original ideas — which is even better. TNR: What is the biggest team you have worked with on a graphic design project? MB: Probably the biggest team I’ve worked on recently was for the New York City wayfinding project. We had nearly a dozen different people working on it at Pentagram, and our group was part of a still bigger team that included researchers,
PROVIDED BY MICHAEL BIERUT
Bierut’s 1979 DAAP project for Professor Joe Bottoni’s assignment that involved studying an animal at the Cincinnati Zoo and creating a stylized image based on it.
Microsoft Azure workshop warms students to new technology JUSTIN REUTTER | STAFF REPORTER
Students who are a bit rusty with the new Microsoft software had an opportunity to catch up to latest company’s gear Tuesday at the Microsoft Azure Cloud Service Workshop. David Giard and Brian Sherwin, both Microsoft senior technical evangelists, hosted the Tuesday afternoon session to discuss Microsoft Azure applications and their impact in the 601 Old Chem building.
Students were walked through the finer points of Microsoft Azure cloud service, like how to create web apps and how to access the program through a portal. “Azure helps students prepare for the future of business computing,” Sherwin said. “About 70 percent of Fortune 500 companies use cloud services.” Giard and Sherwin opened their presentation with an explanation of their service Microsoft Azure, as a cloud service for building, deploying and managing
NICK BROWN | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
David Giard, a Microsoft senior technical evangelist, teaches students how to create web apps on Microsoft’s new program, Azure, during the Microsoft Azure Cloud Service Workshop, Tuesday afternoon in the Old Chem building.
a service, Sherwin said during the presentation. “It is a global network of computers for hosting servers and apps,” Sherwin said. A cloud-based computing service is one where shared resources, data and information are provided to computers and other devices on demand. Giard and Sherwin then described the three different types of Cloud computing — Infrastructure as a Service (IAAS), Platform as a Service (PAAS) and Software as a Service (SAAS). SAAS allows a user to pay for the license to use a service, like services such as Microsoft Word and Excel. The second system, PAAS, allows users to develop, run and manage web applications without the complexity of building and maintaining the infrastructure needed for developing and launching an app. Last of the three, IAAS, allows users to access resources to create their own infrastructure and build from there. This is often used in the short term or used experimentally, as hosts discover the best way to configure their networks, Sherwin said. Microsoft Azure is classified as a PAAS. Cloud computing allows companies to deploy servers based on demand for service, therefore costing less for more computing power and virtual space. The process supports some companies that might have normally missed opportunities for business as usage of
company servers fluctuates throughout the year. The popular game “Titanfall,” which runs for Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PC, uses Azure cloud services to create the servers necessary to keep up with the sheer number of players on multiplayer. The servers also eliminate lag caused from having to connect to another person’s internet through a hosting service, according to IGN.com. Additionally, Azure allows users to create web pages and virtual machines (VM). “A Virtual Machine is like a vending machine — you put in money and get a functional program out,” Giard said. In other words, a VM allows a user to emulate the operating system of a particular program. One benefit of cloud services like Azure is data being backed up unable to be lost due to hardware failure, Giard said. “Premise service, where companies are investing in service and doing everything themselves, is going away,” Giard said. Different services run through Azure include security and setting up cloud storage as well as web design. The service is compatible with a variety of alternate operating systems like Linux and Mac, and other alternate programming like Node, PHP and Python. Students at the presentation were also given promo codes for $100 credit toward Azure services to explore and experiment upon.