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‘30 American’ gallery show
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Art gallery highlights black culture in the face of hate
FC Cincinnati home opener New pro soccer team debuts at Nippert
THE NEWS RECORD / UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI THURSDAY, APR. 7, 2016
QueerCat Pride Week fosters safe community SAMANTHA HALL | COLLEGE LIFE EDITOR
Visibility and inclusion are the central themes that tie together the ongoing QueerCat Pride Week at the University of Cincinnati. Amy Schlag, the new LGBTQ Center director, organized small workshops, café events, speaker lectures and safe zone training sessions for students to develop a week of visibility. While each individual event holds a theme, whether it is spirituality, reproduction or career preparation, the staff of the LGBTQ Center seeks a fun and entertaining environment for students to be comfortable while learning more about LGBTQ, ethnic and gender issues. QueerCat Pride Week, which is currently in progress for its fifth year, is sponsored by a variety of student groups in order to pull in strong diversity, including the Student Wellness Center, UC Alliance, UC’s Women’s Center and Student Government. The organizations involved all share the common goal of bringing students together for a full, supportive community, said Schlag. The event began Monday with “Orange Is The New Black” star Lea DeLaria speaking on campus. As part of UC’s QueerCat Pride Week, students and faculty came together for a Soul Café discussion in the Women’s Center Wednesday. Leslie Keener, a minister for the St. MonicaSt. George Catholic Church, gathered students to the Steger Student Life Center to watch a 15-minute TedTalk, promoting conversation among the group. The TedTalk followed the story of a man who wanted to learn the piano, but felt more complacent without having the musical ability. As his journey’s continued, he found that although life is satisfactory, life could be even more fulfilling if he developed musical skills, thus furthering him to pursue a new talent and pushing himself toward a new experience.
The lesson of the TedTalk was to help students push themselves towards new goals and achievements. Ashton Dotson, a second-year German studies student, feels that students need to “seek out things that challenge us” in order to be successful and reach personal goals within the community. Keener also brought up discussion of how new social justice movements could go beyond individual agendas in order to further society as a whole. “You don’t get to pick who belongs to a community,” said Keener, in regards to discrimination within even the most tolerant groups. If students are more able to connect creativity, personal goals and progression within society, an overall satisfaction could be made, according to Keener. Along with having a spirituality centered café party, QueerCat Pride Week hosted a picnic for allies to attend, multiple guest speaker platforms, social parties and will continue these events through Friday night, finishing the celebratory week with the annual Spring Drag Show. The LGBTQ Center is a common space for students throughout the year. The center offers a safe space as well as shelves of books with information on domestic abuse, body image and gender violence.
SHAE COMBS | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Students discuss a Tedx Talk over donuts and coffee in the Soul Cafe meeting Wednesday, April 6, 2016 in Steger.
Feminist panel spotlights struggles of black women KINSLEY SLIFE | ONLINE EDITOR OLIVIER DOULIERY | ABACA PRESS | TNS
U.S President Barack Obama poses with the United States Women’s National Soccer Team in the East room of the White House on Oct. 27, 2015 in Washington, D.C. The United States Women’s National Soccer Team won the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
US women’s soccer team fights wage discrimination JASON SZELEST | STAFF REPORTER OPINION
Five players on the United States women’s national soccer team filed a wage discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission last week. Hope Solo, Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe, Becky Sauerbrunn and Alex Morgan claim that the payment discrepancies between men and women in United States soccer from the country’s soccer federation are both illegal and unfair. The women took to the podium Thursday afternoon to announce their displeasure, saying “there are no legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons for this gross disparity of wages, nor can it be explained away by any bona fide seniority, merit or incentive system or any factor other than sex.” What should not be confused in their argument is that they are not simply stating they should get the same annual salary as men. They are saying that both men and women should be paid equally based on performance. For instance, in friendly matches ― games that have no effect on tournament qualifications ― the federation automatically pays men $5,000 just for showing up, according to Sports Illustrated. That figure increases if they manage a draw or win, and gets higher when they knock off tougher competition. With the women, however, the federation only pays them after wins, and the pay does not vary according to the opponent’s strength. So the men’s team could show up to a game, get waxed by Puerto Rico (ranked No. 170 in the world) and make $5,000 each. The women’s team could show up in Berlin, tie Germany (ranked No. 2 in the world) in a hostile environment and leave penniless. Payment discrepancies get even worse when entering the World Cup ― international soccer’s biggest
and third highest-grossing sporting event in the world. Each female player makes $15,000 when they qualify for the World Cup. Each male player makes over four times that, as our country’s soccer federation doles out $68,750 to each player. Do you think that is fair? Even Landon Donovan, a player who benefitted from the unequal pay scales, does not think so. The former star forward on the United States men’s national team took to Twitter in support of the push the ladies are making for equal pay. “USWNT absolutely deserve to be treated fairly in all ways,” Donovan said. “Both USMNT and USWNT should be paid commensurate with the revenues they produce, not based upon what the others make.” Wage discrimination supporters argue that the men generate more revenue than women in soccer. In most countries this is true. In the United States, it is not. Due to the superior product the women have put on the field compared to our men’s team, the women’s team has surpassed the men in revenue. They are projected to draw in more revenue during 2016 than men ― $23 million compared to $21 million ― despite having nearly $9 million less in the budget. During the 2015 World Cup final, 25.4 million viewers in the United States tuned in to watch our women defeat Japan, according to the Huffington Post. That viewership total was more than any other soccer event in the United States, men’s or women’s. Would the men draw a higher viewership total than the women if they made it to the final? Maybe. They never get there, though. The United States and its people have always been drawn to greatness, and it is clear that they support our women’s team, as they constantly win. It is time for our soccer federation to recognize that, and dole out equal, if not representative pay, to our women.
A passionate group of activists with the Black Feminist movement convened to openly discuss an array of modern obstacles facing women of color in today’s world, during a panel discussion Wednesday afternoon on the University of Cincinnati campus. The panel of seven — composed of UC faculty, such as Arts and Science Assistant Dean Carol Tonge Mack and College of Law Professor Verna Williams — discussed their thoughts on timely topics such as the Black Lives Matter movement, disparities in education and employment, gun violence and the upcoming presidential election. The discussion began with a free-flowing conversation about what black feminism meant to the various panelists. “Black feminism is just feminism,” said Christian Jackson, a panel member and UC student. “If you are a feminist that doesn’t support or advocate for blackness, then in my opinion, you’re not a real feminist.” Jackson also works for UC’s Racial Awareness Program (RAPP). “It’s racism and sexism that is just so inherent and engrained in the things that people do, even people who don’t necessarily mean harm,” said Jackson Jackson said she had to re-evaluate what intersectionality means to her. “Even though I value myself, I have to be very real about how the vast majority sees and values me, because of that intersectionality between being black, being a woman and being transgender.” The panel also focused on unique inequalities that black women face on campus— both in classrooms and offices. Mack started with the personal challenges she’s faced as the black, female assistant dean of Arts and Sciences at UC. “When I pass out my business cards at a particular event, the person will look at me and they’ll look at the business card and they’re trying to figure it out. They’ll say, ‘Well, I didn’t think that’s who you were,’” Mack said. “And it’s probably because they’ve never seen it before.” Ashley Nkadi, another student panel member and co-president of the United Black Student Association, says there is pushback from the university when asking for resources that cater to the needs of women of color on campus. “Being on a predominantly white campus can be kind of tricky to navigate, especially if you’re
trying to move up the ranks in organizations or if you’re trying to step outside of your comfort zone,” Nkadi said. The panel discussed hardships within their communities as the conversation made headway into gun violence and its relationship to the black feminism movement. Mack said one of her biggest daily challenges is worrying about the safety of her 16-year-old son. “If I could call him right now at school, I would ask him about his number one job,” she said. “And I know he would say, ‘My job is to get home safely.’” Panelist Verna Williams also sees a direct correlation between gun violence and black feminism, especially because of her experience in racial and gender social justice. “Guns serve this really important role in helping to construct masculinity. So if you have a contingent of black men that are seeking so much masculinity, that’s the thing they have to hold on to,”Williams said. Williams said this confrontation of masculinity can often result in violence. “If they’re not going to be able to get a job or go to a great school, what are they going to go for that is proof of their masculinity? A gun,” she said. Panel members also highlighted positive changes made by black female organizations, as well as areas where they would like to see improvement. “Still, most of the decision makers and board members [for female organizations] are white. But at the same time, they know and see that we need to have more diversity,” says Randi Gregory, a field organizer for NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio. While working with Planned Parenthood in Columbus, Gregory noticed large disparities in race between Planned Parenthood’s client base and its decision makers. Gregory also wanted to see more diversity in volunteers for both NARAL and Planned Parenthood so she started a happy hour for women of color to more easily integrate into the volunteer community. She hopes to bring similar events to women’s organizations in Cincinnati. Gregory capped off the conversation by stressing the importance of learning and discussing black feminism movement and the challenges that women of color face. Each panel member offered experiences and opinions that evoked laughter, head nods, and an apparent understanding through out a diverse group of attendees and topics. “When you’re used to privilege, equality feels like oppression,” Gregory said.
SHAE COMBS | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
A panel of students, administrators and community leaders speak about issues women of color face in society Wednesday, April 6, in TUC.
THE STUDENT VOICE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
FREE
2 / NEWS THURSDAY, APR. 7, 2016
UC Hyperloop wins Student Impact Symposium CLAUDE THOMPSON | STAFF REPORTER
The Office of Student Activities and Leadership Development (SALD) highlighted 15 group projects that engaged their communities or beyond, enriched the University of Cincinnati’s student base and fostered the impact each individual student can have Wednesday afternoon in Tangeman University Center. SALD featured high profile groups such as UC Hyperloop, the Programs and Activities Council, the Irate8, Colleges Against Cancer and other organizations and individuals. “We were really inspired by the purposefully engaged and impactful student and organizations that we have on campus,” said Kelsey Whittemore, a first-year marketing graduate student who assisted in coordinating the event. “A lot of them do a lot of really cool stuff, but they don’t have a platform to share that with the community, so we want to provide that platform for the students.” SALD challenged each presenting group to analyze their projects and identify how they matched with the five values the organization strives to uphold and represent: growth, diversity, integrity, leadership and community. After presentations concluded, the event moved to keynote presentations. UC Nutri-Ed, Solar Power for Ethiopia, the Irate8 and other groups gave in-depth examinations of their efforts to impact campus and beyond.
After the presentations ended, Student Government President Andrew Naab gave a speech on students’ leadership role in the community and the relationships people develop through their lives. The event concluded with an awards ceremony presented by SALD’s Interim Director Nicole Ausmer. Several judges assessed the groups to determine which one was the most impactful of the symposium. Individual winners received cash prizes redeemable at the UC bookstore. Organizational winners received larger cash contributions that will go towards operating expenses. UC Hyperloop was the symposium organizational winner for their design on the realization of a new form of travel. They advanced to the finals of a SpaceX competition and will show off their prototype this June in California. “For UC, this is going to have a great impact, because we’re the only university from the whole state of Ohio and the first in what we’re trying to do,” said Keerthana Rajan, a fifth-year electrical engineering student. “Everything that’s going to be new will be starting here.” Clean Up Cincy and the United Black Student Association were the runner-ups following UC Hyperloop. Ryan Gaffney, representing Leading to be Led and Colleges Against Cancer, won the individual award of $100 due to his work with a team that generated over $100,000
for the American Cancer Society. Madija Sandy, president of the Student Activities Board, won the runner-up individual award known as the Agent of Impact, with a $50 prize. “This has helped to cement our drive to keep pursuing this project,” said Dillon Standard, a second-year business economics student. “Everyone from the engineering students to the business students and DAAP students have been very dedicated to this.”
NICK BROWN | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Christopher Gonzalez (left), Yosef Krischner and Jacob Knorr present 3D printed prosthetics at the Studnet Impact Symposium in TUC Wednesday, April 6, 2016. Their group, EnableUC, seeks to produce pediatric prosthetics and arthritic assistive devices for children.
Service gives perspective LAUREN MORETTO | CHIEF REPORTER
GRETCHEN MARIE SEMANCIK | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Brian Kelley, fourth-year environmental studies student, talks about what is and what is not recyclable in TUC 300 April 5, 2016.
GRETCHEN MARIE SEMANCIK | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Brian Kelley, fourth-year environmental studies student, and Robbie Ludlum, third-year anthropology major, hosts a table with the Office of Sustainability to talk to students about sustainability and recycling April 5, 2016.
Recycling helps UC lower waste nearly two-thirds JUSTIN REUTTER | SENIOR REPORTER
When presented with a collection of objects, University of Cincinnati students had to decide which were recyclable and which were trash during a sustainability event on Tuesday, meant to highlight the school’s recycling programs. Since 2000, the University of Cincinnati decreased the amount of waste sent to landfills by 63 percent, according to UC Sustainability. The university achieved the reduction largely through recycling efforts. Currently, UC recycles more than half of its waste. However, UC could improve its recycling program tremendously, according to Brian Kelley, a fourth-year environmental studies student. UC recently achieved a one-to-one ratio of garbage cans to recycling bins, but even with more recycling bins, recyclables still end up dumped in regular dumpsters, defeating the recycling bins’ purpose. “Even if something is thrown in the recycling can, there is no guarantee that it will end up in a recycling dumpster,” said Kelley. UC Sustainability also spearheaded an initiative to ensure people are recycling properly at UC sporting events, according to Peter Moorhouse, director of UC
Sustainability. In 2007, volunteers began recycling during home football game tailgates. By the 2008 football season, the program expanded to include recycling during games and working with vendors to get cardboard and plastic bottles. In 2009, Bearcat Recycling expanded to other large events on campus such as Relay for Life and Sigma Sigma Carnival. “Students could mainly improve sustainability at UC by reducing consumption,” said Robbie Ludlum, a thirdyear anthropology student. The Office of Sustainability also supports Fossil Free UC in its recommendation of a five-year plan to divest from fossil fuel. Student Government voted down fossil fuel divestment on a 7-24 vote in early February after lengthy deliberation, but Fossil Free UC continues its campaign. The group plans to have the Board of Trustees vote on fossil fuel in the future. “To be clear, the support of Student Government is not something we saw or see as necessary, but rather the 2,000-plus petitions we have from students, faculty and the community,” according to the Fossil Free UC campaign. The organization has recently participated in a socially responsible investment forum, and will hold a cookout April 16.
Volunteers who traversed the world shared their experience as former Peace Corps volunteers took to the stage hoping to inspire others to consider how serving could enrich their lives and the lives of others Monday in MainStreet Cinema. Some said their desire for cross-cultural exchanges and new experiences was what led them to join the Peace Corps. “I wasn’t ready to sit behind a desk,” said Katie Sylvester, who served in Zambia providing preventative health services. “I knew I wanted to get out of my comfort zone.” For volunteers, there can be a lot of pressure going into their assignment. “The Peace Corps is the only occupation where you are put in charge at the very beginning of your service,” said Nick Hoesl, who served in Afghanistan. During his time there, he taught pharmacology to third-year medical students, oversaw the hospital pharmacy and acted as an English-speaking newscaster for radio. Clay Martin, who served in Ecuador, was just out of college when he volunteered. “They’re looking at you — a 23-year-old Lax bro — what to do to improve their life,” said Martin. “That’s the type of pressure that you have when you’re there.” New environments provide new challenges, as learned by many former volunteers. Naasham Marx served in Bangladesh working as an educator at an all-boys school. “I had about a hundred per class,” said Marx. “Windows, but no air conditioning, sometimes a fan, sometimes a light and the goats would come in every once in awhile.” For Hoesl, lack of resources presented a challenge while teaching in Afghanistan. “Try to imagine students working for their medical degree without the aid of their own textbooks,” said Hoesl. When returning to the U.S., some volunteers couldn’t help but have their experiences continue to impact their lives. “I thought, ‘There is no way in hell I’m going to move back to the U.S.,’” said Marx, who said she wouldn’t even get a cell phone or look for an apartment after returning home. For Martin, returning to the U.S. provided a humbling glimpse into the injustices
Report puts focus on diversity of SG LAUREN MORETTO | CHIEF REPORTER
A demographic report of the University of Cincinnati Student Government originally demanded by the Irate8 revealed underrepresentation in several demographics of gender, race and sexuality Wednesday. The report will likely be released to the public next week and available on the SG website. After sending out the survey in November, SG cross-referenced the data they received with that of the UC Student Fact Book from fall 2015. “The university is actually more female than male, but we are the opposite,” said SG Vice President Andrew Griggs. “It’s a big discrepancy.” SG is over 60 percent male according to the report. The overall female campus population is nearly 54 percent, according to the UC Student Fact Book. “Forty percent is pretty good, I don’t think it’s bad, but I think it can be way more,” said Alekhya Akkabeddi, a first-year electrical engineering graduate student. Diversity was also an area of concern, since SG is over 70 percent white, according to the report. “I think having the more diversity the better, so we have more views on issues and just like different ideas,” said Sarah Depage, a first-year biomedical engineering student. “Whatever to represent the whole student body population I think would be good.” The UC Student Fact Book does not list data on sexuality or gender identities as reflected by the student body. “Obviously this is an area that needs improvement,” said Griggs. Current recruitment efforts were brought into question as a culprit of underrepresentation and as a way to address future issues. “We are way more Greek than the university as a whole,” Griggs said. Over half of SG members are involved in Greek life, compared to less than a tenth of UC students. Griggs called for increased recruitment efforts geared towards reaching those underrepresented demographics. This report will allow SG to be more transparent about where they are and address how they plan to improve the demographic representation of the organization, Griggs said. SG also passed a bill to help increase bystander intervention and raise awareness for sexual violence. In partnership with local bar staffs, the bill aims to help students where they are the most
vulnerable by providing training to staff on predatory behavior, and how to make sure the students they are serving are not susceptible to that kind of behavior. SG voted to allocate $5,200 to fund campaign materials, training and work books. They also decided to reallocate $1,500 from their leadership development budget toward the total. “We don’t want the discussion of gender-based violence to only be held during Sexual Assault Awareness Month,” said SG President Andrew Naab. “We want it to be year-round.” The bill will be in partnership with the Student Wellness Center and training is expected to begin in June. “We’re very excited about this opportunity,” said Naab. “It’s something that we can provide one-time money for to get these programs off the ground and running.” Some senators questioned how the bill could aid residence hall advisors. “We get what to do after, and like protocol that way but not necessarily ways to prevent it,” said College of Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services Tribunal Senator Chris Cole. “Unfortunately gender-base violence doesn’t just occur at bars or parties, it occurs within the residence halls,” said Naab.
ALEXANDRA TAYLOR | PHOTO EDITOR
Vice President of SG Andrew Griggs presents the newly completed demographic survey of SG and senators.
communities like those his host family faced. “You go to Whole Foods, you get a pound of cacao, it might cost you $15, $16,” said Martin. “It’s tough to know that when I’m buying that, my host family, they’re sitting there making 60 cents.” Despite obstacles, all of the former volunteers expressed having no regrets. “It provided me a life that I would live a hundred times over,” said Sylvester. Nicole Hamme, a fourth-year communication student, is interested in serving in the health field for the Peace Corps. “I haven’t submitted officially,” said Hamme. “I’m just kind of deciding if now is the right time or if I want to wait.” As to why she’s interested in serving, Hamme shares the same hunger for adventure and experiencing new cultures expressed by the former volunteers. “I’m always looking for the next adventure,” said Hamme. “It’s all about friendship and community and just those things I’d want to bring all together and experience.” When asked if the presentation motivated them to do something, nearly everyone in attendance raised a hand. “It made me want to do more service,” said Amy Roberto, a fourth-year organizational leadership student. Each of the former volunteers brought lessons back with them from their time overseas. For Martin, his experience provided a mantra that guided him both during and after his service: “to be your own person, to dance your own truth.”
NICK BROWN | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Katie Sylvester speaks on her experiences while serving in Zambia for the Peace Corps in TUC Cinema, April 4, 2016.
NEWS BITES CAROLINE CORY | AMIR SAMARGHANDI | NEWS EDITORS
Amazon primes shipping options Cincinnatians will soon see free same-day shipping at the Amazon store ON 241 Calhoun St. Prime members can now receive free-same day shipping on orders of $35 or more. This option is not only available to those in the Queen City, but 27 other metro areas. It can be utilized all week. SSDP hosts final event For their final event, University of Cincinnati organization Students for Sensible Drug Policy has announced a silent art auction from 6-9 p.m. Monday in the African-American Cultural and Resource Center. The auction will not only serve as a place to buy and sell art but also as an outlet to create and perform art, such as visual art, poetry, rap and possibly standup comedy. All funds go to the Cincinnati Exchange Project, which provides a new syringe for every used syringe turned in, as an attempt to cut down shared needles. There will also be a collection for non-perishables, clothing and toiletries.
Tensing lawyer seeks DuBose records Ray Tensing — former University of Cincinnati police officer currently awaiting trial for the alleged murder of Samuel DuBose July 19 in Mt. Auburn— has hired attorney Stew Mathews, who is seeking DuBose’s medical records from Good Samaritan Hospital. The reason behind the request is unknown. A pretrial hearing is scheduled for May 10 with the trial slated to begin Oct. 24. A final investigative report by Exiger will be released to the public in June.
Weather Thursday will bring a high of 65 in the afternoon and a low of 45 with showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon. A high of 49 and a low of 29 are in Friday’s forecast with more rain in the afternoon. Saturday morning will bring a snow shower with a high of 41 and low of 23 There will be warmer weather on Sunday with a high of 52 and a low of 50, as well as rain in the afternoon.
ARTS / 3 THURSDAY, APR. 7, 2016
THURSDAY, APR. 7, 2016
Cozy cafe for crepes, coffee
BrewCats:
New colorful summer beers
RICHA KAVELAKAR | STAFF REPORTER
RUSSELL HAUSFELD | ARTS EDITOR
Christian Moerlein Lager House has added two new beers to their spring lineup, both full of fruity flavor to refresh your palette as the temperatures get hotter and hotter. Strawberry Pig Cream Ale and Plum Street Wheat Ale both celebrate the onset of warm weather and shine a spotlight on Cincinnati and its local businesses. A fan favorite from years past, Moerlein Lager House has reintroduced Strawberry Pig Cream Ale to their list of canned beers along with a contest to go along with it. The competition will begin at noon on April 16 at Findlay Markey, where people can get a can of Strawberry Pig Cream ale, as well as other strawberry-themed treats from other vendors. Participants in the competition will be chosen at random for a night full of food and craft beer sponsored by Moerlein Lager House. Celebrating a local Cincinnati business, Moerlein Lager House has partnered with Plum Street Café for their Plum Street Wheat Ale. “We wanted to make a unique beer that harkens back to the popular summer wheat beers of Germany,” said Eric Baumann, vice president of brewing operations. “To put a modern twist on it, we used a special malt in the mash, and plum puree later in the brewing process to give the beer a fruity, crisp flavor.” “As it turns out, plum is a popular flavor in Germany, so we loved how this beer honors our local heritage and our German traditions.” Plum Street Wheat Ale is a bubbly golden ale with a hint of purple and a light malt undertone. This beer is not released in can form, but can be found on draft or in 12-ounce bottle six packs. BrewCats is a weekly beer column published in TNR on Wednesdays.
PROVIDED
SHAE COMBS | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Crepe Guys is a new restaurant on Calhoun Street that features sweet and savory crepes as well as a full coffee bar.
Crepe Guys opened their doors a little under two months ago at 121 Calhoun St. This cozy, Parisian-style café is the second branch of Crepe Guys to open, with its original store in Indianapolis. Owner Sergey Novikov and his wife Olga moved from Russia to the United States in 1999 and now live in Cincinnati. “My stepdad got the idea of a crepe café when he was in Europe,” said Tim Ten, Novikov’s 19-year-old stepson and a café employee. Simultaneously trendy and homely, this endearing café gives off warm and welcoming vibes. On one side, we see a vintage-style brick wall, with the adjacent wall plastered from the ceiling to the floor in old-timey newspapers. There are only a few tables matching the denim-upholstered chairs, indicating that it is not uncommon for customers to take their crepes to go. A large flat screen television constantly runs footage of the breathtaking streets of France, giving this Parisian-style café an authentic feel. Ten is passionate about the music featured at the café, and likes to draw in customers with his choices. “I usually play indie-rock stations with The Black Keys, Foster The People and The Killers. Quite often we have the Fall Out Boy station playing too,”Ten said. Although they only serve crepes and coffee, the menu boasts an impressive variety. One of the signature coffees — the “Cafe Crepeguys” — is a rich cappuccino with hazelnut and chocolate syrup, topped off with whipped cream. The crepes are divided into two
Cincinnati chooses its first poet laureate RUSSELL HAUSFELD | ARTS EDITOR
Almost 200 years after its foundation as a city, Cincinnati finally named its very first poet laureate. Pauletta Hansel, a Cincinnati resident since 1979, will fill the position for the next two years. As poet laureate, Hansel — a graduate of Antioch University, Xavier University and Queens University in North Carolina — is expected to read and compose poetry for special events in Cincinnati and promote the artistic expression of poetry throughout the area. “Ms. Hansel’s writing is compelling,” Mayor John Cranley said in a press release. “Her poems evoke the type of emotional reaction and convey rich details that leave a lasting impression for the reader.” The criteria for becoming Cincinnati’s first poet laureate was that “the person must have written poetry that exemplifies the characteristics or spirit of Cincinnati,” according to the application. Hansel has written five collections of poetry in which she characterizes much of
Cincinnati, as well as the greater Appalachian area. Her poetry has also been featured in “The Writer’s Almanac” and “American Life in Poetry,” and the literary journals “Atlanta Review,” “Talisman,”“Appalachian Journal,”“Appalachian Heritage” and “Still: The Journal.” Hansel’s most recent publication of poetry, published by Dos Madres Press in 2015, was called “Tangle.” Her involvement with the local writing community helped her nomination for poet laureate. She leads writing workshops and retreats for writers around the Greater Cincinnati area. She is the managing editor for the publication of the Southern Appalachian Writers Cooperative, “Pine Mountain Sand and Gravel” and serves as a board member for Dos Madres Press. Cincinnatians eager to get to know their new poet laureate buy her poetry collections for an in-depth examination of her work. But for anyone on a tight budget who still wants a taste of Hansel’s writing,
the city of Cincinnati has provided a short collection of samples of Hansel’s work. “Home”: This poem was published in “AEQAI Journal” in 2014 and inspired by a writing experience with Over-the-Rhine residents in 2012. It is a touching piece that represents familiar, nostalgic imagery and themes to anyone who grew up in the Midwest, including squash growing in gardens, bacon on the stove in the morning and thick air after a bath. “Home,” she writes near the end of the poem, “is how people / need each other here; / in all of this / we’ve got to find the good / the way we’re glued / the ones who always seem to come / to be that glue; / the heart / we can’t let die.” “Familial Tremors”: A poem from Hansel’s most recent collection, “Tangle, is an ode to her mother. She writes about the strong woman who would sew her wool coats growing up, the woman who “pinned hems and seams / as we stood (Straight, now!) / on chairs wearing / the cloth cut neat.”The poem loops back to present day as her mother shows Hansel her
‘30 Americans’ features art against discrimination KARLY WILLIAMS | STAFF REPORTER
The mixed emotions and expressions of “30 Americans” — the newest exhibit at the Cincinnati Art Museum — explore how 30 of the most prominent black artists of the last three decades defined their own identity and community through art, or resisted the pressure to be defined by any part of their identity, whether it be race, gender or socioeconomic factors. A part of the Rubell Family Collection, the multimedia exhibition features iconic masters like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Glenn Lignon, whose flickering “America” light installation serves as the standout conceptual piece. Prior to being curated at the Cincinnati Art museum, the exhibition made its mark in a number of cities that have also been prominent in the struggle throughout history for racial equality, such as Washington, D.C. and Detroit. Many of the works act as celebratory or frustrated reflections on the predetermined social realities of each artist. Yet, some works choose to transcend the confined identity created in cultures, such as Nick Cave’s “Soundsuits,” — full body outfits composed from unconventional mediums, defining the wearer by nothing but eclectic colors and funky shapes. Kehinde Wiley’s prodigious 25-foot oil painting “Sleep,” presented in the main hallway of the museum, begins the exhibitions divulgence into exploring black masculinity and identity as her subject is portrayed in a reimagined modern day renaissance painting. Mickalene Thomas’s sultry “Hotter than July” dazzles viewers among other
categories — sweet and savory. S’mores and Pepperoni pizza are the best-selling crepes, respectively. The Nutella banana crepe is tender and buttery, smothered in Nutella and fresh banana slices. Both the coffee and crepes were absolutely delectable and satisfying. The ham and cheese crepe immediately dissolves in your moth. Soft, yet crunchy in all the right places. Crepe Guys previously used homemade batter but switched to crepe-mix, which is made in-house. Erin Pfeil, a fourth-year biology and anthropology student, tried the cinnamon caramel crepe, which was good enough to make her return. “It kind of tasted like french toast. It’s something I could eat for breakfast but sweet enough for dessert, too,” Pfeil said. “I’m an avid coffee drinker and I thought their black coffee was pretty good too.” Lana Elfar, a fourth-year biomedical sciences student, said it’s rare to find crepes in Cincinnati, and they’re too tricky to make at home. “I’m in love with the cream cheese strawberry crepe,” Elfar said. This one might be another popular flavor, since it was Ten’s personal favorite too. A refreshing change from the surrounding chain stores, a majority of the customers are college students and workers from nearby businesses. Open seven days a week with crepe prices ranging from $4.99 to $7.99, college students can treat themselves to these buttery delicacies without hurting their pockets.
female-centric works as the exhibition meanders into gender- and body-related pieces. Showing a reclining black woman in acrylic, overlaid in certain sections with rhinestones, Thomas’ piece praises black female power, as does Wangechi Mutu’s “Non, je ne regrette rien,” adding surrealist elements to the section. Separated from the main gallery sits another standout installation. The sobering “Duck Duck Noose” is Gary Simmons’ striking arrangement of Klu Klux Klan-style hoods sitting atop plain wooden stools that look like they could have been plucked from an elementary classroom’s reading circle. Simmons’ choice of title, a play on words relating to the innocent children’s game, embodies the reality of generational racism. Other pieces that focus on the earlier history of African American struggles, such as Leonard Drew’s freestanding cotton bale installation “Wall of Cotton,” make the impression that the repercussions of America’s historic
exploitation of black bodies is something white America has consistently failed to address in a proper manner, only choosing to look at impacting surface issues rather than digging to the roots of inequality — dismantling the construction of the bales. As an end to visitors’ explorations through the history, messages, politics and beauty presented by “30 Americans,” attendees were welcomed to share their feelings about the personal impact the works left with them on the #CAM30 wall, exceptionally ending an engaging experience with quiet reflection. An adjunct community resource room will be provided starting in May for visitors to learn more about the concepts and art presented, according to the Cincinnati Art Museum. On June 9, “30 Americans Plus . . . The Region,” will open at DAAP Galleries, featuring works from 30 Americans, as well as pieces by local black artists. “30 Americans” will run at the Cincinnati Art Museum through August 28th.
hands, which now shake with a tremor that will not “steady now for pin or pen.” “Why We Tell Stories”: In the poem — also published in “Tangle” — Hansel concisely answers the question of why humans feel so drawn to storytelling. She writes, “Because our lives do not / fit neatly into segments— / beginning, middle, end— / we find ways to pretend / there is a place / where things begin / and some conclusion reached / before we start again.” “Husbands”: This one was published in 2011 “Motif: All the Livelong Day,” and has since been published in three other collections. The poem is a comparative look at Hansel’s mother’s interactions with her own husband, and with Hansel’s husband. It provides an interesting look into the interactions between a mother and husbands — in the general sense. Hansel will be introduced during a formal ceremony April 15 at the Mercantile Library at 414 Walnut St., 11th floor. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
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“30 Americans” gallery is open at the Cincinnati Art Museum through Aug. 28, 2016.
4 / OPINION THURSDAY, APR. 7, 2016
Kroger catches up to times with trans inclusion poliCAROLINE CORY | NEWS EDITOR
RICK MAJEWSKI | ZUMA PRESS | TNS
Sarah Palin talks to a crowd of voters for Donald Trump’s campaign in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Monday, Feb. 1, 2016.
Sarah Palin needs to leave JEFF LEVLINE | OPINION EDITOR
Watching the body language of an audience is always telling, and I don’t mean “watching” in the way some pollsters do. One doesn’t need a focus group turning approve or disapprove dials to get a sense of how a speaker is fairing. So when Sarah Palin appeared before a multitude of disinterested faces Friday, I knew things wouldn’t go well for her. Yes, the former Alaska governor is still in the game. However, it seems that her charms have diminished since her “Hockey Mom” shtick first captivated Republicans in 2008. With all her gusto, Palin could only move her audience from a state of disinterest to one of bewilderment. She was speaking on behalf of Donald Trump to a gathering of Milwaukee Republicans, extolling the frontrunner as a job creator, among other things. It was somewhat bizarre to hear Palin mimicking Trump’s cadence, calling him a builder of “things, big things.” Her Trumpisms were dispersed throughout an 18-minute speech in which she set out three “common sense” policies: be “smart” about immigration; save blue-collar workers and create an “America first” foreign policy. Only one of these positions is consistent with the former Governor’s usual attitudes, namely her blatant anti-immigration and anti-immigrant stance. I say “anti-immigrant” because of her rather unsubtle distinction between immigrants and, in her words, “we the people.” But now for the contradictions. Channeling Trump, Palin spoke out against the crippling of the working class by outsourcing and deindustrialization. She further reminded the audience of that conservative Eden, the Reagan presidency, with its high tariffs that supposedly sheltered American workers. And as
all Reaganites must do, Palin called for a smaller government and free markets. Alas, one can’t have it both ways. It was the imposition of Reaganomics in the 1980’s that spurred the radical growth of inequality in the United States. The era’s visceral anti-union policies also ensured that the incomes of average American workers would stagnate. Reagan can’t be blamed for all our troubles, but his actions inaugurated the decades of deregulation and deindustrialization under which most working people continue to suffer. Palin can side with Reagan or she can side with workers, but she can’t do both. The comments Palin offered on foreign policy were somewhat more sophisticated than those she made in 2008, but also seem contradictory. The most obvious inconsistency was her concern about “nation building.” Apparently Mr. Trump does not excel at building of this kind. In 2008, Palin was a supporter of both wars in the Middle East, and the Afghanistan war in particular. Along with her running mate, Senator John McCain, Palin advocated the Iraq troop surge and a redoubling of American efforts in Afghanistan. To be sure, Palin’s position on nation building has oscillated. She both opposed and supported American involvement in Syria and Libya, criticizing the Obama administration first for acting too slowly and later for going too far. It seems that she doesn’t have one consistent attitude on how American power should be used abroad. Contradictions aside, Sarah Palin’s magic is gone. In the past, she enjoyed the adoration of countless conservatives. But now she can’t even get a rise out of a small Republican meeting. Why Trump is still allowing her to speak on his behalf is beyond me.
The Kroger Company has begun providing a unisex bathroom option in a move to accommodate individuals whose needs go beyond gender-assigned restrooms. This is unsurprising in light of Cincinnati’s LGBTfriendly history in recent months. In February, city council members voted 7-2 to ban conversion therapy, protecting gay and trans people from this harmful practice. Kroger, headquartered in Cincinnati, is the largest nationwide grocery chain, serving customers since 1883. By incorporating unisex restrooms in several of its stores, Kroger is making a political statement. The company is demonstrating their support for the progressive and pro-minority trend in American politics. One example of the chain’s politics is found in conservative Athens, Georgia. Kroger employees hung up signs near restroom doors that state, “Sometimes gender-specific toilets put others in uncomfortable situations.” The signs argue that bathrooms should give people in unique circumstances the option to do what is best for them, regardless of whether they are part of the LGBTQ community. “We want to provide a place for people who are: dads with daughters; moms with sons; parents with disabled children; those in the LGBTQ community and adults with aging parents who may be physically or mentally disabled.” Because the very idea of gender is currently under debate, this change is a move in the right direction. Hopefully, other grocery chains follow Kroger’s lead. This move also promotes individualism by noting that each person’s situation is different and that customers should be
comfortable where they shop. Consider these examples. A man is taking his elderly mother out to pick up a few items from the supermarket. She needs to the restroom but cannot go by herself, and her home hospice is not with her. The man must decide which restroom would be better to take her to, but existing gender norms restrict him. Someone is undergoing femaleto-male transition. This individual may not feel comfortable in a women’s restroom even though the individual is biologically a woman. This person may have to think twice before deciding which restroom to enter. With Kroger’s decision, circumstances similar to these will not be a problem. More than ever, Americans are catching up with the times. They are supporting minority rights and it’s making history. It is long overdue, but Kroger is making the right decision by going genderneutral. While I am still waiting to see these signs of inclusiveness at my local Kroger store, it is encouraging to know that there are changes being made. I would encourage everyone to be like Kroger: be aware of the LGBTQ community and be more sensitive to those who may be in situations differing from your own.
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PUZZLE Apr. 4 puzzle’s answer:
Across 1 “Yeah, like that’s gonna happen” 5 “That’s clear now” 9 Honored with a big bash 14 New Jersey or California city 15 French champagne maker founded in Germany 16 Bakery lure 17 Maximum impact
19 Olympic racer since 2008 20 Staggering dizzily 21 Get dizzy 23 “__ out!” 25 Suffix with switch 26 DJ’s stack 27 Accessory for notetaking 31 __ Wiedersehen 33 Lang. of Florence 34 Close pal 40 Slush __
41 JFK overseer 42 Food Network’s “Beat Bobby __” 43 Healthy, with “in” 47 IRS agent 48 Ukr. neighbor 49 Softball of a question 51 Little newt 54 Pokes fun at 57 Baseball : ump :: football : __ 58 Beach footwear
61 British elevators 65 What the suffix “phile” means 66 Achilles’ heel 68 Stood 69 Italian automaker since 1899 70 Melt fish 71 Tentative bite 72 Airing, as a sitcom 73 Safecracker
Down 1 __ Romeo: sports car 2 Like lemons 3 Doing nothing 4 Office cabinet document holder 5 Texter’s “If you ask me” 6 Browse websites 7 Oscars host, e.g. 8 Mideast VIP 9 British Invasion nickname 10 Humorist Bombeck 11 Poisonous 12 Correct, as text 13 Game that drives home a point?
18 Envelope part 22 Pumpernickel buy 24 U.K. fliers 27 Annoy 28 Storage case for tiny scissors 29 “Death in Venice” author Thomas 30 Senseless 32 Six for you, six for me, e.g. 35 Posed 36 Bit of folklore 37 Giggly Muppet 38 Tandoori bread 39 Physics unit 44 On the house 45 Disney’s “__ and the Detectives”
46 Place for a hoop 50 Get bought up quickly 51 Key above D 52 Fauna’s partner 53 Records for later, in a way 55 Super, at the box office 56 Where rain falls mainly on the plain 59 Bothersome insect 60 Doc’s “Now!” 62 Santa’s access 63 Zesty flavor 64 Loot 67 Off-road transport, briefly
COLLEGE LIFE / 5 THURSDAY, APR. 7, 2016
THURSDAY, APR. 7, 2016
Talk expands reproductive rights beyond women EMILY HETTERSCHEIDT | STAFF REPORTER
Reproductive rights, an issue some believe is overlooked in today’s society, brought forward discussion for the LGBTQ community at the University of Cincinnati. Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity (URGE) hosted a queer reproductive rights panel open for all students in Swift Hall Tuesday. Though the Queering Reproductive Justice panel had few attendants, it involved thorough discussion on queer people’s involvement in reproductive rights. The meeting began with a presentation, in which Nik Worstell, a third-year sociology and women’s gender studies and sexuality student, discussed the problem of white, middle class, heterosexual, cisgender women being the only ones discussed when it comes to reproductive rights. “Most people, when they hear ‘reproductive justice,’ the first things they think of are most likely abortion and sometimes also sex-ed, but there’s a lot more to it than that,” said Taylor Haynes, a third-year political science, philosophy and women’s gender and sexuality studies student. The presenting students also explained the concept of the word “queer” being a verb, meaning to look at existing issues or discussions in the light of a queer context.
Worstell also explained that URGE used the term “queer” as a reclaimed word, meaning they were using it to include the many different sexualities and not in the derogatory way that it has been used for many years. The presentation also brought attention to the Kinsey scale, the difference between sexuality and romance, and the concept of gender. After the presentation, there was a discussion with the presenters and the attendees over reproductive rights, sexual education and sexual violence. All of these topics were discussed in a queer context. The few people that were present for the panel were eager to have discussions about these topics. “The choice to have a baby or not have a baby is the only thing we want to reduce it down to,” said Amy Schlag, the director of UC’s LGBTQ Center. The ability for people to make the choices they want or need is an important thing, and brings up many points about the unjust laws regarding reproductive justice in the U.S., according to Schlag. The overall goal of the panel and of the URGE group itself is to inform others that queer people need their voice heard when it NICK BROWN | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER comes to reproductive rights, especially in Reproductive and Gender Equity (URGE) discusses reproductive justice within the heterosexual and the LGBTQ a world where it is hard for them to obtain communities in Swift Hall, April 5, 2016. basic human rights, according to Schlag.
Ice cream party with LGBTQ brings comfort SAMANTHA HALL | COLLEGE LIFE EDITOR
GRETCHEN MARIE SEMANCIK | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Madeline Finn (left), third-year anthropology and history student, Emily Underwood, and Cassie Johnson, third-year anthropology student, come to LGBTQ events not just for the free ice cream, but also to show support for friends, family and other members of the LGBTQ community, April 5, 2016 in Steger.
In search for a safe place, complete with events that highlight diversity and inclusivity, University of Cincinnati students sought solidarity in the LGBTQ Center in honor of QueerCat Pride Week. Ali Davis, a faculty member of the LGBTQ Center, brought tubs of Edy’s Ice Cream, including flavors of vanilla, cookies and cream and caramel delight, along with a variety of toppings. The LGBTQ Center is considered home for many students, including Katie Garrett, a first-year exploratory student. Garrett began attending events hosted by the LGBTQ Center at the beginning of her first semester and found comfort in the community right away. “There’s just a lot of nice people,” said Garrett. Garrett enjoys the community aspect that is offered by the LGBTQ Center, providing a set group of people to spend time with. The LGBTQ Center has become less of a workplace and overtime grown into a warm environment where students are able to speak freely and candidly on life experiences with peers and faculty. When going to the LGBTQ Center, students encounter quotes
by Maya Angelou and Audre Laude, which are there to “bring enlightenment to people,” said Davis. The calming social space is bannered from wall to wall with inspirational rainbow posters and flags, decorating the room to match the organization’s colorful and diverse community members. While enjoying the sweet treat, students sat in a group to discuss personal stories and experiences that occurred throughout the semester, including involvement with UC Alliance and the queer community. UC Alliance is an organization that aims to create a social and educational atmosphere for students, and meets every Wednesday at 7 p.m. in 3240 Campus Recreation Center, a group Garrett stands strongly with. Each student left with a bowl filled with the ice cream of their choice, and Davis passed rainbow t-shirts around for everyone in attendance. The LGBTQ Center has a staff of student workers, helping directly with the faculty when creating events and building a community. “I used to be a student worker, but then I had to get a real job,” said Davis.
6 / SPORTS THURSDAY, APR. 7, 2016
RallyCats uses Bearcat Friday to build relationships DAVID WYSONG | SPORTS EDITOR
RallyCats, a student-run organization at the University of Cincinnati, harps on showing school spirit at sporting events. However, few know that one of their most important rituals does not take place at any team competition or practice. Every Friday during the past four school years, a small group of RallyCat members assembled at the Richard E. Lindner Athletic Center to converse with members of the Athletic Department and pass out candy. This tradition is called Bearcat Friday. The personal relationships built on Bearcat Fridays opens up other doors for them and in turn brings more people to games, said Colin Baker, RallyCats’ vice president of external affairs. “Through things like this we have been able to practice with the teams so we can not only know the coaches better, but also know the athletes, and that’s what brings people to games because they have a personal connection,” Baker said. Mike Huber, RallyCats’ director of spirit,
agreed with Baker, saying Bearcat Friday is more than just passing out candy. “Pretty much every time we go to those offices we sit there, we talk with them for a bit,” Huber said. “There will be times where we stop in an office and next thing you know we’re in a meeting, talking about something they want to see, what we want to see from them. It’s pretty crazy.” Sam Burroughs, UC’s associate head cross-country coach and assistant track and field coach, reflected how invaluable it is to receive support from the RallyCats. “It’s great to have the support from not just the athletic department but the student body in general,” Burroughs said. “We understand that football and basketball are going to get the big crowds, but to have it in the Olympic sports as well, whether it’s tennis, swimming and diving or us here at track and field, it’s good to have the crowds, have the support, and the Olympic sports are also recognized at a real high level at the University of Cincinnati.” For more information about being a part of RallyCats go to ucrallycats.com.
NICK BROWN | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Students from the RallyCats Club celebrate Bearcat Friday weekly by going to every office in the Lindner building and handing out candy.
Bearcats strike out against Wright State ADAM KING | STAFF REPORTER DAVID WYSONG | SPORTS EDITOR
EMERSON NEWSOME | PROVIDED BY UC ATHLETICS
Golf teams not up to par DAVID WYSONG | SPORTS EDITOR
The University of Cincinnati’s men’s and women’s golf teams competed in separate tournaments Monday and Tuesday. Both teams struggled, but saw impressive individual performances. The women tied for eighth place out of 16 teams at the Web.com Event and the men finished 10th out of 16 in the Old Waverly Collegiate Championship. Junior Ashley Cassidy anchored the women, ending the tournament tied for 12th place. Senior Emerson Newsome highlighted the men, placing in a tie for 10th. “I’m super proud of Ashley for her great rounds today,” said women’s head coach Janet Carl on Monday. “The great thing that we are seeing is that several players have the ability to lead our team on any given day. This team has worked so hard and are starting to see the rewards.” Doug Martin, the men’s head coach, talked positively about his leading player as well. “Blake did some really good things today,” Martin said on Monday. “He’s starting to show signs of becoming a more consistent player.” The women ended in eighth place Monday and kept pace, remaining there at the tournament’s end and finishing 36-over par and with a 900 total score. Carl eluded to the poor weather on Tuesday playing a role in her team’s performance. “There were tough conditions of play today,” Carl said. “The winds were much stronger and the hole locations demanded aggressive golf shots. I was very proud of the entire team for sticking to their processes.” The Bearcats are ranked No. 130 in the latest Golfstat rankings, but finished the tournament in front of three teams above them in the rankings. They beat out No. 85 University of South Florida, who finished 10th, No. 104 Mercer University, who tied for 11th and No. 115 University of Maryland, who was 15th out of 16 teams. “Everyone contributed to our team success,” Carl said. “I hope they have learned that they elevated their game by the ranking of the teams we beat. It’s time to refocus on what we need to work on for the American Athletic Conference Championship.” Middle Tennessee State University won the tournament, finishing 9-over par with a 873 overall score. The men began their tournament slow, placing 12th after the first day of play. “We have struggled the last few weeks to get off to a good start,” Martin said. “We continue to make mistakes at key moments that prevent us from climbing in the standings. We’ll keep plugging away though and find a way to improve.” Cincinnati jumped up two spots in the standings after the final round Tuesday, finishing 34-over par with a total score of 898. McNeese State University won the Old Waverly Collegiate Championship, as they were 2-over par with a total score of 866. The women will have individual competitors at the Valparaiso University Crusader/Jaguar Challenge, April 9-10 in Valparaiso, Indiana, and the men will be competing in the Hoosier Invitational on the same days in Bloomington, Indiana.
DAVID GIFREDA | CONTIBUTOR
Connor McVey, No. 18, makes it back to first base just before the Wright State pitchers throw, Tuesday April 5, 2016 at Marge Schott Stadium.
The University of Cincinnati baseball team fell 7-5 to the Wright State University Raiders Tuesday, despite a strong comeback attempt in the eighth inning. “We learned tonight, what we already knew,” said UC head coach Ty Neal. “They are a good baseball team. They are having success… Success we haven’t even achieved, but hope to very soon.” The Bearcats trailed by four runs going into the bottom of the eighth inning, but scored two runs, cutting the deficit to two. They left two runners on base in the inning ― after leaving eight on throughout the night ― and then could not take advantage of the Raiders bullpen in the ninth. Neal spoke about the team’s effort during their comeback attempt, but said pitching was the problem Tuesday. “There’s grit and fight and want to and heart and all that,” Neal said. “But we weren’t good enough on the mound tonight to overcome. We’d come back and then create another big inning on the mound.” Six pitchers toed the rubber for the Bearcats, giving up seven runs and only striking out five batters. Only one pitcher ― redshirt junior Colton Cleary ― did not give up a run as he just gave up one hit and struck out two batters through two innings. “We gave up nine free passes today, six walks and three hit by pitch and Wright State is a good team, so it’s tough to beat good teams when you do that,” Neal said. “That puts too much pressure on our offense, every single inning when we’re fighting to comeback, that’s a lot of pressure on our guys offensively.” Despite the pressure, UC did find some success at the plate against the Raiders. Sophomores Ryan Noda and Manny Rodriguez, as well as senior Woody Wallace, each recorded two hits on the night, marking the seventh time this season at least three Bearcats have recorded multiple hits in a single game. Cincinnati batters combined for 11 hits on the night and were only struck out four times. As UC gets deeper into the season, the team will need to worry about the stamina of their pitchers. “The longer the season goes the more pitching that is needed in conference games,” Neal said. “We need some guys who hadn’t been throwing as much to step up and take the opportunity tonight.” The Bearcats are now 14-14 on the season and 2-1 in American Athletic Conference play. They are currently in third place in the AAC standings behind the University of Central Florida and East Carolina University. Cincinnati begins a three-game series against the University of Connecticut over the weekend. The first game will begin 6 p.m. Friday at Marge Schott Stadium. The team will get a chance for revenge against Wright State, playing them at 3 p.m. Tuesday.
Eager support for soccer team’s Nippert debut AMIR SAMARGHANDI | NEWS EDITOR
They stood there looking the oddest sight — out-of-place men clad in orange and blue like lost New York Mets fans, clutching flags of countries as varied as England, Guam and Australia — this brigade of lost souls was seemingly alone. But they kept coming. And they cheered, chanted and sang, despite a hostile cold that Cincinnati’s spring had sprung upon them — these newly-minted supporters of the Queen City’s new North American Soccer League (NASL) third division profession soccer team, F.C. Cincinnati. F.C. Cincinnati opened their very first appearance at Nippert Stadium with a scrimmage against a University of Dayton organized program. The NFL’s omniscient JumboTron, the NBA’s incessant splicing of hard rock classics as teams dribble up the court, the
MLB’s screeching walk-up music: none of these contrived methods of crowd noise were present when the Flyers and F.C. Cincinnati played. Instead, it was pure, embryonic enthusiasm. The chants were primitive and catchy — the team’s name to the tune of “Don’t You Want Me Baby?” by ‘80s group The Human League — and the noise levels quite solid for a sparsely attended friendly against a second-string college team. “We gathered all different kinds of fans — lifelong soccer fans, newcomers to the game, locals, international students — and we’re all excited to support a new team,” said Payne Rankin, a graduate assistant in communication. Rankin was one of several people holding flags representing the nationalities of F.C. Cincinnati players. And each of them seemed genuinely excited to be a part of something new, a fresh athletic endeavor in the city that
NICK BROWN | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
FC Cincinnati midfielder Alvaro Anton Ripoll feints between defenders in a friendly match against the University of Dayton at Nippert Stadium Tuesday April 5, 2016.
birthed professional baseball and its first franchise, the Cincinnati Reds. The support kept filling the stadium as the night went on, and they were varied — some understood the local mindset and thought the team could be popular if they were successful. “It’s important we support them loudly, we’re a short-tempered fan base in Cincinnati. Staying consistent and loud from the beginning — that’s huge,” said Luke Beckwith, a third-year electronic media student. Others were there to experience and contribute to soccer’s unique atmosphere. “We’re used to American football, but where I’m from we love soccer the most. It’s definitely not the same, it’s something special. It’s exciting to be on the ground floor,” said Hien Nguyen, a third-year informational technology student from Vietnam who was among a throng of international students contributing to the ambiance. Dayton ended up winning the game 1-0 on a curling effort in the seventh minute, but the support waxed rather than waned, despite the cold night growing longer. F.C. Cincinnati sold over 10,000 tickets for Saturday’s official home opener against fellow league opponent Charlotte Independence, yet the pressure is still on the club to do better. Fellow fledgling soccer start-up Sacramento Republic F.C. had 11,569 at their home opener, and the competition to advance up the NASL divisions and eventually land in Major League Soccer is fierce. Alexi Lalas, former U.S. international and Fox Sports soccer pundit, said the club needs to strongly consider getting its own stadium if it is to be serious about entering the highest tier of American professional soccer. “It certainly has some merit, but there’s no telling. We just need to support our team and be the best fans,” said Rankin.