‘THE BOOK OF LIFE’
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THE NEWS RECORD
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014
Student government members support Ohio House bills CASSIE MERINO | CHIEF REPORTER
As midterm elections begin, Student Government is doing its part to get more involved with Cincinnati politics. SG passed a bill Wednesday that would support Ohio state House Bill 382: Motor Vehicle Nonconsensual Towing Penalties-Procedures. This will change towing laws in private residential property, including parking lots and apartment complexes, which directly impacts students. Passage of the house bill would implement various changes to the towing procedures: towing companies would be required to accept credit cards, could not charge more than $90 for the first 24 hours the car is in their possession and can only charge you a maximum of $130, and the company has to supply the name, address, hours of operation and phone number of the company the car is being towed to. Another change this bill proposes would allow the car owner to remove from the vehicle any personal items that are not attached to it. This would include any licenses, proof of registration and more. If a company fails to provide this information to a student or anyone being towed, it would be a firstdegree misdemeanor. “I am in full support of this; it really just comes
down to common sense,” said Shivam Shah, student government vice president. An important issue SG tabled was the House Bill 424, which would make it illegal for employers and universities to ask for personal social media and email usernames and passwords. The University of Cincinnati currently does not make students provide their personal social media passwords, but select SG members are worried the university will start requiring students to provide their password information as social media becomes more prevalent. “I think we should support this resolution because if they do not [implement these] measures to prevent these things from happening, then they will actually happen,” said Michael Dudley, College-Conservatory of Music tribunal senator. SG tabled the discussion and vote for the support of this bill because some members felt they needed to do more research on the topic. Many are in support because they said it is breaching privacy. Another bill that was brought to SG and passed was for a UC AirportRide program. The program will give 660 students the opportunity to obtain free transportation to the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) during finals week before MADISON SCHMIDT | PHOTO EDITOR
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To get into the Halloween spirit, SG members wore costumes to the Oct. 29 meeting in TUC.
NIGHTRIDE APP REVAMPS EXPERIENCE Obama urges calm,
praises Ebola workers
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The mobile application was completed in September. It is currently undergoing trials and adressing issues before it is released to UC’s students. JOEL MCGRINDER | CONTRIBUTOR
The University of Cincinnati App Lab developed a mobile app this fall that will bring the convenience of NightRide services to students’ fingertips upon the conclusion of its test drive. “The new system will allow more students to take advantage of this great service by providing them the ability to request a ride with just a few taps on their smartphone,” said Asif Riaz, App Lab IT manager.“Also, by getting status alerts and more insight into wait times and van locations, the students would be able to better plan their activities on campus.” Along with a variety of convenient new features, the new app is predicted to alleviate student frustrations regarding the current NightRide system, which consists of eight vans operating from 8 p.m. to midnight Sunday through Wednesday and 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. Ling Huang, first-year business student, said that getting a hold of NightRide is difficult. “An app would be more convenient,” Huang said. Huang was not the only student experiencing issues. “Sometimes you have to wait 20 to 30 minutes for the call to go through,” said Kshi
Dij, a second-year computer science graduate student. The mobile app allows students to avoid busy call lines by requesting a ride with the touch of a button. “Users would have the ability to request a ride instantly without worrying to get through to the call center during peak times,” Riaz said.“Further, users would be able to track the status of their rides once submitted and get alerts via push notifications.” The app would not only be helpful to students, but also to NightRide personnel – expediting the transportation process even further. Currently, calls are received at the NightRide call center in Edwards and ride requests are stored on Excel spreadsheets, which are shared with drivers over Google Docs, said Michael Bond, a NightRide driver. This process is done manually and is timeconsuming. “We receive at least 30 calls per night every day of the week, 50 to 60 calls during weekends and about 10,000 calls a month,” Bond said. When drivers respond to nearly 10,000 calls a month, hearing a busy tone when calling is no surprise – especially during weekends. In order to create a link between student and driver, the App Lab developed a
correlating app for NightRide drivers known as Dravigator. “The Dravigator app will provide each van a sorted list of rides that it needs to service and easy touch options to help serve each ride,” Riaz said.“For dispatchers and [administrators], it would be reduction in call volume, automatic routing and queuing of incoming requests and real-time tracking of NightRide vans from anywhere.” The mobile app was created at the beginning of the fall 2014 semester and is undergoing trials, or “pilots,” to ensure there is minimal impact on the quality of the existing NightRide service. “Initial development of the app was completed in early September and then followed by a limited pilot,” Riaz said.“During the pilot we learned some critical things, like vans also accept students who simply walk up to the vans, the new apps are data heavy and there are some network issues.” Riaz said The App Lab is currently resolving these problems discovered from results of the initial pilot. “We are taking a pause to address and work around these issues and we hope to bring the system back again in a few weeks for the second pilot and then a full release will follow soon after.”
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Tuesday said the Ebola epidemic can be halted if the United States doesn’t give in to fear and adopts “sensible” monitoring requirements for health-care workers whom he said were “doing God’s work” in West Africa, where the virus is raging. “This disease can be contained. It will be defeated,” Obama said on the South Lawn of the White House after a call with members of a U.S. Agency for International Development team that’s been working in West Africa since early August. But, he cautioned, the U.S. “has to keep leading the global response. America cannot look like it is shying away.” Obama also spoke Tuesday with Amber Vinson, one of two Dallas nurses who contracted Ebola from a patient who caught it in West Africa, and he said it was important to note that two people got Ebola on American soil and that both were now free of the disease. The only American still being treated for Ebola is Craig Spencer, a New York physician who contracted the disease in Guinea. Earlier Tuesday, Vinson hugged each member of her medical team at Emory University Hospital before being discharged from the facility. “After a rigorous course of treatment and thorough testing, we have determined that Miss Vinson has recovered from her infection with Ebola virus and that she can return to her family, to the community and to her life without any concerns about transmitting this virus to any other individuals,” Dr. Bruce Ribner, the medical director of Emory’s Serious Communicable Disease Unit, said at a news conference. Vinson had been in isolation since Oct. 15. Vinson is the seventh patient in the epidemic to recover from Ebola after treatment in one of the nation’s four biocontainment units. Obama’s remarks in Washington came a day after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidelines for U.S. doctors, nurses and other health-care workers returning to the United States. The administration had pressured the governments of New York state and New Jersey to loosen what it saw as overly restrictive quarantine restrictions imposed late last week after the New York doctor was hospitalized with Ebola. Obama didn’t mention either state in his remarks, but he called the new CDC guidelines “sensible, based in science and tailored to the unique circumstances of each health worker.”
University serves as frontrunner in nationwide facial surgery network Researchers use feedback to improve surgery practices, patient experience ELYSSE WINGET | STAFF REPORTER
Dr. Deepak Krishnan is the co-principal investigator of the research.
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The University of Cincinnati became a frontrunner in the nation’s first practicebased research network for a unique type of oral surgery after a UC doctor became a co-principal investigator in the study. Oral maxillofacial surgery is a unique hybrid of plastic surgery, dentistry and medicine that achieves normality of appearance and function of a patient’s facial structure. The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon PracticeBased Research Network (PBRN) allows practitioners across the nation to conduct practice-based research trials and use the patients’ results to draw conclusions and improve practice. UC was one of the first members of the network, which was created in April. “This is the first ever practice-based research network in oral maxillofacial
surgery,” said Dr. Deepak Krishnan, associate professor in the department of surgery and co-principal investigator of the research. “Nowhere else in the world has this been attempted.” Krishnan said the network’s main objective is to improve the overall experience of a patient’s surgery. “Let’s look at the commonalities; let’s look at the trends; let’s look at how we can make life better for these patients regardless of who’s doing it and where they’re doing it,” Krishnan said. Because the trials depend on the patients’ personal feedback, Krishnan said the practice-based research trials are “for the patients and by the patient,” which makes them stand apart from other research trials of their kind. “We are also working with the IRB — Institutional Review Board [of UC] — to bring together thousands of patients throughout the country and analyze their outcomes,” Krishnan said. The majority of the work will be completed at UC’s research facilities,
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making UC the frontrunner of the project. Krishnan described the trials as being rather simplistic because the patients’ feedback is the main component of the research. “They don’t really put a burden on the average practitioner,” Krishnan said. Practitioners will each have a tablet to record patients’ pre- and post-surgery conditions. These results will then be sent to individuals such as Krishnan to be evaluated. Krishnan said they will focus on comparing surgery outcomes to evaluate whether or not waiting to conduct surgery has an effect on the patient — cost, appearance or function. “We want to know if there is an outcome difference in just waiting and if so, what is that difference,” Krishnan said. “What does that do to the safety of the patient, the standards of the care, the cost of the care?” Dr. Krishnan is also excited by the university’s momentum. “It’s a nationwide coming-together SEE RESEARCH PG 3
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Providing elements of fantasy through computer-generated graphics, the film and musical gives a glimpse into Mexican culture for children, its primary audience, but also entertains adults with its imagery.
‘Book of Life’ visits Mexico with crisp animation Reel FX graphics create fantastical world in 3D film that focuses on teaching children about culture RUSSELL HAUSFELD | STAFF REPORTER
With a target audience that is relatively young, “The Book of Life” is a great opportunity for kids to be introduced to and appreciate a culture that is rarely depicted in childhood media. A constantly evolving visual style that is not afraid to spotlight the beauty of Mexican heritage and tradition is what really makes the film stand out, and what has put Reel FX Creative Studios on the radar in the animation community. Equipped with heavy-hitting director Jorge Gutierrez and producer Guillermo del Toro, the animation team at Reel FX Creative Studios have tackled a story that was turned down by DreamWorks in 2007: “The Book of Life.” This film is a chance for the relatively unknown Reel FX animators to show what they can bring to the table. The only other feature films with their credits are “Free Birds” (2013) and “Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away“ (2012), which received mixed reviews from critics. With 10 direct-to-video films, it is safe to say that we hadn’t seen anything spectacular from Reel FX. Enter “The Book of Life.” Pushing the boundaries of design and visual experience, “The Book of Life” has shifted the image of Reel FX to a studio with some real potential. It is not often that a good animated movie hits theaters without Pixar, DreamWorks or Ghibli attached to it.
Admittedly, the visuals start out slightly flat and bland, as a bus full of children is unloaded at a museum. However, when the tour guide leads the children down a secret passage to a chamber that holds the Book of Life, everything changes. There is a visual evolution as the walls erupt with Mexican artwork—skulls, masks and glaring pastels of every color. The celebration of Mexican art and culture is a real treat to the eyes and ignites a spark of excitement for what will come next. The tour guide then gets out a box of immaculate wooden dolls that come to life as she tells the story of Manolo (voiced by Diego Luna), Maria (Zoe Saldana) and Joaquin (Channing Tatum). These three friends are at the center of a bet between the rulers of the Land of the Remembered and the Land of the Forgotten, the two worlds where souls of the dead go. If the dead are remembered by the living, they inhabit a colorful, vibrant world with their relatives who have passed on. But if they are forgotten by the living, they waste away in the Land of the Forgotten for eternity. Xibalba, who rules the Forgotten, bets that Joaquin will marry Maria. La Muerta, who rules the Remembered, bets that Manolo will marry her. If Xibalba wins, he gets to rule La Muerta’s realm. If he loses, he is never allowed to mess with the affairs of the living again. While the story has a complex setup, on-screen the conflicts are solved a bit too conveniently. At one point, Manolo is able to cheat death because — as a character named The Candlemaker tells us — his “pages [in The Book of Life] are blank, he is writing his own story.”
Editor’s Pick: The newest album releases, reviewed ZACK HATFIELD | ARTS EDITOR
PROVIDED/MASS APPEAL
Run the Jewels: “Run the Jewels 2” PROVIDED/MATADOR
Thurston Moore: “The Best Day” Sonic Youth front man Thurston Moore’s new solo album doesn’t see him deviating much from his formula: catchy riffs, guttural vocals, occasional nowave distortion. But it’s a formula that works. Moore made headlines earlier this year after divorcing his wife and bandmate of more than 20 years, bassist Kim Gordon, but this album doesn’t seem like any sort of gut-wrenching breakup album. And although the cover depicts a vintage black and white photograph of his mother in the ’40s, the album doesn’t ruminate of the past. Instead, “The Best Day” sounds like a rebellious declaration of warfare. Moore’s artillery: his sputtering solos, dissonant rhythms, crunchy bar chords and lyrics that do the job, but can sometimes sound like high school poetry. “Speak to the wild/reach for the wire/protect your child/from empty empires,” he growls in a nicotine-laced voice on albumopener “Speak to the Wild.” Moore also introduces a couple of more folky songs, including the tinny and acoustic “Tape,” which has a Robert Plant-esque vibe to it, as well as “Vocabularies,” a song with a pace that feels a little misplaced on this album. Although Moore’s new album doesn’t capture the voltage and inventiveness we might want — and seems to be Moore going on indie/garage band-autopilot — it’s pretty close to any Sonic Youth LP, and isn’t that what we really want anyway? RECORD DESIGN BY HANNAH SELLERS | LEAD DESIGNER
Not too many hip-hop acts are as universally acclaimed as Run the Jewels. Consisting of hip-hop duo Killer Mike and EL-P, they’ve released an energetic sequel to their eponymous debut. After a switch to Mass Appeal’s label, the tracks are mixed superbly — sound effects are crisp and lyrics on each song violently spit out over a rapid tempo like machine-gun fire. Synthesized basslines and samples that sound like they’re stolen from arcade games propel the album’s chaos while creating a riveting world of sound EL-P and Killer Mike are more than willing to give you a tour of — a world of class disparities, religion, terrorism, immeasurable violence and hardworking drug dealers trying to feed their families. After listening to “Lie, Cheat, Steal,” which provides an angry commentary on class and race, it becomes obvious that what makes RTJ different is that it’s musically and lyrically grownup rap that takes itself seriously. “Close Your Eyes (And Count to F—)” gives us an incinerating feature from Zach De La Rocha (from Rage Against the Machine) over a climactic, explosive beat that might be his best effort yet. “The only thing that close quicker than our caskets be the factories,” he ends with, reminding us that his political activism against the Machine is still alive and well. RTJ2 is a feat of boundless vision, and hopefully the effort will spark the interest for curious listeners who haven’t heard them yet.
This idea of unwritten destiny is explained through the fact that he always wanted to be a musician, even though his father wanted him to be a bullfighter. So, he has never followed his destiny. Although this plot line seems like a typical teenage dilemma, in this story it is completely baffling, and justifies the ability to cheat fate. While the story is lacking in logic at times, “The Book of Life” is able to take viewers on an experience through a world of beautifully rendered, culturally rich dreamscapes.
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Theophilus London: “Vibes” If Theolophilus London’s album sounds musically progressive, that might be because Kanye West executive produced it. Although Trinidad-born, London is primarily hip-hop. The album borrows from a variety of genres, its songs flavored with electronica beats underneath R&B vocals, sprinkled with a bit of soul. The majority PROVIDED/WARNER BROS. of the songs are chill and repetitive, but by no means boring, reminiscent of “Remain in Light”-era Talking Heads and Marvin Gaye. Though London’s influences cast a wide net, “Vibes” stands out with its distinct style. “Heartbreak” is a driving, electronica-club track while “Do Girls” has London rapping quasi-cleverly over an eerie backing beat. An interesting aspect of the album is that London has refused to use any samples, relying instead on West’s compact production technique. ’Ye is featured on album highlight “Can’t Stop,” a grinding funk-rap number where West’s verse glides smoothly over the beat, even though the lyrics aren’t topnotch. The Achilles’ heel of “Vibes” seems to be its songwriting: the songs aren’t as smart as they could be, the themes narrowed down to typical rap tropes like money and unrequited love. Despite the so-so lyrics, “Vibes” musically delivers the good vibes its name promises, and the eclectic sound proves an intriguing indulgence for the ears.
Ultimate Painting: “Ultimate Painting” If Ultimate Painting’s eponymous album was an actual painting, I might compare it to one of Monet’s paintings of sailboats. They’re calm and pretty to look at, but overall underwhelming. You know the artist is capable of delivering more, but it’s just not there yet. Ultimate PROVIDED/TROUBLE IN MIND Painting’s debut integrates indie-pop with vocals that coo gently over acoustic strumming. The overarching sound can’t escape comparisons to Velvet Underground’s “Loaded” or Pavement’s softer songs. Like a gallery of photos filtered through an annoying Instagram filter, the songs feel both like they’re trying too hard and yet not enough. The album is seamless in execution, but that’s not always a good thing, as each song sort of becomes anonymous, each one just like the next. There’s potential in the hushed and scenic style, but Ultimate Paintings just hasn’t painted its “Water Lilies” yet.
NEWS / 3 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014 / NEWSRECORD.ORG
2014 ELECTION GUIDE GOVERNOR (D.) EDWARD FITZGERALD
(R.) JOHN KASICH
(G.) ANITA RIOS
Executive for Cuyahoga County, FitzGerald served as an FBI special agent and as a prosecutor. He then went on to serve as a city councilman and the mayor of Lakewood. FitzGerald proposes to end the state’s practice of cutting funding to local communities and schools. He proposes to expand funding to allow all children access to education beginning in pre-K. FitzGerald proposed that a strong, thriving private sector is needed to create jobs and grow the economy. Running mate: Sharen Swartz Neuhardt
Kasich currently serves as Governor of Ohio. He previously served as chairman of the U.S. House Budget Committee. He worked 10 years in the private business sector and served on the Ohio Senate from 1979 to 1982. Kasich’s first priority is to restore Ohio’s fiscal heath and get people back to work. He proposes to balance the budget without raising taxes, cutting taxes by more than $3 billion, and to increase aid to K-12 education by $1.3 billion. Kasich proposes that the government should continually seek opportunities to partner with the private sector and that the government should be a last resort in solving societal problems. Running mate: Mary Taylor
Rios is currently unemployed, but formerly served as a patient advocate at the Center for Choice. She has experience working as a mental health case manager and a union steward. Rios was a former co-chair for the Green Party National committee. Rios proposes cuts to the criminal justice system by ending the war on drugs and replacing those initiatives with treatment programs for individuals with substance abuse problems. She proposes increasing spending on education and says good education is the key to healthy and stable communities and a stable economy. Runing mate: Bob Fitrakis
OHIO STATE SENATOR
U.S. REPRESENTATIVES
DISTRICT NO. 9
(D.) CECIL THOMAS Thomas has 27 years of experience working for the Cincinnati Police Department, five years experience as the executive director of the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission, and eight years serving on Cincinnati’s City Council. Thomas is currently retired. According to Thomas, the State Senate republicans chose health care policies that were anti-women. He says the state’s role in addressing the issue of health care rights is to assure all women fair and equal heath care.
DISTRICT NO. 1
DISTRICT NO. 2
(R.) CHARLIE WINBURN
(R.) STEVE CHABOT
Winburn currently serves as a councilmember for the Cincinnati City Council as chairperson for the Budget and Finance Committee, as well as serving as a member of the Economic Growth and Infrastructure Committee, and the Law and Public Safety Committee. Winburn says his top priority is to pass laws and provide incentives to grow businesses in Ohio with a focus on creating jobs. He is a pro-life supporter and says it is the right of the state of Ohio to protect the unborn and women in the reproductive process.
Incumbent Chabot has served as congressman for 17 years and was born and raised in Cincinnati. Since becoming a congressman, he has been on the Committee of the Judiciary, the Committee on Small Business and the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Chabot helped lead efforts to pass product liability reform measures, toughen anti-drug laws, and is a pro-life advocate.
(D.) MAREK TYSZKIEWICZ Tyszkiewicz is an actuary, former educator and small business owner of Move Your Hyde yoga studios in Cincinnati. The son of Polish immigrants, he is a supporter of comprehensive immigration reform. His platform includes supporting veterans, protecting privacy, and developing a strong middle class.
(D.) FRED KUNDRATA
(R.) BRAD WENSTRUP
Wenstrup supports cutting government spending, reducing taxes and regulations for employers, and reforming federal retirement programs. He serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. His experience includes being a doctor, small business owner, Army Reserve officer, and Iraq War veteran.
Midwestern native, Kundrata is a 16-year veteran commercial pilot, licensed attorney and small business owner. If elected to Congress, he plans to seek two committee assignments: one on the Education and Labor Committee and one on the Transportation Committee. His platform includes strengthening labor unions, creating jobs, and supporting public education.
OHIO STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT NO. 31
(D.) DENISE DRIEHAUS
(R.) MARY E. YEAGER
Driehaus has served as a State Representative for six years. She is currently a member of the General Assembly and has owned and managed two small businesses and served on various community boards. Driehaus supports the right to bear arms but believes new training and screening policies should be put in place.
Yeager has been a Certified Public Accountant for over 10 years and has worked on projects ranging from corporate audits and tax returns to small business accounting and tax services. Yeager describes herself as family-focused and has been endorsed by three anti-abortion organizations.
(L.) QUEEN NOBLE No further information on this candidate could be found.
ISSUES ISSUE NO. 1
ISSUE NO. 6
ISSUE NO. 7
ISSUE NO. 8
PROPOSED TAX LEVY (RENEWAL) CINCINNATI CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
PROPOSED TAX LEVY (RENEWAL) HAMILTON COUNTY
PROPOSED TAX LEVY (RENEWAL) HAMILTON COUNTY
PROPOSED SALES AND USE TAX HAMILTON COUNTY
If this issue passes, it will continue an emergency levy last approved in 2009 and set to expire in December 2014. The Cincinnati Board of Education voted in April to place a renewal levy of $1.026 for each $100 of property value on the November ballot. Passage of the issue will approve the renewal for a five-year period, beginning in 2015 and due for the first time in 2016. The levy will raise approximately $65,178,000 annually, funding operations of the Cincinnati Public School District.
If passed, this levy will raise $6 million per year for five years, benefitting Talbert House programs and other agencies. The levy is a renewal of a levy of $.034 for each $1 of property value on residential and commercial property for treatment programs and family services, including ones provided by Talbert House, for five years. The tax would begin in 2015, and would be first due in 2016. The levy also supports anti-drug programs based in the community.
If this issue is passed, it will renew taxes for Hamilton County, Ohio benefiting those in need at University Hospital, Children’s Hospital and other programs. The levy started originally in 2011, and will raise $37 million annually for three years. The Health and Hospitalization tax focuses on illness and disease prevention. Money from the tax would go to programs such as Off the Streets, which helps women recover from prostitution, as well as services helping drug addicts.
A majority affirmation vote is necessary for passage.
A majority affirmative vote is necessary for passage.
If this vote passes, Union Terminal will be funded for renovations and reconstructions. This tax would also provide money for maintaining and expanding Union Terminal. If passed, an estimated $170 million will go toward the restoration of the building over five years, starting in 2015. The levy would increase the sales tax in Hamilton County from 6.75 percent to 7 percent. According to a University of Cincinnati Economic Center study from June 2014, approximately 53 percent of the sales tax support would come from Hamilton County residents and the remaining 47 percent of the tax would be paid by non-residents. The projected cost per resident, per year, is an estimated $23.
FROM RESEARCH PG 1
FROM SG PG 1
moment,” Krishnan said. Currently, the average wait time for an idea to translate into practice is 14 years, Krishnan said. He is hoping this time will be lessened to just two weeks by the time the trials conclude. Krishnan looks to use the evaluations conducted in the research-based trials to quicken the ability to implement new practices and ideas. “What I find on Friday might change my practice on Monday,” Krishnan said. Krishnan also wants students to be aware of their opportunities to help with research. “I am constantly looking for help,” Krishnan said. “Students are welcome to come any time.”
winter break. The program will be conducted strictly on a volunteer basis. UC students will have the opportunity to drive the UC buses used for the program’s transportation after completing a required 30-minute driving test. Volunteers will be compensated with free breakfast and lunch. The rides to CVG will begin on Dec. 10 and will end Dec. 14. These rides will run from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be only one bus transporting students Wednesday through Friday and three buses Saturday and Sunday. “The problem is there is no university support for getting students to and from the airport at the beginning
or end of the semester,” said Andrew Griggs, speaker of the senate. “… There are a lot of people who need to get to the airport, but no way to get there.” The program will cost $3,195.72 for 660 students to take UC AirportRide. Other alternatives to this program are the Executive Shuttle, which would be $15,000 for 660 students to ride and $18,000 for 660 students to use a taxi or Uber car service. SG did a student poll on Blackboard where over half of the students said they would be interested in this service. SG is only planning to do this program for one or two semesters in hopes UC will see the need for this program and implement it in future academic years.
509 Swift Hall University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0185
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Quaker? Maybe! Come Find Out! Public Information Sessions held in our Worship Room: 10/29: “Action with Local Impact” 11/5: “Worship, Straight Up” 11/12: ”Accept and Nurture” Sessions begin at 7:00 p.m. Refreshments served at 6:30.
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4 / LIFE & ARTS
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014 / NEWSRECORD.ORG
Parents work toward improving fire safety initiatives
FILE ART
Flames broke out in this Digby Street home on News Year’s Day 2013 after a blanket next to a space heater caught fire. Students Ellen Garner and Chad Kohls were trapped inside and later died from injuries sustained. Today, their mothers work together to improve fire safety standards for college housing.
Mothers strive to establish safer off-campus housing after 2013 fire claimed students’ lives PALOMA IANES | STAFF REPORTER
Two parents are taking a leading roll in the fight for increased fire safety in the wake of a house fire that took their children’s lives when it broke out New Year’s Day 2013. University of Cincinnati students Ellen Garner and Chad Kohls were trapped in Kohls’ Digby Street home when a blanket caught fire next to an electric space heater on the second floor. Toxic smoke filled the thirdfloor stairwell, confining the students to the attic. The only other means of escape was a window that was not only blocked by an air conditioning unit, but was also too high a jump to survive. The students were taken to the hospital in critical condition due to smoke inhalation. Both later died from the injuries they sustained. “It was 8:30 in the morning,” recalled Ellen Garner’s mother, Ann Garner. “As I’m sorting laundry, I look out the laundry window and I see a deputy sheriff pull up to my driveway. My husband is gone, my son is gone, they all had work that day. So I too experience what it was like to have the deputy sheriff knock on your door and basically say, ‘She’s in the hospital, you need to call this number.’ As any parent can imagine, it was a nightmare.” Ann Garner and Ann Kohls, mother of Chad Kohls, have since taken a leading roll in the fight for increased
fire safety, especially in off-campus housing. They have participated in the launch of the Cincinnati Safe Student Housing, a program that offers free fire safety inspections by Cincinnati Fire Department personnel, which can be requested by any landlord, student or parent. The inspectors then can inform landlords if there are changes that need to be made. “Ignorance around building codes and fire codes has lasting effects on peoples lives,” Kohls said. In addition to this joint effort, Garner is working with Ohio Sen. Bill Beagle to pass Senate Bill 359, which is expected to save lives, according to Beagle. “As a legislator, we get warned about crafting a law for 88 counties around one case,” Beagle said. “However, what Chad and Ellen’s story brought to light is the fact that these things happen. It’s not an isolated incident. There have been several other families who have lost children.” Senate Bill 359 states that “unless a property has a fire suppression system, an exterior means of egress exists for any area that is being used for dwelling above the second story of a residential property, separate from a shared interior means of egress.” It is a bill that would affect a narrow scope of properties — mainly single-family homes that have been turned into rental properties for unrelated individuals, such as Kohls’ residence. These houses are the ones that have “fallen through the loophole all these years with fire codes,” according to Garner. Problems with escaping a burning building are in the
top three reasons for fire-related death, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Under the present fire code, individuals dwelling above the second floor are not guaranteed a reliable means of escape. The consequences of this were seen at 2428 Digby St., where Kohls and Garner only had the smoke-filled staircase to rely on. “They fought hard to try and get out of there and they couldn’t,” Garner said. “You are in a converted attic, how are you supposed to get out? How is it acceptable for there to be no form of escape? I look forward to the debate in the state senate to ask these folks, ‘how is this safe?’” According to the Department of Homeland Security, individuals between the ages of 20 and 24 are at the highest risk for fire-related injury or death. “Young people are more prone to death or injury from a fire because they are inexperienced and also oftentimes immature,” said Cameron Jameson, a firefighter EMT for Ludlow, Kentucky. “Some of them are living alone for the first time and are not using the stove or oven correctly and are forgetting to turn off the gas or flame. Some of them may be smoking while intoxicated and leave embers, ashtrays or grills unattended. Also, the older houses that we often see being used to house groups of students are usually poorly insulated and are hard to heat; therefore space heaters are used in excess.” To reduce this risk, Garner believes that parents must be given more information, especially at college orientation, and must take on more responsibility in assuring the safety of their child. “The parents are the most likely to ask the question, ‘how is my child going to escape if there is a fire?’“ Garner said. “The orientation piece is vital because it is the parent who comes to orientation with their freshman student, and is sitting on the edge of their seat trying to get as much information as possible.” The fight to pass Senate Bill 359 will be an uphill battle — opposition for the bill may already be present. “There are those who say that this bill isn’t going to save lives — that it’s a waste of money,” Beagle said. “You’re not going to convince me of that. The parents have found a ladder that would fit the intent of the bill that costs $59. I happen to be a landlord myself. It’s worth the piece of mind if nothing else.” Senate Bill 359 has until the end of the year to get passed and signed by Ohio Gov. John Kasich before being enacted. Hearings for the bill will not be held until after the elections in November. If incomplete by the end of 2014, Beagle will restart the process in January. Beagle said there are steps the general public can take to support the bill. “People and advocates can reach out to their house member or senator and send an email to call their attention to it,” Beagle said. “People can also consider submitting testimony when it gets assigned to a committee by sending a letter or email to the committee chairman so they can go on record saying that they support the bill.” For Garner, the legislation is only one step in the battle for safer student housing — a cause that has become her mission. “If we refuse to act and make some changes, then we need to be ready to accept more fatalities in the future,” Garner said. “I can’t sleep at night unless I know I’m doing everything possible to help prevent what happened to Chad and Ellen from happening again.”
Automagik to Boutiques offer stylistic treasure troves give chills at special show BRITT FILLMORE | CONTRIBUTOR
ALLIE ALU | STAFF REPORTER
For a special Halloween show on Thursday, the up-and-coming Cincinnati music group Automagik is playing at the Thompson House Costume Party in Newport, Kentucky. Automagik has a very different sound from the typical bands on the radio. The band has a slightly rock ’n roll sound, but with a pop/funk style at the same time. The music is fun and something people can dance to. A lot of the band’s songs are very upbeat, with very few that are more calm. Automagik is made up of five guys all from the Cincinnati area: Andy Cluxton on drums, Zachary Evans on guitar/ vocals, Devin Williams on lead guitar, Baron Walker on keyboard and Jamie Rasmussen on bass. “The best way I describe our sound is high energy power pop mixed with throwback rock and roll and a little bit of funk,” said drummer Andy Cluxton. “We have a big eclectic mix of sounds.” The band has played all over the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area, and throughout the Midwest, including Cleveland, Indianapolis and Chicago. “Cincinnati is always so great to us. We try to play around Cincy once or twice a month. A lot of the time we just try to play wherever we can,” Cluxton said. Thursday’s show begins at 8 p.m. and Automagik will perform at 10:30 p.m. There are four other bands performing as well, and Automagik plans to release and sell a special Halloween EP at the show. “We’re always excited to do special shows like this; we love to dress up and be weird,” Cluxton said. “It’s a weird person’s dream come true to dress up as something weird and play rock ’n’ roll.” Automagik also hopes to release an album in the spring. “We tracked an album that we finished back in August. We plan to release a single in the winter of this year, and hopefully the album in the spring of next year,” Cluxton said. With the upcoming Halloween show, as well as other shows and work on the new album, Automagik has a lot going on right now, but the members are excited for the Thompson House show. “Everyone can expect a lot of surprises and fun to start the Halloween weekend off right with Automagik,” Cluxton said. Automagik will also perform at Third Street Dive in Louisville, Kentucky on Nov. 9.
Do you ever get tired of the same old shops found at Kenwood Shopping Center? Who has the time to take a trip out to the Tri-County Mall in Springdale? While these shopping centers come with a great shopping experience, there are small splashes of high-fashion gems in the Cincinnati area that will have you feeling like you stepped in a Manhattan boutique. You can’t beat the convenience of driving up 71-N and heading to Forever 21 to grab a cute party dress, but having something that’s unique and one of a kind from a specialty boutique is well worth the extra effort. Shopping at local boutiques opens up your sense of fashion. Some of my favorite boutiques include SoHo Boutique and Pink Tulip, both located in Hyde Park, and Original Thoughts Required Boutique downtown. Even though all of the boutiques I mentioned above are equally what I like to call amazingly Cincinnati chic, there’s one boutique in particular that merits special mention.
Amy Kirchen Boutique The Amy Kirchen Boutique, located in downtown Milford, is an elegant little shop that resembles a mini couture fashion house. Amy Kirchen is the mastermind behind this signature fashion line. This boutique has the normal, everyday shopper feeling like a born-again fashion icon. From the alluring selection of merchandise, down to the charming décor and complimentary refreshments they offer you while you shop — it’s the little things about this boutique that make it a big deal. Kirchen, a born-and-raised Cincinnatian, started her ready-to-wear boutique in 2011 and has been dominating the Midwest fashion scene ever since. She carries clothing lines from all over the U.S. and several international brands such as Color Block and Modalu England Handbags (also famously known as “The Pippa Bag” because Pippa Middleton frequently sports the trendy handbag). Color Block is a classy, higher-end, yet affordable brand from Paris that can be found right here in our backyards. How could any Cincinnati fashionista pass that up? Amy Kirchen also specializes in custom wear for special events, brides and bridesmaids. Even if you simply need to look fabulous, she’s got you covered. If you can’t find the time to go into the store, don’t fret. The store also has an online boutique of some select items, and you can take a look at her seasonal couture fashion collections online at amykirchen.com.
Local boutiques offer tempting deals and selections for students to peruse.
Shopping with Style It is always refreshing to see students living out loud through their style, and shopping at boutiques can help them do that. While grabbing my typical caffeine fix at Starbucks before heading to class, I ran into Alicia Frazier, our best-dressed student of the week. This young, stylish fashionista is far beyond her years when it comes to style. Alicia, who is only 17, was here to visit UC’s Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) program. She’s a future fashion design major who is an active member of her community. She’s involved in a club called Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) in her hometown of Mount Sterling, Kentucky. Alicia knows how to be different by having a bountiful shoe collection and adorable accessories from unlikely places. She got her shoes from a small boutique called Rudy’s in her hometown for only $7.
BRITT FILLMORE | CONTRIBUTOR
Her dress is from Kohl’s and her bag is a Nine West bag from Burke’s Outlet. She really knows how to bargain shop. She plans to become a fashion leader in her community to inspire others to present themselves in the best way possible. And if you saw the shoes she was wearing in person, you would understand why. “I strive to be noticed. I’m not one to care about others’ thoughts about me such as, ‘why is that girl wearing 4-inch heels at a college visit?’ ” she said. “I like to think I wear more unique clothing, and I believe in dressing up every chance you get because every day is an event.” With a bold perception of fashion like that, she will definitely be noticed in a positive light. One of her biggest fashion inspirations is Coco Chanel, but not so much for her sense of style. Alicia admires Chanel’s phenomenal work ethic and the fearless chances she takes to be different. Style is everywhere around us, let’s not be afraid to go out there and sport it. Remember ladies — live your life in heels.
SPORTS / 5 Tennis falls to Hoosiers, preps for season closer THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014 / NEWSRECORD.ORG
ELLEN HADLEY | SPORTS EDITOR
FILE ART
Freshman defender Vanessa Gilles makes a pass during UC’s 1-0 victory over Houston at Gettler.
Bearcats seek revenge during conference match GLEN HARVEY | STAFF REPORTER
The University of Cincinnati women’s soccer team received a first-round bye this weekend for the upcoming American Athletic Conference tournament. The sixth-seeded Bearcats are set to take on third-seed University of Southern Florida Saturday as the Bulls host this year’s tournament in Tampa, Florida. The teams are quite familiar with each other, being that they just faced off in a game that ended in a 4-2 score in favor of USF Friday. Key players who were not able to contribute due to injury were team assistleader senior defender Jae Atkinson and sophomore midfielder Katy Couperus who is second on the team in scoring. Freshman defender Vanessa Gilles said the team has a good chance of beating South Florida on Saturday. “On Sunday we made a few mistakes that we shouldn’t have. If we watch the tape and correct those mistakes then the advantage is on our favor,” Gilles said. Assistant coach Nate Lie sees the 2-0 loss Sunday against UCF and as great preparation for the conference tournament this weekend. “We played the top team in conference on the road in 80 degree weather. It was challenging,” Lie said. “We played tough the whole game; the defense held up good in the first half. Even after giving up the first goal, not once did they hang their heads. Going through that last
weekend will help us be ready to go back to Florida to make a run for the conference title.” Lie is thinking positively after the loss. “The team learned lessons along with being punished for mistakes,” Lie said. “You can’t play a nationally ranked team and make a lot of mistakes. There are thin margins for error. We have to work on the little things and that’s how we win this weekend. That loss lets us know what we need to work on for the upcoming games.” The Bearcats look to bring back a conference title as the AAC tournament’s first round begins Halloween night in Tampa. Because UC has a bye, the Bearcats start tournament play Sunday at 1 p.m. and push toward the championship on Nov. 9. “The team has a good attitude,” Lie said. “We just have to sharpen a few things and compete — find that extra gear to play well in all the postseason games, not just focusing on USF this Sunday.” The women’s soccer program last won its conference in 2002 with back-to-back Conference USA wins under head coach Meridy Glenn. In her 24 years at Cincinnati, Glenn led UC to three conference championships, five conference tournaments, and six NCAA appearances, according to her bio on gobearcats.com. She is also noted as one of the “winningest coaches in NCAA women’s soccer history.”
The University of Cincinnati’s injuryplagued tennis team spent the weekend in Bloomington, Indiana, for Indiana University’s Hoosier Classic. Sophomore Lauren Bellinger was unable to compete due to a pulled stomach muscle, shaking up the doubles lineup for the Bearcats. “I turn a negative into a positive,” UC head coach Angela Farley Wilson said. “It was a great opportunity to see some other team combinations and we’re working through it.” Bearcats duo junior Kelly PoggenseeWei and sophomore Katya Bure joined forces to push UC to the finals of doubles play before dropping to DePaul University’s Ana Vladutu and Patricia Lancranjan, 8-2. “I think that when I see that Kelly’s down, I do my best to bring her up and then she kind of does the same thing,” Bure said. “The way that we play kind of complements each other so it’s a good match-up for us and our personalities and our tennis as well. We’re very compatible.” On the singles side, Poggensee-Wei made it through the back draw to finish fifth in the Indiana bracket. She lost her first match of the tournament Friday, 6-0, 6-3 to Middle Tennessee State University’s Jesse Grace before winning her matches Saturday against Beatriz Machado Santos of the University of Michigan , 6-2, 6-1 and Sunday. She defeated Barbare Eristavi of Western Michigan University, 6-3, 4-6, 10-2. “[Saturday] I learned how to play tennis again,” Poggensee-Wei said, laughing. “I kind of forgot how to play tennis and my wrist wasn’t feeling the greatest and the girl was really good so it was a lot of bad combinations Friday.” The third and fourth place spot slipped through Bure’s hands in the Crimson Draw, falling to IU’s Kim Schmider 6-3, 6-1. “There’s definitely some things that I’ve been working on in practice that I can see have helped me get through some situations in singles and I’m happy that I’m working on them in practice because they’re paying off,” Bure said about her consistency, keeping the ball in play and tactics. Bure defeated WMU’s Ella Perinovic 6-1, 6-1 before a close loss to IU’s Paula Gutierrez 7-6 (4), 6-7 (5), 10-4 in the semifinals of her bracket. “Through the losses I can see things that I also need to improve on so that’s really good that I can isolate that and I know what I need to work on next in practice,” Bure said. Freshman Ali Miller lost her final match of the tournament to MSU’s Alex Tachovsky 6-2, 2-6, 10-4 in the Indiana Draw after defeating Sarah Sediri of MTSU 6-4, 6-4. Miller and fellow freshman Natalia Abdalla dropped their first doubles
match in a close 8-7 decision before winning the back draw of doubles competition. “There’s definitely some things I need to work on and that we need to work on as a doubles team and as a team as a whole but I’m pretty confident,” Miller said. “I’ve had a great fall — the best fall I could ask for as a freshman coming into my first year here, so I’m pretty confident, ready to play and am looking forward to the rest of the season and getting ready for regular season.” This tournament was the fourth and final time Farley Wilson traveled to her alma mater with her Bearcats. “It’s always great [playing at IU],” Farley Wilson said. “[IU head coach Lin Loring] has been a mentor for me. I always want them to do well and he wants the same for me.” The Bearcats got Monday off for recovery after the long weekend before getting back on the courts for practice Tuesday followed by lifting and conditioning. “We really just tried to work on getting back our timing after having a day off, working on our groundstrokes, working on consistency, moving the ball around a lot,” Farley Wilson said. “We also know we need to work on short balls so we’re working on footwork. We’re working on moving forward and being more aggressive on some volleys so we can get ready for the Western Michigan tournament.” Coming off of the team’s performance at the Hoosier Classic, Farley Wilson wants to focus on keeping it simple and basic in preparation for WMU in addition to consistency and movement. “It’s all about getting better each time,” Farley Wilson said. “I think we got better after the Bowling Green tournament, after the UC tournament and this tournament. I think we did better than we did at the UC tournament so I think we just keep making progress and that’s what fall is all about.” The Hoosier Classic comes three weeks after Farley Wilson announced her stepping down from the program at the end of the fall season. She made the announcement six days before her team hosted the Bearcats Invitational at the Trabert-Talbert Tennis Center on campus. One tournament remains before Farley Wilson finishes her seventh season with the program. “It’s bittersweet,” Farley Wilson said. “I’m looking forward to the next thing. I’m looking forward for them to kind of get a place where they feel good, too. It’ll be sad. I’ll miss the girls for sure but I think everyone’s kind of ready for that next place.” The Bearcats heads to Kalamazoo, Michigan, for the WMU Super Challenge Nov. 7 — 9 to end the fall season. UC returns to the courts Jan. 31 to host IU in a rematch of the Hoosier Classic at UC’s indoor facility, the Western Tennis & Fitness Club.
1:00 p.m. Women’s Soccer vs. Southern Florida @ Tampa, Fl 1:00 p.m. Women’s Volleyball vs. Temple Fifth Third Arena
MONDAY NOV. 3
8:00 p.m. Football vs. Tulane @ New Orleans
10:00 a.m. Swimming and Diving vs. Louisville @Louisville
SUNDAY, NOV. 2
7:00 p.m. Women’s Volleyball vs. Connecticut Fifth Third Arena
SATURDAY, NOV. 1
FRIDAY, OCT. 31
SPORTING EVENTS THIS WEEK 7:00 p.m. Men’s Basketball vs. Bellermine Fifth Third Arena (Exhibition Game)
6 / COLLEGE LIFE
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014 / NEWSRECORD.ORG
MADISON SCHMIDT | PHOTO EDITOR
UC’s Secular Student Alliance group is holding the Graveyard of Gods Wednesday through Friday on McMicken Commons, where students can place flowers under the graves of mythical gods. The graveyard serves as a challenge to Pascal’s wager, which states people should behave as if a god exists.
Students bid farewell to forgotten gods across cultures Secular Student Alliance raises Graveyard of Gods in an effort to debunk philosophical argument CASSIE LIPP | STAFF REPORTER
Students passing through the mass of cardboard tombstones on McMicken Commons this week might hear members of the University of Cincinnati’s Secular Student Alliance (SSA) welcoming them to the Graveyard of Gods. The tombstones pay homage to forgotten gods worshipped in past civilizations. The display is one of many, as secular student organizations from colleges across the country have created similar displays during October. Jordan Opst, a third-year international affairs student and treasurer of SSA, said the purpose of the display is to debunk an argument that is used against atheists all the time: Pascal’s Wager. Blaise Pascal, a French philosopher, devised the argument that humans have the option to either believe in a god or not. There is either infinite gain or loss associated with the belief they choose. Therefore, humans should live as if there is a god because they will lose very little if they are wrong. SSA members said that the problem with Pascal’s Wager is that it assumes there is only one god to believe in. The 54 tombstones in the graveyard show otherwise. “I’m surprised at how much positive feedback we’ve been getting as opposed to negative,” Opst said about the exhibit. SSA is dedicated to creating a community for students who are not affiliated with any major religion, said Anna Butcher, a third-year anthropology student and marketing and recruitment director for SSA. “What I miss about religion is community,” Butcher said. Most students who passed through the graveyard did not know an organization for secular students exists on campus, but they were excited to hear about it and sign up for the SSA email list. Butcher said the main question the Graveyard of Gods raises is how long the gods of today will last. Liz Werren, a UC graduate and anthropology research assistant, said the display is cool because it is a metaphor for dying cultural traditions. “All religion is within a person,” Werren said. “So your beliefs are just within your mind. Everyone has different beliefs, and people die and cultures change and evolve, so of course gods are going to die, because they’re a part of people and culture.”
The graveyard features a variety of forgotten gods, from the Chinese water god Gong Gong to the Haitian Voodoo loa Mademoiselle Charlotte. James Brown, a first-year chemistry student, said he was impressed with the diversity of the exhibit. “There are people I haven’t heard of, and I have studied mythology for a long time,” Brown said. James Fiorini, a third-year mechanical engineering student, was attracted to the display because he saw Opst playfully dancing. “I think it’s cool because it shows how a lot of different gods throughout history between different cultures had similar characteristics, as if they’re all connected,” Fiorini said, before he jokingly whispered that it’s a conspiracy. Daniel Traicoff, a communications graduate student, said the display is unique. “I’m really glad they’re presenting it,”Traicoff said. “I
think it’s challenging a belief that a lot of people have, and that’s really a part of a university — to educate people on different ideas and theories on life, and showing that there used to be many different gods and many different religions out there is not a perspective that people typically bring.” Abishek Kamaraj, a doctorate student in mechanical engineering and SSA treasurer, said secular students feel that religion is being thrust upon them on a campus where there are people shouting that you are going to go to hell for your sins, and secular students are afraid to come out. “I believe a group like this is there to cater to their needs and showcase their point of view,” Kamraj said. The exhibit will be on display 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday and Friday on the commons. SSA meets every Tuesday at 7 p.m. in 716 Swift.
MADISON SCHMIDT | PHOTO EDITOR
Patience Stockwell, a third-year electronic media production student, places a flower under the “grave” of Uni, the Etrusian equivalent of Juno, goddess of love and marriage.