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OTR Fall Festival
Fun fall festivities take place in Over-the-Rhine this season
Bearcat Football
What teams will make the College Football Playoffs?
THE NEWS RECORD / UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI MONDAY, OCT. 31, 2016
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UnMuseum opens ‘Deep Space’ SAMANTHA HALL | COLLEGE LIFE
It’s an experimental form of art, with interactive LED and glow displays lined up along the exhibit for all ages to see, touch and — in some cases — hear. Cincinnati has an abundance of museums and featured artwork, but the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) has taken a step further with its display of art. The CAC has uncovered a concept in design artwork that reaches beyond a traditional art gallery through accessing the senses of its visitors. The innovative exhibit opened its “Deep Space” art show as part of the UnMuseum on Saturday. Attendees of all sorts are able to use the artwork and even create their own with LED lanterns and jewelry, personalizing the exhibit as their own. The installation of “Deep Space” was originally displayed at the People’s Liberty Globe Gallery and has since been moved to the CAC. During the weekend opening, costumes were allowed and even encouraged in celebration of Halloween. The CAC also offered face paintings during the opening, giving attendees the chance to
become a display of art themselves. The hands-on exhibit’s weekend family festival gave children and adults alike the opportunity to test light play and experiment with reflection through the lights and mirrors of the “Deep Space” display. Throughout the history of interactive artwork, artists have been known to leave works incomplete, leaving room for the visitors and attendees to participate in its completion, according to Ryszard W. Kluszcznski, a media and visual artist from Poland. The CAC has taken the outline of this concept and transformed it into their own artistic entity at the UnMuseum, completely changing what art can be in Cincinnati. “Deep Space” is not the UnMuseum’s first interactive display, but is different in aesthetic from past displays, all of which aimed to please younger audiences. Past exhibits include “Tracy Featherstone” which highlighted wearable artwork, paintings and sculptures, “Coral City” which aimed to have attendees participate in the creation of a paper coral reef while having real underwater creatures present and “Sky Villages”
which created forts, pillows and tents that participants could use to design their very own village area. The art scene of Cincinnati continues to thrive through its many progressive and changing exhibits that often are free
and available to a variety of ages. GO: “Deep Space,” Contemporary Arts Center, 44 E 6th St. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday-Monday. 10 a.m.9 p.m., Wednesday-Friday. FREE admission.
MCT
Free condoms are available at UC Wellness Center in Steger.
Survey reveals UC students’ sexual behavior, habits LAUREN MORETTO | NEWS EDITOR
SHAE COMBS | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Two visitors enjoy one of the new interactive 3D exhibits a the CAC, Saturday Oct. 29, 2016.
SHAE COMBS | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Contemporary Arts Center new exhibit, Unmuseum, includes a wall of lights that turn reflections into 3D images, Saturday, October 29 2016.
A number of sexually active students at the University of Cincinnati are practicing safe sex at an above average rate. Contraception use during vaginal intercourse among UC students during the last 30 days was above the national average, according to data from the Reference and University of Cincinnati executive summaries, both reports by the American College Health Association (ACHA) released 2016. These reports are conducted at UC every three years in association with ACHA, with the 2016 report garnering 950 respondents. Campus initiatives such as the Gotcha Covered program out of the Student Wellness Center, which supplies condoms to volunteers who then make the supply available to fellow students, could help explain the above average rate. Of UC students surveyed, around 27 percent were not sexually active in the past year. Though contraception use in vaginal intercourse surpasses the national rate, condom or use of another protective barrier among sexually active females
at UC over the last 30 days has declined over 4 percent, according to UC executive summaries from 2013 and 2016. Not utilizing protective barriers during sex may leave participants susceptible to sexually transmitted infections (STI). While hormonal contraception, such as the pill, will offer protection against pregnancy, it will not provide any protection against STIs, according to Brandy Reeves, director of the UC Student Wellness Center. Around 6 percent of UC students surveyed have been diagnosed or treated for an STI, according to the 2016 report. Included in this result was genital herpes, genital warts, gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV and hepatitis B or C. STI testing centers available to students include the Cincinnati Health Department, Planned Parenthood and University Health Services. A decrease in the number of female students utilizing protective barriers may be due to an expectation of the male partner to provide condoms, while the female partner may be expected to SEE SEX SURVEY PG 2
Berding’s passion led to creation of FC Cincinnati DAVID WYSONG | SPORTS EDITOR
Many sports fans display their passion for the city they’re from by rooting for their hometown teams; Jeff Berding displayed his passion by creating a professional sports team. Berding, who graduated from St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati and was a city councilman from 2005-2011, believed his hometown deserved a professional soccer team, and he gave them just that by creating Futbol Club Cincinnati. “As I was traveling the country with my son, who’s on a team that
played in the U.S. National League and the State Cup [Championship], seeing thousands of players at tournaments, multi-million dollar facilities … [I] certainly had a growing awareness of the strength and explosive growth of soccer and wanted to make sure Cincinnati had an opportunity to be a part of it,” Berding said. FC Cincinnati is currently a part of the United Soccer League. Prior to joining, Berding had to make sure he had the key ingredients to secure a license with the league. One of those ingredients
was finding a place for the soccer club to play ― that is where the University of Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium came into the picture. “I give all the credit to the board of trustees — President [Santa] Ono, Athletic Director Mike Bohn —because they saw the vision as a win-win. There’s 40,000 students on that campus in a demographic group that likes soccer, many love soccer,” Berding said. “We have 56,000 youth families in this region. SEE FC CINCY PG 4
N.C. BROWN | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
FC Cincinnati forward Sean Okoli (9) performs a scissor kick against Louisville City at Nippert Stadium, Saturday, April 16, 2016.
THE STUDENT VOICE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
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Bearcat food service providers EMILY STOLTZ | CONTRIBUTOR
ALEXANDRA TAYLOR | PHOTO EDITOR
Students are a critical part in the decision-making process for what food is made available on campus, according to Katie Wahlke, program director for housing and food services, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016.
Recent growth at the University of Cincinnati has warranted a demand for new food options on campus. Changes to UC’s dining services are visible in residential dining halls, as well as in independent vendors — such as the Starbucks that opened Aug. 21 in Langsam Library, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. UC’s main priority is the food available in dining halls that serve more than a million meals per year, according to John Hautz, the director of housing and food services. The size of the university and its hours of operation puts UC in a category with many other schools in which there may be only a few companies that can provide that level of service, according to Hautz. The department puts together a committee to assess the needs of the university. The committee
then factors in how many students are served, the hours of operation, the nutrition they can provide, as well as staff. Currently, the university holds a contract with Aramark Corp. food services. The food selection process in the dining halls begins “years ahead of time,” according to Hautz, in anticipation of what the university’s needs may be in the future. For a school like UC that keeps setting enrollment records, the ability to foresee trends and demands is imperative. There is a structured process when UC enters into any contractual agreement that requires collaboration between the university’s purchasing department, the Office of General Counsel and the Board of Trustees. However, food recommendations come from surveys, Student Government and student groups on campus. “The concepts that you see really come about
through feedback that we receive from the university community, which of course is made up predominantly of students,” said Hautz. A group called the Food Focus Committee — made up mostly of student meal plan holders —meets monthly to discuss their concerns and suggestions. The department also conducts surveys throughout the year. Feedback and recommendations from the student body are critical to the decision-making process, according to Katie Wahlke, program director for housing and food services. Contracts derived are “living documents,” according to Hautz. “The ability for the agreement over time to evolve as student demands change is built into the contract,” said Hautz. They revisit the contract annually to reassess needs, but the agreement can be subject to change at any time throughout the year
as well. The ability to be responsive and flexible is especially crucial when serving a university as large as UC, according to Hautz. Also playing a major role in these decisions is UC’s desire for continued growth. “When incoming students are shopping for a college, they have certain things they want,” said Wahlke, who added that for prospective students touring UC, a Starbucks in Langsam Library might land on their list of reasons to attend. Decisions about food on campus are a combined effort between the department and the students they serve, according to Hautz, with the demands of current and prospective students remaining the top priority. “The University is growing in stature, academic standards are rising, retention is improving, and all that is a result of life on campus being appealing,” said Hautz.
App through Fifth Third to compete with Venmo LAUREN MORETTO | NEWS DESK
University of Cincinnati students rejoice — those pizza and rent transactions are about to get a lot easier, and possibly more secure. Zelle is a new service offered through Fifth Third Bank and other major banks that will allow users to transfer cash payments instantly to anyone with a U.S. bank account. Payments can be sent using a mobile phone or even an email address from within the mobile banking experience of network banks or through the Zelle app. Apps like PayPal’s Venmo popularized the ability for real-time payments among college students, who can use the app like another social media outlet; users can write a sort of “status” for their payment — perhaps accompanied by an emoji or two — which other users can then “like” or comment on. Though Zelle will not offer another social media outlet to college students, it does allow for instant payments. While Venmo takes time to process transactions — up to one business
day — Zelle is instant, allowing the recipient to access their funds immediately. Having never used Venmo for its social media feature, Kyle Meissner, a first-year engineering student, would be willing to make the tradeoff of not having that social element for a more secure system through a major bank. “It’s probably not the safest thing in the world when your credit card information is on something,” said Meissner, who called the ability for person-to-person (P2P) payments through a major bank “a lot safer.” Some students do not share Meissner’s security concerns. “I would think that it would be just as secure as PayPal,” Patrick Farr, a fourth-year electrical engineering student, said of PayPal’s Venmo app. While the social element may be appealing to some college students, Farr said the appeal for P2P payments may lie elsewhere. “I think a lot of it would be, maybe not necessarily through social media, but just when you’re going with your friends somewhere and you’re like, ‘Oh, I don’t have
whatever money,’ so it becomes useful through like actual social relationships and not necessarily through social media,” said Farr. Using Venmo or using Zelle is a matter of context for what kind of payment an individual is making, according to Farr. “If you go online sometimes you’ll use like a credit card or debit card, and other times you might use PayPal. And I think the difference may be kind of similar to that,” said Farr.
All things considered, Farr thinks Zelle could be a worthy competitor to Venmo. Zelle is a service enabled by a security solutions firm out of Scottsdale, Arizona. Citigroup Inc., Chase Bank, Wells Fargo, BNY Mellon, Capital One and many others have signed on to provide the service through their institutions. The service will be available at Fifth Third Bank and other major banks early 2017.
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take care of hormonal contraception, according to Reeves. While this may be a contributing factor, individuals should have protection if they plan on having sex, no matter their gender, according to Nikki Demetriades, a first-year fine arts student. Female condoms are widely unknown to students at UC, according to Reeves, who shared they may find one student familiar with the concept during sexual health presentations. “Most students have no idea what it is,” said Reeves. In addition, condom use for male students at UC who had anal sex within the last 30 days is below the national average and has decreased over 20 percent among UC students since the 2013 summary. Different definitions of sex, abstinence and what it means to “lose your virginity” may be a factor in why fewer students are using protection, according to Reeves. “There are some people who, when they think about sex, they think about vaginal sex,” said Reeves. Where those individuals may assume, and where they’ve been told to use
condoms or protection is during instances of vaginal intercourse — they may not necessarily think they need to use condoms when participating in anal intercourse, according to Reeves. For women, the reason may stem elsewhere. “The assumption is that there’s absolutely no risk for pregnancy, so why do I need to use condoms or other protection?” said Reeves, who cautioned that sexually transmitted infections could still occur through anal intercourse. UC is slightly above the national average for the number of sexual partners over the last year, though UC’s independent average has decreased since 2013. Currently, UC averages at around three partners for male students and two for female students within the last year. Some think this decrease is due to a change in what students may be looking for in their personal relationships. “Probably people are looking for long-term,” said Barat Adagarla, a firstyear management science and information systems student.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook TheNewsRecord Twitter @NewsRecord_UC Instagram TheNewsRecord SoundCloud The-News-Record-1 STAFF Editor-in-chief Jeff O’Rear Managing editor Amir Samarghandi News editors Lauren Moretto Kinsley Slife Chief reporter Ashleigh Pierce Sports editor David Wysong
UC students who have been diagnosed/treated for STI:
6.1%
UC students who are NOT sexually active: 29% of 26% of males females
Sexually active UC students who use contraception:
54.7% of males
The News Record is the editorially independent student-run news organization of the University of Cincinnati. It serves UC students, staff, faculty, alumni and the Cincinnati community with award-winning news and information on a variety of media platforms. The free newspaper is published on Mondays and Thursdays and is distributed to more than 80 locations on and near UC campuses. TNR’s website, www.newsrecord.org, is updated as news breaks and offers video, audio and interactive features. TNR’s app and podcasts are available for download on mobile devices.
61.6% of females
Source: University of Cincinnati Executive Summary Spring 2016 950 students surveyed GRAPHIC BY RUSSELL HAUSFELD
College Life editor Samantha Hall Arts editor Russell Hausfeld Opinion editor Caroline Cory Copy editor Huey Nguyen Photo editor Alexandra Taylor Chief photographer N. C. Brown Online editor Stephanie Smith Designer Gabrielle Stichweh Broadcast Reporter Emily Wilhelm Videographer Michelle Fisk Sales manager Caleb Ward
LIFE & ARTS / 3 Fun fall festival in OTR entertain families, students MONDAY, OCT. 31, 2016
SAMANTHA HALL | COLLEGE LIFE
A weekend full of live music, local vendors, baked goods and so much more took place Saturday and Sunday at Washington Park in Over-the-Rhine. The fall fest had full line ups for music from noon to 8 p.m. both days, which brought in thousands of attendees. Not only was there live music, but also a magician act from Charlie Cadabra, a Cincinnati local magician. The styles of music enjoyed by the crowd ranged from bluegrass to acoustic and full string bands, with set lists lasting
an hour and a half each. Some of the local vendors present included Eli’s BBQ, Cincinnati Beer Soap, Metro and dozens others; all who helped bring the event together for the community to enjoy. Fall Fest takes place annually in Washington Park, but differed to years past by having only a twoday festival rather than three, but had longer hours during its Saturday and Sunday schedules. The event was open to the public, and was free entertainment for students and families to kick-off the start of fall. The event was sponsored
by Kroger, MIX 94.9 and was produced by the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC). 3CDC revitalized Washington Park in OTR in part of the corporation’s re-development projects in the urban history of Cincinnati’s downtown area. The non-profit has redeveloped other sections of Cincinnati including Fountain Square, as well as a variety of buildings throughout OTR, which can now be used for social and communal events. The success of 3CDC has strung together parts
of OTR, the University of Cincinnati and the downtown community that now are able to enjoy wholesome, family-friendly events. Features of Washington Park that could be enjoyed during the 2016 Fall Festival include an underground parking garage, Music Hall and performance stage, existing preserved nature, playgrounds for children, water park and even a dog park. The park also features sustainability throughout its design, bringing more modern amenities to its historical neighborhood.
Although the 2016 Fall Festival ended Sunday night, the fully interactive OTR park is available
year-round from 6 a.m.- 11 p.m., along with its many amenities.
SHAE COMBS | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Families watch live music in the Pavilion at Washington Park during Fall Festival, Saturday, October 29, 2016.
Khaotik Beatz visit Mockabee this week RUSSELL HAUSFELD | ART AND CULTURE EDITOR
GRAPHIC BY RUSSELL HAUSFELD
New gender support groups SAMANTHA HALL | COLLEGE LIFE
Gender often goes beyond the black and white stereotypes that is male and female, and often is considered to be a spectrum for identity. Kaleidoscope — the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Center’s transgender, gender non-conforming and non-binary support group — is now hosting “gender talks,” every Wednesday in the LGBTQ Center. The meaning of non-binary, or genderqueer, is identifying oneself as neither man nor woman, but instead a combination of both in the spectrum of gender identity. Transgender is different because it is when one identifies as a gender different from the sex assigned at birth. The transgender and non-binary communities are expanding due to progress in acceptance, bringing on more support and also more student groups across college campuses. UC has been no exception to this, and its Steger Student Wellness Center support group is open for all students to attend. Depression exists among 42.8 percent of transgender students, compared to only existing in 19.4 percent of non-transgender students, according to ActiveMinds.org. This statistic difference remains true for anxiety and eating disorders as well, nearly doubling for transgender students under both categories. Creating sturdier support for students in order to gradually decrease these statistics
seems to be trending on college campuses, according to the Huffington Post. Trans-inclusivity across campuses is present in ways such as including a genderneutral option when applying for schools, as well as gender-affirming health care. Within Cincinnati, health services exist at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital where transgender youth and adults are accepted. UC also offers resources including Kaleidoscope as well as Equality Ohio who aims to create a fair environment for all in the LBGTQ community and other minorities. Another resource available for transgender students is CrossPort, a non-profit support group in the Greater Cincinnati area that aims to empower and encourage those in the transgender community. Transgender is often considered an umbrella term, which includes the full spectrum of gender identity, just one part of the LBGTQ community’s spectrum philosophy. The spectrum philosophy is essentially allowing all parts of an identity — including gender, sexuality and age — to go beyond the traditional two-options. Now, students are allowing themselves to be free with selfidentification with the ongoing support of their college campuses. UC’s Kaleidoscope will take place from 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m. in room 565 of the Steger Student Life building, where many of the LGBTQ Center’s events take place.
Khaotik Beatz, a collective of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky-based electronic DJs, are preparing to do a short bar tour around Cincinnati called “I’d Rather Be Drunk.”The tour will start at The Mockbee this Friday with Khaotik Beatz’s DJs, lots of confetti and toilet paper monsters. DJs affiliated with Khaotik Beatz’s November tour include Bloodbath, Enk0de, MVXX, Wheelz, Digi Boyz, Fatchick, MIME and F13LD5. So far, The Mockbee, Rake’s End, One Eyed Jacks and Rusconi Pizza have been announced as venues for this tour. The lineup for the first show includes DJ Bloodbath, DJ EnkOde and DJ MVXX. Here is a brief overview of the first acts of the “I’d Rather Be Drunk” tour.
DJ Bloodbath
Ashley Mcgrath describes herself a “26-year-old chick” who started out playing in an all-girl rock band called Halfwaythere when she was 16 years old. She shredded on the guitar back then, playing shows with her band alongside acts like modern metal band Black Veil Brides. Now, she’s back with an addictive stage presence and some electronic equipment. Her music ranges from the moshing rock you’d expect from the guitarist of Halfwaythere to twerk-able hip hop drops.
DJ Enk0de
Ky “Enk0de” Gonzalez
hails from Michigan and is now living in Cincinnati. Having always had a fascination with EDM and dubstep culture, he includes artists such as Excision, Zomboy, Datsik and Doctor P to “bring the wobbles to the masses.” His background before DJ-ing, as referenced by his name, was in information technology and penetration testing — also known as ethical hacking.
DJ MVXX
A common face around Cincinnati’s few trapmusic-friendly bars, Mack Gonzalez has played many a show at venues like The Mockbee and The Mad Frog. Artists like Deadmau5 and Skrillex heavily influence him, and his sets are heavily bumping with EDM. Expect a crazy light show and some crazy bass drops from this set. GO: The Mockbee, 2260 Central Parkway, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday, Nov. 4. FREE. GO: Rusconi Pizza A.K.A. The Rabbit Hole, 126 W 6th St., 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9. FREE. GO: One Eyed Jacks, 2638 Colonel Glenn Highway, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 19. FREE. GO: Rake’s End, 2141 Central Ave., 9 p.m.-2 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 29. FREE.
PROVIDED
DJ Bloodbath, AKA Ashley McGrath, is a part of the upcoming tour of Cincinnati-based DJs coming to The Mockbee.
Brewcats: MadTree Celebrates International Stout Day RUSSELL HAUSFELD | ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR
International Stout Day is coming up this Wednesday and MadTree Brewing is showing off some variations of their ever-popular Axis Mundi Russian Imperial Stout. The term “Axis Mundi” comes from a traditional Siberian belief that a “World Tree” serves as a cosmic axis to the world with its roots and branches. MadTree’s website says about this beer that, while it “isn’t necessarily the world’s cosmic axis, it does connect rich flavors in a way to deliver you a cosmic beer.” This imperial stout is sure to have drinkers thinking of their own personal axis too, as the 9.5 percent ABV may make their heads spin a little bit. In celebration of International Stout Day, MadTree will be unveiling limited editions of Axis Mundi including a 2015 and 2016 Bourbon Barrel Aged Axis Mundi with Coffee and Vanilla, a Coffee and Cayenne Pepper-infused Axis Mundi and a Pineapple and Chocolate Axis Mundi. After swelling up with imperial stout, MadTree visitors can buy pizza from Catch-a-Fire Pizza, which will be around serving their full menu to
stout-happy customers all day long. The special versions of Axis Mundi, because they are limited editions, cost a little more than your average brew. At $12.50 a bottle — and a limit of three bottles per person — these might be purchases for the real collectors and craft brew lovers around town. So, hold onto the bottles as a collector’s editions if you can. No growlers will be available for these brews either, due to the small quantity going into circulation. Anyone who loves craft brews and who is getting in the mood for thicker beers as the weather starts to get chillier should stop by this event for a personalized selection of stouts from one of Cincinnati’s most popular breweries. GO: International Stout Day at MadTree, 5164 Kennedy Ave., 11 a.m.-12 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 3. FREE.
GRAPHIC BY RUSSELL HAUSFELD
ALEXANDRA TAYLOR | PHOTO EDITOR
Guests peruse the vast selection of used and new records at Plaid Room Records in Loveland, Saturday afternoon, Feb. 27, 2016.
Local record vendors discuss love of vinyl before Northside Record Fair NOELLE ZIELINSKI | CONTRIBUTOR
Vinyl records are tangible time capsules. Along with capturing memories and feelings of nostalgia, they also provide a source of reminiscence and joy. “Music is the only art form that can’t be seen or touched or felt. It can only be sensed,” said Darren Blase, co-owner of Shake It Records in Cincinnati. Blase said his introduction to the world of records began in 1978 when he bought Shake It Records, which was a record label at the time. In the ’80s, Darren and his brother Jim began putting out records, and in 1999 they opened their first store. The influences of records on people today, as well as the timeless quality they have always possessed, have many different sources. Michael Shuter, a long-time employee at Everybody’s Records, said vinyl appeal all depends on the audience. “The younger audience is attracted to vinyl because of the softer sound, as well as the artwork that comes with it. With older generations it’s about making connections and remembering,” Shuter said. Shuter has worked with records since he was 17 years old. Now, at 60, he describes records as being a part of him. Terry Cole, owner of Plaid Room Records, believes that there are many reasons people love records. He thinks that the actual vinyl is just as important as the tactile process of actually putting them on and listening to them.
“There’s no one reason they influence people. People like tangible products, the experience of playing a record, placing the needle and actually listening to the album,” Cole said. A common ground amongst these collectors is just that — they are collectors. The bi-annual Northside Record Fair creates the perfect platform for vendors to sell pieces of their collection and for consumers to add to theirs. This event attracts numerous pop-up shops, sellers and collectors, as well as interested newcomers. “It’s all about the auditory element,” Shuter said. “There’s different music for different periods of your life and Northside is the right place to find your element.” The Northside Record Fair is a melting pot of different genres of music reaching across various media platforms ranging from collectible vinyl records, timeless and classic CDs, vintage posters and other memorabilia. Looking back on previous fairs, Cole says “The people there, man. There’s people from all walks of life there looking for all different types of music. It’s incredible,” Cole said about past record fairs in Northside. Whether you are looking for that one piece to complete your collection or to simply explore new genres and meet new people, the Northside Record Fair is guaranteed to provide. GO: Northside Record Fair, North Church, 4222 Hamilton Ave., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5. $5.
GRAPHIC BY RUSSELL HAUSFELD
TUC hosts comedic debate ERIN COUCH | STAFF REPORTER
As the 2016 presidential race draws to a close, Democrats and Republicans can perhaps finally set aside their differences to agree on one thing: this election has turned out to be quite the joke. If you fall into the categories of either one of these disappointed parties or simply want to make fun of the train-wreck that this election has become, a comedic debate hosted by the University of Cincinnati’s Programs and Activities Council (PAC) on Wednesday at the TUC Great Hall will be the perfect venue for voters to laugh about this joke of an election one last time before hitting the polls on Nov. 8. Political comedians Robert Powell and Jeff Kreisler, each representing the Republican and Democratic parties respectively, will duke it out in classic debate style. They will have five minutes for opening statements, followed by a series of questions from moderators Mitchell Phelps and Brooke Duncan of Student Government. As the name of the event entails, comedy is an overarching goal of the debate. However, this isn’t to say that it won’t also be informative. Both Powell and Kreisler have degrees in political science, so it can be expected that there will some substance delivered in between the lines of jokes. With quips like Saturday Night Live’s sidesplitting skits of recent presidential debates, the comedic debate coming up at TUC raises an important question: How much does political comedy actually inform? While it is obviously not the most objective outlet to gain perspective into the election, political comedy is still a viable way to get a foot in the door when voters are on the fence, according to Cincinnati Enquirer political reporter Jeremy Fugleberg. “If you think even historically, SNL with Sarah Palin. Tina Fey nailed her character in a way that sometimes she didn’t even,” Fugleberg said. “Comedy can even get at a deeper truth sometimes, and I think that resonates with people.” On the other hand, political satire should not always be relied on to make up voters’ minds, said political science Ph.D. student Igor Kovac. “Comedy and satire is a process of catharsis and a reflection of the state of the mind of a society,” Kovac said. “As such, its vocation is not to influence or affect public opinion, but to purify society from fear, frustration, envy, anger and other negative emotions.” Whichever side of the argument voters land on, a universal truth remains: staying informed in this election is key. Political comedy like the upcoming debate at TUC can, for some, be a starting point to being proactive in staying informed. GO: The (Comedic) Debate, TUC Great Hall, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2. FREE.
4 / SPORTS UC offense must improve for team to secure bowl game MONDAY, OCT. 31, 2016
JASON SZELEST | STAFF REPORTER
OPINION
After falling to Temple University by a score of 34-13, the University of Cincinnati football team now sits at 4-4 on the season. So the question begs to be asked: Will the Bearcats make a bowl game? In order to qualify for a bowl game, the Bearcats will have to win at least two of their final four games of the season. Their final four games are against the Brigham Young University Cougars, the University of Central Florida Golden Knights, the University of Memphis Tigers and the Tulsa University Golden Hurricane. Each one of those teams has a record of .500 or better, and the Bearcats have yet to win a game this year where they have squared off against a team that does not have a losing record.
In their three games they have played against teams with .500 records or above this season, they have been outscored by a combined 70 points or 23.3 points per game. The biggest problem when the Bearcats face teams with at least average records has been their run game. In those three games, the Bearcats have managed to rush for only 75 yards per game. It seemed that the Bearcats had finally figured out their running game following a 165yard ground performance against the East Carolina University Pirates. However, that proved to be more of a product of East Carolina’s run defense, which is allowing 178 rushing yards per game. Going up against a Temple defense that has held teams to 142 yards per game rushing this weekend, the Bearcats were only able
to muster 67 yards on 22 carries. In addition, the Bearcats only accumulated 11 offensive yards in the second half on Saturday. “I thought we were done with that, playing the second half like we played on offense,” said Cincinnati head coach Tommy Tuberville. “It looked like the second, third or fourth ball game of the year.” Another problem for the Bearcats offense has been their lack of a leader at the quarterback position. Following stints at starting quarterback from sophomore Hayden Moore and freshman Ross Trail, senior Gunner Kiel became the third quarterback to start a game for the Bearcats when he trotted out with the first team offense against East Carolina. Kiel, who had been the starter the previous two seasons, was widely supported by the fans as the man who should have
had the job since day one. A strong showing against East Carolina in his first game seemed to support those claims. However, going up against Temple’s defense, rather than East Carolina’s ― which surrenders nearly 240 passing yards per game ― Kiel managed only 119 passing yards while completing 15 of 27 passes. “Gunner did not have a very good second half,” Tuberville said. “I do not know whether we completed a pass to be honest with you.” For the second half, Kiel actually did complete one of the six passes he attempted — for a grand total of negative three yards. The defense, which has been much improved over previous seasons, can only take this team so far. If Cincinnati hopes to win games against even mediocre competition, the offense is going to have to score points.
The 22 points-per-game average they’ve had to this point in the season is not going to cut the mustard
and could leave the team out of a bowl game for the first time since 2010.
N.C. BROWN | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Bearcats sophomore defensive tackle Cortez Broughton (96) takes the field against East Carolina University at Nippert Stadium, October 22, 2016.
Bearcats looking for tournament spot DAVID WYSONG | SPORTS EDITOR
N.C. BROWN | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Pedro Diaz (1) awaits the coin flip prior to UC’s match against University of Southern Florida at Gettler Stadium, Saturday, October 1, 2016.
The University of Cincinnati men’s soccer team is almost to the conclusion of their regular season and will be looking to use the final two games to secure a conference tournament spot. As of Sunday, the Bearcats are tied for third place in the American Athletic Conference standings, positing an 8-6-1 overall record and a 3-3 conference record ― giving them nine points in the standings. With the conference tournament being exclusive to the top four teams, Cincinnati will most likely have to win their final two games in order to get the invite. UC is going into their final games with two-consecutive losses, one being to the University of Tulsa who used the win to take sole possession of second place with 10 points. The other teams fighting for an invite to the tournament are the University of South Florida Bulls, the University of Connecticut Huskies and the Temple University Owls. USF leads all teams, as they are in first place with 15 points. The Huskies are tied with UC, having nine points, and Temple is one point behind them
with eight. “From our stand point we control our own destiny,” said UC head coach Hylton Dayes. “We’ve talked to our guys about the importance of making sure that we’re executing. At this time of the season … we are who we are and we need to make sure we execute.” Prior to their two-game skid, the Bearcats had won seven of their previous nine matchups. This came after the team began the season 1-3. “It’s great to see the success from where we started to where we are now. It’s like in the beginning of the year you wasn’t sure how it was going to go,” said senior defender Malk Morgan. Despite Cincinnati having a young team this season, with 11 true freshmen on their roster, the team has five seniors who were honored for senior night against Tulsa. They would like nothing more than ending their UC career on a winning note. “It’s always great to start strong but the end is even more important. Getting to the tournament, getting a ring possibly, winning our conference tournament would be huge, it would be great to go out winning,” said
senior midfielder and defender Johnny Williams. In order for Williams to go out winning, the Bearcats will have to beat their next two opponents: Eastern Illinois University and the University of Central Florida. Eastern Illinois is 5-9-1 on the season, but have won their last three matchups. However, the game will be held at Gettler Stadium, as UC is 5-3 at home and Eastern Illinois is 1-5-1 on the road this season. UCF, the last team Cincinnati will face, currently sits last in the AAC standings. Central Florida has posted a 4-10 overall record and a 2-4 conference record, giving them six points in the standings. Win-loss records may not mean much as Cincinnati lost to a 6-9 Southern Methodist University team last week. SMU is currently tied with UCF for last place in the conference. Cincinnati will play Eastern Illinois at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Gettler Stadium and will then travel to Orlando, Florida to play UCF at noon on Saturday. The American Men’s Soccer Championships will be held on Nov. 11 and Nov. 13.
Who will make the College Football Playoff? DAVID WYSONG | SPORTS EDITOR
OPINION
The college football season has been underway for nearly two months and the discussions of who will be in the College Football Playoff are heating up. Only four teams are awarded a spot into the playoff and the Cincinnati Bearcats are clearly not one of them, so here are my predictions for which teams will be selected.
1. The University of Alabama
The Alabama Crimson Tide, the reigning 201516 champions, have dominated their way through the regular season thus far. They have beaten five ranked teams and have done so with ease, winning those games by an average of 25.6 points. Defensively, Alabama has stopped opposing team’s rushing games with ease, only allowing them run for just under 71 yards per
game, according to Sports Reference’s official site. On the other hand, the Crimson Tide have been able to run the ball extremely easy, picking up 268.4 yards per game ― good for six yards per carry. Alabama has two more regular season games against ranked opponents, Louisiana State University and Auburn University, but they should handle them easily like they have all season. Alabama should safely secure the No. 1 spot in the playoff.
2. Clemson University
The Clemson Tigers were the team Alabama beat in the National Championship last season, and they have a good shot to make the game again. The Tigers have had a number of close calls this year, most recently a 37-34 win against No. 12 Florida State University Saturday, but they have found a way to win each time. Moving forward, the rest
candidate quarterback in JT Barrett ― who has picked up 1,675 passing yards, 531 rushing yards and 23 total touchdowns on the season.
of their schedule looks like cake walk so, barring no upsets, Heisman candidate quarterback Deshaun Watson ― who has 2,328 passing yards and 23 total touchdowns on the year ― should lead his team back to a playoff spot.
4. The University of Michigan
3.Ohio State University
The Ohio State Buckeyes began the year looking better than their team who won the championship two years ago, but they have struggled the past few games as they picked up their first loss to Penn State University last week. Ohio State has two more games against ranked opponents left on their schedule and I think they will win them both ― one of them over the current No. 2 University of Michigan Wolverines ― propelling them into a playoff spot. Head coach Urban Meyer is the king of making adjustments and I believe he will get his offense back on track, starting with another Heisman
I do think the Michigan Wolverines will lose to rival Ohio State in their last regular season game, but their undefeated record going into that game, in addition to a close game between the two, will allow the Wolverines to secure their first College Football Playoff spot ever. Michigan’s defense has been remarkable all season long, holding their opponents to 11.6 points per game and leading the Wolverines to an 8-0 record. Head coach Jim Harbaugh will keep his team on pace headed into the OSU game and will have them be competitive enough during that game to secure a playoff spot.
BROOKE LAVALLEY | COLUMBUS DISPATCH | TNS
Ohio State Buckeyes running back Mike Weber (25) enters the end zone after a 23-yard run in the second quarter of their game against Northwestern at Ohio Stadium on Oct. 29, 2016 in Columbus, Ohio.
N.C. BROWN | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
FC Cincinnati players celebrate after Sean Okoli (9) scores the first ever goal at Nippert Stadium against Charlotte, Saturday, April 9, 2016. FROM FC CINCY PG 1
Many of them are coming to our games, you know parents, kids, and they’re looking around UC’s campus where tens of millions of dollars are being invested and they’re blown away by the beauty of the campus and all the improvements. So what a great opportunity to show off for perspective students how great UC is … so really it was a win-win.” While playing their inaugural season at Nippert, FC Cincinnati broke five USL attendance records throughout the season. One of them coming in their lone postseason game against Charleston Battery, where 30,187 people were in attendance ― besting the previous postseason single game record of 20,886 that was set in 2013. “[Nippert’s] a great soccer venue,” Berding said. “It’s built in a very intimate way, right in the heart of the campus. It’s not this enormous stadium that just rises above the entire campus. The architectural beauty of it and its fit within the campus and the uptown environment has just been tremendous.” Berding worked as an executive for the Cincinnati Bengals for 19 years and he uses his experiences from there to excel with his new team. “There’s not a day that
goes by where I don’t draw upon my experiences with the Bengals,” Berding said. “I also spent time working with the owners, spent time talking to Marvin [Lewis] and to Duke Tobin and so when you pay attention, you learn things.” The players of FC Cincinnati saw Berding’s passion first hand as he had an open door policy for them and even took time during the season to attend an entire practice, using it to give the team a pep-talk after they had struggled for consecutive games. “My first impression was that he was very prideful with the city. You can tell that he was very passionate about the team and very passionate about bringing soccer here to Cincinnati and doing everything he can to make sure that it was successful here in the city,” said FC Cincinnati defender Michael Millay. While joining the USL was big step, the ultimate goal moving forward for Berding is to get the team into the highest level of professional soccer in the country: Major League Soccer. “I am very bullish about our chances with the MLS, but respectful of the fact that you don’t invite yourself to a party in life — you get invited,” Berding said