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pg. 4 | Living Openly: From Philippines to UC
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pg. 7 | UC a capella group performs on world stage
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
DAAP professor makes robot dogs for elderly SHANNON SMITH | CHIEF REPORTER
A University of Cincinnati professor is combining technology and comfort by creating robotic companions for senior citizens. Claudia B. Rebola is an associate professor for UC’s College of Design, Art, Architecture and Planning (DAAP) graduate program. Her students pursuing their master of design have been working to expand innovation of robotic pets by collaborating with the College of Engineering and
Applied Science. The Affordable Robotic Intelligence for Elderly Support (ARIES) began in 2017 after Rebola teamed with researchers from Brown University, Butler Hospital and industry partner Hasbro to secure a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation. They set to expand the design on an existing line of robotic companion pets from Ageless Innovation, a branch company formerly led by Hasbro. This Story Continued on Page 5
UCPD vehicles. TNR FILE ART
UCPD to place officers in dorms MITCHELL PARTON | MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR The University of Cincinnati Police Department (UCPD) will begin placing officers in lobbies of residence halls within the next month, a move that has sparked concerns among student leaders and minority populations on campus. The current plan, a collaboration with the Department of Resident Education & Development (RED), is for UCPD to direct some officers to visit the lobbies of residence halls no more than twice during their 10-hour shifts for 10 to 15 minutes, according to Maris Herold, UC chief of police.
During the visits, officers will be instructed to visit in residence hall lobbies for general community engagement and attend residence hall meetings. They will be armed and wearing “soft uniforms” of polos and shorts. UCPD is in discussion with student groups on determining the exact details for how often each residence hall will be visited. Herold wrote in an email to The News Record that the decision to establish a presence in residence halls didn’t come out of response to any specific event, but that UCPD believes community engagement This Story Continued on Page 2
Claudio B. Rebola, associate professor for the University of Cincinnati’s Design, Art, Architecture and Planning (DAAP), creates robotic pets to be companions to senior citizens. PROVIDED | UC
September 25, 2019
UCPD in residence halls
NEWS
Kish Richardson, student body senator at-large, at the Diversity Debate in Baldwin Hall on Monday, March 11, 2019. MITCHELL PARTON | MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR
This Story Continued from Page 1 and a coherent crime or disorder prevention strategy is ethical policing. Gordon Goodwin, a third-year Arabic student, is president of the Residence Hall Association (RHA) — a governing body made up of students living in each of UC’s residence halls. He said members of the resident community believe the initiative fails to take into account fears associated with police presence in student living communities, especially among communities of color. “RHA’s role is to convey the fears and concerns among sectors of the community and work with UCPD to make sure this initiative, in whatever form it takes, takes in concerns of security and well-being of residents on campus,” Goodwin said.
Kish Richardson, a third-year philosophy student and student body senator at-large, has been in discussions with UCPD and RED since the initiative was first publicized by RED in March. During the initiative’s development, UCPD or RED did not request student input, according to Richardson. “This initiative was thrown on both RED faculty and the resident hall community via nothing more than an email,” Richardson said. “No student input was requested or received.” Richardson said messaging on the initiative has been unclear, and that he had seen it referred to by UC officials as both the “community policing initiative” and as the “increased visibility deployment initiative.” “Point being, there has been a lot of effort going into an initiative that will impact residents,
but a failure in their ability to inform students as to what it is or what necessitates it,” he said. Adding to the confusion on the extent of the initiative, Richardson said resident advisers have told him they had seen police officers doing rounds in residence hallways during a pilot of the program last semester. Until Richardson’s meeting with Herold Sept. 19, the logistics of how officers would be involved in residence halls were unclear, and the original plan was for visits to begin Sept. 23 until UCPD pushed them back at least a week to consider student feedback, he said. “We are in progress of notifying students and are still having meetings with impacted partners and this communication will continue indefinitely,” Herold said.
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YouTuber Noel Miller to visit UC
QUINLAN BENTLEY | STAFF REPORTER YouTuber and comedian Noel Miller will perform a solo comedy show at the University of Cincinnati’s Tangeman University Center (TUC) Oct. 1, first announced in a Sept. 16 Twitter post by the UC Programs and Activities Council (PAC). The student-run council is charged with finding interesting and entertaining performers to bring to campus each semester, said Mackenzie Kinman, a program coordinator for UC who advises PAC. When asked how PAC plans to rebound from last year’s Uptown West Fest debacle – in which a controversy over seating led Lost Kings to walk out mid performance and many students left the concert without receiving a refund – Kinman said the concert is being discontinued and rebranded. “That event, unfortunately, was not the student’s fault or the programming board’s fault,” she said, citing a Fire Safety mandate that said chairs must be placed on the arena floor. “We were prepared for the worst and the worst had happened.” According to Kinman, PAC is abandoning Fifth Third Arena as a venue and from now on all concerts will be held outdoors. PAC’s new focus is going to be strictly on “free and inclusive events,” such as Miller’s upcoming appearance. Miller has a sizable YouTube following of 1.5 million subscribers. His channel – which has gained no small amount of prominence since it launched in 2015 – is widely known for its raunchy, improvisational videos that often satirizes internet culture. He is currently in the midst of his first live, nationwide comedy tour with fellow YouTuber and co-collaborator Cody Ko. The tour, dubbed Tiny Meat Gang Live, is named after the duo’s podcast. The duo proclaims to be “two former software engineers who left their rock solid, bullet proof careers to become pretty decent comedians with no health insurance,” according to their website.
@THENOELMILLER VIA INSTAGRAM
YouTuber Noel Miller will be coming to the University of Cincinnati’s Tangeman University Center (TUC) Great Hall on Oct. 1, 2019 at 8 p.m. @ THENOELMILLER VIA INSTAGRAM
The tour is a completely self-funded venture by Miller and Ko to live out their dream of entertaining tens of hundreds of people around the ninth smartest nation in the world, according to their website, and has performances scheduled through Nov. 8. Their upcoming Oct. 11 show at Covington’s Madison Theater has already sold out. PAC members originally wanted to bring in Tiny Meat Gang Live, but budgeting issues did not allow the duo to perform. Despite this, attendance at the event is predicted to be high, according to Kinman. “We’re expecting it to be similar to our Marlon Wayans event, which was about 900 students,” she said. Kinman predicts the event will be at capacity, which means the council will not allow any outside people to attend the event, she said. According to PAC, the event is set to begin at 8 p.m. in TUC’s Great Hall, with doors opening at 7:40 p.m. There will be no entry fee for students. PAC is also organizing a meet and greet with Miller for five students attending the show — free of charge for the selected students. PAC advises students to check in through the Event Pass feature in Corq – a third-party app connected to CampusLINK that consolidates all campus event information in one location. Event Pass is essentially a QR code that allows students to check in without their bearcat card, said Kinman. Students who have not downloaded the app will still be able to check in by simply giving their name at the door. According to Kinman, PAC is making the switch from Bearcat Card swipes to Corq because it gives easier access to student information and the ability to better analyze event attendance, which allows PAC to measure the success of each event.
NEWS
September 25, 2019
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SG to provide free Lyft rides for job interviews KEELY BROWN | NEWS EDITOR
The University of Cincinnati Undergraduate Student Government (SG) will provide free Lyft codes aimed to get students to and from job interviews downtown. The initiative, pioneered by Chandler Rankin and Abbie Smith, student body president and vice president, was a large part of the duo’s campaign. SG partnered with the Lindner Career Services Center and Lyft to subsidize rides for students looking to interview for jobs following the career fair, which will take place from Sept. 24-27. SG allocated $2,500, with an overrun amount of $2,750, for the program. 125 rides are available, and events could be extended past Oct. 11. Students can request a code from SG for free Lyft rides between Sept. 24 and Oct. 11 from 7 a.m.-6 p.m on CampusLink. Any request must be made at least 24 hours prior to the time of being requested for the ride. Approval of all submissions are at the discretion of SG. If there are any questions or concerns, SG may contact students regarding the details of the request. “Because we have to allocate it within our budget and whatnot, it’ll be up to a certain amount of students,” Rankin said. The campus pickup and drop-off locations will be Lindner Circle and McMicken Circle, whereas the downtown pickup and drop-off locations are Washington Square Park, Fountain Square and the Holiday Inn Downtown. Any destinations selected within a 0.5-mile radius of these locations with be valid with the Lyft code. “It’s specifically designed for the off-campus interview, just to alleviate that extra level of pressure on interview
day,” Smith said. Rankin and Smith then reached out to Lindner Career Services to contribute to the initiative. “We were happy to do it,” said Angie Lucas, associate director of Lindner Career Services. “Anything that will help connect more students with employers, we are definitely in support of.” Lucas said she hopes the program will bring financial relief to students and enable Bearcats to connect with employers as much as possible. “We never want a student to miss out on an opportunity because of [transportation],” Lucas said. “We’re hoping that this encourages students to attend the career fair in the hopes of getting an interview, co-op or full-time job.” All requests will be monitored by Brendan Boseman, chief of staff on a daily basis. Any questions may be directed to Boseman at bosemabe@mail.uc.edu. Lyft codes will be provided to the student’s UC email provided in the application upon approval. The credit is worth $20 and will be applied to students’ Lyft accounts for roundtrip use of transportation for interviews or professional meetings. Every individual student may submit up to two submissions. To apply for a Lyft Credit follow the instructions below: • Sign in to CampusLINK and go to the “Student Government” page • Scroll down to “Forms” and select the “SG Job Interview Shuttles” form • Submit your request at least 24 hours in advance of the requested ride • Receive your Lyft Code
The career fair will be held in the Campus Recreation Center (CRC) over three days, and is designed to help employers meet their full-time, co-op and internship needs for students in a diverse set of majors. About 170 employers and more than 1,800 students are expected to attend each day. “Professional Day” focuses on jobs for students in the Lindner College of Business and the McMicken College of Arts & Sciences Tuesday, Sept. 24. “Technical Day” from Sept. 25-26 focuses on jobs in engineering, applied sciences and information technology. Recruiters interview their top candidates from the fair Friday, Sept. 27.
Chandler Rankin and Abbie Smith, study body president and vice president. PROVIDED | RANKIN SMITH 2019
Lambda Society initiative to benefit charities KEELY BROWN | NEWS EDITOR The Lambda Society, a black women’s honorary group at the University of Cincinnati, has launched a service opportunity to support local charities. The initiative, dubbed the Purple Purse Project, encourages UC organizations and individual students to donate a tote bag full of travel-sized women’s toiletries and a handwritten note of hope. Every donation will go to a local shelter that houses women who are victims of domestic violence, homelessness, poverty, substance abuse and more. The Lambda Society was founded in 2006 and its foundational pillars include service, womanhood, unity and justice. It seeks to acknowledge the accomplishments and contributions of women of color at the University of Cincinnati, said Amari Thomas, vice president of The Lambda Society. “With this initiative, I really wanted to come up with a way in which we can meet all of our pillars, and give back to the Greater Cincinnati area,” Thomas said. “After doing a lot of brainstorming and praying, God led me to come up with the Purple Purse Project as a way for us to give to women in need.” The Lambda Society is seeking
Members of the University of Cincinnati’s Lambda Society chapter. @A_LAMBDA_WOMAN VIA TWITTER
donations of the following items: women’s feminine products, wet wipes, toothpaste, toothbrushes, socks, gloves, hats, band-aids, lip balm, lotion, deodorant, tissue, chewable multivitamins, breakfast bars, raisins, mints, apple sauce, water and especially handwritten notes. “You’ll find that the handwritten note is more impactful than anything in a care package,” Thomas said. “It fosters that idea of encouragement to a woman who
may be struggling to just go another day.” The Lambda Society is also accepting cash donations, Thomas said. Those interested in making a monetary donation can do so through Cash App @ LambdaSociety2. Donation bins are set up in Ethnic Programs and Services, the UC Women’s Center, Student Activities and Leadership Development office and the African American Cultural and Resource Center. The organization to collect the most
items donated by Friday, Nov. 22, will receive an organization spotlight in The Lambda Society’s promotion video and free pizza for the program, said Thomas. The Lambda Society will take donations until Nov. 18, at which point the honorary will take all the donated items and put them into purple gift bags and distribute them to The Esther Marie Hatton Center for Women and City Gospel Mission of Cincinnati. “This will be right before Thanksgiving break,” Thomas said. “We’ll go and just pass out the items, and students are welcome to come with us as we do that.” The Lambda Society has received enough donations to fill 10 bags so far, said Thomas. However, she hopes the honorary will be able to distribute at least 300 bags by Thanksgiving. “I’m hoping that this is something that can have longevity long after I’m gone from the University of Cincinnati and for years to come,” she said. “[We] really think about the area and the community in which we’re in and ways to make it better.” Any further questions can be directed to Thomas at thoma5ai@mail.uc.edu or Makayla Boyd, president of The Lambda Society, at boydmk@mail.uc.edu.
September 25, 2019
FEATURES
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Living Openly: Spreading acceptance across the globe
Edison Cabalfin, a professor at the University of Cincinnati, moved to the United States from the Philippines to earn a Master of Science degree in Architecture from UC. PROVIDED | EDISON CABALFIN
and have lunch with them. He really became a part of the family, and they were very welcoming. I was very lucky.” After completing his research, Cabalfin wanted to return to the U.S. to fulfill his dream of becoming a professor. In 2009, he was offered to be an assistant professor at The University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP). In his 10 years at the university, Cabalfin has served as the coordinator for DAAP’s interior design program, served as a member on a variety of committees and taught a variety of classes from the undergraduate level to Ph.D. level. Throughout his classes, Cabalfin introduces topics such as diversity in gender and sexuality in different spaces and minority cultures to offer a wider perspective. In Addition, Cabalfin was chosen in 2017 by the Philippine government to be the curator of the Philippine Pavilion at the 16th Venice Architecture Biennale – one of the most prestigious contemporary art and architecture exhibitions in the world. In eight months, Cabalfin designed an exhibit centered around how colonialism and liberalism has shaped and built the Philippines. The exhibit was open in Venice from May 22 to Nov. 25, 2018. This past July, the exhibit reopened in a museum in Manila and Cabalfin will be returning in October to close the exhibition. Throughout his career, Calbalfin says his achievements have been in spite of, and because he is gay. “If I weren’t gay, I think the struggles that I have encountered throughout my career, it would have been much easier,” Cabalfin said. “I want to be able to show people that I’m more than they think I am. People underestimate me, even today, within the school. Fellow faculty members and students.” While never being directly discriminated against, Chabalfin said it is inherently there and continues to face a lot of challenges in his career. Still, he embraces being gay, and does not see it as a disadvantage and uses it as a way to be more successful. “I think if it weren’t for my experiences facing adversity and rising up to challenges, I don’t think I’d be able to also be confident and face any of these challenges and overcome them,” Cabalfin said.
DAVID REES | FEATURES EDITOR When he was 6 years old growing up in the Philippines, University of Cincinnati professor, Edson Cabalfin, realized there was something different about him, but could never put a label on it. It was not until high school that he would realize he was gay. Raised in the capital city of Manila, Cabalfin lived in a conservative Catholic home and was hesitant to accept his sexuality. Even though the Philippines was a prominently Catholic nation, he noticed a presence of gay characters on TV. However, the representation only depicted stereotypes in the gay community. “I knew that I was similar to them and that I had an attraction to the same sex,” Cabalfin said. “But I did not agree that this was the image I could be. There was an expectation, that if you are a gay man, you would become a hairdresser, a makeup artist, a fashion designer and so on. I was very conscious of that, I did not want my options to be limited.” Combining the arts with science, Cabalfin went into architecture. His parents were both nuclear scientists, and from an early age he knew he was interested in science, but also drawn to creative design. Cabalfin received his Bachelor of Science in Architecture in 1996 from the University of the Philippines, as well as his Master of Architecture in 2001. Soon after, under a Fullbright Fellowship, Cabalfin came to the United States to earn his Master of Science degree in Architecture from the University of Cincinnati. It was in Cincinnati Cabalfin met his partner, Jay. Cabalfin’s parents were coming to the U.S. to visit, and he knew it was time to tell them. “I felt that it was so unfair to hide the fact that I was living with another man,” Cabalfin said. “I wrote this very long letter a couple weeks before they visited, and I sent it along with a book about parents talking about their kids coming out experiences.” Visiting Cabalfin’s brother in Chicago first, his parents never received the book or letter. Luckily, he was able to send another copy to Chicago before they met up in New York as planned. “She called me maybe a week later and didn’t say anything at first and so I said I guess you received the letter,” Cabalfin said. “She began crying on the phone. She didn’t really say much, but she said that she knew I was gay. Mothers are always the first to know.” With his father still unaware, Cabalfin’s mother asked him not to bring his partner to New York. His father did not find out until three years later. In 2007, Cabalfin was working on earning his Ph.D. in History of Architecture and Urbanism from Cornell University. Returning home to do field work for his Ph.D., there was no question his partner was going to come with him. Arriving in Manila a week before his partner, his father asked when his “friend” was coming. However, his father soon figured out their relationship was much deeper. “There was a clear understanding that we were together, and so we lived in Manila for two and a half years,” Cabalfin said. “We would go to church on Sundays with them,
“I want to be able to show people that I’m more than they think I am. People underestimate me, even today, within the school. Fellow faculty members and students,” Cabalfin said. PROVIDED | EDISON CABALFIN
FEATURES
September 25, 2019
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How UC is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month DAVID REES | FEATURES EDITOR
Hispanic Heritage Month will be celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 25, 2019. PROVIDED | THE OFFICE OF ETHNIC PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
The Office of Ethnic Programs and Services (EPS) at The University of Cincinnati is hosting events in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month throughout the rest of September, until Oct. 15. Hispanic Heritage Month has been celebrated nationally from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 since 1988. The month honors the achievements of Hispanic Americans and brings awareness to different opportunities and the rich culture of Latinoidentifying students. EPS serves a multi-cultural base to support the cultural, ethnic and racial diversity of UC through community engagement and providing an inclusive campus. Completing his undergraduate degree at a predominantly white university, EPS Program Coordinator, Fabrice Juin, said Hispanic Heritage Month meant everything to him. Struggling to feel a sense of community, what helped was finding groups with people that looked like him and felt like him. “There are somewhere around 1,800 Hispanic students at UC, and it is such a big university, it can be so hard to find people you relate to,” Juin said. “This month helps student find the people they can connect to. We [want to] make sure they feel their importance, and motivate them throughout this school year. Hopefully this month provides the opportunity to begin that relationship.” Recognizing the diversity and expertise across UC’s campus, EPS has collaborated with other faculty units to put on a variety of events for students.
• Hispanic Volunteer Week with the student organization Latinx En Acción (LEA), Sept. 23-28. Follow LEA @latinxenaccion_uc on Instagram for more information. • Food Week with the Department of Romance and Arabic Languages and Literatures (RALL), Sept. 23-27. • A screening of the 2019 film “The Garden Left Behind” Sept. 25 beginning at 5:30 p.m. in Old Chemistry, room 801. • Being Brown: Sonia Sotomayer and the Latinx Question with Dr. Lazaro Lima Oct. 3 at 4 p.m. in the Taft Research Center • The Ohio Latino Student Summit Oct. 4 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Tangeman University Center on the fourth floor. • Latin Night with LEA Oct. 4 from 7-10 p.m. in the African American Cultural and Resource Center (AACRC). • Volunteer Day with The Cincinnati USA Hispanic Chamber Oct. 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Location to be determined. • Celebrate the ending of Hispanic Heritage Month with Taco Tuesday Oct. 15 from 2-5 p.m. in the EPS office. EPS is still inviting students to approach them about event ideas to add to the calendar. “We always do our absolute best to be very intentional,” Juin said. “We go out of our way and put in the effort for students to be a part of the celebration. We are always looking to put student voices at the forefront.”
Robot dogs provide comfort and companionship This Story Continued from Page 1 These robotic cats and dogs have been available since 2015, targeting elderly consumers who wish to have the companionship of a pet without the responsibility. They feature authentic sounds and movements that react to your voice and touch. The ARIES project aims to expand the abilities of these pets so they can provide care along with comfort. The team studied focus groups to understand what senior citizens and their caretakers would like to see in the dog or cat. “We have identified through our challenge analysis that our older adults want help with mastering vitals, they want to better understand the risk for falls and they want to have some sort of support,” Rebola said. “They want ways to feel more connected with friends and family.” Using this feedback, students began to redesign the original model to appear more lifelike while also considering the technological advancements that would be added. They prototyped a new dog after experimenting with new furs and 3D printing. They created it to resemble
a terrier since that is the breed most preferred by older adults. Rebola’s master of design elective class worked to integrate the caregiving possibilities while improving on the technical components of the dog. They are focusing on the prevention and detection of falls, checking vital signs, providing reminders and allowing communication to family and caregivers. The projects involve the merging of many different sciences such as behavioral cognitive scientists from Brown University which represents the human factors. Rebola said the need for these robotics increases as the older population increases. They are statistically more likely to have feelings of loneliness which she hopes the dogs can help with, while also providing practical help for their physical wellbeing. “When I introduce someone to the dog, I ask them if they are ready for the ‘birth’ of their new pet so they can adopt him,” Rebola said. “They immediately take to him and they don’t have any problem figuring it out. They On the left is the dog before Claudio B. Rebola became involved, and on the right is the robotic dog after her start smiling and they cannot stop involvement. PROVIDED | UC smiling.”
LIFE AND ARTS
September 25, 2019
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Sigma Chi fraternity shaves heads to raise funds for cancer research EILEEN BOND | CONTRIBUTOR
The University of Cincinnati’s Sigma Chi chapter is holding a week-long “Derby Days” to raise $50,000 to donate to The Huntsman Cancer Institute. SIGMA CHI, UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI VIA FACEBOOK
While most guys gear up for No-Shave November, fourth-year UC student and vice president of Sigma Chi, Connor Martin is getting ready to shave his head for his fraternity’s annual Shave-a-Sig event. This week, UC’s Sigma Chi fraternity is holding its week-long “Derby Days” fundraising event to raise $50,000 for The Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI). Former Sigma Chi brother and four-time cancer survivor Jon Huntsman created HCI in 1995, pledging over $100 million to create a state-of-the-art center for cancer research. Decades later, HCI has become one of the leading cancer research facilities across the globe. Sigma Chi is kicking off the week with a number of events including Topcats Trivia Night and Bogarts Fight Night, but one of the biggest ways it brings in money is the annual Shave-a-Sig event. To Martin, the cause is personal. The biggest reason he goes bald every year is because his mother is a breast cancer survivor. Shaving your hair off might seem like a
daunting task, but when 14-year-old Martin learned about his mother’s battle with cancer, he begged to shave his head to show his support to his mother and the millions of cancer patients who have gone bald from chemotherapy treatments. Nearly seven years later, Martin still remembers his mother’s difficult road to remission while he takes part in shaving his scalp. His mother is a supporter of the event and laughs every year at her son’s bald head. “She thinks it’s a really fun event, but I know that deep down it means a lot to her because she knows this is a super important cause,” Martin said. This year, more than 10 fraternity brothers have volunteered to shave their heads for the event, taking place Thursday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. at the Sigma Chi house located at 2617 University Court. Sororities also get involved, sending representatives to help shave the Sigs. “In our chapter, lots of brothers have parents or family members who are fighting cancer,” Martin said. “That makes the cause more personal and ten times more important because we all have someone close to us that we are fundraising for.”
Get Out And Do Something: Sept. 27 to Sept. 29
EMMA BALCOM | CONTRIBUTOR
With September coming to a close, Cincinnati is being sure to hold plenty of events as it capitalizes on these last warm and sunny days. Take advantage of this lovely weekend to get out and explore the area. FRIDAY, SEPT. 27 Mt. Echo Sunset Celebration: After a long week of school, nothing will bring you back to peace such as a night like this. Enjoy a brilliant sunset, surrounded by the gentle tune of local musicians, or participate in a yoga class for people of all ages. And before you leave, don’t forget to purchase a sweet treat from the bake sale to support the Santa Maria Center for local Cincinnati families. 7-10p.m. Mt. Echo Park, 202 Crestline Drive UC vs ECU Women’s Volleyball: This Friday, go out and support your Bearcats’ volleyball team as they take on the East Carolina Pirates. Put on your UC gear and gather your friends for an actionpacked event. Our strong women work hard every game they play, so be sure to cheer as loud as you can for them to serve, spike and win. 7p.m. Fifth Third Arena, 2700 O’Varsity Way
SATURDAY, SEPT. 28
Green Day vs Blink 182 vs. The Killers Tribute Night: Bogart’s is looking to turn back time this Saturday to the greatest bands of the ‘80s, ‘90s, and ‘00s. Bands Dust by Monday, Friday Giants and Throwback Thursday will be taking the stage, commemorating the greatest alternative rock bands music has to offer. Time to break out the Doc Martins and flannels! 7p.m. Bogart’s, 2621 Vine St.
With hours of music, you’ll absolutely want to join this spirited room in swaying the night away amidst vivid neon lights. 4-7p.m. American Sign Museum, 1330 Monmouth Ave. Riverfront Market at the Castellini Esplanade: Grocery shopping has never been so revitalizing. Enjoy spending
the first hours of your day picking out fresh produce for home-cooked meals and snacking on delicious dishes from a rotating supply of food trucks. This market brings together a variety of vendors to the Riverfront every week to sell their best products. 9a.m.-2p.m. Smale Riverfront Park, W Mehring Way
Queen of the Wing: Wing Fest. Yes, you heard right, Wing Fest. You’ll definitely want to make your way to Washington Park to purchase plates of saucy and savory wings. Over thirty different vendors around the city will be competing to win over your taste buds in this epic gathering of all things wings. Come to this event with nothing but an empty stomach and you’re sure to have a good time. 11a.m.-10p.m. Washington Park, 1230 Elm St. SUNDAY, SEPT. 29 Tea Dance: The American Sign Museum is proud to host this Sunday’s Tea Dance. Established to build a sense of strength and unity in the Cincinnati LGBTQ+ community, these dances occur monthly and are raved about by its participants.
Bogarts will host, “Green Day vs. Blink 182 vs. The Killers” tribute night on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019 at 7 p.m. ALEX MARTIN | PHOTO EDITOR
LIFE & ARTS
September 25, 2019
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Organization breaks barriers for international students
EILEEN BOND | CONTRIBUTOR Being a college student can be hard, especially if you’re one who makes a real effort to get to class every day. But being an international student is even harder; Culture shock can be overwhelming, and suddenly it is not just about adapting to a new campus, it is about acclimating to a whole new environment. Adjusting to college life can be hard for anyone dealing with loneliness or homesickness. But it’s additionally challenging for international students, who have to manage adapting to a new culture far from home with less likelihood they can visit their families for holidays or special events. UC’s student population has low racial diversity, with international students making up only 4% of the student body. Over 75% of UC’s student body is primarily white. ICats is an organization created to help international students fit in with their
fellow classmates and learn how to navigate their time in college, familiarizing them with American culture and helping them maintain their visa status. Communication can be a huge issue for international students, whether it’s a language barrier, a strong accent or simply being shy. With a range of international students from more than eight countries, domestic students who participate in iCats can delve into new experiences and meet new people, all while helping international students get integrated into social circles on campus. John Pancioli is president of iCats and a fourth-year Operations Management major in the Lindner College of Business. He has been a part of iCats for four years and even traveled to Japan and China last summer to reunite with some international students and their families. “The experience and world view that you can gain is so valuable and makes such a
difference in how you see the world,” Pancioli says. “The U.S. can seem so big, but we only take up 4.29% of the world’s population.” Pancioli planned and executed the trip with fellow iCats leader, Garrett Ainsworth. They traveled abroad and visited four international students who had previously been members of iCats. Pancioli and Ainsworth traveled to Nagoya and Toyota, Japan in the first segment of their trip, then went on to explore Shenzen, Chengdu, and Chongquing, China. Pancioli says he is still in touch with all four students even though two of them have moved back home to Japan. “The best part of the trip was definitely the culture shock of Western China,” Pancioli said. “I got a better understanding of how international students feel showing up in the U.S.” Although iCats was created for first year business majors, other students are welcome to join. Members participate in social events and biweekly
workshops with presentations about various world cultures by international students. Members are also eligible to earn a certificate from UC for cultural development for completion of at least eight workshops.
You can join iCats by contacting the club directors at icats_uc@outlook.com or ainswogt@mail.uc.edu, or visiting the club website at https://icatsuc.weebly.com.
University of Cincinnati student organization iCats helps international students adapt to difficulties they may face while attending UC. @UC_ICATS VIA INSTAGRAM
UC Vocaholics grow from singing in dorms to international stage REBECCA SCHWEITZER | CONTRIBUTOR
The Vocaholics stand at the University of Cincinnati Organization Fiar on Aug. 27, 2019 at Sheakley Lawn. @UCVOCAHOLICS VIA INSTAGRAM
In just five years, the University of Cincinnati’s a cappella ensemble has grown from a group of students singing together in their residence halls into a competitive ensemble on a world stage. The Vocaholics, a coed a cappella student organization, travel across the country for competitions and invitationals. This past spring, the group competed alongside the top 80 competitive collegiate a cappella groups in the world as part of the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) quarterfinals in Centerville, Ohio, this February and semifinals in St. Louis this March. “This group has given me so many amazing opportunities, not only to continue my passions for performing but also to grow as a person,” said Nora Miller, a fifth-year fine arts major and president of the Vocaholics. “I learned how to work as a team and how to handle really tough situations.” The group received the awards for best choreography and best arrangement at quarterfinals and advanced to semifinals. The Vocaholics has also won second place at VoiceJam Arkansas and “producer’s choice” on Celebration of Music, a PBS talent series.
The Vocaholics hosts an annual a cappella invitational called Acafest, which will be held Nov. 2. Last year, the event had its largest turnout yet, filling Zimmer auditorium with 11 groups and about 150 people. This event is an opportunity for a cappella groups from around the Midwest to showcase their sets and bond over a shared love for music. Some of the participating groups include former Vocaholics members. “I have discovered a new love for a cappella,” Sophomore Vocaholics Director Emily Keith said. “Music brings people together in a way that nothing else can.” The organization held auditions last week. Once the group is fully determined, which will occur before the end of September, the Vocaholics will return to its routine of practice, travel and competition. “When we hold auditions, we don’t just look for good singers,” said Ruby Cimmerusti, the group’s second-year PR and production manager. “We look for people that we want to spend the entire year singing with. Last year, I actually looked forward to spending six hours a week in Zimmer auditorium because I was able to spend that time with people, I could be my complete self with.”
SPORTS
September 25, 2019
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What to watch for in football matchup with Marshall
SPENCER SCHULTZ | SPORTS EDITOR
University of Cincinnati football will be back in action Saturday after having its first bye week of the season, traveling to Huntington, West Virginia, to face the Marshall University Thundering Herd. The Bearcats are coming off a 14th straight Victory Bell game win against Miami (OH) University. Junior running back Michael Warren II had his first 100-plus rushing yards game this season, with 73 of them coming on a rushing touchdown. He finished with 113 rushing yards and three touchdowns. As well as the 35-13 victory went against the RedHawks, the time off during the bye week was crucial. UC head coach Luke Fickell took the opportunity to evaluate his team ranking almost last in the country with 31 total penalties for 256 yards. “It’s not as big of a self-scout … but you can obviously take a peek at yourself,” Fickell said in his Tuesday news conference. “We knew that penalties have been a problem for us and Sunday (Sept. 15) when we got back together, we addressed and watched every penalty that we had as a team … I’ve said it a million times: aggressive penalties are going to happen if you’re an aggressive team or an attacking team. The discipline ones, the ones that happen pre-snap, post snap … we got to make sure we do a better job, and ultimately you got to see it happen.”
The time off helped UC heal, as juniors Malik Mboji, Gerrid Doaks and freshman Arquon Bush were able to make progress on their injuries and are probable to play against Marshall. The Thundering Herd enter in a similar situation as the Bearcats, also coming off a bye week. They’ve beat the Virginia Military Institute and Ohio University and lost to Boise State. Marshall began the season with a potential 1-2 punch at running back with Brenden Knox and Tyler King. However, King was dismissed from the program Sept. 9 due to a violation of team rules. Knox seized the role of top running back, rushing for 133 and a touchdown for the win over Ohio. The sophomore raised Marshall’s average rushing yards per game to 233.7— the 25th best in all of Division-I. “They are very good football team,” Fickell said. “It starts with their ability to run the football and their ability to stop the run … Their offensive line is a veteran group, big and physical. They’ve got a couple [running backs], so they are going to find a way to run the football and keep you honest with a lot of the athletes they have on the outside.” Marshall’s defense gave up just 14 points to Boise State, but let opposing teams rush for an average of 144.7 yards a game. Kick-off is 5 p.m.
UC beat Miami University of Ohio 35-13 to win their 14th consecutive Victory Bell on Sept. 14, 2019. ALEX MARTIN | PHOTO EDITOR
Volleyball defeated in five sets by No. 25 Louisville SPENCER SCHULTZ | SPORTS EDITOR The University of Cincinnati volleyball team outscored No. 25 University of Louisville Sunday in kills, assists and digs, but had its three-match win streak snapped after a 3-2 set loss to the Cardinals. UC senior Jordan Thompson kept the Bearcats alive, scoring five of the team’s last six points in the fourth set and added six kills in the final set. However, Thompson and freshman Kerstin Ficker miscommunicated on the final kill attempt to give Louisville the win. Thompson finished with a seasonhigh in kills (41) and tied her seasonhigh in kill attempts (79). “Jordan certainly played an outstanding match for us today and took some really big-time swings against a big block and good defense,” UC head coach Molly Alvey said post-match. “It’s no question she put us back in the game. Once you have someone that can take over
a match like that, you give [others teammates] an opportunity to score … Jordan elevated her game and mixed up her shots.” Alvey joined Thompson in mixing things up after Louisville continued to block UC’s attack, electing to switch liberos from sophomore Mackenzie Connor to Ficker entering the fourth set. The Cardinals finished with 14 blocks. “We needed to change something up and [Ficker’s] serve was really tough throughout the match and pulled us back in a couple sets,” Alvey said. “As a coaching staff we looked at it and thought that was the spark we needed.” The spark initially worked, as UC won the fourth set 26-24 to extend the match. The Bearcats overcame a three-point deficit early to take an 11-10 lead, but errors and the dominance of Louisville’s Melany McHenry, who had six kills in the set, pushed the Cardinals to a 15-13 victory.
McHenry took advantage of UC’s 28 errors, tying her career-high in kills (30). “[Its] heartbreaking in a sense that it goes to a fifth set and your team battles as hard as they can, and to come short by two points is tough,” Alvey said. “To keep our composure and stay in it till the end is really telling of our team … Its small changes in what we’re going to do system wise and individually that as a player makes a huge impact. We got better today in preparation for conference play that puts us in a good spot.” Thompson’s 41 kills brings her within eight of tying Julie DuPont’s (2001-04) school record of 2,137 kills. Thompson is averaging 5.87 kills per set this season, so the odds are favorable of her breaking the record in the near future. Volleyball begins conference play against Eastern Carolina University Sept. 27 at Fifth Third Arena. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
The University of Cincinnati’s women’s volleyball team lost 3-2 to the University of Louisville on Sept. 22, 2019 at Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati. NICK BROWN | ROOTED HOUSE MEDIA
SPORTS
September 25, 2019
Thompson approaching kills record
SPENCER SCHULTZ | SPORTS EDITOR Redshirt senior Jordan Thompson is on pace to break the most prized volleyball statistic at the University of Cincinnati. The 6-foot-4 outside hitter needs nine kills against East Carolina University (ECU) to break Julie DuPont’s (2001-04) career record of 2,137 kills. Breaking records isn’t new to Thompson, as she already holds the school record for most kills in a match (44), most attack attempts in a match (109), kill per set (6.27), total kill attempts (1,807) and kills in a single-season (827) in 2018 – an NCAA Division-I record. Thompson broke these records despite tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in her right elbow in 2017, forcing her out of volleyball activity for nearly nine months. The two-time American Athletic Conference (AAC) Player of the Year has played in more matches in her career (141) than DuPont (129). Thompson is also approaching the record of career matches played, as Becca Refenes and Jordanne Scott (2009-12) each finished with 141. ECU will be the first AAC opponent this season for the Bearcats. First serve is 7 p.m. Friday inside Fifth Third Arena.
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How to watch the Marshall game Matt Huffmon | Managing Editor
The University of Cincinnati football team travels to Huntington, West Virginia Saturday to take on the Marshall Thundering Herd. Both teams are 2-1 and UC enters as 3.5-point favorites. Time: 5 p.m. EST Location: Joan C. Edwards Stadium (38,144) Stream: Facebook Watch (via CBS Sports Network) Marshall is a member of Conference USA, which has a television deal to air games exclusively on Facebook.
Jordan Thompson and the UC volleyball team played the University of Louisville on Sept. 22, 2019 at Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati. NICK BROWN | ROOTED HOUSE MEDIA
You don’t need a Facebook account to watch the game. The Facebook Watch TV app is available on Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, Xbox One and Oculus TV.
OPINION
Opinion: Having a hobby can improve your mental health SAM MANGOLD-LENETT | CONTRIBUTOR What words would you use to describe 2019? My bet is that relaxing or introspective aren’t going to be toward the top of your list, and that makes perfect sense. We live in an age where information is hurled at us at breakneck speeds, social media apps are engineered to foster dopamine withdraw and dependency, and if you look at most media outlets for more than fifteenseconds there’ll be a new story that will make any sane human being want to rip their hair out. Post-modern society is inherently antihuman, and it is driving us insane. With this being the case, it is natural that we would long for escapes from the psychological imprisonment that society imposes upon us. This being the case, I strongly encourage everyone to adopt a hobby. Yes; a hobby. It is well documented that hobbies provide numerous benefits to the human experience, many being health related. They provide us with precious moments of reprieve from a world that demands constant action, and through this enable us to decompress from the constant
Reading is a popular hobby to take a break from everyday stress and relax. ABHI SHARMA | FLICKR
pressures we face daily. Hobbies enable us to discover passions we may not know we have and become experts in fields that were previously unavailable to us. They keep us intellectually engaged in low risk settings. Building off of this, they open up doors to other benefits that can help foster a healthy mental state. When we discover a new hobby, we have the opportunity to
join a greater community of individuals with similar interests. In place of the social isolation that is emphasized by post-modernism, embracing these communities allows us to partake in a mutually beneficial friendships of people seeking similar stimulation. Friendships with our peers are critical in maintaining a healthy lifestyle that emphasizes participating in a world that extends
beyond ourselves. As Aristotle said, “In poverty as well as in other misfortunes, people suppose that friends are their only refuge. And friendship is a help to the young, in saving them from error, just as it is also to the old, with a view to the care they require and their diminished capacity for action stemming from their weakness; it is a help also to those in their prime in performing noble actions, for ‘two going together’ are better able to think and to act.” Hobbies allow us to exert control over our lives in a world where it often feels like we have none. They enable us to participate in a greater community of individuals with similar interests that we can empathize with and can inspire us to reach our full potential. My hobbies include reading and watching classic films. I find intellectual stimulation and escapism in the collective wisdom of generations past, through reading, and in film I find escape from daily burdens. Hobbies are healthy ways to cope with the world around us, and as such, I encourage everyone to discover one that truly engages them.
September 25, 2019
OPINION
Opinion: Men need to take responsibility and be fathers SAMUEL SCHELL-OLSEN | OPINION EDITOR Bringing a child into this world is a huge responsibility. You are creating a life, made of your own flesh and blood. Women have to go through an average of 40 weeks of pregnancy, and will have to go through pain, to bring a life she created, into this world. Sadly, there is a group of men who decide they don’t need to stick around or who aren’t up for the honorable task of being a father. These men are the absent fathers. According to the Fatherhood National Initiative, more than 25% of children will live without a father in the home. There are 19.7 million children that suffer for the lack of maturity of these absent fathers. In 2011, 44% of children in fatherless homes lived in poverty compared to 12% of children living in married couples. And children without fathers at home are twice as likely to drop out of high school. “You know, I’ve been in this for 30 years, and when I speak to superintendents, social service people and counselors in schools, they’ll easily acknowledge that at the root of kids’ [academic] problems, is the lack of a relationship with their father,” said author Alan Blankstein in an interview with NPR. Children without father figures are also twice as likely to commit suicide. According to Single Mother Guide, twothirds of single mothers are under the age of 30, many of whom attend college. There are those who defend the lack of a father in the household. Some will just say
a woman doesn’t need a man to help raise a child, an argument that doesn’t help the child whatsoever. Some contest it’s the mother’s fault. To rebut this, say the mother is preventing the father from seeing the child. The answer is going to court. Others contest that the father is a bad factor and it’s good he’s away. I would argue that instead of insulating that the mother is again at fault for her choice, the father should clean up his act and show he is a good factor. There’s no reason other than death for a father to not be involved in their child’s life. Children need a father figure to look up to. Without a father figure, children will find other men who can be a substitutive father figure. Sometimes it’s a relative, or a family friend and it often works out. Other times it doesn’t, resulting in long-term damage. According to a study posted on NCBI, the lack of an involved father predicted strong hyperactivity, severe emotional problems and even borderline personality disorder. While having an involved father reduced the psychological problems in women and the frequency in delinquency in men. It’s clear that men need to step up. For too long, they’ve neglected the role of being a dad and let the mother do the work. If you are a real man, you’ll take the responsibility of being a father and accept it. If you don’t, that child will always remember you as the father that never was.
Franklyn Alford, front right, walks with his son Franklyn Alford II, left, as they and other parents and students participate in Bakerfield Elementary School’s second annual Million Father March for the first day of school Tuesday. MATT BUTTON / THE AEGIS/BALTIMORE SUN MEDIA GROUP
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Wilhelmina Roe, a first year in exploratory studies, stops by the 2015 Stress Less Fest where students can write tips for lowering stress during exam week and enjoy cupcakes and smoothies provided by UC Health & Wellness Center. TNR FILE ART
Opinion: We need to end the stigma of mental health
SHANNON SMITH | CHIEF REPORTER In light of September being Mental Health Awareness month, it seems important to address the perpetual stigma against mental health disorders, specifically anxiety and depression. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness the United States, effecting 18% of the population each year. While these illnesses can be very treatable, less than 40% of people who suffer seek treatment. In 2015, more than 16.1 million adults were diagnosed with clinical depression. It’s also the leading cause of disability among people from the ages of 15 to 40 in the U.S. So, if this many people are struggling with mental health problems, why is there still a stigma against it? As someone who has struggled with these issues in the past, it’s important to have open conversations about mental health, because it’s likely that you know more people affected than you think. I have seen things going around on the internet about why medication is bad for you or people being embarrassed to go to therapy, saying things like, “Why don’t you try working out more before using medication?”“You just need to get over it,” “You don’t need that, just stop worrying” or “I don’t want to rely on a pill.” Saying things to undermine what people are feeling is part of the problem. “Relying” on something to improve your life is normal. No one thinks twice when someone takes allergy medicine every morning to go outside. How is an antidepressant any different? My doctor once told me he likes to
compare mental illness treatment to needing glasses. “You could probably live without them, but your quality of life would greatly decrease,” he said. What people need to understand is that mental illnesses should be treated like physical illnesses. Different things can trigger anxiety and depression, but the root cause of these issues is a chemical imbalance in the brain. Depression isn’t just feeling sad or uninterested in things. Anxiety isn’t just overthinking or being nervous. Sometimes they can’t be fixed solely by being more active or changing certain aspects of your life. While those things may help, some people need medical treatment. In 2017, 47,171 Americans committed suicide and over 1.4 million attempted. In a time when mental illness and suicide are becoming all too common, it’s important we work to create a society where everyone’s feelings are valid. The University of Cincinnati is taking steps in the right direction to encourage students to speak up and seek help. The university launched the Reach Out app, which provides tips on dealing with emotional stress, motivational videos and emergency contacts. UC also partnered with Therapist Assistance Online (TAO), which offers universities self-help programs with different modules to help deal with issues like depression, anxiety and substance abuse. If you are experiencing symptoms of mental health disorders, do not hesitate to seek help. You are not alone.
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September 25, 2019
Sudoku By The Mepham Group
Sudoku is played on a grid of 9 x 9 spaces. Within the rows and columns are 9 “squares” (made up of 3 x 3 spaces). Each row, column and square (9 spaces each) needs to be filled out with the numbers 1-9, without repeating any numbers within the row, column or square. Does it sound complicated? Each Sudoku grid comes with a few spaces already filled in; the more spaces filled in, the easier the game – the more difficult Sudoku puzzles have very few spaces that are already filled in.
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September 25, 2019
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