Jan. 24, 2018

Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018

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Drug dealing: are the risks worth the rewards? pg. 7

Fiona’s birthday party delights Cincinnati pg. 11

Who is this year’s best college basketball team?

News

Drug dealing: Are the risks worth the rewards for college students?

PARKER MALATESTA | NEWS EDITOR

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Jan. 24, 2018 | newsrecord.org

ZACH PERRIN | NEWS EDITOR

A stable financial source can be difficult for university students to secure, pushing some to seek unorthodox methods just to pay the bills. Selling drugs in a college town can be lucrative, as the area is often the ideal market.

“Selling in Clifton wasn’t very hard,” said a UC business student and former marijuana dealer.

“Buying and selling wasn’t hard — you just have to be smart.

Financially speaking, it does help.

Everyone wants a little extra money in their pocket.”

He said he never felt at risk. As a student himself, he felt like he fit in.

“It’s way easier than a normal job,” said another currentlyenrolled Bearcat who allegedly sells marijuana and cocaine to fellow students.

Selling drugs offers far more freedom and flexibility compared to a normal job, he said. “[I make] $500 to $1,000 a week probably,” he said. “Depends — sometimes more, [but] at least that much. I pay for my school with most of it.”

He does, however, advise against anyone looking to get involved in the drug dealing field.

“People texting you at all times of the day that always think that they’re entitled to get their stuff,” he cited as a common problem.

“It’s unpredictable … it’s always unpredictable. People like to rob people.”

Like any market, dealing drugs has its perks. For one alleged dealer, endless demand for marijuana makes it almost too easy to sell.

“Everyone and their mom smokes, so there’s always demand for it,” said one third-year student who sells cannabis regularly.

He said other benefits of selling include meeting new people, trying new drugs and gaining sales experience.

“I actually started selling on accident,” he said. “Whenever my closer friends would run out, I would sell them a bit until they got more on their own. With that, my name started to spread, and more and more people started to hit me up to buy. I began to see a nice little profit, so I said to hell with it and went along with the game and stayed in the trap.”

He said he has decreased his

client pool significantly in the past year, but added that being around people his age made the business less intimidating.

“My job is to be available,” said a communications student graduating at the end of the term.

He began dealing after connecting with someone who sells at his food service job.

After realizing the economic potential, he gradually increased his supply. He started with an ounce which he sold in a week. He sold his next ounce in just three days.

He recognized the trend of better deals with bulk purchases, which pushed him to buy the amount that he sticks with today.

For $750, he buys a “quality” quarter-pound of marijuana. He sells it at a tiered price scale: $10 per gram, $30 per eighth-ounce, $60 per quarter-ounce and $200 per ounce.

For a base calculation, assuming he sells a gram to each customer until the supply is depleted, he would finish with $1,134 — a $384 net profit. He estimates that he sells a quarter-pound every week.

“The versatility of it makes it the perfect drug for college,” he said.

Customers pay him cash half of the time, while the rest pay electronically via Venmo.

“I don’t need to smoke five blunts,” he said, stressing that he recently began moderating his personal consumption.

As far as federal legalization of recreational marijuana usage is concerned, he has mixed feelings.

“It’ll ruin me,” he said with a laugh, estimating that it will take another five years for recreational cannabis to be legalized, and citing the current unfriendly administration.

“I don’t feel super great about what I do,” he said. “I was just trying to smoke for free.”

Cocaine, while less popular than marijuana, is still prevalent on college campuses as well.

“It’s so easy to sell cocaine,” one third-year business student said.

“There’s probably an epidemic going on. You can make three times the money selling coke than weed. You can make good money.”

Another student describes the environment surrounding the distribution of the prescription anxiety drug Xanax, which has become increasingly popular in recent years.

“You can see how many people it goes through,” he said, describing a chain of distribution where students make bulk purchases and act as middlemen to sell lower-denomination units to other buyers. “People will keep selling them, and it goes down a line of like seven people, or maybe even more.”

While most drug dealing happening at the university comes with little to no noticeable drama, the student said that some situations can be dangerous, citing people who falsely advertise potentially lethal drugs.

“If you read news articles, there’s … this thing called ‘Grey Death’ around in Cincinnati, which is basically fentanol but worse,” he said. “It can kill you. One guy I knew … [said] he sold me cocaine, but it was Grey Death. I just did a tiny little bit, and it almost killed me. Like, I could’ve died.”

“Grey Death” — a powerful opiate up to seven times more potent than morphine — has recently gained popularity in Hamilton County, according to a WCPO report.

C.M. GUERRERO | MIAMI HERALD | TNS

A close-up of a flowering marijuana plant in the production room of Modern Health Concept’s greenhouse on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017.

News

Cincinnati men and women march in unity with the country ELIZABETH SCHMITT | CHIEF REPORTER

A crowd filled with thousands of men, women and children of all ages gathered at the Underground Railroad Freedom Center on Saturday for second annual Cincinnati Women’s March.

The movement sparked last year after organizers across the country planned and gathered sister marches to the one in Washington D.C. the day after President Trump’s inauguration.

According to a poll conducted by Monmouth University in December, Trump currently stands at a 24 percent approval rating among women.

After a year of Trump’s presidency, however, many participants showed up for different reasons than they had in 2017.

The 1.5-mile-long march began on Race Street, then looped back through Vine Street to the Freedom Center.

The event began with a rally, where chants of “me too” and “time’s up” reverberated throughout the crowd as participants took initiative to make their voices heard.

“This Women’s March means so much,” said Chelsea Nuss, local councilwoman and master of ceremonies for the rally.

“It’s about empowering our young ladies to know that they are enough. It’s empowerment and understanding what exactly is at stake here. As history looks back on what we are doing, we need to make sure we are on the right side.”

Marches in solidarity of the original Women’s March in Washington D.C. were held across the globe in both 2017 and 2018, with 2018 ringing in a total of 673 separate marches and with nearly 5 million people in attendance total, according to the Women’s March website.

The speakers at the rally each tackled different topics such as homelessness, poverty, racism, health care and voting rights, which were reflected in signs carried by march participants.

The signs bore famous quotes such as “Nevertheless she persisted” and “Women’s rights are human rights.” Some drew influence from pop culture, with one sign reading, “Worst Black Mirror Episode Ever.”

Even though it was cold and cloudy, participants remained optimistic. Many wore their iconic pink hats and sang Beyoncé, and some held “nasty girl” signs as they paraded around downtown, committed to their cause.

“To all the little girls watching right now: never doubt that you are valuable, powerful and deserving of every chance

in the world,” read one sign a woman was proudly holding up high.

Many mothers brought their young children, who could be seen riding on their father’s backs or holding up signs of their own. Older participants didn’t shy away either, with some coming out in wheelchairs to voice their support.

“It’s surreal — I’m proud and empowered,” said Gretchen Mihaly, a first-year graphic design student who carried a sign reading “empowered women.”

“It’s so exciting to see what’s happening in Cincinnati and that we get to come and support women,” first-year medical sciences student Priyanka Vemuru said.

Mihaly and Vemuru did not come alone; rather, they brought their “girl gang” of students from UC with them.

All of them carried signs, many of which encouraged women to vote.

Voting was a central theme at the march this year, capturing the sentiment of dissatisfaction with the current presidential administration, as well as participants’ desire for a change.

According to the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) only 25.3 percent of state legislators are women — a proportion many at the march aim to change.

STEPHEN VONDERWISH | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Thousands of protestors gather near the Ohio riverfront for the 2018 Women’s March Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018.

Jan. 24, 2018 | newsrecord.org

ABBY SHOYAT | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER ABBY SHOYAT | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The marchers walk the last stretch of the march on Vine Street on Saturday January 20, 2018.

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Members of Dance Flash Fusion, a group that performs at many rallies and marches, protest the unequal treatment of women at the women’s march in Cincinnati on Saturday January 20, 2018.

News

Environmentalists fear impact of proposed Ohio pipeline ALEX MUTNANSKY | STAFF REPORTER

TNR FILE

Cincinnati Bell Connector slithers through Cincinnati providing convenient transportation from OTR to the Banks.

Cold weather a problem for streetcars

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Jan. 24, 2018 | newsrecord.org

KARINA BAFFA | CONTRIBUTOR

Four out of five Cincinnati streetcars are back in operation after two suspensions and one collision with a motor vehicle this week.

The streetcars were first taken out of service Wednesday when temperatures plummeted to just 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

“Most of the issues are related to the air compressors, which are required for the safe operation of the vehicles,” a statement from the Cincinnati Bell Connector read. “The air compressors operate the sanders, which are essential in decelerating the vehicle in slick conditions.”

Cold temperatures are directly related to the air compressors not functioning correctly, Cincinnati Bell Connector customer relations said.

The streetcar services were officially suspended Thursday “to allow work on correcting numerous issues related to manufacturing and design affects,” the Cincinnati Bell Connector reported on Twitter.

Cincinnati Go Metro buses took over the streetcar’s routes and accepting streetcar passes during the time of suspension, according to Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) director of external affairs Brandy Jones. SORTA oversees the management of Cincinnati’s streetcars.

Around 4 p.m. Friday, a Nissan Maxima was traveling west on Liberty Street when the driver ran a red light and struck a streetcar causing it to derail, according to police reports.

The streetcar was performing a test run at the time of the accident.

Two employees of Transdev, the company that operates the streetcars, were sent to the University of Cincinnati Medical Hospital. The streetcar in question was back on its tracks by 5:20 p.m.

Streetcar services resumed at 6:30 a.m.

Monday after four of five streetcars received periodic maintenance, brake work, inspections and other warranty related repairs, a statement from Cincinnati Bell Connector read.

The streetcars are powered by a single, high-voltage overhead wire. They were suspended again from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Monday due to a power failure at Walnut and Ninth streets.

Four of five streetcars remain in service and are on their normal schedule.

“The fifth streetcar is out of service due to body damage sustained during Friday’s collision,” Cincinnati Bell Connector said in a statement. “They’re going to have to fix the body damage on that vehicle before it can go back into service.”

The city needs only three streetcars to operate full service, according to Jones.

Two vehicles run throughout the day and a third runs during “peak period,” which is high-traffic time.

It is currently unknown when the fifth car will be back in service, according to Jones.

The Cincinnati streetcar system was introduced in September 2016. Cincinnati Bell Connector assured that “no vehicle will be put in service if there are any safety-related issues” in a statement published online.

The debate over the construction of fossil fuel pipelines has been raging since the Obama administration occupied the White House. During the former president’s waning months in office, he fended off countless efforts by the Republican-led majority to pass a bill authorizing the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Since Trump’s inauguration, the country has been taken by storm in his administration’s efforts to reignite domestic production and the transportation of oil and gas. States like Ohio, which are vital in transporting goods and services, have begun constructing new energy pipelines.

Ohio currently has two major pipeline projects: the Nexus Pipeline, which runs primarily through the heart of northeast Ohio; and the Rover Pipeline, which runs further south, and connects West Virginia and southwest Pennsylvania to northwest Ohio.

Energy Transfer is the company constructing the Rover Pipeline — the same company which was stalled by protestors for nine months as they attempted to construct the Dakota Access Pipeline on an established Indian reservation.

The fossil fuel industry — a main proponent of Ohio becoming a hub for oil and gas transportation lines — have rallied to the call of president, pledging that the pipeline will fuel local communities with millions of dollars. They allege it will happen by obtaining the materials needed for construction from companies in the states they are working, as well as the goods and services used by employees during construction.

Advocates have insisted that while they have used eminent domain policy to procure

land for public use, the lines will be drawn on land that is already allocated to public resources. Any usage of private property will be fiscally compensated.

Throughout construction, workers can run into many issues — both natural and manmade — when mapping the pipeline.

They may have to create new infrastructure and take down trees that run in its path.

Since construction began, they have ran into numerous issues regarding drilling methods. Among the most notorious of these includes a 200-gallon bentonite-based oil leak.

“The drilling fluids used in these pipeline construction projects [are] essentially water mixed with bentonite clay,” UC geology professor Warren Huff said. “Bentonite is very absorptive, and is used throughout the drilling industry to capture and retain rock and soil fragments during the drilling process. The occasional spills of these fluids are not environmentally harmful, although they can be very messy to clean up.”

Moving forward, environmentalists are weary of any further ecological impact on Ohio wetlands related to natural gas leakage.

A prime example of this was the Aliso Canyon leak — a natural gas leak at the second largest storage facility in the country, which was discovered in 2015. It is estimated that the resulting carbon footprint was larger than that of the 2010 BP oil spill disaster.

“Natural gas is mostly methane,” said Amy Townsend-Small, UC’s director of environmental studies. “The biggest impact of methane on the atmosphere is that it is a greenhouse gas between 34 and 86 times more powerful than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere.”

The Rover Pipeline is expected to complete construction during the first quarter of 2018.

SHAE COMBS | PHOTO EDITOR

Thousands participate in Paddle Fest on the Ohio River Saturday, August 5, 2017 in Cincinnati.

News

Location for 2018 spring graduation still up in the air DARIUS DUDLEY | STAFF REPORTER

PHOTO FROM UC.EDU

Graduation is an important and exciting time for students progressing toward the next stages of life. Although the second semester of 2018 has only just begun, students graduating in the spring already have their sights set on their commencement ceremony.

However, the location and details of the ceremony itself have still been largely left unannounced.

Last year’s commencement was held in Nippert Stadium due to ongoing renovations in Fifth Third Arena.

Prior to 2017, it had been 33 years since graduation was held in Nippert — before that, another 35. In order for UC to accommodate the larger venue, the previously separated undergraduate ceremonies were combined into one event.

Since Fifth Third’s renovations aren’t scheduled to finish until the fall of this year, UC must once again look for other options.

In the past, UC’s commencement ceremony has seen a plethora of locations including Wilson Auditorium, Burnet Woods, McMicken Hall, the Armory

Fieldhouse, U.S. Bank Arena and Cincinnati Gardens.

Potential for troublesome weather is the root of many concerns surrounding graduation in an outdoor venue such as Nippert. Last year, for instance, there were some early complications with thunder, lightning and hail.

“I would prefer graduation to be held on campus and, preferably, indoors,” graduating electrical engineering student Chris Simons said. “I would prefer to have it indoors because the possible heat and rain elements of an outdoor ceremony would be easily eliminated. Also, keeping it at UC makes me feel like I’m actually finishing where I started, and I love the campus … [However], it would be nice for the undergrad ceremonies to be separated for time reasons, but I could understand if the logistics would be too much.”

Graduating senior and international affairs student Dieudonné Niyubahwe agrees that the ceremony should be located on campus.

“I don’t really know where the original place for graduation was, and I don’t really mind where they put it, but it is much better if it’s on campus,” Niyubahwe said.

“The undergraduate ceremonies should be combined, though, because it is the same university.”

Fellow senior and digital media collaborative student Umpha Koroma seemed most concerned with the possibility of combining undergrad ceremonies than he did the location.

“Combining ceremonies seems like a bad idea,” Koroma said. “There will be many hundreds of students finally graduating and combining them to fill the stadium seems like it would take up a lot of unnecessary time. Most people aren’t going to want to sit and listen to names for hours.”

Nippert Stadium as a potential commencement location aids the possibility of a prolonged undergraduate ceremony.

For now, however, many graduating students seem satisfied with an on-campus ceremony regardless of its location.

As the second semester of 2018 progresses through the upcoming days and months, many graduating students remain waiting to hear commencement details directly from UC.

Q&A with youngest gubernatorial candidate, Senator Joe Schiavoni MOUNIR LYNCH | OPINION EDITOR

The News Record: The minimum wage just increased by 15 cents. Many advocate for a $15 minimum wage. What is your vision for the minimum wage if you were to be elected governor?

JS: When it comes to

legalization of marijuana, we’re on the right track by going down the medical road first … to show people

TNR: Issues aside, what else should we know about you?

JS: I’m going about this campaign in the same way that I started as a 29-yearold state senator without a day of experience. You talk to people and you

listen to people and then you formulate ideas and bills based on the needs of the people — not based on what your political parties tell you [and] not based on what people that are potentially going to donate to your campaign are going to do. You got to talk to the everyday Ohioan, look at their problems and try to make their life better.

Coming from the Mahoning Valley in Youngstown, I think about my friends, neighbors and family. I think about the people that I grew up with in school.

These are the people that I’m thinking about when I’m talking about ways to make things better for the state of Ohio. It’s all about investing in our future and investing in our young people so that they have better opportunities than we have … We have to invest in opportunities in urban communities in order

to show people there’s a pathway for them too. I truly care about making Ohio a better place, and

there’s no other reason why I’m running for governor other than to try to get that job done.

PHOTO FROM OHIOSENATE.GOV

Joe Schiavoni

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Joe Schiavoni:

TNR: Marijuana legislation is a big issue among students across the country now.

What are your views on the issue?

the medicinal value of marijuana. We have doctors prescribing non-smokable marijuana in oil and vape form so that people that are sick can derive some medical benefit rather than having to take 10 pills three times a day. I think that’s the way we need to go in a conservative state like Ohio.

We will put some Ohioans to work, show the medicinal value and, in the future, if things change, maybe [we’ll] have a general assembly that would be in favor of moving towards a recreational state.

Jan. 24, 2018 | newsrecord.org

Joe Schiavoni is the youngest gubernatorial candidate in the race. If elected, Schiavoni plans to make post-secondary education more affordable in Ohio. Schiavoni favors a plan to alleviate the pressure of student loans. If Ohioans purchase a home within five years after graduating in Ohio, the state may help forgive part of their student loan debt.

There’s no way that a $15 minimum wage passes the general assembly. I cosponsored a bill to make the minimum wage $10.10 this year, and I think that moving it in an incremental way … is a sensible way to put those dollars in the pockets of people who need it. At the same time, it’s not a huge shock to the business community … In a perfect world, I would love that everybody could make [$15 per hour].

Life & Arts

Moveable Feast showcases 150 years of CCM talent ANNE SIMENDINGER | STAFF REPORTER

freshman class performed “Meet the Beatles” — a medley of the British band’s songs arranged by Stephen Goers. The sophomore class performed “Stronger” from Finding Neverland, which visited Cincinnati for two

weeks in November with two CCM alums as leads.

The junior class performed the uplifting Kinky Boots finale “Raise You Up/Just Be.” The senior class concluded the 30-minute showcase with “You Will Be Found,”

Jan. 24, 2018 | newsrecord.org

CCMpower held their annual Moveable Feast fundraising event Friday — an event which celebrated and showcased everything that CCM has offered for the last 150 years.

The event began with appetizers and mingling in the CCM atrium. Guests were then ushered into the Corbett Auditorium for the opening number by CCM’s jazz orchestra. Six music theater majors joined the orchestra alongside renowned CCM alumnus Brian Newman. The music theater majors performed a jazzy dance number to “Such Sweet Thunder” by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, which was met with thunderous applause.

Emily Fink, senior musical theatre student and featured dancer in the number, said that dancing with the band was her favorite part of the night.

“It was incredible hearing the live band playing in the newly renovated auditorium,” Fink said.

Newman played the trumpet with the orchestra

for “I Can’t Give You Anything but Love, Baby”

by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields — a showstopping performance.

After the jazz orchestra prelude, guests were encouraged to roam the facility and enjoy performances from CCM programs being highlighted throughout. Each program held a 30-minute performance or exhibition to showcase all that CCM has to offer. Dance majors performed a section of their ballet from last semester, “Paquita,” which featured both ensemble numbers and solos by many of the dancers. The performers’ skill and grace left audience members in awe, energizing many for this semester’s dance performances.

The music theatre department celebrated their 49th anniversary and announced the season for their 50th anniversary next year. The program was the first music theatre program in the country.

To celebrate 50 years of success, guests had the opportunity to witness each class perform. The

NOELLE ZIELINSKI | COLLEGE LIFE EDITOR

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CCM students showcase their many talents during the Moveable Feast Friday, Jan. 19, 2018.

a hit song from the smash Broadway musical “Dear Evan Hansen.”This song will be one of the many featured in the Senior Showcase, which will debut this spring. “[Moveable Feast] teaches the students to develop pieces in an out-of-context setting,” Fink said. “These standalone pieces are good experience for one night performances in our future careers.”

Senior acting majors performed scenes from “Speech and Debate,”“The Heidi Chronicles” and “Fiction.”Visiting guests were the actors’ first audience for these excerpts, which will be part of their senior showcase. Following the showcase, performers will head to New York and Los Angeles to perform for casting agents on both coasts. These scenes left audiences in hysterics, and we cannot wait to see where these stars go.

In addition to

performances, Moveable Feast offered backstage tours which took guests through the wig, makeup and costume shops, providing a closer look at the magic that happens behind the curtain. Graduate students in the wig, makeup and costume programs showed guests how they make the wigs, create molds, design costumes, and much more.

The night concluded with a performance from the philharmonic orchestra, featuring dances from Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story.” CCM is celebrating “Leonard Bernstein at 100” beginning this month — an event which will last through November 2018.

Moveable Feast was the largest celebration of all the wonderful talent CCM has to offer, and we look forward to seeing where these amazing artists share their talents in the future.

Life & Arts

‘The Post’ recalls a historical event at the right time in history NOELLE ZIELINSKI | LIFE & ARTS EDITOR

Steven Spielberg has directed and produced one of the most intriguing political thrillers of 2017. “The Post” focuses on the incredible work conducted by the Washington Post in exposing the Pentagon Papers in the early 1970s.

The Pentagon Papers were a collection of documents that described the details of the United States’ politicalmilitary involvement in Vietnam from 1945 to 1967.

These documents revealed that the federal government had been lying to the nation for years — the biggest and most destructive of these lies being that U.S. leadership knew that the country was losing. The film features incredible actors and actresses including Meryl

Streep, Tom Hanks and Sarah Paulson. Streep and Hanks assume starring roles in this intense and thoughtprovoking film.

The film focuses heavily on Streep’s character Katharine Graham, who was the first female publisher of a major American newspaper: The Washington Post. With the help of Hanks’ character — an editor named Ben Bradlee — Graham sheds light on the federal cover-up of the country’s involvement in Vietnam. This is not an easy task for Graham, however, as she was a woman in the workforce thrown into a powerful position she had no desire to obtain. She faces routine trials as her patience, intelligence and expertise are put to the test in uncovering this great American secret.

Though the film takes place in the early 1970s, the messages the movie conveys could not be timelier. The entire movie involves the federal government attempting to suppress the voices of journalists who are trying to unveil an issue the nation deserves to know about. We are at a time in history where our First Amendment freedoms are routinely under fire by an army of politicians and government officials. The parallels between “The Post” and modern-day journalism are astonishing. The breathtaking performances throughout the film breathed life into the story, making the plot seem all too relatable.

An article written by Owen Gleiberman from Variety concisely sums up the movie’s theme and

message. “‘The Post’ offers not so much a message as a warning: that freedom of the press is a fight that never

stops, and that the force that keeps it going is the absolute die-hard belief in that freedom,” Gleiberman says.

“When the press begins to accept restrictions, however grudgingly, it’s all but inviting itself to be muzzled.”

PROVIDED

One year since her birth, Fiona has given Cincinnatians hope WILLIAM GIRGASH | CONTRIBUTOR

Jan. 24, 2018 | newsrecord.org

ABBY SHOYAT | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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Graeters offers cakes for those celebrating Fiona the hippo’s first birthday. The cake features the drawing of Fiona by Loren Long.

I doubt Fiona realizes the massive scope of her Cincinnati fame. Since her premature birth in January 2017, Fiona has been a superstar. Her stardom truly shined Saturday at the Cincinnati Zoo, where Fiona celebrated her first birthday. Numerous zoo-goers made an appearance despite not knowing if she would ever emerge from her indoor stall to celebrate with her guests. The party began at 10 a.m., and people visited the hippopotamus exhibit throughout the day for the possibility to just catch a glimpse of Fiona herself.

To the surprise (and delight) of many, the weather was just warm enough for Fiona and her mother, Bibi, to briefly say hello to Fiona’s guests. While outside, Fiona and her mother feasted on Fiona’s birthday cake: a fruity concoction of frozen pineapple, watermelon and honeydew. They swam as her guests were sang “Happy Birthday” to the young hippo, whose growth in the past year astonished many. In January 2017, Fiona was just 29 pounds — roughly half the weight of a standard newborn hippo. Now, she weighs 650 pounds. Her healthy development — especially after being born six weeks premature — is truly inspiring.

Many guests expressed the importance of Fiona’s story, highlighting its positive impact on the surrounding community. Locals and frequent zoo visitors said they believe Fiona’s birth brought the hearts of the Cincinnati community together.

The Cote Family — members of the Cincinnati Zoo for 20 years — stressed the effects of community support during the earliest stages of Fiona’s life.

“This whole process has taught so many people about premature births for zoo animals and people as well,”Will Cote said.

Throughout the celebration, many community members labeled Fiona a symbol of hope.

“Fiona gives people hope,” one member of the Hughes family said. “In a world that is filled with chaos, it is good to celebrate something like this.”

A guest named Jeff even compared Fiona to a fictional character from a TV show, Parks and Recreation, with saying, “Fiona is like Li’l Sebastian within the TV series, because her hope has brought a giant community together.” From these quotes and the many reactions from her guests, it is easy to say that Fiona is truly the Queen of Cincinnati, and we’re all glad she is.

Life & Arts

PROVIDED

Mike Gasaway, a former animator for Disney who also worked as an animator/director on shows such as Jimmy Neutron and Back at the Barnyard and his working on another children’s book, is seen at his Hilliard residence Monday, Jan. 21, 2013.

Jimmy Neutron director returns to UC, looks to create animation program

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Jan. 24, 2018 | newsrecord.org

DAVID WYSONG | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

He was the boy-genius we all loved as kids. Jimmy Neutron captivated so many of us growing up. Now, an individual who played a key role in the movie “The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius” and the spinoff TV show on Nickelodeon, “Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius,” has brought his talents to the University of Cincinnati.

Mike Gasaway, the former supervising animator and a director of the Jimmy Neutron franchise, became a professor within the Digital Media Collaborative (DMC) at UC in spring 2017. After attending UC’s architecture program in the early ‘90s, he returned to the university with a clear vision in mind — a vision of a nationally recognized animation program.

“I want to make so that this is a destination for someone who wants to learn animation and get in the field,” Gasaway said. “So, if you want to work in games, this is the place to go. If you want to work in movies or TV, this is the place to go. [Virtual reality] — this is the place to go.”

Gasaway currently teaches various animation classes

within DMC, but said that the animation certificate will hopefully be available by fall 2018. He is also working on making it into a separate degree program.

While teaching UC students, Gasaway draws upon various experiences that occurred throughout his career.

In addition to working on Jimmy Neutron at a company called DNA Productions, he worked for Walt Disney Imagineering where he animated virtual attractions at Disney theme parks, and directed other Emmy-nominated TV shows including “Back at the Barnyard.”

“I’m very hands on [when I teach],” Gasaway said. “What I like to do as a director is, first, I like to direct, [meaning] the artists that I am working with know what I want, but I give [them] the room to make it better. So, it’s really like a give and take collaborative thing.”

Despite the final episode of “Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius” having been aired over a decade ago, Gasaway recalls fond memories during his time on the show, saying the team who worked on it was like family. He said he still is surprised by how popular the show was.

“What’s crazy is that when we moved on to the television series, we still didn’t know how big it was,” Gasaway said.

“It’s not until years later — like when I find students now and they’re like, ‘Oh my God, I grew up on this,’ — that I didn’t realize how popular it was.”

While Gasaway’s favorite episode was “Win, Lose and Kaboom” — a special that featured Tim Allen and Alyssa Milano — he loved working on the special many of us will never forget: “The Jimmy Timmy Power Hour.”This episode had the addition of Timmy Turner and other characters from the hit TV show “The Fairly Odd Parents.”

“We start with drawings so we’ve seen our characters drawn,” Gasaway said. “With [Butch] Hartman, who created ‘[The] Fairly Odd Parents, [he] had never seen it in 3D. So, when they first saw it, that was cool to them.”

There was not an animation program when Gasaway was a student at UC. But, as the likelihood increases that such a program will be formally established, so do the chances that more successful animators like Gasaway will have their start at UC.

Jan. 24, 2018 | newsrecord.org

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Sports

RICHARD MESSINA | HARTFORD COURANT | MCT

Cincinnati’s Sean Kilpatrick (23) and Kevin Johnson (25) react after forcing a turnover during the first half against Connecticut in the American Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., Friday, March 14, 2014. UConn advanced, 58-56.

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Jan. 24, 2018 | newsrecord.org

It is time to retire Sean Kilpatrick’s jersey OPINION SPENCER SCHULTZ | STAFF REPORTER

It has been four years since Bearcat fans last saw the No. 23 play in a red and black uniform.

Many great players have come and gone over the years, but one player who has not been forgotten by any Bearcat fan is Sean Redell Kilpatrick.

The former Bearcat guard got his No. 23 retired by White Plains High School — where Kilpatrick starred — in New York earlier this month. He averaged 19 points per game including 25.6 in his senior season, becoming a 1,000-point scorer in just three years.

After being honored by his alma mater, it is now time for the University of Cincinnati to give credit where credit is due.

The 6-foot-4 guard finished his collegiate career with 2,145 career points, ranking only behind the legendary Oscar Robertson’s 2,973 points. Kilpatrick ranks second in

school history with 101 wins behind Steve Logan’s 111 and tied Deonta Vaughn for the school record of career threepointers made with 313.

He also set school milestones for consecutive games played with 140 and minutes played with 4,315.

2014 was a career year for the New York native as he was awarded American Athletic Conference player of the week three times. He was also a Naismith Trophy Semifinalist, Oscar Robertson Trophy Finalist, Wooden Award Finalist, Unanimous First Team All-American Athletic Conference selection, First Team All-America by the Associated Press and a Second Team All-America by the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the United States Basketball Writers Association.

Kilpatrick tweeted, “1 year alums at their respected colleges getting their jersey’s retired, meanwhile I’m sitting here [puzzled emoji] @GoBEARCATS #Thanks,” last year, but the tweet has since been deleted.

The Bearcats have retired Kenyon Martin’s No. 4, Oscar Robertson’s No. 12, and Jack Twyman’s No. 27, but Kilpatrick said he believes No. 23 is going to be hanging soon.

“That would be a great thing,” Kilpatrick said in an interview last year with ESPN1530. “I mean, [Mick Cronin], he’s been really sitting here trying to push that and I believe, I mean, especially with our [athletic department] and everything now, it’s going to happen soon. So, I hope [Mike Bohn] is hearing over this right now.”

After the 2014-15 season, Kilpatrick entered the 2015 NBA draft where he went undrafted, but has since found a role with the Milwaukee Bucks after signing a deal for the remainder of the 2017-18 season.

It is time for us to acknowledge the legacy Kilpatrick left at Cincinnati and give the current NBA guard what he wants: to hang No. 23 into the rafters of Fifth Third Arena forever.

Sports

Former Bearcats: Where are they now?

JASON SZELEST | SPORTS EDITOR

The University of Cincinnati men’s basketball program has been a model of consistent strength over the past decade, making the last seven NCAA tournaments.

Their team success on the court has not translated to individual success at the next level, however, as only two former Bearcats are currently on NBA rosters.

While only a couple of Cronin’s players are making noise on basketball’s biggest stage, there are Bearcats spread across the world at the professional level.

Here is breakdown of where a few notable former players are and what they are doing:

Lance Stephenson: SG- Indiana Pacers: NBA

A one-year wonder and former Big East Rookie of the Year at Cincinnati, Stephenson has by far had the most success professionally out of any player who has played under Cronin. He is currently in his eighth season averaging 8.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists.

2017-18 Stats: 8.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists

Sean Kilpatrick: SG- Milwaukee Bucks: NBA

ROBERT GAUTHIER | LOS ANGELES TIMES | TNS

The Los Angeles Clippers’ Lance Stephenson is encouraged by teammates Blake Griffin, left, and Jamal Crawford after a productive first half against the Indiana Pacers at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015.

The other Bearcat in the NBA, Kilpatrick had much more success at UC, sticking around for five years as he became the second-leading scorer in program history. Kilpatrick is in his fourth season in the NBA averaging 10.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists.

2017-18 Stats: 4.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists

Yancy Gates: PF- Cholet Basket: French League

A Cincinnati native and graduate of Withrow High School, Gates was labeled as the Cincy kid who was going to resurrect the Bearcats’ program. While he never quite lived up to the hype, he had a productive four years at UC. He was invited to a few NBA preseason camps, but has yet to play in an NBA game. He is in his sixth season overseas.

2017-18 Stats: 10.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 0.7 assists

Deonta Vaughn: PG- Zalakeramia: Hungary

Vaughn was part of Cronin’s initial recruiting class and often found himself as part of a one-man wrecking crew on a roster that was completely gutted following the exit of Huggins and one-year replacement Andy Kennedy. Vaughn leads the Bearcats all-time in assists, minutes, games started and three-point field goals, and is third in career points.

2017-18 Stats: 13.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists

Troy Caupain: PG- Lakeland Magic: NBA G-League

Caupain is certainly a favorite among recent Bearcats fans, as he led Cincinnati to four straight NCAA tournament appearances — including three trips as the leader of the offense. Caupain never put up gaudy stats, but he took care of the ball and came up big in big situations, such as his game-winning layup in the NCAA tournament against Purdue and his three to ice the game against Xavier. He was signed by the Orlando Magic and was invited to their training camp as a rookie, but did not make the final roster cut and was sent down to their minor league affiliate.

2017-18 Stats: 4.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists

In preparation for March Madness, we ask who this year’s best college team is OPINION DAVID WYSONG | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

1. Michigan State

2. Villanova

Villanova only has one loss this year so far and is ranked No. 1 in the nation.

There was no way I would not have put Wildcats on this list. Having only one loss at this time of the season is impressive enough, but the fact that they just won the national championship two years ago is a large reason they should be picked as one of the best teams.

Villanova’s top-two scorers — Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges — were on that national championshipwinning team. They have the experience needed to make a deep run in the tourney.

I do not think their schedule has been too tough so far, but they steamrolled over Norwood State

Community College (ranked No. 10 at the time) 89-65, and beat Gonzaga easily, 88-72.

Villanova will likely be a one-seed in the tourney.

3. Purdue

Purdue has posted an impressive 17-2 record this year and is ranked No. 3 in the country.

The largest factor for them being on this list was what I mentioned earlier: they are one of two teams in the nation to be in the top-25 for scoring offense and defense.

They have solid wins over Arizona, Louisville and Michigan, but I think the real test for Purdue will come Feb. 10 when they face off against Michigan State.

That game will determine whether they deserve a oneseed, or whether they should be a two or three.

old after a while. However, it is hard to ignore that they have an excellent team.

They have the No. 1 scoring offense in the country averaging over 92 points per game, and they have arguably the best freshman in the country – Marvin Bagley III. Bagley is a double-double machine, scoring nearly 22 points per game and averaging 11.5 rebounds.

Duke also has quite an impressive resume — winning games against Michigan State and Florida — but have endured some questionable losses against Boston College and North Carolina State.

I expect Bagley and the most hated man in college basketball — Grayson Allen — to have the Blue Devils ready for a tournament run.

4. Duke

If you are like me, you despise the Blue Devils. They always win, and it just gets

KIRTHMON F. DOZIER | DETROIT FREE PRESS | TNS

Michigan State’s Miles Bridges scores over Indiana’s Robert Johnson in the second half on Friday, Jan. 19, 2018, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Mich. The host Spartans won, 85-57.

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Michigan State hit a rough patch when they lost to Ohio State by 16 points on Jan. 7 and to Michigan by 10 points on Jan. 13, but I still believe they are the nation’s best team.

beat Notre Dame the next game by the same margin.

Despite their struggles of late, I expect Michigan State to be a title contender when March rolls around.

Jan. 24, 2018 | newsrecord.org

The first round of the NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament — the greatest time of the year for sports fans — is less than two months away.

Anyone reading this probably loves March Madness. The excitement of the unpredictable and the desire to win your friend group’s bracket pool can pump up even the dullest person. But as the big dance approaches, the vision of the nation’s best team remains unclear.

Here are, in order, the four teams I believe to be the best in the country as of Jan. 21.

Not only do the Spartans have one of the most explosive players in the county in Miles Bridges, but they have four other scoring weapons at their disposal.

Michigan State has five players who average doubledigit scoring numbers, helping the team average over 85 points per game.

The best part about Michigan State is that they can also play defense. Only two teams are in the top25 in scoring offense and scoring defense: Purdue and Michigan State.

What makes the Spartans better than Purdue, however, is what I think makes them the best team in the country: their resume. The ACC is perceived as the most dominant conference in the country, and the Spartans have had their way with two of their powerhouse programs. They defeated the defending national champion North Carolina Tar Heels by 18 points, then

Sports

Queen City basketball scene currently on the rise JASON SZELEST | SPORTS EDITOR

Crosstown Shootout to look forward to. Because these two teams are both on the map and doing so well, it makes that matchup every year all the more exciting.”

UC head coach Mick Cronin said the success of Cincinnati basketball stretches even further than the big schools, as he believes Northern Kentucky University, the University of Dayton and Miami University have also stepped up to help the reputation of basketball in the city.

“Northern Kentucky has a really good team,” Cronin said.

“They went to the tournament last year. I think the new coach of Miami Ohio — he came from Purdue — Jack Owens, he is going to turn them back around. I think it is bigger than just us two.”

The Bearcats have made the last seven NCAA tournaments, while Xavier has made four in a row and 11 of the last 12. With those streaks seeming all but certain to continue this season, only one thing remains to be seen: How far can these Cincy powers go in March?

Jan. 24, 2018 | newsrecord.org

The latest Associated Press men’s college basketball poll was released Monday, and there were two local schools ranked among the nation’s top-10 schools.

Xavier University cracked the poll at No. 8, while the University of Cincinnati followed suit at No. 9. It is the first time in history that the two Cincinnati programs have both been in the top-10 in the same week.

“I think it is incredible to see these two teams in the top-10,” sports editor of Xavier University’s The Newswire Luke Feliciano said. “Even though only one team can claim the Crosstown Shootout title, the focus now turns into, what team is going to make it the furthest in March? The Shootout victories mean a lot for bragging rights because it is a true head-to-head matchup, but I think what matters most is what happens in March.”

To add even more intrigue to the headlines, when the USA Today Coaches Poll was released later that day, Xavier and

UC were tied at No. 8.

While both teams have had success this year, many believe Xavier deserves to be ranked higher, especially after defeating the Bearcats on Dec. 2 in the annual Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout.

“Obviously its tough to admit this as a diehard UC fan, but Xavier deserves the spot,” fifth-year business student Brendan Wambaugh said. “They not only beat us but have three more top-50 RPI wins.”

With the two programs, only four miles apart, having this much success, Feliciano believes Cincinnati and the surrounding area is starting to rise on the basketball map.

“I think both of these schools have storied and successful basketball programs,” Feliciano said. “In this area alone, there is a very strong pull towards basketball with teams like Kentucky, Louisville and Indiana being in close proximity. The success of Xavier and UC have certainly helped bring a buzz about college basketball in the Cincinnati area, and of course, fans have the annual

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JUSTING HILES | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Jacob Evans (1) goes up for a shot during the 2017 Crosstown Shootout against the Xavier Musketeers Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017.

Opinion

Mounir’s weekly

MOUNIR LYNCH | OPINION EDITOR

1. Popcorn

This one is personal to me and many of you won’t be able to relate, but I see popcorn as a huge meh. The only time I eat popcorn is at the movies, which I don’t often do because they are simply too expensive. The buttery taste is incredible, but it gets all over your hands and doesn’t smell too great. I also constantly manage to get popcorn kernels stuck in my teeth.

2. Beat the Clock

The other day one of my old friends invited me to Woody’s — a UC staple I don’t frequent — for their mid-afternoon festival of binge drinking, “Beat the Clock.” I’ve been once, and it just isn’t for me. The whole event requires so much planning, the crowd is frustratingly massive and everyone is decked out in tacky, sweaty basketball jerseys. The entire experience is pretty meh.

3. The government shutdown

The outcome of this shutdown could potentially bring about benefits, such as funding children’s healthcare and protecting immigrants who contribute to society. Still, our military isn’t being paid for their work, and thousands of employees’ wages will be furloughed. Hopefully the positive impacts of a shutdown outweigh the negatives.

4. Dinner coffee

5. Automatic hand dryers

Automatic hand dryers market themselves as eco-friendly, but they simply don’t hold a flame to the efficacy of a good old-fashioned paper towel. I really like those nifty Dyson hand dryers, though. Those things are what the future looks like. Seriously.

Five of the most offensive Richard Spencer quotes DAVID WYSONG | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

As his visit to the University of Cincinnati approaches, most have already heard about Richard Spencer’s various disgusting beliefs.

His rhetoric is a key reason many are appalled that university administration is allowing him to speak on campus at all.

It is hard to keep track of all the ridiculous things the self-proclaimed “alt-right” leader has said, so I have laid out five of the white nationalist’s most offensive quotes.

He called Martin Luther King Jr. a fraud

He said he wants to ban SEC football

Listen, I don’t like SEC football either, but it’s because I feel they always seem to be favored by large media outlets and the College Football Playoff Selection Committee. The reason Spencer dislikes them is based in narrow-minded racial discrimination.

“SEC football is sick,” Spencer said in a speech given at Auburn — an SEC football powerhouse.

“Black athletes not part of white identity. I would ban football.”

He said a white ethno-state is an ideal

I don’t know why Spencer thinks it’s okay to tear down anyone who isn’t white, but here is yet another comment about race: “The ideal of a white ethno-state — and it is an

ideal — is something that I think we should think about in the sense of what could come after America,” Spencer told public radio program “Reveal.”“It’s kind of like a grand goal … It’s a way of thinking about [how] we want a new type of society that would actually be a homeland for all white people.”

He called Islam a black flag

Many Americans have wrongly discriminated against Muslims ever since the Sept. 11, 2001 World Trade Center terrorist attacks. Spencer is one of them.

“Islam — at its full flourishing … isn’t some peaceful denomination like Methodism or religion like Buddhism; Islam is a black flag,” Spencer said in an interview with Europa Maxima. “It is an expansive, domineering ideology, and one that is directed against Europe. In this way, Islam give non-Europeans a

fighting spirit and integrates them into something much greater than themselves.”

He attacked immigration

Our country was founded by immigrants — just ask our opinion editor who wrote an extensive column about it. I have personally known many great people who immigrated to this country.

Spencer, on the other hand, thinks immigration is a proxy war for white Americans.

“Immigration is a kind of proxy war — and maybe a last stand — for White Americans who are undergoing a painful recognition that, unless dramatic action is taken, their grandchildren will live in a country that is alien and hostile,” Spencer wrote in a National Policy Institute column.

Spencer has shared a plethora of other offensive beliefs. When his visit to UC arrives in March, he’s bound to share far more.

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In an article written on altright.com, Spencer attempted to call out conservatives for celebrating the life of Martin Luther King Jr. “Martin Luther King Jr., a fraud and degenerate in his life, has become the symbol and cynosure of White Dispossession and the deconstruction of European

civilization,” Spencer wrote.

“We shall overcome!”

Jan. 24, 2018 | newsrecord.org

I’m currently writing this from a diner, and I’m on my third coffee. As a coffee addict, I usually drink my coffee black. The coffee at most diners, however, is simply too bitter and watery to stomach. You’re practically required to douse it in creamer. At least it’ll satisfy your need for caffeine — especially when you’re recovering from a night of questionable choices. It’s also usually free. At a diner, coffee is a staple that is just part of the experience like water at any other restaurant.

RALPH BARRERA | AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN | TNS

Richard Spencer, a white nationalist, takes a brief tour of Texas A&M campus before a speaking event at the Memorial Student Center on Dec. 6, 2016 in College Station, Texas. The University of Florida denied Spencer’s request to speak on their campus in September, citing safety concerns.

Opinion

Were some American citizens forgotten when Democrats caved?

MOUNIR LYNCH | OPINION EDITOR

The U.S. government voted to fund the government through Feb. 8 on Monday evening, giving lawmakers another 16 days to draft and pass an amicable long-term funding proposal.

CHIP — the Children’s Health Insurance Program — expired last year, leaving millions of American children without the healthcare coverage they need.

This time, Democrats made the wrong move, giving in to Republican interests in order to reopen the government.

President Trump himself described the Democrats’ decision as “caving” — and the president is right.

Perhaps it was to avoid looking controversial or obstructionist during heavy-handed re-election efforts this year and in

2020. Perhaps they were listening to political donors or party leadership. Leaving military members without pay does not look good on any politician, of course — especially one trying to run for the big office of the presidency.

Both of Ohio’s senators — Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) — voted “yes” on the temporary spending measure to reopen the government.

Portman made the political sacrifice to fund CHIP, and Brown delayed a vote concerning the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to reopen the government.

A government shutdown is difficult to deal with. In the process, our government wastes significant money, closes national parks and monuments to tourists and

furloughs wages for nearly a million workers. Responding to the situation is certainly difficult; however, the best interests of the American people should not be left behind in the process.

Clearly, since the Republican party controls the whole government and still allowed the shutdown, issues like DACA, CHIP and defense spending had far more debate than anticipated.

Why? Because the protection of DACA and CHIP — as well as paying those who protect and defend our freedom every day — are issues most Americans can agree upon.

The temporary spending measure passed Monday keeps the government open until Feb. 8 while funding CHIP for the next six years.

Furthermore, Democrats

decided to forget about DACA. They decided to leave behind 800,000 Americans that fear for their lives every day. They pay taxes, study in our universities — including UC — and work hard to contribute to our economy.

DACA was an item Democrats needed to address in the debate to reopen the government. They were called “obstructionists” by the president and other Republican lawmakers.

In one of his many tweets, Trump announced his intent to address immigration reform once the government is reopened.

“As I have always said, once the Government is funded, my Administration will work toward solving the problem of very unfair illegal immigration,”Trump wrote.

“We will make a long-term deal on immigration if, and

only if, it is good for our country.”

On Feb. 8, when the Senate will need to debate funding the government again, DACA needs to be a top priority.

Allocating our tax dollars in

a responsible manner — like cutting the unnecessarily high defense costs and accounting for money that isn’t accounted for in “general government funds” — should be a focus as well.

OLIVIER DOULIERY | ABACA PRESS | TNS

The U.S Capitol on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, after a short-term spending bill vote failed Friday night, sending the government into a shutdown on the one-year anniversary of President Trump’s inauguration, in Washington, D.C.

Trump could improve image by bettering infrastructure

Jan. 24, 2018 | newsrecord.org

PARKER MALATESTA | NEWS EDITOR

14

TNR FILE

President Trump campaigned strongly on the topic of American infrastructure, highlighting it as a widespread problem in desperate need of improvement.

Revamping America’s airports is one of Trump’s major infrastructure talking points. The president claims that when tourists arrive in the United States, their first impression of the country is badly tarnished by the poor quality of our airport infrastructure.

Talking to Trump supporters following the election, infrastructure was often cited as primary rationale for their vote.

It’s something that I believe can be supported in an inclusive, bipartisan manner.

I invite Mr. Trump to build. Build something that is magnificent — something that all Americans can be proud of. Building something symbolic could do a lot for Trump’s image.

Between the Brent Spence Bridge and the Western Hills Viaduct, Cincinnati has enough problems for the local government to worry about Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG).

However, this does not mean that airport infrastructure should not be improved. This is something Trump touched on in his campaign, and now that tax reform is finished, he should begin working on it soon.

Emerging market leaders — like China — have turned their focus to building larger infrastructure webs with an emphasis on transportation.

Chinese President Xi Jingping’s Belt and Road Initiative

pushes global economic development to new heights. In this unpredictable time of American isolation, Jingping certainly must see the globalization void that the Obama administration left behind as Trump took office.

As the U.S. deals with its rising competitors, Trump should look to achieve his goals through America’s established sphere of influence.

CVG improvement can correspond to broad economic development and job creation in the region.

Regardless of Trump’s earlier concessions in office, everyone should support the infrastructure reform which he has proposed.

The benefits of improving our national infrastructure — from airports to the interstate — are endless. It creates jobs and, most importantly, it creates a friendlier environment for business in the area.

Since his inauguration, Trump has preached policy that serves to divide the public. Through infrastructure, I am confident that he can begin to rebuild some of bridges he has destroyed.

With the midterm elections looming near the end of the year, timely execution is imperative. Trump’s actions could have stark effects — especially for his re-election campaign.

The president’s brand is tarnished in a lot of people’s minds, but I think he’d be surprised at the positive effects of sending out an inclusive message through the topic of infrastructure.

The changes that society will see through this legislation will be quick and apparent. Once again, Trump’s execution of this project will strongly determine the future image of the Republican Party.

Interactive

TNR staff question of the week:

In light of the 2018 Oscar nominations, what was your favorite movie you saw last year?

I can’t remember all the movies I watched in 2017 so let’s go with the last one I saw, Pitch Perfect 3. I’m a big fan of the Bellas. .

-David Wysong, Editor-in-Chief

Beauty and the Beast. Belle has always been my favorite princess and the fact that Hermione played her made my little fan-girl heart happy.

- Shae Combs, Photo Editor

Dunkirk. We’re 2-0 in World Wars baby! #Merica.

-Jason Szelest, Sports Editor

Baby Driver. The story line and characterization was incredible, the music was even better and worked perfectly in every scene.

It was an action movie with actual good acting. I may or may not have a man crush on Ansel Elgort too.

-Mounir Lynch, Opinion Editor

Get Out, because it was supposed to be comedic but actually turned out quite horrifying, which describes my life pretty accurately.

-Erin Couch, Managing Editor

I didn’t go to the movies at all last year. No lie. People tend to ruin the movie-going experience for me. .

-Stephanie Smith, Online Editor

Editor-In-Chief David Wysong

Sports Editor Jason Szelest

Managing Editor Erin Couch

Photo Editor Shae Combs

Copy Editor Jacob Fisher

Designer Gabrielle Stichweh

News Editors Zach Perrin Parker Malatesta

Broadcast Reporter Emily Wilhelm

Opinion Editor Mounir Lynch Life & Arts Editor Noelle Zielinski Newsroom 509 Swift Hall 513-556-5912 Chief.newsrecord@gmail University of Cincinnati 45221-0135

Online Editor Stephanie Smith Chief Reporter Jacob Fisher Chief Photographer Aaron Dorsten Videographer Mallory Elder Advertising 510 Swift Hall 513-556-5912 newsrecordbiz@gmail

Things to do this weekend: •

•

“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”: Cincinnati Shakespeare Company presents the opening of “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” a play based on an old screenplay with a timely message. Follow along as Joanna brings her African-American fiancé home to her parents — whom are self-proclaimed liberals — only to find out they’re not as progressive as they appear. Play runs Jan. 26-Feb. 17 at Cincy Shakes, $31 students, $14 student rush.

T-Swift Night at Bogart’s: Feeling 22? Come out to Bogart’s and live out your “Wildest Dreams” at this Taylor Swift jam sesh. A prize will be given to the best T-Swizzle lookalike. Thursday, Jan. 25 at Bogart’s, 8 p.m., $10 advance.

Jan. 24, 2018 | newsrecord.org

•

15

Bunbury 2018 Lineup Announcement Party: Want to see if your favorite • band is making an appearance at Bunbury again this year? Stop by the Woodward Theater on Thursday and see for yourself. Friday, Jan. 26. 6-8 p.m. Free.

14th Annual Findlay Market Chili Cook-Off: Local amateur chefs sling chili at Findlay Market on Saturday for a grand prize. Free samples available after the winner is announced at 1 p.m.! Sunday, Jan. 28. 12-4 p.m. Free.

• Free Skating Lessons at Fountain Square: Got ice-o-phobia? No problem! Head out to Fountain Square on Saturday and take part in some free skating lessons to get you over your fear of falling.

Register at myfountainsquare.com. Sunday, Jan. 28. 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Free.

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