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pg. 7 | See the pridelands pg. 9 | Sports you might at the Aronoff Center have missed over break Wednesday January 15, 2020
City passes new housing plan QUINLAN BENTLEY | CHIEF REPORTER As part of legislation by the Cincinnati City Council to prevent evictions, a new initiative is coming to CUF – the city’s largest student enclave – in hopes of renovating poor housing conditions for student residents. Passed by Cincinnati City Council late October 2019, the eight-part legislation seeks a preemptive approach in lowering the city’s high eviction rate, with an ordinance of the law zeroing in on CUF, East Price Hill and Avondale to manage and resolve health and safety code violations in rented residential properties there. Citing low-income and rising housing
costs, Councilman Greg Landsman – who proposed the legislation – says that stable housing is necessary to better the well-being of all Cincinnati families, with a focus on those in marginalized communities. “The ability to access quality affordable housing is a huge part of whether or not we can say that all of our children and families are doing well,” he said. Cincinnati’s eviction rate sits at 4.7% – approximately two percentage points higher than the national average, according to the most recent data by Princeton University’s Eviction Lab. This Story Continued on Page 3
The organiazation “Boldly Bankrupt” placed shirts displaying their website on “Boldly Bearcat” statues. PROVIDED | ABBY STIDHAM
Website bashes UC spending
KEELY BROWN | MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR Several student organizations at the University of Cincinnati have partnered to create a website that brings attention to what the groups have claimed to be irresponsible spending habits. Four organizations — Fossil Free UC, the Roosevelt Institute, UC Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) and the Sustainable Fashion Initiative (SFI) — have united to form the Activist Coalition, a community of progressive organizations on UC’s campus fighting for local justice. The coalition subsequently started a project, dubbed “Boldly Bankrupt,” and created a website to raise awareness, combat financialization at UC and demand
accountability from the UC Board of Trustees and other university officials. “The goal of this website is to get the word out [and] I think it’s been successful so far,” said Ben Lewton, outreach coordinator for YDSA and coordinator for Fossil Free UC. “We haven’t even done any marketing for it yet, and people are spreading it all over social media. The ultimate goal is to get a majority of students on board.” “Boldly Bankrupt” is constantly updated and is intended to be a student and faculty resource, he said. The website features university contact information for UC representatives, including student delegates, members on the board of trustees and leaders on the Student Advisory This Story Continued on Page 2
City of Cincinnati Councilman Greg Landsman proposed leglislation in hope of renovating poor housing conditions for student residents. INSTAGRAM | @GREGLANDSMAN
NEWS
January 15, 2020
Behind ‘Boldly Bankrupt’
KEELY BROWN | MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR Several student organizations at the University of Cincinnati have partnered to create a website that brings attention to what the groups have claimed to be irresponsible spending habits. Four organizations — Fossil Free UC, the Roosevelt Institute, UC Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) and the Sustainable Fashion Initiative (SFI) — have united to form the Activist Coalition, a community of progressive organizations on UC’s campus fighting for local justice. The coalition subsequently started a project, dubbed “Boldly Bankrupt,” and created a website to raise awareness, combat financialization at UC and demand accountability from the UC Board of Trustees and other university officials. “The goal of this website is to get the word out [and] I think it’s been successful so far,” said Ben Lewton, outreach coordinator for YDSA and coordinator for Fossil Free UC. “We haven’t even done any marketing for it yet, and people are spreading it all over social media. The ultimate goal is to get a majority of students on board.” “Boldly Bankrupt” is constantly updated and is intended to be a student and faculty resource, he said. The website features university contact information for UC representatives, including student delegates, members on the board of trustees and leaders on the Student Advisory Committee on the University Budget (SACUB). “Not only is this intended to be a wakeup call for students, but it’s also a resource for them to go to their student representatives or to the administrative representatives and actually do something about it,” Lewton said. “It is a resource that’s intended to connect students [and] to help them navigate all the ‘red tape’ at UC.”
He hopes the university administration will hear student outcry and make changes regarding spending. Faculty, including multiple deans, have approached administration concerning the issue — to no avail, Lewton said. “We’re the last chance with the last major demographic at a school who has the say where our money is going,” Lewton said. “It’s all on the students now to come together and do something about it — that’s the ultimate goal.” Emily Herrmann, secretary and co-director of community outreach for the Sustainable Fashion Initiative, said the SFI joined the Activist Coalition because, as a progressive group, they want what’s best for everyone. In addition, they contributed to “Boldly Bankrupt” on a platform of sustainability, she said. The SFI’s main concern is protesting UC’s renewed contracts with Gildan, the clothing company that produces the university’s t-shirts, and Aramark, the company that provides food for UC’s dining halls. Herrmann claims that both companies use slave labor. “We’re hoping that UC cuts ties with both of those companies, or work on a better way of outsourcing our t-shirts, our food and basically just all of our products,” she said. Hermann said she hopes UC will not dismiss the Activist Coalition as a “radical” organization. The coalition is simply working in the interest of students and faculty to stimulate change, she said. “I know that we seem sort of like anti-UC, which we’re not at all — we’re all UC students and we just want what’s best for the university and what’s best for us; we don’t think there’s anything wrong with asking for more from our universities,” Hermann said. “We hope that they receive us in a way that makes us legitimate so we can work together and cooperate on goals that would suit everyone better.”
So far, the coalition has received positive feedback from students, faculty, and alumni concerning Boldly Bankrupt, according to Abby Stidham, president of Leaders for Environmental Awareness and Protection (LEAP) and coordinator of the Activist Coalition. The group gets new testimonies almost every day, currently totally roughly 100, according to Stidham. Although the activist group has not heard from any university officials as of yet, Stidham said she hopes UC will be more transparent with spending. “The fact that we made this website means that they’re not being transparent enough,” Stidham said. “We want oversight and we want to ensure that this reckless spending can no longer continue.” Students are resisting, she said, and asking questions of where their money is going and of who is in control. She said she encourages students to do more than simply question UC. “Join any of these groups to make your voice heard,” she said. “Voice your opinions, and not just through our website — go to people, and make things happen.”
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UC to offer new reporting certificate
The University of Cincinnati will launch a political reporting and public affairs certificate during the 2020 fall semester. FACEBOOK | BRIAN CALFONO
SHANNON SMITH | NEWS EDITOR The University of Cincinnati will soon begin offering a political and public affairs reporting certificate, combining two areas of study within the McMicken College of Arts and Science. The departments of journalism and political science will collaborate to offer students a focused track consisting of at least six classes to help students to expand their knowledge of political news coverage and how to do so from local and data-driven perspectives. “The certificate provides the opportunity for real-world skill development and experience,” said political science and journalism associate professor Brian Calfano in a news release. Calfano works as a political analyst for Spectrum News 1 Ohio along with teaching both political science and journalism courses at UC. He said the interdisciplinary program will help students establish ways to effectively cover politics by teaching student critical thinking methods and using complex disciplinary methods. While the course requirements for the certificate are still be decided, they will range in subject to teach students how to succeed as a modern-day journalist, Calfano said. The curriculum will include political reporting, media production and political sciences electives. The certificate has been approved by respective department heads but has yet to go through the formal university approval process. However, the departments anticipate to launch the certificate in fall semester 2020. Like most universities, UC currently offers a specific political reporting course, but the implementation of an interdisciplinary pathway like this is what will set the program apart from others, Calfano said. “By finding synergies in subject matter we give students access to knowledge and understanding that they might not otherwise have had,” said Lisa Holstrom, senior assistant dean in the College of Arts & Sciences. “[Students] also get insights into
how their education translates to real-world opportunity.” Since Calfano’s professional work is mainly focused in broadcast, he will provide opportunities for students to get on-camera experiences and educate them on the responsibilities of video shooting and editing. The comprehensive curriculum aims to prepare students for careers in fields across journalism and public affairs. “The certificate provides the opportunity for real-world skill development and experience,” Calfano said. “While journalists are always learning, and no program can ‘certify’ someone to be a reporter, students with this certificate will be well on their way to conducting effective political beat reporting.”
NEWS
January 15, 2020
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City legislation may improve off-campus housing
QUINLAN BENTLEY | CHIEF REPORTER As part of legislation by the Cincinnati City Council to prevent evictions, a new initiative is coming to CUF – the city’s largest student enclave – in hopes of renovating poor housing conditions for student residents. Passed by Cincinnati City Council late October 2019, the eight-part legislation seeks a preemptive approach in lowering the city’s high eviction rate, with an ordinance of the law zeroing in on CUF, East Price Hill and Avondale to manage and resolve health and safety code violations in rented residential properties there. Citing low-income and rising housing costs, Councilman Greg Landsman – who proposed the legislation – says that stable housing is necessary to better the wellbeing of all Cincinnati families, with a focus on those in marginalized communities. “The ability to access quality affordable housing is a huge part of whether or not we can say that all of our children and families are doing well,” he said. Cincinnati’s eviction rate sits at 4.7% – approximately two percentage points higher than the national average, according to the most recent data by Princeton University’s Eviction Lab. There are several factors that contribute to the city’s current eviction rate such as high levels of poverty and inequality, said Elaina Johns-Wolfe, a Ph.D. student at the University of Cincinnati who studies eviction in the city. “A lot of people view Cincinnati as a very affordable city to live in,” she said. “The cost of living might be low, but so are people’s incomes.” According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Cincinnati’s median household income is $38,542 – that’s compared to $60,293 nationally. The city’s poverty rate of 27% more than doubles the national average. “A lot of times we like to think that ‘Oh, people are being evicted because they’re a bad tenant,’” said Johns-Wolfe, adding that evictions generally follow socioeconomic patterns of race, class and gender, with women of color often most effected. “Eviction also needs to be understood as a cause of poverty,” she said, noting that evictions often compound other issues of poverty. “Once someone experiences one eviction, they’re more likely to experience evictions after that as well.” Although CUF is on the low end of eviction filings in Cincinnati, the neighborhood
ranks fifth for number of new code enforcement cases opened over a three year period, following East & West Price Hill, Westwood and Avondale – neighborhoods with high rates of eviction filings, according to city data. As the responsibility of reporting violations falls squarely on tenants, those who report may face retaliation from landlords in the form of eviction, said Landsman – a practice prohibited under Ohio law.
“problematic” properties will be impacted by the program. “We’re going to be very careful as this thing gets implemented to only sweep up those properties that are truly problematic,” he said. The way things stand in CUF health and safety codes have not been sufficiently enforced, said Nathan Hess, local landlord and president of the CUF Neighborhood Association.
Though he blames only a handful of nonlocal property owners for persistent violations and that local landlords are more attentive to their property’s safety and upkeep, said Landsman.
As a landlord, Hess views the program as being of potential benefit to the neighborhood but expressed some concern as to how it may affect landlords with older properties.
“They care about their city and their neighborhoods,” he said.
“Most of our homes and buildings were built in the 1920s and ‘30s; the codes that exist today were not in existence then,” he said, adding that the program might create uncertainty as to what kind of work needs to be done to properties and how much it will cost.
Going into effect May 1, an ordinance of the legislation is introducing the Residential Rental Property Inspection Pilot Program in CUF, Avondale and East Price Hill in effort to tackle these persistent health and safety violations, while also serving to reduce the frequency of “preventable” evictions in the neighborhood. Only those properties with persistent, unresolved health and safety code violations or with delinquent property taxes will be subject to the program. Those subject to inspection will then have to apply for a Rental Inspection Certificate with the city, otherwise a search warrant will be obtained. If found compliant, the property owner will not have to reapply for a certificate for four years. Noncompliant properties, however, will face monthly reinspection until found compliant and will be subject to annual reinspection following compliance. All properties subjected to the program will pay an initial fee of $100 per unit with additional fees up to $280 per unit for subsequent reinspection. “[The program] takes the burden off the renter and puts it on [the city] and the landlord so that we can resolve the issues without somebody being evicted unnecessarily,” said Landsman. Although some have expressed concerns about the scope of the program, it received bipartisan support during the legislation’s passage in October, according to reporting by the Cincinnati Enquirer. Landsman noted the legislation was a culmination of a year’s worth of collaborating with local stakeholders to ensure that it was done right, and that only
experience searching for apartments near the university when she moved to Cincinnati in 2014, Johns-Wolfe said that quality housing in CUF is sorely lacking. “The quality of it is not that great unless you’re willing to spend a lot of money,” she said of rental properties near the university. “I was appalled at the quality of housing around campus and what they were charging for rent,” she said. “Students would be really excited to have better quality housing.”
Acknowledging the state of housing for CUF’s student population, Hess says that student rental properties in the area suffer from poor maintenance. “I think the neighborhood would welcome a little more scrutiny and higher standards for some of those properties,” he said, “Whether we’re long-term residents or student residents, having assurances of greater safety is in everyone’s benefit.” Considering the high volume of student residents in CUF, Johns-Wolfe agrees that the program could also go a long way toward bettering student housing in the area. According to university data collected in 2018, nearly 86% of UC students lived off campus in and the most recent census estimates show about half of CUF’s 17,000 residents are enrolled in college – approximately 18% of the university’s student population. Poor housing is often characteristic of student-rented properties largely due to high tenant turnover and a low standard of maintenance by both tenant and student. This can lead to negative health outcomes for student renters if left unresolved, research shows. Speaking from her own
Cincinnati’s median income per household is $38,542. The national average is $60,293. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
January 15, 2020
FEATURES
DAAP professor designs device to minimize potential overdoses
SHANNON SMITH | NEWS EDITOR The severity of opioid epidemic has been felt across the entire country, and Cincinnati is no stranger to its effects. The tristate area sees approximately 50 to 80 opioid overdoses every week, according to the University of Cincinnati. One UC professor is using her background in design to create a livesaving device to make Narcan and naloxone more accessible to overdose victims.
Claudia Rebola, associate dean for research and professor of industrial design in the College of Design, Art, Architecture and Planning (DAAP), said some of her graduate students have been working on the AntiOD project for almost two years. The idea was benchmarked from a previous project she worked on during her time as an associate professor at the Rhode Island School of Design in 2017. In collaboration with Brown University, Rebola worked to create NaloxBox, a public bystander resource that provides overdose treatments. After coming to Cincinnati, Rebola continued to see the need for smart cabinets like this to help combat the opioid crisis in the city. She enlisted students from her graduate design class to assist in the development and implementation of a similar device in the area. After receiving some internal funding from UC in 2018,
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Rebola began developing the AntiOD project. The boxes include two doses of Narcan nasal spray, first aid gloves and instructions for how to recognize an overdose and how to administer the drug to resuscitate a victim.
“This is just one part of the puzzle that will be the solution,” said Ryan Norton, a design graduate student at DAAP. “We are just trying to make sure that we are playing our part, that we are giving people the tools they need to respond to this.”
“The package itself is an education took,” said Sebastian Ramirez, one of Rebola’s graduate design students, who has been working on AntiOD since its conception in 2018. The devices are intended to be placed in public areas around the city, almost like a fire extinguisher.
Rebola, Ramirez and Norton all hope installation of AntiOD boxes will not only help save lives but help to educate society on the opioid crisis and destigmatize it.
“I think the best way to describe the project is as a community-based initiative to empower and to share the responsibility of the opiate crisis,” Ramirez said. “It is just one component to raise awareness so we can all save lives.” The AntiOD team hopes to have the first smart box installed in Cincinnati by 2020. The project has been working to pass pharmacy restrictions and regulations on access to Narcan. They are also working to launch the project in Cleveland and to expand partnerships with local businesses across the state. Rebola has also collaborated with Greg McNeil, founder of Community of First Responders, whose own son overdosed. McNeil partnered with Rebola on NaloxBox and launched an app to help citizens find their closest Narcan providers.
“This isn’t something that we can ourselves fix, the problem is much bigger than any individual,” Norton said. “If we can empower the public to take action, we can empower one person and they can empower another and so on.” University of Cincinnati Design, Art and Architecture (DAAP) professor Claudia Rebola has been working on the AntiOD project for nearly two years. PROVIDED | UC NEWS
Student starts book club after successful blog launch QUINLAN BENTLEY | CHIEF REPORTER This semester a new book club hopes to give women of color a safe place on campus to connect and share experiences through literature.
is excited to see the effect this new book club will have on campus. “I think this will be something new, something that’s needed and that’s something that I’m excited about,” she said.
Having already launched Sister Outsiders last semester – a blog for women writers to publish their work – Camry Morrow, a second-year human development and community engagement major, is launching a book club of the same name.
Morrow previously told The News Record that her inspiration for Sister Outsiders came from 20th century writer, feminist and civil rights activist, Audre Lorde. The name itself is derived from a collection of Lorde’s work titled, “Sister Outsider.”
While her original focus was on writing and publishing, Morrow has since refocused her efforts to have a larger “campus presence” and thought starting a book club would be the best way forward, she said.
Her first encounter with Lorde’s work came during her senior year of high school during a storytelling event in which she read Lorde’s essay, “The Transformation of Silence into Language and Action.”
“I was talking to a few of my friends and I realized that there is a lot of interest for that book club,” Morrow said, adding that about 40 people have already expressed interest in attending.
“That weekend was just so powerful for me,” she said, noting that afterward she “knew that writing, storytelling and community are things that’re so important to me, and things that I just want to incorporate into my everyday life.”
Although her focus has changed, she said she still wants to continue using storytelling to create a sense of community for women of color on campus.
Although she acknowledges the difficulties many college students face in finding spare time, Morrow still encourages women of color to practice “self-care” by finding an hour or two every week to come connect with their peers.
“I want to create a safe space for women of color and having this space for women to showcase diverse literature,” Morrow said, and also hopes to spark conversation. “I definitely want to focus on intersectionality, and just having this representation of different women.” Morrow has noticed that women authors – specifically women of color – have not been given due attention, so she
“There are so many different women on campus doing such great things,” she said. “The book club is more than just reading; I think it’s about that community that’s being built.” The Sister Outsiders book club will be held every Sunday from noon to 2 p.m. in the Teacher’s College room 425. The club will hold its first meeting this Sunday, Jan. 19.
Camry Morrow, a second year human development and community engagement major, is launching the Sisters Outsiders Book Club. PROVIDED | CAMRY MORROW
First up on the club’s reading list is Toni Morison’s “The Bluest Eye,” with future reads being decided at the next meeting.
FEATURES
January 15, 2020
UC students campaign for free concert
QUINLAN BENTLEY | CHIEF REPORTER University of Cincinnati students have partnered with Up & Up Music Festival to enter UC into a head-to-head competition with other universities for an end of year concert organized almost entirely by students. On Feb. 11, universities across the country – including UC – will compete to see which school can pre-order the most tickets in 48-hours. The top seven universities will receive a concert on or near their campus headlined by renowned English DJ, Troyboi. All pre-order tickets will cost $24, with free tickets being given away to the first 100 pre-orders, said David Guajardo, a fifth-year psychology major and lead ambassador for Up & Up Music Festival at UC. Alongside Guajardo
are two other student ambassadors from UC trying to raise awareness about the competition through social media and community engagement. Launching in 2016, the Up & Up Music Festival brings well-known acts to select universities every semester, with previous acts including Alan Walker, GRYFFIN, Two Friends & Slushii, Lost Kings and Elephante. The festival – sponsored by Monster Energy – advertises itself as a crowdsourcing platform for students at universities around the country to rally together and organize concerts on their campuses. With over 60 universities competing for the concert this semester, the competition will be fierce for UC, said Kelsey Borgarding, an arts management and education major at Miami University, who helped that college win
the competition in previous years. “It’s not just like UC wants something, it’s like UC wants something more than every other school in this entire country,” she said. “All of these students have to come together in order to win.” Guajardo and Borgarding have been friends for the past two years, and after seeing her win in 2018, Guajardo says he was excited to try the same thing at UC. That coupled with his love for the EDM music scene, he said. “It’s just a fun thing for students to gather around and do,” he said. While UC already puts on an end of year concert – formerly known as Uptown West Fest – Guajardo says this concert will be different because it’s being organized solely by students.
“My experience with Uptown West Fest is not super positive,” he said. “It’s run by the university, so they have a bunch of rules and stuff that I know they have to abide by.” However, Borgarding emphasized the importance of community interest and participation in winning the event. “You have to create a community on campus, if you don’t then people aren’t going to buy tickets,” she said. The concert will also offer opportunities to student artists as well, with three to four positions available for local artists to open for the main act, she said. Although Miami University is competing again this Spring, Borgarding says that this year she is stepping away and helping her friends experience some of the things she loved about being and ambassador for Up & Up.
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Guajardo says that he is very passionate about the work he’s been doing and that it’s allowed him a sneak peek at a world he’s always been fascinated with, music. “I’ve always loved the music scene and everything, and it’s just kind of given me a backstage look on what it’s like to put something together,” he said. While there is a lot networking involved, ambassadorship also comes with a hefty amount of benefits. From VIP access and dancing on stage during the show to the potential for a paid internship with Up & Up afterward, she said, but that ambassadors have to be passionate about what they’re doing in order to win. “I want to win,” Guajardo said. “I’d be pretty excited if we won and just to be able to host this kind of event here — I’d love that.”
Boldly Bearcat arrives in stores DAVID REES | FEATURES EDITOR Cincinnati’s own Graeter’s Ice Cream has begun selling pints of the University of Cincinnati inspired ice cream flavor, “Boldly Bearcat,” in various grocery locations. In addition to being available in all 55 Graeter’s locations throughout the Midwest, the flavor will be available in Kroger stores in Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus, Jungle Jim’s markets in Cincinnati as well as Dorothy Lane Markets in Dayton. Graeter’s has manufactured 25,000 pints of Boldly Bearcat and they will continue to be sold until it’s gone. Boldly Bearcat is made with red Oreo cookies, red velvet icing and chocolate chips to resemble UC’s brand colors of black and red. Boldly Bearcat was developed to celebrate UC’s bicentennial and was originally only available at bicentennial events, like the homecoming parade. When creating a new flavor, Graeter’s runs it as a bonus flavor during the summer season. If the flavor does well, it will be brought back the previous year for a month. If the flavor continues to be a success, Graeter’s might bring it back as a full-time flavor. “That’s kind of what we did with UC through the bicentennial – we discovered that people really like the flavor,” said Graeter’s vice president of marketing, Tim Philpott. “The next step is then, well, let’s put it in a pint and offer it for a short amount of time and see how that goes.”
After much success and draw from the UC community, Graeter’s decided to take Boldly Bearcat to that next level. When planning their seasonal flavors for 2020, Graeter’s decided in September of 2019 that they would bring Boldly Bearcat back in January of 2020. “All of our flavors that get developed continue to grow and develop to the needs and wants of our customers,” Philpott said. “We’ve made [Boldly Bearcat] to help UC celebrate the Bicentennial, and then through a lot of situations – social media and things like that – it became very, very popular.” It is no secret that there has been an active social media conversation about Boldly Bearcat and “Buckeye Blitz,” a flavor honoring the Ohio State University. On Twitter, Graeter’s is currently running the “2020 Ice Cream Bowl.” Participants can tweet either #GraetersBearcat or #GraetersBlitz to vote for their favorite flavor, and for a chance to win a free pint. Whichever flavor gets the most tweets has the possibility of getting a Graeter’s Ice Cream truck to their university’s campus. “At the end of the day ice cream is fun so let’s have Buckeye fan, let’s have UC fans, you know chirping out there and tweeting out there,” Philpott said. “We just wanted to have some fun and reward people with either some Graeter’s free pints or with some swag for joining the conversation online.”
Graeter’s Ice Cream hs started selling their ice cream flavor “Boldly Bearcat” in Krogers across Ohio. PROVIDED | GRAETER’S
LIFE & ARTS
January 15, 2020
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GET OUT AND DO SOMETHING: Jan. 17 to Jan. 19
EMMA BALCOM | STAFF REPORTER
FRIDAY, JAN. 17 One Direction vs Jonas Brothers: Two of the most popular boy bands of the 2010s go head-to-head in a tribute performance this Friday. Take a look back on the fan-girling days of the last decade and gain inspiration to show up and represent your favorite group, singing along to some of their most well-known songs and cheering them to victory 7p.m. Bogart’s, 2621 Vine St. Cinema Cincinnati: Calling all movie buffs. The Public Library has pieced together an elaborate exhibition to illustrate Cincinnati’s history in cinema, celebrating not only the local theaters and popular movies filmed right within the city’s limits, but the ties local residents and organizations hold with business in Hollywood and the great contributions Cincinnati has made to the golden era. Don’t miss your chance to learn about the vivid history of cinema in Cincinnati. 12a.m. The Public Library, 800 Vine St. SATURDAY, JAN. 18 Cincinnati Pride: Show your support for the local LGBTQ+ community on the ice this weekend. The Fountain Square Ice Rink has collaborated with Cincinnati Pride to display strength and unity within the city, donating $2 of every admission to the organization. Take part in the charitability and fun Saturday night whilst enjoying hot snacks beside the ice or taking slippery falls alongside friends. 5p.m.-9p.m. Fountain Square, 520 Vine St.
his audience on a mysterious and enlightening journey through his show, featuring his meticulous sleight-ofhand in whimsical magic tricks certain to blow your mind. Marvel the various talents showcased onstage, and participate with the rest of the audience in an interactive performance to remember. Get your tickets today. 11a.m., 1p.m. Madcap Education Center, 3064 Harrison Ave.
SUNDAY, JAN. 19 Hello Sunshine Yoga: Nothing caps off the end of a long week like the refreshing atmosphere of a yoga studio. Hello Sunshine Yoga is presenting a $10 sampler class to any interested students, proving their difference from the traditional class with additional skills in barre and aerial yoga as well. Refresh yourself in the positive vibes of this inclusive studio, getting the energy you need to push through the week. 3-4:30p.m. Hello Sunshine Yoga, 6215 Montgomery Rd. ALIGNED: The Art of Design: Support the creative and innovative Bearcats of DAAP at their new exhibition, ALIGNED, which highlights the process of creating art itself through its carefully curated pieces and the influence of one’s surroundings in doing so. The faculty, students and alumni of DAAP have worked to convey a strong message and display the unique mindsets of successful creators, building off of each other. Take a look and you may just find inspiration for yourself. 12-11:59p.m. 1628 LTD, 11 Garfield Pl.
Holiday Hijinks: Every new year deserves a magical start, and we’re taking that advice seriously. “Awardwinning magical entertainer,” Sir Pat-Trick, aims to take
Four must see movies
Bogarts will be hosting a One Direction vs. Jonas Brothers cover band concert Friday, Jan. 17, 2020. ALEX MARTIN | ART DIRECTOR
CHLOE ROSENBERGER | STAFF REPORTER With the recent Golden Globes and the Oscars just over a month away, it truly is peak movie watching season. If you’re looking for quality entertainment or want to catch up on some major awards contenders, here are some must-see titles that are currently showing in theaters. 1917
The film “Little Women” is nominated for six Academy Awards. FACEBOOK | LITTLE WOMEN
Watching this World War I epic from director Sam Mendes is nothing short of stressful. As the runtime increases, so does the crippling sense of dread that the protagonists will fail in their mission to stop British troops from walking into a massacre. The movie’s score is a thumping heartbeat, and the sound is so pristinely engineered that each gunshot jolts you from your seat, frighteningly begging your full attention. Coming off a Golden Globe win for Best Motion Picture: Drama, audiences can expect to be blown away by a thrilling story of bravery and brotherhood, but beyond the emotion lies a jaw-dropping technical production. “1917” is a front runner for Best Picture at the upcoming Oscars. Little Women
This literary adaptation from “Lady Bird” mastermind Greta Gerwig tells the story of four sisters — who grow up during the American Civil War — whose bonds are tested by romance, ambition and even tragedy. Saoirse Ronan gives an engaging performance as Jo March, the secondoldest sibling whose lofty dreams of being a writer guide her into the realization that sometimes the best stories are the ones that happen in your own life. “Little Women” is a standout for its ornate costume and set work, energetic screenplay and undeniable chemistry between the cast. While writer and director Gerwig was subbed from any Golden Globe nominations, this incredible film should keep her in consideration for an Oscar nomination or two. Parasite South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho has crafted a memorable piece of work with “Parasite” — a shoo-in to take the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, which it claimed at the Golden Globes. In his acceptance speech, Bong acutely stated, “Once you overcome the 1-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films,” echoing fan outcry that “Parasite” deserves a Best Picture
win for a film in any language. Regardless of how the awards season concludes, audiences will fondly remember “Parasite” as a contemporary classic for its dark humor, impeccable writing and themes of wealth inequality. Catch it at the Esquire Theatre and let it be the catalyst for exploring other critically acclaimed, non-English films that have hit the screen over the past few years. Uncut Gems This flashy thriller from the Safdie Brothers stars Adam Sandler as jeweler Howard Ratner in his first serious role since 2002’s “Punch Drunk Love,” and the performance definitely deserves the hype. “Uncut Gems” is not without its laughs (like a Furby cameo), but its plot about a high-stake bet that could make or break Ratner’s personal and professional life is more than meets the eye. Watch out for excellent supporting roles from Broadway icon Idina Menzel and NBA player Kevin Garnett (as himself), whose charismatic attitudes play beautifully off of Sandler’s tough-guy charm. It’s unclear whether the film will rake in any Oscar nominations, but its originality and innate coolness establish it as a definite crowd-pleaser.
January 15, 2020
LIFE & ARTS
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Watch the classic ‘tail’ come to life at the Aronoff ANNE SIMENDINGER | LIFE AND ARTS EDITOR There are few moments in both cinematic and theatrical history that are as epic as “Circle of Life” from “Disney’s The Lion King.” It’s something about having Rafiki alone onstage belting out the African chant with the sun rising over the pridelands behind her that hooks the audience in. Then, in true Disney fashion, the moment gets topped by gorgeous animal puppets traipsing through the audience and onto the stage as the entire ensemble joins in and the sound and beauty of the classic tune fills the theater. Cincinnati audiences have a chance to experience this live for themselves for the next three weeks as “The Lion King” plays at the Aronoff Center now through Feb. 2. The stage musical follows the same plot as the 1994 animated film. When an overly curious lion cub, Simba, pushes his boundaries — both literally and figuratively — a little too far, tragedy strikes his family. In its wake, the cub is forced to run away and discover his true identity and responsibilities on his own. Will Simba return home to Pride Rock to defend his family and his honor? Or is it better to stay away from the past and develop a new life in the wild?
Goba was swung on midway through Act 1 of Thursday night’s performance as the jungle’s most lovable baboon after principal Rafiki, Buyi Zama called out for unknown reasons. Goba saved the day with impeccable comedic timing and a voice that stuns as she gets the arguably best 11 o’clock number in musical theater history. There are only so many ways to describe the brilliance happening at the Aronoff Center eight times a week without seeing it for yourself, so “be prepared” and take a visit to Pride Rock by seeing Lion King now through Feb. 2. For tickets and more information, click or tap here.
The Lion King will be playing at the Aronoff Center in Cincinnati now thourgh Feb. 2. FACEBOOK | BROADWAY IN CINCINNATI
While the plot stays true to the film, the musical as a whole includes far more creative as well as cultural elements that make it a true Broadway classic that has stood the test of time. Julie Taymor’s reinvention of the pridelands challenges audience members to suspend their disbelief as the animals are all portrayed via puppets or more imaginative costumes that hint at the animal. This allows for the story to be more relatable and makes all the heartbreak and tragedy, as well as the triumphs all the more powerful. Elton John and Time Rice’s score enriches the plot by giving more of an insight into the characters’ mindsets throughout the musical, such as Simba’s “Endless Night,” Nala’s “Shadowland” and so many more. Brandon A. McCall roars as Simba with incredible vulnerability and tenacity. The minute he swings onto the stage during the Act 1 finale, “Hakuna Matata,” the energy of the whole show increases tenfold. Between his command of the stage and chemistry with every actor, especially Kayla Cyphers (Nala), I cannot imagine a more believable king of the jungle. McCall’s performance of “Endless Night” is something I won’t soon forget. The intense raw acting combined with his booming voice made the song the highlight of the night, closely rivaled by “He Lives in You (Reprise),” where McCall shared the stage with understudy superstar, Mukelisiwe Goba as “Rafiki.”
The Lion King will be playing at the Aronoff Center in Cincinnati now thourgh Feb. 2. PROVIDED | BROADWAY IN CINCINNATI
SPORTS
January 15, 2020
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Warren leaving early for NFL Draft
MATT HUFFMON | MANAGING EDITOR University of Cincinnati junior running back Michael Warren II will forgo his final year of eligibility and enter the 2020 NFL Draft, he announced on Twitter Friday. Warren, who has earned the nickname “Truck” from teammates and fans due to his physical running style, is the first player in program history to declare for the NFL Draft as an early entrant, according to UC. “Thank you for a brotherhood and bond that can never be broken,” Warren said to his teammates in a statement on Twitter. “You guys helped me learn things about myself that I never knew. I have so many great memories with you guys and love you all from the bottom of my heart. To my family and friends, thank you for the support and the time to come see me play.”
Warren was a back-up to current Minnesota Viking Mike Boone during his freshman season before emerging as the starter in 2018. Warren closes his UC career second all-time in total touchdowns (37) and rushing touchdowns (34) and tied for second in 100yard rushing games (14). His 2,918 career rushing yards ranks fifth in school history. He was named SecondTeam All-American Athletic Conference in 2018 and 2019, as well as the 2018 Military Bowl MVP. In 2018, Warren rushed for 1,329 yards, setting two UC single-season records with 20 overall scores and 19 rushing touchdowns. Warren, a native of Toledo, Ohio, was considered a 4-star prospect in high school by 247Sports and joined the Bearcats as a member of Luke Fickell’s first recruiting class at UC.
“Mike has been a pillar for us and our program since the day he stepped on campus,” Fickell said in a statement on Twitter. “His work ethic, love of the game, and competitive spirit have been a big part of what’s allowed us to develop a culture and atmosphere that has led to success on and off the field. Mike’s energy about the game and everything that goes along with it will be very difficult to replace.”
3 (Rounds 4 through 7) prospect, while Drafttek. com regards him as the 16th best running back prospect. The most recent UC running back to be selected in the NFL Draft was Isaiah Pead in the second round of 2012. The 2020 NFL Draft takes place April 23-25 in Las Vegas.
UC running back Michael Warren II (3) rushes the ball during the fourth quarter of tf the football game against Temple University Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019 at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati. ALEX MARTIN | ART DIRECTOR
Behind Warren on the depth chart is junior Gerrid Doaks and sophomore Charles McClelland. Doaks rushed for 526 yards and five touchdowns on 100 carries in 2019, while McClelland missed the season with a torn ACL. Freshman Ryan Montgomery could also see an increased role in the backfield after starting at punt returner in 2019. Walterfootball.com projects Warren as a Day
UC running back Warren II (3) catches a pass during the game againt the University of Central Florida on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 at Nippert Stadium ALEX MARTIN | ART DIRECTOR
UC men’s basketball alums continue professional careers MATT HUFFMON |MANAGING EDITOR While the University of Cincinnati men’s basketball team approaches the heart of its American Athletic Conference (AAC) schedule, many alums of the program are in the midst of their respective professional seasons. PF Gary Clark (2014-18) Gary “The Problem” Clark was waived by the Houston Rockets Jan. 7, but signed a 10-day contract with the Orlando Magic Tuesday. Clark came off the bench in Houston, averaging 3.9 points and 2.2 rebounds in 11.8 minutes. He had a consistent role in the rotation earlier this season, but forward Isaiah Hartenstein took the majority of his minutes in recent weeks. Clark joins a Magic team that is looking to make the playoffs for the second consecutive season, as they are currently 7th in the Eastern Conference standings. Aaron Gordon is an established starter at power forward, so Clark will likely battle Khem Birch and Amile Jefferson for minutes off the bench. SG Jacob Evans (2015-18) Former Bearcat shooting guard Jacob Evans has seen an increased role in his second season with the Golden State Warriors due to longterm injuries to all-star guards Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. In 20 appearances off the bench, Evans is averaging 4.7 points and 1.6 rebounds in 15.2 minutes. He’ll most likely continue to come off
the bench, as D’Angelo Russell, Damion Lee and Robinson III are expected to handle shooting guard duties if Curry returns later this season. SG Sean Kilpatrick (2010-14) After helping Panathinaikos of the EuroLeague win the Greek Cup last season, Kilpatrick signed with Budućnost VOLI, located in Montenegro in November. In two games so far, he has emerged as the team’s leading scoring at 16.5 points per game to go along with 3.5 assists.
PG Justin Jenifer (2015-19) After originally signing with the Texas Legends of the G-League in October, Jenifer has found a home with the Nurnberg Falcons BC in Germany. In three games, Jenifer has averages of eight points and 1.3 assists in 20.9 minutes. UC went 111-29 during Jenifer’s four years, including four NCAA Tournament appearances and two AAC tournament titles. PG Troy Caupain (2013-17) Caupain was on a two-way contract with the Orlando Magic last season, which allowed him to spend time with Orlando and the Lakeland Magic of the G-League, the NBA’s minor league system.
Caupain spending time with the Portland Trail Blazers during preseason training camp before being waived in October. He subsequently signed a one-year deal with Hapoel Holon of the Israeli Basketball Premier League. In nine games, he has averages of 10.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists. PG Cane Broome (2017-19) Broome signed with the St. John’s Edge of the National Basketball League of Canada last October. Although he hasn’t been inserted into the starting lineup, Broome is third on the team in scoring at 14.6 points per game. Broome has experience being a go-to scorer, as ranked eighth in the country with 23.1 points per game during Cane Broome (15) jumps up for a lay-up during the game against Northern Kentucky his sophomore year University Dec. 4, 2018. TNR FILE ART of college at Sacred Heart University before transferring to UC.
SPORTS
January 15, 2020
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Sports news you might have missed over break
MATT HUFFMON | MANAGING EDITOR Although class wasn’t in session over winter break, University of Cincinnati Athletics provided plenty of action to follow.
Below are updates of various UC sports from over the past month: Volleyball makes run in NCAA Tournament Bearcats volleyball finished 27-7 after reaching the sweet sixteen of the NCAA Championship for the first time in program history. UC defeated Virginia Commonwealth University and Pittsburgh before coming up short in five sets against Penn State. Redshirt senior outside hitter Jordan Thompson will go down as one of the best players to ever wear red and black, as she was unanimously named the American Athletic Conference’s (AAC) Player of the Year for the third time in her career. A trio of sophomores also earned postseason recognition, as Maria Mallon earned first-team All- AAC and Armania Heckenmueller and Adria Oliver were named secondteam. Thompson is beginning her professional career with Fenerbahçe, a club team based in Istanbul, Turkey. Blowout in Birmingham UC football secured its second-consecutive 11-win season with a 38-6 drubbing of Boston College (BC) in the Birmingham Bowl Jan 2. It’s the second time in school history that the team has recorded back-to-back seasons with at least 11 wins. The Bearcats dominated the Eagles in total yards, 459-164, and more than doubled BC’s time of
possession.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Desmond Ridder used his legs to secure the Birmingham Bowl MVP after running for 105 yards on 21 carries and three scores. He added another touchdown through the air. Junior running back Michael Warren II ran for 105 yards on 21 carries in his final game for UC, as he declared for the 2020 NFL Draft last week. UC finished at No. 21 in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls. Cunningham named director of athletics After Mike Bohn’s departure for the University of Southern California, John Cunningham was named UC’s director of athletics Dec 19.
21 Tennessee Dec. 21 for the first win over a ranked team in the Brannen era. Center Chris Vogt, who stands 7-foot-1, has been a force inside, averaging 13.5 points and 6.6 rebounds. The Northern Kentucky University transfer has also been efficient, connecting on a 70.5% of field goal attempts, which ranks him tops in the AAC and second in the country.
The women’s team is 11-5 (2-1 AAC) and have won consecutive conference games against Memphis and Central Florida. Junior forward Iimar’I Thomas was named AAC Player of the Week last week and is averaging a team-high 20.4 points and 8.6 rebounds. The University of Cincinnati football team won the Birmingham Bowl, 38-6, over Boston College in Birmingham, Alabama Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020. ALEX MARTIN | ART DIRECTOR
Cunningham has experience working at “Power-5” institutions, as he previously served as the University of Minnesota’s Deputy Athletics Director for Administration from 2016-19, where he oversaw day-to-day administrative operations. Prior to Minnesota, Cunningham served as the Deputy Athletics Director for Administration at Syracuse University. Halfway points for men’s and women’s basketball Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams are past the halfway points in their seasons and approaching the meat of their schedules. Men’s basketball sits at 10-6 (3-1 AAC) and is hitting a stride under first-year head coach John Brannen. After loses to Xavier and Colgate in December, they responded by defeating No.
The University of Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell receives a Gatorade bath during the Birmingham Bowl. ALEX MARTIN | ART DIRECTOR
January 15, 2020
OPINION
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Opinion | One progressive candidate stands out EMILY CHIEN | CONTRIBUTOR It may seem like democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are preaching the same agenda in their 2020 presidential campaigns. Both support college for all, a $15 minimum wage, breaking up wall street and taxing the rich their fair share and Medicare for all. With their discrepancies so often overshadowed by moderate candidates advocating for an outdated status quo, their similar policy stances leave us voters confused about which one to support. I’m here to enlighten you. In the 2016 election, Sanders ran on the same progressive policies he backs today, then perceived as a radical outsider with dreams too big for the slow-moving American system. Denounced by many, he didn’t back down, taking on a corrupt system he knew was bought-out by big corporations more than willing to disregard people in the name of profit. Meanwhile, even though they had been friends for years and aligned on most issues, Warren refused to endorse Sanders in the 2016 race because Hillary Clinton had reached out to her as a possible option for the vice presidency. In the hopes of a powergrab by tacking herself onto Clinton’s ticket, Warren disregarded her long-time friend and political ally and stabbed him in the back. In 2016, Warren was too afraid to make the case for the working and middle class for fear of being called a radical like Sanders was. Now, she’s emerged onto the scene four years too late, riding a wave of support for the policy stances Sanders popularized. Sanders has long held the same beliefs he preaches today — that inequality in this country is only worsening in the face of the profit-centered private economy that is
late stage capitalism. Meanwhile, Warren’s staunchly missing that point, claiming to be “a capitalist at [her] core”, disregarding the fact that capitalism is inherently unjust. Sanders’ campaign is an inspiring cry for revolutionizing the way our country works, knocking corporate interests from our political system. He wants to create a political system built by the people that truly works for the people, not just the 1%, who now own more wealth than the bottom 90% of Americans according to the New York Times. We need systemic change before it’s too late, and Sanders is the only one who has promised that to us. Beyond that, when it comes to the climate crisis, Sanders is much stronger on his pro-Green New Deal stance, promising to get the U.S. to 100% renewable energy for the electricity and transportation sectors by 2030. According to his website, Sanders believes that “The climate crisis is not only the single greatest challenge facing our country; it is also our single greatest opportunity to build a more just and equitable future, but we must act immediately.” Sanders’ unwavering consistency and political courage proves he is a candidate who would be a true powerhouse in office, creating a revolutionary change from within that not only takes on the greedy but uplifts the planet, as well as the people who’ve been left behind. If it’s a candidate who fights for you and not billionaires and corporations you’re looking for, Sanders is clearly the best of all democratic options. He never fails to inspire those who resonate with his message, and despite his age, he’s with us.
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders speaks to the attendees of the 2019 California Democratic Party Convention in San Francisco. FLICKR | GAGE SKIDMORE
College Football Playoff logo
Opinion | College Football Playoff needs restructuring SAMUEL SCHELL-OLSEN | OPINION EDITOR The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) needs to expand its football playoff format. As of now, only four college football teams can make the playoffs, despite having over 130 college teams in the Division 1 Football Bowl Subdivision. This means a college football team in the Division I Subdivision has a 3% chance of making the playoffs. For comparison, in college basketball, 68 teams make the playoffs, out of 351 Division I college basketball teams. This means a college basketball team in the Division I has a 19% chance of making the playoffs. Why does this matter? It matters because every year, there is some sort of controversy of how a team missed the playoffs, even though they shouldn’t. In 2017, the University of Central Florida (UCF) Knights football team went 12-0, and was the only undefeated team in Division I. Despite this, they didn’t make the college football playoffs. The NCAA would later claim that UCF were a national champion alongside the champion Alabama, despite not being in the playoffs. Between the years of 2008 – 2011, Boise State went 50-3. Boise State became the first team in college football history to win 50 games over four years. Despite that record, Boise State didn’t make the playoffs once. Even though the playoff format was only two teams,
the most winningest team in a four-year span should’ve qualified for the NCAA championship at least once, but they did not. To the NCAA’s credit, they expanded the playoff format from only two teams being able to qualify to four teams. But that is not good enough. Last year there was much controversy that Norte Dame and Oklahoma made the playoffs while Georgia and Ohio State, did not. “The committee has said two losses is too much to overcome. Not being a conference champion is too much to overcome. This is a historical moment as far as evaluating the committee because the eyeball test, to me, clearly Georgia is a top 4 team,” said ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit. I propose an expansion from four teams to 14 teams in the playoff system. 10 of those teams are division winners (the Independents division doesn’t count since some teams are included in this division while in another division), while 4 teams are second-place in their divisions but are better than other division winners, these would be the wild card teams. This playoff system works for several reasons. First reason, it raises the chance of a college football team making the playoffs up to an estimated 11%, a huge increase from the currentlow 3%, also increasing player morale. Second reason, it gives smaller schools a chance. While a school like Bowling Green isn’t a top 25 national team talent
wise, it’s division, the Mid-American Conference, should have representation. With this system, schools like Boise State or Central Florida won’t ever have the concern of being in a weak conference, thus disqualifying them from the playoffs. Playing schools from the SEC or ACC divisions in the college playoff will show if these smaller schools are truly capable. In order to make this system work, the playoffs would start after Week 10. This would offset the concern of player injuries, since some teams play into 13 weeks anyway. The first round would have the top two teams on a bye while the other twelve teams would play in the first round. The four weakest division winners would face the wild card teams. The next week would feature eight teams, while the next would feature four, while the next would be the championship game. This would also give the playoff system a March Madness type of feel. Mike Leach, the head coach for Washington State, said, “I think they need to expand the playoff system. I think the minimum should be 16 teams, but they could easily go with more than that ... in other words, I want to see more football. Everybody from rec league softball on down can figure out how to put together a tournament and yet Division I can’t.”
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January 15, 2020
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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January 15, 2020
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