Feb. 13, 2019 - The News Record at University of Cincinnati

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pg. 4 | The life of a Pure pg. 7 | Op-Ed: The crisis Romance consultant of untested rape kits Wednesday, February 13, 2019

UC receives backlash for Triumph Cord recipient SAMI STEWART | MULTIMEDIA PRODUCER

Tangeman University Center has been undergoing construction since early in the spring semester. ALEX MARTIN | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

The University of Cincinnati is facing backlash for not removing an article on its website that highlights a recent graduate who was charged with a sex crime in 2014.

Last semester, the university nominated William Houston, a registered sex offender, to wear a Triumph Cord in his fall 2018 graduation ceremony. The cord was designed to signal Houston’s triumph over a “great struggle” in his educational pursuit.

Houston was charged with gross sexual imposition and sexual motivation in 2014 following an incident that happened at an off-campus party. He was suspended for two years from Bowling Green State University — his first college, where he was a running back for the Falcon football team — after being found guilty of “sexual

contact without permission,” according to an article by the Sentinel-Tribune.

Houston is registered as a tier-one sex offender in Wood County, which requires him to register any change of address, place of employment or enrollment in any college or university.

According to a UC News article, Houston has attended six colleges in the past five-and-a-half years.

Five other students at the University of Cincinnati attended commencement last semester with purple cords around their necks.

The cords signify struggles that students faced during their college career, including the loss of a loved one, health issues or being a single parent.

The article about the six Triumph Cord recipients, which was published by UC News and cross posted Houston Continued on Page 3

What’s with the construction outside TUC? ALEX MARTIN | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER Students walking around the University of Cincinnati’s MainStreet have likely noticed the giant crane hovering above Tangeman University Center (TUC).

The university is working to replace the slate roof tiles and repair the skylights atop the building, according to Mark Sweigart, UC’s director of renovations. He said the crane is being used to lift roofing materials to the top of the building. The construction area has been fenced off, which created a tunnel outside the building’s main entrance.

This is not the only renovation project planned for the roof of the 75-year-old building. The university is also planning a companion project to repair some of the flat roof sections

that are in poor condition.

“The fence and scaffolding around TUC is to provide a safe zone at the perimeter so that any debris that may fall from the roof does not harm anyone,” said Sweigart.

There are plans to remove the construction from the site for a short period of time to accommodate the bicentennial celebrations that will take place in April, according to Sweigart.

This is not the first time TUC has been under construction.

The building, built in 1937, underwent a $50.8 million transformation in 2001. The expansion created new student amenities — including the MainStreet Cinema, Catskeller and the University of Cincinnati Bookstore — and added nearly 300,000 square feet to the facility.

William Houston is one of six UC students who received a Triumph Cord to wear at the fall 2018 graduation ceremony. The cord signifies struggles that the nominated students faced during their college career. PROVIDED UC NEWS

February 13, 2019

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How to prepare for UC’s career fair TODD GREENE | READER

University of Cincinnati adds $30 million in renovations and additions to their Clifton Health Campus.

AMANDA NAGELEISEN | DIRECTOR OF MEDIA RELATIONS FOR UC HEALTH

UC Health announces $30M in improvements KEELY BROWN | NEWS EDITOR Over the next two years, UC Health will invest $30 million in renovations and upgrades to its Clifton campus, including improvements to the UC Medical Center, UC Health Physicians’ Office and the Barrett Cancer Center.

Richard P. Lofgren, president and CEO of UC Health, said the organization aims to make it easier for patients, visitors and employees to navigate the medical campus. In addition, he hopes the facilities will reflect the advanced care that UC Health strives to provide.

UC Health, an integrated academic health system that serves the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region, focuses on clinical care, research and teaching. Many of its locations have received national recognition for quality and patient satisfaction.

The Clifton campus project signifies an extension of UC Health’s ongoing investment in patient care.

The renovation project will include improvements

to inpatient and outpatient facilities, parking structures, walkways and signage across the campus. The campus features eight buildings owned and operated by UC Health, including shared space with the UC College of Medicine.

UC’s medical campus spans nine city blocks in the Uptown Innovation Corridor. Patients and visitors reported problems navigating the vast campus, and UC Health plans to address these issues with the planned renovations.

Improvements to the Clifton campus include: • UC Medical Center: The main lobby, emergency department, underground tunnel and numerous inpatient units will be upgraded.

• Wayfinding: Navigation signage will be updated and improved throughout the campus to help employees and visitors find their way across campus.

• UC Health Rooftop Signage: A new LED-lit sign over UC Medical Center will clearly identify the hospital and Clifton campus.

• Goodman Garage: A

new wrapped-style exterior for UC Medical Center’s main parking structure will improve the main entrance to the Clifton campus.

This project marks the latest development in a series of investments designed to improve access to care for patients at UC Health.

In 2016, UC Health invested in patient care at Ridgeway Tower and opened a new 26-bed inpatient unit — a $22 million project that created 63 new jobs — in January 2019. UC Health currently provides 92 patient beds in the Ridgeway Tower, and additional growth is expected in the future.

In 2017, UC Health broke ground on the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute, a $60 million investment in neuroscience care. The fourstory facility will provide outpatient care, clinical trials and research and space for multidisciplinary care teams to collaborate on the breakthroughs of tomorrow. The building will open in April 2019 on the southern end of UC’s Uptown campus.

Every spring and fall, the University hosts its annual spring career fair in the Campus Recreation Center.

Hosted by the Division of Experience-Based Learning and Career Education, CEAS Tribunal and Lindner Career Services, the career fair aims to connect students and employers to meaningful opportunities.

This year’s spring career fair will take place Feb. 13-15. The Professional Career Fair, which is open to UC students from all fields of study, will take place Feb. 13. The technical career fair, which is intended for engineering and design students, will occur Feb. 14. The last day will consist of on-campus interviews for companies that wish to recruit students immediately.

Employers attending this year include Procter & Gamble, Macy’s, Fifth Third Bank, Great American Insurance, Luxottica and more. Cincinnati is home to more Fortune 500 companies per capita than New York or Chicago, so there are plenty of local opportunities for students who wish to gain hands-on experience as they continue their education.

Students seeking co-ops, internships and full-time jobs are encouraged to attend. Freshman may not always get the first pick on jobs and internships, but professors often encourage first-year students to observe the fair so they can get a head start on their jobsearch skills. Sophomores and juniors can find internships and co-ops to build experience while in college, and seniors might even find their first postgrad job at the career fair.

For students who plan on attending, here are some tips: ●• Dress professionally and practice your elevator speech. A good elevator speech should be a brief 30-second summary of your background, skills and accomplishments. Students should have a resume on

hand. If you haven’t made one yet, be sure to do so. ●• Research the companies attending. Print out enough resumes for the companies you might be interested in learning more about. ●• Talk to smaller companies. They likely have fewer applicants, which often makes it easier to make a memorable first impression. ●• Don’t talk to your highest-priority company first. Try talking to other companies first to break the ice as you prepare to introduce yourself to your most important contact. ●• Get on Handshake.

Many of the jobs and internships you hear about at the fair can be found on Handshake, an online career-services platform.

Be sure to create a profile if you haven’t done so already. ●• Send a thank-you note to

the recruiter. Something as simple as a quick thank-you note goes a long way. It will make you stand out from the rest of applicants and could boost your chances of landing an interview.

For help, the career education department offers free resume critiques with walk-in hours on the seventh floor of Steger Hall.

Lindner Career Services also offers resume critiques from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday in Lindner 607.

There’s nothing to lose and everything to be gained by attending this year’s spring career fair, so be sure to take advantage of the opportunity. For more information, click or tap here to visit the CEAS Tribunal website, or look for the spring career fair page on Handshake.

University of Cincinnati’s career fair will be held in the rec center on Feb. 13-14. TNR FILE

February 13, 2019

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Prayer and meditation space opens in Langsam UC amends notification policy for emergencies ELIZABETH SCHMITT | FEATURES EDITOR

A prayer and meditation area opened in room 451 of the Walter C. Langsam Library Jan. 30 as the result of a partnership between University of Cincinnati Libraries and

Undergraduate Student Government (SG).

“It’s basically a space where students can destress and practice their religion,” said Umaize Savani, a third-year finance and marketing student and the undergraduate student

body vice president.

The idea for a prayer and meditation space was first floated as an idea when Savani and Student Body President Sinna Habteselassie began brainstorming platforms for their campaign last

The University of Cincinnati added a prayer room to the main room of Langsam Library on Jan. 30 in partnership with Student Government, giving a place for students to take a break from studying to practice their religion or meditation. ABBY SHOYAT | PHOTO EDITOR

A&S transparency attempt backfires Houston Continued from Cover on the College of Arts & Sciences website Jan. 23, says Houston overcame his immaturity to earn a bachelor’s degree in communications last semester.

“No matter how much advice or words of wisdom given about the dangers of not getting caught up, my judgment at 19 years of age was immature to say the least,” Houston said in the article.

A subsequent post on the College of Arts and Sciences Facebook page cited “immaturity” as the struggle Houston overcame to graduate college.

“As far as I can determine, the faculty nominators, student writer, and editor

were unaware of any other background or context,” said M.B. Reilly, university spokesperson, regarding both the article and social media post.

The university faced backlash from students and alumni on Facebook, peppered between congratulations to Houston for his success.

Several commenters voiced contempt for the article and questioned the post’s suggestion that sexual assault equates to immaturity. One student said she planned to discuss the matter with A&S department heads and the dean.

Reilly said in an email that the post would remain on social media and UC News’ website despite several requests for its removal

from readers. The article is part of the complete record of Houston’s situation, she said, and the university

year. They began exploring what UC was missing as a university relative to peer institutions and noticed that, although UC has a meditation room in Tangeman University Center (TUC), the room is only available during TUC operating hours.

“We realized that Langsam is the real hub of students,” Savani said. “It has a super high influx of students throughout the day, and we wanted to make it where students would get the most utilization and benefit out of the space.”

The goal was to create an inclusive space open to everyone, Savani said. The details of the space were determined by working with several religious and mediation organizations on campus.

SG also chose Langsam as the location because it is the only place on campus that is open 24/7, Savani said.

The prayer and meditation space is equipped with furniture, yoga mats and religious texts. It is intended for prayer, meditation or silent reflection and is open 24/7. No reservations are required.

must be transparent about it.

“As an educational institution, we are currently leaving the item in place as it provides transparency around what occurred in this case,” Reilly wrote.

Students, alumni and members of the community react to University of Cincinnati Arts and Science’s Facebook post celebrating William Houston and his accomplishments at UC. UC COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES | FACEBOOK

The University of Cincinnati Public Safety Department has revised its mass notification policy to issue emergency alerts more quickly, according to an email sent to students, faculty and staff Feb. 8.

Moving forward, UC’s emergency communications staff will issue alerts via text, email and the Bearcat Guardian app upon receiving “credible information that there is a significant emergency or dangerous situation” on or near campus.

“The initial alert will be general,” Public Safety said in an email. “For example, it may say, ‘Police responding to emergency reported on Uptown campus. If safe, stay at your location. Be observant/take action as needed. More info soon.’”

Once details of the situation are confirmed, a second message with additional information will be issue via the same communication channels.

Updates will be issued until the emergency situation is resolved.

Changes to UC’s mass notification policy come after the university faced criticism for its response time during a ‘shots fired’ situation on Uptown campus in November. Initial alerts to students and faculty were issued approximately 22 minutes after the incident occurred.

“I think it can be done a lot quicker than that — probably in 10 to 12 minutes,” said UC Police Chief Maris Herold in a related article published by The News Record. “I think the best situation to put out from communications in this particular situation would be ‘Shots fired in this vicinity. Stand by for further information. Stay out of area.’”

Students can sign up to receive emergency text alerts via Catalyst. To do so, click the “Personal Information” tab, and enable the “Emergency Text” field under “Phone Numbers.”

Faculty and staff will receive text alerts as long as a valid cell phone number is stored in the UC directory and emergency alert notifications are enabled.

“The issues here came to light because of an old record of online materials – previously unknown to the college – but which provide important transparency and as complete an account as is now available.”

The Office of Public Relations had no prior knowledge of Houston’s charges before he was nominated for the Triumph Cord and highlighted on social media, according to Reilly.

JACOB FISHER | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

William Houston was nominated for and awarded with the Triumph Cord through the University of Cincinnati and shortly after his history as a sex offender came into the light. @WILLIAMHOUSTON | INSTAGRAM

February 13, 2019

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A day in the life of a Pure Romance consultant ELIZABETH SCHMITT | FEATURES EDITOR Imagine standing in front of a group of people that you probably haven’t met before. Now, imagine that you start talking to them about sex, sexual experiences and sex products.

Even for the most outgoing people, this probably sounds like a nightmare. But for third-year special education student Kelsey Davis, it’s a job.

“Sex is normal, and it is not something you need to be shy about,” Davis said. “It’s not something you need to hide in your room to talk about. It’s a very normal thing that everyone is curious about. Not everyone is having sex, but everyone has questions.”

As a Pure Romance consultant, Davis spends countless hours selling bath and beauty products, massage oils, essential oils, lube and creams, lingerie and sex toys. At the same time, she finds herself in an unconventional role as a sex educator.

“Pure Romance is a company that is all about empowering women,” Davis said. “The company is about making people more knowledgeable about their bodies and feeling comfortable with them.”

Davis began working for Pure Romance to earn money to help pay for college. She works another part-time job, takes 18 credit hours, is a member of a sorority and has to meet all the demands of student teaching. She was looking for something flexible where she could set her own hours, and after attending a Pure Romance party, Davis decided to try it out for herself.

She hosts roughly one party per week, which averages approximately three hours. Women host parties at their homes and invite Kelsey to consult and present products to guests. These parties often serve food, beverages, sample products and more.

“I am 100 percent confidential — all pure romance consultants are,” Davis said. “I’m not a mandatory reporter, and I have had women say things to me that worry me a little bit, and usually I’ll try to check in with them after the party to make sure everything is OK and offer them resources … There are a lot of personal things that come up during the parties, and all of that stays confidential and it doesn’t get shared with anyone else.”

Though being a consultant can come with substantial responsibility, Davis said being a consultant can be lots of fun.

“My most fun party was the very first party I had, which was my unboxing,” she said. “When you first sign up for Pure Romance, you get a kit in the mail, and it is just a big box of all the product you can take to houses and show off … There [are] toys in there, there [are] samples in there and all kinds of stuff. Just turning on the toys and getting to know the products with girls from the UC area that met up with me to do that is so much fun, because I’m still learning about the products, too.”

Since her first party, Davis has learned plenty about different types of sex products. But she has learned a bit about herself, too.

“I did not know a lot about sex or the female body in general until I started selling Pure Romance,” she said. “I grew up in such a conservative household.”

Her initial lack of knowledge about sexual health is a sentiment shared by many across the country. One could point to the varying sexual education curriculum from school district to school district, which leaves many students with biased and inaccurate information about sexual health. In some cases, it leaves them with no sexual education at all.

“College women do not know all the resources out there, and they think having painful sex is normal — it’s not,”

Davis said, “They are not getting the full experience they should be having, and I love when I have a party that I can tell them those things and make their future experiences better.”

She hopes to improve women’s sexual experiences by destigmatizing masturbation — something women often feel that they are not allowed to do or may feel uncomfortable talking about.

“Self-love is something that everybody should know about, and many women do not,” Davis said. “If you do not know your own self, then how do [you] expect someone else to know how to please you?”

Davis also enjoys educating people about the use of lubricant. The top question she gets asked from collegeaged women is whether lubricant is necessary.

Her answer? Always. Lubricant is important for women of all ages, she said, because it helps prevent UTIs, vaginal tears and pain during penetrative sex.

“Knowledge is your friend with sex,” Davis said. “Being the most educated you can be is the best way to enjoy sex and enjoy it safely.”

Davis aims to ensure women that sex toys are not a taboo subject.

“Sex toys can be anything from a blindfold all the way up to more extreme, which is the nipple clamps or whips Pure Romance sells,” said Davis. “In between all that there are vibrators, penis rings, dildos, the Hand Jive, lingerie that is made to look like ropes and sex swings. There is no limit to what a sex toy can be.”

Still, talking about sex is not something Davis was always comfortable with. She said she still finds it difficult to talk about, despite her role as a consultant.

“It’s not always something I feel comfortable talking about, because I feel as soon as I say it, I feel like people are judging me,” she said. “People think, ‘Oh my gosh, all she does is sell sex toys,’ … When my mom asks me about it, that’s all she thinks I do.”

“Once I start explaining it to them that it’s not just sex toys — that there is so many other products and information that goes along with being a consultant — people start to get that it really is an amazing company,” Davis said. “It’s not weird that I work for them, even though I’m 20 years old.”

Davis said she was nervous when she started, and she

worried that people would not take her seriously as a petite college girl talking about sexual health. Despite her initial fears, Davis has found managed to build a level a trust between herself and her clients.

University of Cincinnati student Kelsey Davis is a representative for Pure Romance, a company that sells sex toys and lubricants.

PROVIDED BY KELSEY DAVIS

February 13, 2019

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Hookup culture: Redefining modern dating

BRIANA RICE | LIFE & ARTS EDITOR

“Hookup culture” has become a normalized term to describe casual sexual relationships.

Millennials and Gen Zers are having more “meaningless” sexual relationships than our predecessors, but hooking up isn’t new and with the rising usage of dating websites and apps, it’s easier than ever.

Factors like dating apps, easier access to birth control, surplus outlets to purchase condoms and readily-available emergency contraceptives make casual sex almost too easy.

Despite that, it seems as if young people are having less sex. In 1991, 54 percent of high school students were sexually active.

In 2017, that number dropped to 40 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

Sex is common amongst college students, and it’s ingrained in collegiate culture, where there are often clear-cut expectations about what “college life” will bring.

Hookup culture doesn’t have a cut and dry definition; rather, it means different things for different students.

“It’s a little fuzzy now in college,” said Pablo Lemus, a third-year chemical

engineering student at UC. “I would think it means sex in college, in high school it means making out … It’s usually a weekend and means they’re drunk.”

“It’s one night stands with people who don’t care about who you are at all,” said Allie Cole, a first-year dance student at Florida State University. “One night and they never talk to you again. Guys here, all they want to do is hookup. They don’t have the notion of talking to you, getting to know you, taking you on a date — anything like that. It’s definitely more prominent with guys, but girls do it too.”

For some, it’s about having a person who functions as your “booty call,” meaning the relationship doesn’t exist outside of the bedroom.

“I think [hookup culture] is expected,” said Jasmine Jay, a fourth-year psychology student at UC. “It’s getting on an app and then meeting up pretty abruptly. You don’t even hang out, you just have a drink, and then immediately get to business. The worst experience is when they expect it right away.”

In “What’s So Cultural about Hookup Culture?” Lisa Wade, a sociology professor at Occidental College, said, “When students arrive on campus, they don’t just encounter

Hook-up culture has become “…more engrained in popular culture,” according to the American Psychological Association. WIKIMEDIA

the opportunity to hook up, they are also immersed in a culture that endorses and facilitates hookups. Ceding to or resisting that culture then becomes part of their everyday lives.”

It’s undeniable that hooking up is a huge part of the culture on campus.

Seventy-two percent of men and women surveyed reported at participating in at least one hookup by their senior year of

college, according to the article “Is hooking up bad for young women?”

“By senior year, roughly 40 percent of those who ever hooked up had engaged in three or fewer hookups, 40 percent between four and nine hookups, and only 20 percent in 10 or more hookups,” the article reads.

“About 80 percent of students hook up, on average, less than once per semester over the course of college.”

Many of the students interviewed for this story described moments where they found themselves in the arms of a stranger after a night of drinking or partying — particularly younger college students who are still learning how to manage and embrace sexuality.

The potential problems with hookup culture might remind you of a high school sex education class. There’s the potential for STIs, unplanned pregnancy, rape and “catching feelings.” But despite fairly easy access to contraceptives, many students don’t seem concerned about it.

“Personally, I experienced hookup culture, and it made me feel pathetic and ashamed while other women I know feel liberated by it,” said Natalia Sezer, a third-year peace, conflict and justice studies student at DePaul University. “I would say there’s a lot more predators out there [than] people who would like to spend genuine quality time with you as a woman.”

Gender plays a substantial role in hooking up, too.

“Men often find they have more leniency when it comes to casual sex,” Sezer said. “It’s entirely viewed on gender and sex.

It’s very much rooted in patriarchal society.

Hookup culture has been around for awhile. On the other side of the coin, when women are at play, it’s a different story.”

Wade said hookup culture offers a toolkit for

embracing casual sex, but it does not offer much explanation for navigating other kinds of sexual engagement — including abstinence. For students who feel ambivalent, she says, many may decide to give hooking up a try.

The average age of marriage for women in 2017 was 27. For men, it was 29. In 1991, women were getting married out of college at age 23; men at 26. Since people are getting married later, finding a lifelong partner in college is not necessarily a priority for most.

“I want to have as much as fun as possible before I settle down,” Lemus said.

Regardless, experiences and perceptions of hookup culture are fluid and adaptable.

Some want sex and hope it will turn into something more. Some hope they’ll never see the other person again. Some were taken advantage of, and it forever impacts their ability to casually hook up. Some look for a sexual epiphany that isn’t destined to come.

One thing is clear: Hookup culture has evolved over the years. The ways that college students are having sex, finding partners and hooking up is drastically different from generations that came before us. For better or for worse, students are freer than ever to explore their sexuality on college campuses. Whether it has “meaning,” whether it’s casual or frequent or even if it only happens once, the choice is always ours.

February 13, 2019

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Sweets fit for a valentine TAWNEY BEANS | CONTRIBUTOR On Valentine’s Day, people often take time to express their love and appreciation for significant others, friends and family. Some people gift teddy bears or cards, but others give sweets to those near and dear to them.

Students might think to purchase storebought cookies or brownies for a quick and easy Valentine’s Day gift, but nothing says “I love you” like baking something from scratch. This especially rings true for students, who are frequently baking in second-rate kitchens without any measuring cups.

Below are some simple recipes that are sure to please any valentine:

Gobs

These chocolate and cream confections are also known as Whoopie Pies. They take a bit more effort than boxed brownies, but once they’re made, it’s hard to resist gobbling them all up.

Ingredients: To make both the cake and the filling, you’ll need Crisco, sugar, two eggs, milk, water, vanilla extract, flour, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, cocoa, of salt and powdered sugar.

Cake rounds: 1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees and coat a baking sheet with nonstick spray 2. Mix 2 cups of sugar, 1/2 cup of Crisco, eggs, one cup of milk, boiling water and 1 teaspoon of vanilla.

3. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and cocoa.

4. Mix dry and wet ingredients until uniform.

5. Use a spoon or cookie scoop to drop the dough onto the baking sheet.

6. Bake 5-7 minutes at 450 degrees.

Filling: 1. Combine one cup of milk and two tablespoons of cornstarch in a pan. Cook

until thick, then let the milk cool.

2. Once cool, add powdered sugar, one cup of Crisco, salt and 1 teaspoon of vanilla.

3. Beat together until creamy and fluffy.

4. Spread between two of the cake rounds.

Oredoughs

These cookies are satisfying and customizable. By using different types of Oreos (such as red velvet for Valentine’s Day or mint for St. Patrick’s Day), Oredoughs can be tailor-made for any holiday.

Ingredients: You’ll need one package of Oreos (customize colors here), 32 ounces of chocolate chip cookie dough and a tall glass of cold milk (optional).

1. Coat a cooking sheet with nonstick spray and heat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Completely cover each Oreo with a thin layer of cookie dough.

3. Place the uncooked Oredoughs in the oven for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

4. After they’ve cooled, share them with a loved one (this is where a tall glass of cold milk may come in handy).

Coconut-chocolate brownies

Coconut lovers, rejoice: these brownies provide the perfect mixture of chocolate and coconut. Plus, they’re heart-shaped.

Ingredients: This recipe requires melted butter, white sugar, two eggs, vanilla extract, unsweetened cocoa powder, flour, salt, baking powder and sweetened coconut flakes.

1. Grease and flour a pan (heart shaped or otherwise) and heat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix until uniform. Pour into pan and cook for 25-30 minutes.

3. Let cool, cut and serve.

Tip: To really impress a valentine, serve with ice cream and drizzle both with chocolate sauce.

One could save money while having a potential date activity by making bakery items instead of buying them.

Left: CCM is putting on their production of “Our Country’s Good.” TNR FILE Right: Mad Tree is hosting a Winter Bonanza including live music, food trucks and beer.

ALEX MARTIN | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

Get out and do something: Feb. 16 to Feb. 18 ERIN COUCH | SENIOR REPORTER

Friday, Feb. 15 Valentine’s Weekend Special at Mecklenburg Gardens: Both the oldest and German-est restaurant in Cincinnati, Mecklenburg Gardens holds a special place in our hearts as the best place in town to take in some good ol’ fashioned gemütlichkeit — and it’s right down the street from UC. This weekend, the restaurant is offering a Valentine’s Day special dinner for you and your schatzi with plenty of gourmet choices, both German and American.

Call (513) 221-5353 to make reservations.

11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Mecklenburg Gardens, 302 E. University Ave., Corryville. $40/person; $76/couple.

CCM Mainstage Acting Series: “Our Country’s Good”: CCM Acting puts on Timberlake Wertenbaker’s 1988 play that tells the untold true story of Australia’s first theatrical performance. Set in a 1780s convict camp, a marine lieutenant casts a group of prisoners to put on a play to celebrate the king’s birthday. “‘Our Country’s Good’ is an inspiring tribute to the transforming power of drama,” CCM’s website reads. Call (513) 556-4183

or email boxoff@uc.edu for tickets. Student tickets can be purchased at a discount.

8 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m.

Sunday. Patricia Corbett Theater, CCM Plaza.

Saturday, Feb. 16 Winter Bonanza 2019 at MadTree: MadTree hosts its annual arctic shindig Saturday in its giant Oakley taproom. It’s the perfect escape from the bonechilling winter weather as you warm yourself by those giant electric heaters, listen to live music, nosh on some food-truck munchies and sip on some brewskis. At noon, there will be guest beer tappings from breweries from around the region, including Yellow Springs Brewery, Warped Wing Brewing of Dayton, Jackie O’s of Athens and more.

Admission is free, and you can purchase $6 beer tickets in advance on MadTree’s website.

Noon-1 a.m. Saturday.

MadTree, 3301 Madison Road, Oakley. Free.

Cincinnati Ballet: “The Sleeping Beauty”: Just in time for V-Day, the ages-old love story “The Sleeping Beauty” is coming to the Cincinnati Ballet. Overlaid with a spellbinding score

by Tchaikovsky, this performance “will awaken your senses and transport

you to a magical place where a beautiful sleeping princess is awakened by a kiss and good triumphs over evil,” according to Cincinnati Ballet’s website. Tickets can be purchased online.

Various times Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-theRhine. Prices vary.

Sunday, Feb. 17 Valentine’s Day Sweet & Savory Stroll: Bring your boo — or anyone, really — to Findlay Market this Sunday for a bunch of samples of all things sweet (and savory) for Valentine’s Day. Dozens of tasting stations will be set up, including favorites like Taste of Belgium, Areti’s Gyros, OTR Bagel Bar and more. Five samples are $20, and you can buy tickets on Eventbrite.

11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.

Findlay Market, 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine. $20.

Bearcats vs. Wichita State Men’s Basketball: In recent years, Wichita State has been known to swoop in and claim that “Cinderella Story” stamp during March Madness. See if the Bearcats can get the gold this Sunday.

Student tickets can be purchased at a discount.

1 p.m. Sunday. Fifth Third Arena, Varsity Village.

February 13, 2019

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And the winner is... newsrecord.org

Palestinian teen finds his footing with UC family

Palestinian teen finds his footing with UC family

Palestinian teen finds his footing with UC family

Palestinian teen finds his footing with UC family

Best website 2019 Collegiate Newspaper & Website Competition Ohio News Media Association

February 13, 2019

Page 8

What we learned from road loss to Houston SPENCER SCHULTZ | SENIOR REPORTER The University of Cincinnati men’s basketball team fell on the road to the then-No. 12 University of Houston Cougars 65-58 Sunday at the Fertitta Center.

The Bearcats fell to 20-4, 9-2 in the American Athletic Conference and dropped out of the Top 25 polls.

Below are a few takeaways from the loss:

Need for more scoring options other than Jarron Cumberland

University of Cincinnati’s Keith Williams (2) attempts to shoot over the Houston defense at the Fertitta Center in Houston on Feb. 12, 2018.

Houston defeated UC 65-58. AHMED GUL | THE DAILY COUGAR

With 27 points against the Cougars, junior guard Jarron Cumberland has 12 games of scoring at least 20 points this season. He is the only player to have more than two of those games on the team, as senior Cane Broome and junior Tre Scott each have one 20-plus game.

Cumberland is averaging 19 points per game, which is 8.2 more than the second leading scorer on the team

(Keith Williams with 10.8).

Cumberland has been the go-to player and a scoring machine, but his teammates are going to have to step up offensively if the Bearcats want a chance at a postseason run.

Shooting woes on the road continue

The Bearcats have struggled mightily shooting on the road this season. Despite a 5-3 record on the road, UC has shot under 40 percent in four of them.

UC had its worst shooting performance of the season Sunday, shooting 33 percent in the loss.

UC is averaging 46 percent on field goal attempts on the road.

However, the three-point line is a different story.

With an average of 22 attempts from three, the Bearcats are converting 6.82 per game (31 percent).

Whether it has been bad shot selection or not finding the bottom of the net, UC must

score consistently to be relentless in opposing arenas.

Turnovers must remain a focal point on both sides of the court

UC saw its lowest number of converted turnovers Sunday, finishing the loss with four – its lowest in a game since conference play began Jan. 2. UC has had six conference games converting under 10 turnovers (4-2 record) and eight games of forcing at least 10 (6-2).

The Bearcats have forced 20-plus turnovers in two American Athletic Conference games this season, resulting in a 6.5 margin of victory per game. Senior guard Justin Jenifer has a 5.07 assist-to-turnover ratio in 23 games — second in the nation to Kent State guard Jalen Avery (5.67).

Head coach Mick Cronin has stressed taking care of the basketball team.

If UC can continue to

force turnovers, don’t be surprised if this team becomes back-to-back AAC Champions.

There’s still a chance to share the AAC regularseason title The Bearcats will face the Cougars again on senior night at Fifth Third Arena March 10. UC currently sits one game behind Houston in the conference with a 9-2 record. Both teams will play three games on the road, including one at the University of Connecticut and an at home game against the University of Central Florida. If both teams take care of business, the conference could see its best regularseason bout between its top two cats.

UC will continue conference play at home against Wichita State University Sunday, Feb. 17. Tip-off is 1 p.m., with ESPN and 700 WLW providing coverage. Follow Sports_TNR on Twitter for live updates.

Tickets are available at www.gobearcats.com.

Opinion | Incoming football recruiting class: Don’t judge by the rankings MATT HUFFMON | SPORTS EDITOR The incoming class for the University of Cincinnati football team isn’t full of highly touted recruits, but that’s hardly cause for concern.

The 2019 class is ranked 75th nationally, according to 247Sports. American Athletic Conference (AAC) foes the University of Central Florida, University of Memphis and Southern Methodist University each achieved higher ranks than the Bearcats.

The low ranking may come as a shock and seem like a step in the wrong direction for many Bearcats fans, as last year’s class was ranked 47th nationally and first in the AAC. “We did what we wanted to be able to do,” third-year UC head coach Luke Fickell said during his early signing period news conference

Dec. 19. “We feel really good about it. When you initially look at it, everybody will start to wonder. It’s not just last year that we talked about, ‘Hey, the rankings matter because you were first in the league and ranked really high nationally.’ We don’t not talk about them this year because the reality is, we’re ranked a little bit lower.”

So, what’s the biggest difference between 2018 and 2019? The number of signees.

The more players that sign, the higher the ranking. Last year, 24 recruits pledged to the Bearcats. This year, that number is just 15. Yet the low number gives Fickell and his staff room to chase after players looking to transfer from their current schools.

One of the more intriguing additions this year is University of Michigan

transfer James Hudson. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound right tackle appeared in three games for the Wolverines in 2018. He will block for his childhood friend and current UC running back, Michael Warren II, as the two graduated from Toledo Central Catholic High School in 2017.

Every signee in this class except Hudson is a 3-star recruit, according to 247Sports. Hudson was a 4-star in high school when he committed to Michigan.

Fickell knows where his bread is buttered when it comes to recruiting: the state of Ohio. Nine of the 15 signees went to Ohio high schools. Fickell, a native of Columbus, Ohio, endlessly recruited the state during his assistant coaching tenures with the University of Akron (2000-2001) and the Ohio State University (1999, 2002-2016).

He continues to stockpile Ohio talent at UC through the relationships he built with high school coaches and players during his time at Akron and OSU. With a core group of playmakers returning — including Warren, starting quarterback Desmond Ridder and linebacker Jarell White — this recruiting class didn’t need to be spectacular.

Warren, a 3-star in high school who was considered the 473rd player in the country, rushed for 1,329 yards and a school-record 19 touchdowns this past season. Solid college coaching always outweighs high school rankings.

Ridder and White were also considered 3-stars in high school.

With UC still a member of the nationallydisadvantaged AAC, you can’t expect much more

out of Fickell in terms of recruiting. To attract top prospects, the only thing Fickell can do is continue to win and perform well in bowl games.

With three recruiting

classes under his belt as a head coach, Fickell has established a culture that players — both incoming and current — want to be a part of.

University of Cincinnati’s head football coach Luke Fickell recently completed his third recruiting season with the Bearcats. TNR FILE

February 13, 2019

Page 9

The Democratic Party needs to confront Elizabeth Warren SAMUEL SCHELL-OLSEN | SENIOR REPORTER

Hundreds of thousands of rape kits go untested in the United States according to the Washington Post.

WIKIMEDIA

Untested rape kits:

A crisis of injustice SAMUEL SCHELL-OLSEN | SENIOR REPORTER Society encourages survivors of sexual violence to come forward — to go through a lengthy, encroaching process and sacrifice the little privacy they have left to bring sexual predators to justice. But what if that same society told them their acts of bravery didn’t matter?

Last year, The Washington Post reported that there could be more than 400,000 untested rape kits across the country. CNN also reported that 400 cases came to an end because police trashed the evidence. It’s a slap in the face to survivors, and it brings injustice to those wrongly accused.

Every tested rape kit that condemns a sexual predator is a victory for justice.

Untested rape kits are a crisis of injustice.

Why are so many rape kits not tested?

Perhaps it’s a cost concern. Rape kit tests can cost as much as $1,500, according to End the Backlog, a nonprofit organization that spreads awareness about untested rape kits. But considering that we spent $4.8 million per day on counterterrorism initiatives, according to Fortune, money is not an excuse.

Sometimes, rape kits go untested because there are no written guidelines for processing sex-crime evidence in most states and law enforcement agencies. When investigating officers aren’t given proper instructions, mistakes will happen — but the consequence is thousands of untested rape kits.

So, what can we do? Fortunately, Ohio is

a model for other states to turn to. In 2014, Ohio enacted legislation that requires law enforcement agencies to submit previously untested rape kits to crime labs, according to End the Backlog. “The law also required agencies to submit all newly collected kits to the lab for testing within 30 days, and required labs to complete analysis as soon as possible,” reads an excerpt on the End the Backlog website.

The results were overwhelming. In 2017, then-Attorney General Mike DeWine said nearly 13,931 rape kits were submitted for testing by 300 law enforcement agencies.

In 2018, Ohio enacted a law requiring the creation and operation of a statewide rape kit tracking system by the attorney general.

This system would give survivors the ability to gain information on the location and status of their rape kit anonymously.

Testing rape kits that were previously untested can also help identify serial rapists. In Cuyahoga County, an analysis of more than 6,800 untested kits in January 2018 resulted in the identification of 466 serial rapists. One of them was responsible for 17 separate rapes.

Outside of Ohio, other states found similar results. Kym Worthy, a prosecutor in Wayne County, Michigan, found that 10,000 previously untested rape kits identified at least 833 suspects linked to more than one sex crime.

We often urge survivors to come forward.

It’s time for us to come forward for survivors.

On Feb. 9, 2019, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) announced her bid to become the Democratic Party’s 2020 presidential candidate. While some voiced excitement, President Donald Trump and critics have frequently mocked Warren, dubbing her “Pocahontas” for her media blunders.

Her supporters countered, calling the nickname “insensitive” and “racist.” Yet Warren’s supporters and the Democratic Party fail to address the context for the nickname, often choosing to avoid the topic altogether.

But if you are the party of “social justice,” you have to address possible acts of injustice. You can’t pick and choose. The Democratic Party needs to confront Warren on her past claims of Native American heritage and address how she attempted to use it to her advantage.

Simply put, Warren is not a Native American.

On Oct. 15, 2018, Warren released results of a DNA test, showing that she had between 1/64th and 1/1,024th Native American ancestry. In short, the test showed that Warren’s most recent Native American ancestor dates back between 6 and 10 generations ago. Simply put, her closest Native American

blood relative may have been alive at the same time as Pocahontas.

In her 2014 book “A Fighting Chance,”Warren wrote, “My brothers and I grew up on stories about our grandfather building one-room schoolhouses and about our grandparents’ courtship and their early lives together in Indian Territory.” She has also claimed that “high cheekbones” run in her family, and that her great, great, great grandmother was a Native American.

Yet Warren does not have a single direct Native American ancestor listed on the Baker Rolls, a mandate for membership of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; or on the Dawes Rolls, which is a strict prerequisite to be a member of the Cherokee Nation.

Despite this, there is significant proof that Warren has long identified herself as a Native American. Here’s a laundry list that details just a few examples: • Warren’s recipes were included in a 1984 cookbook “Pow Wow Chow.” It would later turn out that her recipe was nearly identical to one published in a 1979 article by chef Pierre Franey.

• In a 1986 Texas Bar registration card published

by The Washington Post, Warren listed her race as “American Indian.”

• When Warren taught a class at Harvard Law School in the 1990s, she was once promoted as a “Native American faculty member.”

She was also listed as a minority professor in U.S. law school directories for nine years prior, according to The Boston Globe.

On record, Warren has claimed to be a Native American for more than 30 years. In the face of public blowback, Warren apologized for “not having been more sensitive about tribal citizenship.”

Warren’s lies have potentially hindered job opportunities for minorities and caused long-term damage to the Native American community.

NBC journalist Simon Moya-Smith showed her frustration with Warren in a recent article, writing, “For her, it’s a potential political liability. For us, it’s a continuation of hundreds of years of slurs, insults, and dehumanization, and it appears we’ll see a deluge of it as long as Warren’s on the campaign trail.”

The Democratic Party needs to address this. It’s astonishing that leaders of a party that pounces on every sin a non-Democrat commits have continually dodged these valid criticisms. Warren has paved a trail of lies, and it’s time for the Democratic Party to confront them.

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Elizabeth Warren, who recently announced her 2020 presidential bid, has long exaggerated her Native American roots. WIKIMEDIA

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February 13, 2019

Page 10

Adolescents are being cheated by sex education MAGGY MCDONEL | OPINION EDITOR Most people who went to school in the United States are all too familiar with abstinence-only sex education. Since fifth grade, this ineffective approach to sex education has been shoved down our throats, and it all begins when they teach girls about periods and boys about erections, yet refuse to share the same information with the opposite sex.

Bill Clinton passed the Welfare Reform Act in 1996, which allocated $50 million to sex education classes that focused on abstinence-only education. These programs aim to teach students that abstinence is the only way to prevent pregnancy or STIs, tiptoeing around the blatantly obvious fact that some teenagers will likely experiment with sex.

Despite lackluster results, these programs continued to gain popularity.

In 2006, George W. Bush budgeted $206 million for abstinence-based programming, meaning that schools teaching other forms received little to no federal funding for sex-education classes, according to the American Medical Association.

These programs have proven to have the opposite effect that one might expect. The U.S. has the highest rates of teen pregnancy and STIs in the developed world, according to a study conducted by the U.S. Public Library of Science. The study also found that there is a positive correlation between abstinence-only education and teen pregnancy — and that doesn’t even begin to explore the world of private religious schools.

So, why has nothing¬¬ changed? Why does government funding still promote programs that are working negatively for U.S. children? Perhaps it’s because the U.S. hasn’t separated itself from its puritanical roots as much as we’d like to believe. Honest talk about sex isn’t part of the American lexicon. America has a deep obsession with porn and movies about sex — practically anything that simulates the real thing.

It’s great to see two hot actors having sex, but when it comes down to having an honest conversation with your child or significant other, it’s suddenly too awkward.

As a society, we have become so separated from the realities of sex that

it seems easier to ignore it altogether.

Many parents would rather pretend that sex only happens between two married adults — missionary position only, with the lights turned off — than talk to their children about sex or have teachers talk to their children about sex. The harm caused by this widelyheld delusion is insurmountable.

Only 13 states in the U.S. require sex education to be medically accurate, and only 25 require it at all.

19 include some information about contraceptives, and five schools are on the books as having a negative focus on sexual-orientation education.

How can we consider ourselves an advanced society when our sex education stems from the Middle Ages? Church and state aren’t as separated as we might like to think they are. The deep-rooted tendrils of the church still permeate throughout American culture.

So this year, when you’re having a sexy Valentine’s Day, think about the sex education — or lack thereof — you got throughout your school career. It’s time for a real solution. It’s time to Sex education in American middle and high schools is still largely ditch abstinence-only education. abstinence-only according to Harvard. ABBY SHOYAT | PHOTO EDITOR

Valentine’s Day: Fraud or fabulous MAGGY MCDONEL | OPINION EDITOR KEELY BROWN | NEWS EDITOR

Top: Annually celebrated Valentine’s Day has become a controversial holiday with those in opposition claiming is simply a “Hallmark holiday”.

ALEX MARTIN | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER Bottom: Valentine’s Day is a holiday that prompts over $18 billion in spending, according to ABC News. ABBY SHOYAT | PHOTO EDITOR

Maggy: After the hangover of the extensive but satisfying Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years’ season, we need something else to look forward to. January through March is a dark, cold series of months that drag on with nothing in sight except the distant coming of spring. The novelty of snow has long worn off, yet the days are still so short. Something needs to lighten the mood of the long, unsatisfying

winter.

Dating back to the martyred priest Valentine in 269 A.D., Valentine’s Day didn’t rise to its current popularity until the late 19th century in England. Paper valentines began to be distributed widely, and then, capitalism took over. In 2013, U.S. citizens spent $131 per person on average for Valentine’s Day, according to reports.

Though Valentine’s Day is indeed an excuse for capitalism, it’s also an excuse to go out on a nice date. For some, it’s

a reason to give (and receive) a gift between your birthday and Christmas. It’s a reason for school children to have a party and for teachers to fill them with chocolate before pawning them back to their parents.

It’s a simple reason for celebration; a pink and glittery break amid the monotony of the season.

It’s an excuse to get together and celebrate love with a little bit of capitalism sprinkled in.

Keely: Let’s all just be honest with each other: Valentine’s Day is a sham. It’s a “Hallmark holiday” designed to force couples to spend massive amounts of money on each other, and it unnecessarily reminds others that they’re single.

It’s ridiculous that there exists a day of the year which forces people to express their love through meaningless, overpriced material objects. Why can’t we express love for our significant others, family and friends every day of the year?

The National Retail

Federation estimates that Americans will spend $3.9 billion on jewelry, $3.5 billion on fancy dinners, $2.1 billion on clothing, $1.9 billion on flowers, $1.8 billion on candy, $1.3 billion on gift cards and $933 million on greeting cards — $20.7 billion this year on Valentine’s Day alone, or roughly $162 per person. The public shouldn’t feel pressured to celebrate a holiday that was designed to make corporations money.

Valentine’s Day is great for the economy — and not much else.

We don’t need a holiday to express the love we feel for others. If you care about someone, show it every day. Valentine’s Day also causes unrealistic expectations and forced affection for no reason.

People shouldn’t feel the need to spend money to prove their appreciation for their loved ones.

Valentine’s Day is an unnecessary holiday intended to squeeze money out of those who celebrate it. This year, show those you love how you feel.

Don’t buy their affection.

February 13, 2019

Page 11

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.

OFFICE HOURS Editor-in-Chief Jacob Fisher

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February 13, 2019

Page 12

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