April 24, 2019 - The News Record at University of Cincinnati

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pg. 5 | CCM alum returns pg. 7 | Cumberland with ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ enters 2019 NBA Draft Wednesday, April 24, 2019

How much do your professors make?

MITCHELL PARTON | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Ever wonder how much your professors earn? Now, it’s easier than ever to find out.

The News Record this week released its updated database of salaries for every University of Cincinnati employee.

UC employees earned an average salary of $136,159.06 in 2018. The highest-paid employee before bonuses was UC President Neville Pinto, who earned $660,000.00.

Pinto’s salary is more than 50 percent higher than that of former UC President Santa Ono, who made $427,518 in his final year at UC. Ono declined salary increases throughout his time at the university.

Other top-paid employees,

measured by salary, include: • No. 2: Mike Bohn, athletic director | $552,040.44 • No. 3: Kristi Nelson, provost | $489,600.00 • No. 4: Karl Schaefer, chief investment officer | $438,600.00 The data provided accounts only for salaries — not any additional compensation, including bonuses. Mick Cronin, former men’s basketball coach, made $2,217,465 after bonuses in 2018, according to USA Today.

Out of the top 100 highest earners, nearly 4 in 10 are professors. The average salary of the top 100 earners is $272,353.31.

Visit newsrecord.org to check out our searchable database and learn more about how much every UC employee earns.

Since PBB was implemented, the college has encumbered $2.3 million in rolling debt, said Ken Petren, outgoing A&S dean. JACOB FISHER | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Punishing A&S: Flawed budget model has caused the worst deficit in years, officials say JACOB FISHER | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Thirteen years ago, the University of Cincinnati was facing a dire financial crisis.

At one point in 2006, negative accounts totaled more than $240 million, and the university was just months away from being unable to meet payroll, according to a report provided by university spokesperson M.B. Reilly.

“At the time, those who understood the financial details were not entirely certain anything could be done to avert bankruptcy,” the report said.

It’s the main reason UC implemented a performancebased budget (PBB) model, said Ken Petren, the outgoing dean of the College of Arts & Sciences (A&S). Under the model, colleges are promised a larger budget if they exceed revenue targets, which are increased annually by the Provost Office to prioritize enrollment growth.

Ultimately, it worked. Colleges grew, enrollment increased, and the university’s cash position swelled to $613 million in June 2018, according to the report. The model seemed to A&S Continued on Page 3

University of Cincinnati President Neville Pinto.

PROVIDED BY ANDREW HIGLEY | UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI

April 24, 2019

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A&S Continued from Cover offer an effective shortterm solution to a complex problem.

But when financial difficulties waned, the university didn’t abandon PBB. More than a decade later, A&S is beginning to realize the destructive nature of a model that continually forces budget cuts.

“It’s a disaster,” said Heidi Kloos, associate psychology

gets sucked up by the debt.”

Petren described PBB as an “emergency measure” — one that expects colleges “to grow on nothing.” Bob Ambach, UC’s senior vice president for administration and finance, contends that the budget model is still viable.

“I would say it was an evolution versus an emergency,” he said. “It’s in place because I think it has

revenue after expenses. But the target was $10 million.

So, despite making plenty of money, the college has a deficit that it must present a plan to address.”

Still, PBB is superior to the university’s previous budget model, said Ambach — enabling colleges to offset new costs if they exceed revenue targets.

“Under the old budget model … there was really no accounting or accountability for meeting those revenue thresholds,” he said. “Under the PBB model, a unit has to meet that threshold or that revenue target. If they exceed that target, that gives them the ability to help offset those new expenditures … It [gives] them an opportunity that they actually get credit for growth.”

But whenever A&S experiences revenue growth, it ends up being funneled toward debt payments, said Petren.

Declining dollars

Revenues retained by colleges (2010-2017). JACOB FISHER | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

professor at UC. “If within one year things don’t change, this is going to go down very fast.”

Ballooning debt

Since PBB was implemented, the annual onslaught of budget cuts has forced A&S, the university’s largest college by revenue, to encumber a ballooning $2.3 million in rolling debt, Petren said. Anticipating another $1.5 million in debt this year, Petren announced in November that A&S departments will not receive any general funding for the 2019 fiscal year.

“There’s no new revenue coming into our budget,” said Petren. “Anytime we earn more than expected, it

worked to a great extent to have this accountability; to have this insight.”

John McNay, president of the Ohio Conference of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), said PBB establishes “artificial deficits” that funnel money away from otherwise profitable colleges.

“PBB works this way: A central committee made up of a small number of top administrators decide, behind closed doors, what amount of money they want to run the university,” McNay said. “At the end of a budget year, a college may have had very good year — hypothetically, producing say $5 million in

The ongoing deficit stems from several factors. After the university switched to a semester calendar in 201213, A&S saw 6 percent more students transfer out after the first year than before, Petren said. It also saw 3 percent fewer students enter the college, causing a $4.4 million budget hole.

This year, the university increased admissions standards for A&S students, Petren said. As a result, an estimated 230 students who would have been admitted in years past were not admitted in 2019 — a $1.8 million loss.

Ambach acknowledged that the PBB model “hasn’t been overly responsive” to unforeseen revenue shortfalls.

Despite recurring budget shortages, the Provost Office has continued to increase the college’s annual revenue target by roughly 5 percent in recent years, according to Petren.

Unrealistic revenue targets are an ongoing trend — one that threatens the long-term retention of A&S faculty, Kloos said.

“Nobody wants A&S to survive,” she said. “People will leave if they can. I’m here because I can’t leave —

I have kids here. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here. I think anybody who can will jump ship as soon as they possibly can.”

The Provost Office sometimes grants exceptions to colleges by excluding them from the annual revenue threshold.

A&S has requested an exception for the past three consecutive years, but Kathy Qualls, senior vice provost for academic finance and administrative affairs, has never recommended one for the college, said Petren.

Qualls did not respond to a request for comment.

Departing deans

Shortly after announcing the latest $1.5 million budget shortfall, Petren stepped down. He’s the fourth dean to leave the role in the past six years.

Petren was well-liked among A&S faculty, Kloos said. But the constraints of the PBB model have created a revolving door of departing deans, restricted funds and increasingly frustrated professors.

“We love Ken Petren … [but] no dean can make it,” she said. “He was very much liked, and yet he cannot function under this budget model.”

University administrators wanted Petren to

stay. In an April 3 document obtained by The News Record, the A&S Decanal Review Committee voted unanimously to reappoint him for a five-year term.

“In his decanal selfevaluation, [Petren] describes the ‘institutional trap’ of the current university-level budgeting policy, which has led to an increased proportion of revenue spent in areas ‘not intimately connected to revenue generation, educational quality, reputations or research growth,’” the letter reads. “‘Overall,’ writes one faculty

member, ‘the dean is doing an excellent job given the constraints of the PBB formula.’”

But according to Petren, the reappointment came with a clause: he needed to balance the budget. It was a promise he couldn’t make.

“Things [have] gotten to the point where if you can’t make it work, you can’t run the college,” he said.

“I fully admit that I couldn’t handle the budget …

But I also pretty firmly think that there isn’t anyone who can handle this budget. It’s a ratcheting effect that has run its course, and now there’s no way out.”

Petren accepted the deanship in 2015. He succeeded Kristi Nelson, who was then the interim dean of A&S. For a year, Nelson headed the college and dealt with the budgetary constraints of the PBB formula firsthand.

Now, she’s the provost.

“She did not think it was easy,” said Petren. “She just wasn’t sure exactly how to A&S Continued on Page 4

Heidi Kloos, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Cincinnati, said she doesn’t believe that any dean can function under the performance-based budget model. ALEX MARTIN | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

April 24, 2019

Page 4 For now, there are no plans to abandon PBB.

Follow the money

Revenues versus expenditures (2019-2017). JACOB FISHER | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

A&S Continued from Page 3 make [the budget] work.”

Nelson did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Still, she isn’t solely to blame for the flaws of the model, Petren said.

“For her to fix this situation would require an enormous amount of effort, because the money is not just sitting there,” he said.

“She would have to really motivate several people to get together to try to address this problem. And that’s not easy.”

Faculty opposition to PBB is resounding. In a draft of a Dec. 12 letter sent to UC President Neville Pinto, the A&S Faculty Senate Executive Committee requested “short-term flexibility” in the budget, saying financial pressures linked to the model are an ongoing threat.

“The budget constraints resulting from how PBB is applied to A&S have already damaged the college,” the committee wrote. “Unless the situation is corrected immediately, the budget pressures will cause serious and long-lasting harm to faculty morale and to the college’s ability to contribute meaningfully to the teaching and research missions of the university.”

In the letter, the committee requested a meeting with Pinto to address the college’s “immediate

budgetary needs.” Nelson dismissed the request.

“President Pinto and I are scheduled to meet with [A&S Academic Unit Heads] on Monday, December 17,” Nelson wrote in an email response. “I trust that they will update the A&S Senate leadership regarding the meeting. If after hearing from your Academic Unit Head colleagues there remain unanswered questions, we can touch base again after the New Year.”

It wasn’t the first time A&S faculty voiced concerns the model. In October 2013, the A&S Faculty Senate sent a letter to then-Provost Beverly Davenport to suggest potential remedies.

The email was met with silence, said Steve Depoe, head of the communication department.

But according to Ambach, the university is taking faculty concerns seriously.

That’s why UC established a strategic budget committee to review the PBB model.

Reviewing the model

The committee, established in 2018, is designed to “identify enhancement or modifications to meet college needs and university priorities,” according to Reilly’s report.

“Through this committee, a recommendation will be made to adopt a budget

model that is current, flexible, and drives future innovation and efficiencies,” the document reads.

Not all colleges have fared as poorly as A&S under the model. Some — namely business, engineering and criminal justice — have consistently been rewarded with revenue splits from the Provost Office. But even those have decreased over time, according to Ambach, who attributed the drop in splittable revenue to slowing enrollment growth.

“Obviously, when you’re not in a period of large growth, that creates tensions in the college budgets,” he said. “I think that’s [why] the deans have gotten themselves together to say, ‘Is the model working? Is it helping us achieve the goals we want to achieve?’ So, I think that’s how we ended up [saying], ‘Let’s look at it.’”

The committee is considering several changes — namely incentivizing interdisciplinary studies and smoothing enrollment trends, said Ambach. But for now, the committee has no timeline to present a recommendation.

“We’re supposed to, but I don’t — just to be frank with you,” Ambach said.

“We’re continuing to work.

The committee meets every couple weeks unless schedules conflict, and so we’re working as hard as we can to get something out there.”

In 2009, colleges retained nearly 51 percent of the revenue they generated. By 2017, that number dropped to 43 percent, causing a revenue gap of more than $52 million in that year alone, according to data from UC’s chapter of AAUP. It’s an odd trend for UC, where revenues have grown by more than $157 million since 2010 — nearly a 30 percent increase.

During that time frame, expenditures grew by a modest $27 million, leaving a revenue margin of more than $130 million.

According to Ambach, a sizeable portion of those funds are reinvested in the colleges to promote growth and foster the university’s strategic priorities.

“Much of that money would have gone towards paying the salary increases of faculty and staff,” he said.

“Much of it would have gone towards the reallocations, paying for additional faculty … And then parts of it have gone into strategic priorities which all live out in the colleges — I mean, that’s where the strategic initiatives really get implemented.”

But McNay doesn’t credit strategic initiatives. Instead, he points to the athletic department, where deficits have averaged $25 million annually in recent years.

“Over the last five years, the university has covered deficits at athletics totaling more than $125 million,” he said. “How in the world could that be reasonable or responsible when our students are spending so much money to be here?”

Additional funds are funneled to the Provost Office, which spent more than $680,000 in bonuses for its staff between 2012 and 2018, according to documents obtained by The News Record. During that time, the office grew substantially, and salaries for members of the business and financial affairs department — a subset of the Provost Office — increased by nearly 68 percent.

But when Petren met

with the Provost Office to negotiate a solution to the college’s financial woes, he was told to continue making budget cuts. According to Ambach, when colleges fail to meet revenue targets, a budget-cutting strategy is the norm.

“We work with the college to put them on a plan, much like Arts and Sciences has been on a plan,” Ambach said. “So, when they haven’t met their threshold, the provost office has worked with them to say, ‘Well, what is the plan to get there?’”

Bridging the debt isn’t a short-term endeavor, Ambach said. It typically takes between three and five years to do so.

“These aren’t like aircraft carriers,” he said. “You can’t turn them on a dime.”

The next dean of A&S has not yet been selected. When he or she arrives, they will likely have to pick up where Petren left off — meeting with representatives from the Provost Office and attempting to reach a sustainable solution.

“The business has to go on,” Petren said. “[But] you can’t just cut … Even if you canceled some of the lowenrollment classes, you’re going to lose three times the revenue … You can’t win.

You just can’t win. There’s really no way that I can see to make it work.”

“It’s an absolute conundrum,” he said. “And there’s no way out.”

Gabriella Mulisano contributed to this report.

Top: Kenneth Petren, dean of the McMicken College of Arts & Sciences, will step down from the role at the end of his term on June 30, 2019. TNR FILE Bottom: Dr. Kristi Nelson, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. PROVIDED BY DOTTIE STOVER | UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI

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Ciara Alyse Harris graduated from CCM in 2018 and will be participating in the Aronoff’s production of “Dear Evan Hansen.” @DEAREVANHANSEN | INSTAGRAM

Six questions with Ciara Alyse Harris of ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ ANNE SIMENDINGER | LIFE & ARTS EDITOR The 2017 Tony winner for Best Musical, “Dear Evan Hansen,” hits the Aronoff Center April 30-May 12 as a continuation of Broadway in Cincinnati’s 2018-19 season.

Among the touring cast is the CollegeConservatory of Music (CCM)’s own Ciara Alyse Harris, who graduated from CCM in 2018 with a bachelor’s in musical theatre.

The News Record spoke with Harris to learn more about the show, life as an understudy, what she learned from CCM and much more.

The News Record: What drew you to this show?

Ciara Alyse Harris: I feel like it’s incredibly relatable. I thought the music was amazing and very, very catchy. I thought, “I need to be in this; I want to be in this.”

TNR: You’re an understudy for both Alana and Zoe. For those who might not know, what does your role as an understudy entail?

Harris: My job entails being ready all the time at any given moment. I usually find out between an hour or two hours before [curtain] that I’m going on.

Sometimes, on matinees, it’ll basically change the whole course of my day. At 9 a.m. I’ll have breakfast, and then I’ll find out at 10:30 that I have to go on. The whole team … has to put my costume pieces together, and everything gets switched around when we find out that I’m going on.

TNR: You’re also a Bearcat, as you graduated from CCM’s musical theatre department last year. What’s one thing that

you took with you from school into this experience?

Harris: Always being ready. At CCM … it was this constant thing of always needing to be prepared, and that was the main thing that being in school taught me; even in auditions.

TNR: So, how does it feel to know that you’re coming back to Cincinnati a year later with “Dear Evan Hansen?”

Harris: Crazy. When we were graduating, we all had this thought of “I don’t know when I’m ever going to come back here,” which is bittersweet … Coming back immediately after I graduated, I never thought that was gonna happen. I love getting to perform at the Aronoff. That’s going to be crazy too.

TNR: How does this show and the roles that you understudy differ from the previous roles you have played at CCM or elsewhere?

Harris: Something about CCM is that we don’t do plays, which is always something that I was kind of sad about, because I love acting. I love plays, and show is the perfect combination of a contemporary play and music. We have the same amount of singing as text, which is why it’s so long. But that’s also why it’s so challenging and so amazing … You use both of those qualities just as much together, which I really, really love.

TNR: Do you have any dream roles?

Harris: I would love, love, love to play Sarah in “Ragtime” at some point in my life.

Then there’s Ti Moune in “Once on This Island.” I think I missed the boat on that, but maybe one day.

April 24, 2019

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Get out and do something: April 26 to April 28 ERIN COUCH | SENIOR REPORTER

Friday, April 26 Art After Dark: Spark Your Inner Fire: Ever wanted to partake in the elusive Burning Man art festival without embarking on a grueling 32-hour road trip to Nevada? Celebrate the spirit of the festival this Friday at the Cincinnati Art Museum for the opening of its new exhibit, “No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man.” Party like a Reno hippie Cincinnati-style with food from Graeter’s and Dewey’s.

Dance to multiple DJ sets throughout the evening, and look super artsy while you drink wine from The Skeleton Root. Feel free to dress up as well.

5-10 p.m. Friday. Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams. Free.

Hop Couture: DAAP Junior Fashion Show: Show your support for some of UC’s fashion design DAAPers this Friday at

Rhinegeist. Grab a Truth or a Bubbles and sit back to watch the fruits of the labor from some of UC’s thirdyear fashion students. The event is free but standingroom only, so try to get there early to get a good view of the runway.

8 p.m.-midnight. Friday.

Rhinegeist, 1910 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Free.

Saturday, April 27 CCM Studio Acting: Association of Controlled Dreamers: As college students who pay tuition, we obviously value education.

CCM Studio Acting presents a timely play following the story of a group of college students who are pushing back against a senator’s policies that could jeopardize the future of the education system in America. From occupying the senator’s lawn to visiting him in his dreams, they’ll stop at nothing to secure their futures. Call the CCM Box Office at (513)

556-4183 to reserve your free tickets.

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

Saturday. Cohen Family Studio Theater, Mary Emery Hall. Free.

Adult Prom Cincinnati: World Party Edition: If you didn’t go to your prom in high school but always wanted to know what the pinnacle of the adolescent experience is like, come to the American Sign Museum this Saturday for a formal soiree with an international twist. Buy your tickets here for this 21+ event.

9 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday.

American Sign Museum, 1330 Monmouth Ave., Camp Washington. $45.

Sunday, April 28 CCM Mainstage Dance: ‘Cinderella’: CCM Dance puts on the classic ragsto-riches story of a poor girl who tries to escape the clutches of her step-family.

When she meets her fairy godmother, her life gets

turned upside down. Order your tickets for the ballet at (513) 556-4183. Student discount available.

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

Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday.

Patricia Corbett Theater, Mary Emery Hall. $28.

Oakley Pup Crawl: It’s spring, the sun is shining and your pup is itching to go for a run at the dog park.

Come to an event both man and beast can enjoy this Sunday in Oakley at the seventh-annual Pup Crawl.

Get some dog-themed swag, get your doggo treats at various vendors, take advantage of some drink and food specials at participating restaurants, listen to live music — and even adopt your own pup while you’re there. Register here.

11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.

Cincinnati Chapter of the National Canine Cancer Foundation, 2579 Kroger Ave., Oakley. $30.

Cincinnati Art Museum will host Art After Dark on Friday at 5 p.m.

ABBY SHOYAT | PHOTO EDITOR

April 24, 2019

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Cumberland enters NBA Draft process MATT HUFFMON | SPORTS EDITOR

University of Cincinnati men’s basketball junior Jarron Cumberland announced his decision to “test the waters” of the 2019 NBA Draft Saturday via his Instagram page.

Cumberland will receive feedback from various NBA organizations before making his official decision on whether or not he will leave UC or stay for his senior season. He has until May 29 to make the decision.

“To start, I’d like to say thank you,” Cumberland said. “To my family: I wouldn’t be where I am today without your love and support. To my teammates:

FC Cincinnati fell 0-3 to Real Salt Lake City on April 19, 2019, making their record 2-2-4.

ALEX MARTIN | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

FCC continues to struggle in MLS LOGAN LUSK | CONTRIBUTOR It was a frustrating night for FC Cincinnati (FCC) and its fans Friday after the team suffered a lopsided 3-0 loss at the hands of Real Salt Lake. It was a bitter defeat for FCC — not only due to the score line, but also because of the disproportionate chances for goals.

FCC fell to 2-4-2 in its inaugural season in Major League Soccer (MLS).

Both FCC and Salt Lake were wearing special edition jerseys made by a crossover initiative between the MLS and Parley.

These designs were constructed from Parley Ocean Plastic to celebrate Earth Day and raise awareness for the pollution affecting Earth’s oceans.

Unfortunately, the special kits did not translate into a special performance for FCC. During the match, FCC gave itself many opportunities, but the team was ultimately unable to capitalize. FCC had twice as many shots as Real Salt Lake with nothing to show for it. Of the team’s 14 shots, only one was on target — a header attempt by midfielder Allan Cruz.

At the beginning of each half, FCC controlled the pitch by maintaining possession and not allowing Salt Lake to get into the final third. Despite these efforts, each play fell apart by a poor attempt on goal or a badly placed pass, and Salt Lake took advantage.

Salt Lake’s first attacking effort was lackluster. It seemed tentative and uncoordinated, returning the ball to FCC

and struggling to regain possession. Toward the end of the first half, the team’s efforts were rewarded with two rebound goals that baffled FCC. Especially frustrated was FCC midfielder Kenny Saief — one of a handful of FCC players trying desperately to put something together on the offensive end. After being aggressively tackled several times with no call from the ref, Saief couldn’t help but display his frustration on the pitch; calling after the ref and repeatedly challenging Salt Lake players.

“Kenny is an emotional guy — I think it’s one of his biggest strengths,” FCC head coach Alan Koch said. “Of course he got frustrated, every player got frustrated, I got frustrated … I don’t have any problem with him showing visual signs of frustration, that’s just who he is … I think if we would’ve scored earlier in tonight’s game, you wouldn’t have seen it.”

When a penalty was awarded to Salt Lake in the second half, center back Kendall Waston took action by removing the ball from the penalty spot in an effort to encourage the referee to take another look at the call. The ref wasn’t having it. Instead, Watson was awarded a yellow card.

With boos filling the stadium as Salt Lake’s Albert Rusnak lined up to take the penalty, the attacking midfielder slotted the ball into the top left corner, making the score 3-0.

FCC returns to Nippert Stadium Saturday, May 11, with a match against the Montreal Impact at 1 p.m.

Jarron Cumberland.

JUSTIN HILES | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

you truly are my brothers.

You have pushed me every day to be the player I am today. And to the fans: coming to Cincinnati was easily the best decision that I’ve ever made. This has been an amazing three years and I will always represent Cincinnati. For now, I’ve decided to test the waters and see where I stand in the NBA draft process.”

Cumberland, a 6-foot5 guard, was named the 2018-19 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year, as well of the Most Outstanding Player of the conference tournament.

“Since becoming the head coach at the University of Cincinnati I’ve had multiple conversations with Jarron and his family about his desire to play in the NBA,” new UC head coach John Brannen said. “This is the first step toward that goal.

I fully support Jarron’s decision and look forward to assisting him with this process any way that I can.”

After averaging 18.8 points per game in his junior season, Cumberland now sits at No. 20 on UC’s alltime scoring list at 1,363.

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SUMMER @ SINCLAIR GET AHEAD.

TAKE YOUR GEN ED CLASSES IN THE SUMMER! Make the most of your summer: take classes at Sinclair Community College. Check out available courses and ask your advisor how Sinclair courses can transfer back to the University of Cincinnati. Take 12-week, 8-week or Flex classes at one of our convenient locations or online.

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April 24, 2019

Page 8

The University of Cincinnati dance team has won seven national titles and ten world titles. @FLICKDMEDIA | INSTAGRAM

What goes into being on the UC Dance Team TAYLOR D’AMBROSIA | CONTRIBUTOR University of Cincinnati center Nysier Brooks throws down a dunk against Southern Methodist Feb. 2, 2019 at Fifth Third Arena.

JUSTIN HILES | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

UC men’s basketball: Brooks enters transfer portal MATT HUFFMON | SPORTS EDITOR The University of Cincinnati men’s basketball team may be losing a key player who was expected to return for a senior season.

Nysier Brooks, a junior center from Philadelphia, entered the NCAA’s transfer portal Friday. He started all 35 games for the Bearcats in 2018-19, averaging 8.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks.

The program is transitioning to a new coach, as Mick Cronin left for UCLA April 9. UC hired Northern Kentucky University’s John Brannen Sunday.

Brooks was present and participated in team workouts with Brannen this past week.

Entering the portal doesn’t always lead to a transfer, as players are given the chance to weigh their

options and still hold the ability to return to their current school.

If Brooks were to transfer to another Division I school, he would be required to sit out a year and have one year of eligibility remaining. He could apply for a waiver from the NCAA to gain immediate eligibility, but it would not likely be granted.

CBS Sports reported Sunday that Brooks is receiving interest from the University of Miami, Virginia Tech, LSU, Arkansas, Ohio State, N.C. State, Marquette, Baylor and LaSalle.

Junior guard/forward Rashawn Fredericks (2.3 points, 2.2 rebounds in 2018-19) is also in the transfer portal. He transferred to UC last summer after two years at Motlow Community College in Tennessee.

handle future expectations.

By the second day, the dancers begin learning the fight song routine that the team performs whenever points are scored at football and basketball games. Groups of four rotate in and out of the gym to show off their school spirit. Afterward, the dances learned on the first day are played back-toback for the dancers to review and memorize.

The third day — the final day for tryouts — is one of the most intensive

experiences for dancers hoping to continue their careers at the college level. This day begins early, and the girls are constantly practicing and improving their technical skills until the time comes to show the judges what they have to offer. Eleven groups of four come out onto the floor to perform the pom and hip-hop routines, and one at a time, the dancers show their advanced skills. When the auditions end, Housum gives the girls personal letters to disclose whether they made the cut. This year, the 20192020 team consists of 29 members.

“There’s something special about new beginnings,” Housum said.

Practice starts in July, and dancers meet three to four times a week to work on routines for games and perfect their sideline dances and cheers. Aside from that, there are many fundraisers and appearances they get asked to attend which the girls love doing. This schedule typically stays like this until the month of November. Come December, the next two months of practice are intense.

“Outside of nationals’ practices, all you have time for is grocery shopping, sleeping or doing laundry, and you can only choose one,” said dance team member Erika Cane.

A typical practice starts between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. and can last until 9-10 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break at some point during the day.

The coaches take the girls count by count and motion throughout the pom and hip-hop routines to make them as perfect as can be. Nationals are held in Orlando, Florida, and the team spends roughly five days trying to bring home a national title to the University of Cincinnati.

The University of Cincinnati Dance Team is known as one of the top collegiate teams in the country. With 10 world champion titles and seven national champion titles, there is far more to the team that meets the eye.

Every year in April, the UC Dance Team holds tryouts to select new members for its legendary program.

Tryouts are six hours per day for three days, where contestants learn three routines to present to judges that showcase technical skills.

During the first day, head coach Maureen Housum, also known as “Coach Mo,” introduced herself by laying down the itinerary for the weekend.

“I like ice cream, but not just plain vanilla. I need some sprinkles,” Housum often says to motivate the girls, encouraging them to stand out and show off the skills they bring to the team.

Afterward, the dancers are given a warmup routine. Pom and hip-hop are learned on the first day of tryouts, taught by the senior dance members who are graduating in May. The team competes in pom and hip-hop every year for college dance team nationals, so the difficulty of tryouts are at an all-time high every year The dance team sings the University of Cincinnati’s “Alma Mater” during the women’s basketball game to ensure competitors can

against the University of Connecticut at Fifth Third arena Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019. JUSTIN HILES | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

April 24, 2019

Page 9

Is ‘Game of Thrones’ worth the hype?

SAMUEL SCHELL-OLSEN | SENIOR REPORTER MAGGY MCDONEL | OPINION EDITOR

Depression affects 7 percent of adults in America according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

PIXABAY

Depression is a serious problem — and no, it’s not a choice.

SAMUEL SCHELL-OLSEN | SENIOR REPORTER

Many of us have been there — feeling alone with the sense that all is lost. You feel no motivation to do anything other than dwell on the past. Your family and friends ask what’s wrong. Some might tell you to get help. Others might say you’re exaggerating.

Yet according to Psychology Today, 300 million individuals worldwide suffer from depression, and only half of those living with depression seek professional help.

According to the Bridges to Recovery, depression is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. for people between the ages of 15 and 44. Untreated depression is the also largest risk factor for youth suicide — a serious problem in our country.

Depression isn’t equivalent to sadness — it’s a serious medical condition. People like Nicole Arbour, who made videos arguing that depression is little more than a mental state you can overcome, are the reason why only half of those who struggle with depression seek help for it. People don’t wake up in the morning and wonder, “How am I going to be depressed today?” It’s much more complicated than that.

According to Harvard Medical School, depression isn’t something that can be controlled manually.

“Certain areas of the brain help regulate mood,” the school’s website states.

“Researchers believe that — more important than levels of specific brain chemicals — nerve cell connections, nerve cell growth,

and the functioning of nerve circuits have a major impact on depression.”

There is some good news: depression can be managed with professional treatment.

Psychology Today found that in 80 percent of cases, people who receive professional treatment for depression said it improved their mental condition.

Your doctor can treat any medical issues that may be responsible for the symptoms of depression. Doctors can prescribe medication to treat depression — and if medication is an issue, the Mayo Clinic provides other options as well.

Nutrition plays a huge factor, too. Small, simple snacks — like almonds, apples or a protein bar — can save time and energy.

In many cases, it’s important to abstain from alcohol if you are struggling with depression. According to AFMC, at least 30 to 50 percent of people who overconsume alcohol are also depressed. Avoid it — and seek help if you have an addiction.

Depression is a serious problem, but there are millions of people who have managed to lead successful lives despite struggling with it. It’s important that society recognizes depression for what it is. It’s an illness — not a choice.

If you or someone you know needs help, please visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting “START” to 741-741. Head here for a list of crisis centers around the world.

Sam: It seems as though “Game of Thrones” is the highest priority in any conversation right now. Last week, in my Introduction to Criminology, class, my professor began the lecture by asking, “So, what did you guys think of ‘Game of Thrones’ last night?”

Immediately, eager peers of mine started to voice their opinions.

I don’t know much about “Game of Thrones,” but I certainly didn’t pay to talk about a show where twin siblings have an incestuous relationship with each other.

I can’t tell you how many times my friends have asked me what I think of the latest episode. It’s the same answer every time: “I didn’t watch it, sorry.”

Then, I get lectured for five minutes about how “Game of Thrones” is the best form of entertainment since “The Walking Dead,” and I need to give it a shot.

So, I did. After three episodes, I still don’t understand the hype. Each

episode is nearly an hour long, and let’s be real — everyone is just watching the show for the sex scenes.

I’ve heard all the defenses.

“It gets good later!” Maybe so — but I shouldn’t have to wait five-plus hours for a show to pick up steam.

A show like “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” captures my attention with a gruesome crime within the first five minutes of each episode.

If you love “Game of Thrones,” that’s great — but don’t waste my time by trying to force me to love it.

Maggy: While working a fairly dull summer job a few years ago, I thought to myself, “maybe I should finally start watching that show everyone’s been talking about.” Little did I know that the next month or so would be a complete “Game of Thrones”-fueled TV bender.

Since then, I’ve been a massive fan — listening to podcasts, watching YouTube videos and reading massive Twitter threads in anticipation for the latest

season. The hype has been unreal, and if you’ve been anywhere near social media these last few weeks, you know how wild it is.

For anyone who is a fan of fantasy or heavy drama, this show is perfection. It’s been around for eight years, and we have seen the characters grow up before our eyes — some with redeeming arcs, and others with not-soredeeming ones.

I can see how the bombardment of social media with memes and theories every Sunday can be a bit overwhelming for those who aren’t fans, but please — let us have our moment. The last episode of the seventh season aired nearly two years ago, and season eight premiered just last week. This is the final season — the one where fans will finally get to see who wins the game of thrones.

Eight years of amazing television is culminating in the next few weeks with the conclusion of this epic series. So, let the fans have this one. Let us enjoy the hype.

Do people watch Game of Thrones for the storyline or the sex scenes? DANIEL AHONEN | YOUTUBE

April 24, 2019

Page 10

What happened to Tobacco Free UC? SAMUEL SCHELL-OLSEN | SENIOR REPORTER It was May 1, 2017, when the University of Cincinnati’s “Tobacco Free UC” policy went into effect.

At the time, it was praised as a changing moment for the university.

Almost two years have passed, and very little has changed.

Students casually use Juuls in classrooms and outside their dorms without a care in the world. Yet “Tobacco Free UC” explicitly restricts e-cigarettes, which “cannot be used on UC property,” according to policy.

It’s not hard to find cigarette butts on this beautiful campus. It’s almost as if “Tobacco Free UC” never happened at all.

Why are people still using cigarettes and e-cigarettes on campus? Perhaps

it’s because UC doesn’t actually enforce the policy.

As early as August 2017, consequences for breaking policy were unclear. In an article published by The News Record, Juan Guardia, dean of students, said it was unclear how the policy would be enforced.

An email from “Tobacco Free UC” to a former student said its goal was “to educate and inform the university,” rather than prioritize discipline.

Yet the policy itself claims that violators will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action. In a 2017 statement, the university said students who are caught smoking on campus will be punished “under the student of conduct.”This threat, however, is extremely vague.

It remains unclear how

students will be disciplined for breaking policy. Do students who smoke on campus run the risk of being fined? Warned?

Suspended? Expelled?

It’s hard to take the rules seriously when the university fails to outline the consequences.

UC should specify the consequences for breaking its “Tobacco Free UC” policy. For example, if you are caught smoking a tobacco product on campus for the first time, you will be warned and be forced to throw away your product.

If you are caught again, you may be subject to a fine. If you are caught for a third time, you could face a one-week suspension.

Specifying the consequences will not only give students a clearer view of what the guidelines are, but it will aid the UC

staff that enforces the guidelines as well. Do you really think UC staff enjoy taking students aside and lecturing them on why they shouldn’t smoke?

Personally, I don’t care whether UC has a tobacco-free campus or not. What I do care about is that the university has an unclear, generic policy about tobacco use that doesn’t motivate the student body to follow the rules. What reason do students have to take UC’s policies seriously? I don’t use tobacco products, but students who do should have clear guidelines to do so.

Overall, all students should know whether UC intends to follow its policies — and if the university doesn’t plan to do so, it should publicly say so.

SAMI STEWART | MULTIMEDIA PRODUCER

We need more than ‘thoughts and prayers’

A movement calls for action rather than simply “thoughts and prayers.” WIKIMEDIA

In the wake of increasing shootings, hate crimes and disastrous acts of God, social media has become an outlet where the world dumps its thinly veiled complacency.

A headline about a recent tragedy goes up, and the hollow Facebook posts and trivial tweets dripping with “thoughts and prayers” follow shortly thereafter.

When something bad happens in the world that doesn’t directly affect our communities, it’s easy for us to put our two cents on social media to flex our bleeding hearts.

There’s nothing wrong with keeping a recent tragedy — or those affected by it — in your thoughts and prayers. It’s a reality check; a reminder that things can go horribly wrong at the hands of cruel humans, illdeveloped policies or

Tobacco Free UC initiative was started by the university May 1, 2017.

ALEX MARTIN | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

natural disasters. In moments of extreme grief and loss, relying on personal faith can provide hope and light.

But we need to stop accepting baseline acknowledgement as anything but a springboard for action. If no action succeeds your “thoughts and prayers” Facebook post, that post was more about you than it was about the tragedy.

The devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina wasn’t picked up with prayers.

The victims of the Boston bombing who needed lifesaving transfusions didn’t survive because an EMT pumped good vibes into their veins.

Thoughtfulness didn’t extinguish California’s wildfires.

These problems require action.

It’s important to have faith that the light at the end of the tunnel is there —

even if it’s shrouded by the smoke of a devastating fire, the hatred of a few evildoers or any other earth-shattering, headline-making event.

After sending that tweet to spread your good vibes into the ethernet, consider getting off your ass and helping your fellow humans in need. Donating resources may seem like the most minute dent in such a large crisis, but it’s still an attempt to make a difference, and that trounces any Facebook post by a mile.

Aside from donating cash, one of the most useful things you can do in the wake of global tragedies is educate yourself.

Learn what the victims need. If it’s an act of terrorism or a mass shooting, consider reading up on policies that could help prevent these kinds of situations in

the future, and make every effort to support them.

If it’s a natural disaster, learn which resources are needed most. Red Cross and FEMA provide literature to explain which items are most useful — and which ones aren’t.

Be sure not to add a heavier burden to the shoulders of emergency responders and disaster volunteers by sending perishable, possibly contaminated and certainly unnecessary items to an already chaotic environment.

While global tragedies are inevitable, let’s consider the insensitivity of passively posting detached encouragement.

Everyone is capable of creating change if they take it a step further than thoughts and prayers.

April 24, 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

Managing Editor Noelle Zielinski

News Editor Keely Brown

Multimedia Producer Sami Stewart

Features Editor Elizabeth Schmitt

Multimedia Editor Mitchell Parton

Life & Arts Editor Anne Simendinger

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Share it with us! The News Record prides itself as the student voice of the University of Cincinnati, and your input fuels our content. If there’s anything you think our staff should cover, we want to know about it. Letters to the editor are strongly encouraged and will be published in print or online, subject to review by our staff.

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WEBSITE newsrecord.org FACEBOOK /TheNewsRecord TWITTER @NewsRecord_UC INSTAGRAM @thenewsrecord The News Record is an independent, student-run news organization of the University of Cincinnati. The free tabloid-size newspaper is published on Wednesdays during the school year except on holidays and during final examinations and is distributed to more than 100 locations on and near the UC campus. The News Record’s website, newsrecord.org, is updated continuously and offers e-newsletters, video, audio and interactive features. The Communications Board of the University of Cincinnati is responsible for operating and policymaking activities of The News Record and its affiliated media, including oversight of fiscal operations, sound educational experience for students, protection of press freedoms and adherence to University rules and regulations.

April 24, 2019

Page 12

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