The News Record 03.13.14

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THE NEWS RECORD THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI’S INDEPENDENT, STUDENT-RUN NEWS ORGANIZATION / THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014

BETWEEN TWO WORLDFEST FERNS

UC ROUNDTABLE DISSECTS INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT

CRISIS IN UKRAINE

AAC COACH OF THE YEAR

CULTURAL CELEBRATION CONTINUES ON CAMPUS

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order to compete as a renowned research facility, which is where much work remains, Loving said. This starts with an increase in compensation for the faculty and staff.

Faculty benefits also need improvement, said Bob Cluxton, UC AAUP executive council member and pharmacy professor.

Over the three-year-duration of the new contract, the faculty’s monthly payments will increase by 25 percent in 2015 and 25 percent in 2016.

Crucial components of the contract are its improved investments in faculty development and paid parental leave for faculty, said Steve Pelikan, UC AAUP vice president and mathematics professor.

By changing the distribution of funding, more money will be placed in the faculty’s pockets, which enables the faculty to complete their job and tenure requirements more easily, Loving said.

Paid parental leave establishes a standardized way to provide for faculty’s

family concerns, which is something the AAUP has been working toward for 10 years, Pelikan said.

AAUP members and faculty are relieved to finally see that the university is coming to its senses with the advancement of negotiations, Loving said.

“It’s over,” Cluxton said. “We started March 1, 2013, and for so long there was so little change.”

The Board of Trustees is expected to ratify the contract at a special meeting March 20 at 8 a.m. in University Pavilion Room 320. The contract will go into effect once the trustees approve it.

AAUP leaders, who provided a copy of the working contract to the board Feb. 18, said they believe the board will approve the contract ratified by AAUP. “We’ve been hearing a lot of the right rhetoric,” Loving said. “President Ono has been talking a lot about investing in people. The AAUP looks forward to being the watchdog to makes sure that happens.”

LAUREN KREMER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Greg Loving, AAUP UC chapter president, said he’s relieved to have a contract pending board approval.

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UC AAUP chapter members nearly unanimously ratify contract Chapter overwhelmingly approves contract; one more hurdle to jump KATIE COBURN STAFF REPORTER

University of Cincinnati AAUP chapter members ratified a new contract Monday, leaving one more step before the faculty and the administration officially have a new collective bargaining agreement.

Of the actual union members, 54 percent voted, with 94 percent accepting the contract, 5 percent rejecting the contract and 1 percent of voters logged on but did not cast a vote.

The contract, which covers 1,691 faculty members, is the result of nearly one year of negotiations between AAUP and the university.

“We hope this means a step in the right direction for UC,” said Greg Loving, UC AAUP president.

As administrators develop the “Our Third Century Initiative,” it must be able to attract and retain the best faculty in

CHABOT WEIGHS IN Extreme winter

raises university salt, labor costs BRYAN SHUPE CHIEF REPORTER

LAUREN KREMER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Rep. Steve Chabot said he is not optimistic about the situation in Ukraine. He faults the Obama administration for what he said is a “lack of leadership” on the world stage.

Rep. Steve Chabot shares thoughts on Ukraine, immigration

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RYAN HOFFMAN NEWS EDITOR

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Although the vote in Crimea to secede from Ukraine isn’t until Sunday, the region is already in Russia’s pocket, Congressman Steve Chabot said.

“I think it’s a forgone conclusion that Crimea is going to vote to go to Russia and they’re going to take it over,” Chabot said. “I think that sends a very unfortunate message to a lot of the other former Soviet Union satellite states.”

The Republican representative from Cincinnati who serves on the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee sat down with The News Record Monday to discuss the situation in Ukraine and immigration reform.

Chabot said the situation is a demonstration of United States President Barack Obama’s weakness on the world stage.

“There’s a power vacuum around the globe right now,” Chabot said. “I think Putin saw inaction on the part of this administration and just the lack of resolve and decided to act. And they’re going to act in their best interest clearly,

and I think they think it’s in their best interest to take land.”

Chabot said the U.S. should have started acting long before the situation reached its current state, with the situation possibly escalating after Sunday’s vote.

“We need to prove we’ll stand up for the rights of freedom, not only in the United States, but in other parts of the world where we think it’s in the best interest of the United States,” Chabot said. “Crimea is an area that clearly is significant to that region and to the United States as well.”

Chabot, who voted with 384 of his colleagues one week ago to approve a cost-loan agreement with Ukraine, said the U.S. should re-evaluate its energy policies. Specifically, the U.S. needs to be an exporter of natural gas in order to ease Russia’s stranglehold over European countries dependent on natural gas from the country, he said.

“The problem is many of those allies are not willing to stand up to Russia, they’re to dependent on them for energy,” Chabot said. “We should have been helping all along to alleviate that dependence on Russia by becoming a source of energy export around the world.”

Chabot also discussed the likelihood of passing comprehensive immigration reform, something that Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) said he wanted to accomplish before the end of the year.

Chabot said he would not vote for a comprehensive reform deal similar to a bill passed by the Senate in 2013. Rather, Chabot wants to pass immigration reform in pieces, which he and his colleagues in the judiciary committee have started doing.

The committee passed four separate bills dealing with immigration. One would streamline the visa system to allow students studying in America to stay in the country after graduation.

“Our policy now says ‘OK you get your degree here, you get a great education leave and go create your job in India or China or wherever,’” Chabot said. “I say, and what this bill says is let them stay and create their businesses here.

We ought to be encouraging that type of thing.”

Chabot hopes Boehner brings the bills to the house floor for a vote. He’s confident the house will pass all four bills, however he’s less certain about their fate in the Democrat-controlled Senate.

SEE CHABOT PG 2

One of the snowiest winters in the city’s recorded history has also been one of the most expensive to clean up at the University of Cincinnati.

“We’ve used a lot more salt than ever and spent a lot more money on it,” said Robert Bauer, director of grounds, moving and transportation services. “Salt has also been in short supply recently so it makes it a little more difficult to maintain a safe environment. Our top priority is to make it safe.”

UC has already spent more than $68,767 this year on more than 450 tons of salt, Bauer said. The university has another $15,000 worth of salt on order for the remainder of the season.

Additionally, the university has spent $187,335 to pay maintenance workers who have clocked in nearly 10,000 hours removing snow and ice.

“We’ve got less bodies to take care of more ground so it’s been helpful to us when the university closes or delays the openings so we can get out there and get some of this done before the foot traffic packs down the snow,” Bauer said.

It’s not clear where the money of the increased costs is coming from. Bob Ambach, vice president for administration and finance, said this winter is one of the worst in recent history.

“I am not sure how you prepare better for weather,” Ambach said. “We have to take it as it comes.”

Cincinnati has seen 32 consecutive days of measurable snowfall in 2014, bringing the snowfall total to 44 inches — the fifth snowiest season in the city’s history, according the National Weather Service.

The snowiest was the 1977-78 season with a total snowfall of 53.9 inches.

So far, the City of Cincinnati has used around 55,000 tons of salt, costing roughly $2.6 million, said Larry Whitaker, public information officer for the city of Cincinnati.

Bauer said that in his 28 years at UC, few winters compare to the magnitude of this academic school year.

“We’ve had a couple years where we’ve had some bad ice storms and that’s usually the worst,” Bauer said. “But we’ve never closed this many days in a year in the past, so that’s a pretty good indicator of how bad it was.”

To help compensate for the harsh winter, Bauer said UC has recently been supplied with additional equipment. In years past, UC maintenance crews were only allotted three Jeeps and a pickup SEE WINTER PG 2

Clifton council designates space for market; future still uncertain Council wants former IGA to become grocery store; board member lobbying for cooperative market CHANDLER BONN CONTRIBUTOR

Clifton Town Meeting unanimously passed a resolution Monday to support the development of a grocery store at the former Clifton IGA, located at 319 Ludlow Ave. The resolution, crafted through the discourse of about 100 emails, states the best use for the former IGA is a full-service grocery store. It represented Clifton residents’ desire for another grocery in the area.

The resolution emphasized CTM’s unbiased position, not supporting any particular solution but rather supporting a number of solutions. These solutions include a stand-alone grocery, a super market, a chain, an independent grocer and a food co-op.

The idea of a mixed-use property is also supported as long as 15,000 square feet are used for a grocery.

“We are involved in making zoning decisions,” said Ben Pantoja, president of CTM.“We can’t show any particular favoritism for one business or another, or we will lose our credibility as an unbiased decision maker.”

The reason for clarity on their unbiased position lies

with CTM board member, Adam Hyland. Hyland chairs the Clifton Cooperative Market, a group of Clifton residents who have sought to purchase the former IGA and turn it into a cooperative grocery store with members of the community purchasing $200 shares in the business. Hyland abstained from the vote to pass the resolution.

After the resolution passed, Hyland spoke to the attending audience, advocating for a co-op solution and asking for public support of the Clifton Cooperative Market purchasing the former IGA. The legal groundwork for establishing the market has been completed and members are working with outside consultants to construct a business plan, said Shaun McCance, Clifton Cooperative Market member.

The consumer based co-op model, which the organization is based on, is owned by the investors of the company and not by a corporate entity.

“We’ll be able to work with other businesses on Ludlow, not necessarily against them,” Hyland said.“You may not get that with another grocery.”

Hyland surveyed 10 local businesses about the impact the absence of the local grocery has left. Without a local anchor, such as a grocery,“they’re barely hanging on,” he said.

SEE MARKET PG 2

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MADISON SCHMIDT CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER Residents in the Clifton neighborhood showed up at Monday’s Clifton Town Meeting to support a grocery store at the former IGA location.

2 / NEWS UC faculty roundtable dissects situation in Ukraine THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 / NEWSRECORD.ORG

Panel members agree Russia acting out of vulnerability; west will not go to war BECKY BUTTS ONLINE EDITOR

As a panel of expert faculty at the University of Cincinnati attempted to dissect the situation in Ukraine Wednesday, the group concluded Russia’s involvement is an act of vulnerability with no intention of going to war.

The consensus was Russia’s presence in the Ukrainian conflict is a well-planned strategy to re-establish itself as a leading world power.

The panelists agreed there is very little that Western nations can do to stop the crisis.

“War is completely off the table,” said Willard Sunderland, head of the history department. “This is just strong-armed neighborhood politics.”

Russia has been in a 20-year period of decline since the collapse of the Soviet Union, said Richard Harknett, UC political science department head.

“The strategic behavior of Russia is less likely to be about a sense of opportunity and gain but rather from a sense of vulnerability and loss,” Harknett said. “It’s been a two-decade period of decline in influence within its region, in influence in international politics in general.”

This decline, paired with the European Union’s growing influence and NATO looming on Russia’s doorstep, highlights the country’s vulnerability. The possibility of an alliance between Ukraine and Europe spooked Russia into inserting itself into the conflict to gain influence over Ukraine through its back door: Crimea.

“Their objective is not to take over Crimea,” Harknett said. “It is to guarantee Ukraine doesn’t move into NATO and the EU.” Sunderland said Ukraine is “valuable real-estate” between nations of the European Union and Russia. It serves as a buffer-zone between two global powers and is a melting pot of culture and influence.

“The very name Ukraine speaks of the in betweenness of this place,” Sunderland said. “In Russian, Ukraine means border.”

Much of the country is split between Ukrainians with pro-European sentiments and those with pro-Russian sentiments.

Roughly 60 percent of the population in Crimea — where much of the tension is — consists of Russianspeaking immigrants from World War II and 25 percent are Ukrainian, Sunderland said.

Sunderland said the militant history of Crimea and

PHIL DIDION PHOTO EDITOR Professor Willard Sunderland speaks at a Ukraine roundtable discussion event in McMicken Hall using his background in Russian studies Wednesday.

the majority of Russian descendants are two of the main reasons why Crimean citizens want to secede from Ukraine to join Russia.

Sunday, Crimea citizens will vote on a referendum to separate themselves from the Ukrainian government with intentions to join Russia. Western nations threaten that if this passes, it will not be recognized.

Harknett said Russia is willing to “bear a much higher level of cost” in order to ensure this does not happen.

So far, that cost could present itself in the form of oil sanctions, travel restrictions and other economic penalties.

But if Russian president Vladimir Putin handles the situation gracefully, the end result is likely to be reached in the form of a treaty guaranteeing Ukraine’s noninvolvement with NATO and the EU, Harknett said. Then, everything will return to the status quo and Ukraine will remain a border nation between Europe and Russia.

Obama pledges support to Ukrainian leader DNC announces

PROVIDED U.S. President Barack Obama and Ukraine Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk discuss the current situation of the Russian military intervention in the Crimea Wednesday.

Obama meets with Ukrainian leaders; Kerry to travel to Europe MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama delivered an Oval Office rebuke Wednesday to Russian President Vladimir Putin with Ukraine’s new prime minister at his side, warning that the U.S. and the international community would be “forced to apply a cost” should Russia refuse to withdraw from Crimea.

“There’s another path available and we hope that President Putin is willing to seize that path,” Obama told reporters as he sat next to newly installed Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk.“But if he does not, I am very confident that the international community will stand strongly behind the Ukrainian government in preserving its unity and its territorial integrity.”

Obama said the Ukrainian government is willing to talk with Russia and engage in a

process that he said “could lead to different arrangements over time” for the Ukrainian region of Crimea.

“But, that’s not something that can be done with the barrel of a gun pointed at you,” he said.

The high-stakes meeting comes five days before a controversial Russia-backed referendum in Crimea on leaving Ukraine and joining Russia is to be held.

The State Department announced that Secretary of State John Kerry will head to London for a meeting Friday with his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

The hastily called summit — after Kerry refused Lavrov’s invitation to Moscow earlier this week — appears to be an eleventh-hour attempt to get Putin to accept the White House’s offer of an “off-ramp” to ditch the secession referendum and open talks with the Ukrainians.

Obama expressed hope that Kerry’s mission to London would work out, though he did not seem especially optimistic.

“But we’ll keep on pressing,” the president said, adding that he and the international community “completely reject” what he called a “slapdash” election.

Yatsenyuk, a former opposition leader who just two weeks ago was elected prime minister, sat in a wing chair to Obama’s right and spoke resolutely.

“My country feels that the United States stands by the Ukrainian people,” he said in fluent English.“Mr. President, it’s all about freedom. We fight for our freedom, we fight for our independence, we fight for our sovereignty and we will never surrender.”

Yatsenyuk later spoke to an overflow crowd at the Atlantic Council, a foreign policy institute, thanking the United States and the European Union for responding to the crisis “with one voice.”

He said Ukraine still considers Russia a partner and wants to get back to real bilateral relations, but it can’t with tanks and troops present as part of an “incursion.”

“If it’s about Crimea, we as a Ukrainian government are ready to start a national dialogue to increase the rights of autonomous republic of Crimea, starting with taxes and ending with other aspects, like language issues,” he said.

“We’re ready to start this dialogue — but the constitutional one, in the Ukrainian Parliament, having everyone sitting at the table.”

The referendum Sunday, he warned, could be Putin’s door to a wider foray, perhaps even to a seizure of all of Ukraine.

Though he vowed Ukrainians would never surrender, he added that Western financial and political support would be crucial to thwarting Putin.

Yatsenyuk spoke with tempered optimism, stressing that he understood the difficulties of the effort needed to sway a defiant Moscow.

“This is the dramatic lesson for all of us: We need to articulate a real response to this kind of situation,” the Ukrainian leader said.“Let’s be frank. There is no clear-cut response. We are trying to find a way out.”

Yatsenyuk said Ukraine was ready for presidential elections May 25.

FROM WINTER PG 1

CHECK OUT NEWSRECORD.ORG DURING SPRING BREAK FOR UPDATES FROM THE AAC CHAMPIONSHIP.

truck to distribute salt and clear walkways.

“Now we have an additional five Gators with plows and salt spreaders outfitted for that same job,” Bauer said. “So it can take care of the sidewalks and the more narrow areas that the Jeeps were too large for.”

This winter has been a learning experience, Bauer said.

“We’re going to try to stock up a little bit and store some to avoid any shortages that we’ve experienced this year,” Bauer said. “We’re going to try to sit on about 80 skids so we’ll have at least 100 tons or so on hand that’ll be our backup plan if the salt should get short next year.”

FROM CHABOT PG 1

While Chabot said he supports certain aspects of immigration reform, he would not support legislation that includes a pathway to citizenship — like the Senate’s proposal did.

“Until I’m satisfied that the administration is serious about enforcing the existing law and getting control of our borders,” Chabot said. “I’m not for liberalizing our laws relative to allowing people to stay here unless were sure were not having more people coming in.”

CHIEF.NEWSRECORD@GMAIL.COM / 513.556.5912

plan to expand voter rights

BRYAN SHUPE CHIEF REPORTER

The Democratic National Committee is moving forward with a project officials say is aimed at making voting more accessible to college students and young Americans.

The Voter Expansion Project, announced by former President Bill Clinton Feb. 27, is intended to combat voting laws the DNC considers “overly burdensome to students.”

The project would make it easier to create more voters, regardless of their political affiliation, said Pratt Wiley, DNC director of voter expansion, during a conference call with college media.

“We measure our success by making sure that everyone can vote,” Wiley said.

“We need to make sure that every voice is heard, not just Democratic voters, but every voter. That’s good for democracy.”

Though the project is still in an early phase, members of DNC said they plan to work closely with local election administrators to ensure that poll supervisors have the training and resources needed to make sure that elections are being administered fairly.

Wiley and Mo Elleithee, DNC director of communication, said the Republican Party is purposely creating challenges for young Americans as a way to increase their chances of winning elections.

“They’re tired of losing after having lost the popular vote in five of the last six presidential elections,” Elleithee said.

“They know that the more people vote, the worse they do. So their recourse is to limit participation by making it harder for people to vote.”

Republicans have argued any changes on their part are intended to restrict voter fraud. Furthermore, Voter Expansion Project critics said the DNC’s efforts could increase the possibility of voter fraud and that these laws are in place to prevent it.

Willey disagrees with that assessment.

“We think that there are great safety measures already in place, which is why the instances of fraud across the country are so low,” Wiley said. “The cost of denying hundreds of thousands of people their right to be heard is simply too great to catch one or two people who may have skirted the system.”

FROM MARKET PG 1

With CTM’s support of the implementation of a grocery store, only one major hurdle is left: Someone needs to buy the property. Negotiations to purchase the building were nonexistent in 2013, with owner Steve Goessling asking for more than $2 million for the property. The price has been lowered and discussions between Goessling and potential buyers, including Clifton Cooperative Market, are underway.

“We have made an offer to purchase the building,” McCance said.“As of yet, the offer is sitting on [Goessling’s] desk.”

Hyland and other members of the Clifton Market are holding a public meeting to discuss logistics at the Esquire Theatre, Saturday at 10 a.m.

“We’re going to get it,” Hyland said.“We’re confident that this is going to happen. We as a community will set our destiny.”

3 / COLLEGE LIFE

THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 / NEWSRECORD.ORG

Students cut ties with hair, donate to cancer patients minimum of eight inches to be used in the process of creating wigs.

“People get their hair cut anyway,” said Irini Sfyris, president of the UC Beautiful Lengths campaign. “Why not have it cut in a fun and energetic environment?”

The approximately 80 individuals registered to donate hair readied their scissors after a brief address from Sfyris. Others fumbled with their hair, tentatively yielding rulers and making the decision to donate on the spot.

Soon after Sfyris ended her speech, the sound of

“People get their hair cut anyway. Why not have it cut in a fun and energetic environment?”

- Irini Sfyris, UC Beautiful Lengths campaign president

Approximately 80 individuals from UC and the community registered to donate their hair. Donations are used to create wigs for women battling cancer.

Registered individuals donate at least eight inches during UC Beautiful Lengths campaign event EMILY BEGLEY COLLEGE LIFE EDITOR

More than 80 men and women in Tangeman University Center Room 400 absentmindedly ran their fingers through their hair, listening to a story about a 90-yearold woman diagnosed with cancer.

Visiting a wig store, the elderly woman confidently stated her style preference: a striking blond pixie cut.

Her husband had wanted her to cut her hair in a pixie

PHIL DIDION PHOTO EDITOR

fashion for years, she said, and there was no better time to try out the new look.

In the midst of the story, many audience members busied themselves crafting their hair into skinny, separate braids in preparation for the University of Cincinnati Beautiful Lengths campaign donation event.

The event emphasized the importance of the UC Beautiful Lengths campaign and similar programs that highlight the elation of the women who receive wigs made from donated hair.

The event gave students and community members a convenient opportunity to donate their hair to women battling cancer. Participants were asked to donate a

scissors slicing through thick sections of hair filled the room. Many participants excitedly held up their amputated braids, turning their heads to hand-held mirrors before dropping the braids in plastic bags for donation.

“It’s kind of that comradery feel,” said Ashley Ng, a fifth-year engineering student and event participant.

“When you’re doing it as a group, it’s not quite as scary.”

Twenty participants won an on-site appointment with stylists, who set up stations on the right side of the room. Others left the event early to meet up with personal hairdressers.

While some participants retained shoulder-length hair, many sported pixie and buzz cuts, just meeting the eight inches required for donation.

Despite the amount of hair participants shed, the event highlighted the beauty of each individual’s physical transformation.

Donators were encouraged to not only note the absence of their hair the next time they look into a mirror but to think of the women who will benefit from the wigs it creates — a contribution enabling women battling cancer to express and preserve their individuality.

Cultures come together during WorldFest Week NICK THOMPSON CONTRIBUTOR

A phrase on the United States seal, “E pluribus unum,” meaning “Out of many, one,” was personified Monday during a University of Cincinnati’s WorldFest Week event.

Hosted in Tangeman University Center Great Hall, the event welcomed students to get a taste of the many different cultures that shape the world.

“It’s very important to learn about other cultures,” said Molly Lewis, a second-year dietetics student.

Flags from across the world lined the walls of the Great Hall while a variety of cultural music resonated through the room and tables offered students dishes from around the world.

A video at the beginning of the event showed interviews with people of different ethnicities.

Each person explained what he or she loves about America, as well as the hardships they experienced while starting new lives in the U.S. Many of the people featured in the video referred to America as “beautiful” and a country that “celebrates diversity and being unique,” which is the sentiment of WorldFest.

A variety show served as the main event.

A fashion show displayed different outfits and garments from different parts of the world and a dancing portion showcased various cultural styles like salsa, Irish step dancing and traditional Indian dance.

“The part of the event that really impressed me today had to be the Indian dancing,” said Marcella Ranieri, a fourth-year dietetics student.

Although the main goal of the event was to celebrate diversity, WorldFest meant something different to everyone.

“It’s about showcasing different cultures and showing other people that you are proud of where you’re from,” Ranieri said. “I’m of Italian decent, and that is something I am very proud of.”

Katelyn Craig, a second-year dietetics student, saw WorldFest as more of a learning experience. “[WorldFest] is about experiencing different cultures and learning things we didn’t know before,” she said.

LAUREN KREMER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot [R-OH] opened up the floor for discussion during a College Republicans meeting Monday.

Chabot talks achieving political proficiency Congressman discusses issues, beliefs during College Republicans meeting HEATHER THURMAN CONTRIBUTOR

For many student Republicans, an informal meeting with a well-known Cincinnati politician was an opportunity to learn more about becoming successful in politics while discussing complex, twosided political issues.

U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot [R-OH] spoke in Swift Hall Monday during a weekly meeting hosted by the University of Cincinnati College Republicans, a student organization with the goals of supporting the Republican agenda and becoming future political leaders.

“He is a large part of the Republican Party, and he just seems to love us,” said Chris Pierce, College Republicans

treasurer. “We were ecstatic to have Chabot come two years in a row.”

The event drew in several new faces, enticed by the opportunity to hear Chabot speak regarding his history in politics.

Chabot’s relaxed, friendly tone created an informal atmosphere, and his discussion incorporated humor throughout his detailed description of his career. He also explained the duties and processes of congressmen in office.

“I believe that everyone needs to be informed about their government to understand and be able to vote,” said Anthony Tong, a first-year chemical engineer student. Like Tong, many members of the College Republicans discussed issues regarding current political problems with Chabot.

The congressman hosted a question

and answer session, allowing for direct discussion between Chabot and the students. Audience members asked questions concerning current issues, political power and the next presidential election, and they were not hesitant to question his views and positions regarding certain topics.

When asked who he thought would be the lead Democratic candidate for the next presidential election, Chabot said.

“I would be shocked if Hillary Clinton didn’t win the candidate position.”

Because the meeting spanned only 30 minutes, many students gathered after the event to continue discussing the topics brought up during Chabot’s visit.

“It’s always good to have Chabot come in and inspire college students to get involved,” said Cody Rizzuto, College Republicans president.

Organization serves up samples of diverse Hispanic culture

MADISON SCHMIDT CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER Students sampled a variety of food Tuesday during a WorldFest event hosted by Latinos en Acción. Spanish paella, churros and flan were served.

Latinos en Acción hosts Tapas on Tuesday to highlight Spain during celebratory WorldFest Week TAYLOR SPAW CONTRIBUTOR

The scent of Spanish paella, churros and flan attracted students to the Steger Student Life Center lounge Tuesday afternoon. The dishes were served as part of Latinos en Acción’s Tapas on Tuesday event, held as a

part of WorldFest Week at the University of Cincinnati.

“Events like these open up people’s eyes to different cultures, especially when people think of Hispanic, they think Mexican, but there are so many different cultures within the Hispanic term,” said Cappi Pulido, LEA member. “So we just like to open people’s eyes to all the different parts.”

LEA is one of many organizations participating in WorldFest Week, which celebrates cultural diversity on both a small and large scale.

The primary goal of the Tapas on Tuesday installment was to educate students about Hispanic culture, beginning with food.

“We wanted to show Spanish food isn’t the typically spicy Mexican that they are so familiar with,” Pulido said. “It’s a combination of different flavors and seasonings.”

The event also featured a discussion on misconceptions surrounding bullfighting. “Many think it is just the killing of a bull, whereas for Spaniards, it is much more ritualistic and spiritual,” said Marina Coma, graduate student.

Tapas on Tuesday is not exclusive to WorldFest; the event is hosted each week with each installment focusing on a different Hispanic culture.

“We wanted to honor Spain for WorldFest and show different parts of the culture with food and the bullfighting presentation,” said Nadia Merchant, LEA

president. “Many people don’t get to experience culture after they graduate, so why not get that exposure on campus? Events like these show that America is a melting pot.”

MADISON SCHMIDT CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER Graduate student Marina Coma discussed misconceptions relating bullfighting, explaining that, for Spaniards, the practice is a ritualistic, spiritual experience.

4 / ARTS The War on Drugs’ latest efforts yield success

THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 / NEWSRECORD.ORG

‘Lost in the Dream’ takes influences from 1980s while still fitting perfectly with contemporary music MONROE TROMBLY STAFF REPORTERS

A band formed in Philadelphia in 2005, The War on Drugs isn’t necessarily prolific, but is consistent in their perspective and commentary of 21st century American life.

Adam Granduciel, primary songwriter, singer and guitarist, crafted “Lost in the Dream,” an album that follows in the footsteps and the success of the 2011 album “Slave Ambient.”

Granduciel continues to play music that’s reflective and pensive, yet more energetic.

The War on Drugs, a band that indie guitarist Kurt Vile helped start, creates music that reflects on the feelings and good times of the past, while turning an eye toward the sun-drenched future.

This is an album that sounds as if it’s been plucked from the days of powerful ’80s rock, yet it oddly fits right in with the feelings of the 21st century.

“Lost in the Dream” is nostalgic in the way it fills the

mind, yearning for the sunny days that occupied the past but optimistic that there will be many, many more to come.

The songs are confident with a calm, focused and sanguine demeanor. Granduciel, with his folksy, Dylanesque intonation, gives the songs a huge depth of soulful emotion.

“The War on Drugs, a band that indie guitarist Kurt Vile helped start, creates music that reflects on the feelings and good times of the past while turning an eye toward the sun-drenched future.”

“Lost in the Dream” is a potpourri of musical influences and elements, crafting an incredible piece of music that can be most simply defined as Americana.

This is Americana music that can be powerful, haunting and incredibly meditative due to how Granduciel divides the album.

Interludes, such as “The Haunting Idle,” employ

feedback from guitars and simple, underlying synths chords that melt into introspective compositions.

The chord-driven songs are not ballads, yet they hold a progressive touch with heavily layered melodies.

These swooning chords are joined by short refrains of acoustic instruments, and drum machines that drive the beat that keep the drawn-out melodies from fading out on their own.

Granduciel’s powerful, echoing vocals compliment the loose and driving structure of songs such as “Under the Pressure” and “Burning,” which accelerate in speed and changes of chord as the songs play out. What makes “Lost in the Dream” so exceptional is the band’s use and feeling of tension and anticipation, using minor chords and half steps to build until everything is released at once.

While “Lost in the Dream” might be a casual, folksy and fitting record to spin in the background, listeners will feel their conversations start to lapse as people tune into the album’s intoxicating influence on emotion.

“Lost in the Dream” may not be a fully-fledged concept album, but it’s best to let the whole album play out without interruption on a warm, breezy afternoon with nothing to do.

‘300: Rise of an Empire’ death of franchise JEREMY SIMMONS CONTRIBUTOR

In “300: Rise of an Empire” screenwriter Zack Snyder of the 2006 hit movie “300” continues the swashbuckling swordplay and ferocious Greek versus Persia stonecircle death match, this time with Noam Murro as director.

Like its predecessor, “300: Rise of the Empire” is based on actual events.

Viewers witness the battle of Salamis — eventually — and an outmatched Themistokles (Sullivan Stapleton) fights the vast fleet of Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro).

Artemisia is brought to life by the commanding presence of Eva Green as she guides the will of King Xerxes and the Persian fleet. Leading up to the battle, the movie is a tangle of “why should we care?” storylines, including Xerxes’ apotheosis in a pool of glowing god juice so he can continue his father’s war.

Meanwhile, Themistokles is causing trouble among the Persian ships and draws the attention of Artemisia, who digs his martial skills and, um, rippling manliness. After seducing him she offers him a place of honor in her army, but he refuses because he would prefer to live free and not be a slave to the Persian crown.

Although only males with full citizenship had any rights in this Greek society, and Greeks had slaves, that reality would stick a pin in the “folks fighting for freedom against mean oppressors from the east” theme.

Meanwhile, the Persian armies are stomping the living hell out of Greece.

Full of hate, Artemisia takes matters into her own hands and launches Persian ships against the Greeks. Thus, in a nod to the fictionalized history, we have a cataclysmic naval battle in the Straits of Salamis.

Only a fool goes to see a movie like this and expects subtle film craft or David Mamet-quality dialogue. It’s about action, sex, CGI bling and blood, that’s a given.

The set-piece battles and spectacles are what draw in viewers. So even viewing the film with a meter set at “guilty pleasure entertainment,” the movie still failed miserably. It’s a disconnected, meandering gore fest, with requisite geysers of blood, impossible swordplay, CGI hordes and ships crashing into one another in a shower of splinters.

Eva Green’s smoky screen presence props the film up at times, a single jewel amongst a cast that at best might be sprinkled over the next “Fast and Furious” movie.

Characters, even in action films, must give viewers a reason to care about them.

If characters are just faces on the screen, then the audience doesn’t care when they are slaughtered or victorious. There is no development of that here. Even the death of one of the lead characters registers barely a flutter. The dialogue is lifeless, and a stronger cast couldn’t have done much better. Platitudes about freedom and two-dimensional bad-guy stuff abound.

“Today we will dance across the backs of dead Greeks.” Oh, dear.

Save your money, read Herodotus and use your imagination. It will be better than “300: Rise of an Empire.”

PROVIDED President Barack Obama pointed out in the interview with Zach Galifianakis that having a third term as president would work out as well as ‘‘The Hangover Part III.’ Obama’s jokes were just as funny as Galifianakis’.

‘Between Two Ferns’ hosts Obama US president chooses unusual avenue to promote Affordable Care Act ZACH HATFIELD CONTRIBUTOR

When visiting Zach Galifianakis’ “Between Two Ferns” web series — a parody of celebrity interviews on Funny or Die, a comedy video website — one is usually greeted with a surfeit of famous faces that range from Bruce Willis and Will Ferrell to Michael Cera and Justin Bieber.

So it’s surprising to see United States President Barack Obama amid the pop culture representatives obsessed over by the youth of America.

“My mouse pad broke, and I had to get my great aunt some diabetes shoes,” Galifianakis starts the interview, explaining to Obama why he was late.

The satirical talk show is known for Galifianakis’ straightforward and flippant style of interviewing and more often than not, asking irrelevant questions or simply insulting his guests with cheap shots.

That’s not to say he’s not hilarious in a cringe-inducing way. His blunt questions and the abundance of awkward silence are what have propelled the series — with each show averaging about six minutes — to viral fame.

It’s relieving to see that Galifianakis refused to grant Obama any immunity from his outrageous inquiries, asking questions like, “Why would you get the guy who created the Zune to make your website?” and “In 2013 you pardoned a turkey –– what do you have planned for 2014?”

Obama, who has already proved his sense of humor and impeccable timing in speeches and celebrity roasts, plays along with the interview, answering that he’ll probably pardon another turkey in 2014, and adds, “Does that depress you, seeing one turkey taken out of circulation, a turkey you couldn’t eat?”This was met with a malicious glare from Galifianakis,

who moves on to questions about the president’s birth certificate.

In addition to the standard things one expects in a “Between Two Ferns” episode — jokes about Galifianakis’ weight, neverending pauses — Obama used the show as a platform to promote the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

Though some might think the notion of Obama using “Between Two Ferns” to further his own political agenda was slightly awkward, Galifianakis spent a majority of the interview complaining and making fun of the president, balancing the episode on a tightrope between politics and humor.

“Here we go, what did you come here to plug?” Galifianakis asked, pretending to straighten up papers. Obama spent the latter portion of the clip discussing the health care website —healthcare.gov — in response to Galifianakis’ fictional spider bites, which he informs the president, are “everywhere.”

Obama said that young Americans could easily get health care now, likening the price to “what it costs you to pay your cell phone bill.”

Using the show as a pedestal for promotion of health care is apparently working, with National Public Radio and the White House health care adviser’s Twitter feed reporting that traffic to healthcare.gov has increased significantly.

As I sifted through the dark bowels of YouTube comments — before the video was taken down due to copyright violation — I found a blurred reaction that illustrates the polarization between politics and humor in America.

The comments range from people critiquing how the president wastes his time appearing on interview-parodies like this to viewers expressing how funny they thought the video was. Other commenters simply criticized the web series for not being humorous.

Many conservatives appear confused as to why Obama should be doing his

job instead of making cameos on “The Hangover” star’s talk show.

But isn’t he doing his job? I think some viewers are a little confused about seeing the president on a program that revolves around potshots and nervous, embarrassing comedy.

It’s true –– I can’t imagine another U.S. president appearing on Funny or Die — all right, maybe Lincoln or Jackson — but then again, Obama is a different kind of president, one who values being able to engage and effectively communicate with America’s youth.

So why is this opportunity to inform people about affordable health care deemed unacceptable or disgraceful?

No matter political affiliation, Obama should not be condemned for trying to get through to people and for actually knowing how to do it.

This wasn’t an interview with “60 Minutes” or even an interview with an actual journalist. It was simply a — successful — way for Obama to help educate people who may want health care before it’s too late.

Obama is a conversational president; this is why he has taken the time to participate in Reddit Ask Me Anything and videos like this — not because he’s desperate or likes to squander valuable time.

The end of the video culminates when Obama presses a red button, which is always arbitrarily placed on the table between the show’s guest and his host. The black curtain falls to the floor, revealing that the talk show was, all along, being filmed in a room in the White House without Obama’s knowledge.

“Seriously?” he asks, annoyed. “You’ve been shooting these shows here in the diplomatic room?”

In the end, the six-minute episode of “Between Two Ferns,” which after a day has already garnered over eight million views, showed that the president knows how to get the attention he wants.

Short album appeals to wide audience Ringworm infects listeners with brutal Ohio-originated metalcore HEATHER KING STAFF REPORTER

PROVIDED Xerxes (Santoro Rodrigo) picked the beautiful and fierce Eva Green to lead his armies against the pesky Greeks this go around.

There is no filler on “Hammer of the Witch.” It begins. It thrashes. It’s done.

Formed in 1991, one of Cleveland’s metalcore originators, Ringworm unleashed another album into the world.

A monumental installment of brutal and heart-pounding force of music, Ringworm is still defining the metalcore genre after 23 years. A no-messing-around attitude on “Hammer of the Witch” coupled with absolute power makes for an amazing album.

The first track, “Dawn of Decay,” is dark and sinister; raw and bone crunching; and it is the perfect opener. The song begins with a crackling vinyl sound as the guitars start to build with electric

intensity. Amazing and brutal vocals over a pure head-banging riff lets listeners know what the band is all about. Never a dull moment musically, the dynamic double bass element of the drums drives the song with crushing beats.

Up next is “Bleed,” fast-paced guitars and thrashing beats immediately thunder through the speakers. The vocals are absolutely unrelenting, and vocalist James “Human Furnace” Bulloch screams with power and rage. Drummer Danny Zink has dynamic double bass skills and his percussions are technical without being overdone.

“Psychic Vampire” demonstrates how the metalcore genre is done. The song mixes classic metal guitars with the thrash and hardcore elements of the vocals and the beats. This is a song that fans from many different rock backgrounds can appreciate; punkers, old school metal

heads, thrashers and hardcore fans have at least one thing to love about Ringworm.

The title track literally defines the record. This song is faster than lightning and louder than thunder.

Every element of the musicality is perfect; from the powerful vocals to the thrashing guitars Ringworm fans will have their brains rattled and hearts pumping.

“Hammer of the Witch” is proof that Ringworm has not lost its edge or its touch with the perfect mix of metal, thrash and hardcore.

The album is short, brutal and to the point; that is what fans have come to expect of Ringworm, and they will definitely not be disappointed with their 16th studio album. Relapse Records features a top-notch lineup, and Ringworm is definitely on the top of the list.

5 / NEWS

THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 / NEWSRECORD.ORG

College costs rising more rapidly for poorer students Analysis of federal data shows lower-income, working-class students at a disadvantage MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS

WASHINGTON — America’s colleges and universities are quietly shifting the burden of their big tuition increases onto low-income students, while many higher-income families are seeing their college costs rise more slowly, or even fall, an analysis of federal data shows.

It’s a trend financial aid experts and some university administrators worry will further widen the gap between the nation’s rich and poor as college degrees — especially four-year ones — drift beyond the economic reach of growing numbers of students.

“We’re just exacerbating the income inequalities and educational achievement gaps,” said Deborah Santiago, co-founder and vice president of Excelencia in Education, a nonprofit group that advocates for Latino and other students.

The shift also runs contrary to an Obama administration push to make a college education more affordable for low-income students. At a White House summit in January, college leaders and others promised to find ways to make degrees more accessible for the less affluent.

In fact, lower-income and working-class students at private colleges and universities have seen the amount they pay, after grants and scholarships, increase faster than the amount their middle and upper-income classmates pay, according to an analysis of data that institutions are required to report to the U.S. Department of Education.

The net price, the total annual cost of tuition, fees, room, board, books and other expenses, minus federal, state and institutional scholarships and grants rose for all students by an average of $1,100 at public and $1,500 at private universities between the 2008-09 and 2011-12 academic years, the most recent period for which the figures are available.

At private universities, students in the lowest income group saw the biggest dollar increase over that period: about $1,700, after adjusting for inflation, according to the analysis by The Dallas Morning News, The Hechinger Report and the Education Writers Association. Higherincome students paid more overall, but their costs rose more slowly, an inflation-adjusted average of about $850 for middle-income families and $1,200 for those in the top income group.

At private research universities, including many of the nation’s most elite, the net price rose by an average of $2,700 for the poorest families, those with incomes under $30,000 a year, compared with $1,400 for their higherincome classmates. Those averages are also adjusted for inflation, and the sample is limited to students who received any federal aid.

Experts and advocates concede that, as tuition spirals ever higher, even more affluent families need help paying for it, making the situation far more complex.

Wealthier students still pay more for college educations, on average. But to help colleges maintain enrollment

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numbers, keep revenue rolling in and raise standings in annual rankings, these students are getting billions of dollars in discounts and institutional financial aid that many critics say should go instead to their lower-income classmates.

“Schools are talking out of both sides of their mouths,” said Stephen Burd, a senior policy analyst at the New America Foundation, a nonprofit think tank. “They say that they support access, but in general they’re giving more and more of their aid to higher-income students.”

Burd calls the practice “affirmative action for the rich.”

Financial aid officials say higher-income families have learned to work this system, pitting institutions against one another to negotiate for even more discounts, while also capturing a lopsided share of outside scholarships.

This phenomenon is occurring even as colleges and universities contend they’re less and less able to help lowincome families financially. Higher-income families also disproportionately benefit from tuition tax breaks and an outdated formula for the taxpayer-supported federal workstudy program.

If this really is an era of tight resources, then we need to make every dollar count,” said Julie Strawn, a former senior fellow at the Center for Postsecondary and Economic Success. Instead, Strawn says, “We’re pitting groups of students against each other, most of them from families that make less than $30,000 a year, on the premise that there just isn’t enough money to invest in low-income people going to college.”

Just as airline passengers pay varying prices for the same trip, college students often pay different prices for the same degree.

Until a few years ago, that information was hard or impossible to find. Now, colleges and universities must annually disclose their so-called “net price,” which is what families are left to cover through savings, loans, work study and private scholarships from civic groups and other sources.

The most recent data for the University of Notre Dame, for instance, show that the poorest students, defined as coming from families with annual incomes below $30,000, paid an average net price of just over $15,000 per year.

Students with family incomes between $48,000 and $75,000 paid more, around $18,500. And families that earn more than $110,000 paid the most, about $37,500.

Over the four years the data were collected, however, the net price for Notre Dame’s poorest freshmen more than doubled, from about $7,300 in 2008-09 to $15,100 in 201112, while it declined slightly for students in higher-income groups.

Some colleges and universities dispute the government’s formula for determining net price, which takes into account only students who receive so-called Title IV financial aid, and only the earnings of custodial parents. Many say they use a different calculation that, among other things, is based on total assets and the incomes of both parents, even if they’re divorced.

There are shortcomings with these figures, most notably that they take into account only full-time, firstyear students who receive federal financial aid.

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Contact editor-in-chief Kara Driscoll at chief.newsrecord@gmail.com

At Notre Dame, as an example, that means just under half of all freshmen are included. Still, the data offer the most comprehensive and transparent look at what students of varying financial means really pay. And because the government’s net-price figures have been calculated consistently over the years, they’re the best available measure of how financing patterns are changing.

Colleges and universities last year gave about $8.3 billion in so-called merit aid to students whose family incomes were too high for them to qualify for government-issued Pell Grants, the College Board reports.

Pell eligibility varies based on such things as whether students are dependent on their parents and go to school full time or part time and the cost of their tuition. Threequarters of Pell recipients come from families that make $30,000 or less per year.

That means public and private colleges and universities are spending more of their financial aid budgets trying to lure higher-income students, whose families earn much more than $30,000 a year, than on meeting the financial needs of low-income ones, according to a 2011 report from the U.S. Department of Education.

The colleges do this because dividing even a little money among several higher-income students means each of their families will pay the rest, filling more seats at a time when enrollments are declining, and keeping muchneeded revenue coming in while giving that same amount to a single low-income student would result in a loss to the bottom line.

Better-off students tend to come from better-funded high schools and also typically bring the kinds of entrance-test scores and grade-point averages that make colleges look better in those annual rankings than do students from poorer districts.

The result is that, since 1995, the proportion of students receiving merit aid has overtaken the proportion that gets need-based aid, nearly doubling from 24 percent to 44 percent at private institutions, and more than doubling at taxpayer-supported public universities, from 8 percent to 18 percent, according to that 2011 U.S. Department of Education report.

Some universities concede that they use merit aid to improve their academic standings.

“As an institution with a rising academic reputation and building selectivity, we do use merit strategies to employ scholarship dollars,” said Melissa Connolly, spokeswoman for Hofstra University in New York, where students whose families earn $30,000 a year or less face an average net price of about $26,800, while their wealthier classmates have seen their costs drop by about $1,100 to roughly $31,600.

“There are good arguments for institutions to make limited and judicious use of merit aid,” the University of Southern California’s Center for Enrollment Research, Policy and Practice and the Education Conservancy jointly warned as early as 2011. But “the practice has grown to the point of significantly reducing the funds to qualified students from lower-income households who could benefit from a college education.”

Kara Driscoll | Editor-in-Chief

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6 / SPORTS

THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 / NEWSRECORD.ORG

Cronin named AAC Coach of the Year; awards pile up for Kilpatrick JOSHUA MILLER SPORTS EDITOR

The University of Cincinnati took home three of the eight season-end awards handed out by the American Athletic Conference Wednesday at the conference’s inaugural awards ceremony in Memphis, Tenn.

UC head coach Mick Cronin, who led UC to its first conference championship since 2004, was honored as the conference coach of the year.

“I want to thank my team, congratulate Justin [Jackson] on his award, and my player of the year Sean Kilpatrick,” Cronin said. “[I want to thank] the University of Cincinnati, our board of trustees and everybody that put their faith in me eight years ago and named me head coach at my alma mater. It’s the honor of my lifetime.”

Prior to Cronin’s award, Justin Jackson was honored as the AAC Defensive Player of the Year and Sean Kilpatrick was honored with the conference’s sportsmanship award.

But for many, the ceremony will be remembered as a snub for the Bearcats, as Kilpatrick — the conference’s leading scorer — was beaten out for Conference Player of the Year by UConn’s Shabazz Napier. Prior to the ceremony Cronin felt no need to make a case for Kilpatrick’s claim to the award, as the senior had already done so.

“He did it emphatically,” Cronin said.“He did it night in and night out. His character and leadership were pretty evident to anyone who watched our team play. We have three guys that are worthy of being firstteam All-Americans, but I’m partial to SK.” Nevertheless, Kilpatrick is racking up accolades from media outlets across the nation. So far, he’s been named a first-team All-American by USA Today, Sporting News, NBC Sports, Bleacher Report and Sports Illustrated and a second-team AllAmerican by the United States Basketball Writers Association.

UC releases 2014 football schedule THE NEWS RECORD

The University of Cincinnati, in conjunction with the American Athletic Conference, released its finalized schedule for the 2014 football season Tuesday.

The Bearcats will open the season in a rare Friday night matchup against the University of Toledo Sept. 13. The game will be nationally televised on ESPNU and will also be UC’s first game at Paul Brown Stadium since 2012.

UC will play its six home games downtown due to the $86 million Nippert Stadium Renovation and Expansion Project that is scheduled to be complete in August 2015.

“It’s an exciting time with spring football going and our schedule being released,” said UC head coach Tommy Tuberville.“We are certainly looking forward to some great matchups, strong national television exposure and the chance to build on what we started here in 2013.”

UC finished 9-4 in Tuberville’s first season, but might have a tougher go of things next season, as they will travel to Ohio State University (Sept. 27) and the University of Miami Florida (Oct. 11).

The Bearcats open AAC play Oct. 4 against Memphis at Paul Brown Stadium.

UC will also host Miami University (Sept.

20), the University of South Florida (Oct. 24), East Carolina University (Nov. 15) and the University of Houston (Dec. 6).

In addition to OSU and Miami, UC will travel to Southern Methodist University (Oct. 18), Tulane University (Oct. 31), the University of Connecticut (Nov. 22) and Temple University (Nov. 29).

UC senior Sean Kilpatrick drives to the basket during UC’s 97-84 victory against Memphis on senior night at Fifth Third Arena.

LAUREN KREMER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Cronin sets aim on AAC tournament Season starts over as UC chases conference tournament championship, higher seed JOSHUA MILLER SPORTS EDITOR

The University of Cincinnati men’s basketball team clinched a share of its first conference championship since 2004 with a 70-66 win against Rutgers Saturday, and as far as head coach Mick Cronin is concerned, that doesn’t mean anything as of 7 p.m. Thursday.

“For us it’s back to 0-0, starting all over and trying to get the guys’ mindset where I need it moving forward,” Cronin said. “We’ve got to take a picture with the trophy then put it to bed.”

Cronin, who was awarded the American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year Award Wednesday, and his team are looking to add an AAC Tournament Trophy to their haul after what he described as an “unbelievable year.”

“Whenever you win a conference championship, at any level, it’s extremely rewarding,” he said. “But we won a conference championship with

five top-20 teams. It’s hard to do, that’s why we’ve had a few days off, let the guys relax and try to get it out of their system. March is a different game.”

The Bearcats came close to a conference tournament once before under Cronin, falling 50-44 to Louisville in the 2012 Big East Conference Tournament.

UC’s pursuit of the title will begin against the winner of Temple and Central Florida, but the Bearcats won’t know their first-round opponent until late Wednesday; it doesn’t matter to Cronin either way.

“I haven’t even thought about who I’d rather face,” he said. “These guys asked me if I wanted a film on my iPad of both teams and my answer is no. I’m worried about the Bearcats. Sometime Wednesday night we’ll figure out who we’re playing and start worrying about it then.”

Unlike the past seven years, when UC played in the Big East, which utilized an unbalanced regular-season schedule, the Bearcats have already played each conference opponent twice and will

have a much better idea of what they bring to the table.

UC is a perfect 4-0 against Temple and UCF this season, with the only close game coming at Temple. The Bearcats escaped a second-half comeback to defeat Temple 80-76, after playing the entire second half without senior Justin Jackson.

Much like that game, Jackson’s presence will be the key for UC, not only in the AAC Tournament, but in the NCAA tournament as well.

“The big key for us is keeping Justin consistent,” Cronin said. “We know what we’re going to get from [Sean Kilpatrick].”

The Bearcats have won every game this season in which Jackson has played at least 30 minutes.

Should the Bearcats win their opening game, which tips off at 7 p.m. Thursday at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn., they will face the winner of the UConn and Memphis game. UC dominated Memphis in both previous matchups this season, but fell 51-45 in their second matchup with UConn.

Bearcats slug Dayton en route to 18-5 win UC offense comes alive with season-best output against regional-rival EMILY WITT STAFF REPORTER

Powered by a season-high 19 hits, the University of Cincinnati baseball team cruised past the University of Dayton 18-5 Tuesday.

Four Bearcats — sophomores Russell Clark, Ian Happ and Devin Wenzel and freshman Jake Richmond — notched three hits, a career-high for Richmond.

It was a successful day in general for UC’s youngsters, with freshman Connor McVey driving in four runs.

The offense exploded early on the Flyers, as the Bearcats drove in 13 runs and 14 hits in the first three innings. In the second inning, 12 men stepped up to the plate driving in eight runs.

Clark hit successfully in all three innings, scoring two runs and two RBIs. Wenzel, who notched five RBIs and hit a solo homerun in the fifth, crushed two doubles and four RBIs in the first three innings. Happ also collected two hits and scored three runs.

“All of them stood out with very unselfish at-bats,” said UC head coach Ty Neal. “The guys did a very good job of being team guys. The situational hitting was much better.”

Struggling sophomore Mitch Patishall earned his first win of the season, pitching a season-high 7.0 innings. He found himself in a bases-loaded, no-outs situation in the bottom of the third, and Dayton emerged with four runs on the board. The RHP would stay strong for the rest of his outing, giving up a total of four runs and seven hits and striking out a career high of six batters.

“Mitch [Patishall] needs to command his head to improve and throw more quality strikes,” Neal said. “That’s gotten better. He only walked three through seven innings. For him, that’s progress.

We’ll get the command down, now he just needs to be a little more effective in the zone.”

Freshman Austin Woodby entered to pitch 2.0 innings in relief, allowing two hits and one run and striking out two.

Despite the offensive success, Neal still believes that the defensive play of the Bearcats is what has been setting them apart.

“I thought earlier in the year, especially our two games at Kentucky, we were giving up too many free bases, throwing the ball around a little bit, not communicating on defense and now, I just like where we are defensively,” he said. “That takes a lot of pressure off us offensively, and you’re not chasing two or three runs instantly when the game starts.

I think guys are seeing that with our defensive lineup, we can score runs.”

The Bearcats (5-10) will play a threegame series against the University of Akron Zips (6-6) this weekend. The first pitch is scheduled for Friday at 4 p.m. at Marge Schott Stadium.

Neal, who is in his first year at UC, took over after several consecutive losing seasons, but is starting to see the progress he’s been looking for and what he hopes to carry into the series against Akron.

“Overall, over the past four games, other than stranding 13 base runners on Sunday, I like the way we’re playing.

Unfortunately, our program is so used to losing, and it’s very contagious, and I think winning’s contagious also,” Neal said. “We’ve been trying to carry that to the next game.”

Renowned sports columnist predicts early exit for UC CBS sports writer Gregg Doyel talks Bearcats, journalism industry CHARLES GROVE STAFF REPORTER

National CBS Sports columnist Gregg Doyel spoke to aspiring sports journalists Monday in McMicken College, and while his main topic was how to succeed in modern journalism, he condemned the University of Cincinnati men’s basketball team’s chances in the NCAA Tournament.

The Bearcats, who are currently in Memphis, Tenn., preparing for their first-round matchup in the American Athletic Conference Tournament, are currently ranked 13th in the country and just won a share of their first conference championship since 2004. But Doyel feels that they will be making an early exit in the NCAA tournament. “[I don’t think they’ll go far], not far at all,” Doyel said. “I saw them play in person once and that was enough.”

Doyel referred to UC’s 58-57 loss to Louisville at Fifth Third Arena, which certainly wasn’t the Bearcats’ best performance of the season.

Although the Bearcats lost the game on a last-second shot from Louisville’s Russ Smith, they turned the ball over 13 times and shot just 28.6 percent (16-for-56) from the field. But it was the play of sophomore point guard Ge’Lawn Guyn that Doyel had major issues with.

“Ge’Lawn Guyn is awful, and not only is he awful, he’s not a leader,” he said.

“[At the Louisville game] Mick Cronin called him over and said, ‘Go tell so-and-so something.’ I watched Guyn turn around from Cronin and walk to the court. The player he was supposed to talk to jogs right by him and Guyn’s back is to Cronin.

The player runs right by him and Guyn never says a word to him.”

Doyel went on to say that the main reason for his lack of faith in the Bearcats is their lack of a true inside presence that elite teams will be able to exploit come tournament time. “[Justin] Jackson is interesting but he’s not a center. He can’t stop the really big guys,” Doyel said. “They’ve also got only one guy who can score. So they could win a first-round game, they probably will, but if they get past the round of 32 I’ll be stunned.”

As far as his input on making it in today’s journalism industry, Doyel — a University of Florida graduate who worked his way up from small-town newspapers to covering the Florida Marlins for the Miami Herald and Duke, North Carolina and North Carolina State for the Charlotte Observer — insists his success comes from working as hard as he possibly could every day.

“There’s no secret to how I got my first job,” Doyel said.“You need to understand that everyone on this campus is your competition.

Someday there’s going to be a job out there and what if all of you want it? You got to be that one by busting your ass every single day.

Because if you’re not willing to do it, he is, [and] his name will get called.”

Doyel also spoke to the importance of doing quality work in college instead of

PHIL DIDION PHOTO EDITOR

CBSSports.com columnist Gregg Doyel speaks to UC students at McMicken Hall about his experiences in the world of sports journalism.

waiting to work hard at 27 years old.

Like most writers that have been in the professional ranks through the expansion of social media and the increase in its importance to the world of sports journalism, Doyel also has strong opinions of its place in the industry. But unlike many of his fellow writers, Doyel has embraced social media and the relationship it has introduced between writer and reader, for better or worse.

“Now [journalism] is almost like a partnership between the writer and the readers,” Doyel said. “[The readers] think they’re my equal when it comes to knowing stuff about sports. Why? Because they’ve got some anonymous name on Twitter and they write some slime in the comments, lean back and think ‘I told him.’

Who are you? You didn’t stay at a Holiday Inn last night. You don’t know what you’re talking about. It’s more confrontational.”