The News Record 1.6.14

VOL. CXXXVIII ISSUE XVV • FREE-ADDITIONAL COPIES $1

THE NEWS RECORD THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI’S INDEPENDENT, STUDENT-RUN NEWS ORGANIZATION / MONDAY, JAN. 6, 2014

NEW ALBUM BEARCATS BIG WIN WOLF OF NEW IDEAS WALL STREET

LOCAL RESTAURANT PUTS NEW TOUCH ON MEXICAN CUISINE

MAZUNTE MUNCHIES

SENIORS LEAD CATS TO VICTORY OVER RANKED MEMPHIS TEAM

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meeting with stakeholders, including open sessions with students and faculty, to gain feedback on the department, as well as the police chief position, which is currently occupied by interim police chief Jeff Corcoran.

The firm will spend the following weeks organizing the data and then compare the findings with successful practices at other universities.

Preliminary discussions between UC and the firm could start as early as midFebruary, Buttermore said. However, there is no official timeline for when a new police chief could be hired.

The decision to review all public safety functions was made shortly after former UC Police Chief and Director of Public Safety Michael Cureton resigned amid controversy in July. Numerous complaints and grievances ranging from scheduling complaints to alleged contract violations were filed during Cureton’s two years

as UC’s top safety official. Corcoran, a 20-year veteran in the department, was named interim police chief.

After Cureton’s resignation, Bob Ambach, senior vice president of administration and finance, decided to review the position and all public safety functions.

“It occurred to me to me that with the vacancy it would be a good opportunity to take a look at the position,” Ambach said, adding that he alone originally called for the review.

Once the review is concluded, the university will begin searching for a new police chief.

It’s not clear what recommendations could be made, and what the university would act on, but nothing is off the table at this time.

UC is going to conduct its own internal

External review to analyze public safety from top to bottom New police chief not being hired until outside firm completes analysis RYAN HOFFMAN NEWS EDITOR

FILE ART A complete review of UC’s public safety department and practices is scheduled to begin in late January. A new police chief will not be named until the review is completed.

No progress made in AAUP, UC negotiations

Sweeping changes could be coming to University of Cincinnati Public Safety pending the results of an external review to be conducted in late January.

“It’s going to look at everything: budgeting, organizational structure, how officers are trained, retained, promoted, how we work with Cincinnati police … it will be a complete review,” said Peg Buttermore, senior associate vice president of business affairs in the Office of Administration and Finance.

The university is bringing in Margolis Healy & Associates — a national firm that specializes in assessing public safety practices on college campuses — the week of Jan. 20. The firm will spend the week

SEE SAFETY PG 2

WRECKING BALL

ALEXIS O’BRIEN NEWS EDITOR

University of Cincinnati administration and the university’s chapter of the American Association of United Professors aren’t any closer to reaching a contractual agreement following the AAUP’s most recent protest before the holiday recess.

About 200 UC professors silently protested at the UC Board of Trustees meeting Dec. 10, where they stood with signs that read “Put students’ education first.”

“Our message is that professors, faculty are critical to the university and the success of the university,” said Jeff Cramerding, AAUP representative. “And we need a fair contract to retain them.”

Since March 1, UC’s AAUP chapter has asked the administration to improve faculty’s health care coverage and increase salaries. “[Faculty members] want a fair contract, they want good health insurance and they want to be able to get back to their academic mission, instead of worrying about this bargaining,” said Greg Loving, president of the UC chapter of the AAUP, in a December interview.

“We need to attract and retain the best faculty possible, and that means decent salary and decent benefits.”

University officials declined to comment on the issue.

Cramerding said the administration has hired three different lawyers to lead its negotiations team, which has heightened some professors’ irritation.

“That’s part of our frustration and we’re looking to create more opportunities to let the administration know how frustrated we are,” he said.

So far, the administration has offered tenured faculty a 1 percent increase — an increase Loving said wouldn’t keep up with the cost of living. “[Ono] has to convince the trustees that spending money on faculty is the best thing we can do for UC,” Loving said. “When faculty are uncertain about their future, when they can’t pay their bills, when they don’t know if insurance cost is going to double or triple, it affects their performance in the classroom.”

Before UC professors’ most recent protest, Loving dressed as Santa Claus and delivered hundreds of letters to University of Cincinnati President Santa Ono, asking officials to finalize negotiations.

And while Loving suspects a fair negotiation will be reached early in 2014, Cramerding said there’s no way to tell what will happen and when.

While there aren’t any UC AAUP events currently scheduled, Cramerding said AAUP will remain active until an agreement is reached.

PHIL DIDION PHOTO EDITOR Renovations to one of America’s oldest collegiate stadiums started in early December. Construction, ranging from $80 to $85 million, is expected to be completed in 2015.

Nippert Stadium renovations underway, west concourse closed to foot traffic JILLIAN LEEDY & BRYAN SHUPE

University of Cincinnati students will have to find a new place to walk, play and practice as the university begins its renovation of Nippert Stadium.

“I don’t think it’s always going to be this easy,” said Mary Beth McGrew, associate vice president of finance, planning and design. “This is a rapid fire project, but so far so good.”

The entire structure was decommissioned Dec. 6, after the last Bearcats home game, and the stadium will stay under construction until its projected end in August 2015, said Dale Beeler, director of project management.

Currently, an eight-foot high, chain link fence surrounds the construction site, restricting through-traffic. Maps and way-finding markers are in place to help pedestrians navigate around the construction.

But with construction starting at the onset of the winter break, it’s unknown how large of an impact the project could have on campus life.

“I’m concerned that with so many students and student organizations already vying for field space, the construction on Nippert Stadium could affect the students negatively,” said Natalie Brdar, College of Arts & Sciences student and UC band member.

The university acknowledges that the project could cause some problems for students and faculty. Deborah Merchant,

vice president of student affairs, is expected to host open discussions with the UC community on the renovations in February, McGrew said.

Officials said the renovations are necessary for UC to stay competitive with other major college football programs.

The estimated $80 to $85 million project would improve the experience by eliminating congestion and providing more concessions and convenience, Beeler said.

The western concourse is slated to have five different levels, including an expanded concourse and concessions for fans on the base level. Also, the construction would add a club lounge and private bar along with three top tier levels containing an outdoor mezzanine, private suites, reception and conference space, the president’s suite and a press box, said Bob Marton, project manager.

Consequently, the western concourse of the stadium, or Bearcat Way, will be closed to foot traffic until 2015, Marton said.

Public safety officers and deputy sheriffs have been assigned to monitor the area by the main gate next to TUC during daytime hours, when student traffic is the heaviest.

The northern walkway between the stadium and the Campus Recreation Center, as well as the bridge leading toward the Lindner Center and Fifth Third Arena will be open for the duration of the construction process.

Renovations on the east side are expected to start in the summer of 2014 — a portion of the project that includes adding 88 more seats and widening the concourse to prevent bottlenecking, Marton said.

Stair runners will be allowed to utilize SEE NIPPERT PG 2

An artist rendering of the west side of Nippert Stadium once renovations are completed in 2015.

PROVIDED

UC alumnus, Cincinnati police officer promoted, eager to start new job Criminal Justice graduate moves up to rank of captain, will oversee Over-the-Rhine, West End, Mt. Adams BRYAN SHUPE CHIEF REPORTER

PHIL DIDION PHOTO EDITOR Michael John (left) and Chief Jeffery Blackwell (right) at Friday’s ceremony.

In 1997, University of Cincinnati alumnus Michael John graduated from the Cincinnati Police Academy and became a police officer. Now 17 years later, John has reached the esteemed rank of captain.

A promotion ceremony recognized John and Officer Bridget Bardua at the Cincinnati Police Academy Friday.

Police Chief Jeffery Blackwell, who took the position in September after James Craig stepped down to become the Detroit police chief, swore in the two long-time officers. “[Bardua and John] have very similar traits and demeanors,” Blackwell said. “They’re both smart, hardworking and well-respected members of the Cincinnati Police Department. They both are extremely grateful and proud to wear the badge of the best police agency in the world.”

John, a Delhi resident, came from Wales in 1990 and CHIEF.NEWSRECORD@GMAIL.COM / 513.556.5908

was given U.S. citizenship four years later. After working for Cincinnati for three years, he was admitted to the Cincinnati Police Academy.

John went on to earn a master’s degree from UC as part of the Chief’s Scholars Program, a partnership created in 2008 between CPD and the UC School of Criminal Justice designed to provide officers with the most up-to-date education. John received the Robert B. Mills graduate student award while at UC. “You really can’t reach this pinnacle without the help of a network of people,” John said. “I’ve had people supporting me, my family and peers have supported me and it’s all very exciting. It’s an awesome responsibility to be a captain.”

As captain, John will be overseeing Cincinnati Police District One, an area that includes Over-the-Rhine, the West End, Pendleton, Mt. Adams and Queensgate.

“It’s an area that’s undergoing a lot of revitalization, especially Over-the-Rhine, so there’s a lot of change and excitement down there,” John said. “It’s not like I’m walking into an area that needs to be fixed, it’s simply go SEE PROMOTION PG 2

2 / NEWS

MONDAY, JAN. 6, 2014 / NEWSRECORD.ORG

Historic uptown business torn down after long battle Goetz House goes down, company wants new residential, retail complex THE NEWS RECORD

PHIL DIDION PHOTO EDITOR Construction crews demolished the historic Goetz house, formerly located at 151 W. McMillan St., Saturday.

CRIME BLOTTER 12/30 Robbery on Fairview Avenue Three suspects, approximately 17 to 21 years old, assaulted three victims at 9 p.m. in the 2400 block of Fairview Avenue Monday, Dec. 30. The suspects took the victims’ personal property and one of the victims was treated for a head wound on the scene.

12/29 Robbery on Warner Street Three suspects, approximately 20 to 23 years old, confronted two victims in the 100 block of Warner Street at 1:30 a.m.

Sunday, Dec. 29. One of the suspects was armed, and one of the victims was punched and knocked to the ground during the offense. The suspects took personal property from both victims.

12/29 Robbery on Stratford Avenue An armed, male suspect, approximately 20 to 29 years old, confronted a victim and took his or her personal property around 12:55 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 29. The robbery occurred in the 2900 block of Stratford Avenue.

12/28 Robbery on Euclid Avenue near Fosdick Street Two armed suspects confronted three victims around 3:50 a.m. in the 2600 block of Euclid Avenue Saturday, Dec. 28. The suspects took the victims’ personal property.

12/19 Robbery on Euclid Avenue and Corry Street Three suspects confronted and punched a male victim, who is an EPA employee, around 9:15 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19 and took the victim’s personal property.

Cincinnati police said the suspects involved might be the same suspects involved in the Dec. 18 robbery on Jefferson Avenue.

12/18 Robbery on Jefferson Avenue near Daniels Street Five male suspects, approximately 15- to 18-years-old, confronted a UC student around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18 and took his personal property.

12/16 Robbery on Parker Street and Clifton Avenue Four male suspects, two of whom were armed with handguns, approached two victims in a rear parking lot in the 100 block of Parker Street around 12:30 am Monday, Dec. 16. The suspects took the victims’ personal property.

After a long battle to try and save the historic Goetz house, the building was finally demolished Saturday, leaving nothing but a pile of rubble.

The family that owned the building, which for years operated as Christy’s & Lendhardt’s German restaurant, spent the past year trying to sell the property.

Gilbane Development Company wanted to buy the property, along with the land currently occupied by Clifton Natural Foods, four Lyon Street houses and a parking lot.

The company wants to build a six-floor

complex containing 210 residential units, 245 internal parking spaces and street-level retail spaces.

After the company expressed its desire to buy the building, community members — including the Clifton Heights, University Heights and Fairview Heights Neighborhood Association — tried to save the building. The coalition attempted to get Cincinnati City Council to designate the building a historic landmark, which would have made it all but impossible to demolish the building.

In the end, the city sided with the family, who said the business had been in decline for sometime and that they could no longer operate the restaurant.

The 133-year-old building was originally a wedding gift for Cincinnati beer brewer Christian Moerlein’s daughter.

Al-Qaida group claims responsibility for suicide attack Terrorist group in Iraq, Syria attack Lebanon neighborhood MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS

BEIRUT — The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria on Saturday claimed credit for a suicide car bombing that took at least four lives and wounded dozens in a Hezbollahcontrolled suburb of Beirut Thursday, marking the first attack by the group in Lebanon.

If ISIS’s claim is accurate, the operation would indicate that the al-Qaida affiliate has infiltrated a third Middle Eastern country even as it faces challenges to its control of parts of northern Syria and portions of Iraq’s Anbar province.

“Clearly, al-Qaida in Iraq wasn’t kidding when it changed its name to the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria,” said Will McCants, a former State Department adviser and expert on militant Islam.“The breadth of its current operations reflects its ambition to establish a caliphate controlling the entire Levant.”

But the group also risks “spreading itself too thin and making too many enemies,” he added.

On Saturday, ISIS forces remained in control of the western Iraqi city of Fallujah, which they’d captured on Friday. But they were fighting to maintain control of major outposts in northern Syria, where they faced a fierce offensive from Syrian rebels who once had viewed the group as an ally in the fight to topple President Bashar Assad.

Fierce fighting between ISIS and Syrian rebel groups was reported in a dozen locations, with rebel spokesmen claiming that ISIS had been ejected from at least eight towns and villages in Idlib province and from the town of Atarib in Aleppo province.

Rebels also reported they had recaptured the border crossing with Turkey at Bab al Hawa. Multiple reports from rebel activists said that anti-ISIS fighters were arresting family members of the al-Qaida group. ISIS, however, had repulsed a rebel push in Kafr Zeta in Hama province, according to reports, and remained in control of the strategic Idlib province town of Saraqeb, which sits astride the Aleppo-to-Damascus highway.

ISIS fighters also reportedly executed dozens of people as they fled the town of Harem ahead of rebel attackers, and had ordered up reinforcements from their forces in Raqqa.

They also threatened via Twitter to withdraw from the frontlines inside the city

PROVIDED The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria claimed credit for Thursday’s suicide car bombing in a Hezbollah-controlled neighborhood in Beirut Saturday.

of Aleppo — a step, they said, that would make it possible for pro-Assad forces to recapture that key northern city.

In Iraq, the group reportedly resisted assaults by both Iraqi government forces and local tribal leaders Friday night and Saturday to maintain control of all of Fallujah and perhaps as much as half of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province.

“Fallujah is under the control of ISIS,” the French news agency AFP quoted a senior security official in Anbar as having said on Saturday. AFP reported at least 65 people died Saturday in Iraqi fighting. The incidents in three counties highlighted the group’s growing regional influence.

But it was difficult to know whether the group’s activities in widely separate areas were coordinated. One analyst said that the group’s actions were likely to be dictated by the vastly different issues it faces in each place.

“While ISIS is operating in three countries, each has to be separated by local context,” said Aaron Zelin, a blogger and researcher on jihadist groups for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

“In each country, ISIS has differing strengths and weaknesses.”

Al-Qaida in Iraq fought pitched battles against U.S. forces in that country that

claimed hundreds of American lives, and the U.S. campaign to force it from Fallujah in 2004 is considered the bloodiest single battle of the Iraq war.

Its resurgence in Anbar is tied to Iraq’s internal political rivalries that pit the Sunni Muslim residents of Anbar against the predominantly Shiite Muslim government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Malaki in Baghdad.

The group has been active in Syria’s conflict since the early days of 2012, and is thought to be responsible for the establishment of the Nusra Front, a U.S.-designated terrorist group that has played a critical role in rebel military successes over the past two years.

In April, al-Qaida in Iraq announced that it was changing its name to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and that Nusra would become part of it.

But Nusra’s leaders objected, and the two groups have remained separate, though allied. ISIS’s statement on the Lebanon blast warned that the bombing was the start of a campaign against the Lebanese group Hezbollah for its military role in helping the Syrian regime survive the three-year civil war that has claimed the lives of more than 130,000 people.

The statement called the bombing “a first small payment from the heavy account that is awaiting those wicked criminals.”

Study: Mexican-Americans may develop memory problems earlier than non-Hispanics Research could aid in finding Alzheimer’s treatment MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS

AUSTIN, Texas — New research suggests that MexicanAmericans might develop memory problems that could lead to Alzheimer’s disease as much as a decade earlier than non-Hispanics.

If the work is confirmed by additional studies, MexicanAmericans with mild cognitive impairment, or MCI, could be identified earlier and put into treatment sooner, said Sid O’Bryant, the study’s leader.

His team has done other work that suggests MexicanAmericans get MCI earlier, but “I would never have expected there to be that much of an age difference,” said O’Bryant, an associate professor and interim director of the Institute for Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease Research at the University of North Texas Health Science Center.

Little research has been done on MCI and MexicanAmericans, who make up 65 percent of the nation’s Hispanic

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review coinciding with the external review, Corcoran said.

Since taking over, Corcoran said he has implemented minor changes, mainly taking a more data-driven approach to making campus safer.

He cited a recent collaboration between public safety and students in the School of Criminal Justice that analyzed thefts in the Campus Recreation Center. Using data compiled by students, the team determined most theft was occurring on the gym floor by the basketball courts. They then

FROM NIPPERT PG 1

the east side of the stadium for exercise in the project’s beginning stages, but will be blocked off once construction starts in the summer.

Construction crews also will be adding a bridge connecting Nippert to the third level of the Tangeman University Center.

To build the bridge, the exterior glass wall by the third-floor entrance to the UC Bookstore will be opened up causing some merchandise maneuvering and traffic rerouting, but no actual bookstore closure,

population. Researchers not affiliated with the study called it a good first step but said larger groups from the general population need to be studied over time to verify the stark difference in MCI onset age and the reasons for it. O’Bryant’s team looked at two groups of Mexican-Americans in Texas who were taking part in either a community-based or a clinical study of mental aging.

Those in the clinical group already were having memory problems. Studying such groups, which is common in research, limits the ability to draw conclusions to the population at large, said Mary Haan, a biostatistics and epidemiology professor at the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine.

Haan has studied cognitive impairment in older MexicanAmericans in Sacramento, Calif., and found that they have an earlier onset of certain chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, she said. Those conditions are risk factors for dementia, so “it’s reasonable to think they might have an earlier onset” of MCI as well, she said.

O’Bryant’s team also saw a similar early onset of diabetes: at an average age of 48 for Mexican-Americans and 57 for non-Hispanics, according to the study. His group suspects that depression, education level and metabolic dysfunction, which can include diabetes, are risk factors for MexicanAmericans who develop cognitive impairment.

Understanding those risks is fertile ground for future research, O’Bryant said, and a key to finding treatments.

Scientists are eager to find treatments that can prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s. Of the medicines in use today, some may help lessen severity of symptoms, such as memory loss and confusion, but for a limited time, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

More than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, costing society $203 billion, the association says. That cost is expected to rise to $1.2 trillion by 2050.

Hispanics are believed to be 1.5 times more likely than non-Hispanic whites to develop Alzheimer’s disease, according to the association, but are often diagnosed later and cared for by their families.

implemented a revised approach to reducing thefts.

“We need to be data driven,” Corcoran said. “[We need to] look at what the facts are and make the decisions based on that good data.”

At the same time, Corcoran is being cautious to implement any major changes.

“As an interim, it’s not really your job to change the direction of the ship,” Corcoran said. “Right now we’re kind of holding the status quo. I think there’s a lot more we could be working on, but you need that direction first. We all would like to see it

settled.”

Corcoran, who plans on applying for the position once the job is posted, said he agrees with the decision to conduct the review and most of the officers he has talked to have expressed similar understanding.

Still, many within the department would like to see a final decision made as soon as possible.

“I don’t want people to think nothing is happening,” Corcoran said. “We’re working hard on a lot of things, we’re just not making any major changes in direction.”

Marton said.

The field itself will be completely covered with a tarp to shield it from debris and it will be unavailable to students for the duration of the project.

Sheakley Lawn and Gettler Stadium will still be open to student activity, but the university may have to rent additional field space for intramurals, student programming and practices, Beeler said.

The renovations won’t affect nearby parking garages, basketball games or spring graduation ceremonies.

The profits from the new stadium, along with private fundraising through the

athletic department, will help the project pay for itself, said Brendan Fouracre, senior associate athletics director.

The hope is that the improvements to the game-day experience —including moving concessions along the outside perimeter of the stadium, decreasing pedestrian overcrowding inside along the concourse, increasing food vending options and eliminating the need for portable restrooms — will outweigh any inconveniences posed by the project.

“After all of this, our hope is that Nippert Stadium will come back bigger and better,” Marton said.

CHIEF.NEWSRECORD@GMAIL.COM / 513.556.5908

FROM PROMOTION PG 1

there, and don’t mess it up.”

Though John is taking the role of captain in an area that saw an increase in certain crimes, he said he’s confident that his 16 years of experience — including two-and-ahalf years in the District One Investigative Unit — is more than enough to make a smooth transition to his new post.

District One experienced increases in homicides, aggravated assaults and property theft in 2013 compared to 2012, according to CPD data. Rape, robbery and auto theft decreased in 2013.

“I think what we need to do is focus on those communities where crime is the highest,” John said. “We have very good crime analysts within each district so we’ll be looking at those numbers and direct resources towards violent crime.”

Along with using a data-driven approach, John said it’s important to build a strong and healthy relationship with members of the community, something that Blackwell has made a top priority since taking the job.

“We can’t neglect the rest of District One because everyone has earned the right to police service,” John said. “We need to be very focused when we take an enforcement option so that we’re impacting criminals and not the people who really support us.”

3 / COLLEGE LIFE

MONDAY, JAN. 6, 2014 / NEWSRECORD.ORG

Mixing up traditional Mexican food favorites Local casual eatery serves up dishes inspired by street food SARAH MULLINS STAFF REPORTER

SARAH MULLINS STAFF REPORTER

Mazunte’s empanadas and enchilladas are as attractive as they are mouth-watering. Adorned with crema and queso fresco, the impressivly displayed dishes were almost difficult to disturb.

A restaurant perched on Madison Road offers a fresh take on Mexican food obtainable minutes from campus.

Mazunte, a Mexican street-food inspired restaurant, serves traditional items such as enchiladas and quesadillas along with less common dishes like lime memelitas.

Visitors are immersed in an atmosphere typical of a Mexican restaurant. A salsa bar teases customers’ senses while the order station demands attention.

Mazunte is a fast, casual restaurant; diners place orders at the front, and meals are brought out to each table.

Empanadas are a favorite, so I opted for the corn empanadas with mushrooms ($7.25). Mazunte’s empanadas constitute a meal on their own, but I added vegetarian enchiladas with red sauce ($9.00) to share with a friend. We also ordered chips and salsa from the salsa bar, which were fresh and perfectly spicy.

We sat at a low-top table and took in Mazunte’s décor, which is a mixture of Mexican and American. Comic book covers are displayed above the salsa bar while an outline of Mexico with Cincinnati restaurant logos adorns one of the walls.

When the food arrived, its presentation

was impressive, certainly not one typical of a casual restaurant. The empanadas were set on top of a black bean puree topped with avocado salsa with crema in a zig-zag pattern and queso fresco sprinkled with a side of rice. The enchiladas were served with fresh spinach, onions and red sauce and garnished the same way with cheeses — almost too pretty to eat.

“There is no better sound than the familiar crunch of putting a fork to an empanada before the first bite.”

There is no better sound than the familiar crunch of putting a fork to an empanada before the first bite. Cheese oozed out following the mushrooms and didn’t disappoint my love for the unique empanada taste.

Next up were the enchiladas, another customer favorite. Red sauce was the only familiar flavor on the plate; tortillas took the spinach and onions to a new level, along with fresh cheese that balanced the dish to perfection. I wasn’t sure which dish I liked more, so I alternated between the two. The portions were very generous, forcing me to leave some bites behind, but also looking forward to savoring my leftovers later.

Mazunte INFORMATION: 5207 Madison Rd., Cincinnati 45227; 513-785-0000; Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; mazuntetacos.com

RATING:

PHIL DIDION PHOTO EDITOR

Mazunte features a menu packed with Mexican classics and marvels; fish tacos are one of many options customers can choose from. The menu is complete with vegetarian and vegan options.

10,085

Number of subscribers who receive weekly updates from the center through its list-serv

Campus resource offers volunteer assistance CCE helps students ring in 2014 with new opportunities

16

EMILY BEGLEY COLLEGE LIFE EDITOR

{ } 2,399 Number of years the CCE has existed at the University of Cincinnati

{

}

Number of students who participate in programs coordinated by the CCE per year

More than 2,000 University of Cincinnati students use an on-campus volunteering resource every year, opening the doors to thousands of opportunities within the community.

The Center for Community Engagement on Clifton Avenue has assisted students with volunteer opportunities for approximately 16 years, said Fran Larkin, CCE program coordinator, and with a new year comes new possibilities.

“We estimate that 2,399 UC students participate in programs that are directly coordinated by the CCE on an annual basis, and that number has been rising steadily over the years,” Larkin said. “The CCE offers opportunities to volunteer on an ongoing basis through signature programs and opportunities to serve through one-time, campus-wide signature events.”

Featuring a comprehensive list of

opportunities by date, CCE’s list-serv is the best place for students to begin their endeavors, Larkin said. Opportunities are dispersed throughout campus and in Cincinnati; upcoming events currently seeking volunteers range from holiday shows at downtown’s Krohn Conservatory to UC Beautiful Lengths in Tangeman University Center.

The CCE’s list of opportunities is updated every Wednesday and is distributed weekly to 10,085 subscribers via the center’s list-serv, Larkin said.

The center also features several signature programs including Bearcat Buddies, Zoo-Mates, Into the Streets, Green-Up Day and more. Bearcat Buddies — a tutoring program that connects UC students with children in high poverty Cincinnati Public Schools — is a favorite of Larkin’s.

“The Bearcat Buddies program removes barriers for volunteers, including transportation,” Larkin said. “[It] allows students to build a meaningful relationship with children in need while learning about our community in a powerful, experiential way.”

Opinion: Getting back on track Spring Semester Start classes off by employing new study habits, channeling focus WILL KENDRICK STAFF REPORTER

Fellow UC students: listen up. Winter break is officially over, so you can trade in your pajama pants for pajama pants with less holes and get ready for class to commence once again.

I’m sure we all had a stellar time during break; eating cookies, giving gifts, sleeping, sleeping and of course, sleeping. But those days of wintertime laziness and celebration are over.

It’s important, when looking at the upcoming semester, to remember how to study. Yes, studying does have a regiment and a schedule, so allow me to remind you how it’s done.

As for me, my New Year’s resolution is actually to study more. I know it seems passé, but it’s true.

Speaking frankly, 2013 was a bit of screw up for me, academically speaking. My lack of studying, committing myself to doing all of my assignments and, you know, showing up for class, cost me dearly. I flunked three

classes and I do not intend on letting that happen again. Repeating the classes: obligatory. Repeating the mistakes: optional.

A new year means renewal, bettering oneself. And for me, that begins with academics. After all, I’m paying for this education in the long run, so I might as well try my best.

But let’s get serious, going to class, paying attention, doing the assignments and generally giving a damn may not be enough. When I leave each class, I have a horrible tendency to immediately wipe all of the new information from my brain in favor of other, more fun thoughts, like what will I eat for dinner or what is left in my instant queue on Netflix.

This is why it is so vital that we study. The information that we receive in class needs that extra push to become settled in our brains. It may feel like a do-over, it may feel like you are just reminding yourself of stuff that you already know, and you will more than likely feel like there are better, more fun things to do. And you’re right. All of those things are true about studying.

But nonetheless, if you want to actually remember what you have learned, you simply must study.

It’s really not that hard. Just find a quiet space, turn off

all of those loud chirpy distractions, and go over all of the stuff you have learned over the past day or so. Say you take notes in class — read them over more often than the night before the exam.

It’s no lie that none of us, or at least the majority of us, don’t want to study. After our nearly month-long break, the very idea of going back to our gigantic campus, sitting in class and studying sounds like toil.

I, for one, am not looking forward to it all again. But, I would like to have my degree sooner rather than later.

And I would have it sooner had I not slacked off so hard in the past year.

I encourage you, all of you, to take a few minutes every day to look over all the wonderful lessons we learn in class. That’s really all studying is, reminding yourself of the thing that you were just taught.

But that little reminder may be the difference between passing those slowly approaching finals with flying colors or a week straight of late-night cram sessions that always lead to sleep deprivation, glazed eyes and F’s.

Study with me students, we may actually get through this together.

Welcome back.

Not to miss: What’s happening this month on campus Eating Smart, Eating Clean

Marisa Crawford, Jack Pendarvis

12-1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9

4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10

Eating Smart, Eating Clean: The Complete Food Guide is the first of monthly brown bag sessions offered this semester by Employee Wellness. The presentation, held in 450 University Hall, will focus on healthy eating tips like navigating labels and understanding serving sizes. Online registration is required to attend.

CCM’s “A Moveable Feast” 6:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17 The College-Conservatory of Music’s premiere fundraiser “A Moveable Feast” returns with eclectic acts, passionate performances and – of course – food. Choose to attend samples of performances ranging from jazz and drama to dance and musical theater throughout CCM Village. Ticket revenue supports Friends of CCM.

UC’s Visiting Writers Series continues into Spring Semester with Marisa Crawford and Jack Pendarvis. Held in Langsam Library’s Elliston Room, the event entails both authors reading selections of their work. Crawford is the author of a poetry collection entitled “The Haunted House,” while Pendarvis is the author of two short story collections and a novel.

C. K. Williams

4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31 The Visiting Writers Series’ second installment of Spring Semester features C. K. Williams, author of eleven books of poetry. William’s works include “Writers Writing Dying” and “Wait,” and his writing has earned him several prestigious awards. The author will share selections with audience members in Langsam Library’s Elliston Room.

IMPORTANT DATES Jan. 6 Late registration fees begin

Jan. 20 Last day to enroll in Spring Semester payment plan; health insurance waiver deadline; last day to drop classes without grade on transcript

March 14 Last day to withdrawal from classes

4 / ARTS Secret release yields highest earnings for Beyoncé MONDAY JAN. 6, 2014 / NEWSRECORD.ORG

Sasha Fierce mixes up usual act; new album features video accompaniment HEATHER KING STAFF REPORTER

The innovative self-titled fifth studio album from American singer-songwriter Beyoncé Knowles is unlike her previous installments. A “visual album,” as Beyoncé describes it, features 14 tracks, each with their own short film, and touches on her common themes of selfempowerment while adding more serious issues that she has not explored before.

Beyoncé discusses such issues as postnatal depression, insecurities of womanhood and honest discussions of sex.

The album was released to the iTunes store without any promotion or previous announcements Dec. 13, and even though it was a surprise to fans the album debuted at the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200.

Album sales made “Beyoncé” the highest first week sales of her solo career.

The first track, “Pretty Hurts,” tackles a very personal issue for females of all ages in society, that a woman’s worth is based upon her looks only.

This mentality of “pretty” hurts women because it opposes the idea of self-love.

“Pretty Hurts” is an empowering anthem of self-love and appreciation, and encourages female fans to look in the mirror and love what they see.

Beyoncé sings, “It’s the soul that needs a surgery,” critiquing society’s fixation on surgically “perfecting” the human body.

The soul is damaged by all of the pressure that is put on a person to look perfect by society’s standards, and needs to be healed.

This opening song shows Beyoncé’s honesty, and proves from the beginning that this self-titled album is unlike any other that she has previously released, which shows much growth.

“XO,” caused controversial critique due to the use of audio from the Challenger tragedy in the opening seconds.

Controversy aside, the song is a great

pop single about honest love with the accompanying video of Beyoncé having a great Coney Island experience filmed by Terry Richardson.

The ultimate pop radio hit features buzzing synths and touching lyrics. “In the darkest night hour, I search through the crowd.

Your face is all I see, I give you everything, baby, love me lights out,” the singer proclaims her unending love.

“Drunk In Love” features collaboration with rapper and longtime love Jay Z, and describes a frank, steamy and alcoholinduced sexual encounter. Certainly there is a double meaning to the “drunk love,” the place she is in with her lover is free and uninhibited.

Beyoncé gives a tongue and cheek inside to her relationship with Jay Z with songs like, “Crazy In Love,”“Dangerously In Love,” and now the dance beat and synch infused “Drunk In Love.”This love encounter between the two in this song shows how they have grown together, and Jay Z sings his praise to his woman

while not stealing her spotlight.

“Beyoncé” is the surprise that fans craved, without any promotion or previous announcements this album is a thoughtful breath of fresh air that touches on important issues facing society.

‘Dirty Gold’ Highly anticipated winter albums has value Five albums to look out for during coldest months of year

Young female artist busts into rap game, brings flowers to hip hop

Young The Giant- Mind Over Matter (Jan. 21)

BECKY BUTTS ONLINE EDITOR

Young the Giant’s self-titled debut in 2010 introduced the group to the world as a hot alternative rock group. With two songs in the top 100, the band basked in their commercial success. Their upcoming album “Mind Over Matter” promises another lead single with “It’s About Time,” which was released on iTunes in October. Grammy-nominated Justin Meldal-Johnsen, who is known for his work with artists such as Beck, Nine Inch Nails, and Paramore, produces the

MICHELLE BRANDSTETTER STAFF REPORTER

Angel Haze’s “Dirty Gold” is a promising debut album, although some of the tracks lack the punch and originality fans may have been hoping for. Still, Haze’s fans should find that “Dirty Gold” gives them a lot to love, and a lot to look forward to.

The album was officially released Dec. 30, after being leaked Dec. 18 by the artist herself. After her label pushed the release date from January to March, Haze, after a series of Tweets directed at the label, released the album onto SoundCloud.

The album was removed from SoundCloud within a few hours, but shortly after the Dec. 30 release date was announced.

Haze’s influences are obvious in this album, but sometimes they’re more obvious than they should be. “A Tribe Called Red” shows her influences too well. Other than being a nod to the group A Tribe Called Quest, the song sounds a little too much like Kanye’s “Black Skinhead.” While “A Tribe Called Red’s” chorus is more melodic than “Black Skinhead,” the verses sound less like homage and more like a copycat.

Whether by accident or design, there’s no ignoring this and it distracts listeners from experiencing the song as a new work.

Parts of “Dirty Gold” ring with a truth and originality that promises hope for the future of Haze’s career. “Angels in the Airwaves,” opens with the evocative line, “If you’re contemplating suicide…” that addresses killing yourself in plain language, a topic which is often addressed in saccharine euphemisms.

The song also gains sincerity by tapping into Haze’s own experiences with selfloathing.

The most interesting achievement from “Dirty Gold” is the femininity found in the lyrics. Rap is a misogynistic field but “Dirty Gold” doesn’t bow to that.

The album is filled with earnest moments of Haze simply speaking to the audience with a soft voice, and references flowers more than some gardening manuals. It’s not Nicki Minaj’s “Barbie,” but there is a definitive representation of femininity that Haze brings to her work.

December, starts the album off with the line “Oh what an ordinary day/ Take out the garbage, masturbate.”The track is full of St. Vincent’s signature style, featuring jagged electric guitar riffs, frantic drums and fuzzed-out bass.

new album.

Broken Bells- After the Disco (Jan. 14) Bruce Springsteen – High Hopes (Jan. 14)

“The Boss” returns with a compilation of cover songs and revitalized previously released material in his 18th studio album “High Hopes.” Its 12 tracks are composed of four songs that were previously released, two previously performed live but never recorded, and six new to fans. Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine joins Springsteen with his guitar and voice in “The Ghost of Tom Joad,” previously performed in 1995.

Morello and Springsteen joined forces in a 2008 California concert where they first performed “The Ghost of Tom Joad” together. In 2013, they toured in Australia where Morello suggested adding “High Hopes,” a song by Tim Scott McConnell, to the live set. It then became the focal

Danger Mouse and The Shins’ front man James Mercer partnered up in 2009 to form indie rock group Broken Bells. Since then, they have released two albums. Their next project, “After the Disco” is a follow-up to their 2011 Grammy-nominated album “Meyrin Fields”. The group revealed the album’s first single “Holding on for Life” in November. Featuring a bittersweet disco melody with haunting vocals “Holding on for Life” sets the retro-inspired tone of the album.

Band of Horses- Acoustic at the Ryman ( Feb. 11)

This 10-track album is a collection of recordings from two live performances at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.

On their albums release date, Band of Horses will also start an acoustic tour at Los Angeles’ Wilshire Ebel Theatre.

The tour will then end in March back at the Ryman Auditorium. “Acoustic at the Ryman” is a greatest hits album of familiar songs but recording it live gives the album an unplugged and raw sound full of energy. “Neighbor” closes the album with folky harmonies accompanied with piano. Throughout the track the piano drops out to feature the vocals in an acoustic setting creating a powerful effect.

point of Springsteen’s upcoming album.

St. Vincent- St. Vincent (Feb. 25)

Annie Clark’s self-titled album probably won’t top the charts but her indie-pop tunes deserve a listen. Her collaboration with David Byrne for “Love this Giant” in 2012 resulted with a 23 rank in the US top albums chart. Clark’s eclectic style and musical talent in her upcoming album are sure to impress and surprise listeners. “Birth in Reverse,” released in

Wolves on Wall Street in heat, Belfort’s rise and fall

PROVIDED

The stockbrokers hunt in packs with Jordan Belfort as their leader. Ruthless and sex crazed, these men love power.

Scorsese continues his role as best living director, ‘Wolf’ is a living classic JAKE GRIECO ARTS EDITOR

At last, Martin Scorsese brings the world the anticipated film “Wolf of Wall Street.”

But what he has really made is a delirious profile piece that smells like success but tastes like shame. There is no point in the movie where the audience isn’t exposed to

every vice there’s a bible verse for, and it’s intoxicating.

This isn’t the first time Scorsese has concerned himself with his favorite part of society, the underbelly.

“Wolf of Wall Street” focuses on Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio), a stockbroker who, after trying to make a legitimate living on Wall Street, turns to a life of peddling penny stocks for ridiculous prices.

The movie makes Belfort look like a criminal prodigy from the very beginning.

There’s only one scene in which Belfort is seen learning the ins and outs of screwing investors over. The advice comes from a cocaine-crazed veteran, Mark Hanna (Matthew McConaughey), during his first day of work at the blue chip firm on Wall Street.

Hanna tells him that the secret to doing the job well is to take copious amounts of cocaine. Later, Belfort reiterates it by saying “How the f**k else would I do this job?”

As Belfort does line after line and pops pills like Tic Tacs, it’s the audience that wants more.

Scorsese is well acquainted with lunatics and excessive sociopaths by now. The esteemed director has already made films like “Taxi Driver,” and “Goodfellas,” and they all can be connected. He takes people like Jordan Belfort, a character who is hard to empathize with, and explores their lives with open-minded curiosity.

Yes, Belfort screwed over a large amount of innocent people, and at times was carelessly engaged in infidelity. He snorted anything into his nose that wasn’t cracked pepper, but there is still something about him that is likable.

Scorcese engages with these sleezeballs, these gangsters and con artists and does his best to make sure they are understood in a way that isn’t possible without being in their own heads. He’s like a guidance counselor at a halfway house. He listens to these troubled souls and explains them as genuinely as he can.

Scorcese, DiCaprio and Jonah Hill (who plays Donnie, Belfort’s right-hand man) have given audiences everywhere a scene that will prove to be iconic. Belfort and his buddies are really into a drug called “Ludes,” a highly potent schedule-one muscle relaxer. Donnie and Belfort take high-powered doses called “Lemons” and at first it seems like they aren’t working.

“Yes, Belfort screwed over a large amount of innocent people, and at times was carelessly engaged in infidelity. He snorted anything into his nose that wasn’t cracked pepper but there is still something about him that is likeable.”

So they take more — as in rest of the bottle more. It isn’t until Belfort is at country club receiving some not-so-good news from his father that they finally kick in. This is where Belfort coins the “Cerebral Palsy Stage” of drug abuse.

The movie will turn audiences on and arouse them almost as much as good old-fashion amateur porn. Your grandma definitely won’t like it, but Jordan Belfort will definitely be this year’s favorite bad role model.

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6 / SPORTS Justin Jackson, Bearcats knock off No. 18 Memphis ‘The Machine’ MONDAY, JAN. 6, 2014 / NEWSRECORD.ORG

of UC basketball JOSHUA MILLER SPORTS EDITOR

Justin Jackson is a machine.

If you didn’t manage to catch any of the University of Cincinnati basketball team’s past five games, just know that he is a machine and he’ll tell you just that.

Reporter: “How do you hold up physically in that kind of game?”

Jackson: “I’m a machine.”

Sean Kilpatrick: (Hysterical laughter) If his word isn’t good enough for you, take it from University of Southern Methodist head coach Larry Brown, the only coach in history to win both an NCAA National Championship (Kansas 1988) and an NBA Title (Detroit 2004).

“Jackson was great in the first half,” Brown said, after watching Jackson singlehandedly defeat his team. “His energy and his five blocks were great. They weren’t shooting it well and I think his pure will and energy gave them the lead at halftime.”

In UC’s past five contests, victories against Middle Tennessee, Chicago State, Nebraska, SMU and Memphis, Jackson is averaging 16 points, 9.8 rebounds and 4.8 blocks. He shot 60 percent from the field during that stretch and, with half a season yet to play, has already eclipsed his scoring total from last season (115) by 63 points (178).

What those stats don’t show is Jackson’s greatest asset to UC: his high-energy, now contained, disruptiveness. Never has it been a better, more efficient display than it was against SMU. “Justin Jackson was as good as you could possibly be today, probably on every phase of the game,” said UC head coach Mick Cronin. “He had 16 deflections, 17 points, five blocks, five steals, three assists and no turnovers. [It’s] almost impossible to have a better stat line than he had and put forth a better effort than he did.”

Jackson has three double-doubles during UC’s current six-game win streak, which earned him American Athletic Conference Player of the Week each of the past two weeks. If he isn’t announced Monday as the winner for the third week in a row, it will only be because the AAC doesn’t want to.

With all do respect to Sean Kilpatrick and a host of talented Louisville players, Jackson has been the conference’s best player by more than a long shot through the first two weeks of conference play. He’s been better than that, too.

Cronin, who has spent the past four years trying to harden Jackson into the aforementioned machine, believes Jackson is currently playing as one of the best forwards in the country. At the moment, there’s not much of an argument against it.

“Focus, concentration, toughness, taking your time on offense, making easy plays,” Cronin said. “That’s who you have to be every day so you don’t have the ups and downs. You become a dominant player every day. You have to keep the right mental state at all times and right now he is playing like one of the best big guys in the country.”

He likened Jackson’s growing confidence to the same snowball effect former Bearcat All-American Kenyon Martin experienced during his senior season at UC. With the possible exception of Eric Hicks and perhaps one or two games in the up-and-down career of Yancy Gates, Jackson’s current stretch of play is the first time a UC player has controlled the game in every facet with such efficiency since Martin.

In the SMU game, there were three definitive stretches of play in which Jackson determined the outcome of four or more possessions at each end of the court — a blocked shot, a perfect drop-step finish in the paint, a deflection, a put back dunk. Then he jumps over the first two rows for a rebound that doesn’t matter, makes sure he didn’t hurt anyone, gives a small child a high five and proceeds to block another shot in transition.

If nothing else, he’s the most improved player in college basketball.

In the span of one summer, a player with no semblance of an offensive game, perpetual fouling problems and a few spats with bad attitude problems has transformed into the best all-around player on UC’s team and, more importantly, a team leader.

UC fans feared how the Bearcats would fare this season if Kilpatrick hit a scoring rut. Well, the Bearcats will be just fine as long as Justin Jackson keeps doing Justin Jackson things: Block shot, deflect pass, dunk, drop step, jump into crowd, flex, make mean face, smile. Repeat.

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE Check out newsrecord.org for photo galleries of the Crosstown Classic and UC’s time in Charlotte for the Belk Bowl.

MADISON SCHMIDT CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

University of Cincinnati freshman guard Troy Caupain looks to push the ball in transition during UC’s loss to Xavier University in the annual Crosstown Classic.

Jackson, Kilpatrick lead UC to impressive AAC road victory PATRICK LAAKE STAFF REPORTER

The University of Cincinnati basketball team kept rolling Saturday, with an impressive 69-53 road victory against conference foe Memphis. The Bearcats have now won six in a row after losing two straight to Xavier University and University of New Mexico.

Memphis came into the game ranked No.18 in the nation by both the Associated Press and USA Today. The Tigers were 10-2 with both losses coming on the road versus two top 25 teams (Oklahoma State and Florida). Prior to Saturday, the Tigers were 5-0 at home with an average win margin of 25 points per game.

Cincinnati on the other hand, entered the game with only one true road game (New Mexico), which they lost and were 1-1 in two neutral site games (Xavier and Pittsburgh). The victory could prove to be a vital tournament resume builder, considering the Bearcats were a sevenpoint underdog on the road.

Memphis came out strong in the first five minutes with an 8-2 run. Senior guard Joe Jackson had six of the first eight

points for the Tigers. Jackson was 5-for-6 from the field in the first half on his way to 11 points at halftime. He would score only two points in the second half.

“Once we got [Joe] Jackson under control it made everything easier,” said UC head coach Mick Cronin. “Everyone knows how fast he is, but you do not truly know until you play him. We did a great job on stopping them.”

Offensive rebounds kept play close for the Bearcats in the first half, as they snagged nine offensive boards and notched 10 second-chance points in the opening frame. Memphis was held to just two offensive rebounds and zero second chance points.

Freshman forward Jermaine Lawrence led in scoring for the Bearcats in the first half with 6 points, which is very surprising considering the pressure of playing in front of 17,191 opposing fans.

It is only the second time the talented freshman has had to play away from home. Apparently Cronin wasn’t too impressed because Lawrence played less than a minute in the second half.

Memphis held a tight grip on the lead the entire first half until Cincinnati guard Kevin Johnson put in a layup with just 28 seconds remaining in the half. Cincinnati took a 27-26 lead into the half.

The Tigers took the lead back early in the second half but Cincinnati guard Shaquille Thomas hit a three with 15 minutes and 22 seconds remaining in the game to give the Bearcats a two point lead. From that point on the Bearcats got in the driver’s seat and put Memphis in the rear view mirror.

Slowly the Bearcats’ lead increased and Memphis just never could find a way back in. At the 10-minute mark, the Bearcats had the lead up to eight. Memphis couldn’t pull closer than seven the rest of the game.

Seniors Sean Kilpatrick and Justin Jackson were the anchors for UC once again. Kilpatrick shot 50 percent from the field and made eight trips to the freethrow line in the second half. He had 13 points and an assist in the second half and finished with 18 points.

Jackson was absolutely everywhere, finishing yet another spectacular game with 13 points, eight rebounds, seven blocks, two assists and one steal.

Jackson has been the American Athletic Conference player of the week for two weeks and, after this performance, will likely claim the honor once again.

Down the final stretch there was one moment when it seemed Memphis could claw its way back into the game.

Down by nine it would only take a few quick scores, but Memphis couldn’t hit a 3-pointer in the second half. They are one of the worst in the conference in 3-point shooting and it showed. They finished 2-for-17 from 3-point range and were 1-of-10 in the second half.

“This is a huge win and we have to keep everything rolling. This is just a stepping-stone for us and we have to keep it going as we continue conference play,” Kilpatrick said.

Cincinnati capitalized on those missed jumpers and ran away with it in the final minutes. The lead peaked at 18, as the Bearcats coasted to a 69-53 victory behind Kilpatrick’s consistent free throw shooting.

Memphis fans were more than stunned as they exited the FedEx Forum.

Cincinnati is now 2-0 in the New Year and in conference play.

Tuesday is the next test for the Bearcats as they travel to Houston, Texas to take on the Houston Cougars (10-5). Jackson will have his toughest matchup yet as he goes up against junior forward TaShawn Thomas, who is averaging 19.6 points 7.4 rebounds per game.

UC women dominated by No. 7 Louisville UC knocks down season-high 13 3-point shots en route to easy victory CHARLES GROVE STAFF REPORTER

The University of Cincinnati women’s basketball team has been on a roller coaster ride during winter break and it’s currently on the way down.

The Bearcats ran head first into the No. 7 Louisville Cardinals in Kentucky Saturday and suffered a 64-45 loss, the team’s third straight fall.

Prior to the streak the Bearcats won five straight including a home victory against Ohio State University and a road win against Xavier University, but the three straight losses have all come in American Athletic Conference play. It didn’t come easily against Louisville, a program that has won 11 of its last 12 against the Bearcats.

The game started off well for UC, with Alyesha Lovett hitting the game’s opening basket to give UC a 2-0 lead.

Louisville’s offense struggled to respond until nearly three minutes later, but after Shoni Schimmel hit a 3-pointer to give the Cardinals a 3-2 lead, UC never led again.

The Bearcats were able to keep the game close in the first half as Louisville struggled to find their rhythm, only shooting 6-32 (18.8 percent) from the floor in the first half.

“We just missed some wide open shots,” said Louisville head coach Jeff Walz. “We

had great shots. It’s not very often that we’ll start off 3-17 from the field and we have to continue to get better at making layups. The contested ones, I understand.

But it’s the ones where nobody’s in front of you where we have to get better at and finish.”

Schimmel credited UC’s defensive play in slowing down the team’s offense in the first half.

“They are a great defensive team, and they kind of put us on our heels,” Schimmel said. “We didn’t shoot the ball very well, but we get our rebounds, and so we are more likely to go back up and make it again the second time. So for us to keep getting those second chance points and those offensive rebounds, it only helps us win games.”

UC freshman guard Brandey Tarver said UC head coach Jamelle Elliott expected Louisville to turn up their intensity in the second half to pull away from the small lead the Cardinals held at the half. “[Elliott told us] just to keep fighting, and that Louisville will come out with more pressure,”Tarver said. “She said we had to play smart, and don’t stop fighting.

They just made more shots. They’re a good team, and we knew they were going to turn it up because the score was so close.”

UC was hurt by a case of the turnover bug, coughing up the ball 27 times against the Cardinals but Walz said his team really capitalized on them in the second

half, allowing his team to pull away.

“I thought we did a great job defensively the entire game, but we didn’t convert a lot of their turnovers in the first half into points,” Walz said. “In the second half, we did a great job of that.”

Senior Kayla Cook led the Bearcats in scoring with 14 points in 32 minutes of action while sophomore Jasmine Whitfield also finished in double figures with 10 points. No other Bearcat finished with more than five.

The Louisville attack was led by Schimmel, who knocked down 8-of-19 shots from the field for 21 points including five 3-pointers. Saturday was her third 20-point performance of the season.

“She’s a great player so it’s always hard stopping scorers from doing what they do,”Tarver said. “We just wanted to contain her and try to deny her every chance we got. We knew she’d score, but we didn’t want her to beat us by herself.”

The Bearcats will try to stop the bleeding from this three game losing streak and attempt to claw their way from the bottom portion of the conference standings Tuesday at home against a Rutgers team boasting an 11-2 record and perfect 2-0 start in conference play.

Protecting the home court will certainly be an emphasis for the team, which has stumbled out of the gate with a 4-3 home record. UC’s defense of Fifth Third Arena will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

What you missed in UC sports over break NEWS RECORD STAFF

Dec. 12 — Davis leaves UC basketball program:

Former University of Cincinnati sophomore guard Jeremiah Davis III, whose childhood home was severely damaged by an electrical fire in November 2013, left the university to be with his family.

“Due to the extremely difficult situation that my family has endured with losing everything in a house fire, I’ve decided to go home,” Davis said. “I want to thank everyone at UC, the fans, the coaching staff, Coach Cronin and my teammates for being so understanding and supportive.

Davis had played in six games for UC in 2013, averaging five minutes per contest, after missing the entire 2012 season with a hand injury. He is expected to transfer to Ball State University.

Dec. 14 — Crosstown letdown:

UC’s usually dominant defense was anything but at US Bank Arena, in what still hangs in the air as the possible final meeting between UC and Xavier University for the foreseeable future.

Xavier shot 56.4 percent for the game, including an 11-for-16 performance from 3-point range. Although the Musketeers shot the lights out, far too many of their

looks were wide open and uncontested.

“Winning teams hang their hats on defense, period,” Cronin said. “If you don’t defend, you’re not going to win. They did a great job. They deserved to win. They didn’t do anything that we weren’t prepared for.

They just outplayed us.”

The Bearcats didn’t do themselves any favors offensively, either, shooting just 33 percent from the field, while Xavier strolled to an easy 64-47 victory.

Dec. 28 — Belk Bowl blowout:

A slew of special teams errors and blown assignments on the offensive line put the University of Cincinnati football team in a 16-0 deficit in the first quarter at the Belk Bowl in Charlotte, N.C. They’d been there before, exactly one year ago in the very same game. On that day, the Bearcats completed one of the most memorable bowl game comebacks in recent history to beat the Duke Blue Devils 48-34.

Saturday, however, the ball never seemed to bounce the Bearcats’ way, as they fell to North Carolina 39-17.

“If you give up 17 points on special teams, you’re not going to win very many games,” said UC head coach Tommy Tuberville. “They got after us from the word go and we didn’t respond very well to adversity.”

Dec. 30 — Former All-American passes away:

Former University of Cincinnati standout Connie Dierking died at the age of 77.

Dierking co-captained UC’s 1957-58 squad, which made the first NCAA Tournament appearance in school history.

Alongside Oscar Robertson, Dierking led UC to its first ever Missouri Valley Conference Championship, earning secondteam All-American honors for his efforts.

“Connie Dierking was one of the pioneers that helped build the winning tradition of Cincinnati basketball,” said UC head coach Mick Cronin.

Dierking averaged 12.7 points and 13.5 rebounds per game during his three-year career at UC, during which the Bearcats posted a record of 57-19. He went on to play 10 seasons in the NBA, four of which were spent with the now-defunct Cincinnati Royals.

Dec. 30 — Jackson wins back-toback AAC Awards:

Riding a wave of three doubledoubles in a four-game span, UC’s Justin Jackson claimed two straight American Athletic Conference player of the week performances. After two more dominant performances last week, he’ll likely win again.