THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWS ORGANIZATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI | WWW.NEWSRECORD.ORG
THE NEWS RECORD
131 years in print Vol. CXXXI Issue XXXXV
MONDAY | MARCH 28 | 2011
DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL
Carrabba prepares to play Bogart’s
entertainment | 3
Pro Day, spring practice kick off
SPRING FLING
sports | 6
Kasich details plans during UC visit Anthony Orozco | NEWS EDITOR After most of the students and staff had left University of Cincinnati for Spring break
Friday, Gov. John Kasich visited UC and met with university officials to view research being commercialized for uses ranging from Crayola toys to military.
photo courtest of MCT Campus
A NEW SHERIFF Gov. John Kasich visited UC’s main campus Friday to tour research labs and answer questions from the press about the streetcar — which he will not be backing with state funds.
Gov. Kasich met with Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Jim Petro and UC President Gregory Williams then toured the Novel Device Lab in Rhodes Hall, guided by associate professor of engineering and applied sciences Jason Heinkenfeld. Heinkenfeld gave a brief presentation titled “From the Lab to the Market,” detailing the corporate research work done for Sun Chemicals as well as Heinkenfeld’s startup company, Gamma Dynamics. “We have created 10 jobs right now,” said Heinkenfeld, speaking on the potential for job growth in the field. “We are going to create 10 to 15 more.” Heinkenfeld demonstrated “microfluidic pixel” technology that utilizes electronic signaling to stretch ink in a semi-transparent fabric to create changeable advertisements. The lab also demonstrated microfluidic reflection technology
to be implemented by the Department of Defense that would allow soldiers to identify one another and reduce friendly fire incidences in the field as well as devices to monitor vital signs and stress levels of the wearer. “I believe that UC has not been given the credit for a lot of the things that they do,” Kasich said after seeing the applications of the research being done on campus. “There are things happening here that are terrific. We are going to have the dean of the school of engineering work with us to remove obstacles and barriers to commercialization.” After the tour, Gov. Kasich took questions from the press during which he expressed the desire to transform UC into a charter university that would “repeal a lot of rules and regulations and treat [UC] as adults”. Kasich said UC is a prime candidate for becoming a charter university.
Williams voiced his support of the possibility of becoming a charter university. “[Being a] charter university presents some opportunities for us to explore,” Williams said. “We’re interested in looking at that in ways that we can enhance the opportunity to increase the research we are doing, increase the commercialization and to avoid some rules and regulations … that sometimes get in the way of us doing what we need to do.” Immediately after speaking on how charter universities draw companies and jobs to Ohio, Kasich answered questions about the controversial Ohio State Senate Bill 5 — the legislation that proposes to end collective bargaining rights for Ohio’s unionized and governmental workers. “We are trying to give our local governments the tools with which see Kasich | 4
Cincy hosts “Art is Gay” exhibit
coulter loeb | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
SPECTRUM OF WORK More than 30 artists were showcased in the “Art is Gay” exhibition hosted at the Northside Tavern in the Cincinnati neighborhood of Northside Saturday, March 19. The exhibit also featured music and dancing.
Williams appreciative of state budget Gin A. Ando | Editor-In-Chief
T
uesday marked the unveiling of Gov. John Kasich’s state budget, which, contrary to numerous worries, attempts to insulate higher education with more than $60 million allotted for the upcoming years. Within the budget, Kasich proposed capping any increases of state-funded university and higher education tuition to 3.5 percent. “Ohio has more government than it can afford and my budget contains significant reductions across most agencies of state government,” Kasich wrote in the introduction. “At the same time, however, my team has worked to make these reductions in a thoughtful way.” University of Cincinnati President Gregory Williams issued a statement of gratitude to the governor after Kasich released details about the budget at the state Capitol earlier Tuesday. “In a very challenging environment
If we want our state to move forward and grow, higher education must remain accessible to as many Ohioans as possible. —greg williams UC PRESIDENT
that calls for shared sacrifice, we are very appreciative that Gov. Kasich’s proposed budget has done as much as possible to support higher education and suggests some first steps toward much-needed construction reform,” Williams wrote. “In that spirit, the governor’s proposal shows an understanding that colleges and universities play a key role in Ohio’s future well-being. If we want our state to move forward and grow, higher education must remain accessible to as many Ohioans as possible.” In addition to maintaining higher education funding, Kasich also proposed
privatizing five Ohio prisons as well as reducing the state’s prison population to 48,000 — from approximately 50,500 convicted felons, according to the budget. Kasich’s approval rating stands at 40 percent, according to Ohio Poll results released Monday. The poll also reported a 47 percent disapproval rate and a 13 percent margin with no opinion. Kasich’s approval rating currently stands as the lowest initial rating in 28 years — Gov. Richard Celeste earned a 32 percent approval rate in April 1983. The poll was conducted by the Institute for Policy Research at UC between March 1 and March 9. Pollsters telephoned 908 adults in the state Results have a plus or minus 3.3 percent, according to the report. The budget in its entirety along with three other reports may be found at governor.ohio.gov. To go into effect, both the Ohio House and Senate must approve the budget by June 30.
INSIDE
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IN BRIEF
“Enough is Enough” in April
Nation and World Entertainment Classifieds Sports
University joins the nationwide campaign James Sprague | NEWS EDITOR
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HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDS Williams appreciated the $60 million alloted to higher education in Gov. Kasich’s budget.
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The University of Cincinnati is beginning Spring quarter by joining the effort to eliminate campus violence. UC joins more than 150 colleges and universities across the U.S. in the weeklong campaign beginning April 4. Among the events planned by the university are clinics on civility and violence prevention, a day of reflection and a pledge-signing ceremony in Tangeman University Center. The campaign comes at a time when the number of assaults on UC’s Uptown campus is on the rise. Three assaults were reported on campus in February 2011, according to the latest crime statistics from the UCPD — a 200 percent increase from February 2010. “Enough is Enough,” a nationwide campaign directed to stem violence on school campuses, was created in part due to a keynote address by Zenobia Lawrence
Hikes, vice president of student affairs at VirginiaTech, to those in attendance at a 2008 NASPA Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education conference. Virginia Tech was the site of one of the deadliest school shootings in United States history in April 2007, when student Seung-Hui Cho killed 33 people on the school’s campus. The incident spurred Hikes to declare that “Enough is Enough” concerning violence on America’s campuses. “We have known for years that universities are a microcosm of larger society and that whatever is in society ends up on our campuses,” Hikes said in her 2008 speech. “Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to do what we can to fix society.” Thus the campaign to stamp out campus violence was born. The campaign will wrap up April 8 with a Picnic for Peace on McMicken Commons.
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UCPD arrests man for Daniels Hall burglary News Record Staff After finding his way into the Daniels Residence Hall at the University of Cincinnati just after midnight March 16 and allegedly attempting to steal a laptop computer, 18-year-old Corey Moss is facing one count of burglary. Moss reported to the Grand Jury Friday and faces arraignment April 1. Currently, there are no charges of trespassing or assault. He is being held on $100,000 bail, according corey moss to Hamilton County court records. Moss, 18, who records show is homeless, was reported to have gotten into the dorms through a door left propped open, then entered an unidentified female resident’s room. No students were physically harmed.
NATION & WORLD 2 Libyan rebels advance toward Tripoli Monday
March 28 | 2011
NEWSRECORD.ORG
Nancy A. Youssef | Mcclatchy newspapers
Carl Juste | MCT
COALITION-LED COUNTERSTRIKE Two Libyan rebel fighters boast as they prepare to go into battle earlier this month.
BREGA, Libya — Rebel forces Saturday took back one city from backers of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and moved toward another in their biggest advance toward Tripoli since coalition forces began air strikes against the regime. Their gains seven days into the U.S.-led air campaign came as President Barack Obama faces bipartisan criticism of his Libya strategy, which he plans to address in a speech Monday night. To win back Ajdabiya, the rebels appeared to apply the same tactics Gadhafi’s regime used to take the cities of Ajdabiya and Brega nearly two weeks ago. Gadhafi deployed air strikes followed by heavy artillery. The rebels, who lack their own air wing, waited until after U.S.-led coalition air strikes destroyed Gadhafi air forces and cornered his ground troops. The rebels then attacked Gadhafi’s remaining soldiers with small arms fire until they were killed, went into hiding or retreated to just past
Brega. Abandoned uniforms could be found scattered throughout Ajdabiya. It was an extraordinary turn of events for the rebels, who had been forced to make a headlong retreat from the town after Gadhafi’s advance. Only a fraction of them returned to win back the city, and only after the air strikes began; the rest stayed in their hometowns, in places like Benghazi, and defended their communities, saying they did not have adequate weapons to fend off Gadhafi’s advance. Gadhafi’s government said its forces pulled back willingly and suggested that rebels had done nothing to recapture lost territory. Coalition forces “were heavily involved, so the Libyan armed forces decided to leave Ajdabiya this morning,” Khaled Kaim, a deputy foreign minister said in Tripoli Saturday. By Saturday afternoon, large convoys of rebel fighters began moving from Ajdabiya toward the oil town of Brega, the next town west on the highway toward
Tripoli, trying to determine how far Gadhafi had retreated. At the edge of Brega, rebels stood on the highway with one another and discussed how far they could move before confronting Gadhafi loyalists. It appeared that Gadhafi forces were headed back to Sirte, Gadhafi’s hometown and his last major stronghold between the liberated east and the capital. Nearly every corner of Ajdabiya had been hit during the fighting, scarred by bullet holes, tank shells, corpses or dark ground where an explosion detonated. Women and children were long gone; along the abandoned streets, only men had stayed to fight or protect their homes. On Saturday, the rebels returned to Ajdabiya and fired every kind of weapon and explosive in their arsenal in celebration of a victory many had no part in. Deafening explosions were set off, and the sound of gunfire was ubiquitous. By the end of the day, the city’s traffic circles were see rebels | 4
England hit with wave of protests david s. cloud | mct LONDON —Tens of thousands of people from all over Britain converged on London Saturday to protest the government’s spending cuts and austerity measures. The spending cuts are aimed at reducing the current record budget deficit of more than 150 billion pounds ($243 billion). George Osborne, the Conservative chancellor of the exchequer, has said he would stick to his austerity plan in order to return stability to the British economy. Dave Prentis, general secretary of public sector trade union Unison, said the massive turnout on Saturday “showed the anger of ordinary working people at the government’s cuts.” The Trade Union Congress said the number of protesters had exceeded their expectations, with unofficial reports of 400,000 participants. About 4,500 police officers were deployed across London. The protesters carried placards that said, “No Cuts,” and held banners that read, “Cuts Are Not The Cure.” Trade unions said it was the largest such protest since those against the Iraq war in 2003. Tens of thousands of demonstrators had started streaming into London well before the march had even started. Unison alone had organized 500 coaches and several special trains to bring people to the capital. The protesters included students, teachers, nurses and members of the civil service who marched to Hyde Park in central London, blowing horns and whistles, many carrying children, some holding balloons and flags. In January, the government raised the value-added tax, or VAT, to 20 percent as part of its austerity program, describing it as a “tough but necessary step” toward economic recovery. The opposition Labor Party said the hike was the “wrong tax at the wrong time” as it would depress consumer spending, fuel inflation and unemployment and hamper growth. Britain announced a massive program of public spending cuts of about 80 billion pounds ($128 billion) in October. The previous Labor government, which was replaced by a Conservative-Liberal coalition in elections in May, had also planned a rise in VAT from 2011. Britain’s national debt was forecast to be 60 percent of gross domestic product this year, and rise to 71 percent of GDP in 2012.
photos by carolyn cole I Los angeles times
PATH TO RECOVERY Satoru Sasaki, right, and his wife, Megumi, both 36, return to their neighborhood to collect what few possessions they can find.
Japan: Sifting through the rubble John M. Glionna | LOS ANGELES TIMES
KAMIHACHI, Japan — Megumi Sasaki was looking for the white bicycle helmet. Working patiently, a flock of seabirds nagging incessantly overhead, the 36-year-old mother of two sifted through the rubble of the only home she had ever known _ taken from her by the devastating wave that swallowed this seaside community of Kamihachi, Japan, on March 11. She had bought the helmet for her daughter Sara’s 7th birthday. But she had hidden it inside a family car swept away by the tsunami that rolled across northeast Japan on the heels of a killer magnitude 9 earthquake. Now both the helmet and the car were missing, like so many other possessions. Only two weeks ago, her quaint two-story home was a repository of precious moments,
Sasaki’s personal refuge from any storm, the place that housed four generations of her family: her grandparents, parents, herself and her husband and their two young daughters. Now it was gone, reduced to a concrete and wood foundation and a few daily items from a past life: a mangled sink lying in the mud, a dismembered toilet seat and several scattered chopsticks. Megumi Sasaki and her husband, Satoru, had returned to a place that no longer existed as before, an experience shared by seemingly countless families here. Some homes were demolished by the mammoth wave; others contorted into grotesque, cartoonish shapes, never again to be inhabited. Wearing white cotton gloves with green plastic fingertips, her long brown hair tied up in a flowered bow, the hospital nurse said she had returned home
REMNANTS OF LIFE Megumi Sasaki and her husband were not at home when the tsunami struck; and their two daughters escaped with grandparents to a nearby mountain temple.
for the first time just days after the disaster. For Megumi, it was a homecoming from hell. That day, from a rise in the road, she looked down at her once tight-knit community of 20 homes, and she gasped. “It was mayhem,” she said. “I cried when I saw it.” But she and her family counted their blessings: All eight household members survived. The children, Sara and 9-yearold Yua, along with Megumi’s parents and her grandparents, both in their 90s, were now safe at a relative’s house, leaving Megumi and Satoru to return to their old neighborhood to search for tiny pieces of their past. Megumi has returned nearly every day. “I’m looking for something I can recognize,” she said Thursday, “something I can pick up and say ‘This is mine.’“ On a gray afternoon, the couple spread out across a vast landscape of destruction, going about their search with a calm resolve. Wearing a white towel as a bandana, Satoru, on a hunch, walked down a makeshift lane carved through waist-high piles of twisted detritus, all the time watching closely. Within minutes, he saw it: the second story of their home, ripped off and dropped nearly a quarter-mile away. He called to his wife, smiling in amazement. Megumi said finding the second floor had special meaning. “My father and grandfather were carpenters,” she said.“Together, they built this addition with their own hands 10 years ago so we had a place to live when we got married.”
They made another find: a color photograph of Yua on a class field trip with a clutch of other youngsters. In the photo Yua is smiling. That made her father smile, too. “Photos of my children, that’s all I’m looking for,” said the 36-year-old construction worker, his voice trailing off. “Just some memories.” Neither Megumi nor Satoru was at home when the tsunami rushed in; only the girls and their older relatives, who hurried to a mountainside temple. But Satoru’s mother, who lived nearby, was taken by the wave. Her body lay in a makeshift mortuary. As he and his wife searched, Satoru tried to block out the future’s sadness. He concentrated only on the here and now, piecing his life back together one personal item at a time. He found a blue teacup caked with mud. With a white-gloved index finger, he calmly wiped the dirt like a husband on afterdinner kitchen duty. Megumi squealed with girlish delight each time she made a find: her daughter’s pink plastic swimming bag, a few plates, a pair of brown pants that she carefully folded and placed inside a school bag. The other day, the Sasaki girls had returned with their parents. They didn’t cry, their mother recalled, but acted like grownups. “They were just silent,” she said. “It wasn’t like them.” Satoru said many neighbors have fled to live with relatives in other prefectures. But all of see japan | 4
Libyan rebel leader spent years in suburban Virginia chris adams | Mcclatchy newspapers
WASHINGTON _ The new leader of Libya’s opposition military spent the past two decades in suburban Virginia but felt compelled _ even in his late-60s _ to return to the battlefield in his homeland, according to people who know him. Khalifa Hifter was once a top military officer for Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, but after a disastrous military adventure in Chad in the late 1980s, Hifter switched to the anti-Gadhafi opposition. In the early 1990s, he moved to suburban Virginia, where he established a life but maintained ties to anti-Gadhafi groups. Late last week, Hifter was appointed to lead the rebel army, which has been in chaos for weeks. He is the third such leader in less than a month, and rebels interviewed in Libya openly voiced distrust for the most recent leader, Abdel Fatah Younes, who had been at Gadhafi’s side until just a month ago. At a news conference Thursday, the
rebel’s military spokesman said Younes will stay as Hifter’s chief of staff, and added that the army _ such as it is _ would need “weeks” of training. According to Abdel Salam Badr of Richmond, Va., who said he has known Hifter all his life _ including back in Libya _ Hifter, whose name is sometimes spelled Haftar, Hefter or Huftur, was motivated by his intense anti-Gadhafi feelings. “Libyans _ every single one of them _ they hate that guy so much they will do whatever it takes,”Badr said in an interview Saturday. “Khalifa has a personal grudge against Gadhafi.... That was his purpose in life.” According to Badr and another friend in the U.S., a Georgia-based Libyan activist named Salem alHasi, Hifter left for Libya two weeks ago. alHasi, who said Hifter was once his superior in the opposition’s military wing, said he and Hifter talked in mid-February about the possibility that Gadhafi would see LEADER | 4
luis sinco | los angeles times
FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM A fighter climbs aboard a burning loyalist tank after rebels retook Ajdabiya, Libya, from the forces of Moammar Gadhafi.
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Monday March 28 | 2011 NEWSRECORD.ORG
SLACKER
SOLUTIONS sean peters
ENTERTAINMENT Electrocafe ‘Roxx’ UC campus Kelly tucker | entertainment EDITOR
Fam time means free eats A common conundrum faced by many students at the University of Cincinnati is deciding where to eat when parents are visiting from out of town. I recently went out to dinner with Ma and stepfather to celebrate an upcoming internship. When the topic of where to dine came up, I froze. After several awkward minutes of standing around in my living room, Ma decided we should eat at P.F. Chang’s because she “loves their lettuce wraps.” It’s been years since I’d eaten at P.F. Chang’s. My last meal there was sufficient, but not worth their steep prices. As my roommate put it, “P.F. Chang’s is the Applebee’s of Chinese food.” Wholly disappointed with the food (not the evening, Ma), I took it upon myself to compile a list of recommended dining spots to exploit parental dining funds. These places aren’t the most expensive in town, but, on a student budget, they’re not likely everyday-eateries. If you’re like me, you want to make these dinners count. There are some points to consider: The restaurant should be fancier than anything you can usually afford. Portions should be large enough to warrant leftovers. Avoid chain restaurants to get a better feel for what Cincinnati has to offer — locally owned is a great route to take. Ambar India Restaurant (350 Ludlow Ave.): Conveniently located near Esquire Theatre and Graeter’s Ice Cream, Ambar is a fantastic way to improve family time. I get the lamb curry every time, but am always ecstatic to swipe a forkful off Dad’s plate. No aloo saag on Earth can be better than Ambar’s. Ando Japanese (5889 Pfeiffer Road): Sushi! Ando has fresh, never-frozen tuna, which accounts for their delicious sushi rolls (spicy tuna included). While they have no liquor license, this means you can bring in your own alcohol at no additional fee — that is a mega bonus. I must recommend their beef teriyaki with the homemade teriyaki sauce. Andy’s Mediterranean Grille (906 Nassau St.): I love meat and I love eating things off sticks, so, naturally, a shish kabob is like heaven. Andy’s has lovely service (because most of the waitresses are pretty girls) and the appetizers and entrées cater to both carnivores and vegetarians, which is always a great signifier of a restaurant’s desire to satisfy a broad clientele. You should enjoy their hookah for a smoky dessert. Mecklenburg Gardens (302 East University Ave.): Being a German town, you’d expect nothing but the finest of Deutsch cuisine from Cincinnati’s premiere German restaurant. In terms of entrées, you can’t go wrong with their hasenbraten (braised rabbit). It is absolutely essential that you try their sauerkraut balls and enjoy several frothy steins in their biergarten. Stop by Highland Coffee House for an espresso (or whiskey) afterward. Melt Eclectic Deli (4165 Hamilton Ave.): I took my dad here a few years ago and he’s now a fan of the restaurant on Facebook. Last I checked, he was trolling their page and demanding recipes for their veggie cheesesteak. Melt is extremely accommodating to vegan and vegetarian diners and the quality and presentation is superb. Located next to Northside Tavern, it might not be a bad idea to get some postdinner cocktails before perusing the vinyl section of Shake It Records. Myra’s Dionysus (121 Calhoun St.): This is actually a restaurant where I can afford to eat on a regular basis, but I am careful not to go too often, lest I should ever grow weary of their eclectic offerings (unlikely). Another restaurant that works hard to feed vegans, see slacker | 2
Unique local treasure Roxx Electrocafe recently moved into 214 Calhoun St., creating a refreshing nighttime haven for students outside the typical bar scene. The café is open until 3 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays to serve the needs of avid gamers and caffeine addicts alike. The beautifully furnished location offers individual computers for guests to rent at $4 per hour to play online classics like “Halo” and “Left 4 Dead,” as well as televisions for groups to play console games at varying prices per hour depending on the number of players. Saturday, Roxx hosted a Super Smash Bros. tournament amid the bustle of regular gamers and coffee drinkers. The café plans to host such tournaments on a regular basis, featuring future brackets for “Marvel vs. Capcom,”“Left 4 Dead”and “Halo.” According to founder, owner and manager Andrew Eigel, people are willing to travel from as far away as Michigan and Indiana for these tournaments to compete with gamers on their level. In fact, the café’s original location in Blue Ash prompted many University of Cincinnati students to travel by the carload for game time. Since the location reopened in Clifton this month, Eigel has already noticed a sharp increase in business. “This is clean, sober fun if you’re a student here
and don’t drink,” Eigel said. He calls the Electrocafé a literal “mom and pop” shop, since his wife and he created and manage Roxx. Aside from a social setting for electronic competition, Roxx brews highly caffeinated, supersweet coffee suited quite aptly to college students. With an abundant menu that takes friendly employees several breaths to explain, items like “Candiccinos” created to match your favorite candy bar flavor and smoothies named after Nintendo characters shake up the typical café menu options with prices Starbucks can’t compete with. If the coffee and gaming combination isn’t a fresh enough combination, Eigel brings another new idea to the table with Roxx — Joe 2 Go, a coffee delivery service available as late as 2:30 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays. “We’re trying for upbeat, fun advertising,” Eigel says of the coffee ninja used to represent Joe 2 Go. Roxx Electrocafe is admittedly catered toward students, and with the array of food, drinks and services the café has to offer, it seems to be accomplishing its goal quite thoroughly. “I love gaming,” Eigel says, which becomes evident as he animatedly describes the work that goes into a tournament and the opportunities Roxx Electrocafe provides for members of the gaming community. “Watching people come in and have a good time means I did my job properly.”
marisa whitaker | staff photographer
BETTER THAN ARCADES Guests at Roxx Electrocafe choose from several online games after renting the PCs at an hourly rate.
A DECADE OF DASHBOARD
courtesy of RJ Shaughnessy, paradigm Agency
ALWAYS LOOKING FORWARD As Chris Carrabba celebrates “Swiss Army Romance,” he looks forward to future musical projects. TNR: What’s been your favorite part of this tour so far?
TNR: What do you think made Swiss Army Romance so unforgettable for fans?
TNR: What has it been like, going from writing songs while teaching to having songs played in movies like “Spiderman 2” to going on this national album anniversary tour in the span of 10 years?
CC: I think it’s a tie between my own rediscovery of some of these songs that I had put on the back burner — or at least a side burner — and found something genuinely new in them ... I guess I found a connection to who I was and how I felt as the young man who wrote that song. And then that’s maybe eclipsed by ... I mean, when you play shows as often as I do and you’re in various cities as often as I am, you really begin to get to know people that listen to your music and recognize their faces and get to build friendships in some tenuous way with them. There are a lot of people that I haven’t seen in a long time … I can’t tell you why they hadn’t been around, but ... [seeing them again has] been terrific.
CC: I don’t know … I do think at a very basic level, I was telling some very revealing stories. I was telling them honestly … that was a little bit lacking in the music scene as a whole [10 years ago]. … And the other thing I think I had going for it was that somehow people embraced a lot of those stories as their own stories. They personalized it. I was telling my story — I didn’t expect people to make it theirs. Something in the miracle of delivery made it easier than I expected it to be for people to project their own life experience onto the song or vice versa. And I guess that’s what made people want to share it with each other.
CC: It’s been a wild ride. But I’ve loved it … It’s a long shot that a band can get a record into the hands of a lot of people in the first place, but it’s an even bigger long shot to get the opportunity to continue playing for 10 years and have people still care about it.
I guess I found a connection to who I was and how I felt as the young man who wrote [Swiss Army Romance]. —chris carrabba
kelly tucker | entertainment EDITOR Between rejoining his former band Further Seems Forever and searching for new musical direction, Dashboard Confessional front man Chris Carrabba has been touring the country in honor of the 10th anniversary of Dashboard’s first album, “Swiss Army Romance.” Before his upcoming Cincinnati performance at Bogart’s Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., Carrabba discussed the booming first decade of his career, his touring experiences and what to expect in the future with The News Record.
TNR: So how did “Swiss Army Romance” evolve into your first solo album? CC: I was just writing these songs and I’d show them to my bandmates in Further [Seems Forever], but we all agreed they didn’t fit the template to what Further Seems Forever was. But we were dragging our heels, and I thought [I’d] ... go to the studio and record these songs … I discovered in that weekend there when I recorded the record that ... I was really passionate about these songs and this idea of how to present them in such a stripped-down way. In the end, it kind of had a life of its own. It wasn’t well-planned, but it turned out pretty well.
dashboard confessionals
TNR: What’s been the worst part of the tour so far? CC: … I love playing the record all the way through — the whole premise of this thing is that the first [part] of the show, I’m playing the record from start to finish. If it was left completely up to me and I had autonomy and I didn’t set the parameters, I probably would have re-sequenced the songs in the set order because I think I could come up with a little bit of a better flow for the front of the set. … Fortunately, I have a whole two-thirds of the set left to pack with other stuff ...
TNR: So should we expect to hear more from Dashboard as well as Further? CC: Yes! I just wrote something that I think is maybe sending me on my new direction. I thought I had found it about two months ago. I was wrong. It just takes one new song that tells you what your next destination is. Sometimes it takes 25 or 30 songs to write that first one … so I guess I’m going to just chase that one and see where it leads me. TNR: Is there anything else you wanted to say? CC: You know, I’m pretty excited about playing Bogart’s ... I broke my wrists at Bogart’s one time. Hopefully I don’t break them again. TNR: How did that happen? CC: That’s a story for another time. It was just stage shenanigans. I’m not sure the audience knew. Maybe I’ll tell that story when I’m on stage.
‘Sucker Punch’ propelled by visuals, FX nick grever | senior reporter The term “rollercoaster” is often applied to movies’ storylines nowadays. It’s often followed by such descriptors as “adrenaline fueled thrillride” or “edge-of-your-seat excitement.” But that doesn’t fully describe the highly anticipated “Sucker Punch.” While the movie has plenty of exciting moments, as any rollercoaster aficionado will tell you, that’s only part of the equation. Think back to your last trip to the amusement park — remember the scenery preceding the ride? It’s pretty much worthless. Sure, it helps set the tone of the attraction, reminding you that, yes, this ride has a name and, yes, it has an overarching theme. But it doesn’t really matter. The Beast wouldn’t be any less thrilling if it was called the Snuggle Bunny. Correlate that a plot in “Sucker Punch.” Sure, it’s there, but it doesn’t really matter. The plot has one singular purpose: to provide an excuse for cute girls to put on short skirts and fight samurai. The film’s acting doesn’t fare any better. It’s similar to the pre-ride safety check. It’s wooden, overdone and yawncourtesy of mct campus
LET’S FIGHT DRAGONS Emily Browning stars as Baby Doll in Zack Snyder’s latest action film. NEWSRECORDENT@GMAIL.COM | 513.556.5913
inducing. The main characters, Baby Doll, Sweet Pea, Rocket, Amber and Blondie, have more character development placed into their names than in their actual characters. Their names are essentially stripper pseudonyms, which tell you about what to expect when these girls open their mouths. The script serves them no favors, but any time the plot is pushed forward, you wouldn’t be blamed for zoning out and checking text messages. Only when swords start swinging and machine guns start blazing, things get interesting. If the action sequences are like the actual rollercoaster, then “Sucker Punch” is one hell of a ride. Director Zack Snyder (“300,” “Watchmen”) has a personal style when it comes to filming an action sequence. His work is easily recognizable with constant speed changes, inventive cinematography and stunning computer-generated imagery. His action sequences are engaging and guaranteed to show you something you’ve never seen before. Have you ever seen a movie where four girls engage in trench warfare scene against steam-powered Nazis? Of course you haven’t. If you’re interested in the visual spectacle of the movie (as seen heavily in the trailers) and you’re willing to ignore its myriad plot issues, then you’ll enjoy the movie. Put down the $15 for the IMAX experience, because this movie was tailored for the IMAX’s huge screen and beefy sound system. “Sucker Punch” wears its heart on its … extremely short pleats. The action is exhilarating, the girls are adorable and the cinematography is groundbreaking. If those pros outweigh the many cons in your eyes, “Sucker Punch” is worth two hours of your life. If you can’t stomach a worthless story and elementary acting, then you’re better of skipping this ride.
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EFFICIENCIES, 1-BEDROOM, 2-BEDROOM, 3-BEDROOM in HYDE PARK for rent in excellent condition. New appliances including dishwashers, A/C. HEAT and WATER paid. Balcony, pool use, 10 minutes from UC. New kitchens and bathrooms. Laundry, off-street parking/garage. Starting at $545 per month. Contact us at 513-477-2920 or pgspropertiesincincinnati@gmail. com.
FOR RENT Looking for an apartment? www.ucapartments.com. Nice three bedroom apartment. Available September 1. 513378-7919 or visit our site www. qcr4rent.com. Clifton 4 bedroom house. Walk to UC, hospitals. Driveway, equipped kitchen. Basement, yard, deck. New remodeled bath and furnace. Immediately 509 and 510 Swift Hall University of Cincinnati 45221-0135
available now through August 2011. $1095. Call 513-631-5058, 513-484-0960. 412 Ada Street. Efficiency $375. Call 513-3829000. 1 bedroom for rent/sublet in a 5 bedroom house, beginning May 20th. Corner of Klotter and Ravine. Newly remodeled. Tenants are UC students. Deck with great view of Cincinnati. $300/month. Call 940-867-2581 or email dimuziap@mail.uc.edu. Now leasing for September. 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and houses. 513-281-7159 www. ucapartments.com.
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BARTENDING. $250/DAY POTENTIAL. No experience necessary, training provided. Call 1-800-965-6520 ext. 225. SALES PROS DREAM JOB 100k+ with easy 5 minute sale! No Travel! Complete Training! Big Paychecks! Product Sells itself. Call 513-678-5252 for more information. Leave message 24/7 ATTENTION: Current Ecstasy or Molly Users!! Paid (up to $160) brain imaging and genetics study. NEED: 18-25 year olds, righthanded, no braces/body metal. CONFIDENTIAL University of Cincinnati study, CALL: 556-5524
The Kinder Garden School is hiring teaching assistants for infants/ toddlers/preschool. 2-6pm Monday-Friday. Email: tamilanham@gmail.com. Call: 513.791.4300. www.kindergardenschool.com
Caregiver wanted in Mason for active, physically disabled adult. No experience, flexible hours. $10/ hour. Call 513-564-6999 #688990. FUN and REWARDING Summer Job Opportunities in Cincinnati! Enjoy the out-doors while leading and teaching children recreational activities as a summer day camp counselor. Weekdays 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM. Positions include: basketball, drama & singing, gymnastics, maintenance, male group counselors, nature & camping, bb air rifle, soccer, swimming instructors (current life guarding required, WSI preferred), team sports and other activity leaders. Camp
Sports Editors Sam Elliott SAM WEINBERG enTertainment editor Kelly Tucker
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From Kasich | 1
From rebels | 2
From japan | 2
with shell casings, as one rebel after another fired into the air. They also began recovering corpses left throughout the city, at one point leaving, throwing a pile of suspected Gadhafi fighters into the back of a pickup and driving them to the hospital. The city’s skies were filled with dark clouds, from either the burning tanks or the celebratory explosives. InYemen, there was confusion Saturday after a senior government official said that beleaguered President Ali Abdullah Saleh was close to ceding power and then state media quickly retracted his statement. Shasvhank Bengali contributed to this report from Tunis, Tunisia.
couple’s clan lives nearby. “We have nowhere to escape to,” Megumi said. The afternoon drew to a close. The couple walked toward a relative’s car _ all five of their own vehicles were lost in the flood. Suddenly, Megumi ran into a cousin, 41-year-old Kouno Takayuki. It was their first meeting since the disaster, and they held a long embrace. Then, in an intimate gesture, Megumi knelt on the roadside and displayed the contents of her bag. She said the tsunami taught her a hard lesson: that a house is more than a place to sleep and cook; it’s a psychological roof that helps to maintain a family’s unique blood bond. Then the couple drove off to collect the body of Satoru’s mother. They planned to return to their neighborhood the next morning. Megumi still wanted to find that white bicycle helmet.
use force on protesters. “He made the decision he had to go inside Libya,” alHasi said Saturday. “With his military experience, and with his strong relationship with officers on many levels of rank, he decided to go and see the possibility of participating in the military effort against Gadhafi.” He added that Hifter is very popular among members of the Libyan army, “and he is the most experienced person in the whole Libyan army.” He acted out of a sense of “national responsibility,” alHasi said. “This responsibility no one can take care of but him,” alHasi said. “I know very well that the Libyan army especially in the eastern part is in desperate need of his presence.” Omar Elkeddi, a Libyan expatriate journalist based in Holland, said in an interview that the opposition forces are getting more organized than they were at the beginning up the uprising. Hifter, he said, is “very professional, very distinguished,” and commands great respect. Since arriving in the United States in the early 1990s, Hifter lived in suburban Virginia outside Washington, D.C. Badr said he was unsure exactly what Hifter did to support himself, and that Hifter primarily focused on helping his large family.
Session: June 20 – July 29. Precamp work available in May; staff training held 5/21 & 5/28 & evening 5/27. Cincinnati location near Winton Woods. Call Camp Wildbrook 513-931-2196 or email Campwildbrook@cinci. rr.com.
www.GOevolved.com is seeking for two - 10-15 hour per week techie/creative students - pays $8-10 per hour. Contact will@ GOevolved.com with resume. Offices are 5 blocks from campus.
to control their costs,” Kasich said. Kasich also mentioned that SB5 would restore a sense of balance between government workers and taxpayers. When asked about not funding the Cincinnati streetcar project Kasich’s only reply was that, “There’s a new sheriff in town.” “Jerry Ray, the director of Transportation has come down here and his analysis is that the streetcar is not a job creator … I would be delighted to help the mayor, this is part of his legacy… but we can’t play politics,” Kasich said. Outside of Baldwin Hall, where the governor would exit the building, Defend Ohio UC Student Coalition protestors opposing SB5 had been forced out of the quadrangle and placed on a small patch of grass on the southern side of McMicken Commons on what is identified as a ‘free speech’ zone. “We originally wanted to deliver a letter to the governor,” said Elizabeth Ampthor of UC’s chapter of the International Socialist Organization. They were then told that they were not allowed to be near the building. “We asked if we could just stand there and not talk and [security] said that we are not allowed to congregate there,” said Greg Zoller. The protestors made their presence known from across the campus chanting antiSB5 slogans and booing as his motorcade passed. The tour and question-andanswer event was only open only to members of the press.
From leader | 2
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From slacker | 3 I’ve never been disappointed with a dish — the kitchen staff is exceptional, with very friendly service and top-notch ingredients. I’m sick of wasting family dining opportunities on chain restaurants. No longer will we eat at Olive Garden, Dewey’s Pizza, Buca di Beppo or the accursed P.F. Chang’s… at least, if I have anything to say about it. But hey, if the family is paying, I’m eating.
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Cats back to tourney, success Rest assured Bearcats fans, the men’s basketball team is well on its way to returning to the powerhouse program Cincinnatians enjoyed watching for most of the previous two decades. While it’s a little premature to say the Cats are already a perennial top-25 team again, they took a huge step in the right direction this season by finishing seventh in the Big East and earning their first NCAA tournament selection since 2005. Head coach Mick Cronin and his staff have done an impressive job guiding the Bearcats from their dark days following the departure of Bob Huggins to its current state, restoring some luster to a once proud program. The Cats entered the season having little expectations from outsiders. After all, it was just last season that Cronin possessed his most talented team in five seasons, led by Big East Rookie of the Year Lance Stephenson — and still posted a 19-16 record. Early this season, the buzz around campus was that the team was playing as a cohesive unit and enjoying Cronin’s system. The newfound togetherness was put on display as the Bearcats began the season a perfect 15-0, punctuated by a 66-46 victory against rival Xavier in the Crosstown Shootout. Cincinnati suffered its first loss of the season Jan. 9 in Philadelphia against then No. 7 Villanova. It was the first of a four-game stretch that saw the Cats lose their first three conference road games. Questions quickly arose assessing how good the team really was considering the soft non-conference schedule and lackluster start to Big East play. The Bearcats responded with a heart-pounding 53-51 road win against St. John’s, with junior forward Yancy Gates scoring the go-ahead basket in the final seconds. Cincinnati welcomed Huggins back to Fifth Third Arena for the second time since taking over at West Virginia Jan. 29. Unfortunately, the Bearcats were handed a 66-55 defeat, and fortunes did not improve as Gates was suspended before the Feb. 5 game against Pittsburgh. The controversy surrounding Gates erupted as fans booed him amid limited play during a 59-57 home loss to St. John’s Feb. 13 that put NCAA tourney hopes in jeopardy. But the Bearcats rebounded with an impressive 63-54 victory against then No. 16 Louisville, sparking a streak during which they ended the regular season winning five of six games heading into the Big East tournament. At Madison Square Garden in New York City, UC pounded South Florida 87-61 only to be decimated by Notre Dame 89-51 in the tournament’s quarterfinals. The Cats received a No. 6 seed in the NCAA tournament and faced No. 11 seed Missouri in the second round. After an early Mizzou run, Cincinnati controlled the game’s pace, kept Missouri without a basket for nearly 11 minutes and used 18 points and 11 rebounds from Gates to win 78-63. Up next was a rematch with Big East tournament champion Connecticut with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line. The combination of UConn’s Kemba Walker, Jeremy Lamb was too much for the Bearcats, as they were upended 69-58 and ended an exciting season. UC found a potential star of the future in redshirt freshman Sean Kilpatrick, whose 9.7 points per game and 38 percent 3-point shooting landed him on the Big East all-rookie team. Cronin has a solid fiveman recruiting class headed to Cincinnati next season, headlined by ESPN top-100 recruit Shaquille Thomas, nephew of NBA star Tim Thomas. Center Kelvin Gaines will also be available after redshirting this season. These new additions, plus returning starters Gates, Cashmere Wright and Dion Dixon, will look to build on this latest chapter of Bearcats basketball. After a successful return to the NCAA tournament, UC basketball is back.
SPORTS
UC swept in league opener Sam Weinberg | sports EDITOR In its first Big East action of the season, the University of Cincinnati baseball team was swept in a three-game series by the St. John’s Red Storm in Jamaica, N.Y. The losses extended Cincinnati’s losing streak to five-straight games. “We did not play very well,” said UC head coach Brian Cleary. “We just didn’t play very well all weekend.” The Bearcats opened up the series against the Red Storm with a 4-3 loss Friday in a pitcher’s duel. Cincinnati senior pitcher Dan Jensen started on the mound for the Bearcats and struck out five while just letting up two earned runs through seven innings. Sophomore Kyle Hansen opened for St. John’s and struck out 10 while giving up just one earned run through seven innings. “I think [Hansen] is very good,” Cleary said. “I thought he pitched really well against Jensen. It was just a low-scoring game. It was a Big East game with two aces going.” While the series opener was a pitcher’s duel, the second
game was a one-way slugfest. Bearcat sophomore pitcher Andrew Strenge held St. John’s scoreless through four innings, but in the fifth and sixth, the Red Storm got on the board with a combined eight runs. “[Strenge] pitched really well, then he walked three guys in an inning, which obviously changed the game around once that happened,” Cleary said. The Bearcats tallied four runs in the eighth but were unable to overcome the deficit as St. John’s stormed to a 9-4 win. In the final game of the series, the Bearcats trailed 0-2 early in the game, but in the bottom of the fifth with two outs on the board, Cincinnati rallied. Following two flyouts by Braden Kline and Jake Saylor, Matt Williams was walked to first and driven to second by a Sam Vandenheuvel single. With a man on first and second, TJ Jones walked to load the bases, and back-to-back hits by Jake Proctor and Chris Peters drove in four runs to give UC a 4-2 lead. Proctor finished the weekend series with three runs, two stolen bases and three runs batted in.
sam greene | online editor
BIG EAST BLANK UC was outscored 17-10 in a three-game sweep to begin conference play, capped by a St. John’s walk-off 5-4 win in the tenth inning Sunday. Cincinnati is 1-1 in extra-innings this season. Proctor is a perfect 12-for-12 this season stealing bases. “I thought Proctor played well. He swung the bat well and played good defense,” Cleary said. “Certainly his play and the energy he brings was one of the bright spots [of the series].” Following UC’s rally, St. John’s
added a run in the sixth and tallied one more in the ninth to tie the game and force extra innings, in which the Red Storm secured a 5-4 victory in the tenth. The Bearcats return to action at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday against Dayton at UC’s Marge Schott Stadium.
TOURNEY
RETURN
Cats top Tigers, fall to UConn in NCAAs Harry E. Walker | MCT
CATS BACK IN Yancy Gates totaled a game-high 18 points and 11 rebounds in Cincinnati’s 78-63 win against Missouri March 17 in the Bearcats’ first trip to the NCAA tournament since 2005. UC met a familiar foe in UConn for its third round game. Rashad Bishop scored 22 points in his final game as a Bearcat, but Kemba Walker’s 33 points helped advance the Huskies to the Sweet 16 with a 69-58 victory.
Football resumes with Pro Day, practice Sam ELLIOTT | sports EDITOR Butch Jones will begin preparation for his second season at Cincinnati Tuesday as the Bearcats begin one month of spring practices — what the head coach calls the next step in building his team’s foundation. “We just concluded stage one — that’s your winter conditioning phase,” Jones said. “Now stage two is spring practice. I’m excited. Our kids have been hungry and they’ve all had personal gains in the weight room.” Zach Collaros enters the spring as Cincinnati’s established starting quarterback. As a junior, Collaros completed 59 percent of his passes for 2,902 yards, 26 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. “Zach could go out tomorrow or tonight and run our offense. He could coach everyone up,” Jones said. “I think he went through the trials and tribulations of being a full-time starting
quarterback last year. The big thing is how to manage a football team.” Cincinnati’s coaching staff managing the team remains unchanged from a season ago, as Jones said four of his assistants turned down offers to join other programs. Also returning are all of the Bearcats’ defensive starters, although the unit ranked seventh in the Big East in total defense and last in scoring defense. “We just can’t be older, we’ve got to get better,” Jones said. “A lot of times when you have 10 or 11 starters back, everyone just assumes you’re going to be better because they’re older.” Jones will deviate from the program’s typical spring game schedule and style this season. Bearcat Bowl V, the team’s annual intrasquad scrimmage in front of fans at Nippert Stadium, will be April 16, more than a week before the end of spring practices. “We’re going to do some different things. Our spring game is not the conclusion of our spring practice. It’s only practice number 11,” Jones said. “We’re going to mix it up with some different events with some one-on-one situations. I think it’ll be a great event for our fans.” While Tuesday marks the beginning of work for next season’s Bearcats, Monday will see UC’s draft-eligible seniors put in work toward possible professional careers. Scouts from most of the National Football League’s teams will descend upon campus to take players’ measurements and watch as they lift weights and test in a number of drills. After tearing his ACL in last year’s season opener against Fresno State, Pro Day will be wide receiver Vidal Hazelton’s first chance to showcase his skills for NFL scouts since recovering. “He’s doing extremely well,” Jones said. “This young man has worked so hard and he’s done his due diligence in the training room and I believe he’s 100 percent. Obviously, he’s excited for Monday.” Offensive lineman Jason Kelce will not participate in Monday’s Pro Day after having his appendix surgically removed earlier this month. Eamon Queeney | Photo editor
READY TO WORK Zach Collaros and the Cincinnati football team will begin a month of spring practices Tuesday. SPORTS.NEWSRECORD@GMAIL.COM | 513.556.5909
IN BRIEF
Niemer earns yet another award Following a record-setting senior season, the Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Women’s Sports Association named former Cincinnati volleyball star Stephanie Niemer the College Sportswoman of the Year for volleyball Thursday. Niemer was one of six female athletes to win the award in their respective sports. All six will be finalists to win the overall College Sportswoman of the Year Award. The winner will be announced April 17 at the 18th annual GCNKWSA Awards Ceremony. In her senior season, Niemer led the Bearcats to a 30-6 record, averaging 5.93 points and 5.12 kills per set, ranking third and fourth, respectively, in the NCAA. Niemer finished her UC career ranked first in service aces and second in kills and kills per set while grabbing the Big East Player of the Year title and a conference record six Big East Player of the Week awards. Niemer currently plays professionally for Indias de Mayquez in Puerto Rico.
Bearcats fall 4-3 to Marquette The University of Cincinnati tennis team lost its second straight match Sunday, falling 4-3 to Marquette at the Western Tennis and Fitness Club in Cincinnati. The Bearcats picked up three points following wins in the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 5 singles. Cincinnati senior Ksenia Slynko defeated Marquette sophomore Kelly Barry at No. 1 singles in two sets with scores of 6-5 and 6-4. Bearcats sophomore Jasmine Lee won at No. 2 singles with set scores of 6-4, 4-6 and 6-1, while sophomore Caitlin O’Gara took the No. 5 single with set scores of 7-6 and 6-3. The Golden Eagles won in the No. 3, No. 4 and No. 6 singles and took the doubles point following a three-match sweep of the Bearcats. Prior to their consecutive losses against Boston University and Marquette, the Bearcats were on a four-match winning streak. The Bearcats return to action at 2 p.m. Sunday to take on crosstown rival Xavier University at the XU tennis courts.