TNR 9.20.12

THE NEWS RECORD

132 YEARS IN PRINT VOL. CXXXIII ISSUELVVI

THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER, 20 | 2012

WOMEN FOR OBAMA

life & arts | 3

BATTLING BACK sports | 6

Candidate promotes party’s platform THURSDAY | MAY 31 | 2012

TYLER BELL | STAFF REPORTER

SARAH RAMSEY | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

CAMPAIGNING FOR CONGRESS Jim Berns holds handmade signs while attempting to gain votes on the corner of Clifton Avenue and Martin Luther King Drive Monday.

The Libertarian candidate for Ohio’s first congressional district hosted a rally promoting his platform Monday.

“We got a lot of issues on our platform,” said Jim Berns, the Libertarian candidate. “But [gay marriage and legalization of marijuana] are two very important ones, because students at the University of Cincinnati can relate to these two.”

Berns has run for public office 13 times as the Libertarian candidate and won two primaries, he said. The UC College of Design, Art, Architecture and Planning laboratory manager’s beliefs on gay marriage and the legalization of marijuana will help him garner the support of young voters, he said.

“Marijuana’s not the worst thing that [people] could do, but like anything, too much is a bad thing,” said Benjamin Truax, a third-year philosophy and English student. “I believe medical marijuana has its benefits, especially if [people] need it.”

Truax said he also supports gay marriage and that based on what he’s seen he would vote for Berns in the upcoming election.

Kathryn Laughlin, a second-year journalism and political science student, said she disagreed with Berns’ position.

Laughlin, a college Republican, said she had her own candidates in mind for this election and doesn’t support gay marriage or legalized marijuana.

“It’s just been my upbringing that I don’t support that,” Laughlin said. “I’m not a user of marijuana, I’m not a homosexual myself.”

Berns said he knows he has to put in the extra effort to gain equal support from the major parties.

“When I ran for congress two years ago I got about 3,000 votes,” Berns said, compared to winner Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) who won with roughly 100,000 votes.

Berns said he received nationwide press coverage in 2010 when he picketed former Rep. Steve Driehaus’ (D-Ohio) front lawn.

“I tend to have a little more nerve,” Berns said. “If you’re a liberal or Republican you’ve got to worry about what you say if you want to be elected, and I just speak from the heart about what I really believe in. You’re not going to see Steve Chabot out here waving at traffic with a sign that says ‘Gay is OK.’ ”

UC furthers Judaic studies DANI KOKOCHAK | CONTRIBUTOR A new partnership between a local religious institution and the University of Cincinnati’s department of Judaic Studies aims to bolster the department’s graduate program by furthering its exploration of Judaism.

The Hebrew Union CollegeJewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati will partner with UC to create a graduate certificate in the field of Jewish studies.

The certificate will utilize both schools’ resources and act as an introduction to graduate learning and research in the field, said Gila Naveh, head of the UC Judaic studies department.

“The new joint UC-HUC graduate certificate in Judaic studies addresses several needs and provides a number of exciting opportunities which will enhance both institutions and provide our diverse students and community with an added edge,” Naveh said.

T h e p r o g r a m will create a unique model of interaction b e t w e e n NAVEH public and private institutions, she said. UC is a public university dealing with a large and diverse student population while HUC-JIR has a specific focus on training a core group of Jewish professionals in related areas, Naveh said.

The graduate certificate program requires five courses for a total of 15 credit hours. The educational requirements will develop students’ methodology and provide a post-baccalaureate experience in advanced courses, Naveh said.

Undergraduate students in the department of Judaic studies will have an opportunity to interact with the graduate students in the program through the courses provided, which is important to their future as graduate students, said Matthew Kraus, undergraduate advisor of Judaic studies.

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Obama stresses his views on the differences between parties

BENJAMIN GOLDSCHMIDT | CHIEF REPORTER President Barack Obama delivered a campaign speech to more than 4,000 people in Cincinnati Monday in the auditorium at Eden Park.

“Seems like we should be having a picnic here,” Obama said.“Who’s got the chicken?”

Moving beyond food, Obama stressed the differences between the Democrat and the Republican platforms, reminding the crowd this election is “not just between two candidates or two political parties, but it is a choice between two fundamentally different visions for how we move forward.”

While acknowledging the different visions of the two parties, Obama criticized Republicans for not being clear enough with their platform.

“They don’t want to tell you their plan, and the reason is it’s the same plan they’ve been offering for a decade,” he said. “Tax cuts, tax cuts. Cut a few regulations and then let’s try some more tax cuts.”

Obama claimed he would reduce the deficit by $4 trillion, “without sticking it to the middle class,” he said, and attributed that number to an unnamed research group.

“I’ve worked with Republicans in Congress, and already cut $1 trillion in spending,” he said. “And we’re willing to do more. I don’t want a government that’s wasting money.”

While much of the speech criticized Republicans and the tax code, many of the people in attendance said the most important issues for them are social issues, like women’s equality and gay marriage.

“I think he spoke very plainly, and brought up facts about the

BRANDON WEINSTEIN | CONTRIBUTOR

THURSDAY

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FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE campaign and different things that we need as people,” said Mercedes Smith of Norwood.

“Right now we need a lot of tender, loving care because we’ve been bashed so bad. And we need a president who is looking out for everybody, not just one person, because we’re all in this together.”

“Nothing really surprised me about the speech,” said Brett Sweeney of Riverside. “But I love how down to earth he is, and how he’s able to relate with the crowd. I loved his humor.”

Much of the speech resembled his address at the Democratic National Convention, when he accepted the presidential nomination in Charlotte, N.C. “The election four years ago wasn’t about me, it was about all of you,” Obama said. “It was about us. You’re the reason a young man in Columbus, whose mother worked three jobs to raise him, can finally afford to go to college. You did that.”

Obama attributed immigration reform, health care reform and the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell to those who supported him in 2008, as he did at the DNC. The president spent much of his speech attacking Romney’s tax plan, which, he said, would take government aid from the people who need it to pay for tax cuts for millionaires.

“I don’t think another round of tax breaks for millionaires is going to bring jobs to Ohio, or pay down our deficit,” he said. “I sure don’t believe that firing teachers or kicking students off of financial aid is going to help grow our economy.”

Gallup’s weekly election poll has Obama at 47 percent and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney at 46 percent.

SGA seeks explanation for Williams’ payment

News Life & Arts Nation & World Opinion Sports

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LAUREN PURKEY | PHOTO EDITOR

LEANING FORWARD Obama hosted a rally at Eden Park Monday, speaking to supporters about the differences between the two parties.

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The University of Cincinnati Undergraduate Student Senate met Wednesday to discuss the severance offered to Gregory Williams, former University of Cincinnati president, following his resignation.

Williams was given a severance package that included a $112,750 bonus, a $100,000 supplemental retirement benefits package, a $500,000 consulting agreement for the next two years, a $255,000 tenured professor salary, and the option to buy out the remainder of his tenure for $300,000; totaling more than $1.26 million over the next two years.

No information regarding where the funding will come from was provided to student government. Finding the answers to those questions has become one of student government’s primary concerns, and a resolution bill aimed at finding those answers passed senate with a majority vote.

Student Body President Lane Hart said he would send a letter Thursday to Francis Barrett, chairman of the Board of Trustees requesting his attendance at a senate meeting.

The senate hopes to discuss the details of Williams’ consulting deal and determine

where the money will come from.

“I’m very curious,” said Jessica Gearhart, at-large senator. “This money came from somewhere … it could’ve helped [the university].”

“We have the right to make that request,” said Andrew Naab, at-large senator.

I’m very curious. This money came from somewhere .. it could’ve helped [the university].

—JESSICA GEARHART AT-LARGE SENATOR

Students have expressed concerns to the senate about Williams’ severance consulting deal following his resignation, Hart said.

Senate agreed the information about Williams would be published and made available to any student who wishes to read it, provided Barrett shows up to the meeting.

“This resolution is to provide means to an end,” Naab said.

NEWSRECORDNEWS@GMAIL.COM | 513.556.5908

At the Board of Trustees meeting on Sept.

12 Barrett said that Williams will consult on matters that he is well versed in including, but not limited to UC Health, Proudly Cincinnati, the UC Foundation, U-Square at the Loop and the Big East Conference.

The resolution bill passed by the senate also calls for a further explanation of Williams consulting responsibilities Senate also discussed holding open forums with students on the issue of smoking on campus, said Maesa Idries, student body vice president.

“It is really important we listen to all students on this issue,” Idries said.

“This is something completely initiated by the students,” Hart said. “I’ve been here for five years and it has been a concern here every year.”

Students have been contacting student government to address smoking on campus, Hart said.

This led to a consideration of holding an open forum for students to express their concerns, but a date has not yet been set.

Hart will inform students about the open forum discussion as soon as the details are worked out, he said.

2 LOCAL NEWS Male stroke patients at higher risk Weekend Edition Sept. 20 | 2012

NEWSRECORD.ORG

BRYAN SHUPE | CONTRIBUTOR A recent pilot study found male stroke survivors are more susceptible to depression than females because they question the future and longevity of their health.

Michael McCarthy, an assistant professor of social work for the University of Cincinnati, led a study that found health issues facing stroke victims are further perpetuated by the uncertainty of one’s medical well being. Depression in stroke victims has occurred in both men and women, yet men seem to suffer more, McCarthy said.

As a result of health ambiguity, one third of stroke survivors suffer from

depression, McCarthy said. The growing fear of another medical mishap waiting around the corner doesn’t help stroke survivors and McCarthy stressed the importance of positive communication regarding their future health.

“In the research I do, generally there’s more to ‘How well people do’ after a stroke than ‘How well they function’ physically and cognitively,” McCarthy said. “It’s really important that the survivor and whoever the caregiver is, is confident.”

The Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation published the study, “Gender, Health Ambiguity, and Depression among Survivors of First Stroke: A Pilot Study,” online Sept. 14.

The pilot study consisted of 36 subjects, 20 male and mostly Caucasian,

over the age of 65, McCarthy said. The men involved in the study were either married or in a committed relationship.

Most of the male stroke victims long for a sense of being in control of their health, rather than their spouse becoming their caregiver, McCarthy said. Part of the solution relies on effective communication between the victim and their loved ones, he said.

“The communication of the physician or the social worker … to provide them with information, reducing that uncertainty,” McCarthy said. “It’s stress, but its also not knowing.”

McCarthy said future research should include a more diverse group of people and examine what factors protect female stroke survivors from health ambiguity.

SWING STATE SWAGGER

LAUREN PURKEY | PHOTO EDITOR President Barack Obama made a campaign stop in Eden Park Monday, highlighting many of the points from his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention. A crowd of 4,500 supporters were on hand to greet and show support for Obama, whose speech hit on taxation and difference between himself and his opponent, Mitt Romney.

NEWSRECORDNEWS@GMAIL.COM | 513.556.5912

PROVIDED BY UCHEALTH

HIGHER DEPRESSION RISKS A study led by Michael McCarthy, professor of social work at the University of Cincinnati found that male stroke patients are at a higher risk to suffer from depression.

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LIFE & ARTS KYLE’S Stars provide charm, little else

Weekend Edition Sept. 20 | 2012

NEWSRECORD.ORG

CATHEDRAL

KYLE POPE

Hang the DJ: EDM overstays its welcome

EDM. Electronic Dance Music, that’s the musical term for it.

A musical genre I once appreciated but can now hardly stand. I’ve seen a trend with electronic artists in the past few years and it’s not OK. In the 1990s, EDM broke into the mainstream with The Chemical Brothers, Daft Punk, Paul Oakenfold, The Prodigy, and Paul Van Dyke at its forefront.

Since then, it’s evolved — but not for the better.

EDM has branched out to many genres, from trance to house, IDM (intelligent dance music) such as Portishead, and more recently Dubstep.

It’s gone from the mainstream to underground. From there, bands have conjured up more intense punk-metal fusion styles like horrorcore, gabber, and speedcore.

These sub-genres split further.

Now, EDM has come back to the mainstream to reach an even wider audience. Even top budget festivals in the U.S. such as Lollapalooza and Coachella have gone so far to create another main stage entirely for the purpose of EDM. Organizers have also begun booking powerhouse DJs and artists like Avicii, Daft Punk and Justice to headline their festivals.

Founder of Lollapalooza and Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell has called electronic music the “new rock n’ roll.”

He’s right in a sense. The energy is raw, the feelings are real, the show is monumental, and it is definitely what one would call a movement — if kids drugging themselves out of their minds at Coachella only to wake up three hours later with their tops off in a port-a-potty can be classified as a movement.

Here’s the thing about musical movements: Some are made with purpose and some just turn into excuses for everyone to drink to nearly fatal excess.

Making your own music is fine, you’ll never find me listening to Deadmau5 or Skrillex outside of the few house parties I attend anymore, but props to them for handcrafting their own music. Sure, its just computers but it’s still a creative process.

Taking it a step forward, house music pioneers Daft Punk and their modern French predecessors Justice have created some killer tunes over the years and produced some of the most over the top live music setups seen by the human eye.

Calling EDM the new rock n’ roll is not really far outside the realm of possibility at all.

It sparks emotions within its listeners. Causing crowds to get wild, even to the point of violence. And it can be loud, hard, fast music.

Its fans embody all of the spirit of rock n’ roll, but there should always be an honest two-way relationship between fan and artist. More and more I see music fans fall further and further into this farce that is DJs — or emcees as they like to call themselves to retain selfappointed artistic integrity.

Calvin Harris headlined Lollapalooza’s EDM stage this year. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a fan of his music.

“I Created Disco” is a damn good album — but he released that in 2007. He had a live band and really put on a solid live performance, but something changed with the EDM trend.

Nowadays, it’s Calvin Harris: “DJ Set.”How underwhelming.

Spinning tracks? $220 for a ticket to Lollapalooza to go see a bunch of remixes?

Yet the kids eat it up like the drugs they use to enhance their enjoyment. This reminds me of a question Henry Rollins once asked: “ What came first, the dumb music or the dumb drugs?”

That’s the PG version, but I digress.

It’s not that I am preaching any straightedge BS or anything like that. Its just atrocious to see artists and fans find these “DJ sets” acceptable. Like its worth our time and money to go see them spin tracks. Come to think of it, they don’t even spin, they press play on a Mac Book Pro these days. Hell it’s not like I know what Daft Punk does in its giant pyramid, but at the very least it looks like something is going on that contributes to the performance.

So to all the ecstasy tweaked dance music fans and their DJ heroes, I leave you with a couple of words from Morrissey and The Smiths: “Hang the blessed DJ.”

JAKE SCOTT | CONTRIBUTOR

Falling out of love, but not being able to let go, seems to be a reoccurring theme in the film industry these days.

“Celeste and Jesse Forever” is a great example of a dramedy

with potential; however, its lack of originality hinders the film’s ability to be anything but another formulaic farce.

Celeste (Rashida Jones, who also co-wrote the film) is a trend analyst for her own media company that realizes her boyfriend, Jesse (Andy

COURTESY OF SONY PICTURES CLASSICS

Samberg), is unmotivated. After she realizes he would rather hangout with his pot-dealing buddy than get a real job. Celeste is adamant about the divorce.

But, as we see too often in this type of film, as soon as Jesse moves on — after dropping a major bombshell — Celeste begins to regret her decision.

Jones, who sports a wonderful array of credits from television (“Parks and Recreation”) to film(“The Social Network,” “The Muppets”) lives up to her abilities through voluntary tears and on the spot drunken rambles.

But the true star is Samberg.

It’s always interesting to see an actor step outside of their comfort zone to deliver a stellar performance, although his lack of screen time does him no favors.

Director Lee Krieger (“Vicious Kind,” “December Ends”) sticks

to his independent roots, and while the cinematography is not praiseworthy — a step above homemovie films, but only a tad less shaky — it perfectly complements the cast’s performances.

Will McCormack co-wrote the film with Jones. The duo had a solid idea, but failed to pull it off with the wit they intended to.

A shoddy plot also makes some scenes redundant. It quickly becomes a game of how many times two people can apologize over and over again about the same thing.

Aside from the repetitive plot and failure to present viewers with anything new, the stars are reason enough to see the film.

The on-screen chemistry is unmistakably heartwarming and not something seen the last time Jones starred in the similar 2009 comedy, “I Love You, Man.”

ALEX SCHROFF | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

WOMEN FOR OBAMA Actress Natalie Portman visited the University of Cincinnati’s campus Wednesday afternoon to show her support for President Obama and share her thoughts on the state of women’s rights ahead of the November election.

Natalie Portman speaks to UC KELSEY KENNEDY | CONTRIBUTOR

a few votes in this state. You have so much power in your hands.”

“We have a leader that speaks for us, and The presidential campaign got a new it’s crucial that we keep him in office for four look Wednesday, when actress and political more years,” Portman said. activist, Natalie Portman, visited the Students were handed index cards to University of Cincinnati. write down questions for Portman and the More than 500 students listened as panel then answered their questions.

Kate Chapek, the national women’s vote director for the Obama campaign, Dylan To open the panel, Chapek said, “2012 is Colvin and Cortnie going to be a more Owens, both fifthhistorical election We’re not making history, year women’s studies than 2008 because majors, discussed fair we’re not making we’re protecting it. and equal pay, quality history, we’re —KATE CHAPEK education and affordable protecting it.”

NATIONAL WOMEN’S VOTE DIRECTOR FOR healthcare for women.

When asked OBAMA CAMPAIGN “You [women] are about inspiring entering into this women, Portman economy — this is your mentioned women’s job market, your taxes, rights activist your healthcare and your rights,” Portman Sandra Fluke, who testified before Congress said. “The election will really come down to this year about using birth control.

“She’s such an eloquent, smart and inspiring young woman,” Portman said.

Portman also mentioned Missouri Rep. Todd Akin and Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan’s comments on rape and pregnancy.

“Unacceptable. Rape is rape,” Portman said. “To know that those kinds of beliefs exist out there makes us even more resolute in our votes as women to defend our rights and to defend the truth.”

After the event, Colvin expressed how grateful she felt to sit alongside Portman and Chapek.

“It was an honor to sit next to Natalie Portman and the other women on the stage, not so much because Portman is an actress, but because of all the work she does.”

One of the themes stressed by the Obama campaign was its “For All” slogan — emphasizing women’s issues are important for all Americans this election year.

‘Sleeping Dogs’ offers noir adventure Game gives players chance to ‘play’ action movie TYLER BELL | STAFF REPORTER “Sleeping Dogs” is the video-game industry’s answer to Michael Bay films.

Surprisingly a product of Square Enix, the studio behind the Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts franchises, “Sleeping Dogs” blends solid fighting and driving mechanics into an over-the-top sandbox game, stepping far outside the studio’s comfort zone.

You play as undercover detective, Wei Shen, a Hong Kong native and recent United States expatriate tasked with infiltrating and dismantling the Sun On Yee, a fictional portrayal of the real Chinese triads, the Sun Yee On. Wei starts his undercover career as a bagman and enforcer for a low-level boss, or “Red Pole,” and works his way up from the bottom.

The game’s chases and unscripted runs are intense, having the player tap the sprint button just before obstacles to take them on more quickly and gain a speed boost or jump further.

Blasting through Hong Kong’s cramped and often crowed alleyways while evading police or chasing down enemies plays like an action movie, with Wei busting through doors into fully staffed kitchens and sliding over prep tables while the guy he’s chasing throws down obstacles.

Driving is graceful and dirty, and the Hollywood brand cars move like real world counterparts, zipping through rush hour traffic and blasting other cars aside. Wei can jump from car to car in an “Action Hijack”

maneuver that keeps chases from slowing down when his vehicle is too slow or damaged to keep up.

There are times when Wei will blow a car over by blasting out its tires, only to leap from the side of his car onto a box truck, dangling from the side until he can make it to the front door.

Unlike many other sandbox variants that put their dollars into astounding vistas and a buffet of weapons, “Sleeping Dogs” focuses on a brutal melee-fighting mechanic.

The system is broken up into the standard fare of attack, counter, and grab, but the pacing of fights and the variability of actions toward enemies is where the game stands out.

The combat is fast and visceral, taking advantage of brutal environmental kills and cringe-inducing bodily attacks.

The most irritating issue arises from damage balance.

Enemies will continue fighting after Wei has hyper-extended their elbows, only to die from a short fall.

The game’s plot is terrible — to continue the Michael Bay reference — and seems tacked on to justify the series of explosions comprising the game.

Wei is portrayed as being torn between two worlds; however, his wanton killing of civilians and rampant police brutality doesn’t really paint Wei as anything but a selfdelusional thug.

There’s never a point where Wei is forced to answer for being an undercover cop — and his constant betrayal of his friends’ trust — because the characters are conveniently killed off before they get too close. This is ultimately just a cop-out to keep you from

losing your sympathy for Wei, which happens anyway because it’s hard to believe the guy is still a cop after mowing down thirty civilians out of boredom with the $410,000 car he bought with his triad earnings.

Immersion is ultimately the game’s focal point, and the developers ensured that not even the plot would get in the way of Wei gunning down gangsters on a busy freeway.

“Sleeping Dogs” is fun, and its solid 30 hours of gameplay will fill up the summer release gap until the fall blockbusters come out.

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Weekend Edition Sept. 20 | 2012 NEWSRECORD.ORG

NATION & WORLD

Fast and Furious report released 14 law enforcement officials blamed for causing ‘significant danger to public safety’

RICHARD A. SERRANO | MCT CAMPUS WASHINGTON — Fourteen federal law enforcement officials — from field agents in Arizona to top managers in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Justice Department in Washington — created a “significant danger to public safety” under Operation Fast and Furious and were referred for possible job discipline for carrying out a gun-walking operation that saturated the Southwest border with more than 2,000 illegally purchased firearms.

Less than an hour after those findings were announced Wednesday by the Justice Department’s Inspector General’s office, two of the individuals — Kenneth Melson, the former head of the ATF, and Deputy Assistant Attorney General Jacob Weinstein — announced they were stepping down.

The 18-month IG investigation, the only independent

review of Fast and Furious, also concluded that Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. had no prior knowledge of Fast and Furious, a position he has long held despite intense criticism from Republican lawmakers who earlier voted him in contempt of Congress for refusing to turn over some Justice documents regarding Fast and Furious.

The IG determined that ATF agents and federal prosecutors had enough evidence to arrest and charge Jaime Avila, a Phoenix gun smuggler, months before U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was killed in December 2010. Two of the weapons Avila illegally purchased were recovered at his murder scene.

Fast and Furious, said IG Michael E. Horowitz, was implemented by ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office without adequate regard for the risk it posed to public safety in the United States and Mexico.” He said that while officials permitted illegal gun purchases hoping they could track the weapons to top Mexican drug cartel leaders, instead it was

a “risky strategy without adequately taking into account the significant danger to public safety that it created.”

Holder said the job performances of the officials criticized in the report would be reviewed with the “consideration of potential personnel actions.” He declined to elaborate, citing privacy restrictions.

The attorney general also fired back at “unsubstantiated conclusions” by Republican lawmakers and other conservatives who for nearly two years have raised allegations that Holder and possibly some Obama White House officials not only were aware of the unusual Fast and Furious tactics but condoned them.

“It is unfortunate that some were so quick to make baseless accusations before they possessed the facts about these operations,” he said, “accusations that turned out to be without foundation and that have caused a great deal of unnecessary harm and confusion.”

132 escape in Mexican prison break

Romney remarks cause backlash

TRACY WILKINSON | LOS ANGELES TIMES MEXICO CITY — Complicity by guards or other officials is suspected in the escape of 132 inmates from a prison in the northern border state of Coahuila, authorities said Tuesday.

The inmates apparently fled through a 21-foot tunnel carved underneath a carpentry workshop in the prison at Piedras Negras, across the border from Eagle Pass, Texas. They were noticed missing sometime Monday afternoon.

Authorities on Tuesday said they had recaptured three female inmates. Four men also thought to be escapees were killed in a shootout with troops scouring the region in search of the fugitives, they said.

It was the second-largest prison break in the six-year administration of President Felipe Calderon. Mexican prisons, heavily overcrowded in part because of drug-war arrests, are notoriously porous and saddled with corrupt management.

Calderon said Tuesday via Twitter that more than 1,000 inmates had escaped from state prisons in the last six years.

Some of the more infamous past incidents: In the city of Gomez Palacio, which neighbors Coahuila state, a warden was jailed in 2010 for allowing inmates to borrow guns from the guards, leave at night and go on killing sprees; the same year, 140 inmates escaped from a prison in the border state of Tamaulipas, and in 2009 in Zacatecas, guards were caught on security cameras calmly watching as 53 inmates walked out of prison.

This year, a riot that killed 44 inmates in Nuevo Leon state was in fact a cover for the escape of 30 imprisoned members of the Zetas paramilitary force.

Homero Ramos Gloria, state prosecutor for Coahuila, said in a television interview that the complexity of the escape at Piedras Negras — including the size of the tunnel and the time and effort that went into digging it — led him to suspect an inside job.

The warden and at least two other officials were being interrogated, the prosecutor's office said.

A reward of about $15,000 is being offered for each fugitive.

MARK BOSTER | LOS ANGELES TIMES

VICTIMS IN AMERICA Repubican presidential nominee is drawing criticisms after saying 47 percent of Americans would vote for Obama because they “believe they are victims.”

MARK Z. BARABAK | LOS ANGELES TIMES

W

ith less than seven weeks until the election, Mitt Romney can ill afford precious time explaining away another perceived gaffe, much less one playing to the image Democrats hope to paint of an unfeeling, uncaring plutocrat.

But that may be the highest price exacted by the controversy over taxes, victimhood and dependence that has been stirred by a secretly taped video of the candidate at a closed-door fundraiser.

Though the tape could undercut his support among seniors and downscale white voters — two groups Romney has long courted — so few voters are undecided that the latest controversy may do more to reinforce existing sentiments than change minds.

"A gaffe isn't going to shift 20 points in the polls," said Jack Pitney, a former Republican Party strategist who teaches at Claremont McKenna College. That said, "the opportunity for persuading people diminishes every day. Every day spent talking about some gaffe is a day not talking about unemployment," which remains President Barack Obama's greatest political liability.

The political world roiled over Romney's remarks — including a willingness to write off nearly half the electorate because, he said, they paid no income taxes, were dependent on government and refused to take responsibility for their lives — for a second day on Tuesday.

The GOP presidential hopeful sought to reframe his remarks in a Fox News interview by casting the election as a choice between "a government that's larger and more intrusive ... (and) a government that sees its role as protecting freedom and opportunity."

"The right course for America is to create growth, create wealth," Romney said. "Not to redistribute wealth."

The controversy sent both sides to familiar battle stations.

Democrats seized on Romney's statements, first reported by the Mother Jones news organization, as an insult, in the words of AFLCIO President Richard Trumka, "to everyday people who know what it means to work incredibly hard and still fail to get by."

"In a moment of candor, it was very clear that he doesn't understand or care what almost everyone goes through, except for people like him," Trumka said Tuesday at a Washington news conference, part of efforts to keep Romney's comments alive — and the candidate on the defensive — for another day.

Obama offered a measured reaction in his first public response.

"This is a big country," Obama said during an appearance on CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman." "And people disagree about a lot but one thing I never tried to do — and I think none of us can do in public office — is suggest that because someone doesn't agree with me that they're 'victims' or they're unpatriotic."

Republicans, with a few exceptions, flew to Romney's defense,

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Nominee says 47 percent of citizens victimize themselves

saying they welcomed the debate prompted by his remarks, uttered in May to a group of high-dollar Florida donors.

"Romney is now in a position that he has to bring the fight to Obama on the entitlement state," wrote Daniel Foster, editor of the National Review, voicing the sentiment of many conservatives hungry for an ideologically driven contest, rather than a simple up-or-down referendum on the economy.

"This could be the opportunity for Romney and for that campaign to finally take the gloves off and take the fear off and just start explaining conservatism," radio's Rush Limbaugh told his sizable audience. "Start explaining liberty to people and what it means."

There were a few notable dissenters, among them Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts (who happens to share a campaign consultant with Romney) and Linda McMahon, who is running for the U.S. Senate in Connecticut. Both Republicans disavowed Romney's statements, seemingly concerned about how they would play in their heavily Democratic states.

For his part, Romney said on Fox News he was merely stating the obvious, "That I don't expect to get 60 or 70 percent of the vote.

I understand that some portion will be the president's, some portion will be mine. I've got to get as many as I can from every single cohort in the country."

On Monday, Mother Jones released portions of the video in which Romney said 47 percent of the public would vote for Obama because they "believe they are victims" and feel the government has an obligation to provide health care, food, housing, "you name it."

"My job is not to worry about those people," Romney said on the video. "I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives."

Inevitably, his remarks drew comparison to Obama's unscripted moment at a closed-door fundraiser in 2008, in which he spoke of "bitter" small-town voters "clinging to guns or religion." That comment, however, came six months before the general election.

More significantly, while the remark probably cost Obama support among blue-collar and conservative Democrats, he was already losing those voters to his primary opponent Hillary Rodham Clinton.

By contrast, seniors and white men without a college degree — who make up a substantial portion of the 47 percent that Romney spoke of — are an important part of his political base.

In some of the hotly contested states, movements of relatively small numbers of voters could be determinative. But that would appear to be the only circumstance in which the Romney remarks would have much impact.

And it was too soon to tell where those voters would come to rest — whether they would see themselves as part of those targeted by Romney's comments or, alternately, as burdened by having to support those who receive government benefits.

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Weekend Edition Sept. 20 | 2012 NEWSRECORD.ORG

CONTACT

LEFT TYLER BELL

Take a long look in the mirror, UC It’s fair to say that a litmus test of whether or not you’re a freshman is how you deal with your eventual run in with Brother Micah.

Micah drives new, unfamiliar students insane with a cool ease normally reserved for the Fonz and fighter pilots during his biannual visits to campus.

For those of you who might not know exactly who, or what, Micah is, he’s a representative of God sent from above to irritate the soft-skinned among us.

He beats the bible and proselytizes his take on Christianity to the masses.

He draws chagrin from even-tempered students, whips many young freshmen into their first display of public indignation and it’s the most American thing I’ve ever seen in Cincinnati, maybe America itself.

Let me explain.

Brother Micah is exercising his right to free speech, and not just the part of the First Amendment that people like where muckraking journalists get to bring down corrupt corporate juggernauts, or one of the seemingly endless protest bands gets to sing in front of the Capitol about peace and love.

No, Micah is exerting his right to disruptive speech, speech that hurts people’s feelings and riles them up.

Though it seems like what he does is wrong in the eyes of many students — telling people they were going to hell for being who they are — in reality, he pushed our most sacrosanct right to its most tenuous stretching point.

When black Americans wanted equality, the proposition extraordinarily upset some white Americans, and when gay Americans demanded the respect they deserve, some people’s feelings were downright hurt by the fact they were allowed to talk about their struggles.

In public, no less! But that fundamental right of self-expression, of public assembly and address is afforded to all American citizens.

Even our most insane and bigoted Brother can come onto a predominantly open-minded campus and tell everyone they’re going to hell for being happy.

For those of you who might have been in the crowd, think about how powerful you felt shouting down the crazy little man in the brown hat.

You weren’t nervous or in any danger, you were the status quo, righteous in your indignation and pure in your address. That’s what it’s like to be part of the mob.

I saw fifty students piling up around Micah, cursing at him and occasionally stealing his hat all because they didn’t like his ideas.

Where’s your collegiate open mindedness now?

Part of growing up is getting very used to the fact that people will get under your skin with what they say, and being an adult means taking the highroad and ignoring the ones that don’t want to have a level-headed discussion.

All of you who stood around and shouted your barbaric barks played right into his hands, and you came off looking foolish on camera.

Little more than a crowd of highly educated children defending their beliefs by screaming into the face of a crazy old man with a Bible.

“Let us be thankful for the fools,” said Mark Twain.

“But for them the rest of us could not succeed.”

OPINION Student aid in dire need of scrutiny SHERROD BROWN

Quianna, a Kent State University nursing student, receives her federal financial aid through a debit card, rather than a paper check.

She chose to do this because she was told that she would get the money faster than she would if she waited for a paper check. But what no one told Quianna was that some of her already-limited financial aid dollars would be siphoned from her account and into the pockets of the financial institution that stored her funds.

Unfortunately, Quianna’s story isn’t unique.

At sixteen Ohio schools, students can now receive their financial aid checks on debit cards instead of through a paper check.

But some unscrupulous financial institutions are trying to make extra profits from students who opt to use these debit cards.

These debit card companies are charging fees – sometimes 60 cents for a transaction as simple as checking your account balance or $5 for using an out-of network ATM — that are cutting into students’ financial aid awards — money meant to pay for their education.

The largest issuer of these cards is an outof-state company, Higher One, which has card agreements with 4.3 million students at 520 campuses – including seven campuses in Ohio.

Last year, this company made 80 percent of its $142.5 million in revenue by siphoning fees from student aid disbursement cards.

Higher One was recently fined $11 million by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for overcharging students.

Simply put, when it comes time to choose between a debit card and a paper check, not knowing the difference between the two can be costly for students.

We need to be absolutely certain that students aren’t being pressured to use debit cards, and that they fully understand the terms.

That’s why I’m pushing Higher One, the student debit card company in the nation, to reform its student debit card practices — and protect students at the Ohio schools which use its services to receive their financial aid.

And I’ve written to the company’s president & CEO – asking him to provide students using their cards with the exact same disclosure that holders of credit cards holders receive by law.

This would ensure that we’re not wasting federal student aid dollars on excessive fees.

I’d like to see the reforms we made for credit cards apply to debit cards — especially accounts storing student financial aid.

I’m also asking that the company voluntarily adopt common-sense measures that will protect students.

Higher One should improve fees and disclosures, including: restrictions on overthe-limit fees; requirements that penalty fees be reasonable; and a prohibition against inactivity fees.

The company should also restrict the use of gifts to college students on or near campus, or

at campus-sponsored events in exchange for using debit card services.

Higher One should be required to submit an annual report to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and Department of Education including the terms and conditions of all promotional agreements with colleges, including the number of student debit card accounts opened during the time period.

These are simple measures that can and should be taken to level the playing field and ensure that students can make wise financial decisions.

It’s also important that students know how to protect themselves.

Those that have questions or concerns about these financial products should consult the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

The CFPB recommends that students understand that they can’t be required to use a specific bank or card, consider choosing an account before arriving on campus, and sign up for direct deposit if they already have a checking account.

We simply cannot afford to let financial companies overcharge the students trying to earn an education and contribute to our state.

That’s why I will continue to fight to ensure that Ohio students see their financial aid dollars used to pay for tuition, room, and board — and do not go to hidden fees and charges.

Sherrod Brown is a United States senator from Ohio.

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NATE BEELER | MCT CAMPUS

What do you think of University of Cincinnati President Greg Williams’ final compensation and two-year contract to be a consultant?

I don’t want to pile on Williams, but the way this situation has been handled is indefensible. The contract he signed shouldn’t matter since he quit on the UC community right before the new academic year. #HottestContractInAmerica.

There is no justification in awarding President Williams such a substanial settlement, cosidering he resigned less than a week before the new year and we have outstanding professors being denied tenure for no reason other than a lack of ‘so called’ funds.

Williams’ contract includes being paid his salary of $255,000 for a faculty position in UC’s College of Law yet he will not step foot in a classroom. Need I say more?

PHOTO EDITOR

ANNIE MOORE

STAFF REPORTER

Like most college students, I’m racking up massive amounts of student loans. After my four years here, I will most likely leave in substantial debt. President Williams didn’t even spend four years here and he’s leaving a millionaire.

509 AND 510 SWIFT HALL UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI 45221-0135 OFFICE PHONE 556-5900 OFFICE FAX 556-5922

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6

Weekend Edition Sept. 20 | 2012 NEWSRECORD.ORG

ARMCHAIR

FULLBACK JASON HOFFMAN

Cardinals do it with defense

The first couple weeks of the NFL season are a crapshoot, and anyone occupying a column like this one who claims to know everything is full of the proverbial it. Be that as it may, there are still games to pick, and last week went well.

(Home team in CAPS) GIANTS (-1.5) over Panthers: Cam Newton might have Dion Sanders and Michael Irvin fawning over him, but he is only a second-year quarterback.

The Giants have been off to a rocky start, but look for that to turn around this week as the Giants get one on the road.

Buccaneers (+9) over COWBOYS: Martellus Bennett divulged, in an interview with the New York Times, that Tony Romo never threw the ball to anybody but his friends.

Romo also never gave Bennett his phone numbers until last season. Well, Romo’s friend(s) might need season-ending surgery, so I’m taking the points with Schiano-ball.

BEARS (-7) over Rams: Jay Cutler let loose with the sarcasm and castigated reporters for asking about how the quarterback might have game planned for the Packers. Look for big numbers this week, and the Bears’ defense to stifle Sam Bradford.

49ers (-6.5) over VIKINGS: This matchup would be a lot more interesting if it mattered.

The line could be 13 and it would still be a good price.

TITANS (+3.5) over Lions: The Lions might have Ndamukong Suh at the ready to end Jake Locker, but Chris Johnson will hit his stride this week and help the Titans cover the field goal.

REDSKINS (-2.5) over Bengals: When a team is supposed to contend, it shouldn’t let the Cleveland Browns cause problems. Look for Robert Griffin III to have a big statistical day against the geriatric secondary of the Bengals.

SAINTS (-7.5) over Chiefs: Roger Goodell would have to suspend the entire Saints’ roster for the Chiefs to have a shot in this one.

DOLPHINS (+3.5) over Jets: Lauren Tannehill > Eva Longoria. ’Nuff said.

BROWNS (+3) over Bills: The spirited effort the stains showed last week in the second half against Cincinnati has me thinking it can beat Buffalo, or at least keep the game close.

COLTS (-3) over Jaguars: Andrew Luck > Blaine Gabbard.

CARDINALS (+4) over Eagles: Arizona is getting it done on defense. The Eagles, not so much.

Falcons (-2) over Chargers: Norv Turner still has a job?

BRONCOS (+2) over Texans: Peyton Manning should improve this week.

Take the points and call John Gruden in the morning, Sherriff.

RAIDERS (+4) over Steelers: Carson Palmer against the Steelers. I almost wish I cared. Boring game, but Raiders will keep it close enough to cover.

RAVENS (-1) over Patriots: Something tells me this will be a very lopsided game, and I’m going to regret betting against Tom Brady against the swallows.

SEAHAWKS (+3.5) over Packers: Monday Night Football in the house the 12th man built. I say Pete Carroll’s squad pulls the upset and has everyone thinking it’s really the class of the NFC West.

Russell Wilson gets to wear the big-boy pants in this one.

Tiebreaker: 28-17 Seahawks Last Week: 11-5 Season: 14-18.

SPORTS

STILL BATTLING BACK

Senior defensive back returns after third knee surgery Dominique Battle arrived in 2008 as one of the more highly touted incoming freshman set to join the University of Cincinnati football team. His journey since then has been anything but easy.

D

My mind-set has always been [that] I just have do what I have to do to get back out there. Work every day in the training room, all day basically, and just get back.

—DOMINIQUE BATTLE

JOSHUA A. MILLER | SPORTS EDITOR.

ominique Battle arrived in Cincinnati in 2008 as one of the more highly touted incoming freshman set to join the University of Cincinnati football team.

Battle made an immediate impact. He worked his way into a major role in a defensive backfield featuring three future NFL players — DeAngelo Smith, Brandon Underwood and Mike Mickens.

After earning UC’s Newcomer of the Year award in ’08, Battle entered the 2009 season with increased expectations and the Florida native did not disappoint.

Battle emerged as the clear-cut first choice at corner, starting 12 of UC’s 13 games on the way to an undefeated regular season and eventual Sugar Bowl loss to Florida.

With two years left to improve on a promising start to his college football career, Battle looked poised to follow in the NFL-bound footsteps of the aforementioned seniors he played along side as a freshman. Unfortunately for Battle, very little has gone according to plan since then.

His career, which began with nearly unlimited potential, can now best be described by Dominique’s name — a ‘Battle’, as he put it, “just [to] get back.”

“I didn’t know it was that serious at first, until the next week when we got it checked out and they told me I’d have to have surgery.”

Battle said, describing the season–ending left knee injury he suffered in 2010. “It hurt, it was my junior year and I’d never really been hurt before — and then I get three serious injuries right in a row.”

Battle tore his left MCL in the opening quarter of UC’s week three game against Oklahoma. But because only three weeks of the season had passed at the time of his injury, the NCAA would later grant him a medical redshirt — extending his eligibility through the 2012-13 season.

Many players have recovered from a knee surgery and returned to the field like nothing had ever happened. But for Battle, the MCL surgery following the Oklahoma game would only be his first of three.

Battle started the 2011 season strong, notching 18 tackles and a pair of interceptions through the first five games. Unfortunately, he went down again against South Florida, this time with torn right ACL. With six weeks of the season already gone, Battle’s 2011 season was finished.

After recovering from his second surgery, Battle returned to training in preparation for his final year with the Bearcats. He wouldn’t even make it through preseason spring practices before he suffered another injury.

“It was right before spring ball and it was just like: Again? Why is this happening to me again?,” Battle said.

After suffering his third knee injury in as many years, many fans wondered if Battle would — or could — return again.

At times throughout his injury woes, even Battle questioned if a return was possible.

“Every time you go through the process of getting a serious injury and have a surgery, you think about [your career ending], but this is what we do, I knew the consequences,” Battle said.

Despite doubters and a real possibility he might not be able to recover in time to compete this season, Battle forged on — just like he did twice before.

“My mind-set has always been I just have do what I have to do to get back out there,” Battle said. “Work every day in the training room, all day basically, and just get back.”

Battle presumably isn’t 100 percent healthy and after back-to-back injuries to his right knee in less than a year’s time, he probably won’t be this season. But he has done enough to get back on the field.

Coming on as a Safety in the second half against Delaware State Saturday, Battle came up huge in a surprisingly close game.

“It was great to see him playing in his first action since USF last year,” said Butch Jones, UC’s head coach. “He made the big hit on their sideline on a big third down play to jar the ball loose, which was great to see and I think you will see him get more repetitions as the season goes on. It was great to see him back on the field and I think it uplifted our team as well.”

The Florida native has moved to safety because of injuries to Drew Frey and Adrian Witty, but Battle said he will always be a corner at heart.

Battle’s teammates, who were clearly energized by his presence in the game, deserve much of the credit for helping him to return from injury for the third time.

“My biggest support has really been my teammates, the younger players who look up to me and who’ve seen what I’ve done in the program, my classmates that came in with me and just this senior class,” he said. “They’re really the ones getting me through this.”

As Jones alluded to, Battle should receive more snaps as the season goes on as he returns to game fitness. But, for now, Battle is simply happy to be back.

“It’s been a long journey, but I’m really just glad to be back and be back out here with all of my teammates”.

Women’s golf breaks Cronin to speak at UC record in KY second Carr event Team finishes fourth overall JAELYNNE JOHNSON | CONTRIBUTOR

The University of Cincinnati women’s golf team finished fourth at the Cardinal Cup in Louisville, Ky. Tuesday.

UC closed the first day of the three-round tournament with a school-record score of 299-297—596, good enough to put it in second place after 36.

The Bearcats’ Mackenzie Moir posted a career-low of 71 in the first round and shot 74 and 73 in the second and third rounds respectively. She finished third individually behind the University of Louisville’s Emily Haas (69-69-71=209) and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s Fanny Cnops (73-73-68=214).

UC senior Maria Roos shot her career-best threeround total and finished tied for 11th place with a score of 74-72-77=223.

Teammate Olivia Dose scored 78-74-74=226 to finish 20th while senior Alex Carl tied for 55th place with a score of 76-77-85=238.

The host Louisville Cardinals won the team title on its home course with rounds of 294-297-305=896, finishing one shot ahead of Missouri (291-308-298=897). Cincinnati shot 299-297-309=905 to finish fourth.

“We put up a good fight today,” said Director of Golf Janet Carl.

“I’m proud of the team and their effort. Now it’s time to prepare for Penn State.”

The Bearcats will participate in the three-day Nittany Lion Invitational at State College, Pa. Sept. 28.

Joins other coaches to help University of Cincinnati men’s basketball head coach Mick Cronin has been named among several prominent coaches speaking Friday at a New Jersey coaches’ clinic organized as a fundraiser for the Brayden Carr Foundation.

University of Florida head coach Billy Donovan, Indiana University head coach Tom Crean, former NBA head coach Stan Van Gundy, former NBA assistant coach Kevin Eastman and ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla will join Cronin as key notes speakers at the event.

Friday’s clinic, which will be held at the Rutgers Athletic Center in Piscataway, N.J, will be the second year for the event and will help raise money for In Brayden’s Eyes, the Brayden Carr Foundation which helps children with seizure conditions, with or without motor delays from cerebral palsy and provides support to their parents.

The foundation formed in 2011, after the death of Brayden Carr, the 2-year-old son of longtime Rutgers men’s basketball coach Jim Carr and his wife Natalie Zeno Carr.

“It’s an important opportunity to help a great cause,” Cronin said. “Jim is a good friend of mine and their desire to make something positive out of a difficult situation through the creation of this foundation is something I’m honored to be a part of.”

Last year’s clinic included Kansas University head coach Bill Self, University of Kentucky head coach John Calipari, longtime college and NBA coach Larry Brown, former NBA head coach Jeff Van Gundy, Rutgers head coach Mike Rice and high school coaching great Bob Hurley.

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