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.
2 3 4 5 6
78° 54°
77°
74°
58°
45°
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
SAT
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
FRI
LAUREN PURKEY | PHOTO EDITOR
LEANING FORWARD Obama hosted a rally at Eden Park Monday, speaking to supporters about the differences between the two parties.
SUN
65° 42°
MON
69° 48°
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.