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Comic Expo
Cosplayers celebrate Geek culture in Cincinnati
Men’s Golf
Bearcats rank in top-25 at Memphis Intercollegiate
THE NEWS RECORD / UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI THURSDAY, SEPT. 24, 2015
SG to lead mental health awareness events HUY NGUYEN | CHIEF REPORTER
DAN SULLIVAN | PHOTO EDITOR
Andrew Naab, Student Government president, discusses plans to raise mental health awareness and implement recycling bins.
As the University of Cincinnati anticipates the Oct. 1 football game against the University of Miami Florida, Student Government prepares to initiate a mental health awareness campaign that will take place during the week of the game. Mental Health Week events will occur Monday through Oct. 2. The campaign is also named 20,000 Bearcats because about half of college students experience mental illness, according to multiple studies. UC’s student population reaches over 40,000 students. UC Mental Health Services executive director Hannah Kenny addressed SG Wednesday to promote the campaign. Kenny asked why mental illness and disorders are subjects students feel they cannot talk about, when there are many students on campus suffering them. “There’s a huge stigma around mental illness, or even just talking about mental illness, so we want to start those conversations,” Kenny said. Kenny announced social media and on-campus mental health graphics will be a huge part of the 20,000 Bearcats campaign, but there will also be a variety of events across the week. In addition, buttons and flyers will be given out to raise awareness at the football game between UC and the University of Miami, which will be aired on ESPN. The football PA will make an announcement for students to stand up for mental health while ESPN pans over to
broadcast the student section, Kenny said. SG voted on a bill to allocate $3,547.50 in funding for the 20,000 Bearcats campaign. The bill passed 25-0-1. “This is a topic that we’re hoping to shed light on in a national stage now, while we have that spotlight,” said SG President Andrew Naab. A pilot recycling initiative was also proposed at SG in order to increase efforts in daily student sustainability. The initiative is a collaborative effort between SG, the Residence Hall Association (RHA), UC Housing and UC Sustainability. No recycling bins are present in UC residence hall rooms, and the recycling receptacles available are only on a floor-by-floor basis, according to the SG bill proposing the initiative. “There currently is a type of system in residence halls, but it definitely can be improved, and we want Student Government to help with this,” said RHA Senator Veronica Nunez. Of the nine public Ohio universities, UC and Wright State University are the only schools without recycling bins in each residence hall room, Nunez said. The bill states in a UC survey, 73 percent of students questioned said they would be more likely to recycle if recycling bins were available in each room. In a 23-0-1 vote by SG, $1,298.18 will be allocated for 264 recycling bins. The initiative will be tested at Siddall Hall first, before expanding to other residence halls.
STUDENTS TALK SOCIAL INJUSTICE AT DUBOSE FORUM
OUTRAGE TOWARDS UC POLICE CONTINUES
Player suspension leads to lawsuit DAVID WYSONG | SPORTS EDITOR
ALEXANDRA TAYLOR | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Irate8 and the United Black Student Association (UBSA) hosted an open forum Monday at Tangeman University Center to discuss the killing of Samuel Dubose and frustrations at the university’s response. JUSTIN REUTTER | CONTRIBUTOR
The United Black Student Association (UBSA) and Irate8, a black student activism group, hosted a forum Monday to discuss disapproval of the university’s response to the officer-involved shooting of Samuel DuBose. Approximately 100 students filled Tangeman University Center Cinema. The forum was the first event of UBSA’s Samuel DuBose Week, a week of events dedicated to discuss how the community can grow and move forward after Dubose’s case. “At what point do we say we aren’t comfortable being here?” said Alisha
Washington, a second-year secondary education student. “I have no confidence that the university has my back.” Grace Cunningham, a second-year
They think [we] are animalistic, violent, willing to resort to [our] baser instincts, they think [we] are unintellectual. exploratory student, highlighted aspects of the police report. “They say nothing of what the victim looked like,” Cunningham said. “They
say that the cop is OK, but they hardly mention DuBose, even though he was shot dead by police.” Students criticized UC President Santa Ono for his late response to the DuBose shooting. Ono responded two days after the incident happened. Students also expressed concern over the shutdown of Uptown campus July 29 in anticipation to the grand jury’s decision regarding the case. Ashley Nkadi, a fourth-year neuroscience student, said the police presence was “large enough to take down a small county.”
A University of Cincinnati football player accused of sexual assault is suing the university and two administrators for the disciplinary process that resulted in his suspension. Although the player’s identity has not been released, he is a senior and believes the process leading to his suspension was unconstitutional and unfair, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. The lawsuit, also acquired by the Cincinnati Enquirer, stated that after meeting through a dating app, the player and accuser exchanged messages that revealed sexual intentions on the accuser’s side. The lawsuit stated the woman went to the player’s apartment, where they engaged in sexual activity. After the incident, she allegedly went drinking, but contacted police later to report the assault. The woman said she suffered injuries and told investigators photographs can prove she was choked. UC’s spokesman Greg Vehr said federal privacy laws do not allow him to comment on the case. Vehr said the university is following the department of education’s guidelines to resolve Title IX issues. Vaher said that the university has to conduct an investigation and a follow-up investigation. “As a father of five children ― sons and daughters that have all attended UC, it is our goal to do what is best for all in safety and in fairness,”Vehr said. Attorney Josh Engel is representing the football player and said he believes his client has a substantial chance of winning in court. “There is a pattern where students can’t win [in investigations conducted by UC] and I think that is more than a coincidence,” Engel said. SEE SUES PG 4
SEE DUBOSE PG 2
Alt-J delivers spellbinding performance at PNC Pavillion RICHA KAVALEKAR | CONTRIBUTOR
British Indie-rock quartet Alt-J brought the crowd to their feet with its spellbinding performance Monday at the PNC Pavilion in an explosive spectacle of light and sound. San Fermin, an eight member pop band from Brooklyn, New York, opened the show and had the crowd buzzing and ready for Alt-J. The electric blue-haired lead singer’s effortless vocals echoed flawlessly through the venue, backed up by what seemed like off-the-cuff saxophone and trumpet solos. Alt-J opened the show with “Something Good” — a familiar crowd favorite from their debut album “An Awesome Wave,” but was mainly touring to promote their latest album, ”This Is All Yours.” Lead singer Joe Newman crooned in a thick Leed’s accent, with minimal effort on enunciation. Mumbling and commonly misunderstood lyrics are characteristic of Alt-J. The crowd went wild while singing along to “Left Hand Free,” a song that poses as the band’s most lyrically distinct track. The band then followed with “Every Other Freckle,” which is composed of sexual metaphors in prose and shadows John Cooper Clarke’s “I Wanna Be Yours.” The synchronization of the lighting effects and the layered melodies also improved the performance, which was apparent the moment the band played the first bar of “Dissolve Me.” A thousand LED’s pulsated and trickled off the screens behind the band as the
The British indie-rock band, Alt-J, brought PNC Pavilion to their feet on Monday with a spellbinding performance full of explosive lighting and effects.
track rang throughout the venue. Parallel to its ethereal, goose-bumpinducing sound, the effects and lighting made it seem like Alt-J had just landed on Earth from another planet. Alt-J’s music has a phenomenal way of making its listeners lose track of time,
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making fans feel hypnotized while swaying to every last beat. The bass line of “Tessellate” somehow snapped the audience out of their trance. The second Newman started singing, the crowd threw their hands in the air with triangle signs.
THE STUDENT VOICE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
The hand gesture is not exclusive to Alt-J — the band’s name produces a delta symbol when typed into a Mac. The performers played off of the crowd’s excitement by starting the hauntingly beautiful track “Matilda” and holding the microphone up for the crowd to sing along. Drummer Thom Green was not exactly in the spotlight, but as the show pressed on, it became clear he had the most underrated, but influential presence on stage. The tone and tempo of the show revolved around every beat he produced on his unorthodox drum set, consisting of a kick drum, bongos, cowbell, snares and a tambourine. The epitome of the show was “Fitzpleasure.”The crescendo itself had the air buzzing with electricity with its asymmetrical sequence and deep percussion. “Fitzpleasure” was complimented perfectly by the captivating lighting and smoke screen, topped off with Newman’s ability to sounds as if he were right next to you, melodiously humming in your ear. “Hunger Of The Pine” was played in the encore, interestingly without the famous “I’m a female rebel” line sampled from Miley Cyrus’“4x4.” Then, the heavily influenced Bollywood tunes in “Taro” had the audience standing up on their seats. Appropriately, Alt-J concluded with “Breezeblocks”, which had every single person leaving the show with “Please don’t go, I love you so, I love you so” echoing in their ears. FREE • ADDITIONAL COPIES $1
2 / NEWS THURSDAY, SEPT. 24, 2015
Opinion: Politics of killing the planet, climate change denial STEVEN BEYNON | COPY EDITOR
Climate change does not rank highly in public concern compared to other issues like national security and the economy, despite environmental matters affecting both safety and the economy. The environment was not a serious topic of discussion in either of the 2016 Republican presidential debates. Instead, politicians think the real danger lies in immigrants picking fruit and women getting healthcare. A Gallup Poll showed 74 percent of college educated Republicans are skeptical of climate change, which is high compared to the 48 percent national average. This evidence supports the idea of public disinterest in climate change being more due to political dishonesty than scientific literacy, but the latter is still a serious issue. Democrats are also useless on climate change by focusing efforts on fossil fuels. The extraction industry’s corruption plays a significant role in warming the planet to unlivable conditions. However, they are not the only culprit. According to a report put out by the U.N., animal agriculture contributes to 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. Transportation and industry only contribute to 13 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. The EPA also said the methane cows produce is just as deadly to the planet as carbon and that agriculture is about as destructive to the planet as the industry. It is rare for a Democratic politician to bring up beef production as something we need to withdraw from despite it being just as dangerous as fossil fuels. The United States is already spending billions to combat the rapidly changing climate. New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s panel on climate change warns sea levels will rise 31 inches by mid-century. The city is spending $200 million on repairing the Rockaways Boardwalk destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. They are also elevating their boardwalk adding 14-foot tall sand dunes. Last year, Lake Erie became contaminated from algae
blooms, which thrive in warm water. Toledo had to shut off their drinking water. What are politicians going to do about climate change? How are they going to get money out of politics? Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld said “there are too many people in the United States Congress that deny the science.” People in power even deny the problem exists, such as Sen. James Inhofe (R-Ok) who brought a snowball onto the Senate floor as evidence climate change is a hoax. He also received $500,000 from the oil industry. While promoting his book “The Greatest Hoax: How the Global Warming Conspiracy Threatens Your Future,” Inhofe said,“God’s still up there. The arrogance of people to think that we, human beings, would be able to change what he is doing in the climate is to me, outrageous.” Some people have checked out of the political process, thinking all politicians are the same. I disagree. Here are some responses to the question about combatting climate change that show the differences between people who lost a position in Congress and those who won in 2014: Lost: Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) in the debate on the 2014 budget that would set the standard for at least 25 percent of U.S. energy coming from renewable energy by 2025: “Climate disruption is real and absolutely needs to be addressed.” He received no major contributions from the oil and gas industry. Won: Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Co) when asked about whether or not humans are significantly contributing to climate change during The Denver Post’s senate debate: “I don’t think you can say yes or no.” The oil and gas industry contributed $700,00 to his campaign. Lost: Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nv) debated the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013 when he was the Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate: “We have no issue in the world more important than this.” No major contributors from the oil and gas industry.
Won: Sen. Mitch Mcconnell (R-Ky) told the Cincinnati Enquirer: “For everyone who thinks it’s warming; I can find someone who thinks it isn’t.” The oil and gas industry contributed $1 million to his campaign. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tx) has Barack Obama’s education and Sarah Palin’s politics. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard’s elite law school and was an editor of the Harvard Law Review. Despite being an educated man, Cruz does not support science. On an appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers, Cruz dismissed fundamental environmental science saying,“many of the alarmists on global warming, they’ve got a problem because the science doesn’t back them up. And in particular, satellite data demonstrate for the last 17 years there’s been zero warming, none whatsoever.” Cruz has also received $1 million from the oil and gas industry. He is not on record denying other fields of science, but denying something like photosynthesis does not buy you a congressional seat. DARA, a non-profit group specializing in humanitarian policy recommendations, released a study revealing climate change has already led to the deaths of 400,000 people and is costing 1.6 percent of the global GDP annually, as extremes of weather and the associated damage such as droughts, floods, famine, and hits infrastructure. According to the study, which was written by dozens of scientists and policy makers, most of these deaths are “due to hunger and communicable diseases that affect above all children in developing countries.” The environment is causing more severe problems than terrorist organizations, requiring us to pay more attention to it. If Toledo had to shut off its water because it was not drinkable, imagine if ISIS poisoned our water supply. Our nation would have been beating the drums for another trillion-dollar war.
FROM DUBOSE PG 1
CAROLINE CORY | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Students and educators met at Rohs Street Cafe Tuesday evening to discuss the shooting of Samuel DuBose and how it relates to Cincinnati’s historical context.
History Department talks racial bias, police targeting CAROLINE CORY | CONTRIBUTOR
A group of educators gathered Monday evening at Rohs Street Cafe to discuss race and policing in a historical context throughout Cincinnati’s community. The main discussion was centered around the University of Cincinnati’s priority in addressing the July 19 shooting of Samuel DuBose in comparison to other campusrelated happenings. UC’s Department of History sponsored the event and brought speakers Fritz Casey-Leininger, Rev. Troy Jackson, Christopher Phillips, David Singleton, David Stradling and Tracy Teslow. “They [UC public officials] spent about eight minutes talking about Samuel DuBose and an insurmountable amount of time talking about the new basketball stadium,” said Rev. Jackson, pastor at University Christian Church. “If anything is going to get done, the people in this room have to do something. Be vigilant as a community.” Others said they felt administration is not doing enough directly for UC students and community. Stradling, an urban and environmental history professor, said he was not able to comment on topics regarding the university administration’s beliefs’ when asked what UC is doing to prevent racial bias. In addition, Stradling said administration cannot know what the students want if they do not talk to them. Another frequented topic of the evening
was the police department and a potential reform. Many individuals said Samuel DuBose did not have to die, and UCPD is to blame for his death. “Who does the UC police answer to, and why are they on our streets shooting our citizens?” said Elizabeth Frierson, a Middle Eastern studies professor. To help answer Frierson’s question, the assistant professor of law at Northern Kentucky University and director of Constitutional Litigation Clinic, Singleton said the officers use technology. “With the increasing use of cameras on police uniforms and police car dashboards,
The police department needs to stop treating people like stereotypes and more like citizens. officers are being held more accountable for their actions,” Singleton said. A similar point was made regarding the unequal treatment of police officers to African-American individuals and how Cincinnati plays a key role, both geographically and historically, in the narrative of the city. Phillips, head of the history department, said he has been struck by the replicated patterns of racial behavior between white police officers and African-Americans
since 1999 when he arrived to Cincinnati. “There, a historical narrative needs to be approached,” Phillips said. “My argument, in many ways, is that this is a middle problem. It’s an issue that has reached Cincinnati—the middle between the Confederacy and the Union.” Many forum attendees said members of the UC community could help promote racial equality and defeat corruption in the police department. Teslow, a professor of American history and the history of race, said there are things we can all do. “We all have various acts that can make this campus better,”Teslow said. “The police department needs to stop treating people like stereotypes and more like citizens.” As a way to generate awareness on campus, both professors and students said UC courses should be established to educate students on handling racism. “What we need to do is make those courses happen and deal with race as an issue,” said Casey-Leininger, director of public history. “We need to be teaching this. The university is here to educate, not to train.” Jackson also said there is a racial divide between the people of Cincinnati within the city limits, and it is up to Cincinnati communities to make a difference for the better. “The good news is that there has been a political movement across the board making a difference,” Singleton said.
Shelby Tanner, a fourth-year communication student, offered a counter opinion. “After Ferguson and other riots, it’s reasonable to expect violence. We should be more understanding.”Tanner said. Public Safety emails about holding peaceful protests and avoiding riots were criticized as well. Brandon Elmore, a graduate student, said the email sounded as if officials were prioritizing white people while claiming to have black people under control. Nakiima Reid, DuBose’s step-daughter, spoke at the forum saying, “They think [we] are animalistic, violent, willing to resort to [our] baser instincts, they think [we] are unintellectual.” UBSA presented statistics about Tensing’s arrest record. In 2014, Tensing arrested 52 blacks and 17 whites. Reid later went on to say Tensing was not a good police officer. “A good cop fights for the community, the people in this room — not the university, not the police force,” Reid said. Reid finished by criticizing UCPD officers Phillip Kidd and Eric Weibel, who are associated with Tensing’s report of being dragged by DuBose’s car. Weibel and Kidd have a connection with the death of Kelly Brinson, a mentally ill patient that died after seven UCPD officers tased and restrained him in University Hospital. “The two men who have lied to back up Tensing should not be employed here,” Reid said.
ALEXANDRA TAYLOR | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Tobi Akomolede shares his opinions at the Samuel Dubose forum in Tangeman University Center Monday night.
Something Queer at the Archives: Documenting LGBTQ history CAROLINE CORY | CONTRIBUTOR
Amy L. Stone, associate professor of sociology and anthropology at Trinity University, and author of “Gay Rights at the Ballot Box”, taught University of Cincinnati students about archives in the LGBTQ community through highlighting the cultural importance of Cornyation during Something Queer at the Archives. Cornyation was an annual show held in San Antonio, Texas that began in 1951, poking fun at politicians and other public figures. Most performers are members of the LGBTQ community. The show came to close in 1965 but revived in 1982 as a fundraiser for AIDS and HIV research, raising over $2 million to the causes. The event, sponsored by the Taft Research Center as well as the departments of sociology and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies, was part of the sociology
department’s biweekly Colloquium Series at the Center. One of the main points Stone discussed was an emphasis on the importance of archival research in relation to the modernization of research technology. Stone reminded students not to assume Queer lives they are going to find everything they need to preserving. know online. Old city archiving. directories are more useful than Ancestry’s official website, as they usually included home addresses as well as employment information, she said. However, Stone said modern tools can enhance machines of an older time when they are used together. In Stone’s case, she used a combination of reel-to-reel film and a scanner after discovering film of a Cornyation event.
Stone said she cried after scanning the film and seeing how people during the time felt. “Queer lives are worth preserving,” Stone said. “They are worth archiving.” Stone also discussed the realism behind the individuals she studied in her are worth archiving research. She pointed out They are worth the emotion and connections the people felt when discussing their belongings associated with the Cornyation events. “There’s a lot going on between people and their objects—it’s their history,” Stone said. “There’s something here about memories, about reciprocity.” Stone offered advice to those interested in archiving by sharing tips she has found most helpful in her experiences.
“Most archival research is a combination of serendipity and persistence,” Stone said. “We need to think more carefully when interpreting. We need to discuss the social relationships between people.” Stone’s work has taken her to events in New Orleans, Santa Fe, New Mexico and Mobile, to record the lives of individuals in the LGBTQ community during celebrations. “LGBTQ life is dead in the South, so I’m trying to document it through various festivals,” Stone said. In addition to her research, Stone is also writing a book discussing the Cornyation events of the ‘50s and ‘60s and their impact on the LGBTQ community. The book will be released in two weeks, she said. “It’s going to be about 30,000 words with 100 pictures,” Stone said. “What I tend to write about is the collectivism of the group, of their demographics.”
LIFE & ARTS / 3 THURSDAY, SEPT. 24, 2015
Cincinnati celebrates geek culture at sixth Comic Expo MATT NICHOLS | COLLEGE LIFE EDITOR
Matt Nichols | College Life Editor Hobbits, Jedi and various other characters gathered for the Comic Expo at the Cincinnati’s Duke Energy Convention Center Friday through Sunday to explore booth labyrinths, sale tents and creative displays. The sixth annual exposition brought names like Sean Astin from “The Lord of the Rings” and Adam West and Burt Ward from the 1960 “Batman”TV series. Among the many guests was Steven Griffin, a cosplay model dressed as Magneto of “X-Men.” “[Cosplay] is actually kind of therapeutic for me,” Griffin said. “I got into it because I have crippling social anxiety disorder, and it was suggested to me in order to get out of my comfort zone to do something where I have to force myself to be social.” Griffin took this advice to heart and has been competing in cosplay competitions for three years. “The best way I could think to do that was, well, if I could put on a mask maybe that will help,” Griffin said. “And that did. It’s really helped me open up and become more social and fight off my social anxiety.” As one of many competitors entered in the cosplay contest, Griffin decided to dress like a character he admired. “Magneto was always my favorite villain as a kid and I just grew up always loving the character, so it was one of my very first costumes I ever made,” Griffin said. While conventions like this are hardly the place for someone with crippling social anxiety, Griffin said he has found a sense of comfort in the comic expo’s unique atmosphere. “It’s family to me, these are my people,” Griffin said. “This is where I feel the most at home.” Allen Panakal, a graphic design artist for Allen Panakal Art, shared a similar passion for the comic expo and its crowd. “It’s about the fans,” Panakal said. “I love comic books, I love art, I love creating it and I love the look on people’s faces when they see my art and genuinely enjoy it. It’s a good feeling as an artist to see that in person.” Only a year into his graphic design career, Panakal said he hopes to make a name for himself at these shows with his comic-themed artwork. “At this point I’m at 56 illustrations, its mainly polyminimalistic style,” Panakal said. “I also have a grungy style from when I was younger from tagging and stuff like that, and I’ve brought that over to my artwork.” With an upbeat attitude, Panakal aims to jump-start his
ALEXANDRA TAYLOR | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Queen City Comics won “best comic book store” in CityBeat’s 2015 Best of Cincinnati and was one of eight local comic book stores at the Cincinnati Comic Expo Friday through Sunday.
business at the expos. “[Business] has been steady, every show I do it gets better and better,” Panakal said. “You’ll have one or two shows where you’re like ‘well, that was a bust,’ but we’re pretty happy just breaking even most times. I just have a good time working and meeting new people.” Panakal’s chipper demeanor was not uncommon at the expo, especially from some of the Cincinnatians at the show. This includes the local Geoff Hoffman, owner of Queen City Comic & Card Company, who operated an extensive comic book display at the weekend event. “Between both our stores and what we have in storage, we have somewhere around half a million comics and
what we brought here is a bit of a variety,” Hoffman said. “We’ve got inexpensive books for people just looking for cheap books to read, we’ve got some mid-range stuff and some high-end items. We’ve got stuff for everybody.” Hoffman’s local shops helped sponsor the event, which might have led to some of their success over the weekend. “It’s been really good for us,” Hoffman said. “It’s a great chance for us to get our name out there.” While the comic event typically boasts its popular movie guests and props, Hoffman’s booth was a reminder the exposition is much more than just comics. “It’s really all about the fans, they make this possible,” Hoffman said.
Review: Just say no to Beirut’s ‘No, No, No’ underdeveloped album CHRIS STROHOFER | STAFF REPORTER
For years, Beirut has been supplying elaborate and exotic folk songs to satiate listeners’ wanderlust, but the band falls short with their newest album “No No No.” Overall, Beirut’s new effort, “No No No,” tosses out the world music sound which, in previous works, seemed plucked out of a remote region to utilize a simpler pop approach. The primary indicator of this shift is the horns — previously Beirut’s staple sound — that once invoked a grandiose and almost cinematic backdrop, but now serve modestly to bolster choruses and bridges. In a recent interview with NPR’s The World Cafe, Beirut front man Zach Condon spoke about his new album and the inspiration behind it. When asked why so many of his song titles are named after cities, Condon revealed his recording software demands a project title for a song before it is even written and that he has an unexplainable love for city names.
For longtime super-fans of Beirut — an indie folk band with over 10 years under their belt — this is a fascinating detail, as nearly half of their discography’s song titles are cities or countries that in some way inspire Condon’s musical vision. Album opener “Gibralter” sets the album off to a positive start. This track finds a healthy balance between Beirut’s minimalistic approach, while maintaining an elaborate and diverse sonic palate. The off-kilter syncopation between drum pats and keys keeps the listener engaged and dancing in their seat throughout the entire track. The titular track, “No No No,” follows and sounds more like an old Beirut track than any other songs in the album. The NPR interview also reveals “No No No” was written a couple of years ago, but Condon felt the track retained the sound his new album was aiming to achieve. The instrumental track “As Needed,” leaves much to be desired. Where in previous sonic efforts, Beirut’s sound conjured up something from an adventure film leading listeners through
a sprawling bazaar, these new songs sound more like ideas that were never expanded or elaborated upon. One of the album’s strengths is found in Condon’s consistently catchy vocal arrangements, serving up infectious choruses listeners will find themselves singing along to after hitting the replay
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Beirut’s newest album, “No No No,” tosses aside the the band’s eclectic vibes for a pop approach.
button several times. The song “Perth” is a good example of this strength, but sounds too similar to the previous five to seem novel or exciting in any way. Not even the lyrical side of the album, which previously served as one of Beirut’s strong suits, provides sufficiently striking details to carry the music. In this sense, Beirut’s failure to commit to any definitive quiet moments or enthralling highs creates a tepid pool of songs. Condon also told NPR the album was a result of a lack of inspiration and how a new love inspired him again. Sonically, this album reflects these two inspirations, as it simultaneously says very little while showing flourishes of creativity throughout. However, those flourishes are too few and far between for fans to return day after day. As a result, this 29-minute album feels less like Beirut choosing a new music direction and more like a skeletal, underdeveloped studio recording outtake.
Hundreds expected at UC’s October League of Legends tournament JACKIE MULAY | CONTRIBUTOR
The University of Cincinnati’s “League of Legends” club (UCLoL) will host its massive videogame tournament at Fifth Third Arena, the All Mid Invitational from Oct. 3 to Oct. 4. With over 650 active members, UCLoL is the university’s largest and fastest growing student organization. The event is projected to bring over 500 participants to UC’s Fifth Third Arena, making the event the largest of its kind, according to Chris Postell, a fifth-year political science student, member of UCLoL and director of the All
Mid Gaming event. E-Sports, or electronic sports, is a term for organized multiplayer video game competitions, and not confined to video game versions of actual sports like soccer or football. The most common types of video games associated with e-Sports are real-time strategy, fighting, first-person shooter and multiplayer online battle arena games. Games like “League of Legends”, “Super Smash Bros.” and EA Sports’“FIFA” are popular e-Sports games. There are 16 schools from the Midwest that will convene to play in different gaming tournaments, including a
“League of Legends” competition for a $500 cash prize and “League of Legends” gear. “Dota 2”, “Hearthstone” and “Smash Bros.” will also have tournaments. “The Cincinnati event may be a result of UCLoL’s past success, with rankings at first in the state, third regionally and top-16 nationally,” Postell said. This boasting event has almost 20 sponsors, including brands like Skoshbox, GeForce and Microsoft. All online games will be broadcast on the front page of twitch.tv, an online game-streaming application, for those who cannot physically attend the gaming event. UCLoL is also the first gaming organization in the country to be recognized as a club sport by a university,
We’re very fortunate to have the UC culture embrace us,” Postell said. “We couldn’t do what we do without the administrative support at UC. We’re lucky to have that culture of collaboration.
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With 500 attendees already registered, Fifth Third arena will host the 2015 All Mid Invitational, a mix of “League of Legends,” Super Smash Bros” and “Hearthstone” tournaments on Oct. 2-3.
Postell said. Postell said this is a big step for UC because it adds funding and legitimacy to the organization. The club has garnered much attention with the spike in “League of Legends” popularity, but also had struggles in the past gaining legitimacy on UC’s campus. “Every club team gets the same kind of funding university-wise,” said Tony Quallen, the faculty advisor for UCLoL. “The hard part is getting that recognition.” Austin Jutte, president of UCLoL, had to show there are as many students interested in being a part of UCLoL as there are for club sports, Quallen said. When the club was just starting at UC it often held meetings and competitions in Swift Hall, but the organization received pushback from administration because they, “didn’t want to turn classrooms into gaming spaces,” Quallen said. “They were skeptical,” Quallen said. “The idea is that we were supposed to be focusing on education — not video games.” After almost 300 students attended the first “League of Legends” event this fall, administration began to recognize the value of UCLoL as an organization and have now accepted it as an official club sport at UC. “We’re very fortunate to have the UC culture embrace us,” Postell said. “We couldn’t do what we do without the administrative support at UC. We’re lucky to have that culture of collaboration.”
4 / SPORTS THURSDAY, SEPT. 24, 2015 FROM SUES PG 1
Engel believes there are specific grounds his client has in filing this case. “One is that the University of Cincinnati doesn’t say students accused are innocent until proven guilty,” Engel said. “They are made to prove their innocence.” Engel also said the school is genderbiased when it comes to these cases and UC always takes the sides of the females, which he believes is because of the panel’s training. Issues where male student-athletes have been accused of sexual assault have become a wide-spread issue for debate recently. “I think all this came into light because of the Jameis Winston case at Florida State,” Engel said. “That created a perception that athletes get an unfair benefit of the doubt and that systems are not fair to the victims. These perceptions have now created a system where students are inevitably given sanctions.” Winston is a former quarterback at Florida State University who was accused for sexual assault, but never found guilty. Engel is asking U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Black to lift the suspension while the case moves through the court system, according to WCPO. If the suspension is lifted, it will be up to UC head coach Tommy Tuberville to allow the player back on the team, Engel said. “He would be eligible [to play], but I will allow the football coach to make the football decision,” Engel said.
PROVIDED
Three UC golfers finished in the top 25 at the Memphis intercollegiate tournament Tuesday.
Bearcat star looks forward to upcoming season DAVID WYSONG | SPORTS EDITOR
Compared by many to former NBA stars Rod Strickland or Chauncey Billups, University of Cincinnati Bearcat Troy Caupain has modeled himself into a team leader. As a part of the UC men’s basketball team, Caupain started in 33 of 34 games during his sophomore season, while averaging 9.6 points and a team-high 3.6 assists per game. He was named to the American Athletic Conference Honorable Mention and AllConference by the league’s coaches after the 2014-15 season. During the same season, the Bearcats lost head coach Mick Cronin due to a brain aneurism. “The biggest lesson last year was to not take anything for granted,” Caupain said. “This organization is a family. We lost our coach last year, early in the season, and with coach [Larry] Davis being a new coach, and not a lot of experience on the
My uncle and my family always told me it is about heart, nobody’s heart should be bigger than yours. This is the perfect organization for that. We pride ourselves on defense, it is about heart. team, we all came together as one. Our family bond got stronger, we just never gave in and never turned our backs on each other.” UC ended the 2014-15 season in a loss to the University of Kentucky Wildcats during the NCAA tournament. This was after the team beat Purdue University in overtime during the first round of the tournament. Caupain made the last second shot to force the game into overtime during the Bearcat’s win against Purdue. This was a favorite career moment since he began playing for UC, Caupain said. Going into the 2015-16 season, Caupain said he believes the team’s potential remains high. “The potential is huge,” Caupain said. “We got everybody back, except Jermaine Sanders. So we are not really losing a beat. We gained three new freshman that are going to be good pieces for us this year … We got experience from one through five … We should make a big time run in the tournament — sweet 16, elite eight, final four and a chance for the National Championship.” When talking about his favorite aspect of Bearcat basketball, Caupain highlighted toughness.
ANDREW HIGLEY | UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
Troy Caupain expects a strong rebound for the upcoming season after the Bearcats’ trip to the 2015 NCAA Tournament.
“Being a part of the Bearcat family, we walk around with toughness on our shirt, our coaches preach toughness,” Caupain said. “Don’t let the next guy beat you. Basically, I grew up like that. My uncle and my family always told me it is about heart, nobody’s heart should be bigger than yours. This is the perfect organization for that. We pride ourselves on defense, it is about heart.” In addition to enjoying the games, Caupain said he liked the way he is treated off the court. “[Students] don’t think of us as anybody different,” Caupain said. “Some people know
that we are regular students, like everyone else, we’re just here to have fun and have a good time. We love the support from them and Bearcat nation is one big family and models one team.” Other than basketball, Caupain is interested is football. He used to play quarterback and wide receiver, but said he decided to solely focus on basketball because his mother made him quit. The Bearcats play their first exhibition game Nov. 3 against Grand Valley State University, and officially start regular season play Nov. 13 against Western Carolina University.
Bearcat golfers finish in top 25 DAVID WYSONG | SPORTS EDITOR
The University of Cincinnati men’s golf team competed in the Memphis Intercollegiate tournament Sunday through Tuesday, wrapping up with three Bearcats ending in the top 25 players. UC junior Blake Hamilton posted his career-best tournament finish — placing 15th overall. Despite Hamilton’s highest career finish, he was one stroke shy from tying his career-low in a round Tuesday when he shot 4-over par. The 4-over par came after a career-best second round Monday, when Hamilton shot 5-under par. After Hamilton’s impressive performance Monday, head coach Doug Martin was pleased with the results. “One of the things that [Hamilton] has struggled with has been finishing off rounds,” Martin said. “Today was a big hurdle for him. He was able to overcome that mental obstacle with a birdie, eagle and par over his final three holes to finish off his best round as a college player.” Bearcat sophomore Davis Baxter tied his teammate by also finishing in 15th place. Baxter finished the tournament by shooting 2-over par in the final round Tuesday, leading him to jump two spots after being in 17th place Monday. This was Baxter’s fifth top-25 finish in his short two-year career. UC junior Jared O’Kelley was the last Bearcat to finish in the top-25 and placed 24th. O’Kelley shot the best final-round score on the team, with a 1-under par to earn his third top-25 finish in the last four tournaments, dating back to last season. As a team, the Bearcats finished seventh out of 13 total teams. The team shot 20-over par in the tournament. “The one thing that really hurt this week was our play on holes 12 through 15,” Martin said. “Even though that’s a difficult stretch on this course, I thought we played well overall and have a lot of positives we can take away from this tournament. This is a challenging course and I thought the way we played here was a testament to our ball-striking abilities.” University of Memphis, who hosted the tournament, was the winning team with a 5-under par score. Arkansas State University was the only other team that recorded a score under par at 2-under. The Bearcats play at the Jackrabbit Invitational in Valentine, Nebraska Saturday through Monday.
NICK BROWN | STAFF REPORTER
Tion Green had 73 of the Bearcat’s 315 rushing yards and a touchdown Saturday evening against the Miami Redhawks. Green has 252 yards for the 2015 season.
Bearcats to face Memphis Tigers after short week ZACH EDWARDS | CONTRIBUTOR
After a victory against the Miami University of Ohio RedHawks, the Bearcats now face their next innerconference foe, the University of Memphis Tigers. The teams face each other in Memphis, Tennessee Thursday evening and the University of Cincinnati men’s football team will have its hands full against one of the top offenses in the nation. The Tigers are eighth in total offense in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision with 570.3 yards and 54 points per game. Memphis is currently on a 10-game winning streak, dating back to 2014 and continuing through the current season. The team previously beat the Bearcats 41-14. “This game is going to be really exciting; national television, on the road
at Liberty Stadium, an AAC team who tied us for a share in the title,” said UC head coach Tommy Tuberville. “They’re looking to win this game to start off with a good record in the conference.” Tuberville is aware of the dynamic Tiger offense and believes that, in order to win, the Bearcats’ defense needs to withstand it. The Bearcats’ offense is currently ranked seventh in the NCAA FBS ― one place ahead of Memphis ― by averaging 578.3 yards per game and 38.3 points per game. The team’s high-powered offense, however, may be in jeopardy if the Bearcats’ starting quarterback Gunner Kiel is still injured. Kiel exited the game against the RedHawks early with a head injury. Tuberville said he is confident in the team’s backup if Kiel cannot play.
“We did not want to risk any further injury and he has got a long year ahead of him,”Tuberville said. “Not only that, but we have got a young healthy quarterback through Hayden Moore.” Tuberville said Moore and redshirt freshman quarterback Luke Wright would take snaps during practice to be precautionary. Along with Kiel, there were other concerning injuries to senior wide receiver MeKale McKay, sophomore running back Mike Boone and junior offensive guard Idarius Ray. Despite the injuries, they still participate in practice and are expected to be ready for Thursday’s game against Memphis. The game will be played at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Memphis, Tennessee at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. It will be aired on ESPN.
ARTS / 5 THURSDAY, SEPT. 24, 2015
Ed Sheeran brings diverse crowd to Riverbend concert CARLY SMITH | CONTRIBUTOR
Proving his spot as one of the most eclectic singers of our time, the British singer and songwriter Ed Sheeran stood alone with a loop pedal in front of Riverbend Music Center. The Sept. 17 concert showcased all of Sheeran’s innovative talents — from
singing to rapping, to creating the essence of a whole band alone on stage. Sheeran started the concert off with “I’m a Mess” and the crowd erupted in approval. His voice sounded exactly as it did on the record — an accomplishment that is rare to witness these days. The most creative and interesting part
of Sheeran’s act was his loop pedals. By creating beats on the loop pedal and continuing to build on them, Sheeran proves he does not need a band to back him up. Sheeran then sang “Lego House” and audience members swayed back and forth to the soothing melody. The best part of “Lego House,” was the
PROVIDED
Ed Sheeran brought his one-man, loop-pedaling act to Riverbend Sept. 17, impressing the crowd by building each of his songs up into pulsating, bouncing beats.
big screen behind Sheeran displaying a Lego version of Ron Weasley, from “Harry Potter” — a joke that is commonly made on Sheeran’s appearance. Sheeran also had a unique way of incorporating covers into his songs – half of his songs have one, or multiple covers within them. If “Drunk” was already a crowd favorite, mixing it with “Superstitious” by Stevie Wonder made the audience go crazy. Sheeran displayed an ability to turn any slow song into a beat-driven, crowdpleasing favorite within seconds. “Nina” was definitely one of the most creative song mash-ups Sheeran played. Not only did he throw “No Diggity,” by Blackstreet into the set, he also included “Loyal” by Chris Brown. As soon as he dropped the beat in “Bloodstream”, every hand in the venue came up and pulsed to the same rhythm. The singer did an incredible job keeping the crowd involved in his act. Sheeran chose “A-team” to close the show – a predictable move due to its popularity. He made up for the melancholic song by opening the encore with an aweinspiring rendition of one of his best songs, “You Need Me, I Don’t Need You.” The show actually ended with “Sing,” a song heavily influenced by pop. Sheeran asked the crowd to chant back to him, showing how much he enjoys the fans’ energy. The British artist was successful at providing the audience with a new experience and energized the crowd all throughout the show.
Linstermann Brewing launches limited-edition Shamrock Shake STEPHANIE L. SMITH | CONTRIBUTOR
Though most local breweries get started with home brewing, Listermann Brewing Company began as a homebrew supply store in 1991 when Dan Listermann developed a line of home brewing equipment. Listermann’s brewery came later in 2008, with a focus on more accessible beers containing low to moderate alcohol levels, while its other brand, Triple Digit, produces high-gravity brews aged in whiskey or wine barrels. The company is ready to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a limited release of the Shamrock Shake brew. Rather than expecting green beer, customers can look forward to a non-
hearty dark Irish cream stout made with non-alcoholic Irish cream. With a frothy mocha-colored head, the beer is borderline light-to-medium bodied with a fair amount of tingly carbonation. There is a deep aroma of sweet chocolate and faint coffee, reminding its drinkers of Triple Digit’s Chickow. The brew is dry, yet slightly creamy with no obnoxious sweetness. Mint is at the forefront and mingling with toasty malt, caramel and chocolate undertones, which finally ends with a lightly bitter chocolate aftertaste. It may be across the street from Xavier University, but venturing into the land of blue is worthwhile due to Listermann’s tangy beers and helpful advice from employees on home brewing.
PROVIDED
Paul Weitz’s comedy drama “Grandma” sees Lily Tomlin as a tatted-up grandmother learning to come to terms with the loss of her partner.
Review: ‘Grandma’ portrays aging ANDY DUNN | CONTRIBUTOR
STEPHANIE L. SMITH | CONTRIBUTOR
Listermann’s limited St. Patrick’s Day beer Shamrock Shake pours into a frothy mocha-colored head with hints of mint and toasty malt.
Paul Weitz’s “Grandma” takes a unique look at a character underrepresented in modern cinema — the aging woman. Lily Tomlin brightened the movie by playing Elle, a kick-ass, lesbian grandmother few of us are lucky enough to have. Elle, who is also tortured by mistakes of her past, is still devastated by the death of long-time partner Violet. She sports a love for blue jean jackets, tinted shades and tattoos of every woman she has ever loved. Just as Elle is shutting out a four-month fling with a woman named Olivia, played by Judy Greer (“Arrested Development”), she is taking in teenage granddaughter Sage. Sage, played by Julia Garner (“The Americans”), rocks sapphire blue eyes, a blonde Annie hairdo, bad taste in young men and is ten weeks pregnant and in need of money for an abortion. Thus begins this rip-roaring, odd adventure through the California suburbs, which is hilarious at times but utterly devastating when it touches on
the personal lives of grandmother and granddaughter. Characters consistently reference past issues and dwell on the problematic relationships they have experienced through life. “You have an anger problem,” Sage tells Elle, in regards to her outbursts and references to the past. “No, I have an asshole problem,” Elle replies, referencing the many relationships that never panned out in her life. Marcia Gay Harden takes on the role of Judy, the holier-than-thou mother of Sage and daughter of Elle, who ends up sharing the same issue as the two main characters — seemingly not able to let go of the past. Anger should be forgetten, however love shall not. The film begins with a simple quote, gaining more and more significance as the movie presses on: “Time passes. That’s for sure.” As the movie wraps up and the lives of the characters continue, it becomes apparent that while time may pass, we are never as alone as we think we are in the end.
WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO TNR? CONTACT Managing Editor Renee Gooch manager.newsrecord@gmail.com Editor-in-Chief Fernanda Crescente chief.newsrecord@gmail.com Photo Editor Daniel Sullivan newsrecordphoto@gmail.com
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