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PROVOST STEPS DOWN
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| NEWS
FEB. 10, 2015 LOUISVILLECARDINAL.COM
ON CAMPUS THIS WEEK: Olivia Krauth Editor-in-Chief
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U of L On-Campus Housing issued an e-mail to returning residents on Feb. 4, stating that students wishing to live on campus in the fall must meet strict criteria. To live on campus as an upperclassman, a student must be 17 years old or younger as of Feb. 17, 2015, have documentation of meeting the conditions of the Americans with Disabilities Act or be accepted into a Living Learning or Themed Community. Returning students must complete a housing application between Feb. 17 and Feb. 24.
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U of L, UK join forces to Floyd St. save money on supplies Incident: Accident, Non-Injury Although U of L and UK are rivals on the basketball court, the two schools are teaming up to save money on scientific supplies. The universities will purchase gloves, centrifuges and upright freezers with VWR International LLC, saving U of L around $250,000 annually. The two schools have separate contracts with VWR International, but entered into an “umbrella agreement” to create discounts. Both signed a five year contract with the possibility of extending the contract for 10 years.
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“With very mixed feelings,” Provost to step down JABRAHAMSON@LOUISVILLECARDINAL.COM
U of L Provost Shirley Willihnganz has officially announced plans to step down at the end of the academic year. The decision to step down, effective June 30, was announced to the university community on Wed. Feb. 8. “Her leadership has been vital to our academic improvement, and her dedication to our students, faculty and staff is unsurpassed,” said U of L President James Ramsey in a press release. “I am sorry to see her leave the leadership team, but our students will benefit from her return to the classroom.” Willihnganz has been Provost for 13 years and played a major role in a 60 percent jump in graduation rate, restructuring undergraduate advising, developing and implementing the 2020 Plan and establishing the Office of Community Engagement. Her most recent project is the 21st Century University Initiative, which Ramsey says he hopes to have approved by the Board of Trustees at their summer retreat in Eastern Kentucky. “That’s probably my big project,” said Willihnganz, who has overseen the initiative since 2012. The initiative is still being designed, and under this timeline, would be ready to be implemented next year by Willihnganz’s successor.
“I see this as a really important initiative, and a lot of the things we’re talking about should position us well to move into the century.” Although she is leaving before the initiative can come to fruition, Willihnganz said the time was right. “The average tenure of a provost is less than five years, and I think the national average is somewhere around three,” she said. “(13 years) is a long time to do this job. The job is 12 to 14 to 16 hour days every day including weekends, and it’s just a lot,” said Willihnganz. “I just think I’ve come to the end of my ability to keep doing that.” She has planned to take one year of leave before returning to the university.
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Her leadership has been vital to our academic improvement, and her dedication to our students, faculty and staff is unsurpassed. I am sorry to see her leave the leadership team.
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JACOB ABRAHAMSON
— President James Ramsey
“At this point, I have a faculty position in communication,” said Willihnganz, who holds tenure at U of L. “I think I need to figure out what I’m doing next, but I’m really lucky that I’ve got there and I’ve gotten some lovely notes from my colleagues telling me they’ll be glad to have me back.” Willihnganz said that she will have no role in deciding her replacement. According to university spokesman John
Drees, there is currently no timeline in place for a hiring process. Willihnganz has been with the university since 1985, previously serving as Chair of the Department of Communication and as Acting Dean of Arts and Sciences. Note: John Drees, university spokesman, is a member of the Cardinal’s Board of Directors.
After 13 years of service as Provost, Shirley Willihnganz has decided to step down from the role. PHOTO COURTESY / THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE
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| NEWS
FEB. 10, 2015 LOUISVILLECARDINAL.COM
Meet the
CANDIDATES for SGA Top Four
University of Louisville, because it has taken an active interest in me. I have never been one for shying away and quieting my voice. As I use my voice in student government, I will speak for those students who rely on me to share their concerns. I am running to ensure that no student feels that they do not have someone to share their opinion with, and to ensure that it has been heard.
VICTORIA ALLEN STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT
Where is your hometown? Auburn, Kentucky What is your degree program? B.A. history and political science, minor women and gender studies Why are you running for SGA President? I am running to be the student body president because I am a fighter. I have spent my time at the University of Louisville advocating for myself and my peers, and it is with this spirit that I am pursuing the position. The role of president is one that requires a tenacity that refuses to stand by and wait for problems to be solved. I have taken an active interest in the welfare of the
What do you think the biggest problem is at U of L, and how would you solve it? The largest issue currently facing the University of Louisville is our transition into the Atlantic Coast Conference. It is an honor to be a peer among universities that have such a legacy of academic and athletic excellence, but with this privilege comes new and exciting challenges. The University of Louisville is blessed with the most diverse population of students in the Commonwealth, and our demographics are not a common denominator with the majority of our cohort in the ACC. While we work to remain academically competitive with those universities, it is also critical that we do not betray the foundation this university was built on and begin to leave students behind. We must never lose sight of who is most important in this transition and be conscientious about the culture we want to create. No one should forgo applying to the University of Louisville out of the fear of not fitting in, or feeling excluded from the campus culture. The dignity and respect with which we treat the heterogenous population of Cardinals must be maintained at all costs.
Where is your hometown? The Big Easy: New Orleans, Louisiana What is your degree program? I am majoring in economics and minoring in finance.
CAITLIN DURGIN EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
How have you been involved in SGA in the past? I have been a representative for the University of Louisville as a Student Orientation Staff Member and the President of the Society of Porter Scholars, I have been involved with Student Government Association as one of the most intricate roles needed for student government, a leader for the people. I have taken a role in communicating the needs of students, meeting with community representatives, facilitating conversations and attending student government meetings to be a student advocate and liaison. I have taken great strides to be a liaison between
needs of the University above his or her own. That is my promise to you, each and every student. I will not only work to implement the platforms of 21lou, but I will be your voice as well. The job of student body president is time-consuming and difficult, and we must have a student leader whose top commitment is bettering the student experience and a work ethic that will yield results. If elected, I will be the best advocate for all student interests.
PHILIP MOORE STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT
Where is your hometown? Louisville, Kentucky What is your degree program? political science and economics, minors spanish and international business Why are you running for SGA President? I am running for student body president because I believe many reforms must be made to SGA and our university. As we move into the 21st Century, we require reflective representation, so our leaders may represent the diverse interests of the student body. We, 21lou, have developed a slate that addresses this concern. Besides connections and professionalism, a student body president must care and put the represented and unrepresented students by being informed and knowledgeable. To then take that knowledge and communicate with student government representatives. Why do you think you are the best candidate for Executive Vice President? I am the best qualified candidate for this position because I have been selected by my peers and administrators for numerous leadership roles that have enabled me to identify and address the needs of students. Some of the direct responsibilities that I have had in previous leadership positions include overseeing of a budget and developed programming and the supervision of executive council and members. Every position that I have been involved in has allowed me to transform every experience into an opportunity to further develop as a leader. This includes mastering the skill of listening, effectively
What do you think the biggest problem is at U of L, and how would solve it? The University of Louisville has an uncertain future identity. Over the last few years, we have experienced tremendous success and started a new chapter as we moved to the ACC, but we also have faced severe reductions in funds from the state government. However, we still developed the aim to become “a premier metropolitan research institution,� which I support, but we must also question how it will affect the student experience. While research efforts are beneficial, they should not interfere with a student’s educational attainment. As student body president, I will advocate that the student experience, at all levels, must be the chief concern of administration, which includes college affordability, quality academic programs, campus involvements, leadership development programs, diversity initiatives and student services. Another critical component of this identity crisis is the resignation of Provost Willihnganz. U of L made large strides under her leadership, and she is a true servant leader for this university. A new Provost creates a narrow window to define the effectiveness of SGA in administrative decisions, and we as a 21lou will use a business model to accomplish our goals and regain faculty and administrative focus on the student experience. communicating with my constituents and developing a strategic plan. As a Student Orientation Staff Member, I have had the opportunity to meet one-fourth of the campus population and, in some capacity, had direct contact with the entire freshmen class. The purpose of student government is not only to be a representative but also be connected and willing to advocate for the students that we are serving. Contrary to the opposition mentioning lack of experience an effective leader is defined by action and results, not by the duration of time served in an organization.
To read their full answers, visit louisvillecardinal.com
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FEB. 10, 2015 LOUISVILLECARDINAL.COM
KAYLEE BRANDT
SERVICES VICE PRESIDENT What is your hometown? I grew up in Fort Thomas, Kentucky in Northern Kentucky. I have family all across the Greater Cincinnati area and I have always loved living in a metropolitan area. What is your major? I am a psychology major with minors in exercise science and spanish. I am also taking pre-requite courses in order to apply for my master’s programs in occupational therapy. Why do you think you are the best candidate for this position? I am the best qualified for Services Vice President because I am a multifaceted leader. I have learned to employ strong ideas, lead by example and value what those whom I’m leading have to say. Not every leader realizes all three of these things are pertinent, but I do. My leadership experiences in college, including Delta Zeta Sorority, student council and Student Orientation Staff, have taught me how to effectively listen to others and truly understand what organization members or students want and need. This makes me the best candidate because it is a huge part of serving as SVP. I must be able to learn what students need at U of L and put it into action.
AARON VANCE SERVICES
VICE PRESIDENT What is your hometown? Vine Grove, Kentucky What is your major? political science major/anthropology and economics minor Why do you think you are the best candidate for this position? Already serving as an advocate for the student body in Frankfort and D.C. in my capacity as political coordinator, it’s time to take these skills and work to advocate for the students of the University internally. I can attest experience in working in student government and how to navigate the system already, but the issues that affect our students in the areas of safety, sustainability, parking, community relationships, and dining are paramount to student living and to continue to improve them, is to continue to improve our University. I believe I have the skills to serve as a conduit for the students and to better the University of Louisville.
What is your degree program? I am a political science and history double major with a minor in economics. How have you been involved in SGA in the past? Currently, I work as the research specialist on the executive staff. I work closely with the current Top four to investigate our ACC benchmarks. I see if they have policies that we may want to implement at U of L or if we face similar challenges. I have also been lucky to serve as a TaskForce Freshman to the Executive Vice President.
KEVIN GROUT
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT What is your hometown? I am from Florence, Kentucky in Boone County.
Why do you think you are the best candidate for Executive Vice President? Through my experiences in SGA and other RSOs, I believe that I am the best candidate for this job. I have spent weeks researching student athletic ticketing policies of all of our ACC benchmarks. I have studied every aspect of our SGA Constitution, and I am prepared to lead the senate. In both of these crucial aspects, I believe that a vote for me is a vote for the best and most experienced candidate for EVP.
KATY ASHBY
ACADEMIC VICE PRESIDENT What is your hometown? Hanson, Kentucky. What is your major? Mechanical engineering
How have you been involved with SGA in the past? I currently serve as the Vice President of the Speed School Student Council. As the vice president, my duties include planning Engineering Exposition, which is the largest student-run outreach event at the university. Additionally, I have served as the Director of Society Relations for SSSC and the President of the Freshman SSSC.
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ALEX STEWART
ACADEMIC VICE PRESIDENT What is your hometown? I’m from the far East End of Louisville, Kentucky. What is your major? I am currently majoring in biology and minoring in international health studies (pursuing dental or medical school). How have you been involved in SGA in the past? This year, I have been honored to serve as a senator for the College of Arts and Sciences. With this role, some of my involvements and initiatives have been to complete delegated tasks on A&S Council regarding social media and marketing, sit Task Force for Tuition and Fee Setting, participate in the Search Committee for the Assistant VP of Facilities, and I am also on the 21st Century General Education Task Force.
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| NEWS
FEB. 10, 2015 LOUISVILLECARDINAL.COM
What do students really think about SGA elections?
Cyber combat showcases confidential info from major insurance provider
With SGA elections in full swing, we asked news reporters Kylie Noltemeyer and Allison Wildt to find out what students really think about the Student Government elections. Here’s what she found:
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I know a couple of people who are running. They are in a lot of activities and organizations that represent us and they are overall brilliant people. I don’t know who else is running, but I have a feeling it is going to be pretty competitive. This election is really important to us because these are the people who represent us and give the community a voice.
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- Maya McClendon, sophomore
DAVID CECIL
I kinda know three of the candidates, but I’m not sure if I have a real opinion about them. I usually don’t vote in guess I need to try. I know student government is important, but honestly I don’t follow it very closely. I think it is just a bunch of fraternity boys and sorority girls wanting to add something to their resume. - Brian Clay, senior
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know more and who these people are, but I don’t know where to go. My RA is running for some kind of vice president in 21 Lou, but I don’t know if that is the same thing as the SGA elections? I don’t know enough about it or how to even vote. - Alexis Vines, freshman
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IN THE NEWS
DCECIL@LOUISVILLECARDINAL.COM
Best check your life accounts if you’re apart of Anthem Insurance. The major health insurance and Medicare provider fell prey to a severe cyber attack last week. According to the company’s notification site, an extremely sophisticated cyber attack provided hackers with unauthorized access to the company’s IT systems. This permitted the attackers to gain personal information on countless current and past Anthem insurance users, including details such as their name, birthdate, street address, email address, employment information, income data, medical IDs and social security number. Joseph Swedish, president and CEO of Anthem, sent an apology through the notification site, and said both Anthem users and employees, including himself, had their data accessed during the attack. Anthem’s hotline covering the security breach ensured that while this info had been accessed, no information concerning a user’s credit card or medical details had been stolen. While this bit of news is a relief, the security breech is still a constant concern for the 5,700 U of L staff and faculty members affiliated with Anthem, as well as the countless students that rely on the insurance provider. Mark Hebert, director of media relations for the university, stated there had been
nothing new from Anthem yet, aside from the notification of a breach in the system. “We do not know how many of our staff and faculty had their accounts with Anthem breached, and do not know what from those accounts may be out there in the wrong hands.” Hebert further said Anthem has assured the university that they will get detail them during the ongoing investigation, and will contact those who had their accounts hacked personally by mail in the coming weeks. “We will continue pressuring Anthem to get information for our university employees.” Anthem cautions users to not click on any emails with their company’s name on it, as it is a ploy by the attackers to gather more information. Members who may have been impacted should be aware of scam email campaigns and outbound call scams. The emails include a click here link for credit monitoring. For members that have been affected by the attack, Anthem is providing free repair services, along with credit monitoring. Currently, a full investigation is underway lead by the FBI and Mandiant, a leading cybersecurity firm in the US. Users are urged to check in on Anthem’s notification site, Anthemfacts.com, or call their hotline at 1-877-263-7995 for continually updated information about the investigation.
Bill to increase minimum wage in Kentucky passes the House Labor and Industry Committee
For the second year in a row, Kentucky House Speaker presented a bill to increase the minimum wage. This year, the House Labor and Industry Committee passed the bill 13-3 in favor of the incremental increase from $7.25 to $10.10 an hour by 2017. Next, the bill will go to the House floor.
“To Kill a Mockingbird” sequel to be released 55 years after original
Readers can get their hands on the companion to “To Kill A Mockingbird”, titled “Go Set a Watchman”, this summer. The novel follows the life of Scout, the young heroine in “To Kill a Mockingbird,” as an adult. According to the Associated Press, HarperCollins will publish the sequel, which Lee penned before To Kill A Mockingbird, on July 14.
Congress to welcome Pope Francis for a historic visit
For the first time ever, the Catholic Pope Francis will address a joint session of Congress in September. Francis, the first Pope from the Americas, is likely to visit the White House, United Nations and Philadelphia in the same trip. In his first two years as pope, Francis has been vocal about issues like immigration and global warming.
Anthem Health Insurance was recently the victim of a major cyber attack, where some U of L employees had personal information revealed. PHOTO BY AARON P. BERNSTEIN / GETTY IMAGES
FEB. 10, 2015 | SEVEN
FEATURES NEWS@LOUISVILLECARDINAL.COM
THE
Find all of our
Valentine’s Issue content online at Louisvillecardinal.com
READ MORE ONLINE
VALENTINE’S ISSUE PEACC’s new consent campaign pages 8 & 9 Happy Va Va Valentine’s Day page 10 Choosing the perfect date outfit page 11 8 things better than having a Valentine page 12 Cupid doesn’t discriminate page 13
“Ya did what?”
What I learned from using Survey Monkey to find a Valentine O LI V IA KR AUTH EDITOR@LOUISVILLECARDINAL.COM
Let me start by saying I’ve had one valentine in my 19 years of living. His name was Winston, and we were 9 years old and in the same fourth grade class. He gave me one of those huge, completely useless teddy bears, which led to a long class lecture about how Valentine’s Day wasn’t about gifts but about love. Our teacher made me give the teddy bear back, and that was the last time a guy ever tried to be my valentine. A decade later, I’m a junior in college and despite my acutely successful Tinder account, males are hard to attract – especially around Feb. 14. So, I did what every intelligent, semi-lonely, heterosexual female my age would do: I created an online survey for potential valentines. Here’s what I learned: 1. Expect joke entries. Questions ranged from “Describe your perfect Valentine’s Day date” to “How tall are you?” Out of the 22 responses, a solid 60 percent were joke entries from my sorority littles, friends and one cruel person
pretending to be my ex. 2. Your friends and potential suitors are probably insane. Potential dates included everything from dinner at 333 Express to building a toenail church, just to give you an idea of exactly how out of control this thing got. I didn’t expect it to get fake entries, but looking back, that was a serious lapse of judgment on my part. 3. Actually, expect the unexpected in general. One thing I did plan for was some level of backlash, and waited for insults of “thirsty” and “desperate” to come at me on Twitter. Instead, I got a collective 30 favorites and 6 retweets, leading to an increased Klout score and an increased ego. 4. Create a field for contact information... ...And then put a mandatory question asterisk beside it. As of press, my selected valentine hasn’t stepped forward, and due to the semi-anonymous nature of the survey, I don’t have his contact information. Yet another serious lapse in judgment on my end.
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|FEATURES
FEB. 10, 2015 LOUISVILLECARDINAL.COM
SEXY, CAN I? PEACC begins new campaign promoting consent
O LI VIA KRAUT H EDITOR@LOUISVILLECARDINAL.COM
“L Yeah!” is about to get a new meaning. Prevention, Education and Advocacy on Campus and in the Community, U of L’s interpersonal violence prevention program, unveiled their new consent program last week. Titled “L Yeah,” the program focuses on increasing student understanding of consent. PEACC worker and program creator Mandy Parente believes it will help combat sexual violence before it happens. She wants to battle rape culture at U of L by creating consent culture. “We want students to be excited about asking for consent, but we don’t want students to feel pressured to give consent,” Parente said. “We realized that in trying to not have students feel as though we are treating them like rapists, that instead
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didn’t say no.’ -Mandy Parente
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“I am a survivor of sexual violence and I had so many people try to invalidate my experience because ‘you
we would aim to get people excited about talking about consent and their wants and needs.” In a unscientific online poll of U of L students, The Louisville Cardinal found students seem to have a general grasp on the meaning of consent. One student described consent as “a hardcore yes without being under the influence or being coerced.” Another described it as “the verbal acknowledgment of either the male or female, while not intoxicated, to OK having sex or other sexual acts.” Parente sees the same general understanding in her
interactions with students, but after spending last semester studying other consent policies, she realized more education could only improve that knowledge. “They get that they have to have consent, but they don’t know how to get it,” Parente said. “They don’t know why it’s so important.” Out of the students surveyed, 55 percent had heard of university efforts focused on consent. The remaining 45 percent were unaware of any existing programs. “We’re currently not having these conversations,” Parente said. “We’re telling you all of these scary statistics and then we’re not talking about how you as an individual how do you keep yourself from victimizing or becoming a victim.” The consent-specific program will also allow Parente to focus on responding to the myths about sexual consent. The most common questions: “how drunk is too drunk?” and “how do I get consent without killing the mood?” Out of the surveyed students, 72 percent said consent was always needed, including incidents where alcohol was involved. For Parente, the answer is simple. “For alcohol we want students to really understand that if someone is incapacitated they cannot consent to sexual activity. Our unofficial guideline—and please do not say ‘rule of thumb’ unless you want a feminist rampage—is that if a person is too drunk to drive they are too drunk to give consent,” Parente said. “So if you wouldn’t trust the person you’re trying to be involved with to drive you home safely, you should not try to engage in sexual activity with them.” Parente, a graduate student studying sexual violence on college campuses, felt passionately about the need for this campaign for two main reasons. “The first is there is such a negative feeling when you tell a student you want to talk to them about consent. It’s like guys are automatically defensive because they think they will be accused of sexual assault or they are adorably awkward because they’ve never even thought about it other than ‘it ruins the mood,’” she said. Women are either incredibly compassionate or have bought into the rape myths that surround our society. “I want to help students just understand that having these conversations can be so good for
you and your partner. The problem though is that so many students are never taught that it’s OK to talk about sex in general – much less about getting consent or about sexual violence that it’s an uphill battle right now.” The other reason was much more personal. During undergrad, Parente’s long-time boyfriend sexually abused her. Parente wanted to create a campus where other women and men would not become victims. “I am a survivor of sexual violence and I had so many people try to invalidate my experience because ‘you didn’t say no’--I was asleep--or ‘he was your boyfriend, he had a right’ or ‘you should have just put out’ or whatever,” Parente said. “I want to really help other young people realize that none of that is true – your experience is valid.” To create the awareness Parente fights for, L Yeah will be presented in conjunction with PEACC’s Green Dot program, which focuses on the power of the bystander in preventing sexual violence. Someone who intervenes in a volatile situation, rather than standing by, is known as a Green Dot. Parente believed the two are compatible because asking for consent is preventing an act of violence. “If we can really teach our students about the importance of consent, and what consent really is – it’s not just that someone doesn’t say no – then hopefully other students won’t have to go through what I went through when I was a freshman,” Parente said.
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Throw up your L’s, remember to ask. SARA H R OH LE DE R NEWS@LOUISVILLECARDINAL.COM
According to Parente, consent must be: 1. Enthusiastic “The thumb is first. Consent has to be enthusiastic, so make sure you’ve got the thumbs up, the YES, the excited moans,” Parente said. “Consent is never ‘I’m not sure,’ ‘no,’ ‘maybe later?’ or silence.”
2. Informed “The forefinger is next. Consent must be informed, so we want students to think—imagine putting your finger to your forehead.” Parente said. “Do I know what my partner is asking, does my partner know what I am asking, are my partner and I sober enough to make this decision? So an example of a bad way to ask for consent is to say ‘Hey, wanna hook up?’ You’re asking, so that’s a great step in the right direction, but what does ‘hook up’ mean? Does it mean kiss, have sex, engage in oral? Who knows? So a better question to gain consent is—and this seems silly—’DTF?’ This is straightforward and clearly asks if the person would like to have sexual intercourse.”
3. Continuous “Finally is the middle finger, which has no good connotations. The final piece we want students to really focus on is the continuity of the consent,” Parente said. ”If two people are getting hot and heavy, and one says ‘you know what I’m not sure I want to do this anymore,’ they have that right. It doesn’t matter if it’s halfway to orgasm and you ‘just want to finish.’ If your partner says they are uncomfortable and want to stop for any reason, you have to respect that. If you pressure someone or coerce them into continuing once they have said no, then consent is no longer being given. So things like ‘well if you don’t let me finish I will get blue balls’ or ‘but, baby, I’m so close, please just—if you loved me you would,’ anything like that is coercion and is not consensual.”
IS IT CONSENT?
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A Quiz, brought to you by TLC. Are you sure you’re really getting consent? TLC is here to help you figure that out. you ask for you get 1. Did 2. Did consent even consent even
you ask for 3. Did consent even
though your partner didn’t say no?
though it may be awkward?
though he/she has consented before?
YES NO
YES NO
YES NO
you ask 4. Did for consent even though your partner is already naked?
YES NO
you ask for you ask for 5. Did 6. Did consent even consent even though your partner invited you into his/ her room?
YES NO
your your 7. Did 8. Was partner say YES partner sober enthusiastically, freely and consciously at the time?
YES NO
of alcohol and/ or drugs at the time of consent?
YES NO
though you paid for the date?
YES NO you ask 9. Did for consent consistently, between each escalating sexual act?
YES NO
If you answered NO to any of these questions, you did not get consent. For more information on consent, visit the PEACC office, or view the PEACC event calendar at louisville.edu/PEACC.
GRAPHIC BY SARAH ROHLEDER / THE LOUISVILLE CARDINAL
“But it’s awkward” 5 ways to ask, dispelling the myth that asking for consent is just too awkward.
1. “Do you like this?” 2. “Are you into this?” 3. “What do you want me to do with you?” 4. “Do you want to try __________?” 5. And the classic, “DTF?” Just think: What’s more awkward, asking for consent, or getting charged with rape?
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VAVA
FEB. 10, 2015 LOUISVILLECARDINAL.COM
VALENTINE’S DAY BURLESQUE TROUPE ENTICES AUDIENCE
PHOTOS BY ZADE NABI / THE LOUISVILLE CARDINAL
NEWS@LOUISVILLECARDINAL.COM
Two knocks and a woman answered the door to let me in the dressing room. Cramped and hot with performers, I darted immediately to the back stairs, somewhat above their secluded area. I managed a “Hi, my name is Maggie. I was told I could come back here for my school newspaper.” If they hadn’t greeted me with open minds and hearts, I probably would have a mocking, “‘I’m here for my school newspaper,’ What the heck was that!?” in my head for the rest of night. I talked to two performers of the show, each part of the Va Va Vixens for three years. “My stage name is ‘Coop DeVille,’ and I’m mainly an actor, or dancer,” he said, as he pulled a hanger from the rack. He smiled proudly, like a boy showing his school uniform. “One of my parts tonight is Pinocchio.” “Actually, we started together,” he added, high-fiving another performer who went by Venus Pearl onstage. Glitter corsets, high heels, fluffy skirts, big makeup and shirtless men were part of their funky, handmade costumes, which decorate the Vixens from show to show. Tutus were thrown over me, extremely vaudevillian makeup was applied to a girl next to me – none of this fazed the performers, who carried on their friendly conversation in the madness of getting ready for one of their biggest shows yet. The Va Va Vixens are Kentucky’s biggest burlesque troupe, often performing at Headliners Music Hall or Melwood Avenue’s Art Sanctuary. In the past six years, they have evolved into a Louisville novelty. “We’re more than just strip tease. It’s like, when I would tell people about ‘Va Va’ it’s a sexy, classy, circus,” a performer dressed as a green cat named Ethel Lovelace said, as she thrusted her hips towards me to show off her English flag fanny-pack. Her counterpart, another blue animal with makeup modeled after the Broadway show Cats, jumped in beside her.
In the Valentine’s show, Lovelace, along with two other performers, played Mother Goose’s loyal pussycats. “Leanne Cooper made it, Leanne Cooper is our director,” Brigitte Boudoir said. “She makes the costumes, she did my makeup. She is literally a jack of all trades, it’s like we could not live without her and she runs rehersals and all that.” As Boudoir’s third year in the show, she has formed a sort of alter ego with the Vixens. “I’m also a legal accountant, so I do legal building and ac-
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We’re more than just strip tease. It’s like, when I would tell people about ‘Va Va’ it’s a sexy, classy, circus. -Ethel Lovelace
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MAG G I E LI TT LE
counting during the day. And what’s adorable, is that the people in my law firm adore it! They act like they have a celebrity in the office, they watch me on Great Day Live – it’s their thing,” she said. “One of them has one of our calendars hanging up in our office!” The Vixens weren’t all lawyers/burlesque dancers. “Candy?” beamed a blonde girl in a sailor suit. “Bunnies,” as they call them, are a part of the Va Va Vixen’s show to “make the crowd involved, feel welcome,” as one Bunny put it. I grabbed an assortment off the bedazzled tray before Boudoir jerked my arm and I was distracted to meet an Original Vixen. “Oh wait! Come here for a second. This here is what I like to call an ‘O.V.’ This one right here has been here since the
very beginning,” she squealed. “Well, I missed the very first show,” mumbled a bashful woman. “But she twirls machetes” “Well, no – “ “Ok, Samoan Sabers. You could literally throw a phone book at this woman and she could spin it.” The twirler, Kenya Kizznee, was a perfect example of the support and inspiration the performers bring each other in their lives, and the show. Kiznee’s girlfriend, who performs as Christina Love, encouraged her to join the troupe. Kiznee, a 48-year-old Vixen, said the Vixens endorsed a cast of different shapes, sizes, ages, as well as talents, making for an all-star charm between the performers. “Well, going through the divorce, low self-esteem, my girlfriend said that I really needed this. I did it.” During the show, I recognized Kiznee doing the splits, high kicks and strip teases as The Big Bad Wolf and a sexy spider during the “Eight Leg Fan Dance.” In the troupe’s Valentine’s seasonal show, “A Faerie Tale,” the Vizens achieved enchantment and a standing ovation. Framed with narration by the British Punk Mother Goose and a pixie-dust-addicted Fairy Godmother, the story revolved around frenemies’ banter, a battle-of-the-burlesque and fables. Their performance was set off with a mix of upbeat and classic songs--a soundtrack I wanted a mix CD of --including songs of sexual innuendos, artists like Disclosure, Brittany Spears, Lana Del Rey, Sia, Adam Lambert, Artic Monkeys, Florence and the Machine and Fergie’s “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody.” The Va Va’s special charm was not just an act on-stage or backstage. Their friendly and easy attitude with the audience and each other made their talent dazzle even more than their sparkling costumes. The Va Va Vixens will be performing “A Faerie Tale” again Feb. 13, 14, 20 and 21. Tickets are available for $20 online at headlinerslouisville.com, or you can purchase them at the door at Headliner’s Music Hall.
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PHOTOS BY ZADE NABI / THE LOUISVILLE CARDINAL
Valentine’s date outfit guide Night in
Concert
Artsy date
Night on the town
Kieryn Jackson
Ali Hoge Concerts are a great time to showcase your edgy side. The easiest way to give off a tough vibe, no matter what your sex, is with an all or mostly black outfit. It’s not the only way though. Grunge inspired looks work just as well. Try distressed denim and a leather or military style jacket if you’re not feeling the all black ensemble. Or you can go the more subtle route with a band tee. Combat boots are a reliable way to finish the look.
Izaac Prats A more artsy date is the perfect opportunity to have fun playing with colors and prints, whether you’re male or female. An easy trick when playing with these two elements is to stick to a general color scheme. If mixing colorful patterns is intimidating or just not your thing, try going for a black and white look combining a large print with a smaller one. Graphic tees are also another fun option for artsy dates.
Carli Jo Deskins The key with a Valentine’s Day spent exploring the city, for both men and women, is layering to keep warm. It’s also a good chance to channel your unique street style. Skinnies, blazers, blanket scarves and pea coats are nice for a more street chic look. Denim on denim, varsity style jackets and beanies are perfect if you’re looking for a more urban look. Trainer shoes to complete the outfit are both stylish and practical.
Just because you and your significant other are staying in doesn’t mean you have to lounge in pajamas all day. A pair of leggings paired with a cozy cardigan or grandpa sweater is one way to go for girls. Boyfriend jeans are another great choice if you want to be more put together, but still comfortable. Knit pieces are a good option for guys as well. For a little something extra, try a peek-aboo collar by pairing a flannel or an oxford under the sweater.
PHOTOS BY JACQUELINE KELLY / THE LOUISVILLE CARDINAL
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FEB. 10, 2015 LOUISVILLECARDINAL.COM
8 things better than having a Valentine SA RAH RO HL E DE R NEWS@LOUISVILLECARDINAL.COM
1. Making money You know every single one of your coworkers is going to ask off for Valentine’s Day. This is your chance to make bank at work, when no one else will. Plus, if you’re a waiter, you will have an unending dinner rush, which means an unending flow of tips. Everyone loves music, including our Editor-in-Chief. PHOTO
BY JACOB ABRAHAMSON / THE LOUISVILLE CARDINAL
Bring back the mixtape
Why you should adopt an oldschool habit this Valentine’s Day SEI LER SM ITH NEWS@LOUISVILLECARDINAL.COM
The mixtape is an ancient art form, born in the murky musical depths of the 70s and 80s. It is a symbol of close-knit companionship between two people intertwined so deep, they know each other’s exact music taste. The mixtape was a romance power move and, if done perfectly, would guarantee that you and that special someone would at least make it to the next date. But perfect wasn’t easy. You had to get the tape just right, with all of the other person’s deep loves and likes. Not just the standard “she likes rock,” or “he loves jazz” kind of knowledge, but a sentimental understanding which goes into the complexities of lyrics, beats, placement of songs, artists, genres and histories. The mixtape withstood the shift from 8-tracks to cassettes to CDs, and became the teenager’s Cupid’s arrow in the days of MySpace, when brightly-colored blank CDs could hold about 18 carefully selected tracks. If you really wanted to impress your partner, you would even slip a handdrawn cover into the slip in the CD case. Where did this esteemed art go? It has seemed to crumble away with the digital age. I propose we bring back the mixtape. Now, some renovations will have to be made, as tape players and CD-ROM
drives are obsolete. So, you have two options: an external CD drive (or internal if you were smart enough to buy a laptop with one) or Spotify. It may sound dumb, but nowadays, a Spotify playlist is just as acceptable as any CD in your car. Now to get it just right, mix in all your special person’s likes, your history with them and of course songs for the occasion. But I know that is quite a feat, so I will give you a head start.
Remember, these songs will not just cut it, you must also incorporate your own and your relationship into the rest of the playlist. Good luck, and happy Valentine’s Day.
No Valentine? More like no one to buy chocolates and flowers and giant teddy bears for. It’s not like you wanted to fight the line of people who also waited until Friday night at Kroger to get their significant others low-quality boxes of chocolates anyway. Hallmark doesn’t need anymore money from you. (Bonus: you may also save money on birth control, because you don’t have to buy birth control when you’re going solo.)
3. Galentine’s Day Personally, I know few guys who know my tastes as well as my best girl friend does--even if that means lounging in hand-me-down sweatpants and eating Graeter’s black raspberry chip in front of Netflix together. Note: The G-A-L of Galentine’s Day can also refer to the gallons of black raspberry chip ice cream you may accidentally consume in one sitting on this day.
4. Sleep No matter who your significant other is, he or she is not cuddlier than your pillows after a long week of tests and quizzes.
6. Not having to shave Let’s face it: no one actually enjoys saving. There is nothing enjoyable about spending $7 on an item that is destined to draw blood on your knobby knees--or jawline, for the fellas. Valentine’s Day + no date = furry legs 4eva <3 <3
10 songs every Valentine’s Day mixtape should have: 1. Gracefully- Vintage Trouble 2. This Magic Moment- The Drifters 3. I’m Shakin’- Jack White 4. This I Promise You- NSYNC 5. Came Out of A Lady- Rubblebucket 6. Tiny Dancer- Elton John 7. Ain’t No Mountain High EnoughMarvin Gaye 8. Sunshine of Your Love- CREAM 9. You’re All I Need Baby- Method Man (ft. Mary J. Blige) 10. We Found Love- Rihanna
2. Saving money
7. Post-Valentine’s Day candy sales If you don’t have a date, then you don’t have to rush to the store for overpriced candy. Instead, wait until the day after, which will allow you to stock up enough candy to transform your dorm into Willy Wonka’s factory.
5. Spontaneity Having a valentine pretty much eliminates the option of just going and doing something adventurous on a whim. People who are consumed with the pressure of planning the perfect Valentine’s Day date will be jealous of you.
8. Low expectations Between the high-budget movies and your highly-filtered Instagram homepage, Valentine’s Day may look pretty magical, but that only leads to unattainable expectations. Face it: we’re all on college budgets here. You’re not getting a wall of white roses, circa Kimye.
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Spend your Valentine’s Day celebrating the right way EDITOR@LOUISVILLECARDINAL.COM
Cupid doesn’t discriminate, neither should you PATTY COWLEY EDITOR@LOUISVILLECARDINAL.COM
When I sat down to write about Valentine’s Day and hetero-normativity for this oped, I found myself surprisingly stuck. Most of my adult life has been dedicated in some part to the LGBT community. I go to the Pride parade every year and am currently focusing on LGBT health disparity issues in my master’s program. So why is it so hard for me to think about what to say when it comes to Valentine’s Day? Since I was having such a hard time writing this, I confided in my friends and family and asked them about it. The answers ranged from the standard flowers and dinner, to binge eating on the couch with my cat watching Leonardo DiCaprio. While interesting, this still did not help me at all. I was starting to stress about the entire situation when my friend eventually stopped to ask me what my Valentine’s Days were like. Without thinking, my response was, “Just like everyone else’s.” Maybe that’s the whole point. My Valentine’s Days are just like everyone else’s. When I’m in a relationship, I usually do the typical dinner date, and when I’m single, the movie date with my cat and Leonardo sounds perfect. I view the world with a critical eye. Everything I see and read I can relate to homosexual issues, of course at the expense of my friends and family’s annoyance. However, I cannot bring the most industrialized, superficial, supposedly heteronormative holiday in the United States into the social justice arena.
I joke about feeling like a bad lesbian for being unable to frame Valentine’s Day in a heteronormative view, but after some thought I have come to the conclusion that Valentine’s Day and the concept of hetero-normativity do not belong in the same sentence. Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate people in your life with which you love the most. I will concede that yes, on Valentine’s Day there is more pressure than usual for romantic love, but who is to say you can’t celebrate the other loves in your life? Valentine’s Day is what you make of it. The pressure on Valentine’s Day is not to be in a heterosexual relationship, it’s to be in a relationship in general. What needs to be overhauled is not the heteronormative nature of Valentine’s Day. Personally, I believe that we as a society in the U.S. have moved past that. The issue with the holiday is now the ridiculous pressure that is placed on everyone to be in a romantic relationship. So is Valentine’s Day heteronormative? To me, it’s not. I live my life as a minority in this hugely straight world that we live in, but I view Valentine’s Day as the one day a year that I get to celebrate love in my life any way that I choose. No law or societal norm can change that. I can go to Target and just as easily find a card for my girlfriend as I would for my boyfriend. I can go to dinner with my girlfriend without being stared at or taunted. Valentine’s Day shouldn’t be considered a straight or gay kind of holiday. It’s a day to celebrate love, no other strings attached.
Valentine’s Day. How much does society actually know about the origins of this holiday? St. Valentine was a priest in Rome during the reign of Emperor Claudius II. Claudius was convinced that an unmarried army was a better army, because the soldiers would have no fear of leaving behind wives or children. Because of this theory, he prohibited all marriages and engagements in Rome. Valentine rebelled against this unjust regulation and secretly performed marriages for couples. In the year 270, Valentine was caught and condemned to death. For his service, Valentine was named a saint after his death. Gradually, Valentine’s Day became what it is today – a day to exchange poems, love notes and small gifts. But have we forgotten what this holiday is truly about? The suffering St. Valentine went through for love makes most present-day Valentine celebrators look pretty pathetic. This is not to say we should stop celebrating all together, but instead we should improve our traditions and gear less towards gifts and more toward compassion and care. Valentine’s Day has become a multimillion dollar holiday, but that doesn’t take away from the reasons why many consider it such a special day. The negative responses surrounding Valentine’s Day stem from those who have no one to spend it with. Some say it just aids capitalism, a lonely day if you’re single, women expect too much or that it’s just a pointless holiday and we should be able to show our love without having a holiday to
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manipulate us into doing so. On the contrary, some would rather look at the holiday in a more optimistic manner. It’s not a question the creation of Valentine’s Day predates capitalism. People tend to get fussy whenever any kind of business benefits from a holiday, especially one involving our beloved valentines. We should be happy that these otherwise mediocre businesses have an opportunity once per year to flourish. Though this is not at all what the holiday is about, it doesn’t hurt that flower and chocolate companies are gaining positive financial feedback in the process. For all you single ladies and gentlemen out there, Valentine’s Day is not a time to pity yourself or spend the day alone, ignoring the holiday completely. It’s actually an amazing opportunity to show that special someone that you’ve had your eye on them. Even if you’re not interested in pursuing someone, it would be a great time to spread love among friends, family and loved ones. You could even get your pet a nice treat to show you care. No matter which way you choose to celebrate, make it positive. A negative outlook on Valentine’s Day could be a sign of a negative outlook on love or romance itself. Though we are not all expected to be Romeo or Juliet, there are several ways to show you care, without much money, or any at all. Not to say this should be the only day of the year that you do something special for your loved ones, but to reject or ignore this day will only affect you in a negative way. Don’t allow St. Valentine’s death to be in vain! Celebrate! Love!
Even if you’re not interested in pursuing someone, it would be a great time to spread love among friends, family and loved ones.
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SA MA NT HA S C HA EF ER
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FEB. 10, 2015 LOUISVILLECARDINAL.COM
Petrino recruits second best class in Louisville history SA M D R AUT SDRAUT@LOUISVILLECARDINAL.COM
After more than a year into his second stint at Louisville, Bobby Petrino answered the final question: could his recruiting mirror the success of former Cardinal head coach Charlie Strong? As the dust settled on National Signing Day, Louisville’s 2015 recruiting class ranked 32nd nationally by Scout and Rivals while ESPN ranked it 30th nationally. The 25-man recruiting class is the second highest rated class in program history, falling a few spots behind the 2011 class that included Teddy Bridgewater, DeVante Parker, Gerod Holliman and Lorenzo Mauldin. “I’m really proud of our assistants in building relationships and putting together this class in a year,” Petrino said. “We have recruits from nine different states, so our coaches were going everywhere to make this happen.” Louisville lost five wide receivers and three starters on the offensive line to exhausted eligibility while playmakers in the secondary Holliman, James Sample and Charles Gaines left early to pursue careers in the NFL. Addressing these losses was the staff’s first concern. The Cardinals signed six wide receivers and five offensive linemen. “We did a good job of filling our needs, offensive line, wide receiver, defensive backs and defensive end,” Petrino said. Though National Signing Day never goes without drama, it was who Louisville was able to hold onto that solidified the class. Quarterback Lamar Jackson and defensive end G.G. Robinson had been committed to Louisville since the early fall, but both received a late push from SEC schools. Jackson, ranked a four-star on Rivals from Boynton Beach, Florida, was recruited heavily by Florida up until his official decision on signing day. Though all three quarterbacks who started last year, Will Gardner, Kyle Bolin and Reggie Bonnafon return along with Penn State transfer Tyler Ferguson, Jackson should be able to vie for playing time. “His speed and his athleticism jump out
Lamar Jackson is a four-star quarterback from Boynton Beach, FL. He is a dual threat QB who will compete right away for the job. PHOTO / THEGATORFANATIC.COM
Many of Louisville’s immediate impact players from this class will be the transfers Petrino took a chance on. The most proven of all is former TCU defensive end Devonte Fields. As a freshman in 2012, he totaled 53 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. He was selected the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year amongst his many accolades. After injuries and off-the-field issues, he was dismissed and is starting anew as a Louisville Cardinal. PHOTO / CBSSPORTS.COM right away when you see his tape, but I was very impressed with his release and with his deep ball,” Petrino said. “We’re not going to have to work with him that much when it comes to mechanics, but his issue, like all freshmen, is going to be grasping the offense and getting himself mentally in a place where he’s ready to compete for the job in August.” Robinson, a consensus three star from Lilburn, Georgia spurned his father’s alma mater for the Cardinals. Gerald Robinson played for Auburn in the ‘80s and was selected 14th overall in the 1986 NFL Draft. “It came down to him wanting to play in this style of defense and his relationship with our coaching staff,” Petrino said. Seven signees are junior college transfers that will help fill the void left by Louisville’s winningest senior class. “Because we had so many guys leaving, we had to go the juco route to fill some holes because we needed some guys to step in and be able to contribute right away,” Petrino said. “We feel like all the junior college players we took will be able to contribute next year.” Jeremy Smith from Fresno City College is ranked as the fifth best junior college running back by ESPN and will help to replace Dominique Brown and Michael Dyer. Offensive linemen Khalil Hunter and Kiola Mahoni are two other junior college transfers who will provide depth in the trenches immediately. The defense bolstered their front seven after losing talent to graduation. Devonte Fields, the former Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year at TCU is an elite athlete with a troubled past.
The defensive end from Trinity Valley Junior College is a five star on Scout and ranked as the third best junior college transfer in the nation by ESPN. Fields was dismissed from TCU in 2013 after facing off the field issues, but Petrino offered him a second chance at big time college football. “It was a long process with Devonte Fields. We spoke with Gary Patterson at TCU and every coach on the Trinity staff. We talked with his mother extensively,” Petrino said. “He could have gone to the NFL, but it was important for him to go to a major college and be a student and an athlete again. He sold us on that and I feel like he earned the scholarship. “I believe in second chances and sometimes third chances. Every one of these situations is on an individual basis. You do your research, and I feel like if you have a chance to give a young man a second chance you do it,” Petrino said. “Some of the best moments for me have been guys coming back to the spring game or calling and saying I have a degree and a family because you were willing to give me a second chance.” Though one player cannot replace the impact of DeVante Parker, the receivers who signed will begin to work into becoming down field threats. “We have six wide receivers, and all but one of them are 6-foot-3 or taller. We wanted to get bigger and faster at that position and we’ve done that,” Petrino said. Two receiver signees were included in ESPN’s top 300 list. Devante Peete is a 6-foot-5, four-star player from Pompano
Beach, Florida who is a big outside target. Traveon Samuel is an allusive and speedy athlete who can be an effective slot receiver. On the opposite side of the ball, three defensive backs were added in wake of the early departures of Holliman, Sample and Gaines. The two incoming safeties could compete for playing time early on. Dee Smith, a safety from Florence, Alabama is rated a four-star player and eleventh best at his position nationally by Scout. Khane Pass is a consensus three-star safety who is a strong athlete with big play ability. While some signees are finishing off their final semester before heading to Louisville, eight signees are already on campus participating with spring workouts. “Not sure how many of these guys will play right away next season, but the one thing we do is make sure that they’re preparing to play right away. And that starts right now,” Petrino said. “The eight guys who are here already, we expect them to contribute more because they’re already ahead.” The school’s second best recruiting class in program history ranks fourth and sixth on Scout and Rivals respectively. Petrino expects to be finished with the 2015 class, so the coaching staff will move onto prospects in the 2016 class looking to continue their momentum from their first full class at Louisville.
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Freshman class leading women’s tennis to impressive start DA LTO N RAY SPORTS@LOUISVILLECARDINAL.COM
The women’s tennis team at Louisville has begun the year with a hot start and a number 64 ranking. As of Feb. 8 the Cards are 9-1 with their single loss having come against fourthranked Duke University. What makes this mark more impressive is whom the Cardinals are winning with. When most people in Kentucky think about a team performing well with five impactful freshmen, they think about a school located in Lexington. This isn’t the case, as Louisville’s own fab five are starting to make some noise. Head Coach Mark Beckham’s best recruiting class to date has earned his respect as well. “I’m happy with them, I can’t ask too much more out of the freshmen. They’re going to play big minutes for us and we’re going to need them to win big matches. They’re playing about as well as they can.” While the freshmen are asked to carry a lot of weight in their first year, Beckham doesn’t want to force too much on them. “I’d like to see the sophomores ease the transition for the freshmen, and at this point I think they are. We only have one senior, so I need the sophomores and Manuela (Velazquez) to help make the transition easier for them. I don’t want them to feel like they have to win everything for us.” At this point in the season, four of the five freshmen on the youth-heavy roster have seen action in almost every match of the
season. In the first eight matches this year, the freshmen have a combined record of 17-4 and in doubles they have helped to achieve a 16-5 record when at least one is playing. Two of the three singles losses they suffered were at the hands of Duke’s Samantha Harris, number 55 in the nation, and Ester Goldfield, number 87 in the nation. Three of the four doubles losses came against number four Duke and number67 Furman. Beckham says one of the main things that will help the freshmen develop and improve is simply experience. With over 20 single and doubles matches so far into the young season, experience should come quick. Ariana Rodriguez has competed in all eight matches this season posting a 7-3 record in singles and 5-3 doubles record. Ellie Gerlach has competed in seven and Jessie Lynn Paul has seen action in six. Ola Mally won both of her single and double matches against Southern Illinois and Morehead State before being injured. Paul is 7-1 in her singles matches with her one loss coming against number 55 Samantha Harris. While most people might see the high competition at such a young age and run away, Paul sees it another way. “Coach always tells us to enjoy the competition and not sit around and stress over it and he’s been right,” Paul said. “It’s a lot more fun than people think. Everyone thinks it’s really stressful but we really like doing it. Playing these higher ranked teams is a little bit of gauge for us to see where we are but with
us being so young it’s hard to compare it, and we don’t ever want to limit ourselves. It’s just fun competition.” Christian Academy’s own Ellie Gerlach has shown she can hold her own when it comes to doubles as she has a 7-2 record this year. Gerlach agrees with Paul about playing the tougher teams. “As the competition increases, we’re getting better. With us being such a young team, each match is helping us with experience and the more we play the more we win.” Both Paul and Gerlach say the transition from high school to college has been a little tough, but with the help of the other freshmen and upperclassmen leading the way it’s getting easier. Paul says having the group of fellow freshmen helps to take on the challenge together, Gerlach credits just taking everything a day at a time. But Gerlach also has another edge: the motivation of competing for the school she’s always grown up rooting for.
“It’s crazy. I’ve always said ‘Go Cards’ at basketball and football games, but now when I say it has a different meaning. It’s weird playing for a school I’ve always been a fan of but it’s a great experience for me and I love it.” Beckham has full confidence that this team will become one of the best in the ACC. With 13 of the remaining 17 matches against teams ranked in the top 75, including seven in the top 20 the contests will only become harder. Number three North Carolina, last season’s national runner up, visits Louisville Mar. 15. Individual competition increases as well as six of the nation’s top 30 will be facing the Cardinals. Of them includes Virginia’s number one nationally-ranked Julia Elbaba and number 42-ranked Danielle Collins, who won last season’s singles national championship. With a team full of talented players playing one of the nation’s toughest schedules it’ll only help the Cards improve as the year goes on.
Jessie Lynn Paul is one of the five freshmen contributing to the early success of the young women’s tennis team. Paul is 7-1 in singles. PHOTO BY WADE MORGEN / THE LOUISVILLE CARDINAL
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Just how good is Terry Rozier? In one word: Very SA M D R AU T SDRAUT@LOUISVILLECARDINAL.COM
Louisville might have the best guard in the country, but aside from the team, coaches and local media members, who else knows it? Terry Rozier has been phenomenal. The sophomore from Youngstown, Ohio is first in scoring and second in rebounding on the ninth-ranked team in the country. Rozier is leading the best conference in college basketball in scoring with 18.5 points per game. Against number 13 North Carolina, Rozier finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds, his first career double-double, as he helped Louisville climb back from an 18-point deficit to force overtime. In overtime, Rozier scored Louisville’s first six points and the Cardinals cruised to a 78-68 victory. His effort in the win along with 23 points, five assists and five rebounds against Boston College earlier in the week earned Rozier another ACC Player of the Week honor. “Terry is a creator with good size. He’s also a very good athlete, he’s a willing defender and he acts like a pro,” Head Coach Rick Pitino said. With only three other Cardinals scoring more than four points per game, at times Rozier has been the only scoring option. Last Tuesday night against Miami, Rozier was the only Cardinal scorer over an 14-minute span in the second half. Earlier in the year, Rozier was the only answer on offensive for nearly ten minutes against
Western Kentucky. recruits. He’s not coming back. And they When Louisville needs an answer or a big keep saying, ‘do you think there’s a chance?’ shot, teammates turn to Rozier. In the first And I just keep saying I told you last week, meeting against UNC in Chapel Hill, Rozier he’s not coming back.” smoothly hit a go-ahead mid-range with 26 Rozier’s superb play this season begs the seconds left only to be undone by Marcus question: is he better than Russ Smith? Paige’s late game heroics. Comparing the two can create an “It’s all opportunity that my coaches and interesting debate, looking back on Smith’s my teammates make for me. We draw up a senior season; the two have put up eerily play and they do a good job of screening and similar statistics. getting me open and I’m just able to knock Smith averaged 18.2 points and 4.64 down the open shot,” Rozier said. “But like I assists per game. said, without the opportunity of them, none Rozier’s assist numbers of this would be possible.” are much lower at But the 6-foot-1 guard does more than 2.4 per game, but score, he averages nearly seven rebounds per through 22 games fourty minutes of play and is second on the t h i s season he team in free throw percentage and steals. h a s as many “Terry is the type of young man who works extremely hard. He’s diligent in how he prepares for the game and does the scouting reports,” Assistant Coach Kenny Johnson said. “You can see his maturity coming into his own.” Louisville fans must enjoy the waning moments of Rozier’s career, because Pitino has already warned fans this will be the last of seeing him in a Cardinal uniform. “Terry just has all the things the pros like. I can’t tell you how many times people tell me, ‘if we can just get Terry to come back.’ He’s not coming back,” Pitino said. Terry Rozier “You need to start looking at the future
rebounds as Smith did in 37 games last year. Smith averaged two steals per game last season. Rozier is averaging 2.1 steals this year. Both are dynamic scorers who can slash into the lane but also have the ability to stretch out the defense. Smith shot 46.8 percent from the field, 38.7 percent from three and 70.5 percent from the free throw line. Rozier has a similar shooting line, 45.8 percent from the field, 35 percent from three and 75.2 percent from the free throw line. On an NBA level, Pitino sides with Rozier. “He’s bigger. They don’t like 165 pound guards. The length and things like that are important,” Pitino said. But Smith has a Final Four and National Championship, so to balance out the collegiate debate, Rozier will need to carry his team in March, just like he has done all year.