April 4, 2018

Wednesday, Apr. 4, 2018

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Former volleyball player sues UC

UC 4-year athletic deficit nearly $102 million

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Apr. 4, 2018 | newsrecord.org

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News

Teachers protest over senate bill ELIZABETH SCHMITT | NEWS EDITOR

The Commonwealth of Kentucky legislature passed a sewage bill Thursday containing changes to the state pension plan for educators.

Though the original bill was listed as involving “the local provision of wastewater services,” Senate Bill 151 instead included drastic reforms of the current pension plan, impacting the futures security of Kentucky teachers.

The move incited outrage amongst teachers statewide.

The bill stipulates that any teachers hired after Jan. 1, 2019, would receive a hybrid cash-balance at Teachers’ Retirement System of Kentucky, rather than the established pension plan.

In response, thousands of teachers gathered outside the capitol building to protest, causing 120 counties in Kentucky to close schools for the day due to high rates of teacher absences.

Their actions did yield results, however. The protests took place while the Congress was in session, allowing legislatures to make changes meeting the teachers’ demands.

Mary Groneck, a fourthyear criminal justice student who attended the Monday

rally said the protest was less about the pension fund and more about another proposal.

“The main point of the rally was not necessarily because of the pension fund,” Groneck said. “[It was] the fact that they proposed to take funding from public schooling.”

Groneck explained that legislatures planned to reduce allotted funds for student services, such as preschools, kindergartens, tutoring, mentoring, counseling, extracurriculars, family resource centers and after-school programs.

Instead, Congress used funds initially allocated to reduce costs for educators’ health care plans to pay for these services — an option many teachers are happy with.

A compromise was also made regarding the pension plan for teachers, which allows a two-year budget that protects pensions plans for all current teachers.

“For years and years, Kentucky promised teachers money that they did not have and never even tried to come up with,” Groneck said, noting many rally attendees shouted “Find funds first.”

“My main concern is the lack of transparency from my legislatures,” said Michael Sharp, a history teacher from

North Oldham High School in Oldham County, Kentucky.

“They passed many of these bills at the eleventh hour and made the inviolable contract null and void, which impacts not [just] teachers, but policemen, firefighters and anyone on a public pension program.”

The inviolable contract is promised by the state government to its public employees, guaranteeing them the benefits they were promised when hired.

Bill 151 violated this contract by removing the public pension for future teachers. Sharp said the bill “will erode the public-school system and will impact the ability of schools to recruit and retain highly qualified people for the long term.”

Sharp — a single father and teacher for the past nine years — has educated many students who attend or have attended UC. He says he has had to work two other jobs in addition to teaching to provide for his son.

“I am not a rare example, but a commonality,” he said.

“Many teachers have to work multiple jobs to get by.”

Sharp worries for the future of Kentucky’s school system, noting that teachers’ futures remain uncertain when retirement is not guaranteed.

Apr. 4, 2018 | newsrecord.org

CHARLES BERTRAM | LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER | TNS

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Thousands of Kentucky school teachers marched Monday, April 2, 2018 from the Kentucky Education Association’s headquarters to the State Capitol in Frankfort, Ky. to protest legislative changes to their pensions and education cuts. Public schools in all 120 Kentucky counties were closed Monday, either to join in the protest or because of spring break.

News

Former volleyball player sues UC after dismissal from team LAUREN STYCZYNSKI | STAFF REPORTER

OLIVER CONTRERAS | SIPA USA | TNS

President Donald Trump hosts a joint news conference with Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis, Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid and Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C.

Trump announces new steel tariff with hopes of creating more jobs

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Apr. 4, 2018 | newsrecord.org

BRIANA RICE | CONTRIBUTOR

On March 1, President Trump announced tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from all foreign countries excluding Mexico and Canada.

Import tariffs will be 25 percent for foreign-made steel and 10 percent for aluminum, the president said in a speech.

The tax is meant to incentivize domestic companies to buy U.S.-made steel and aluminum in hopes of creating more jobs and expanding the American steel industry.

“You’re going to see a lot of good things happen,” Trump said. “You’re going to see expansions of the companies … If we give you that level playing field — if we give you that help — you’re going to hire more workers, and your workers are going to be very happy.”

Many companies, like automakers, are concerned that vehicle prices will rise and their businesses will suffer.

When the U.S. last implemented steel tariffs in 2002, industry workers and consumers blamed the tariffs for costing hundreds of thousands of domestic jobs, The Washington Post reported.

“Globalizing corporations and overactive unions have made labor costs in the [U.S.] very unappetizing for manufacturers,” said

Vincent Mellon, a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machinist who works for Ronan Engineering. “I think the only reason that there is a manufacturing pocket of industry here in [Kentucky] is because aerospace companies are super protective of their patents.”

The harshest criticisms of this decision include concerns that it will hinder U.S. job growth, raise consumer prices and affect the domestic manufacturing industry.

“From Bush 1 to present, our Country has lost more than 55,000 factories, 6,000,000 manufacturing jobs and accumulated Trade Deficits of more than 12 Trillion Dollars,” the president wrote on Twitter.

In response, Chief Economic Adviser Gary Cohn — an opponent of the tariffs — announced Tuesday that he would resign from Trump’s cabinet, making him one of 16 people to do so since the president’s inauguration.

Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan has echoed concerns regarding tariff efforts. However, supporters of the proposed legislation exist on both sides of Congress.

“We cannot afford to lose the steel production platform of this country,” Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur said.

Kaptur, who represents Ohio’s 9th District, says the

state’s steel industry has been negatively impacted by unfair foreign trade policies.

“Regions like my own have been heavily harmed by this very unreciprocal trade across the board, almost in every sector,” she said.

“Steel has been particularly hard-hit.”

While Mellon questions the diplomatic tact of tariff legislation, he does see foreign trade policies as imbalanced.

“Making a product is how you make value,” Mellon said. “China is making a product and … not really paying to use our intellectual property. I don’t know if blanket tariffs are appropriate, responsible or the most diplomatic response to this problem, but it’s definitely a problem.”

Items such as beer, pop, computer parts and bike frames — all made of aluminum — are expected increase in price due to new tariffs, which went into effect March 23.

The European Union (EU) — the second biggest supplier of foreign-steel and aluminum behind Canada — has threatened to implement tariffs against the U.S. in response.

China has increased tariffs by up to 25 percent on 128 different American exports, from frozen pork and wine to fruit and nut varieties.

The tariff increases will take effect April 9.

University of Cincinnati volleyball player Shalom Ifeanyi is suing UC after being dismissed from the team for Instagram pictures her coach deemed “too sexy.”

The lawsuit — filed against UC, volleyball coach Molly Alvey and executive senior associate athletic director Maggie McKinley — alleges race and sex-based discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

UC’s athletic department has declined to comment on the lawsuit.

Ifeanyi played volleyball most of her life.

By age 14, she was already being recruited by many college-level coaches. It was during her time in high school that Alvey began scouting her for UC’s team, according to the lawsuit.

Alvey’s recruiting efforts were initially unsuccessful. Ifeanyi went to Oregon State University to play college ball, but Alvey’s recruiting did not slow.

Ultimately, Ifeanyi transferred to UC in January 2017.

The lawsuit alleges that soon after Ifeanyi’s arrival on campus, Alvey began to harass her about her social media posts, calling them “too sexy” despite being fully clothed.

“No such requests were made to other members of the women’s volleyball team who were of slighter build and lighter complexion despite photographs picturing them in outfits, including but not limited to, two-piece swimsuits,” the suit reads.

Still, Ifeanyi followed her coach’s orders and removed the photo from her Instagram account.

“I can’t believe she has to go through this,”

said second-year medical sciences student Kaihlan Williams. “I feel so badly that she worked so hard at volleyball and now can’t even play.”

Between February and June 2017, Ifeanyi trained, rehabbing for a knee injury to prepare for the upcoming season.

On June 19, 2017, Ifeanyi and Alvey met to discuss her rehab process and Ifeanyi’s role on the team for the upcoming season.

At the end of the meeting, Alvey pulled up Ifeanyi’s Instagram page and demanded she remove photos.

“When football players see this, what do you think they see?” Alvey asked, the lawsuit alleges.

In the days that followed, Alvey texted Ifeanyi to demand more photos be removed.

Ifeanyi sent a text objecting in response, and on June 29, 2017, Ifeanyi was dismissed from the women’s volleyball team. McKinley was present for the meeting and agreed with Alvey’s dismissal, according to the lawsuit.

She will no longer be able to play for the 2018-2019 season and can no longer rely on her athletic scholarship to pay for tuition, the lawsuit alleges. Ifeanyi will remain on scholarship for the 2017-18 academic year, according to the lawsuit.

Ifeanyi filed a complaint with UC’s Title IX Office after her dismissal; however, in almost nine months since filing her complaint UC failed to complete its investigation, according to the lawsuit.

“We need to be doing more to make sure this doesn’t happen again,” said third-year criminal justice student Lauren Martin. “No one [should be] treated like this ever again.”

Both Ifeanyi and the Title IX office declined to comment.

TNR FILE

News

UC’s four-year athletic deficit reaches nearly $102 Million DAVID WYSONG | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ZACH EDWARDS | STAFF REPORTER

In February 2014, thenUniversity of Cincinnati President Santa Ono announced that he had chosen Mike Bohn as the school’s new athletic director.

“To recruit a leader of Mike’s caliber and national standing only reaffirms the strength, promise and pride of UC Athletics,” Ono said

during Bohn’s introductory news conference.

Bohn was awarded a five-year contract. In 2015, Ono extended his contract through 2021, prompting the UC athletic director to promise a “seismic transformation” within the program.

“We want national respect and the ability to play on the biggest stage possible,” Bohn told Fox19 in October

2015. “It’s really fun to be a part of. I feel like this is our time.”

While the UC Athletic Department has experienced a profound transformation under Bohn, it is not the one he intended. Deficits have soared and students are paying the price.

Between 2014 and 2017, the athletic department’s deficit totaled almost $102 million — a 33 percent increase over

the prior four years, records show.

UC officials have covered the deficit with student fees and money from the school’s general fund, which is primarily funded by student tuition. For a full-time undergraduate student, the four-year price tag to cover the athletic department’s deficit was almost $4,900, records show.

Several students were

“I think that paying a student fee for athletics is not inherently wrong in a sense that we are all a part of a community,” said Ridpath, who recently

“While the UC Athletic Department has experienced a profound transformation under Bohn, it is not the one he intended. Deficits have soared and students are paying the price” completed a research study on student perceptions of the athletic fee in the Mid-American Conference — one of the most highlysubsidized Division I conferences in the NCAA. “My issue is the amount, and the fact that students don’t have a real voice in this at many institutions, and not many know about it.”

The News Record attempted on numerous occasions over six weeks to schedule an interview with Bohn through a UC Athletic Department representative.

Despite their assurances that a meeting with Bohn was forthcoming, they were unable to arrange the interview.

“It’s an investment, and it’s an investment in the enterprise on campus,” Bohn said of athletic subsidies in a 2015 interview with CityBeat. “It’s a strategic investment with a high return.”

He said he hoped to decrease the deficit.

“Our current strategy on our budget is to continue to generate as much revenue as we can externally,” Bohn said.

Since 2015, the athletic department’s deficit has

STORY CONTINUED PAGE 7

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“I’m obviously not happy about it,” fourth-year social work student Drew Jennings said.

Before coming to UC’s uptown campus this year, Jennings had previously attended UC’s Blue Ash location where he was the 2016-17 Most Outstanding Student in Social Work.

“That money could — and should — be allocated towards things that would be useful for the student body as a whole,” Jennings said. “The deficit isn’t our fault. I would still attend this great university if they did tell us about it, but it just makes it even more shady on their part that they don’t let us know at all.”

David Ridpath, associate professor of sports administration at Ohio University, said students at most schools are unaware that their pockets are being emptied by the athletic department.

“You look at schools that aren’t in the Power Five conferences, [including] Cincinnati,” he said.

“These are schools that are obviously heavily subsidized by student fees and their institutional subsidies.”

Ridpath said the fee isn’t the problem; rather, the lack of transparency with students poses issues.

Apr. 4, 2018 | newsrecord.org

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surprised to learn UC officials have been quietly forcing them to pay thousands of dollars each to subsidize the athletic department.

News

New signage regulation to be enforced on Clifton area properties LEYLA SHOKOOHE | CONTRIBUTOR

A new regulation concerning rental signage on properties in the neighborhoods comprising Clifton, University Heights and Fairview Heights (CUF) will be enforced starting June 1, 2018, CUF Neighborhood Association (CUFNA) President Linda Ziegler announced Tuesday.

The regulation stipulates that signage on rental properties in the community may not be permanently attached to the buildings they advertise. Common violations include the large temporary banners many rental companies hang indefinitely on the front of local properties. Many of these properties primarily house student and other itinerant occupants.

“The rental signs are kind of an obvious thing … the slum guys are destroying this

residential neighborhood,” Ziegler said. “Nobody in their right mind wants to live around something that’s got a stupid sign plastered on the front of it.”

Because the signs are not a criminal violation, the rule has largely gone unenforced — a problem addressed by longtime CUF resident and six-year board member Jack Martin.

“We’re probably the worst neighborhood [in Cincinnati] as far as enforcement goes,” said Martin, who spent years as the city of Cincinnati’s division head of transportation, planning and urban design. “We get tired of it. Every third building has a perpetual sign on it ...

It’s just junk. It’s garbage. It makes us look third worldish, like we have no laws.”

Addressing CUFNA’s pleas, the city distributed brochures earlier this year detailing signs which

violated the ordinance.

Lyn Martin, another CUF resident, said enforcing ordinances like these is essential to maintaining a positive relationship between long-term residents, short-term residents and the developers and landlords who create student-occupied housing.

“From my perspective, it’s all about compromise and being reasonable,” she said, noting that many residents — she and her husband included — acknowledge that they chose to live in an area which houses many students.

“There already are some existing guidelines that seem kind of reasonable to me,” Martin said. “Those are all … compromises the community makes, recognizing that landlords do need to advertise that they have openings. But in terms of just how our

neighborhood looks as an attractive neighborhood to live in, there needs to be some reasonable rules around those signs.”

The impending construction of a new thousand-bed rental property — a housing facility from Indiana-based developer Trinitas — is yet another example of the compromises long-term residents and transient student residents must make.

Trinitas developers have attended CUFNA meetings since mid-2017 to gauge response from CUFNA members and CUF residents alike. For some residents, their attendance is a welcome and pragmatic sign.

“I think they really truly want to do something good,” Martin said. “We just have to reach out and act like we’re willing to understand they hold the dollars, they buy the land, they buy the property, they’ve got the zoning on

their side [and] the building codes. We just have to work with them to get a good product out of that.”

Other topics discussed at the meeting included details about the upcoming neighborhood games and the announcement of

Doug Wiseman as the new Cincinnati Police District 5 captain.

The next CUFNA meeting will be held Tuesday, April 17 at Hughes High School.

Meetings are open to the public.

AARON DORSTEN | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

Group Health building on the corner of Clifton and Martin Luther King Dr. is one of the areas that is up for rezoning

UC looks to provide faster, more reliable network for students ZACH PERRIN | NEWS EDITOR

Apr. 4, 2018 | newsrecord.org

CAM KEEFE | CONTRIBUTOR

FILE ART

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UC is in the process of updating the wifi and phone system campus-wide.

The University of Cincinnati is putting its efforts into their “IT NEXT” project — an initiative implemented by UCIT which aims to provide a faster, more reliable and secure network for UC students and faculty. The project, which will be in progress for the next two years, is divided into four different phases.

Phase one — the first step in upgrading the university’s network equipment — is currently underway. Project organizers are installing new state-of-the art technology to all UC buildings.

Phase two will boost wireless capacity and coverage across the university, making the network faster and more accessible for frequent users.

For most college students, having a reliable network is crucial for online classes, printing services and other academic web-based needs.

“I usually use my personal laptop,” said Anmole Kaur, a fourth-year neuroscience student. “I’m all over campus, and [Wi-Fi] gets spotty.”

To mitigate poor connections, UCIT will install wireless access points in select locations on campus. Connected by Ethernet cables, these access points project wireless signals.

Some students said they notice a higher proportion of Wi-Fi issues when using personal devices — like a laptop, tablet or cellphone — on UC’s network. “[If] I’m on like my personal laptop I have some issues, but if it’s the school laptop it’s decent,” said Kellsa Mbah, a fourth-year neuroscience student. “I was taking a test [on my personal laptop] and it just randomly kicked me off. That

happened twice … But once I took it on a school computer, it was fine.”

Phase three includes upgrading the telephone system at UC to an internet-based Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone system. UCIT hopes to increase stability, ease maintenance and upsize the scale of their telephone system.

All desks and phone lines — many of which operate on a traditional landline system — will be upgraded to the internet-based phone system.

Internet-based phone systems work by connecting the phones to a VoIP adapter, which then connects to a computer or modem.

The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill has a class called “The Basics of Internet Telephony” which further explores how internet-based phone systems work.

According to the website, internet-based phone systems are cheaper than landlines. One potential downside, however, is the fact that internet-based phone services require working electricity. If the power goes out, so does the phone.

Phase four will upgrade the electrical systems in network equipment rooms. During this assessment there will be any necessary renovations and electrical upgrades in the equipment rooms to accommodate the new equipment as a piece of the whole project.

The phase one upgrades are taking place currently and will continue through June 5. The buildings which have already received their phase one updates include the Blegen Library, the College of Law Building, Corbett Center for the Performing Arts, Kowalewski Hall, Mary Emery Hall, McMicken Hall, Memorial Hall, Tangeman University Center and Teachers-Dyer Complex.

UCIT is currently planning for phases two and three.

News STORY FROM PAGE 5 increased by more than $3.5 million, and each student paid $123 more in 2017 than they did in 2015. Bohn did not see the decrease he said he had hoped for.

Bohn stated that a successful athletic department serves as an attractive “front porch” for UC, boosting applications from prospective students and contributions from donors.

Jimmy Dirr, a fourth-year accounting student at UC, said he wonders where the money comprising the deficit is going.

“It’s unfair to students who don’t go to these sporting events,” Dirr said. “Half of this money is probably going towards luxury items that athletes don’t necessarily need, such as alternate uniforms and warmups.”

The department’s total expenses for 2017 were $62.8 million, meaning student subsidies covered nearly 43 percent of their expenses, records show.

So, how is the department spending their money?

The head coaches of the football and men’s basketball teams and their 16 assistants received a shared total of $8.76 million in 2017 — an average of $486,674 each, according to UC’s NCAA Revenue and Expense report. By comparison, the university’s 381 student-athletes received scholarships totaling $9.31 million — roughly $24,442 per athlete.

“Coaches are being paid in an artificial market because we aren’t paying in labor,” Ridpath said. “You’re paying coaches who would be able to do this for a lot less. I just have an issue with somebody who is coaching and making more than the university president. John Wooden at UCLA couldn’t make more than the highest paid

professor … I do think that money to the coaches should be used for the athletes and more important things.”

During his 12-year period as head basketball coach at UCLA, Wooden won 10 national championships.

UC’s athletic department spent $2.1 million in severance payments in 2017.

Approximately 90 percent of payments went toward one person — former UC head football coach Tommy Tuberville.

In October 2016, Tuberville signed a twoyear contract extension with a $2.4 million buyout — more than double the buyout under his original contract, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Less than two months later, Tuberville and UC parted ways.

In the end, the university paid Tuberville $1.9 million — over $900,000 more than payments owed in his original contract.

“It’s ridiculous,” fourth-year construction management student Ryan Burch said.

“After the position Tuberville left the program in, he shouldn’t have gotten much of a buyout at all.”

Cincinnati finished 4-8 in Tuberville’s final season as head coach.

Conversely, second-year design student Jamie Cole understands the athletic department’s need for the money, but wishes it was lower than the current annuallycharged amount.

“I struggle to make $1,500 a semester,” Cole said. “UC tried to join the Big 12 [Conference]. If we would have got into that, it definitely would have helped us out in the long run. I’d be all right with them taking money as long as it was under $1,000 and came with even more sports-related benefits [for] students — something that

lets the athletic department show their appreciation.”

The former treasurer for UC’s College Republicans, Burch blames the administration for students’ lack of awareness about their contributions to the

“It’s unfair to students who don’t go to these sporting events. Half of this money is probably going towards luxury items that athletes don’t necessarily need”

- Jimmy Dirr athletic department. He also questions how the money has benefited UC teams.

“It’s not showing in [their] performance on the field,” Burch said.

Covering deficits with student funds is

not unique to UC. When comparing athletic department student payments to other schools within the American Athletic Conference (AAC), Cincinnati students are near the top.

The News Record collected financial reports from every public university in the AAC except for the University of Memphis, due to Tennessee’s public records laws.

Records show that Cincinnati students contribute the second-highest proportion in the AAC — trailing only students from the University of Connecticut.

In 2017, the University of Central Florida received $4.2 million from the university to cover their deficit, but only $109 came out of each student’s wallet. By comparison, UC students paid more than $1,200 that year.

Despite steady growth in athletic subsidies, it does not look like the fees will slow down anytime soon, according to Ridpath.

“We estimated athletic fees were rising 13 percent faster than the growth of tuition,” Ridpath said.

This is the first installment of the series titled Misplaced Priorities, a compilation of stories highlighting how the University of Cincinnati spends its money. Follow along in coming weeks for more coverage.

SUMMER @ SINCLAIR GET AHEAD.

TAKE YOUR GEN ED CLASSES IN THE SUMMER!

LEARN MORE WWW.SINCLAIR.EDU/SUMMER

Summer Registration Begins March 26 Visit www.sinclair.edu/dates for a complete list of all Summer 2018 term dates.

TNR FILE

Apr. 4, 2018 | newsrecord.org

Make the most of your summer: take classes at Sinclair Community College. Check out available courses and ask your advisor how Sinclair courses can transfer back to the University of Cincinnati. Take 4-week, 8-week or 12-week classes at one of our convenient locations or online.

Dayton | Eaton | Englewood | Huber Heights | Mason | Online

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Life & Arts

‘The Theory of Relativity’ electrifies, relates to audience ANNE SIMENDINGER | STAFF REPORTER

Despite a powerful group dynamic, the talented 13-person cast didn’t shy away from the individuality of its’ performers.

“The Theory of Relativity” has truly outdone itself, brilliantly showcasing the endless abilities the school has to offer.

Between their beautiful instrumentals, soaring voices and polished acting abilities, this group truly made for an electric night of theatre performance.

I went into the show not knowing anything about it. Due to this cast’s incredible production, I can easily call this performance one of the best pieces of art I have seen in a very long time.

Witnessing the vulnerability, love and passion that these students put into this show reminded me how incredibly important and transformative that performance art can be.

Seeing difficult topics and themes addressed so honestly allowed every character to learn from one another. In a way, it allowed audiences to grow with the cast, delivering an unparalleled message of hope and human understanding, which made the show’s message blossom to fruition.

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Apr. 4, 2018 | newsrecord.org

The College-Conservatory of Music (CCM)’s musical theatre department debuted “The Theory of Relativity” this weekend as part of their Studio Series in the Cohen Family Studio Theater. The musical, inspired by a book written by Brian Hill, features a beautifully moving contemporary score written by Neil Bartram. “The Theory of Relativity” explores the human condition and the interconnectedness of all people through gorgeous songs and humorous monologues.

The musical follows the stories of college students with an emphasis on physics. As such, CCM invited UC Undergraduate Physics Director Richard Gass and his students to attend a rehearsal performance and gauge insight on Einstein’s theory of relativity. The truth behind the show’s message was revealed after the rehearsal as the performers and physics students interacted, realizing they may have more in common than initially thought.

There couldn’t be a better venue for the musical than the studio. The show’s raw, intimate story deserves an equally intimate venue. When audiences entered the theater, they

were transported into a college classroom where a clean chalkboard greeted them. The lighting accenting the theater made attendees feel like they were gazing up at the starry night sky.

As the show began, performers began exploring the complex relationships between individuals, concluding each scene with the phrase “I am nothing without you.” Katie Johannigman, the director and choreographer, staged every number with realism in mind. The show made audiences feel like they were having a casual conversation with each performer. Seeing such real scenarios being talked about onstage — such as divorce, phobias, sexuality, addiction and even cat allergies — was a truly refreshing experience.

The variety of the score kept audiences entertained throughout, as each song seemed to perfectly fit its performer. One such jaw-dropping number was “Great Expectations” — a song which featured four performers playing guitar as the cast sang about the hardships of struggling to achieve their parents’ expectations. Between the lighting, blocking, instrumental abilities and rocking voices, it was a sure knock-out.

PROVIDED BY CCM

Life & Arts

Cincinnati Art Museum showcases eccentric painter NOELLE ZIELINSKI | LIFE & ARTS EDITOR

The Cincinnati Art Museum held its monthly “Art After Dark” event March 30. During these events, the museum is opened for extended hours and offers special viewings of the exhibits. There is always at least one highlighted exhibit, and attendees are welcome to refreshments and drink specials. This month, the Cincinnati Art Museum chose to feature “Cagnacci: Painting Beauty and Death.”

Guido Cagnacci was an Italian painter whose work flourished during the Baroque period. He was born in 1601 and spent much of his life in northeastern Italy. The center of the exhibit is Cagnacci’s oil canvas, titled “Death of Cleopatra.” He specialized in single-figure paintings made for private collectors, including the three canvases on display.

“They were made to engage with their viewers on several levels,” reads a press release for the exhibit. “Cagnacci presented biblical and historical figures as moral or spiritual exemplars or as cautionary tales, while their ambiguous expressions and TNR FILE

settings, the rich colors of their clothes, the dramatic lighting and especially the realism with which the artist painted their bodies, would have offered their owners intrigue and sensual pleasure as well as edification.”

Cagnacci is considered one of the most eccentric painters of seventeenth-century Italy and the Baroque period. He was infamous for recurring themes of life and death in his works — most of which are religious in subject and famed for their eroticism. “[Cagnacci] imbued legendary sovereigns of the past, Cleopatra, ruler of Egypt, and David, future King of Israel, with surprising humanity in light of the violence and brutality of their acts,” the press release reads. “His dramatic painting style and unconventional choice of subjects paralleled a seemingly turbulent life that more than once erupted in scandal.”

Cleopatra, Lucretia and Mary Magdalene were among the main focuses of his work.

Though Cagnacci is not a well-known artist, Italy has hosted two major exhibitions dedicated to his work. The first occurred at Museo della Città in Rimini in 1993. Another

recent exhibition was held in 2008 at the Musei San Domenico in Forlì.

Cagnacci trained in Bologna and Rome — two key artistic centers at the time — but spent most of his career producing works for towns like Rimini, Forlì and Faenza. He also produced artistic works for villages such as Saludecio, Montegridolfo and even his birthplace — Santarcangelo di Romagna.

Cagnacci’s work is “a sensuous beauty,” said Cesare Gnudi, an Italian historian. “[It’s] an exuberant life that expands into a spectacular vision, a magnificent and joyful ballet; a world that delights itself in an enchanted game of brilliant colors, of dazzling lights, of sounds, and at the same time discovers a reality that is closer and more earthly, a new, much abbreviated, relationship with nature: all of these, we have seen, are typical seventeenth-century notes but expressed in such singular form that it can be easily said that they add a new accent to the history of Italian painting.”

Cagnacci’s work will be on display at the Cincinnati Art Museum through July 22.

Plot muddled by pop culture in new Spielberg movie ‘Ready Player One’ NOELLE ZIELINSKI | LIFE & ARTS EDITOR

unexplored layer of cinematography.

“Spielberg takes the opportunity to craft sequences that he’s never tried before, offering a pop culture mish-mash homage that itself is new and somewhat unique to his

filmography,” Mendelson writes.

Despite this, some have called “Ready Player One” Spielberg’s worst movie.

Slashfilm.com writer Chris Evangelista lambasted the movie, calling it a “muddled, downright, hideous

catastrophe.”

The film, to date, has received mixed reviews.

While it has been successful in terms of revenue and worldwide recognition, the direction and plot have left critics and viewers underwhelmed.

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from Variety said that the movie, while visually appealing, lacks depth to some of its scenes.

“The contradiction of a video game/VR movie is that games are, of course, awesomely immersive, whereas a movie about games is more akin to watching somebody else play one,” Glieberman wrote.

“The hoops that Wade and his team have to jump through to win each key feel arbitrary, like rules made up as the plot goes along, and you wish there were a greater sense of intrigue to it. The movie has more activity than it does layers.”

The Easter eggs and references in “Ready Player One” are meant to be enjoyed; however, they did not provide a foundation for the film’s best or most impactful scenes. Writers should have dedicated less time to pop culture references like these, even if they did add an otherwise

Apr. 4, 2018 | newsrecord.org

Steven Spielberg’s highly anticipated new movie “Ready Player One” premiered Friday and has gained international praise since its release. The movie, staring Tye Sheridan as Wade Watts, centers on a futuristic society in which an expansive virtual reality universe dubbed “OASIS” balances the chaos of the real world.

When virtual reality creator James Halliday (played by Mark Rylance) dies, he promises his immense fortune to the first person to find a digital Easter egg hidden within OASIS. The contest sparks the interest of the entire world as people rush to find the hidden clue. When Watts joins the contest, he is launched into a realitybending treasure hunt through a virtual world filled with mystery and danger.

Since its release, “Ready Player One” has steadily climbed the charts. Its five-day domestic earnings reached nearly $60 million, and its total worldwide box office earnings have already surpassed $200 million.

The movie contains several pop culture references, alluding to contemporary movie characters such as Batman, Chuckie from “Child’s Play,” King Kong and the robot from “The Iron Giant.”The references made the movie much more enjoyable and nostalgic for audiences.

Though these references keep the movie entertaining, the plot is sometimes difficult to follow due to incessant references that detract from the story. Forbes writer Scott Mendelson called the film’s heavy use of pop-culture references “excessive seasoning for a somewhat traditional hero’s journey story.” Owen Gleiberman

Life & Arts

Lizzy’s latest looks: How to properly use oils for your skin’s health ELIZABETH SCHMITT | NEWS EDITOR

[with it],” Baffa said of her method for choosing oils. “It all depends on your skin’s needs. You really need to know your skin type … and how your skin reacts to certain things … to move forward.”

At night, Baffa cleanses her skin by wetting her face with a warm washcloth to loosen her pores. Since she has a normal skin type, Baffa says she uses castor oil as a base along with grapeseed oil to cleanse her skin at night.

She emphasized the importance of ratios between the two oils, saying the ratio

of castor oil to grapeseed oil recently changed for her. She now uses one part of castor oil to every three parts of grapeseed oil.

After mixing the oils, Baffa spends two minutes massaging the oils onto her face. It’s important to work it in, she said, since the oils do not contain chemical exfoliators that scrub the skin. The oils functions like a magnet, attracting any bad oils and dirt without stripping the natural sebum her skin needs.

Then, she takes a warm washcloth with water and

removes any excess oil. She repeats this step two or three times if necessary before applying moisturizer.

In the mornings, Baffa still uses warm water and a washcloth to cleanse her skin, though she does apply moisturizer after.

When it comes to choosing oils for your skin, understanding the composition of each oil and how it will react with different types of skin is key, Baffa said.

People often use castor oil as a base, but some prefer olive oil, hazelnut oil or

coconut oil. Each has its own unique qualities.

For complimentary oils which are used to dilute thicker oils, popular options include grapeseed oil, jojoba oil or sunflower oil. For proper storage, Baffa said she keeps each oil in its own glass container.

She warns that applying oil to your face may seem weird at first, and it may feel different for the first week or so. Eventually, though, Baffa said her skin evened itself out, and she has been happy with her healthy skin since.

Apr. 4, 2018 | newsrecord.org

Oil — love it or hate it, your skin needs it. Sebum is necessary for skin to survive, stay healthy and, most importantly, feel comfortable.

Third-year journalism student Karina Baffa is no stranger to this fact. She embraces the use of oil and other organic methods to take care of her skin, largely crediting her appreciation for oil to her mom’s wisdom over the years.

“My mom would say, ‘Karina you do not need all

these crazy products,” she said, admitting that when she was younger, she wished for skincare products based solely on the exciting nature of their packaging. “‘You need a warm washcloth and water,’” she claimed her mom would say. “‘Just do simple things.’”

As she got older, Baffa’s mother began stressing the importance of ingredients when choosing skincare products. Now, she dedicates her time researching the products she puts on her skin.

“You can play around

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FILE ART

Lizzy Schmidt discusses the benefits of skincare oils.

Sports

KARLA AROA MANZANO VILCHES | CONTRIBUTOR

UC announced recently they have hired Michelle Clark-Heard to coach the women’s basketball team for the 2018-19 season.

MATT HUFFMON | STAFF REPORTER

When it comes to expectations, Clark-Heard knows the exact reasons why she was hired — to make the NCAA tournament.

“The ultimate goal is for us to have a chance to be an NCAA [tournament team], and that’s why I’m here,” Clark-Heard said. “This is a great conference with great coaches, and every single day, we’re going to go in and we’ll be ready to battle.”

One of Clark-Heard and Kolbe’s first tasks is to scope out the upcoming recruiting classes after the departure of graduating seniors Ana Owens and Shanice Johnson.

“To be able to win as a coach, you can be the greatest coach,” Clark-Heard said. “But if you can’t get recruits, [you’ve] got a problem. Ohio is loaded with basketball players, and one school can’t get them all. We’re going to recruit and do everything we can to bring in the best talent.”

Bohn and Clark-Heard held up a No. 18 jersey at the end of the news conference, signifying 2018 as the beginning of a new era in Cincinnati Bearcats women’s basketball.

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Former University of Cincinnati assistant coach Michelle Clark-Heard has been named the Bearcats ninth women’s basketball coach, athletic director Mike Bohn announced March 27.

“Michelle brings an impressive, proven record as a head coach,” Bohn said. “Coupled with our move back to what we believe will be the nation’s finest on-campus arena, [it] provides for an exciting new era for women’s basketball at the University of Cincinnati.”

Clark-Heard was the head coach at Western Kentucky University before stepping down to accept the Cincinnati job. In the past six seasons with the Hilltoppers, she reached four NCAA tournaments to complement four conference tournament championships. Melissa Kolbe, an assistant coach at WKU, will also join the Bearcats staff.

“I really want to talk with [my new] team to make sure that

they’re calm and understand that we’re going to go through this journey together,” Clark-Heard said. “Transition is always hard, but I’m looking forward to growing. I really believe one of my biggest strengths is my ability to relate to young athletes, and I’m really excited to have the opportunity and chance to get to know them. That’ll be the biggest challenge because of the change … every coach is different. I’m very passionate, and I love what I do.”

As far as her preferred style of play, Clark-Heard made it clear that her team must be conditioned for a quick tempo going up and down the floor.

“I love up-tempo,” Clark-Heard said. “I love to press and get up and down the floor. We will change defenses constantly … [and] if we don’t practice it, we’re not going to do it. I’m very familiar with a motion offense. Since I’ve been the head coach at Western Kentucky, we have averaged over 70 points per game, and that’s the plan to put the motion offense in place and get up and down.”

Apr. 4, 2018 | newsrecord.org

Clark-Heard named UC women’s basketball head coach

Sports

Grading the Bengals free agency so far JASON SZELEST | SPORTS EDITOR

Free agency is starting to calm down in the NFL. The initial surge within the first couple of weeks saw all the big names get courted by teams offering new deals. Now, the league is shifting toward preparations for the NFL draft, which will start April 26. Before we examine the Bengals’ potential picks at the end of April, let us look back at the changes they made in March.

Who they added: OT Cordy Glenn, LB Preston Brown, DT Chris Baker, QB Matt Barkley

The Bengals generally do not add much in free agency, opting to stick with the players they drafted and develop through the system. This year was different, as they added three probable starters from other teams to their lineup.

Glenn is the big name here, as he will step into the left tackle role that colossal first-round bust Cedric Ogbuehi did a horrendous job filling last year. The former Buffalo blindside protector was injured for much of last year, but has proven he is capable of being an above-average starter in the league.

Brown, who led the NFL in tackles last year, will provide a solid presence in the middle of the defense in running situations.

Baker, like Brown, specializes in stuffing the run. He will most likely be a two-down lineman, being subbed out for superior pass rushers on third down.

Who they kept: TE Tyler Eifert, P Kevin Huber

JOHN SLEEZER | KANSAS CITY STAR | TNS

Buffalo Bills middle linebacker Preston Brown points the Bills’ way after free safety Jordan Poyer broke up a fourth down pass attempt to Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill, allowing the Bills to take over on downs, in the fourth quarter on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.

Cincinnati did not have very many expiring contracts to deal with this offseason, making it easier for them to keep the most important two.

Eifert was the most talented tight end on the market. When healthy, he is a pro bowl-caliber player — good for at least

10 touchdowns. He has not been able to stay on the field, but was only given a one-year deal, minimizing the risk for the Bengals.

Huber is an above-average punter.

Who they lost: QB A.J. McCarron, LB Kevin Minter, RB Jeremy Hill, OT Andre Smith, C Russell Bodine

Different from years past, the Bengals did not lose a single player in free agency that should be a starter in the NFL. No matter what they offered him, McCarron was not going to come back, as he wanted a chance to compete for a starting job as quarterback. He was a solid backup, but he wanted to try his hand at being more.

With Minter going to Buffalo, the Bengals essentially traded him for superior linebacker Preston Brown. In his lone season as the starting middle linebacker in Cincinnati, Minter made only 32 tackles.

Hill fell off a cliff after his impressive rookie season and would not have seen the field behind the more talented combination of Joe Mixon and Giovani Bernard.

Smith and Bodine were attempting to protect quarterback Andy Dalton last year and needed to be upgraded.

Overall evaluation:

The Bengals made strides toward their most pressing need: overhauling the offensive line. With the addition of Glenn, they now have two starting-caliber offensive linemen, and they got rid of two players who will hopefully never start in a Bengals uniform again.

Linebacker and tight end areas also needed to be addressed, and they were. Unfortunately, after having only one viable wide receiver to throw to last year, the Bengals did not add any new weapons for Dalton on the outside.

Free agency grade: B+

Way too early 2018-19 college basketball rankings

Apr. 4, 2018 | newsrecord.org

JASON SZELEST | SPORTS EDITOR

The Villanova Wildcats were just crowned national champions, lifting the trophy for the second time in three years. It is now time to consider which team will succeed them next year. With over seven months until the next college basketball game, here is a look at the teams who will start at the top next year.

1. Villanova Wildcats

The scariest thing about this team — which won their NCAA tournament games by an average of 17.7 points — is that there is a chance every player could return next year.

There were no seniors in the rotation and junior Mikal Bridges is the only projected first round NBA draft pick.

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2. Duke Blue Devils

Guard Grayson Allen is finally out of eligibility and

big men Wendell Carter and Marvin Bagley will surely enter the draft, but this team will still be stacked next year.

The top-three recruits in the nation could join a roster featuring rising sophomore guards Trevon Duval and Gary Trent.

3. Kansas Jayhawks

They lose two stellar guards in Devonte’ Graham and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, but return the rest of a Final Four roster. Transfers K.J. Lawson and Dedric Lawson, as well as Charlie Moore, will join them after sitting out for a year. They also have three top-30 prospects coming to campus, providing more depth to next year’s team.

4. Virginia Cavaliers

After they were historically upset in the tournament, it’s easy to forget that the Cavs were hands-down one of the best two teams in the sport

last year. They have been a top-two seed in the NCAA tournament four of the past five years, so expect their success to continue.

5. Kentucky Wildcats

This is one of the hardest teams to project. There are so many players from a roster comprised almost entirely of freshmen who may or may not enter the NBA draft.

Apart from Kevin Knox and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, all players are expected to return and form a more experienced nucleus to pair with another top-five incoming recruiting class.

6. Michigan State Spartans

The Spartans will likely lose sophomore Miles Bridges and freshman Jaren Jackson to the NBA, but there is still plenty of talent on the roster.

Cassius Winston, Nick Ward and Joshua Langford all averaged over 11 points, and

three top-100 recruits will be joining them next year.

7. Gonzaga Bulldogs

Johnathon Williams will be a major loss for the Bulldogs after leading the team in scoring and rebounding, but they should return four other players who averaged at least 11.6 points. Sophomore big men Killian Tillie and Rui Hachimura are more than capable of picking up the slack.

People got too wrapped up in the “Cinderella effect” to realize how much talent Loyola truly possesses. They finished the year with a 32-6 record and return their toptwo scorers.

10. UCLA Bruins

This was a tournament team

that will add more talent to its roster than any other team for next season. They have the No. 2 incoming recruiting class for next year with five top-100 recruits. Cody Riley and Jalen Hill — two top-100 recruits from 2017 — will also be joining the team.

8. North Carolina Tar Heels

Losing Joel Berry and Theo Pinson will hurt, but junior Luke Maye proved he was capable of being a star after emerging as the unknown hero in the 2017 NCAA tournament. Five-star recruits Nassir Little and Coby White should provide Maye with some help.

9. Loyola-Chicago Ramblers

STEVEN M. FALK | PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER | TNS

Villanova celebrates beating Michigan 79-62 the NCAA National Championship game Monday, April 2, 2018 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.

Sports

Jacob Evans to leave UC basketball, heading to NBA draft MATT HUFFMON | STAFF REPORTER

The 2018-19 Cincinnati Bearcats men’s basketball team will not only lose two seniors to graduation, but also their leading scorer to the NBA. Jacob Evans III — a 6-foot-6, 210-pound guard from Baton Rouge, Louisiana — will enter the 2018 NBA draft. The junior led UC in scoring for the second consecutive season, averaging 13 points per game.

“I want to thank my teammates for helping me get better every day,” Evans said in a Twitter post to ‘Bearcat Nation.’“I also want to thank the entire Cincinnati coaching staff for believing in me and teaching me about this game I love, and to all of our fans who have supported me throughout my career, I just want to say THANK YOU!” Evans is projected 24th in the ESPN Top

100, which would make him a late firstround pick. Sports Illustrated’s latest mock draft has Evans in the early second-round, being picked 35th overall.

“I didn’t sign an agent yet, but I’m entering my name with plans on getting picked in the first round,” Evans said to ESPN. Because Evans has not yet signed with an agent, he still has the option to return to school for his senior year.

“Evans was a great presence over his three years as a Bearcat,” first-year social work student Tanner Charette said. “He’ll be hard to replace next year, but I know he’ll eventually be a star in the NBA.” Before the beginning of the NCAA tournament, Cincinnati head coach Mick Cronin addressed rumors that Evans was pondering an early exit from college.

“We talked about this a month ago,” Cronin said on his radio show after the NCAA tournament. “You submit any underclassmen that would like an honest assessment, instead of some rogue agent that’s just going to lie to a guy. You submit their name to the NBA office and they circulate the name to all 30 teams. Almost every team will respond. They’ll say they see the guy as a lottery pick, second round, undrafted.

Wherever.”

Cronin said he will respect Evans’ decision, saying it isn’t the first time he’s been in this position.

“I had the same meeting with Sean Kilpatrick his junior year,” Cronin said. “It came back, late second round to undrafted.

I said, ‘Here’s what it is.’ He said, ‘All right, let’s get back to work.’ I’ll do the same thing

with Jacob and see what they say. At the end of the day, you’ve got to support your players whatever they do.”

Evans feels grateful for the feedback and interest he has received from numerous NBA teams.

“I decided to enter the NBA draft after weighing my options with my family and coaches,” Evans told ESPN. “I feel it’s the best move for me. An opportunity like this doesn’t come around for many people, and I believe in my abilities and support team to go chase this dream of mine.”

Evans scored 1,233 points during his three years at UC, ranking 31st on the Bearcats’ career list. Incoming freshman LaQuill Hardnett and sophomores Trevor Moore and Keith Williams will look to fill in at the small-forward rotation.

Apr. 4, 2018 | newsrecord.org JUSTIN HILES | (STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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Jacob Evans (1) on the arc during the Men’s Basketball game at BB&T Arena on December 12th, 2017.

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University of Cincinnati 45221-0135

Things to do this weekend:

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FC Cincinnati vs. Louisville City FC: The orange and blue flags will be flying high as FC Cincinnati’s home opener is this Saturday inside Nippert Stadium. Play begins at 7 p.m. and tickets are still available at https://www.fccincinnati.com/tickets Bill Burr comedy show: Stand-up comedian and actor Bill Burr, who has been featured on AMC’s Breaking Bad will perform Saturday April 7th at 7 and 10 p.m. Tickets are still available for $40-$50.

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Zoo Blooms: The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden has their annual Zoo Blooms running throughout the month of April.

Tickets are $17 for adults; $12 for children under the age of 12.

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Family Series – Beauty and the Beast: Cincinnati Ballet presents a family-friendly ballet the Aronoff Center for the Arts. The event runs April 7th and 8th and tickets are still available at https://www.cballet.org/family-series/

Apr. 4, 2018 | newsrecord.org

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