FTR 2.13.13

FOR THE

RECORD VOL. 1 • ISSUE NO. 6 FEBRUARY 13-19, 2013

The News Record

ENGINEERS

KNOW NO BORDERS

UC chapter of Engineers Without Borders bring villagers, skills together in Tanzania to build schoolhouse

Pg. 5

PHO LANG

TANG

Vietnamese restaurant near Findlay Market gives the full cultural experience

Pg. 8

CCM

CCM students turn ‘Whiz Kids’

Graduate student inspires children through music NATALYA DAOUD | SENIOR REPORTER A Cincinnati-based literacy program is now teaching music education to approximately 50 at-risk children, and it’s all because of one University of Cincinnati graduate student.

Sarah Taylor, a Wichita, Kan.-native, came to the College-Conservatory of Music in 2010 to obtain her master’s degree in bassoon performance after receiving her undergraduate degree at Ball State University.

As a first-year student at CCM, Taylor coordinates the music program at Whiz Kids, a literacy-based tutoring program through City Gospel Mission, which is an organization that provides those in poverty with the skills necessary to transform their lives.

Whiz Kids, a seven-year-old program, works with churches, businesses and organizations to develop a partnership with local elementary schools to tutor children behind in reading and math.

Children can choose electives such as art, taekwondo, chess, and now, music.

“I think it is so successful because of what … is happening on the community basis, especially because Cincinnati is so neighborhood-based,”Taylor said.

The Whiz Kids program works with more than 70 schools throughout the Cincinnati area. Four of the schools have a music program thus far — John P. Parker School, Chase Elementary, Roberts Academy and Rees E. Price Academy.

Approximately 50 percent of public schools in Cincinnati didn’t have music programs seven years ago when Whiz Kids started, “which just obviously was really heartbreaking,”Taylor said.

By May 2011, Taylor sent a 17-page proposal about the necessity of music education to Peter Landgren, the dean of CCM. In August 2011, CCM provided $50,000 to SCPA, The Cincinnati Outreach Music Project, Music for Youth in Cincinnati, Queen City Chamber Opera and Whiz Kids through the ArtsWave grant.

Whiz Kids used the money to help with workshops, the curriculum and to pay CCM students to teach.

Each of the four schools now employs three CCM students who are paid to teach

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PROVIDED

BASSOON Sarah Taylor, a UC student trying to obtain her master’s degree in bassoon performance at CCM, coordinates the music program for Whiz Kids, a literacy-based tutoring service provided through City Gospel Mission. an average class of 10 to 15 children.

“It’s not to take the place of a music teacher, but to allow the opportunity for the kids to know their CCM student,” Taylor said.

The music curriculum is constructed with four six-week units throughout the year. There is a rhythm, singing, history, and a music and culture unit exposing the

students to everything from songs they know to songs they do not know.

By the last few weeks of each unit, Taylor tries to bring in a guest teacher.

“It’s just a fun and creative experience for the kids,”Taylor said.

As much as Taylor loves music and musical outreach, her original major as an undergraduate was not in music, but in

Spanish and German.

“I studied abroad in Munich for a year and while I was there, I realized that I just really wanted to do music,” Taylor said. “It wasn’t something that I always wanted to do, but I think spending time studying abroad and just learning, I definitely realized how much I loved music and what I wanted to do with my life.”

Student SPOTLIGHT

UC’s Ellen Garner remembered

THIS WEEK AT FIFTH THIRD ARENA

GRACE ZBIEGIEN | SENIOR REPORTER

Ellen Garner touched many lives with perpetual joy and will to succeed.

“What I really noticed was that you just could not wipe that smile off Ellen’s face — from the time she was a baby to the very last day,” said Rod Garner, reflecting on the life of his daughter, Ellen Garner.

Ellen Garner, a third-year fashion design student, died in January from medical complications after a house fire on Digby Avenue.

While dealing with the loss of their daughter, Ann and Rod Garner clung to their Christian faith for comfort.

Ann Garner, Ellen Garner’s mother, found comfort in the knowledge that Ellen Garner served her purpose on earth, and is now in a better place.

“She understood the magnitude that this world is just that — it’s this world. We do die,” Ann Garner said. “So, where is your soul going? There’s only one way to Heaven, and that’s through Jesus Christ, our Lord, and she knew that.”

Ellen Garner touched many lives, and her friends remembered her for setting goals and then following through to achieve them.

When Ellen Garner told her father she wanted to study fashion design at the college of Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning, Rod Garner’s skepticism got the better of him. “‘Ellen, this is a business decision,” Rod Garner said. “Whatever money you spend on this has got to make sense. When you come out you have to make sure you have a job that justifies what you put into it.’ I was really concerned for a while.”

Ellen Garner put those fears to rest by demonstrating her strong will.

“As time went on, I was beginning to see that she was so driven, and she was so successful each step of the way,” Rod Garner said. “I gained the confidence that somehow this was going to work out just fine for her, and I know it would have.”

Ellen Garner was ambitious in all aspects of her life. She was driven and passionate, which Ann Garner loved the most about her daughter.

“Ellen — she had that courage,” Ann Garner said. “She was able to do it. She was going to do it and she would not take no as an answer.”

Ellen Garner stuck to a budget, living off of peanut butter, applesauce and thrift

MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. GEORGETOWN Provided

shopping for clothes — all in the name of being successful one day.

While Ellen Garner had an edgy and determined side, she also managed to be soft and encouraging.

Rod Garner had fond memories of Ellen Garner’s seemingly perpetual joy.

Becca Kuemmemier, Ellen Garner’s little in Kappa Kappa Gamma, was captivated by Ellen Garner’s obvious love for life.

“I definitely loved her smile the most, and her outgoing personality,” Kuemmemier said.

Ann and Rod Garner were amazed by the outpouring of love from the hundreds of people their daughter touched.

Her parents didn’t realize how adored Ellen was, and the amount of lives she touched until she was gone.

“She was sunshine,” Ann Garner said.

“When you were having a bad day, you would go and talk with El, and then the bad day — you saw it in a different light, and it wasn’t as bad as you thought it was.”

A good friend and a fierce life force, Ellen Garner managed to instill that kind of zeal in the many lives she has touched with her own.

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Concerts

Wanderers strive for fan participation KATIE gRIFFITH | ARTS EDITOR

Whether it’s a tall stage or a fencedin area, the barrier between the audience and band at a live show is too much for Rob Fidel, the vocalist and banjo/guitar/ harmonica player of the Tumbleweed Wanderers.

Fidel cites this barrier as an obstacle the band works hard to overcome during its performances.

The Wanderers will play at the 20th Century Theater Friday, where it wants to break down the walls between audience and band.

The Wanderers began as street performers before the group even thought of taking its show to the stage. The fivepiece band started interacting with fans during these humble beginnings.

“We would wait outside of shows … when there are like 8,000 people pouring out, and we would just be playing music right there,” Fidel said. “It’s awesome, you catch people by surprise, people think the show is over and no one is expecting to see another band. Not just another band, but a band they can just walk up to.”

Though the conversion from street to stage requires an altered sound, the band has mastered the difference.

“I definitely burn my calories switching

everything around,” Fidel said. “I’m constantly transitioning and moving to different instruments, but its fun. It’s nice to switch it up.”

The Wanderers rely on an electric stage setup with bass, drums and guitars, while its street show focuses on a more bluegrass feel with banjos, harmonicas and makeshift drums.

“Our drummer, instead of playing a full drum kit, he sits on a trash can and puts a kick-drum pedal up against it so it kind of serves as a kick drum,” Fidel said. “And then he plays a washboard” The band caters to its fans in ways others don’t, displaying a different setup for each performance and switching up the setlist. Ideally, each concert will offer something fans have never seen before.

“It’s the crowd’s show as well, its not just our show,” Fidel said.

There are no limits to the arrangement of the set, but the Wanderers rely on fans to help shape the most important aspect of the concert — the environment.

“The atmosphere we try to create is inspired by the audience, there is a circle of giving. The audience is giving to us, we are giving to them,” Fidel said. “I think if everyone has a mutual amount of giving and love, the energy just works.”

As long as Fidel’s spirited and humble

PROVIDED

personality is consistent with the rest of the band, the Wanderers shouldn’t have a problem giving the crowd the energy it needs to relay it back. And if that energy isn’t enough, the band’s debut album, “So Long,” doesn’t contain breaks between songs — a feature the Wanderers strives to transfer to the stage.

“A huge part of our live performance is

the transitions between the songs,” Fidel said. “If it (the music) just keeps going, people keep dancing.”

The Wanderers weave a cohesive sound of folk, soul and rock ‘n’ roll into the songs and transitions alike. Fidel said the band is always dancing on stage, so the audience might as well move its feet, too.

Murder By Death to showcase album BRANDON WEINSTEIN | STAFF REPORTER

PROVIDED

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With a musical style rooted in Americana and blues, Murder by Death’s sound is not what one would expect from its name.

Lead singer, Adam Turla’s baritone vocals resemble Johnny Cash’s lyrical delivery as he sings stories about antiheroes and hard times.

Turla said perseverance and triumph are among the main themes of his narrative-style songs, which range from brooding to upbeat and everything in between.

Murder by Death is scheduled to perform in Newport, Ky. at the Southgate House Revival Feb. 21, as it continues the second half of its winter tour.

The eclectic indie-rock band released

its sixth album, “Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon” in September 2012.

“This is kind of our first big tour with this album,”Turla said.

Murder by Death spent most of 2011 recording the album and are excited to start performing it live.

Cellist, Sarah Balliet creates the band’s signature string overtures and ringing keyboard chords as Matt Armstrong provides the steady bass riffs that supplement Turla’s deep voice.

Dagan Thogerson’s drum skills complement the melodies and harmonies created by the strings and contribute to the mood of each song — whether it is rough, tender, dark or optimistic.

Lastly, Scott Brackett plays accordion, trumpet, piano and mandolin among other instruments, rounding out the unique,

dark and spirited music.

One of the best examples of Murder by Death’s complex instrumental background is the song “Until Morale Improves, The Beatings Will Continue,” from the band’s second album.

But the band is not all about doom and gloom — some of its songs are fun and bluesy — an aspect the band will most likely bring to its performance.

Turla is curious to see what the Southgate House Revival is like, since he only visited the original Southgate House before new ownership took over the venue in 2012.

As for the show itself Turla said one thing, “This tour will be rowdy and interesting at the least.”

Student Spotlight

Building schoolhouses in Tanzania

UC student helps developing country over winter break

PROVIDED

NO BORDERS Villagers in Burere, Tanzania work with plans laid out by Zach Banachowski and the UC chapter of Engineers Without Borders to construct a new schoolhouse.

DANI KOKOCHAK | Senior Reporter A University of Cincinnati student is putting his engineering skills to good use by helping construct a new school in Tanzania.

Zach Banachowski, a fourth-year civil engineering student, is constructing a tworoom schoolhouse for first through seventh grade children in Burere, Tanzania, which will replace the current dilapidated schoolhouse.

“It makes us nervous that they are having class there, because [the children] are in these buildings that are just not safe at all,” Banachowski said. “Some of the classes have to be held outside underneath a tree.”

Engineers Without Borders, an international program that partners with communities in developing countries to build sustainable structures, includes student and professional chapters.

UC’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders received the Burere Schoolhouse Project in 2009 through Engineers Without

Borders USA, the parent organization that oversees professional and student chapters in the U.S. Construction on the new schoolhouse, which will be named Kingigoro Primary School, began in June 2012 and is scheduled to be completed in August.

Banachowski, the committee chair of the Burere Schoolhouse Project, first traveled to Burere in June 2012 during the initial construction phase.

He visited for the second time during winter break and worked with a group of eight villagers to continue building the primary school.

Five other UC students — Matthew Menche, a fourth-year civil engineering student, Justin Thompson, a fourth-year civil engineering student, Grant Cothrel, a firstyear biomedical engineering student, Avdhesh Gaur, a graduate structural engineering student and Jim Moyer, a fourth-year civil engineering student — are also working on

the Burere Schoolhouse Project.

Banachowski traveled with a mentor, Richard Elliot, the former executive director of the Village Life Outreach Project, a non-profit organization based out of Cincinnati. Village Life Outreach Project partnered with UC’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders to build the schoolhouse.

During the weeklong winter-break visit, Banachowski oversaw the placing of the structure’s concrete ring beams — a crucial support system for the new schoolhouse.

“Seeing all the things we take for granted, like a schoolhouse … [and] being able to build a safe place for kids to learn is just something [that is amazing],” Banachowski said. “Until you actually go over there and experience it, it is hard to get a total grasp on it.”

While in Burere, Banachowski and his mentor provided engineering guidance for the project while the villagers helped with construction, Banachowski said. “[The villagers] are incredibly good at

what they do … they put us to shame within about five minutes of us trying to help,” Banachowski said. “We basically just tell them what the design proportions should be for the concrete mix; what amount of rock, sand and concrete has to be in there so it gets to the right strength.”

Shirati, a village in Tanzania, serves as a temporary home for Banachowski while working in Burere. The Shirati Health, Education and Development Foundation, a non-profit organization in the area, provides a hostel.

“It is a lot nicer than you would expect,” Banachowski said. “Initially, when you think about going to Tanzania you’re [thinking] ‘I am staying in the middle of nowhere, basically.

What’s it going to be like?’ We actually ended up having running water … not hot water, but running water.”

Engineers Without Borders’ main goal is to bring sustainable designs to developing nations. Using materials from the country they are working in, the travelling engineers provide structures locals need.

“We try to teach them [the] building techniques so that they can duplicate and keep [building] after we are gone,” Banachowski said.

Banachowski joined UC’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders his freshman year.

“I had gone on a tour of the civil engineering department here … I asked some questions about [Engineers Without Borders], got interested, and I’ve been doing it ever since,” Banachowski said. “I absolutely love it. I love the people we work with, the ability to travel … the whole experience. It’s hard to put into words.”

Banachowski always wanted to travel for engineering, and hoped he would travel at least once with Engineers Without Borders to work on a project.

Now that he’s done it, Banachowski wants to continue doing it for the rest of his life.

“That would be awesome,” he said. “The ability to travel internationally, going to places nobody else gets to go to, and helping others is the biggest driving factor.”

Banachowski will travel to Burere for a third time in August to oversee the completion of the Kingigoro Primary School, where the team will lay the concrete floor and install windows and doors.

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MUSIC

McGraw explores ‘Lanes of Freedom’ Tim McGraw Through the Years Tim McGraw — 1993 Not a Moment too Soon — 1994 All I Want — 1995 Everywhere — 1997 Place in the Sun — 1999 Set This Circus Down — 2001 Live Like you Were Dying — 2004 Let it Go — 2007 Emotional Traffic — 2012

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    MARVIN LEVINSON | MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE

A SHOT AT REDEMPTION Tim McGraw performs in concert at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minn. Sunday, July 8. The country singer’s newest album, “Two Lanes of Freedom,” addresses the singer’s struggle with alcoholism — but only vaguely and impersonally.

ELEANOR TABONE | CONTRIBUTOR Tim McGraw was the country singer of the ’90s.

Since then he faced a rather public struggle with alcohol, but none of that made its way into his latest album — showing he might not be ready to get back to the summit of country music.

The album title “Two Lanes of Freedom,” might reflect the redemption he feels after overcoming his addiction, offering 15 catchy songs that range from rock ballads to country-pop.

With a rough yet interesting past, it is disappointing the album does not delve deeper into the struggles McGraw encountered. Instead, the album includes somber ballads and hopeless love songs, which grow repetitive as the album goes on. Typical lyrics go like this: “Two hearts, two bucket seats, too much sun not to wear shades/ Boot to the pedal and pedal to the metal/ we’re the reason this road was paved,” McGraw sings on the title track.

Although impersonal, it is easy to understand how “One of Those Nights” reached No. 7 on the Country Billboard charts. Listeners will hear country music with a twist of country pop to go along

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with a catchy guitar riff.

“Truck Yeah” shows McGraw’s rockstar side, while “Nashville Without You” emphasizes his compassionate lyrics: “Nashville won’t be Nashville without you.”

The live version of “Truck Yeah” also is included on the album, and it shows his versatility and adventurous nature — but also his obnoxious and arrogant personality.

“Highway Don’t Care” features country music stars Taylor Swift and Keith Urban.

The song is a classic send-off ballad. The listener can sense a strong connection among the trio, which helps give the track its sing-along qualities.

“Two Lanes of Freedom” ranges from fast-paced “Mexicoma” to tear jerking “Number 37405,” triggering emotions from those who might have friends or relatives in prison. Not only is McGraw singing about prison cells, he is also locked in one with the song’s repetitive beat and similar tone.

Overall the album is one to listen to before bed to relax and unwind, and it is definitely his best since the 2007 release, “Let It Go.”

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FOOD REVIEWS

Vietnamese dining delight

Pho Lang Thang offers destination for cultural food

SHELBI NATIONS | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

TOFU DELIGHT The Bun Chay with fried tofu served over vermicelli noodles, lettuce, bean sprouts, cucumber, fresh herbs and crushed peanuts is only one of the delicious dishes Pho Lang Thang offers. Also try the Bun Thit Nuong with fried pork rolls or the tasty Vietnamese-brewed coffee. shelbi nations | contributoR Among the historical Findlay Market lies a hip Vietnamese eatery, Pho Lang Thang.

Two brothers, Duy and Bao Nguyen, and their friend, David Le, opened Pho Lang Thang in late 2010. Since then it has became a popular destination for Vietnamese cuisine.

A few weeks ago I darted out from the cold weather and snow flurries into Pho

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Lang Thang for an early dinner when the scent of lemongrass, beef broth, fresh basil and cilantro smacked me in the face.

After wiping my fogged glasses, I could see cooks ladling ceramic bowls full of broth, noodles and a wide variety of meats and vegetables.

The sound of chopsticks and spoons working diligently at the food in front of them filled the room.

The brightly painted red and yellow walls featured candid portraits of Vietnamese citizens.

My friend and I took a seat. After a look at the menu, my friend ordered a Cà Phê Sa Dá ($3) — Vietnamese-brewed coffee with condensed milk.

I ordered a “33” Export ($4) — a tasty Vietnamese lager.

The French introduced Vietnam to coffee in the 19th century, so it was no surprise when my friend’s coffee came out with a small metal French drip filter hooked to the top of the glass.

Our waitress instructed us to remove the metal filter and drink up as soon as the

drip stopped.

As it finished dripping, she removed the metal drip from the glass and stirred the potent coffee and condensed milk together.

“I could have this for breakfast, lunch and dinner,” she said after taking her first drink. To say the least she loved it.

We both began to look back over the menu. It featured a wide variety of options to choose from, but it wasn’t overwhelming.

Pho Lang Thang contains classic Vietnamese dishes such as Pho, soup made of beef broth, noodles and thinly sliced beef, Banh Mi, a baguette stuffed with marinated meat, pickled vegetables, pate, garlic mayo and fresh herbs, and Bun Thit Nuong, grilled marinated meats over vermicelli noodles, pickled vegetables and fresh herbs served with a fish sauce mixture called nuoc cham.

My friend ordered the Bun Thit Nuong ($8.50) with fried pork rolls and I ordered the Bun Chay ($8.50) — fried tofu served over vermicelli noodles, lettuce, bean sprouts, cucumber, fresh herbs and crushed peanuts.

Not long after ordering, our food came. The noodle dishes were served in large white bowls with nuoc cham sauce on the side.

As we poured the nuoc cham into our bowls and stirred them with our chopsticks, we each gave a sample test, then began reaching around the table for the Sriracha sauce and hoisin sauce to flavor our noodles to each of our palates.

The tofu was excellent. It was fried in a light, crispy batter that accentuated the silkiness of the tofu.

The whole dish was balanced with the slightly pickled vegetables, fresh cilantro and basil, fried tofu and creamy peanuts.

While sitting at our table, the next table over ordered large bowls of Pho where raw pieces of thinly sliced beef cooked in the steaming broth right before their eyes.

I will definitely return to Pho Lang Thang soon to experience another mouthwatering dish.