TNR - 1.7.10

THE INdependent student newspaper at the university of cincinnati

Vol. CXXVV Issue 32

thursday , jan . 7, 2010 women’s basketball Jamelle Elliott coaches a game against UConn and her former boss page 6

princess & the frog New movie hearkens back to old Disney style. page 4

staff ed Welcome to Cincinnati – the isle of lost Bearkittens. page 3

UC dodges $28M funding loss JAMES SPRAGUE the news record

The University of Cincinnati narrowly avoided a $27.9 million state funding cut courtesy of an approval of House Bill 318, which postponed the final 4 percent of a state tax rate deduction while allowing the state to balance its budget.

If the bill was not approved by Jan. 1, it could have forced a cut of approximately $851 million in funding for primary and secondary education across the state. UC would have been one of 61 community colleges, branch campuses and universities affected.

“We have again overcome political differences to achieve a bipartisan agreement to balance the budget and protect our schools from devastating cuts,” said Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland.

The Ohio Board of Regents does not expect any proposed future budget cuts to education at this time, said Rob Evans, an administrative assistant in communications for the Ohio Board of Regents.

“However, we always stand ready to work with the governor and the state assembly concerning the state education budget,” Evans said.

The cuts would have greatly impacted UC, which had already implemented an 8 percent budget reduction for 2010, said Robert Ambach, interim senior vice president for administration and finance of the university.

“A $27.9 million reduction, mid-year, would have been a pretty onerous task to try to achieve, but, if that’s what was dictated, we would have tried to find solutions to that,” he said.

UC is preparing for the possibility of the same situation arising in 2012, when the bill expires, Ambach said.

Ambach also expects the university, regardless of state funding, to have to impose more internal budget cuts in 2011.

“For fiscal year 2012, we are trying to at least reserve 50 percent of [what] the worst case scenario of a cut in funding from the state would be,”

Ambach said. “The data is preliminary but there probably will be, as there has been in the past, more budget cuts at the university.”

Those cuts all depend on various areas of the university budget, such as operating expenditures, state funding and possible tuition increases if approved, he said.

In addition to avoiding the cut from state funding, UC received a federal grant for research.

The College of Medicine was awarded a National Institutes of Health grant of $358,323 – one of many federal programs funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

Courtesy of uc The grant will be used to upgrade a spectrometer that is used in structural sandra degen Vice president for biology research at the college. research hopes for $5 million in grants.

The research department is always applying for and expecting several Environmental Health, said Sandra more grants, including being informed Degen, vice president for research

by Congressman Steve Driehaus at UC. and his office about a $5 million “To stay at the cutting edge of renovation of the Kettering research, equipment always will Building, home to the department of see funds | page 2

weather forecast

THURSDAY

27° 19°

FRIDAY

27 /20 SATURDAY

26 /13 SUNDAY

19 /7 MONDAY

27 /22 index

1 News 3 Opinion 4 Entertainment 5 Classifieds 6 Sports

DID YOU KNOW?

Kareem Elgazzar | the news record

a vacated factory Due to UC Clermont’s growing student population, they might be leasing an old Ford plant in Batavia as classrooms .

Lease talks look good for Clermont Amanda Woodruff the news record

The University of Cincinnati Clermont College branch is experiencing a increase in enrollment, steadily increasing to the point where space is becoming an issue.

The campus still has room to grow, but that growth could take two years too long, said James Plummer, vice president of finance at UC so the university is considering other options.

The Ford plant in Batavia closed its doors in June 2008, but with 1.8 million square feet and plenty of viable office space makes it a top contender.

“We’re currently looking into two or three other locations,” Plummer said.

“There hasn’t been any decisions yet, but the Ford plant seems like the best option at this point.”

The university is working with Industrial Realty Group, IRG, out of Downey, Calif. The company is successful in redevelopment of vacant industrial sites for more purposeful use.

It recently worked with the University of Dayton on a $20 million plan.

“We go through and identify their interests to make sure it is good and successful,” said Stuart Lichter, founder and senior project manager of IRG. For UC Clermont, the plan is to lease two floors of office space, one for Clermont and the other for Uptown Campus, Plummer said. The majority of the space would be used for classrooms.

“It’s not expanding UC Clermont, but giving Clermont temporary expanded space,” Plummer said. “They can still build on the campus, but it would take nearly two years to finish the job.”

While UC Clermont occupies the leased space, construction might take place on campus. Once the construction of a new building is complete, Clermont has the option to completely move out of the leased space or renew the agreement if more space is still needed.

Clermont County administrators recognize the plan as a good move.

“We don’t really see any cons from what has been explained to us,” said Andy Kuchta, director of economic development for Clermont County “It’s a very positive possibility for a few

reasons. One is that the office space there is the most difficult space to lease out and it would be the first space filled, generating cash flow right off the bat.”

The space is not exactly desirable to lease because of the long distance between itself and the nearest highway, Interstate 275, Kuchta said.

Growth opportunity is limited on Clermont’s campus, Kuchta said. The area at the Ford plant is the right price and UC could begin using it much sooner.

The plan must be approved by a series of groups including: the UC Board of Trustees, the Ohio Board of Regents and the state. The space must be appraised prior to being presented to either board.

The leasing of the space is likely to generate cash flow, but not necessarily make a profit.

The purpose of the lease is to obtain space for students, Plummer said.

With the additional space, UC Clermont can better deliver the Two Plus Two program, which allows students to take courses at any two-year accredited college and finish the final see plant | page 2

WORD ON THE STREET At what point is the weather too bad to open campus?

“Tomorrow.”

—Brittany mack, fourth-year marketing student

“Well, when it becomes too difficult to walk.”

—Subhashish dasgupta, fourth-year mechanical engineering student

“They should let people know before 8 a.m. classes, at least.”

—Mike Smith, second-year psychology student

With the doomsayers’ recent warnings of death by snow, Cincinnatians are preparing themselves like it’s Y2K. The Norwood Health Department has recently announced they are closing their H1N1 vaccination clinic and not reopening again until Tuesday, Jan. 19.

The University of Cincinnati, however, is still hosting its H1N1 vaccination clinic on Wednesday, Jan. 13. Those with UC health insurance will receive the vaccine for free, and anyone else will be charged $10 for the vaccination.

Snow plows around campus are already mobilizing for the storm that will dump 2 to 6 inches of snow on a good amount the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Weather reports say certain pockets of Cincinnati might even see up to 5 inches, including areas around campus.

Unfortunately, we aren’t expected to break the 32-degree mark until Monday. So, take care and be careful out there if you’re planning on heading to Paul Brown Stadium this weekend.

online @ www.newsrecord.org drop us an e-mail TNR is working on a Web site overhaul (makeover). We want to hear your suggestions and expectations. E-mail us with ideas at TNRtalkback@gmail.com

% %

tnr poll If school is called off, what do you plan on doing with your snow day?

newsrecordnews@gmail.com | 513.556.5908

TNR all the time Now flip through the full issue online.

Subscribe to The News Record Web site and RSS. If that’s not enough, follow us on Twitter @NewsRecord_UC.

from funds | page 1 need to be updated or the latest, cutting edge piece of equipment obtained.” she said.

The latest grant is only a part of more than $30 million in ARRA funding that UC has received spanning the last two fiscal years.

“There are few opportunities to obtain significant funding for renovation of facilities and upgrade of equipment,” Degen said. “The federal stimulus program recognized that and allocated more

from plant | page 1 money for National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation programs that are devoted toward funding these areas.”

The funding from the federal government is needed by the university to update many research buildings on campus, such as Rhodes Hall, Rieveschl Hall and Old Chemistry.

“With regard to research facilities, many of our research buildings are in dire need of updating and renovation,” Degen said.

from cats | page 6 The Bearcats went into the locker room leading 50-16 after a first half that saw them shoot more than 51 percent from the field.

The Cats shot just less than 52 percent from the field for the game, including 41 percent from beyond the arc.

Dixon and freshman guard Jaquon Parker both shot 3 of 5 from long range “I was happy with our shot selection,” Cronin said. “We were trying to pass the ball.

Sometimes we were a little sloppy with it, but the fact that we were 9 for 22 from three, I

two years at UC. The program works closely with other local campus, including Cincinnati State Community College and Sinclair Community College.

“It gives students the option of staying closer to home rather than driving down to Clifton for classes,” Kuchta said.

The plan has yet to be approved, but UC Clermont is pushing to have the space available to them by Fall quarter.

“We’re already planning like it’s going to happen,” Lichter said.

think our guys were definitely trying to make sure we took open shots.”

The UC defense held the Roadrunners to 23 percent shooting in the first half and less than 35 percent overall. The Bearcats forced 19 turnovers, blocked three shots and had eight steals while outrebounding Cal State Bakersfield 44-30.

With their non-conference scheduled wrapped up, the Bearcats will return to Big East play Saturday, Jan. 9, with a road trip to South Orange, N.J., to face Seton Hall at 7:30 p.m.

anna bentley | the news record

taking it in Dion Dixon drives past a Roadrunner defender in the Bearcats’ 87-58 win against California State Bakersfield. Dixon led the team Wednesday night with 13 points.

SAVE MORE We have the most used textbooks

Powered by efollett.com

032_JBTS10

3

We e k e n d E d i t i o n Jan. 7, 2010 www.newsrecord.org

opinion discussion board for all walks of life

WRITER’S

BLOC

JEREMY DAVIS

Political resolutions should benefit US citizens

2010 is only seven days old and there’s no doubt that most of us have already broken our New Year’s resolutions. Countless pledges to lose weight, exercise more or receive better grades don’t typically make it very far into the new year.

While we struggle in our attempts to keep to our New Year’s resolutions, a new political year has begun, in which our leaders can make the year right by pledging to keep their own set of New Year’s resolutions. Here are a few I believe they should take on.

Most importantly — although it is laughable — Congress should vow to limit the size of government down to a small and constitutional level. Now that would be a New Year’s resolution worth sticking to. Many Americans vow each year to lose weight, why shouldn’t the federal government shed some pounds this year?

Making a claim to uphold the Constitution, or at least read it, would make one heck of a New Year’s resolution, too. Allowing more room in their political environment for the Constitution sounds like lunacy, but the majority of our political woes would come to a welcomed end. A stricter adherence to the Constitution would only permit legislation

by Congress that remains within the confines of the Constitution.

Their attempts at a monstrous reforming of health care with thicker government intervention would be thwarted because nowhere in the Constitution is Congress granted that authority. The horrid PATRIOT Act would have never happened had the Constitution been respectfully followed by our political leaders. Disastrous, undeclared wars would not have been waged had Congress not abdicated its authority.

Wishfully, Congress and friends should pledge to make less war in the New Year and emphasize a policy of peace. Unfortunately, 2009 was just another year for war as the one in Iraq continues to remain on the backburner of our military adventurism.

We also can’t forget the surge of nearly 30,000 American military forces meant to escalate the war in Afghanistan, as it barrels close to becoming America’s longest war.

And now there’s increasing rhetoric by more warmongering politicians; a retaliatory strike against targets in Yemen in response to the failed Christmas Day bombing attempt on a flight bound to Detroit are not necessary.

Please bring an end to the warmongering in the New Year.

Ending the wars, pledging to bring all American forces home from places abroad and closing down our nearly 700 military bases worldwide would be another worthwhile resolution.

It would save trillions of dollars, increase America’s clout and save countless lives of military personnel.

Although none of this could come about unless our political leaders declared the adoption of a more humble, non-interventionist foreign policy as another positive New Year’s resolution.

Politicians should pledge to not ruin the nation’s economy.

The government funds insanely expensive wars, grants massive bailouts and allows the Federal Reserve to print new money at will. These efforts endanger financial stability.

The Fed’s monetary action of incredible inflation, which devalues the dollar, has traditionally been met with nearly zero resistance from the members of Congress. So how about in the new year, Congress vows to reign in the power and authority of the Fed through the course of an effective audit, revealing all of the Fed’s secretive dealings with particular foreign business and banking institutions.

Leaving behind an economic philosophy of the big government interventions of the Keynesians and embracing a true free-market style approach toward the economy is another promise political leaders should strive to uphold as the economy continues toward worsening times. The unemployment rate was at 10 percent in November 2009, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

These are all worthy resolutions that Congress, the president and all their friends in Washington should embrace in order to make 2010 a far better year than 2009.

Do you have some New Year’s resolutions for your politicians?

Tell Jeremy at daj8@mail.uc.edu.

Obama’s first year disappoints Max webster

So, here we are one year into the great Barack Obama experiment and the early prognosis of the result is not good.

The stimulus bill is at work, yes, but while the boys on Wall Street are busy pocketing another holiday bonus, December saw another 693,000 workers laid off with no other prospects than to join the ranks of the other 14 million unemployed Americans.

Yes, the health care bill passed in the House and the Senate even without Ted Kennedy, but I doubt Kennedy would be too pleased to see his life’s work being passed around while insurance company lobbyists pocketed congressmen and dismembered the original bill into an unrecognizable heap. No single-payer option and a list of other concessions means that when its finally flopped down on the president’s desk, American’s will be dealing with something that is little more than a lukewarm microwave meal instead of the five courses of change we were promised in the 2008 campaign.

The Copenhagen climate summit ended in laughable fashion. Sorry to my friends in

the Maldives, but on the bright side, you’re one step closer to being the first functioning underwater democracy.

And let’s not forget the 30,000 new troops being deployed to continue the war in Afghanistan, and, of course, there’s always Iraq. And what’s this talk of Iran getting into the action?

Obama, you gave us another fruitless year. There isn’t one meaningful action of your administration that has done anything to help Americans out of the crummy situation in which we find ourselves.

This isn’t meant as an Obama bashing, just a pondering of what happened to the millions of grassroots campaign workers who were organized and working toward change in their communities during the election that seemingly evaporated as soon as the inauguration concluded.

At the end of last year’s campaign the Obama camp had 13 million members on its e-mail list ready to do their part. They were in command of a volunteer army 1.2 million strong, with some 20,000 individuals specially trained in grassroots organization.

Well, the e-mails never came and the neighborhood campaign headquarters was boarded

up; we saw the movement for a progressive America, organized by the citizens, crumble into hopeless rubble.

I couldn’t have been more proud that for the first time in my (albeit short) life I saw a group of Americans ready to force feed the politicians in their communities and in Washington the agenda they believed the nation should adopt. One year later, I couldn’t be more upset that in waiting for orders from the president, we let any hope of a new, progressive, grassroots democracy wither. We should have trusted ourselves; instead, we’re still waiting for that e-mail, waiting for Obama to fulfill all those promises of utopian tomorrows.

The legacy of Obama’s first year in office will be summed up as the year that could have been. It could have been the year the president really turned the people loose, it could have been the year that the people finally accepted the responsibility for themselves to exact the change necessary in their communities, but it wasn’t. It was business as usual.

Dreams die when people fail to act, and right now, the evening light is waning and the sun is setting on another day that could have been.

Max Webster is a second-year journalism student.

got it, son? good.

Peter Springsteen | THe News record

US airports adopt full-body scanners BETHANY DAVIDSON

A Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Detroit almost fell victim to a terrorist attack on Christmas Day, spurring the call for full-body scanners in every airport.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab is accused of attempting to suicide bomb Flight 253, a plane filled with more than 300 passengers. Thankfully, brave passengers tackled Abdulmutallab at the sight of smoke and the plan was thwarted. Although the terrorist attack was avoided, the scare raised several questions about security.

Anyone who travels by air is familiar with the monotonous security checks at the airport; X-ray scans, metal detectors and tiny shampoo containers are only a few of the obstacles. Now U.S. airports are ushering in an entirely new level of security by implementing full-body scanners.

Passengers can expect to experience these scanners in the near future, as 19 airports, including Detroit, already have them and there are hundreds more scheduled to arrive at airports throughout the United States.

The scanners use radio frequencies in order to locate weapons, chemical explosives and plastic.

The explosive was sewn into Abdulmutallab’s underwear and wrapped in plastic, going undetected

by metal detectors. A full-body scanner likely would have picked up the hidden bomb.

The scanners seem like an obvious solution to the security gaps, but there is controversy surrounding them.

The scanners capture full-body images, which are displayed on a computer screen for security personnel to review. Problem is, the three-dimensional body scans reveal the person’s anatomy, which has many people worried.

Transportation Security Administration is trying to relieve the public’s worries by insisting the images aren’t explicit, but many individuals still think the scanners are a breach of their personal privacy. While the scan blurs out the person’s face, the detailed outlines make people feel uneasy about the new form of security.

Although the scanners seem to rob individuals of their privacy, the images are never stored, printed or transferred from the computer. People don’t need to feel embarrassed because the security personnel review the image in another room, without ever seeing the individual face-to-face.

Another issue with the full-body scanning machines is the cost. At $200,000 each, the machines are an expensive security alternative, especially in this economy. Already $8 million has been spent in the United States on these

machines with hundreds more machines on the way.

While the cost is controversial, should citizens really be worried about that aspect? Should money stand in the way of safety? After 9/11, anyone boarding an airplane is going to want to feel completely assured that they can fly without worrying their flight will be taken over by a terrorist .

No one should have to look at the person sitting next to them and think that they might be hiding explosives that were undetected by airport security.

With the rise of security, profiling will be at an all-time high. As of now, only passengers who appear suspicious are chosen for full-body scans, which means more people will be outraged by airport security randomly pulling them out of line because they look like a possible threat.

A solution to the problem could be making everyone boarding the aircraft enter the scanning machines, instead of only a select few people. Of course, that would mean more scanning machines, which equals major money, but it would do a great deal to alleviate profiling issues.

These new scanning machines have many pros and cons, but the possibility of saving lives by detecting hidden weapons should outweigh them all.

Bethany Davidson is a third-year journalism student.

Abandonment doesn’t affect UC’s spirit

To paraphrase Queen, can anybody find us somebody to love? Or, rather, just somebody to love us back?

2009 was a rough year for the University of Cincinnati. Nancy Zimpher, former president, hung up her red and black wardrobe for the rainbow of colors the State University of New York offered its first female chancellor.

Monica Rimai, former interim president, was hot on Zimpher’s heels as she also abandoned the Bearcats for SUNY, and Mitch Leventhal, former vice provost for UC International, also followed Zimpher.

And now, Brian Kelly has moved on to Notre Dame. He left a few weeks before the biggest game in UC history, leaving players and fans a tad salty with his awkward, thankless departure.

Jeff Quinn, the former offensive coordinator is also departing from UC football; he has accepted the head coaching position at the University of Buffalo.

Even Carl Brutananadilewski of Aqua Teen Hunger Force is giving Cincinnati a rough time.

In a recent episode, the cartoon character declares,

The News Record founded in 1880

509 and 510 Swift Hall University of Cincinnati 45221-0135

Office phone 556-5900 Office fax 556-5922

The News Record, an independent, student-run news organization of the University of Cincinnati’s Communication Board, is printed during the school year every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, except holidays and examination periods, from its office located in 509 Swift Hall and is distributed to the UC community. The News Record distributes to more than 80 locations and has a weekly circulation of 22,500.

One copy per person is free. Additional copies can be picked up at The News Record office for $1.

“Don’t never quit, unless you shove your boss, or if you get a higher paying job at Notre Dame.”

He then adds insult to injury: “Cincinnati ain’t got no coach. ‘Cause he quit. ‘Cause Cincinnati blows.”

You remember the classic stop-motion animated movie, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”? There’s a part where Rudolph and Hermey the Elf (who wants to be a dentist instead of a toy maker) travel to the Island of Misfit Toys.

After all the 2009 abandonment, UC is starting to feel like the Island of Misfit Bearkittens.

Which is really a title we don’t deserve. Take a look at how far our fair university has come in the last five years or so.

Of course, our football team has grown leaps and bounds (and touchdowns and runs), resulting in the biggest game in UC history. Sure, we lost, but it’s still an incredible achievement.

We had a record number of freshmen enrolled

Staff Editorial

Editor-inChief taylor dungjen Managing Editor kareem elgazzar Business & Advertising Manager SEAN KARDUX

opinion.newsrecord@gmail.com

Director of Student Media Len Penix Photo Editor coulter loeb Chief Photographer Justin Tepe Multimedia Editor Blake hawk News Editors gin a. ando amanda woodruff

| 513.556.5913

for fall quarter and our engineering college is easily one of the best.

The reconstruction on campus that has taken place in the last decade has transformed the university. The buildings are gorgeous and the campus is unrecognizable to those who haven’t seen it since the construction began.

And the students? They’re spirited, dedicated, fun-loving and some of the greatest people around.

So, here’s a message to all those who have left us, mocked us or doubted us (yes, we’re talking to all you Ohio State University fanatics): We are proud of our university and everything that has been produced from it. We are extremely proud of our athletes, scholars and alumni. We are unique and proud of it.

We work hard and are dedicated to our school and our achievements. Sure, we may not be the absolute best, but we’re getting there. We’ve come a long way in the last few years, and we don’t plan on slowing down any time soon. We may be the underdogs, but we’re still in it to win it.

We’re not misfits, we’re Bearcats. We are UC.

OPINIOn Editor JAMIE ROYCE Spotlight/ college living editor ariel cheung Sports Editors garrett sabelhaus Sam Elliot enTertainment editor sean peters copy editor joy bostick

Graphic Designers Zack Mueller Zack Kurosu CLAIRE THOMPSON Production Designer mitul dasgupta CLASSIFIEDS Manager Kelsey Price Advertising representatives THOMAS AMBerg KRYSTAL DANSBERRY Jenaye Garver

4

Weekend edition Jan. 7, 2010 www.newsrecord.org

HOT TOPICS

nick grever

Mourning A7X’s loss: RIP “The Rev.” The fallen have increased in number. Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan died Dec. 28, 2009.

While you may not know who Sullivan is, you almost assuredly have heard his work. Sullivan was the drummer for popular music act, Avenged Sevenfold (A7X).

The death was reported as one of natural causes, but after an autopsy, the decision is still pending as to another possible reason due to inconclusive results.

He was 28 years old and he is survived by his wife, Leana McFadden.

A7X is a band infamous for their on and offstage antics.

Crazy stories of drunken nights and intense live shows were par for the course after the release of their breakthrough album, “City of Evil.” But their latest album, a self-titled disc, showed a maturity and growth that very few people saw coming, especially not the haters who wrote off A7X due to their meteoric rise to stardom.

One element that definitely evolved was Sullivan’s drumming.

If A7X’s four releases are played back-to-back, one can notice a distinct growth and expansion in Sullivan’s skill. Beginning with simple beats more appropriate for A7X’s hardcore roots, then shifting to more difficult arrangements culminating in intricate and lightning quick arrangements on the latest disc; Sullivan’s skill was undeniable, and showed no sign of slowing any time soon. To see such a skilled musician pass so young, with so much talent, is a loss for heavy music in general.

But Sullivan’s death struck closely – more closely than I had imagined. A7X was, what I call, a gateway band for me. They got me into much harder and more technical forms of metal. I was hooked by “Bat Country,” like much of the country. These five guys, looking like a mix of Guns N’ Roses and Mötley Crüe, seemingly burst onto the scene; taking over major radio stations with wailing guitars and an unmatched swagger. I was hooked.

Looking back, I realized just how many memories I have that are associated with A7X. They were one of my first concerts and one of my first mosh pits. I got pulled over for the first time on my way home from that show.

(Note to readers: It’s not smart to have a passenger in your car flip off an unmarked DEA agent who’s looking to get an easy arrest.) I also remember my first boss, a man of about 40 rocking out and playing air guitar in the middle of the store.

His associates were amused, the customers were a little less so.

In other words, A7X were a soundtrack to much of my high school years. While I may have grown up and passed A7X’s sound, they were a part of my younger years, and that simply cannot be replaced. A little bit of my childhood passed away at the end of the year.

And I guess that’s the main point. So very often, we associate music with a memory. Whether it’s blasting our favorite song in the car or sitting on a friend’s deck as they play their latest writing, music and memory goes hand in hand.

We all have a soundtrack to our lives, and A7X was a part of mine. And a piece of that music, that memory, will never be the same. And whether you personally loved or hated A7X, I hope we can all understand the same feelings associating our favorite music with our most beloved memories.

entertainment covering campus and beyond

“Nine” not worth its weight in gold Monotonous songs, questionable performances, disconnected story Ariel Cheung the news record

It’s every guy’s fantasy: A scantily clad Penelope Cruz, a caress from Nicole Kidman and a flirtatious grin from Kate Hudson.

Toss in about 15 more halfdressed, gyrating dancers and Dame Judi Dench, and you’ve either got one strange wet dream or the opening scene of “Nine.”

When I went to see “Nine,” I was expecting a relatively full theater.

The movie premiered on Christmas, and I thought the usual musical lovers (“Mamma Mia,” ”Rent,” “Chicago”) would be filling the seats.

But the theater was virtually empty, aside from two giggly couples, a friend and myself.

Despite walking in with an open mind (and despite reports of the movie being pulled from scores of theaters),

I have to say, “Nine” left me bored, apathetic and with a severe headache.

The worst part was easily the music. The songs were all exactly the same: solely inner monologue, too long and totally directionless. When every single song features a chorus of dancing girls harmonizing with a single soloist in a lulling, monotonous manner, it gets old fast.

Oh, and they say “Guido” about 50 times every song.

The Guido in question is Guido Contini, a renowned Italian film director of the ’60s. Guido (Daniel Day-Lewis) is on the verge of starting production on his latest film. There’s only one problem: He hasn’t started writing it.

But his lack of inspiration is in no way due to his lack of muses. First, there’s his wife, Luisa. Played by Marion Cotillard and dripping with Audrey Hepburnesque elegance, Luisa was easily one of the best parts of “Nine.”

Cotillard captures audience sympathy the moment she bats her eyes at them and her solo “My Husband Makes Movies” was one of the rare few songs that didn’t bore me to tears.

Penelope Cruz as Guido’s long-time mistress, Carla, was equally charming. Cruz managed to take sexy, naïve Carla and keep her from being just another immoral floozy. Her pleas with Guido to be with him in public were bittersweet.

In reality, virtually all of Guido’s women were lovely to watch. Nicole Kidman deserved a larger role; she brought back elements of her sultry Satine in 2001’s “Moulin Rouge,” while Dench’s role as costumer Lilli was enjoyably dry.

Kate Hudson continued to charm with her angelic smile as reporter Stephanie. Of course, the smile was

used to attract the married Guido for a story, but still, Hudson was a delight.

And then there was Day-Lewis as Guido. I just couldn’t make up my mind as to whether or not I liked him. Frankly, he seemed whiney and a tad useless. He admittedly was never able to create a movie without leaning heavily on his wife, whom he cheated on constantly.

And his singing — it was just shouting. Which, in retrospect, was probably what inspired the headache.

Despite the stellar cast, there was just something that didn’t click with “Nine.” The story just didn’t connect with the audience, despite being nominated for five Golden Globes.

Which is so sad, considering how great musical movies have been in the past.

So for those who want to see “Nine,” wait for the DVD. It’s just not worth its name in dollars.

“Sherlock Holmes” clueless Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law: Cuties indeed, but not the old sleuths Gin a. ando the news record

Before going into the movie theater, I had already abandoned any hope that “Sherlock Holmes” would resemble Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories, but I was not quite prepared for what I saw play out.

Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law are actors who have been around long enough to play a variety of roles – “The Soloist” and “Road to Perdition” come to mind – but, their depictions of such established characters as Holmes and Watson were off.

“Sherlock Holmes” opened up promisingly, with a carriage chase down a Victorian-style causeway, but the setting was the only thing that was akin to “Sherlock Holmes” the series in “Sherlock Holmes” the movie.

Disregarding that, the movie in itself is somewhat weak in the plot and seems as though director Guy Ritchie of “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” and “Snatch” was relying solely on Downey’s recent success with “Iron Man” to garner enough of a fan base for Holmes.

The movie’s premise revolves around Holmes’ and Watson’s encounter with the mysterious Lord Blackwell, a leading figure in a dark-cloak and cave-dwelling cult. Although the occult and mysteriousness weren’t too farfetched for a Sherlock Holmes story (think “The Valley of Fear” or “The Hound of the Baskervilles” if you

are acquainted with Doyle’s stories), Downey only displays Holmes’s prowess as a “consulting detective” a few times throughout the movie. The rest of the time he is dodging axes, bludgeoning Frenchmen and not being Sherlock Holmes.

Ritchie’s Holmes is displayed as a brute first and intellectual second – with no mention of Holmes’s debilitating cocaine addiction. While sitting in his Baker Street flat for the entire movie in a robe and smoking a pipe isn’t as exciting as Downey brawling for money, it just doesn’t fit the Holmes character, even if it is a re-imagining of the character.

Sherlock Holmes does explore a largely untouched arc of Doyle’s stories, though: Holmes’s hesitation to let Watson marry. It’s just a shame that they blew it up to be a main point of interest in the movie instead of letting it remain a subtle thing in the back of the viewer’s mind to explain some of Holmes’s actions throughout the movie.

In many of the stories, Victorian London and other places of the era become as much a character as Holmes. Unfortunately, Ritchie’s Holmes doesn’t take it into account and uses it as a backdrop to remind the viewers that it the movie isn’t taking place in the modern era.

While I can understand Ritchie’s distinctive style and appreciate it myself, it’s just too much to bear watching a movie (that could have written itself) fall apart. Downey isn’t Holmes; Law isn’t Watson. Had they been playing another detective and ex-soldier turned doctor, respectively, they

photo courtesy of mct campus

Holmes picks locks. What kind of school teaches you that skill? Elementary.

would have saved a little more face, but it’s too much of a stretch to call them Holmes and Watson – even for a movie. If you want to see a more accurate, albeit more dryly British version, check out the Granada Television version with Jeremy Brett.

As a final note, it is rumored Professor Moriarty will make his on-screen debut in the sequel.

Moriarty, who is generally depicted as a “highforeheaded,” dark mastermind, will supposedly be played by, Ritchie veteran, Brad Pitt. Sigh.

But then again, make-up can do a lot – think Gary Oldman in “Hannibal.”

Although “Sherlock Holmes” was disappointing, it was far from being the worst movie released this season. That title belongs to “Ninja Assassin.”

Photo Courtesy Of MCT campus

Disney’s newest princess Stephanie Kitchens the news record

Walt Disney long ago concocted the perfect recipe for creating enchanting family films: Mix a lovable underdog as the protagonist, a royal subject as the source of their affection, an evil and often magical villain attempting to thwart their love, along with a few friendly companions who aid the main character. All accompanied with catchy musical numbers. All of the Disney princess fairy tales include these ingredients and have subsequently been dubbed Disney masterpieces.

Spanning the last decade, Disney’s Pixar Studios have churned out successful films while Disney’s Animation Studios have produced a number of lackluster flops. Back in 1998, Mulan was the last Disney Princess movie with featured songs; in 1999, Tarzan was the last Disney animated film to feature songs.

One decade later, Disney’s Animation Studios decided to reinstate the unbeatable formula for “The Princess and the Frog.”

When Disney first announced

that the animation studios would be adding a new princess to the mix, that she was the first-ever African American princess, I was sparked with excitement and curiosity – along with apprehension.

As Disney has a long history of racial profiling, this announcement came as a surprise with mixed emotions.

Throughout Disney’s history, there are examples of racism in its films against African-Americans, Arabs, Asians or Native Americans. For some, a black princess was long-awaited, but for others it brought about worries that this new Disney movie would augment racial stereotypes.

The preview for “The Princess and the Frog” seemed to reaffirm those fears. It showed a black man with a spontaneously combusting large buttocks, which is stereotypically an African American characteristic.

However, this clip was showed out of context of the movie and should not deter audiences from seeing the film. I did not find the movie to be racist; rather, it is a celebration of African American culture in the city of New Orleans.

Disney old-timers Ron Clements

and John Musker were the directors and screenwriters for this film, as well as for two of my all-time favorite Disney movies: The Little Mermaid and Aladdin. They were able to make “The Princess and the Frog” feel refreshing while keeping all the familiar ingredients for a Disney classic.

“The Princess and the Frog” is set in New Orleans during the early 20th century, where Talia is born into a loving, but underprivileged family, who works hard and dreams big. Since childhood, Talia shares a dream with her father to be the owner of a restaurant. She works multiple jobs to make this dream a reality after her father dies, missing out on many other things that life has to offer.

One night, Prince Naveen, who was turned into a frog by an evil voodoo man, mistakes Talia as a princess. She kisses him after he promises her all the riches that would enable her to open her own restaurant, but unlike the well-known fairy tale, she turns into a frog herself.

The rest of the story follows the two frogs in search of a magical voodoo woman, who supposedly has the ability to turn them both back into

photo courtesy of mct campus

that frog’s gross, but the princess doesn’t seem to mind.

W ill they live happily ever after? Probably. human beings. During their journey, the two frogs grow closer and teach each other valuable life lessons.

Prince Naveen shows Talia how to have fun and she teaches him the value of hard work.

Two note-worthy characters from “The Princess and the Frog” are Ray, the Cajun firefly, and Louis, a plump alligator with a love for jazz music; both of whom add much of the humor to the film.

newsrecordent@gmail.com | 513.556.5913

Not only is the humor for this film on the mark, the musical numbers are too. Many of the songs have a jazz influence, fitting in perfectly with the story.

“The Princess and the Frog” meets the standards of a Disney classic and has undoubtedly secured itself a place within the Disney Vault alongside the other Disney princess films.

5

classifieds

We e k e n d E d i t i o n Jan. 7, 2010 www.newsrecord.org

CLASSIFIEDS POLICY

RATES

1 All ads must be prepaid.

2 Out-of-town advertisers must send check with copy.

3 NIU’s must be signed and filled out before acceptance of ads.

4 All ad changes are due two days prior to publication.

5 No refunds unless a mistake by The News Record’s staff occurs in the advertisement. Refunds are not granted for ads placed, then cancelled. Adjustments are limited to the portion of the ad which is incorrect. Under no circumstances will an adjustment be issued greater than

the cost of the ad.

6 To receive student discount, current verification must be shown.

7 Students or student groups may not use display or classified discounts for non-university, for profit businesses.

8 Advertisers should check their ads the first day of printing. The News Record is not responsible for more than one incorrect insertion.

9 The News Record reserves the right to reject any ads at its discretion, with or without notification to the advertiser.

10 These policies are not negotiable.

Choose a variety of categories to sell everything/anything. Students may not use UC rates for non-UC, for profit businesses. Valid ID card required for discount.

Students: Bold Type: Non-Students: Bold Type:

1-3 runs $0.50 $0.60

4-6 runs $0.40 $0.50

7-9 runs $0.30 $0.40

10+ runs $0.20 $0.30

$0.60 $0.70

$0.50 $0.60

$0.40 $0.50

$0.30 $0.40

DEADLINES Deadline for classified ads is 4 p.m., two days prior to publication.

Display ad deadline is 4 p.m., three days prior to publication.

Deadline for Monday issues is 4 p.m. Thursday for display ads.

For classified and display advertising information, please call 513-556-5900.

FOR RENT ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR BEDROOMS AND STUDIOS. WALK TO US. FREE HEAT. CARPET, HARDWOOD, LAUNDRY, DISHWASHER, PARKING. SECURITY ALARMS ARE AVAILABLE. DEPOSIT SPECIAL WITH APPROVAL. Call 513-651-2339.

EFFICIENCY, 1-BEDROOM, 2-BEDROOM in HYDE PARK for rent in excellent condition. New appliances including dishwashers,

Equal Housing Opportunity All apartment rental/sublet advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap or familial status, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.

This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for apartment rentals or sublets which is in violation of the law.

Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis.

FOR RENT A/C. HEAT and WATER paid.

Balcony, pool use, 10 minutes from UC. New kitchens and bathrooms. Laundry, off-street parking/ garage.

Starting at $545 per month. Call us at 513-477-2920.

For Rent 1-5 bedrooms and houses available. Visit merlinproperties.net or contact 513-6786783 (Tony) Clifton - One bedroom apartment. Utilities furnished, clean.

Call 513-621-6446.

FOR RENT

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

FOR SALE

Rooms for rent in a fully furnished house includes high speed internet, cable, ALL UTILITIES, fully equipped kitchen, gardner and HOUSEKEEPING service for common areas. Newly remodeled, upgraded and painted. Great location, nice neighborhood. 1 mille from UC Campus. Available early September. $300 to $425, depending one size of bedroom and floor. Off street parking. Porch.

Driveway. Backyard.

Call 513-288-1189 or for appointment.

Petition Circulators.

Earn $15-$30/ hr+++++ No Experience Necessary!! Fun & Easy!! Make your own hours!!!!!

Part-time/Full-time/ Anytime!!!!! No Sales/ Phones!!!!!!

PAID DAILY!!!!

Call 513-334-4494.

full time during the Summer. Must have good driving record.

Extremely competitive pay. Please send résumé and references to Frankowski@ zoomtown.com.

Cat seeks new home. Orange Boy (AKA The Juice) is big, affectionate, playful, good cat box etiquette, good health.

Comes with supplies.

Call Linda 513-3792094.

2213 Sauer Street.

2-3 bedroom house, quiet street, walk to UC, washer/dryer, AC, $700/month, 1 year lease and deposit. Call 513886-0094.

Super cheap Clifton rooms for rent.

Furnished and unfurnished. 513678-5252 (call 24/7).

FREE Heat, Electric & Water! Newly renovated! Large 3 & 5 bedroom, 1 to 2 bath apartments available a couple miles from UC! Great kitchens, large bedrooms, A/C, laundry facility, private parking. $375/ person. Call Seth 513-383-9435 or sgdimling@aol.com

Caregiver wanted in Mason for active, physically disabled 52-year-old. No experience, flexible hours. 10+/hour. Call 513-381-2800 #7778.

VACANCIES. A Leading Company in the manufacturing of arts and galleries components requires suitably qualified candidates. General Requirements: Computer Proficiency in relevant software.

Age - 18 years and above. Experience Not less than a year in a similar position.

Educational Qualification - Some College/BSC in a related discipline.

HELP WITH CHILDREN WANTED IN THE HOME. Enthusiastic individual wanted to help with homework and to provide a safe afterschool environment for 13, 10 and 7-yearolds in our home in Northeast Cincinnati 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. weekdays. Ideally available to work

HOOTERS NOW ACCEPTING APPS! Hooters of Springdale is now accepting applications for Hooters Girls, Hostesses and Cooks.

So if you’re a hard working person with a great attitude and looking for a chance to make great money, then apply in person at Hooters of Springdale – 12185 Springfield Pike Springdale, Ohio. Check us out on Facebook and www.hootersrmd. com! 513-671-2772.

BARTENDING. $250 /DAY POTENTIAL. No experience necessary, training provided. Call 1-800965-6520 ext 225.

Campaign Staff (513) 221-2115 Grassroots work with Ohio’s largest environmental group on issues that matter. MondayFriday 2-10pm FT $375/week, PT available 3 days/ week.

Newsstands Every :

VISIT US ONLINE WWW.NEWSRECORD.ORG

Follow us @newsrecorD_UC

Monday Wednesday Thursday

6

Weekend Edit i o n Jan. 7, 2010 www.newsrecord.org

sports covering all uc sports

SABEL’S

HAUS

GARRETT SABELHAUS

Cats trounce Roadrunners Bearcats (11-4, 2-1 Big East) their first lead of the night with a put-back layup after a missed free throw less than three minutes in.

McClain played 13 minutes Wednesday, his highest total of the season. The 7-footer blocked two shots and grabbed eight rebounds while going 4-of-5 shooting for eight points. The point total was a season-high for McClain, whose reoccurring foot injury prevented him from going full speed the entire game.

“Biggie would have had a double-double tonight, but his foot started bothering him,” Cronin said. “He’s got a couple different bone spurs, one in his big toe, that flared up on him.”

Cincinnati used a 20-2 first-half run to build a lead that reached 36 points with 1:23 remaining in the opening half.

“The main key was to come out and play defense, to come out and get stops, and the offense would be easier for us,” said junior forward Darnell Wilks, who finished the game with eight points and six rebounds.

sam elliott the news record

This time, the roadrunner got caught.

The Cincinnati men’s basketball team played the part of Wiley E. Coyote. Dion Dixon led the Bearcats with 13 points, and Cincinnati had 12 players score as they rolled to an 87-58 victory against Cal State Bakersfield Wednesday, Jan. 6, at Fifth Third Arena.

“Our guys came out ready to play in the first half [and] put the game away,” said UC head coach Mick Cronin.

The Roadrunners jumped out to an early 3-0 lead thanks to a three pointer from junior guard Donovan Bragg, but their lead over Cincinnati would be short-lived.

Junior center Anthony “Biggie” McClain gave the

Cincy fans should be mad at Kelly

It’s obvious Brian Kelly left the Cincinnati football program in great shape.

It’s also obvious he stuck up a big middle finger to this fine university before he left.

The Brian Kelly era in Cincinnati ended nearly a month ago, but with this being our first week back in class, I want to weigh in on it. Then I promise not to talk about it ever again.

Despite what these “experts” have written about the situation, I still believe UC fans have a right to be pissed off. Kelly blatantly lied to the players that busted their asses for him spanning the course of the season and the last three years.

But there is no reason to be bitter about it now. What’s done is done, and Kelly is where he wants to be.

The entire hiring process should have been handled completely differently though, starting with Kelly. It has been reported that he was in fact first contacted by Notre Dame prior to the Pittsburgh game Saturday, Dec. 5.

Right then is when Kelly needed to address it with his players.

Tell them right then that you were contacted by the Irish, and, that if they offered the job, you would take it. If you want to keep it from the media, then fine — tell the players to keep it quiet until you want to address the situation.

But that isn’t how it went down at all. Kelly didn’t say a word to anyone before the Pittsburgh game.

And I’ve heard the excuses.

“Well, he didn’t want it to be a distraction to his players and he wanted to give them the best chance at winning the conference championship.”

Give me a break.

He wanted to beat Pittsburgh to finish 12-0, so he could win Big East Coach of the Year. So he could win the conference. So he could get the Notre Dame job.

I would feel blatantly used if I were a player on that team.

And do you really think Kelly cared about winning for the team?

If he did, he would have coached the Sugar Bowl.

Kelly has even said he would have coached the National Championship Game had the Bearcats made it there.

So, good for Mardy Gilyard when he walked out of the end-of-season banquet after the news of Kelly’s departure. I’m glad he said the things he did when interviewed afterward.

We can’t be mad at Kelly for going to Notre Dame. It seems like an ideal fit and he’ll likely succeed there.

He’s just not the person we all thought he was.

And no, the Sugar Bowl would not have turned out differently had Kelly been coaching in it.

Know who knew that?

Kelly.

Why would he want to go coach that game and blemish his record at UC? No matter what he would have done to game plan for Florida, it wouldn’t have mattered. That game was a mismatch across the board.

But Kelly shouldn’t have to take the rap for the entire debacle.

College football is more messed up than Tiger Woods.

How often in professional football does a coach leave mid-season for another team? In college football it’s unfortunate because every year a group of players from a particular team play a bowl game without their head coach.

Maybe college football should quit playing bowl games one month after the regular season.

Play the bowls two weeks after the final regular-season game and then open things up for other schools to start poaching coaches.

UC is at fault in this, too.

School officials took a little heat for letting the players talk to the media after the banquet. Most were upset with the situation and some popped off to the cameras a little bit.

You never saw Tony Pike do an interview that night did you?

Someone had the sense to tell Pike he shouldn’t get involved because it could affect his draft situation if he said something negative.

Where were those people to tell Gilyard not to talk?

But hey, it’s all over now.

Butch Jones is taking over.

And hopefully when he leaves Cincinnati, he’ll go out with some class.

pat strang | the news record

in with authority Darnell Wilks goes up for a dunk in UC’s 87-58 win over Cal State Bakersfield.

Wilks scored eight points and six rebounds, Jan. 6.

see cats | page 2

FROM FRIEND TO FOE thursday , jan . a

f i g h t

t o

a

f i n i s h

!!

7 a

Commence 7:30 p.m.

f i g h t

t o

a

f i n i s h

!!

elliott faces former boss for first time

T

michael vest the news record

he University of Cincinnati women’s basketball team travels to Storrs, Conn. Thursday night to take on the undefeated and No. 1-ranked Connecticut Huskies.

The game is head coach Jamelle Elliott’s first trip back to Connecticut since she was hired at UC. Elliott spent 12 seasons as a UConn assistant coach under Geno Auriemma, where she was a part of five national titles. She also played on the 1995 team that won the championship, the school’s first.

“He’s influenced me tremendously. I’ve been around this man half my life as a player and as an assistant,” Elliott said. “Now that I’ve become a head coach, obviously he’s a mentor of mine and he’s somebody I look to talk to. Most of what I know has come from him.”

The Huskies (13-0, 2-0 Big East) come into the game with a 52-game winning streak overall and a 125-game win streak against non-ranked opponents.

UConn beat South Florida 84-42 in its last game, and they pounded Seton Hall 91-24 in its conference opener.

They have scored 1,126 points this season, and their opponents have put up only 573 points against them.

To hang with UConn, the Bearcats need to limit turnovers and limit the Huskies’ second-chance points.

“If we’re going to be successful, we need to step outside ourselves and what has been our reputation, which has been trouble scoring and turning the ball over,” Elliott said.

Junior Maya Moore leads the Huskies with a 19.1 scoring average and is second on the team in rebounds with a 6.8 average per game. Three other UConn players average double-digit scoring per game.

Senior Tina Charles leads the team with 8.4 rebounds per game.

The Bearcats (7-6, 0-1 Big East) opened their conference schedule with a 63-49 loss to Louisville. Senior Kahla Roudebush scored 17 points against the Cardinals and leads UC in scoring with an 11.7 average. Right behind her is Carla Jacobs, with an 11.2 scoring average.

Jacobs has emerged as one of the Bearcats’ best performers.

“The most consistent player that we’ve had all year is Carla Jacobs,” Elliott said. “You know what you’re going to get out of her every game. She’s going to play solid defense, she’s going to take the ball to the basket and most of the time she hits her open shots.”

Center Michelle Jones, who leads the Cats with seven rebounds per game, will also be key to the Bearcats’ success because of her presence down low.

Last season the Bearcats lost their matchup against UConn 65-34.

photo illustration by claire thompson

Texas or Alabama: Who will win it all?

Crimson Tide

Longhorns

garrett Sabelhaus the news record

sam elliott the news record

Alabama’s defense will win the national championship for the Crimson Tide. Oh yeah, they have a pretty good running back too.

Texas won’t be able to light up the scoreboard like they normally do because Alabama is going to try to keep Colt McCoy and the Longhorn offense off the field as much as possible.

Alabama needs to give Texas a steady diet of Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram and the defense needs to limit Texas’ big plays.

The longhorns scored at least 34 points in all but two games this season. They scored 16 points in a three-point win against Oklahoma, and only 13 points in a one-point victory against Nebraska.

In terms of points allowed, Oklahoma is ranked seventh in the country allowing 13.5 points per game. Nebraska is second surrendering an average of 11.2 per game.

Alabama, though, has the best defense giving up just 11 points per game. The Tide doesn’t allow too many yards either as they allow only 241 per game.

Texas has proven already that they can score in bunches with a lot of big plays. They just haven’t proven they can score against the best defenses.

As long as Alabama can sustain some long drives and punch it in the end zone a couple times, they will win. Expect a pretty low-scoring game though. Alabama doesn’t exactly score in bunches and Texas will have to earn every yard they get.

Mark Ingram won the Heisman Trophy.

That alone is reason enough why the Texas Longhorns will win the BCS National Championship.

Since 2000, seven Heisman Trophy winners have also played for a national title during the season in which they won the award. Only one — Matt Leinart in 2004 — has been able to hoist both trophies come season’s end.

The other six — Sam Bradford, Troy Smith, Reggie Bush, Jason White, Eric Crouch and Chris Weinke — took home college football’s highest individual honor, but failed to win a national title for their team.

But Mark Ingram and his cursed Heisman Trophy aren’t the only reason Texas and head coach Mack Brown will win it all.

McCoy has won more games than any other starting quarterback in college football history, and he certainly isn’t looking to lose his final game in a Texas uniform.

This season, McCoy is completing more than 70 percent of his passes, throwing 27 touchdowns and only 12 interceptions.

McCoy has thrown 11 of his touchdowns to wide receiver Jordan Shipley, who also poses a dangerous threat as a punt returner.

The Crimson Tide have faced some tough SEC defenses this season, but the Longhorns will be too much for Alabama’s Greg McElroy and Ingram.

Texas’ defense has allowed only 15.2 points per game this season and rank third nationally in yards allowed.

All the more reason why Texas will be this season’s college football national champions.

Heads or Tails?

sports.newsrecord@gmail.com | 513.556.5913