TNR - 12.3.09

THE INdependent student newspaper at the university of cincinnati

Vol. CXXVIV Issue 28

thursday , dec . 3, 2009 next stop, pittsburgh Bearcats battle for Big East title, automatic BCS invitation. page 8

Housing Web site approved unanimously danielle federle the news record

A bill encouraging an off-campus housing Web site free to University of Cincinnati students was unanimously passed during Student Government’s Wednesday night meeting.

One of Student Governments goals is to “better serve the students.”

The bill states the purpose of an off-campus housing Web site is to benefit UC students by providing an additional avenue through which they might find affordable, quality housing.

The bill was written and submitted to SG by senators at-large Mark Rooney and Lane Hart. They will work to connect the Web site to the already-established organization, Living Off Campus 101. Living Off

staff ed Thanksgiving can’t hold a job in this economy. page 5

mr. fox Wes Anderson’s animated retelling of the classic children’s book. page 3

weather forecast

A future Olympian

THURSDAY

43° 28 °

SG DISCUSSION TOPICS Book swap Web site is to be hosted on UC filespace

FRIDAY

40 /25

Took steps to integrate an LGBTQ representative

SATURDAY

38 /25

Possibly extend BTS route to CVG airport for international students

SUNDAY

43 /29

Preemptively set Metro costs at $40 per year

MONDAY

46 /32

Possible cooperation with UC iPhone application creator index

NightWalk is creating a self-defense class

1 News 3 Entertainment 5 Opinion 7 Classifieds 8 Sports

see SG | page 6

Study: Serotonin in cancer cells poses new lead

briefs

Benefit Concert

sara maratta the news record

University of Cincinnati researchers discovered that serotonin is created within breast cancer cells, allowing them to explore a new method of diagnosis and treatment for the disease.

Among American females, breast cancer is second only to lung cancer in the number of cancer-related deaths.

Serotonin is a biogenic monoamine, a small molecule that is made from the amino acid known as tryptophan. Serotonin is well known for being a neurotransmitter.

The researchers used human breast cancer tumors in their study from national databases and tissue resources.

In breast cancer cells, the amount of serotonin that is synthesized varies and that the serotonin receptors differ from normal breast cells.

Their findings were published in Breast Cancer Research.

“This is the first paper to ever show that breast cancer cells even make serotonin,” said Dr. Nelson Horseman, a professor in the department of molecular and cellular physiology.

when

7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 4

where

Kresge Auditorium

The sixth annual IvaDean Benefit Concert is organized by the College of Medicine as a fundraising event for the IvaDean Medical Student Scholarship. With Dr. Bruce Giffin as emcee, alumni, students and professors will perform 20 songs.

Pi Kappa Alpha Update Coulter loeb | the news record

Skaters at the Fountain Square ice rink enjoy the events Friday, Nov. 27, when Mayor Mark Mallory flipped the switch on for more than 20,000 Christmas lights.

Both Mike Jarvis and Ryan Atkins, UC student involved in a Nov. 20 car accident, were discharged from the University of Kentucky Medical Center. Jarvis has been relocated to Columbus, Ohio, and Atkins has been admitted to the Drake Medical Center.

see CANCER | page 6

Student Government Trip

Student reported offense in residence hall amanda woodruff the news record

kareem elgazzar | the news record

nelson horseman, UC professor, helped lead the study in breast cancer cells that ultimately discovered the presence of serotonin.

Date auction aids crash survivors gina gaetano the news record

The Phi Rho Chi Men’s Honorary hosted a date auction at Woody’s for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the families of five Pi Kappa Alpha members involved in a car accident Nov. 20.

“Proceeds from the event will be donated to the families of the members of Pi Kappa Alpha who were involved in the car accident this weekend,” said Leif Edgar from the Carl H. Lindner HonorsPLUS Program at the event Tuesday, Nov. 24.

Five members of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity were involved in a serious accident on Interstate 75 in Rockcastle County Friday, Nov. 22. At least three of the men involved were injured and taken to the University of Kentucky Medical Center. Ryan Atkins, 21, was originally listed in critical condition; Mike Jarvis, 21, was originally listed in serious condition; and John Doerger, 21, was

originally listed in fair condition.

“We made over $600 in donations collected at the door alone, and we’re expecting a $150 check from Woody’s special promotions from that night,” said Jordan Brewer, president of Phi Rho Chi. The efforts brought in more than $1,000.

“This was the most successful date auction that I’ve been a part of with Phi Rho Chi,” said Mark Wood, president of Pi Kappa Alpha.

Phi Rho Chi usually hosts its date auction once a year in the spring, but the fraternity saw this as an opportunity to help.

“It went very well, and the attendance this year was vastly improved,” Brewer said. “Word got out that we were supporting the families for this, and there was a rallying, not just of the Greek community, but of people just supporting this cause,” Wood also noticed the boost in attendance. see date | page 6

A female student reported a sexual offense to the Women’s Center after an unknown male allegedly assaulted her in Calhoun Hall Wednesday, Nov. 25.

The student was on the 13th floor in a study-lounge area when the male approached her.

The Women’s Center at the University of Cincinnati established the Peer Advocates program to provide around-the-clock assistance for instances similar to this one. The student called the hotline and the center took action.

“We listen to them, but we’re not counselors,” said Kim Fulbright, program coordinator at the Women’s Center. “We figure out what resources will best benefit them.”

The student chose to report the incident to the UC Police Department and the peer advocates accompanied her to the hospital, where she received appropriate care.

Detective Jim Vestring of UCPD plans to continue the investigation, said Gene Ferrara, public safety director.

Campus is more isolated during breaks, creating more opportunities for more crime-related behavior, Fulbright said. The student was alone in the area when the assault occurred.

It’s very rare to have a stranger assault. The last one was nearly five years ago.

—KIM FULBRIGHT, WOMEN’S CENTER COORDINATOR

“It is important to stay in a group, be in a space other people are in and trust your gut instinct,” Fulbright said. “A lot of women question it because they don’t want to come off as rude, but if you feel something isn’t right, trust that instinct.”

Alcohol is usually a factor in sexual assault incidents because the instinct is not clear, Fulbright said. Alcohol was not involved during the Nov. 25 assault.

Although the Women’s Center is one resource that provides information to reduce the risk of becoming a victim, there is not an absolute way to prevent the assault from occurring. see ASSAULT | page 6

The University of Cincinnati Student Government passed a bill Wednesday, Dec. 2, at their weekly meeting approving a retreat to Indianapolis, Ind. The trip is projected to cost more than $5,000, as opposed to the approximate $9,000 that it cost to fund the trip last year.

Last year, Student Government traveled to Pittsburgh, Pa. “It’s for getting away from the distractions of Cincinnati,” said Tim Lolli, student body president.

SG approved a two-night stay and is budgeting for hotel expenses as well as transportation to and from Indianapolis via a charter bus.

Budget cuts forced the organization to make some sacrifices such as paying for dinner on one night of the retreat, although 20 pizzas for lunch are included in the projection.

Including a 10 percent overrun, the grand total of the trip is expected to cost $5,303.65, which comes out of Student Government’s budget.

ONLINE@ www.newsrecord.org vote! Best of UC Friday, Dec. 4, is the final day to vote on the Best of UC online. Results will be reported in the Dec. 7 issue.

% % ONLINE POLL JUSTIN TEPE | the news record

a student reported a sexual assault on Wednesday, Nov. 25 saying that it took place on the 13th floor study lounge in Calhoun Hall, her place of residency. newsrecordnews@gmail.com | 513.556.5908

Will you use the student housing Web site as opposed to other resources?

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Weekend edition Dec. 3, 2009 www.newsrecord.org

entertainment covering campus and beyond

ROBERT’S

RANTS robert kirchgassner

Christmas films to make you jolly Now that Turkey Day has come and gone and with the Christmas season underway, here are some recommendations for film viewing (for yourself or as gifts for others).

A Christmas Carol (1984): There have been many adaptations of Charles Dickens’s legendary yuletide tale. But my favorite is this TV-movie adaptation with George C. Scott’s perfect casting as Scrooge. David Warner is also good in a rare, sympathetic role as Bob Cratchit.

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992): Both Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny did memorable takes on Dickens’s story, but neither was as engaging as the Muppets’ version with Kermit as Bob Cratchit, Miss Piggy as Mrs. Cratchit, Gonzo as Dickens and Michael Caine as Scrooge.

The Polar Express (2004): This delightful animated film (adapted from the children’s book

by Chris Van Allsburg) is about a small boy whose disenchantment with the holiday season begins to lessen when the title train wakes him up Christmas Eve in front of his home. The conductor invites him onboard, telling him that he and the train’s other young passengers are headed for the North Pole. Tom Hanks voices the boy, the conductor and even Santa.

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965): The Peanuts gang’s first animated venture quickly became a holiday staple. Charlie Brown finds a way to vent his frustration with the commercialization people put on Christmas when he agrees to be the director of his school’s Christmas play. The music by Vince Guaraldi has also become classic.

Black Christmas (1974): Viewed today as the precursor to John Carpenter’s “Halloween,” this slasher film revolves around a group of college girls being stalked by an unknown intruder in their sorority house at Christmas time. Unlike its 2006 remake or 1984’s “Silent Night, Deadly Night,” this is a scary film that’s neither dumb nor needlessly gory. This film was directed by Bob Clark–nine years before he made …

A Christmas Story (1983): This is a funny family film based on the works of Jean Shepherd (who narrates the movie). Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) is a 9-year-old boy who wants nothing more than a Red Ryder BB gun, despite the misgivings of his stern but loving parents (Melinda Dillon and Darren McGavin). He also has to contend with bullies, dogs who eat the Christmas turkey and even a nightmarish trip to see Santa. This gem is also a great warning about the dangers of sticking one’s tongue to a flagpole.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966): This adaptation of Dr. Seuss’s book involves the Scrooge-like Grinch (voiced by Boris Karloff) who tries to ruin the holidays for the denizens of Whoville only to learn a lesson about Christmas himself. The animation was done by Chuck Jones, famous for his work on Looney Tunes. Just avoid the 2000 live action version.

Home Alone (1990): Given its premise (a boy is accidentally left at home when his family goes to Europe for the holidays), this could have been a bomb, but became an unexpected smash.

Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) is a likeable boy who proceeds to make fools out of the two burglars (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) who try to make his home their next target.

The Santa Clause (1994): A businessman (Tim Allen) finds he must put on the famous Santa suit when Kris Kringle is unable to make his rounds. The longer he wears it, the more he begins to feel like Santa himself. This is a nice allegory about the hero that potentially resides in each of us.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993): This slightly macabre, but family-friendly animated film is about “Halloween Town” resident Jack Skellington (Chris Sarandon) who tries to take over “Christmas Town” with memorable results.

Ninja Assassin Bloody action film satisfyingly awful Nick grever the news record

One word comes to mind when I think of “Ninja Assassin”: bloodbath. Seriously, this has got to be one of the bloodiest movies ever put to celluloid.

In every fight scene, gallons of the red gooey stuff

Phot courtesy of mct campus

Young Raizo wields his trademark weapon, a curved blade attached to a chain, in the new action film “Ninja Assassin.”

are dumped across the screen, spurting from every wound. It’s certainly entertaining, even if it is more than a little silly.

And that’s exactly how you can sum up “Ninja Assassin” itself: silly, but entertaining.

The story revolves around Raizo, played by a South Korean actor named Rain. Raizo is a (you guessed it) ninja assassin from the clan of the black sand. He teams up with a government agent named Mika (Naomie Harris, of “28 Days Later” fame) to take down the clan he once called family. There’s more to the story, but really, it doesn’t matter. To call it filler would be a compliment. It really only serves to keep the movie from turning into “fight scenes with ninja swords strung together.” photo courtesy of MCT campus The dialogue fulfills the same Adult Raizo endures quite a large amount of wounds, purposes. So utterly filled with cheese made apparent by his horribly scarred body. Still, his abs are see NINJA | page 6 pretty well toned ... which is to be expected from ninjas.

“Mr. Fox” delights many Megan Groves the news record

Hollywood has recently gotten smart – at least with children’s movies. Wes Anderson is one among many directors making the decision to bank on our childhood nostalgia with movie adaptations like his recent release of the “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” a classic Roald Dahl book. While covered in the snarky, satirical humor that is Anderson’s signature, the results are still nothing less than magical.

I can’t say the film is a perfect mirror of the book, but I can say the changes are totally appropriate for lovers of Anderson’s films. Mr. Fox, voiced by George Clooney, is a middle-aged fox bored with his desk job and decides he misses the thrill and danger of his former thievery. Clooney delivers wit and cynicism with the bad-boy charm he’s so well known for, taking Mr. Fox from the lovable father figure to the slightly dysfunctional family model presented in all of Anderson’s films.

The biggest change is merely that the characters are so personified.

Mr. Fox becomes a newsman, the badger is a lawyer, the rabbit a chef and so on. Instead of the roles of the animal kingdom, the entire cast takes on human roles and habits that create an odd fusion, while staying true to the original plot that centers around destroying the nasty farmers: Boggis, Bunce and Bean.

Mr. Fox’s nightly forays enrage the

farmers, who become intent on destroying the Foxes. When they stake out the tree where the Foxes live, they attempt to shoot Mr. Fox and instead manage to blow off his tail, beginning a long-lived feud between the human and animal world. Mr. Fox must eventually take responsibility for the chaos that ensues as all the neighboring animals too become embroiled in the danger caused by his exploits.

Most of Anderson’s films tend to be edgy, so it was interesting to watch how he would transfer his sense of style to a younger audience. It rides the line between younger and older audience members by replacing four-letter-words of all varieties with just one: cuss. Any and all swearing is replaced with the word cuss; as in “son of a cuss” or “mother-cusser.” Sex jokes and other sources of crass humor are buried deep enough that no one under the age of 13 will understand, while giving anyone with memories of the 60s and 70s something to laugh at.

In addition to Clooney, Meryl Streep

photo courtesy of mct campus

Mr. and MRs. Fox, voiced by celebrities George Clooney and Meryl Streep. does a charming job as the motherly voice of Mrs. Fox, and fans will recognize plenty of Anderson’s usual partners in crime. Bill Murray makes an appearance as the badger, Owen Wilson gets a quick scene as the school Coach and Jason Schwartzman gives voice to the underdog character of Ash, the Foxes’ teenage-angst-riddled son. Listen close and you’ll even pick up the liquid gold of Willem Dafoe as the evil rat, Bean’s personal apple cider bodyguard.

Dahl or Anderson fan, there’s something of both to love in “Fantastic Mr. Fox.” I haven’t enjoyed an animated puppet style since the days of Jim Henson and it made me nostalgic for the brilliance of “Fraggle Rock” and “Labyrinth.” As always, Mr. Anderson, I’m waiting to see what you do next.

photo courtesy of mct campus

Aronoff Center presents “Chicago” Jamie Royce the news record

“Chicago,” a Broadway classic about murderous mavens in the infamous city during the 1920s, still manages to please crowds with its outrageous characters, sensual dancing and jazzy jams.

As the curtain rises, an orchestra is revealed set up stadium style and scantily clad dancers shimmying toward center stage. It appears to be the makings for the opening number, “All That Jazz,” a hunch confirmed as Velma Kelly is catapulted from the belly of the risers to the spotlight.

And what to the audience’s wondering eyes should appear?

Not the young, sexy, scandalous vaudeville performer Kelly is supposed to be. Terra C. MacLeod, the actress reprising the role of Kelly, had a grating voice and her styling was too severe. While still a talented

performer and ordinarily a beautiful woman, she didn’t embody the gritty glamour of Kelly. But luckily, this is the only low point in the production.

Bianca Marroquin was perfectly cast as Roxie Hart, the obnoxious but lovable wannabe vaudeville performer, who is trapped in a loveless marriage – on her part – with her dopey husband. Marroquin perfectly punctuated Hart’s personality with her cute giggles and hopeless dreams of fame.

That is, hopeless until she kills her lover, Fred Casely. From there she is thrown in the slammer, left to battle the notorious Kelly, and the other mistresses of murders’ row. The dueling divas vie for the attention of their lawyer, Billy Flynn, for the duration of “Chicago.”

During Flynn’s number “Razzle Dazzle,” glittering tickertape cascades from the ceiling at the climax of the song, punctuating

Bianca Marroquin was perfectly cast as Roxie Hart, the obnoxious but loveable wannabe vaudeville performer, who is trapped in a loveless marriage – on her part – with her dopey husband. the dancers every breathy note.

For the duration of the play, the tickertape is kicked up, serving as a reminder of the glitz and the central theme of “Chicago”: The glitter of Hollywood is elusive, and one must be willing to do anything to live in it.

online @ www.newsrecord.org RESIDENT EVIL

LEFT FOR DEAD 2

Check TNR’s Web site to see entertainment editor’s review of “Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles.”

Zombies! Photo editor Coulter Loeb premieres as a reviewer of Valve’s new “Left 4 Dead 2.”

newsrecordent@gmail.com | 513.556.5913

Matron “Mama” Morton, the go between for the ladies in the clink and their lawyer Flynn, is a delight.

Played by Carol Woods, the same woman who sang “Let It Be” in “Across The Universe,” Morton serves up jabs and jeers, as well as a soulful song or two.

Every major character gets a song soliloquy, serving to almost profile them. Amos, Roxie’s husband, sings “Mister Cellophane,” explaining that people walk all over him, if they even notice him at all. Matron “Mama” Morton explains her spoils system in “When You’re Good to Mama.”

The orchestra’s jazzy beats are the backbone of the performance, and come complete with multiple saxophones, a piano and standup bass. Always perfectly on time, they provide all of the sound effects for the performers. see CHICAGO | page 6

GET CASH BOOKS Buyback Hours

UC Bookstore in Tangeman University Center Monday – Thursday November 30 – December 10 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Friday, December 4 & 11 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, December 5 & 12 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, December 6 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

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Friday, December 11 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Campus Recreation Center Monday – Thursday December 7 – 10 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

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We e k e n d E d i t i o n Dec. 3, 2009 www.newsrecord.org

opinion discussion board for all walks of life

WRITER’S

BLOC

JEREMY DAVIS

Obama calls for more troops to end war in Afghanistan Already set to become America’s longest war, the war in Afghanistan is about to get even more dangerous.

An escalation of the war will soon be underway as President Barack Obama readies 30,000 more U.S. troops for deployment in Afghanistan to crack down on insurgents and train Afghani security forces for an eventual transition toward U.S. withdrawal from the country within 18 months.

On Tuesday night, in front of a crowd of cadets at the military academy at West Point, Obama addressed the nation and laid out his plan to implement a troop surge in hopes of stabilizing Afghanistan.

“And as commander-in-chief, I have determined it is in our vital national interest to send an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan,” Obama said during his address to Americans Tuesday night. “After 18 months, our troops will begin to come home. These are the resources that we need to seize the initiative while building the Afghan capacity that can allow for a responsible transition of our forces out of Afghanistan.”

How exactly does sending more troops now help anything? Obama has already sent a number of troops to Afghanistan earlier this year and the situation continues to get worse. It seems that the more troops we send in, the more the situation deteriorates.

This is not the fault of our armed forces, but the fault of political leaders attempting to wage an unnecessary war.

I wonder if Obama has been taking pointers from Bush on how to sell an unpopular and unnecessary war to the American public. It’s clear that a growing majority of Americans simply do not support this war. A recent CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey found 57 percent of Americans oppose the war in Afghanistan, leaving only 43 percent in favor.

The American people are getting tired of all these wars. We are tired of seeing hundreds of thousands of American soldiers killed as they are being used by warmongering politicians to fight their military adventures abroad. Unfortunately, the price of escalating this war will not only be felt by the $30 billion price tag, but also by the price paid through the costs of American military lives.

There was a lot to take in while watching the president deliver his speech, but there was one moment in particular that really drew my attention. Beginning in 2011, U.S. forces will begin a withdrawal from Afghanistan and all forces will be removed within 18 months, according to Obama’s plan. I would love to believe that any war we are currently engaged in will finally come to an end, but history forces me to be skeptical. An immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops would be the only sufficient plan for Afghanistan rather than engaging in nation-building efforts.

“If we claim now that we must stay to train Afghan security forces and support Afghan agriculture because the elected government is inept and the people cannot be trusted to their own affairs, then we are indeed an occupation force engaging in nation building, the very activity in which the president insists we must not engage,” said Chris Morbitzer, president of the University of Cincinnati chapter of the Young Americans for Liberty.

“The president stated that he is committed to full withdrawal from both Iraq and Afghanistan and the decommissioning of the prison at Guantanamo Bay according to a relatively swift timeline,” Morbitzer said.

“However, the president’s track record so far with regard to holding fast to his early promises has been less than ideal, and only time will tell if the president does indeed follow through with his plan for withdrawal.”

And while Obama speaks of bringing a close to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the potential for other wars could open.

“In his speech, the president seemed to be setting up the possibility of military operations in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia,” Morbitzer said. “The instigation of violence against us and the threat of bankruptcy are more dangerous to our national security than terrorist leaders who, without our intervention, would have no ammunition with which to recruit.”

The president’s speech was nothing new. We’ve heard this kind of speech before, and as long as we continue to accept these unnecessary wars, it’ll be the only kind we ever hear.

Is Afghanistan a lost cause? Let Jeremy know at daj8@mail.uc.edu.

Operation Santa to resume Stephanie Kitchens

The day after Thanksgiving people rush to stores in search of the cheapest gifts. This year money is tight and people are in search of the best deal. There is no doubt children will be writing to Santa with their wish list.

Since 1954 the United States Postal Service has implemented the Operation Santa program, sending letters addressed to Santa Claus to North Pole, Alaska, a small town with a population of 2,100. The children would then receive replies postmarked from the North Pole, signed by volunteers as Santa’s elves or helpers.

But this year was almost completely different because a sex offender who volunteered to work for the program last year.

In Maryland, a postal worker recognized one of the volunteers as a registered sex offender. Before the sex offender even answered a letter, the postal worker intervened, according to the Associated Press. Narrowly escaping a scandal, the Postal Service decided to tighten rules concerning the Operation Santa program and even briefly suspend programs in New York and Chicago last year.

Doug Isaacson, mayor of North Pole, agreed with the United States Postal Service that precautions are necessary to ensure the safety of the children who write to Santa Claus; however,

he was outraged that a sex offender from the East Coast was affecting the North Pole’s program and that they did not find out about these regulations until so close to Christmas.

“It’s Grinch-like that the Postal Service never informed all the little elves before the fact,” Isaacson said to the Associated Press. “They’ve been working on this for how long?”

In 2006, the Postal Service began restricting the Operation Santa program by requiring volunteers to show identification. This year, the new restrictions hide the writer’s last name and address.

This is not too stringent of a restriction; it should have been enforced earlier.

This year, the Postal Service proposed that the letters no longer be forwarded to North Pole, Alaska. This town is a huge tourist attraction with street names like Kris Kringle Drive and lamp posts curved and striped to resemble candy canes.

The town of North Pole was going to be stripped of its beloved program and children would not receive return letters form Santa with the North Pole postmark.

It’s curious that the Postal Service’s reasoning behind the change in the Operation Santa program was because last year a registered sex offender volunteered for the program, even though they never answered any letters. If the Postal Service was so concerned about the safety of the children,

“It’s Grinch-like that the Postal Service never informed all the little elves before the fact.”

—Doug Isaacson Mayor of North Pole then why did they continue to forward letters to North Pole last year?

Thankfully, the United States Postal Service reversed the decision and will resume forwarding the letters written to Santa Claus to North Pole, Alaska. It was really disheartening to hear about the Scrooges in the Postal Service when they were setting restrictions to on their program.

The Postal Service has resumed its Christmas cheer, albeit with a few more restrictions. Although the recession is hitting Christmas hard, making the stockings perhaps a bit lighter and the tree a bit barer, at least there is still a part of Christmas children can count on.

Stephanie Kitchens is a second-year journalism student at the University of Cincinnati.

someone call the repo man

McClatchy-Tribune

Holidays clash amid recession With hundreds of thousands of U.S. workers being laid off, there is also an unrecognized, recently fired American tradition looking for work: Thanksgiving.

The pilgrim with his musket and turkey are standing in the unemployment line for the same reason many other former workers are: They’re not as profitable as other holidays.

At the recession’s start, second hand clothing stores saw an exponential increase in customers — Beemers and Benzes were taking up spaces at Goodwill to find even cheaper high-end garb. Thrift store shopping was novel. Finding a Banana Republic shirt for $4?

Marvelous. Why didn’t we think of this before? But now, after a long year in which we have been able to soak up the depth of the recession, it’s not fun anymore.

Staff Editorial

It was due time for some good, oldfashioned, shove-it-down-your-throat retail manipulation.

Halloween saw, not surprisingly, a slow reception among younger children. In the early ’90s, parents would follow kids up and down the street until they couldn’t hold their bags or plastic pumpkins of candy any longer. Now, news anchors on television remind kids that Trickor-Treat ends at 8 p.m. It’s strange how “Trick-or-Treat” has become a curfew. But why is this?

Without it, how would the adults know when to get their party on? It’s just the right time for the babysitter to get there and get settled before the real party begins. Halloween, in essence, has transformed from a day of occult to a child’s excuse to get free candy to, ultimately, an adult affair.

Halloween stores are seeing an upswing in sales of grown-up costumes, which are sometimes elaborate and, most importantly, expensive. Children don’t really care about whether they really look

like Nosferatu or Princess Jasmine, but adults do. Whether it’s the lewdness of the joke costume or how awesome their Michael Jackson “Thriller” jacket looks, adults spend big on Halloween.

So, who profits from Thanksgiving, then? Of course, there are the classic food winners, like the companies that produce products for turkey, mashed potatoes and green bean casserole, but other than that, who gets paid?

Airlines, gas stations, movie theaters and maybe even IHOP, but that’s about the extent of it. But these are all places that will get rushed on Christmas, too.

In a super center or a mall, it seems as though Muzak is automatically replaced with instrumental Christmas music the day after Halloween. The tree and lights go up almost as soon as the fake spider webs are taken down. Although there is no real anthem for Thanksgiving, we should at least be given time to mourn the departed holiday.

In the end, it just feels like Thanksgiving is a reminder that Black Friday is the next day. Of course it’s Photo Editor coulter loeb

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unfair to generalize that all families don’t celebrate togetherness and familial solidarity, but it’s hard to concentrate on what your aunt is saying when every single commercial is talking about $200 laptops and doorbuster deals. All of that food makes us sleepy so we can wake up and get pumped to wait four hours for an early bird special on an LCD flat screen TV. But that’s not to say the winter holidays after Thanksgiving are bad. Like turkey day, they’ve just been skewed a little to fit the economic times. Sure, lights, fake candles and fancy wrapping paper are aesthetically pleasing, but the prominence of sales instead of values around the holidays just doesn’t seem right.

This isn’t a plea to return to the religious significance of the holidays.

It’s more of a plea to advertisers and mass retailers to let us catch our breath after partying in costume before we have to run out and get the latest iPod as a holiday gift.

Spotlight/ college living editor ariel cheung Sports Editors pete marx garrett sabelhaus Sam Elliot enTertainment editor sean peters Production Designer mitul dasgupta

Graphic Designers Alicia kimmet JAMIE RITZER CLAIRE THOMPSON CLASSIFIEDS Manager KELLY TUCKER Administrative Assistant KELSEY PRICE Advertising representatives THOMAS AMBerg KRYSTAL DANSBERRY Jenaye Garver Cody King

6

We e k e n d E d i t i o n Dec. 3 2009 www.newsrecord.org

FROM NINJA | page 3

and unneeded melodrama, you can’t not laugh. Producers Larry and Andy Wachowski (the brothers who directed “The Matrix”) had the script rewritten six weeks before shooting; the rewrite was apparently finished in 53 hours.

And by God does it show. If you don’t snicker during the dialogue, you probably are drifting off to sleep, and I don’t blame you.

Between the horrible dialogue, the hilarious attempt at a budding romance and other genre clichés, it’s hard not to give “Ninja Assassin” some credit. It’s like a movie you’d catch on cable at 3 a.m. when you can’t sleep. It’s almost upsetting that it isn’t dubbed.

But no one goes to ninja movies for the story (or at least I hope not). They go for the fight scenes, and here, “Ninja Assassin” doesn’t disappoint. This movie settles once and for all the ninja versus pirate argument. Raizo’s weapon of choice is a curved knife attached to a chain, leading to many fight scenes with him in the center, a whirlwind of steely doom. No pirate can do that. And the majority of the fight scenes are against multiple combatants, leading to many pulled out shots of multi-target fights.

It certainly gets the blood pumping.

The locations also lend themselves to some exciting battles, with particular kudos to the scene that takes place on a busy street. Seeing ninjas vault and slide over cars while hacking and slashing at one another is exciting. Seeing them get blindsided by a car is priceless.

One word of caution, however, “Ninja Assassin” is super violent. With limbs being hacked off, decapitations, impaling and the aforementioned blood, the movie just doesn’t let up. At times, it seems like the fight choreographers were just testing to see how much they could get away with.

“Ninja Assassin” is not a movie you should pay to see in theaters.

It certainly isn’t worth the price of admission, with the fight scenes being the only redeeming quality. This is one of those movies that you rent on a lazy Saturday with friends. The one where you drink a few beers, make fun of everything (including the line, “Her heart is special”) and hush when the fights break out. It’s a movie that’s so bad, it’s good. Silly but satisfying.

FROM CHICAGO | page 3

The chorus backs up main characters as well as dancers and singers, as well as fulfill one-time roles such as the bailiff and the judge. They serve an integral role in the plot and theatrics of the musical, with each member playing multiple characters, singing and perfecting dance moves.

“Chicago” is almost like a cabaret or burlesque show with a plot. The costumes – comprised of fishnets, glitter and sheer fabric, all in black – accentuate the sassy dance moves and sexual undertones in almost every number. The songs are reminiscent of classic burlesque tunes. The breathy vocals ooze sensuality. The feather fans scream showgirl.

Overall, this off-Broadway production brings a theatrical treat to Cincinnati. “Chicago” is one show not be missed, so check it out while it is still playing at the Aronoff Center through Dec. 6.

FROM SG | page 1

Campus has created off-campus Web sites for surrounding universities including, the University of Akron, University of Toledo and Kent State University.

The Web site will come at no cost to Student Government or UC students. Ten percent of the revenue raised by Living Off Campus will be given back to SG for helping to endorse the Web site. This will allow Student Government to establish a scholarship sometime in the future for UC students.

“It is a win-win situation,” Hart said.

The Web site will include options for students to enter their projected spending amount per month, how many rooms, what part of campus and any other amenities desired in a potential living space, Rooney said.

One advantage the site has over other similar Web sites is its requirement to landlords to pay a small fee in order to post their property. This small fee serves as a tool to validate the quality of the landlords themselves and to weed out fraudulent properties.

Although the Web site will be located on the UC Web page, Living Off Campus 101 will be solely responsible for the management and content of the off-campus housing Web site.

Student Government will enter into a contract with Living Off Campus 101 for a period of two years with the right of first refusal pending the expiration of the contract.

However, after SG officials spoke with other affiliated universities, services provided by Living Off Campus was confirmed as a beneficial tool for students in their housing search.

“There’s been lots of discussion about it, but now its like, lets get it done,” said Tim Lolli, student body president. With final approval and passing of the bill, the projected launch date will be in one to two weeks. The launch will be in time for students to search for Winter quarter housing.

“The off-campus Web site is a great service for students,” Hart said. “I believe it will be an asset for many years to come.”

FROM CANCER | page 1

In normal breast cells serotonin inhibits cells, which decreases milk secretion and causes milk cells to undergo cell death.

Something unknown happens in breast cancer cells that make them unable to react to signals.

“Common cancers usually change the way cells are resistant to signals, this is the reason why cancer cells can grow out of control,” Horseman said.

“This is a new example of that kind of effect when cancer cells fail to respond.”

Therefore, malignant growth of breast cancer cells results from the abnormal function of serotonin.

“There is a change in breast cancer cells; the serotonin signal system actually helps to proliferate the cancer cells,” said Dr. Susan Waltz, director and associate professor of oncology research in UC’s surgery department.

Cancer cells do not cease growth when given serotonin, but normal breast cells do.

“I certainly think that the paper will reflect a lot of attention because it brings together two things that people are interested in: serotonin and the importance of breast cancer,” Horseman said.

These findings from Horseman’s lab could change the way doctors diagnose, treat and manage the disease.

Although serotonin is mostly associated with being produced in the brain, 90 percent of it is made throughout the rest of the body. Serotonin is actually used in the regulation of one’s mood, appetite and

sleep patterns.

One rationale is that there are many well-established drugs on the market that regulate and affect the serotonin system. Currently, there is no drug being used in the treatment of breast cancer that directly affects the serotonin system.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed serotonin regulators.

SSRIs usually come in the form of an antidepressant such as Zoloft, Paxil or Prozac. There is also an anti-nausea drug given to chemotherapy patients that is a receptor blocker that blocks type three serotonin receptors.

These drugs could have possible future anti-cancer benefits, but further research needs to be completed.

“There are many ways to make drugs that affect the serotonin system, we hope that someday there will possibly be a drug that affects the serotonin in cancer cells,” Horseman said.

Horseman’s research was made possible by grants from the National Institutes of Health, Education and Extension Service, the USDA Cooperative State Research and the Department of the Army.

This research has been in the works for five years.

In 2004, the researchers published their first paper on serotonin covering normal breast cells.

“The future in respect to serotonin is exciting, new avenues of have been opened because of Dr. Horseman’s research,” Waltz said.

FROM assault | page 1

A mass e-mail was sent to university members in compliance with the Cleary Act, which states that all events with a possibility of affecting other people must be publicly announced.

During the 2008-09 academic year, 34 rapes were reported to the Women’s Center and one to UCPD. There were four reports of sexual harassment, 11 reports of stalking and 21 reports of intimate partner violence, according to the School Accountability Report Card summary.

“It’s very rare to have a stranger assault,” Fulbright said. “The last one reported was nearly five years ago.”

For questions or to report an incident either personal or for a friend, contact the Women’s Center hotline at 513-218-9531 or report it to UCPD at 9-1-1.

FROM date | page 1

“A whole lot of people were supporting the cause, and we made more money than we have in the past,” Wood said. “Date auctions are fun, and we were trying to really use our resources.”

Instead of charging an entrance fee at the door like at past date auctions, donations were accepted in their place.

“We are splitting the profits between the families of the guys and the MakeA-Wish Foundation, which is the Greek community’s main charity during Greek Week,” Brewer said.

In a similar fashion to their date auctions in the past, the fraternity nominated their dates (all women in UC sororities) and narrowed the list down to approximately 10 women. “[Date auctions] allow you to reach out to members of the Greek community all over campus, with different majors and colleges, and students who aren’t involved in Greek life,” Wood said. “There’s a much larger melting pot.”

The three men have all been discharged from the UK Medical Center.

We’ll tell your parents.

We really will. Have your parents sign up for the online edition of The News Record at www.newsrecord.org. Then they won’t have to ask you what’s new on campus, they’ll already know.

www.newsrecord.org

Across 1 Trumpet mufflers 6 Like pretzels 11 CD-__ 14 Observe Yom Kippur 15 Degrade 16 Latin lover’s verb 17 Comical character in “Star Wars” films 19 __ Bartlet, “The West Wing” president 20 O.K. Corral event 21 Old enough 23 French designer’s monogram 24 Father of Isaac

26 Takers of pics 29 Be superior to, as in the military 32 Japanese sash 33 Novel by a hack 37 Hit on the noggin 39 Davis of “Dr. Dolittle” 40 “Golden” principle 41 Ticket-selling place 43 P. Hearst’s kidnappers 44 “Is the gamble worth it?”

46 London guy 47 “Fencers, prepare to duel!”

50 Sine __ non: essential 52 Seismic event

53 “Could be” 58 Suffix with sub 59 “Stop complaining!” (and what you might do to the start of 17-, 33- or 41-Across) 62 Lead-in for metric 63 Whisky __: Hollywood disco 64 Dad’s brother, in Bordeaux 65 Pay-__-view 66 Excited cry 67 Tries to find

Down 1 They’re above capts.

2 Great Salt Lake state 3 Bull in a corrida 4 Gets a kick out of 5 Does an usher’s job 6 Elephant boy portrayer of film 7 Not very much 8 Data-sharing syst.

9 Displeased cluck 10 “Make up your mind!”

11 Indian bigwig 12 Last Greek letter 13 Digital data transmitter 18 Hershey’s caramel-andchocolate brand

22 Hindu wonder-worker 24 More hoity-toity, in a cultural sense 25 Ruth of the Yankees 26 Actor Lee J. __ 27 Peek-__ 28 Hussy 30 Rising trend in the market 31 Puccini title heroine 34 Heavy drinker 35 Fitzgerald of scat 36 Harvest 38 Instamatic maker 39 “The Wizard __” 42 Cat’s front foot 45 Same: Pref.

46 Gangster Al

47 Furnish with gear 48 Emergency room VIP 49 Eva or Zsa Zsa 51 High hair styles 53 Othello’s betrayer 54 Sty food 55 In days gone by 56 Fancy hat fabric 57 Sorbonne summers 60 “That’s icky!”

61 Also

CHECK THE ANSWERS ONLINE @www.newsrecord.org

7

classifieds

We e k e n d E d i t i o n Dec. 3, 2009 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.

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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.

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We e k e n d E d i t i o n Dec. 3, 2009 www.newsrecord.org

SABEL’S

HAUS

GARRETT SABELHAUS

Cronin too quick to jump on fans’ back You may have heard by now that Mick Cronin was a little frustrated after Tuesday night’s win over Texas Southern.

Not because he waxed the floor with the Tigers. Or because Cashmere Wright was 0 for 4 in the game with as many turnovers as he had assists (three).

The UC coach was unhappy because 6,825 people showed up at Fifth Third Arena despite his team’s top-25 ranking.

He even said how disappointed he was with the students at UC for not filling the student section. What is that about?

I was at the game and the first thing I took note of at tipoff was how many people I thought were there for a Tuesday night game against a far inferior opponent.

No, the place wasn’t packed, but it is the week before final exams at UC if you haven’t noticed.

While I certainly understand that Cronin wants Fifth Third filled, it was a little unfair to call out the fans for not showing up in bunches.

I won’t even use the “bad economy” as a reason why people didn’t show up.

First of all, there are fair-weather fans in every city and for every team. It’s obvious that the UC basketball team hasn’t had the best of teams since Bob Huggins was fired. When the team started playing poorly, fans quit showing up.

Start playing well and fans will be right behind your team again.

That’s just how it works.

But the team is playing well, which is exciting. After what has happened in the last three seasons, you can’t exactly expect the fans back all at once just because of a 5-1 start.

Don’t think I’m blaming Cronin for the last few years either. The job he has done to put this basketball program back on the map has been tremendous. But he would be the first to say there is a lot of work still to be done.

What I am saying is that the fans will start showing up if the wins keep coming. Let’s face it, the basketball program kept UC athletics relevant for years.

It is a little unfair that fans quit showing up once Huggins was fired. If you’re still upset over his dismissal, then you need to get a life.

The bottom line is, people don’t want to see a loser, which is what UC basketball has been recently.

Sure the Cats have knocked off two ranked teams and should have beat Gonzaga had an official called a foul that would’ve sent Yancy Gates to the line for the win. And yes, they’re ranked now.

But let’s be honest, it’s not like they knocked off Kansas or Duke. They beat No. 24 Vanderbilt and No. 22 Maryland, both of which are currently unranked.

I’m not trying to take away from those wins. At the end of the year they will still go down as quality wins against, at the time, ranked opponents. But it does show how unpredictable college basketball is and how the rankings early in the season can be way off the mark.

There are currently eight teams that are no longer in the top 25 after starting the season ranked.

Fans don’t just re-appear overnight. It’s going to take some time.

And maybe some fans aren’t yet convinced that this team is going to have a good year. Cronin even said that being down 15 points to Prairie View A&M at halftime isn’t going to win over a lot of fans.

“I told our team that if you want your fans to come out, you can’t play like we did against Prairie View A&M,” Cronin said.

“You play like that it’s not going to strike a lot of confidence in people to buy a ticket.”

Once Big East play opens up and the wins keep coming, the student section will be packed again. And we may even see that noise meter in the corner of the arena reach the top consistently during games.

At this point in the season, there are bigger things to worry about than whether or not your fans are showing up for a Tuesday night game.

This team is deserving of having their fans there. They just have to keep doing what they’re doing and they’ll start showing up.

Think Cronin is being a little too rough on the fans?

E-mail Garrett at sabelhgt@mail.uc.edu.

sports covering all uc sports

UC to face Buckeyes in NCAA Tournament tom skeen the news record

pat strang | the news record

The University of Cincinnati volleyball team is set to play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Columbus at 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 4, against The Ohio State University.

The Bearcats (25-10, 12-2 Big East) are making their second-straight appearance in the tournament after earning an at-large bid. It is the fifth trip for head coach Reed Sunahara in his 10 seasons at Cincinnati.

“This is good for our program, good for our girls and it’s rewarding for them,” Sunahara said. “For the NCAA committee to pick us as an at-large team, it says a lot about our program.”

Junior Stephanie Niemer is a big reason the Cats are returning to the tournament.

Niemer leads the team in kills (524), total points (609.5), aces (53) and serve percentage (.896).

“We know what this first round

annie fesL Has helped lead the UC w o m e n ’s volleyball team to a 25-10 record and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. is like; it’s tough, we’ve been here before and we hope that works to our benefit,” Niemer said. “[Ohio State] is a Big Ten team; they play against the best competition all the time, so we know they are going to be ready to play.”

Sophomore Missy Harpenau has played like a seasoned veteran this year.

Harpenau is leading the team with 394 digs, and ranks second on the team in aces, kills, total points and serve percentage.

“If we fight like we have all

season, I think there is a good chance we can win and proceed to the next round,” Harpenau said.

“There is a reason we are in this tournament and we have worked as hard as, or harder, than any other team.”

On the defensive side of the net, freshman Jordanne Scott leads the way with six solo blocks and 115 block assists on the season.

Junior Annie Fesl has been an assist machine this season. Fesl is the clear leader on the team with 1,405 assists and averages 11.42 assists per set.

UC is 2-16 all time against Ohio State. Its last victory against the Buckeyes was in 2001.

“They are a good team, they are athletic and loaded,” Sunahara said about the Buckeyes. “It will be a good challenge for us to see where we are at.”

Ohio State (24-9 overall) ended its regular season with back-to-back victories over No. 12 Michigan and Michigan State.

Junior Katie Dull had a great season for the Buckeyes. Dull leads the team in kills and solo blocks, but is also the team leader in errors with 168. Dull ranks second on the team in service aces and service errors.

The Buckeyes have played well at home this season with a record of 10-3, while the Bearcats have struggled to a 6-8 record on the road.

The winner of the match will play the California/Lipscomb winner at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5, for a chance to advance to the Sweet 16.

LAST STAND

Cats clinging to national title hopes

Kareem Elgazzar | the news record

the university of Cincinnati football team celebrates its 28-21 victory over the Pittsburgh Panthers Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008, to win the Big East Championship. UC faces Pittsburgh Saturday, Dec. 5, with the Big East title and BCS bowl bid on the line.

T

peter marx the news record

here are several key matchups the University of Cincinnati football team will have to pay close attention to when it plays Pittsburgh Saturday, Nov. 5, for the Big East Championship.

The Bearcats’ main concern on defense will be the task of containing the Panthers top wide receiver, sophomore Jonathan Baldwin.

“I think what’s different about them [compared to last year] is their balance,” said UC head coach Brian Kelly. “They really hadn’t taken the shots down the field to Baldwin like they are this year.

They’re taking their shots and making big plays.”

Baldwin is a big target at 6 foot 5, 225 pounds, and is a constant deep threat.

Baldwin has six 100-yard receiving games on the season and has caught 48 passes for 967 yards and six touchdowns. Baldwin ranks eighth in the nation with an average of 20.1 yards per reception.

Pittsburgh has one of the best play- action games in the country,

which will make it even harder to contain Baldwin.

“I’m not worried about the linebackers,” Kelly said relative to Pitt’s play-action game. “It’s the 1-on-1 matchup down the field when you put Baldwin against 99.9 percent of the defensive backs in this country. I don’t care if they’re from the SEC, Big Ten, it doesn’t matter; he’s a matchup problem.”

The Panthers passing attack is complemented by a solid run game led by freshman running back Dion Lewis.

“Balance, vision, you can’t get a hard hit on him,” Kelly said of Lewis. “He’s a bigger Jacquizz Rodgers.”

Lewis has emerged as Pittsburgh’s running back of the future and has amassed 1,446 yards on 250 carries along with 13 touchdowns.

Pittsburgh’s rushing offensive is ranked 40th in the country, averaging 183.8 yards per game and 5.2 yards per attempt.

The Panthers also have an experienced offensive line that includes three seniors.

“Offensively they have what I think is the heart of their team and that is their offensive line,” said UC linebacker Andre Revels. “They just look mean on film.

Their stances are aggressive, they come off

the ball aggressive and it’s going to be a real aggressive game.”

Senior quarterback Bill Stull has also come into his own this season and has thrown four less interceptions and 10 more touchdowns than he did all of last year.

Stull has a quarterback rating of 153.05 and has completed 179 out of 276 passes for 2,294 yards and 19 touchdowns while only throwing six interceptions.

The Bearcats defense has given up an average of 34 points in its last three games, but Cincinnati maintains it’s not a problem as long as the offense can continue to put up points.

“I have a great deal of confidence in our defense,” Kelly said. “We’ve given up some points in the last few weeks, there’s no question about it, but I’m confident we can compete and keep the score to where it doesn’t have to be a shootout.”

UC’s defense ranks 47th in the country, giving up an average of 348.55 yards per game. The Bearcats are also ranked dead last in time of possession, holding the ball for an average of 26:03 minutes per game.

Cincinnati will not only have its undefeated season on the line, but also its 17-straight regular season wins streak.

Big East reign comes down to Pitt – again alex brantley the news record

The University of Cincinnati football team will put its undefeated record on the line against the University of Pittsburgh at noon, Saturday, Dec. 5, at Heinz Field.

In what is being billed as the most important game in UC history, coaches and players alike realize the magnitude of Saturday’s contest against the Panthers.

“It’s championship week and as a coach it doesn’t get any better than this when you’re competing for a championship,” said

“No player on this team should be, or is, focused on anything but winning a Big East championship.”

—andre revels, UC senior linebacker Cincinnati head coach Brian Kelly. “That’s one of the things I miss from when I coached at Division II was the playoffs and the winner-take-all format. But we have that opportunity in this upcoming game.”

With a win, the Cats (11-0, 6-0 Big East) would win the conference outright making it two consecutive Big East titles and secure

a BCS berth. Any hopes of a BCS national title game appearance will also only be kept alive by a win.

Should Pitt upset Cincinnati, they would still earn a share of the Big East crown, but the BCS bid would go to the Panthers by virtue of the head-to-head battle.

Pittsburgh (9-2, 5-1) has UC’s attention, and not just because of the

sports.newsrecord@gmail.com | 513.556.5913

up-for-grabs conference title.

More importantly, last year’s 28-21 Cincinnati victory was its first ever win against the Panthers.

“Our guys have already played well on the road this season against top competition such as South Florida and Oregon State, but we know it will be a sold-out, loud championship environment up there,” Kelly said.

All season long the Bearcats have continued to put potential distractions aside and still find a way to win on the road.

“Staying focused on the task at hand has been a non-issue this year because

of the strong group of veterans we have in the locker room,” said senior linebacker Andre Revels.

“No player on this team should be, or is, focused on anything but winning a Big East championship.”

After deflecting away questions about the open head coach position at Notre Dame, Kelly said, “We didn’t come this far not to win a championship.

Everybody is focused on Pitt and what we need to do to win.”

Fans can tune in and watch Cincinnati take on Pittsburgh at noon, Saturday, Dec. 5, at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pa.