The News Record 03.27.14

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VOL. CXXXVIII ISSUE XVVVXIII • FREE-ADDITIONAL COPIES $1

THE NEWS RECORD THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI’S INDEPENDENT, STUDENT-RUN NEWS ORGANIZATION / THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2014

GRAND WARNING! BUDAPEST

SAFETY BOARD HIGHLIGHTS DANGERS OF DISTRACTIONS

DRUNKEN DRIVING

SURGEON GENERAL WARNS UC STUDENTS OF TOBACCO DANGERS

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MARCH SADNESS

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Cincinnati City Council backs new Ludlow grocery store Council supports resolution requiring former IGA be used for grocery store; status of property still unknown CHANDLER BONN STAFF REPORTER

Cincinnati City Council unanimously backed the development of a grocery store at the site of the former Keller’s IGA in Clifton Wednesday, further ensuring the neighborhood south of the University of Cincinnati will have a grocery in the future.

“Keller’s [IGA] was an important part of the ambience of the community,” said David Mann, vice mayor and Clifton resident. “I ask this assembly to indicate council support for the aspiration of the community.”

Council’s resolution of support, which was passed by the eight council members in attendance, follows a resolution by Clifton Town Meeting — the body that represents the neighborhood — stating that a grocery store of at least 15,000 square feet would be the best use for the property located at 319 Ludlow Ave. City council’s support of the resolution increases the likelihood of a grocery store and opens the possibility of tax breaks for developers interested in developing a grocery store. It also could serve as a deterrent for developers seeking to build something other than a

grocery store, which CTM members argue would be detrimental to the community.

“We’re pleased with the turnout and the outcome of the council member’s vote,” said Adam Hyland, a CTM board member and chair of Clifton Cooperative Market — a group looking to purchase the former IGA and develop a new cooperative-style grocery store.

Mann, along with Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley, signed a motion that would give city council greater control over what is built at the site of the former IGA, which closed its doors in late 2010.

“This signals to developers that we support the community and are not likely to help [projects that don’t support the community],” Mann said, adding it could take “some weeks” before the motion is passed by the full council.

With the city’s support there are two major hurdles left for getting a grocery in place: purchasing the property and getting a developer to set up shop.

For Clifton Cooperative Market, this has proven to be a challenge, as the current owner of the building, Steve Goessling, signed a 90-day option with a secret developer Feb. 15, Hyland said.

“We don’t know who that is. We don’t know anything SEE COUNCIL PG 2

LAUREN KREMER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Vice Mayor David Mann proposed a resolution supporting a grocery store at the site of the former Keller’s IGA on Ludlow Avenue.

ALL ABOARD

Moody upgrades UC Health’s bond rating THE NEWS RECORD

MADISON SCHMIDT CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER NightRide bought three new vans and increased its number of student workers. The improvements have made big impacts on the service, most notably on response time.

NightRide sees surge in ridership following investments RYAN HOFFMAN NEWS EDITOR

University of Cincinnati investments in its previously troubled NightRide program are paying off, with more students using the evening transportation service than ever.

“I think we’re doing a lot of things right,” said Jim Vestring, NightRide coordinator.

“I think we can do better. Overall, for the length of time that these employees have had to put up the numbers they’re putting up, to me I think is phenomenal.”

The service, which transports students in the area surrounding main campus and the medical campus, received a major overhaul late in 2013 to help reduce the number of canceled calls and cut into wait times that regularly exceeded one hour.

The university bought three new vans — including one handicap-accessible van — and more than doubled the number of student workers. Tablets and other technological upgrades were purchased to replace the previous, “obsolete” system that dispatch used to communicate with the vans.

The changes have been “night and day,” said Andrew Haws, a fifth-year psychology

student who has worked at NightRide since August 2011.

In January, the service transported 6,750 people, nearly six times more than the number of people who rode in January 2013. The February numbers are similar — 8,464 riders in 2014 compared to 1,614 riders in 2013.

Of the 3,608 calls answered in January, 377 callers cancelled, while 500 of the 5,020 callers in February cancelled.

“Everyone I’ve talked to has had fantastic experiences,” said Joe Blizzard, student body president.

Blizzard used the service multiple times since the expansion and he has never had to wait more than 15 minutes for a ride.

Wait times of 15 minutes were unheard of before the upgrades. The program had a reputation for long wait times and dropped calls. The increase in ridership is due to increased efficiency more than a drastic increase in the number of call or students using the service, Haws said.

“It’s like going from the dark ages to [the] modern era,” Haws said.

Average wait times for January and February are around 21 minutes, which less than the wait time for a taxi, Vestring said.

While the numbers are a drastic improvement, Vestring said he thinks his

team can do better.

“I look at these numbers and these numbers are great, but what frustrates the hell out of me is when I see people getting robbed at 8 at night at 10 at night and 11:30 at night,”Vestring said. “That tells me I’m not reaching the people that need to be riding this bus.”

Vestring and his team have been trying to find out why more students aren’t utilizing the service.

Most students probably don’t know about the service, Haws said.

“I still have friends who ask me where I work and when I tell them NightRide they’re like ‘what’s that,’” Haws said.

Vestring said some students might be hesitant to use the service because it falls under UC’s public safety department.

“They think we’re the alcohol police and the dope police,”Vestring said. “As long as you can conduct yourself in decent manner … we’re going to take care of you. I think those are some of the things holding us back and we’re not about that.”

Since the changes, NightRide has increased its social media presence — nearly tippling it’s number of followers on Twitter — to increase awareness.

To increase ridership, Haws developed a plan to provide incentives for people to

Moody’s Investors Services announced Monday that it upgraded the University of Cincinnati Health’s bond rating; a positive indication of one of the region’s largest health care provider’s financial condition.

The credit rating giant raised the bond rating — previously at Baa1 — to A3m, citing “strong volume and market share growth,” with operating margins at “historical levels.”

The increase makes UC Health a more attractive investment for potential investors seeking reduced risk.

“When I came to UC Health, I challenged our associates and physicians to bring their A game to work every day.

And they’ve done that, literally, in this case,” said Richard Lofgren, UC Health president and chief executive officer, in a statement. “They really are the reason we’re so successful, and I’m grateful for their contributions to ensure UC Health remains the premiere provider of advanced specialty care in this region.”

Moody’s forecast for the not-for-profit hospital sector was negative in 2013 with rising costs and stagnating revenues as the main cause for the grim forecast, as well as uncertainties in the market brought on by the Affordable Care Act.

UC alumna to head alumni association NIKKI KELLEY CONTRIBUTOR

A new leader of alumni relations for the University of Cincinnati Alumni Association will take on the task of building strong bonds with graduates and promoting engagement.

A UC alumna herself, Jennifer Heisey, will take on the role of UCAA’s executive director April 14.

“I’m a Bearcat and I have a lot of love and passion for the UC,” Heisey said.

“I know the campus well, I have deep connections to fellow alumni. I bleed red and black.”

Heisey’s responsibilities are increasingly important as more and more universities turn to alumni for donations to help compensate for other decreasing revenue streams.

“I am most excited about getting more alumni engaged in a meaningful way with the university,” Heisey said. “I really want alumni to be proud, enthusiastic and

SEE NIGHTRIDE PG 2

SEE ALUMNI PG 2

Nippert Stadium construction not slowed by wicked winter weather Crews work through subzero temperatures, still on pace to complete work by start of 2015 season BRYAN SHUPE CHIEF REPORTER

PHIL DIDION PHOTO EDITOR The harsh winter hasn’t slowed construction work at Nippert Stadium.

Despite the harsh winter in Cincinnati, the $86 million renovation of Nippert Stadium at the University of Cincinnati is still on track for completion by fall 2015.

“It’s been an interesting chess match to keep the pieces moving and the game going,” said Bob Marton, project manager.

Construction crews have been able to adhere to their timeline despite the drilling interferences and bitter wind chills. However, Marton said they would have to compensate for lost time to reach their deadline of Aug. 15, 2015.

“The winter was rough on us,” Marton said.“We had a number of days that we just couldn’t work because the equipment can’t function in subzero temperatures. It’s not just the equipment, but the people. I didn’t want to continue to have the workers out there in those hazards.”

Cincinnati has experienced eight days of below-zero temperatures and 44 inches of total snowfall in 2014, resulting in multiple days of cancelled or delayed classes at UC. CHIEF.NEWSRECORD@GMAIL.COM / 513.556.5908

“Fortunately the tunnels provide cover, but it still gets pretty cold down there when its less than five degrees outside,” said Steve Swisher, project manager with Turner Construction.“But with what we’re doing right now it hasn’t really hurt us.”

While the demolition of the western concourse has been going on since the stadium was decommissioned Dec. 6, much of the current construction is taking place underground.

For the past few months, construction crews have been working underneath the stadium, the Tangeman University Center and Bearcat Plaza to modify utilities such as steam and power lines.

“Unfortunately, you can’t see all that stuff,” Marton said.

“It’s not very glamorous right now, but now we’re doing a lot of foundation drilling down the entire length of the building.”

The drilling has been more troublesome than expected, Marton said. Though much of the drilling has been done mechanically, there have been spaces that are out of the machines’ reach, forcing workers to dig into the earth by hand.

The deep foundations are being drilled on a 20-hour-perday, double shift with crews digging through nearly 100 SEE NIPPERT PG 2

2 / NEWS Surgeon General brings tobacco ‘battle’ to campus THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2014 / NEWSRECORD.ORG

PHIL DIDION PHOTO EDITOR U.S. Surgeon General Boris Lushniak visited UC Wednesday to warn members of the community about the risks of tobacco use.

Surgeon general warns of continued risks of smoking; UC community working on prevention methods NATALIE COLEMAN STAFF REPORTER

United States Surgeon General Boris Lushniak visited the University of Cincinnati Wednesday asking students and faculty to join the “battle” against tobacco.

“We still have a battle against tobacco, even 50 years later,” Lushniak said. “We have 50 years of progress but it isn’t enough. We have the tools to fight tobacco use. We need to use them and fund them.”

Lushniak shared the results of the most recent surgeon general’s report on the harmful effects of tobacco.

For the first time, women have been found to be as likely to die from smoking-related diseases as men.

Among female smokers, risk of lung cancer has increased 10-fold and risk for males has doubled.

January marked the 50-year anniversary of the first surgeon general report on smoking and health.

The original report, released in 1964, was the first federal report to link smoking and ill health, which at the time included only lung cancer in males.

The 2014 report states that 13 cancers are now causally related to smoking.

Lushniak said it’s vital to prevent smoking at a young age — more than 88 percent of people starting smoking before age 18, according to the 2014 report.

“This is an age group that I’m very concerned about. The world is a little different than it was when I was in college.”

Lushniak said. “ The idea is that [smoking] becomes a stress reliever for students. And when others are doing it, it becomes an acceptable stress reliever.”

Preventing smoking on college campuses has become one of Lushniak’s main initiatives.

“There’s a strong movement in this country to make tobacco-free campuses,” Lushniak said. “Changes are difficult but the reality is that I need to focus on the college campuses. The tobacco free college campus initiative is an expanding concept.”

UC students involved in Relay for Life attempted in the fall of 2013 to gain signatures for a petition to make UC a smoke-free campus, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

Lushniak said he believes this may be because students think they wont become addicted.

“What youth right now can’t stand is that they want to be in control,” Lushniak said. “I need to get the message to them that [smoking] is the beginning of loss of control, that this thing will take over.”

Brian Adams, the chair of the dermatology department at UC, said this was an ideal time to bring Lushniak to speak at campus.

“I think it is perfect meshing of UC, given Boris’s background as being an alumni here, and that he is in this extraordinarily important role as the acting surgeon general,” Adams said. “I wanted to energize students and really highlight what we have to offer and what we produce. At UC, we produce people at the highest levels of education and public health policy.”

At the UC College of Medicine, there has been an increased focus for students to work on smoking prevention.

“For medical students, there’s a big push towards preventative medicine starting before the disease even occurs,” said Wesley Ghasem, second-year medical student.

“We have a course that’s called ‘Smoking Cessation’ where we get people who are already smoking to stop. But if we can do that in the age gap before they even start smoking that would have the best benefit.”

Since the first report in 1964, more than 20 million Americans have died because of smoking, 2.5 million of which were caused by secondhand smoke, according to the 2014 report.

“In the end, we are all responsible for protecting the health of our nation,” Lushniak said. “I implore [UC] to join with me in making this a part of your mission.”

Administration continues push for third century

LAUREN KREMER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Provost Beverly Davenport continued to plug the “Our Third Century Initiative” Wednesday at student government.

Provost shares student-based elements of new university master plan BECKY BUTTS ONLINE EDITOR

Administrators at the University of Cincinnati continued their search for feedback on “Our Third Century Initiative” Wednesday at student government’s weekly senate meeting.

Provost Beverly Davenport and Vice FROM NIPPERT PG 1

years of buried construction remnants, Marton said.

“It’s been pretty labor intensive, but that’s just about all wrapped up now,” Marton said.

“We’re ready to move forward and fill those holes with steel and concrete and take it from there.”

Crews have logged nearly 20,000 hours of labor with no reported injuries since the renovations began December 2013.

“For the most part, everything’s been going as expected,” Swisher said.“It’s always somewhat complicated when you’re working on existing sites that have a lot of utility work or old foundations. Fortunately the university has kept very good records over the years of where all those items, so we’ve been able to plan ahead.”

Students can expect to see structural steel between the last week of May and the first week of June, Marton said. The steel will serve as the framework for the reconstructed western pavilion, which will feature three top tier levels including a mezzanine and private suites.

Also, Bearcat Plaza — the granite steps between TUC and the stadium — will be retrofitted to house bathrooms underneath.

“We have removed about two-thirds of Bearcat Plaza. We have to do a little bit more of removal, but it’ll all come back in the form of a terrace with bathrooms and concessions cleverly concealed underneath,” Marton said.

Due to the renovation process of the western concourse, the lower level exit at TUC is closed and will remain so for the duration of the construction.

Bearcat home games will be hosted at Paul Brown Stadium for the next academic school year, but will return to Nippert the following season.

In addition to the western concourse,

President of Student Affairs Debra Merchant focused much of their discussion on student-related aspects of the plan.

“At the heart of Our Third Century is investing in people and students,” Davenport said.

The plan looks to improve various aspects outlined in the UC2019 Academic Master Plan, ranging from faculty and staff to scholarship opportunities and diversity.

Davenport and Merchant focused Wednesday’s presentation on how Third

Century will “re-imagine the student experience.”

“The exciting thing about this Third Century is the opportunity to dream,” Merchant said.

That dream includes the creation of a consolidated student success center. The center would house various resources such as advising, tutoring and a technology lab in to one campus destination rather than in offices spread all over campus.

“The student success center will be at the core of the academic experience but it will also be the core of your experience,” Merchant said.

She proposed that the center may become a social gathering place for students as well.

However, some SG members were concerned about spending money that could be used for scholarships and other improvements on yet another building project.

Cody Quattlebaum, College-Conservatory of Music tribunal senator, suggested that instead of spending more money creating new space, officials utilize unused space such as the small computer lab in university pavilion.

Merchant agreed and said the plan focuses less on the brick and mortar approach and more on “how we take the space that we have and make it fit you better.”

Officials are sharing the Third Century presentation with various campus organizations before they seek approval from the board of trustees in June.

“Getting this shared across campus gives us opportunity for feedback,” Merchant said. “Your feedback is important.”

the project will begin renovations on the eastern concourse in the summer, which will improve the area and provide additional concessions and restrooms.

FROM ALUMNI PG 1

supportive of UC as I am.”

She will be expected to study and compare other alumni associations throughout the country to strengthen the relationship between graduates and the university.

Rodney Grabowski, president of the UC Foundation and vice president of development and alumni relations, said Heisey’s leadership skills and ties to UC made her the best candidate for the job.

“We hit a home run with Jennifer,” Grabowski said. “She is going to do some great things for us. She’s going to be giving direction to the overall alumni association with a strategic direction and really working to continue to add value to alum.”

After graduating from UC in the’90s, Heisey worked in sales and marketing before having a change of heart.

“I missed being around students and I missed higher education,” she said.

After earning a master’s degree from Wright State University, Heisey started a career in higher education and has held positions at Xavier University, Wright State University, Ohio University and University of Louisville, where she is currently employed.

Heisey said she has already constructed a plan to serve alumni and provide more opportunities for involvement.

“I’m excited to be back on campus doing the work that I love for the school that I love,” she said.

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FROM COUNCIL PG 1

about them,” Hyland said. “We would prefer if Goessling was true to his word and sell us the building.”

Goessling did not return multiple phone calls made by The News Record.

To gather support for the purchase of the former IGA, Clifton Cooperative Market has been looking for contributors to purchase $200 shares of their company. So far, 145 shares have been sold, with a goal of 500 shares to be sold

by May 1.

Blooming Foods, another co-op that has found success through a similar program is helping to start the program, along with various other consultants.

“For the sake of the community, for the walkability of the community, for the economic benefit that it provides for the rest of the business district, it’s imperative that we get it open sooner than later,” Hyland said.

FROM NIGHTRIDE PG 1

use the service with the hopes of reaching at least 10,000 riders in April. NightRide will be giving away free pizzas and signed sports memorabilia to hopefully attract more users.

To help promote the events throughout April, student government allocated $440 from its budget to help pay for promotional T-shirts.

Blizzard said student government is committed to helping NightRide “reach as many students as possible.”

“We want the regulars who are already using to continue using at the rate they’re using but we want the people who aren’t using to at least give it a try,”Vestring said.

“Our wait time right now is less than a taxi.”

3 / COLLEGE LIFE

THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2014 / NEWSRECORD.ORG

Events demonstrate dangers of distracted driving

Student Safety Week emphasizes importance of sobriety, remaining alert behind wheel NICK THOMPSON STAFF REPORTER

The scorched skeleton of a car, burned, dented and spotted with areas of twisted metal, sat on display inside a transparent trailer Wednesday on McMicken Commons. The car did not leave much to the imagination. It painted a tragic image of the deadly accident the vehicle was involved in.

Five years ago, Jamey Higgins lost his life when a drunken driver struck his car, said Christopher Conway, a third-year criminal justice student and Student Safety Board president. When administered a Breathalyzer test, the driver blew a .241, 16 percent above Ohio’s legal intoxication limit.

Conway was stationed at the trailer Wednesday afternoon, raising awareness about the dangers of drunken driving for both drunken and sober drivers like Higgins.

“The biggest thing we want people to take to take away from this is the awareness of tragedies like this,” Conway said, gesturing to the car. “When you are able to see physical evidence of what can happen, it strikes you a lot harder than just simply hearing about it.”

The event was part of SSB’s Student Safety Week, established to promote an end to distracted driving, including aspects such as drinking and texting at the wheel. Events served as a reminder to remain consistently conscious and alert.

The week kicked off Monday with a drunken driving simulator, framed on Sigma Sigma Commons with a cluster of yellow caution tape.

At the site, a course was constructed to challenge students to complete under hazardous circumstances.

Participants were asked to drive miniature peddleoperated cars through the course, sending “selfies” and tweeting at SSB’s Twitter account to simulate distracted driving.

Students also wore “drunk goggles” as they attempted to steer and peddle themselves in the correct direction.

To no surprise, none were able to accomplish the course successfully, although many University of Cincinnati students have admitted to driving under similar circumstances.

Only 77 percent of UC students indicated that they have previously or currently used designated drivers when intoxicated, according to the SSB. “It’s one of the leading causes of death among people our age. It has become a major problem,” said Justin

LAUREN KREMER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Olivia Hubble and Christoper Conway hand sunglasses to students in front of McMicken Wednesday, promoting the elimination of distracted driving as part of Student Safety Week.

Kay, second-year criminal justice student.

Additionally, more than nine people are killed and 1,060 injured every day in the U.S. in an accident involving distracted driving, according to the CDC. Jeremy Morall, second-year marketing student, said that the SSB is organizing Student Safety Week events because of those statistics.

“We want [the students] to realize that distracted

driving is a hazard and it’s not safe,” Morall said. “It can lead to anyone to getting killed. People think it could never happen to them, but it can.”

McKenzie Roedig, third-year psychology student, summed up the lesson they want to teach students that participate in these events.

“It’s to remind people that they are not invincible,” she said.

Partially blind artist displays computer generated work Hal Lasko honored in DAAP reception commemorating exhibit ‘The Pixel Painter,’ on display through March AMANDA ADKINS STAFF REPORTER

Surrounded by his vibrant, uniquely pixelated work, a 98-year-old partially blind artist was honored March 13 in a reception hosted by the College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning.

Eclectic artist Hal Lasko reveled at the opportunity to meet individuals inspired by his paintings, which he created by utilizing the computer program Microsoft Paint.

“I am glad people seem to like my paintings as much as I enjoy painting them,” Lasko said. “You’re not going to get a response from other people when you

are painting in general, if you expect that, you will be disappointed.”

Lasko’s exhibit, “Hal Lasko: The Pixel Painter,” has been on display in the Philip M. Meyers Jr. Memorial Gallery since Feb. 3. His pieces show a modernized pointillist style and range from abstracts to landscapes and still lifes.

“I like how he has such a wide range of style,” said Kendra Gulino, second-year graphic communication design student. “It’s amazing that he did it on Paint.

It’s crazy to see, when I draw on Paint it does not look nearly as professional.”

Recently featured in Microsoft’s Super Bowl XLVIII Commercial, Lasko’s work is becoming increasingly prominent.

“How cool it is that it’s done in Paint. I’m so used to

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using Photoshop and higher-end programs. It’s inspiring to know he did this with fewer resources,” said Madeline Engle, second-year graphic communication design student. “It makes me want to challenge myself with limited resources.”

During its time at the University of Cincinnati, “The Pixel Painter” has served as an inspirational fixture encouraging students to pursue their passions.

“Hopefully this exhibit will inspire students not to give up on their passions, regardless of what obstacles they might face,” said Tom Robinette, public information officer.

“Hal Lasko: The Pixel Painter” will be displayed at the Philip M. Meyers Jr. Memorial Gallery through March 30.

Exhibit tells story of powerful women through photos, words ‘Dada Rafiki: Sisters of Legacy’ displayed in TUC as part of Women’s History Month EMILY BEGLEY COLLEGE LIFE EDITOR

A visually empowering exhibit situated at the hub of Tangeman University Center illustrated the sentiment behind Women’s History Month by featuring an eclectic collection of influential women.

The University of Cincinnati hosted “Dada Rafiki: Sisters of Legacy” March 24 to 27 in TUC Atrium, aiming to inspire students through visual and verbal descriptions. Dada rifiki translates to “sister friend” in the Eastern African language Kiswahili. The exhibit incorporated portraits of 40 women over the age of 65.

Forty colorful portraits were zigzagged on a fixture in the heart of the building, inviting students to openly explore each piece as they weaved their way through the exhibit.

Each subject was described by a single word, which appeared in various bold fonts at the top of each portrait. Words included giving, example, strength and endurance, all stemming back to the primary idea of the exhibit: legacy.

Exhibit curator Annie Ruth chose the descriptive words. In addition to being a

EMILY BEGLEY COLLEGE LIFE EDITOR ‘Dada Rafiki: Sisters of Legacy’ featured forty influential women over the age of 65, including Juanita Adams and Jaqueline Kinard.

local artist, poet and arts educator, Ruth identifies as a modern-day griot, which, in African tradition, is an oral historian who conveys cultural essence through spoken word.

Ruth extends this idea by telling positive stories of women like those displayed through the means of poetry and visual art.

The exhibit was originally presented in association with “Women Hold Up The Sky,” a national traveling exhibit.

Don’t let summer slow your progress toward graduation. While you’re home, check

off a few Gen Ed credits by taking summer classes at Columbus State as a transient/guest student.

With our low tuition of just $132.60 per credit hour, it’s the perfect way to keep moving forward – without setting yourself back financially.

Visit cscc.edu/summer2014 to find out more.

EMILY BEGLEY COLLEGE LIFE EDITOR The exhibit, displayed in TUC Atrium from March 24 to 27, was created to serve as an inspiration to its viewers.

4 / ARTS

THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2014 / NEWSRECORD.ORG

‘Nymphomaniac’ confronts sex addiction Lars von Trier’s new film explores humanity with darkness, humor ZACK HATFIELD STAFF REPORTER

Director Lars von Trier has a history with extreme subject matter. His filmography is leavened with dark masterpieces that cover a variety of genres like 2009’s ultra-violent horror film “Antichrist” or 2011’s apocalyptic drama “Melancholia.” It comes as no surprise that his most recent art-film project, the unrated “Nymphomaniac: Volume I,” is anything but a disappointment.

The film, which is divided into two volumes, ambitiously navigates the realm of sex through the lens of a woman who is addicted to it, exploring its role in our culture and in our identities.

The two-hour film opens with the main character, a woman named Joe (Charlotte Gainsbourg), lying helpless and bruised in an alley. An elderly man named Seligman (Stellan Skarsgård) helps her back to his apartment, where she tells him her story of addiction.

The narrative of the film is then told through a series of flashbacks divided into chapters as Joe (the younger version played by Stacy Martin) chronicles her life, occasionally interrupted by Seligman as he offers her pastries or compares nymphomania to fly-fishing; looking for men to have sex with on a train becomes “reading the river,” and so forth. These parallels are important though, allowing the viewer to take a step back and see that everyone copes with the emptiness of life in different ways.

The film proceeds to not only explicitly depict her encounters with men and how she often manipulates or destroys their lives, but also integrates themes of lust, necessity, religion, childhood, memory

and morality.

Though the topics might be unwieldy, the movie itself isn’t. Each scene and chapter is seamlessly woven together with the help from cinematographer Manuel Alberto Claro, who is a longtime collaborator and secret weapon of von Trier.

The influence of filmmakers like avantgarde Andrei Tarkovsky is evident in von Trier’s style, but this by no means makes his art derivative. In contrast, “Nymphomaniac” could easily be the most original film in (select) theaters right now. The stunning imagery alone is worth the price of the movie ticket.

The soundtrack is also worth mentioning for its versatility; it includes classical arrangements of delicate waltzes and sonatas, yet also manages to fit in several death-metal songs.

Even though the film deals with dark subject matter, brief instances of humor are prevalent throughout, adding humanity and depth to the story and characters.

Martin’s emotionally wrung performance as a younger Joe exceptionally encapsulates the empty lifestyle of a sex addict. After being told at a young age that the “secret ingredient to sex is love,” she starves herself of it, opting instead to go a route of desolation.

What is refreshing about the character is that she is neither a protagonist or an antagonist, or even an antihero: She’s a human being. Other exceptional members of the cast are Shia LeBeouf and Uma Thurman, who both give wellrounded portrayals of betrayed lovers in the wake of Joe’s sex-fueled destruction.

“Nymphomaniac: Volume I” is definitely overwhelming at times, but in the way unique films should be. Von Trier has a gift for the cinema, and like Seligman tells Joe in the film, “If you have wings, why not fly?”

PROVIDED Coping with her emotional vacancy, Stacy Martin as Joe attempts to fill the hole in her heart with Jerome’s protruding sexual organ.

PROVIDED The film is dubbed by some to be the most controversial yet. Von Trier is doubtlessly one of the most polarizing directors of his time.

‘Grand Budapest’ vibrant with whimsical storytelling Wes Anderson offers fantastical glimpse into own fictional world with recurring ensemble PHIL DIDION PHOTO EDITOR

It’s rare for a director to come back to the screen and deliver works that are not only continuously original, but also show improvement in their style and directing strength.

Wes Anderson returns to theaters at the top of his game with “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” featuring his entire bag of tricks and his usual entourage of actors.

“Grand Budapest” might be his best film yet.

“Budapest” is a story about a story about a story about the story of the Grand Budapest Hotel and its best concierge, Gustave H. (Ralph Fiennes) and his connection to a murdered lover’s favorite painting. This story takes him and his new lobby boy (Tony Revolori) across Anderson’s fictional world that is laced with overtones of a Nazi-inspired war.

Everything that makes Anderson’s movies his own is in “Budapest,” from the unique color palettes to dry

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humor, stop animation and fascinating cinematography.

The thing that makes Anderson’s films so entertaining is that dialogue and visuals are so jam-packed with detail and playfulness that it’s almost overwhelming to take them both in at once.

This is definitely one of those movies that needs to be watched a few times just to catch everything. No matter what, it’s just fun to watch and listen to.

The pacing is such that the audience should never get bored; one second the audience is laughing and the next they are gasping in shock at the roller coaster Anderson has built.

The idea presented in the beginning of the film of stories within stories is something that comes up in a lot of Anderson’s films, but particularly and most blatantly in “Budapest.”

Looking at some of his other films, “The Darjeeling Limited” features a character who writes short stories in which “the characters are fictitious” but the audience later finds out is based around his own stories.

Many of his other films also use narrators who are recalling past events to tell stories.

Yet in “Moonrise Kingdom” and “Budapest,” the

characters are telling stories of places that really only exist in memory.

This might be one of the reasons why his movies are so wonky, dreamlike, and scattered.

Or maybe he’s just really creative and likes his characters to reminisce.

Anderson’s movies aren’t for everyone though.

The extremely dry humor and randomness doesn’t usually appeal to the everyday moviegoer.

It is highly recommended that viewers experience a few of his flicks to really sink into his style and see how he uses it across his career. Plus it makes watching his ensemble of actors that much better.

Anderson calls upon his traditional troupe for this movie and then some.

The cast list includes, but is not limited to: Ralph Fiennes, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Harvey Keitel, Jude Law, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Jason Schwartzman, Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson, Owen Wilson, Tony Revolori and many more.

Since this is a limited showing movie and the Esquire Theater is one of the few places to see it, now is the time to take advantage and catch it before it’s gone.

Kara Driscoll | Editor-in-Chief

Jake Grieco | Arts Editor

Katie Griffith | Managing Editor

Becky Butts | Digital Editor

Ryan Hoffman | News Editor

Madison Schmidt | Chief Photographer

Alexis O’Brien | News Editor

Bryan Shupe | Chief Reporter

Phil Didion | Photo Editor

Heather Obringer | Lead Designer

Josh Miller | Sports Editor

Kate Davis | Designer

Emily Begley | College Life Editor

Amy Rogers | Business Manager

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SUMMER MAYMESTER SESSION (May 12–May 31) MTWRF 2:00–4:30 pm

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6 / SPORTS March Madness Oliver instilling ‘competing’ attitude ends in sadness THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2014 / NEWSRECORD.ORG

for UC, 66 others JOSHUA MILLER SPORTS EDITOR

March Madness resumes Thursday at 7:15 p.m. when Stanford University and the University of Dayton — 10 and 11 seeds respectively — square off at the FedEx Forum In Memphis, Tenn. in the first game of the Sweet 16. As you probably know, UC won’t be there.

UC will be the same place as you and I, watching at home from the couch, from the bar, or, more likely, not watching at all.

It doesn’t feel right, it never has felt right and it never will feel right, when whatever team you’ve just spent three months supporting sees its season end in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Every single team, one through 64 — well, 68 now that the NCAA has deemed it appropriate to punish four teams with playin games every year, so that it may clutch a few more fists full of dollars — has a claim to it being “their year.”

Every team in college basketball has a story to be told, a walk-on leading the team in scoring, a coach overcoming insurmountable family hardships, an unheralded fifth-year senior blazing his way into lore on the back of only his own hard work and determination. That’s Sean Kilpatrick, but his story will not be the darling of March.

One story from one of the 16 teams remaining will, but that leaves 67 other teams crying.

Survive and advance: It is the same thing that makes the Madness both the best and worst tradition in college sports. The finality is what feels wrong. How can a brilliant 31-game regular season end in one painful span of 40 minutes played 2,000 miles away in the basketball mecca (insert heavy, heavy sarcastic tone) of Spokane, Wash.?

I don’t know how it can, but it did for UC and it feels wrong. Wrong that your team is out, wrong that I won’t be sitting on press row at Madison Square Garden Thursday night, and more than anything, wrong that the careers of Sean Kilpatrick, Justin Jackson and Titus Rubles ended — and will in many ways be forgotten — with an glory less loss to Harvard in a city that might as well have been in Canada.

It’s a special thing in major college basketball these days — a team with three seniors like the three that Cincinnati had this year. And to those three I am grateful.

They’ve sent me out with a great season of games and stories, most of which were good enough to write themselves: the 15-game winning steak, Kilpatrick’s dominance, Jackson’s emergence, the captivating victory at Louisville that finally grabbed the national media and said “Wake the hell up, Cincinnati basketball is back.”

It is back, very much because of the contributions of those three seniors.

Unfortunately and unjustly, much of their contribution will be forgotten because March Madness is where legacies live and die. And in first-round losses, they die.

Sean Kilpatrick’s name will get its rightful place in UC basketball lore, etched in white adhesive next to that of Steve Logan’s and the others named All-American in their time as Bearcats. Someday, years from now, they may retire his jersey — they should.

Justin Jackson will live on in the hearts of UC fans, jumping over tables and chasing down unknowing players who’d wrongly thought they had an uncontested layup, only to see Jackson send their shot into the 20th row — mean face.

Rubles, forever underrated, might someday be forgotten all together. None of them will be remembered how they could’ve been — how they should’ve been — had UC made a deep tournament run, whatever that constitutes.

Collectively, they will be four white numerals sewn into a banner of many more. Two. Zero. One. Four: 2014, American Athletic Conference Champions. Nothing more than a banner for men to look up at when we’re older,“Those guys could really play,” said old me to inanimate grandchild I may or may not ever have.

That will sadly be their legacy some day.

I say sadly because their legacies should be that of three players who helped to drag this program back to the forefront of college basketball. Instead, we’re left with a banner and the memories, the last of which was the saddest of all.

Kilpatrick put up the game’s final shot, a runner at the buzzer just for the sake of shooting. Final Score: Harvard 61, UC 57.

There’s Justin, crouched with his head between his knees, hiding his face from the camera that refused to look away. When it finally did the next shot was no better, Titus, tears streaming down his face with the memory of a crucial missed layup burning into his heart. The camera never found its way to Sean, and thank God for that because I’m sure he was inconsolable.

There’s so much wrong with that being the final images we get of them as UC basketball players.

Sean — the relentless All-American scorer — missing a shot that meant nothing. Justin — the fearless shot blocker, turned most improved player in college basketball — sitting on the floor. Titus — one of the toughest players in college basketball — sobbing.

Thus UC’s best season in a decade, the first that had truly captivated the city in quite some time, ended in the most unfitting of manners. It’s the reminder of what we’ve always known but somehow forget during the course of every season: It only ends well for one team, one fan base, one group of seniors.

The Madness knows no storylines. The Madness is as coldhearted and unforgiving as it is captivating and enthralling. The Madness is, after all, madness — painful, beautiful, unwavering, heartbreaking madness.

Second-year head coach leads UC lacrosse to best start in program history JOSHUA MILLER SPORTS EDITOR

In its six-year existence, the University of Cincinnati women’s lacrosse team has never won more than seven games in a season. Before head coach Gina Oliver took over last season, the Bearcats were 0-30 collectively in Big East Conference play.

But in her second season, Oliver’s team is in the midst of a five-game winning streak — the longest in program history — and sits at 6-3, just two wins shy of eclipsing the mark of seven wins they reached last season. The Bearcats have at least eight games yet to be played.

“Coming in [two years ago] we just wanted to have these girls believe that they can compete with anyone,” Oliver said. “Of course, we’re having more success than they’ve had, but we want them to continue to want more. Our biggest thing as a coaching staff is competing in every game, win, lose or draw.”

Instilling a culture of winning at UC was no easy task for Oliver, as the program she took over had a cumulative record of 19-62 since becoming a varsity sport at the university in 2008.

But even in her first year, Oliver led UC to a 7-9 mark; the best in program history, and senior captain Kelsey Conway said that her changes were impactful from the start. Now as a team more adapted to Oliver’s coaching style, the changes are paying dividends for UC. “It’s been a complete culture change,” Conway said. “Last year all of us were getting used to [Oliver] and her systems, where as this year it’s been easier because the people that were still here played a lot last year and know what it takes to win under Gina. We don’t have to take 10 steps forward, we’re kind of already ahead of where we were last year, so that’s helped us.”

It was in the final game of Oliver’s first season, a hard-fought 9-8 victory against Rutgers University at the Sheakley Athletics Center, where UC secured its first-ever Big East Victory. It was also the victory that laid the foundation for UC’s success so far this season.

“The Rutgers game was that moment where the light bulb went off,” Oliver said.

“We get it now, it’s just understanding that this is a different year and a whole new team with eight freshman, having to get them to jump on board as well.”

Despite closing out the 2013 season with a monumental victory, UC got off to a rough start, opening the 2014 campaign with a crushing 25-1 loss at the hands of former Big East Conference member Notre Dame.

UC notched its first win of the season Feb. 21 against Stetson, but dropped consecutive games to Florida (19-6) and Niagara (12-6).

For Conway, who had been a part of just five wins in her freshman and sophomore

PROVIDED

UC’s Courtney Curtis splits two defenders during the University of Cincinnati’s 12-11 victory against Coastal Carolina University March 14 at the Sheakley Athletics Center.

season before Oliver took over, there was fear that the program would fall into its old losing ways. But in her final season, she wasn’t going to allow that to happen.

“That’s been my thing since day one, no matter how this season goes, wins or losses, we’re going to do it as a team,” Conway said. “I didn’t think that the team had completely bought in to competing all the time, no matter what. But after Niagara, our team realized that it’s not just about you it’s about whose standing next to you, too. Once the team grasped that concept, it’s made people want to compete not only for themselves but for their teammates.”

Oliver also looks at the Niagara loss as the turning point, calling it the teams “Come-to-Jesus moment.”

In the following game competing certainly wasn’t an issue for the Bearcats, as they fought for the full 60 minutes and then an additional four overtime periods before Ashley Helmrath netted the game winner with two minutes and 33 seconds remaining in the fourth overtime.

UC hasn’t looked back, notching wins against Presbyterian (16-6), Costal Carolina (12-11), Iona (14-5) and Detroit (14-5).

What’s been more impressive for the Bearcats is that they’ve maintained their winning streak without leading scorer and senior captain Megan Bell, who was out for the season after a knee injury less than two minutes into the Coastal Carolina game. She had already scored 12 goals and notched six assists on the season.

“We’re still trying to find our niche,” Oliver said. “Losing Meg Bell for us was a big dagger to our team, to where we’re still navigating our way through where we’re at.”

Oliver said that several players, many of which were already doing so before Bell’s injury, have become x-factors for UC. She listed Helmrath (14 goals and 13

assists), senior midfielder Taylor Young (12 goals) and sophomore goalkeeper Meg Gulmi. But sophomore midfielder Courtney Curtis filled the biggest void since Bell went down.

“I think [we’ve had to step into more leadership roles] because now we only have Kelsey [Conway] on the field when we bring it into huddles,” Curtis said.

“Usually Meg was the one who would bring us together and tell everyone what they needed to do. Kelsey picks up that roll, but I think that everyone wants to play for Meg and get the goals that she would’ve had.”

Curtis has certainly done her part in scoring the goals Bell normally would’ve, as she currently leads UC in scoring with 18 goals to go along with seven assists.

While it was unexpected, Curtis’ growth into a major goal scorer has been vital for UC. “I wouldn’t necessarily say unexpected.

Like I said, I think it was one of those thank-God moments that Courtney figured it out,” Oliver said. “We expected that she would be huge for us before going into the season and we’re just elated that she’s come into her own.”

UC embarks on conference play Friday against Marquette. When asked about their goals for conference play, each and every answer started and ended with, “Competing.”

With Curtis, Helmrath and Young all in fine scoring form and Conway consistently shutting down opposing team’s most dangerous scoring threats, the Bearcats believe they can compete in the Big East.

For the first time ever, they believe they can win.

“As a senior that’s what I want to leave by the end of this year: Cincinnati is coming for you,” Conway said. “They’re a different team now. They play with a different swagger and a different attitude.

They’re going to give you their best game.”

Xavier claims women’s tennis crosstown classic ELLEN HADLEY STAFF REPORTER

MADISON SCHMIDT CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

Ryan Quinn lays down a bunt during the Bearcats’ 5-4 loss to Eastern Michigan University March 9.

UC baseball must improve quickly to obtain AAC success Bearcats must avoid old habits in crucial series against South Florida EMILY WITT STAFF REPORTER

After being swept by the University of Central Florida during the opening weekend of American Athletic Conference play, the University of Cincinnati baseball team has plenty to improve on in a threegame series against the University of South Florida this weekend.

“It didn’t show up on paper, but we did a whole lot wrong [against UCF],” said UC head coach Ty Neal. “It started with Wednesday where we had a horrible practice in Orlando. Friday, we did not field two bunts that cost us the game. Saturday, we fielded a bunt but threw it down the line, which I feel cost us Saturday’s game.

We’re doing a lot of stuff wrong right now that I’m not pleased with.”

When Neal arrived after the conclusion of the 2013 season, he said he was trying to rebuild the program by rejuvenating the attitude of a “culture of champions.”

He is still working every day to instill that culture, but has found the task more difficult than he first thought.

“I heard a good quote this weekend watching March Madness,” Neal said.

“The Wichita State basketball coach was being interviewed around one of his games and he used the phrase ‘championship behavior.’ We had a lot of losing behavior this last weekend, from Wednesday to Sunday.”

If the Bearcats are to notch their first

conference win of the season against the Bulls, they will do so against one of the best rotations in the AAC. The Bulls are led

by Jimmy Herget, who was named to the AAC Honor Roll for the second time this season after pitching a no-hitter into 8.1 innings Friday against the University of Connecticut.

“They’re going to really pitch it this weekend,” Neal said. “We’re going to have to scratch and claw to score runs, and that being said, runs are going to be very hard to come by. We’re going to have to be very good at the little things … I’m still not looking for homeruns and doubles, we just need to do the little things.”

To combat USF’s strong pitching prowess, Neal is planning to bring Bryan Chenoweth out of the bullpen and into the starting rotation for the first time this season.

“Bryan Chenoweth needs the ball in his hand with a chance to win. I’ve been holding him out in the bullpen and it’s worked against them with major opponents,” Neal said. “He finishes the game for us, but now with the better competition, I want to hand him the ball with 0-0 in the first inning and give him the chance to win.”

Connor Walsh will likely be UC’s second starter, while Neal hasn’t yet made a decision as to who he is considering for the third game. Regardless of who is on the mound, UC can’t play the way it did against UCF. “Now we’re playing conference teams,” Neal said. “We have opponents and we can’t play that way and expect to win.”

The University of Cincinnati women’s tennis team fell 5-2 to Xavier University Wednesday, coming off of three 7-0 victories in Puerto Rico last week.

UC claimed the doubles point against the Musketeers, winning two of the three matches. First doubles duo sophomore Kelly Poggensee-Wei and senior Caitlin O’Gara won over Xavier’s Alex Brinker and Sydney Liggins, 8-4.

Split 1-1 for the doubles point, pressure fell on the shoulders of second doubles senior Ashleigh Witte and freshman Lauren Bellinger. UC gave up an early 4-1 lead against Xavier’s Christina Di Lorenzo and Daniella Patton, but Witte and Bellinger battled back to force a tiebreaker at 7-7. Xavier claimed the first three points, but UC won the next seven points to win the match and claim the doubles point.

Xavier went on to win five of the six singles matches, easily securing the match.

Witte was the only Bearcat to win both her doubles and singles matches.

“As a senior, Ashleigh has been playing some great tennis for us this season, singles and doubles and gosh, I don’t want to be across the court from her,” said head coach Angela Wilson. “She’s just pounding the ball and feeling really confident. She really stepped up. Senior leadership, right there.”

O’Gara, playing third singles, was the first to fall, 6-0, 6-4 to Di Lorenzo, followed

by Witte’s 6-4, 6-2 victory over Brinker.

Poggensee-Wei’s 6-1, 7-5 loss to Liggins tied the match at two points each, before freshman Katya Bure fell to Patton 6-3, 6-3.

With a 3-2 lead, Xavier’s Andrea Wolf took Bellinger into three sets before sealing the win 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, and clinching the victory for the Musketeers.

The loss to Xavier comes after losing just one of the 24 matches the Bearcats played against Puerto Rico, Suny Geneseo and Colgate during a spring break trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

“Puerto Rico was a great experience.

The team played extremely well in the heat and humidity. I felt good when I played and I think everyone else did,”Witte said.

“Regarding Xavier, we all tried our best but unfortunately we came up short. We’ll just continue to work and get better to get ready for NKU on Tuesday.”

The Bearcats (8-10) face the Northern Kentucky University Norse (5-8) Tuesday in their first home match this season at the Trabert-Talbert Tennis Center.