The News Record 09.23.13

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VOL. CXXXIII ISSUE I • FREE-ADDITIONAL COPIES $1

THE NEWS RECORD THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI’S INDEPENDENT, STUDENT-RUN NEWS ORGANIZATION / MONDAY, SEPT. 23, 2013

GERVAIS’ TERROR IN KENYA VICTORY NEW SIDE BELL OURS

RENOWNED AUTHOR SHARES INSIGHTS WITH BEARCATS

MCCANN TELLS ALL

SHABAB MILITANT GROUP ATTACK LEAVES 39 DEAD

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UC spokesperson Greg Hand is unaware of any investigation currently underway, but said if the university decides to look into the matter, the guilty party could face disciplinary action under jurisdiction of the university. The university code of conduct, which applies to all members of the UC community, says “misconduct or impropriety can be very damaging to the university,” and that “principles of fairness, honesty and respect for the rights of others will govern our conduct at all times.” The cartoon was reportedly posted in locations around campus sometime between Monday evening and Tuesday morning. The amount of flyers posted is unknown but most of them were removed early

Tuesday. The flyer began circulating via email among curious faculty members who were unaware of the cartoon. Richard Miller, chair of the faculty senate and a professor in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences said the cartoon was similar to witnessing a car crash. “We’re appalled by this not only because it was morally wrong, but it makes it difficult to deal with any situation in Arts and Sciences,” Miller said. The comic-style cartoon depicted Dean Ronald Jackson and A&S Recruitment and Retention Initiatives Assistant Dean Carol Tonge as the “king and queen of A&S.” In one of the frames a caption depicted Tonge saying, “Fire anyone that does not look like us! They have no rights!”

Both Jackson and Tonge are African American. In another frame, Jackson is depicted saying, “Cut off all faculty communication cut out the employees that resist!” The final frame asks students to “Save A&S” and “Fight this new desease (spelled as it appears in the cartoon).” In his statement to the UC community, President Santa Ono highlighted the university’s commitment to maintaining an environment inclusive of debate and free

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Free speech protects crude cartoon, UC can still act Hate speech not punishable by law, First Amendment right protects cartoon targeting A&S deans ALEXIS O’BRIEN CHIEF REPORTER

The person or persons who created and distributed an offensive cartoon targeting leaders in the University of Cincinnati College of Arts and Sciences cannot face criminal charges, but the university could still take action. A constitutional law expert who declined to be identified said the cartoon is protected under the First Amendment, and hate speech is not legally defined or criminally punishable.

CRIME BLOTTER 9/22 Attempted robbery on Jefferson Avenue Two unknown suspects attempted to rob a student at the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Calhoun Street at 1:15 a.m. Sunday. 9/21 Robbery on West Clifton A female student was approached by a suspect at 2:15 a.m. Saturday at West Clifton and West McMillan streets. The suspect demanded the student’s phone and money. 9/19 Robbery on Martin Luther King Drive Two students were robbed at 11:15 p.m. Thursday at the corner of Martin Luther King Drive and Riddle Road at gunpoint. Two suspects took a red bag with a tennis racket in it, and were last seen in an older red vehicle. 9/18 Assault on Ohio Avenue Cincinnati Police are investigating a reported assault that occurred on Ohio Avenue Wednesday afternoon. A male student was walking in the 2400 block of Ohio Avenue when three suspects approached him from behind and punched him on the back of the head around 3:30 p.m. The suspects did not attempt to rob the victim and nothing was reported stolen. Based on the victim’s description, police believe the suspects could possibly be students at near-by Hughes High. Police are working with Hughes High School staff to try to identify the suspects. Message from UCPD While UC and Cincinnati police have been increasing patrols in the Uptown area, police still warn students to be cautious while walking the streets at night. Students are urged to use the Bearcat Transportation System or Night Ride by calling 513-556-RIDE. “Criminals look for victims who are not situationally aware, and who they believe will not be good witnesses,” according to a UCPD release. If anyone has information about these, or any other crimes, please call Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040. Callers might receive a reward for information, and anonymity can be guaranteed.

SEE CARTOON PG 2

TO VIEW THE CARTOON, SEE PAGE 2

CRASH CLAIMS LIFE

First-year football player dies in single-car accident

PROVIDED

Ben Flick (middle), first-year offensive lineman for UC, died in a car crash Saturday. Javon Harrison (left) and Mark Barr (right), both first-year receivers, are in critical condition.

Possible alcohol-related crash kills one, leaves three seriously injured THE NEWS RECORD

A University of Cincinnati football player is dead and two are injured after a single-vehicle car accident in Hanover Township. Ben Flick, a 19-year-old offensive lineman for UC, was pronounced dead at the scene. Mark Barr and Javon Harrison, both wide receivers for UC, were rushed to UC Medical Center by helicopter after the crash around 10:30 p.m. Saturday night. Emergency crews found a black 2009 Chevrolet off road near the intersection of Stahlberger and Mormon roads when they arrived on scene, according to a release. Two passengers were ejected from the car, and two others were trapped inside. Investigations are ongoing, but at this time officials do not know why the car went off road. Alcohol is believed to be a possible factor. The fourth passenger was a student from Miami University, Sean VanDyne, said MU spokesperson Claire Wagner. The three UC players, all first-year students, attended the UC game against Miami Saturday, but were redshirted and

did not travel with the team. UC President Santa Ono was with Flick and Barr at the game earlier that day, and said UC needs to “stand together in difficult times as one.” “I am devastated that we have lost a member of the UC football team and that two others are seriously injured following a tragic car accident,” Ono said in a statement to The News Record. “I was with Ben and Mark earlier in the day and Ben’s

“Ben was so proud to be a part of this team and university. He worked hard ... his future was bright.” Tommy Tuberville, UC football head coach

last tweet is a photo of the three of us at Miami University.” VanDyne and Barr are in critical condition, and Harrison is in stable condition. It is unclear who was driving the car at this time. UC head coach Tommy Tuberville said in a statement that Flick showed promise going into his collegiate career, and he “can’t put into words how tragic this is.” “As a father and a coach, it’s something you hope you never have to go through,”

Tuberville said. “Ben was so proud to be a part of this team and university. He worked hard and had shown a great deal of improvement since the summer. His future was bright. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Flick family on their loss. We also hope and pray for Mark and Javon to recover from their injuries.” Flick was named scout team player of the week late August. The UC football team held a team meeting Sunday in lieu of practice. No decisions have been made regarding the rest of the week, said UC spokesperson Ryan Koslen. The Bearcats do not have a game scheduled this week. “The Bearcats family has suffered a great tragedy,” said Whit Babcock, UC director of athletics. “All three young men are great representatives of the University and their team. Our hearts go out to all the families involved. We are doing all we can to help and support them along with the rest of our student athletes.” Miami offers its condolences to Flick’s family and the families of the injured students. “As a university community, we celebrate the future potential of all students,”Wagner told The News Record in a statement. “As such, we are saddened that the UC community lost a student in this crash.”

UC graduates finish second place in national engineering competition Former students almost achieve net-zero energy consumption for Dallas building using solar panels HANNAH GERTH CONTRIBUTOR

A team of graduates from the University of Cincinnati overcame the odds and a lack of recourses to take home second place at the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers student design competition. The team redesigned the Dallas Power & Light building, to make it as close to net-zero — when a building produces all the energy it consumes — as possible. The students were able to produce 67 percent of energy

by using solar panels and mass green space on the roof, on the ground and along the side of the building. “It would be amazing to say, ‘We have this building and it can provide for itself,’ but we couldn’t change too much of the architecture, we had to come up with small changes to make it net-zero,” said DJ Albert, team member and UC graduate. “It is common for a home or smaller building to be net-zero, but a 19, 20 story building is not common.” The students put a lot of hard work and dedication into the project, said Raj Manglik, director of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences School of Dynamic Systems and founder of the UC ASHRAE chapter. Manglik, who serves as a mentor for the group, said they faced several hurdles, primarily securing funding for the project.

“We had to go outside of the school to get materials,” said Nick Pavlak, team member and UC graduate. “UC wouldn’t supply it and even after we got the products from HVAC they wouldn’t help us install it.” This is the third year UC has done well in the ASHRAE competition, placing first in 2012. Because of the lack of resources and student interest, the project usually requires exceptional students, Manglik said. “The students are very exceptional and versatile,” Manglik said. “The interest is a roller coaster ride among the students and fatigue sets in. A lot can be asked of the students, and the lack of lab space and resources makes it extremely difficult.” All engineer students are required to take the HVAC SEE COMPETITION PG 2

Incumbent city council candidates share campaign secrets with UC students Hard work, research, targeting campaign messages among top suggestions for political hopefuls BEN GOLDSCHMIDT NEWS EDITOR

SYDNEY STEWART CONTRIBUTOR

City council candidate Charlie Winburn speaking at UC.

Two incumbent candidates for Cincinnati City Council shared their insider secrets for winning elections with a University of Cincinnati politics class Thursday. The class, commonly referred to as Win, hosted current councilmembers P.G. Sittenfeld and Charlie Winburn, who proved campaigning as an incumbent takes as much work as campaigning as a first-time candidate. Sittenfeld’s advice for hopeful politicians is simple — there is no substitute for hard work. Especially as a first-time runner in 2011, Sittenfeld

said it took long hours and countless awkward interactions to make his name recognizable. “You show me a lazy candidate, and I’ll show you a losing candidate,” Sittenfeld said. “Right after this, I’m going to go stand on the street and wave at cars for an hour, then I’m going to knock on doors until it gets dark, and then I’m going to go home and answer emails.” Sittenfeld is the youngest candidate to be elected to Cincinnati City Council. At age 27, he won a seat with the secondmost votes behind long-time Cincinnati politician and current mayoral candidate Roxanne Qualls. Terry Grundy, planning professor who teaches the class, said he even discouraged Sittenfeld from running in 2011 because he thought Sittenfeld was too young. “My advice to P.G. was to wait until he had a bigger name in Cincinnati,” Grundy SEE COUNCIL PG 2

CHIEF.NEWSRECORD@GMAIL.COM / 513.556.5908

SYDNEY STEWART CONTRIBUTOR

Incumbent councilman P.G. Sittenfeld at UC Thursday.


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