TNR 1.5.12

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWS ORGANIZATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI | WWW.NEWSRECORD.ORG

THE NEWS RECORD THURSDAY | JANUARY 5 | 2012

LONG ROAD

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UNHOLY BEATDOWN

spotlight | 6

131 YEARS IN PRINT VOL. CXXXI ISSUE XXI

sports | 8

Gov. Kasich signs anti-abortion H.B. 79

Law aims to prevent Ohio taxes to pay for procedures under health care act

BEN GOLDSCHMIDT | STAFF REPORTER Ohio Gov. John Kasich is making his mark among anti-abortion voters after signing legislation that will take remove tax dollars from abortion procedures On Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, Ohio Kasich signed House Bill 79 into law, a bill that excludes coverage for abortions via the federally mandated “state exchange” under the Patient Protection and Affordability Act. The yet-to-be-created “state exchange” allows for taxpayers and businesses to compare policies, premiums and buy insurance.

The federal health care law known as “Obamacare” provides

room for states to opt out of paying for abortions to protect the conscious rights of state taxpayers.

Though this provision is clearly given in the federal law, questions are being raised in Ohio as to whether or not the bill violates the Ohio Constitution.

Article I, Section 21 (B) of the Ohio Constitution states, “No federal, state, or local law or rule shall prohibit the purchase or sale of health care or health insurance,” but Mike Gonidakis, Executive Director for Ohio Right to Life, feels H.B. 79 is not violating this article because according to him, abortions are not considered health care.

“While we can all agree that people should have access to healthcare,

we reject the notion that abortion is healthcare because the only measure of ‘success’ of an abortion procedure is the death of an innocent child,” said Gonidakis on ohiolife.org.

This pro-life legislature creates concern among abortion-rightadvocating Ohioans because it prevents abortions from being covered under the State Exchange even if patients pay the premiums out of their own pocket.

“Politicians should never be allowed to limit the kinds of insurance benefits that women are allowed to purchase with their own money,” said Kellie Copeland, Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio.

SEE HB79 | 3

COURTESY OF MCT CAMPUS

BATTLE OF RIGHTS Gov. John Kasich is catching opposition from the ACLU for signing the pro-life legislation.

Lindner awards COB $4M

Radiology expansion aids locals RYAN HOFFMAN | SENIOR REPORTER

LANCE LAMBERT | SENIOR REPORTER

In

2012, The University of Cincinnati will become the first university in Ohio to open an insurance- and risk-management program.

This unique program is expected, in time, to offer both graduate and undergraduate studies, including different majors, minors and certificates.

A $4 million endowment from Carl H. Lindner III and a $1 million endowment from Great American Insurance Group (AFG) will fund UC’s Carl H. Lindner College of Business (COB) with a new Carl H.Lindner III Center for Insurance and Risk Management.

“We are working toward developing the faculty now,” said David Szymanski, dean of COB. “The developing phase includes articulating curriculum, classes, and we hope to be approved over the next academic year.”

Insurance-market job growth has played into the formation of the program, Szymanski said. “[There has been] tremendous demand in the market place,” Szymanski said.

“Insurance job growth is No. 3 in Jobs Ohio priorities.”

SEE ENDOWMENT | 3

FILE ART | THE NEWS RECORD

INVESTING IN FUTURE The Carl H. Lindner College of Business is introducing a new insurance- and

risk-management program.

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Nation & World Opinion Spotlight Classifieds Sports

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Some question if 30 cents more will cover living costs LANCE LAMBERT | SENIOR REPORTER The New Year brings a slight pay hike to many University of Cincinnati workers as Ohio minimum wage increased 30 cents, but one Ohio economist says the increase shouldn’t just be taken at face value.

The new minimum wage in Ohio sits at $7.70 in response to a Nov. 2006 vote, which set an increase in minimum wage based on the previous year’s index.

More than 347,000 workers will benefit from the increase — 70 percent of those workers work more than 20 hours per week, said Zach Schiller, research director at Policy Matters Ohio.

Policy Matters Ohio is “a nonprofit, nonpartisan policy research organization” which aims to “broaden the debate about economic policy in Ohio,” according to the organization’s website.

Schiller is a former business reporter for The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer and Business Week.

“The increase will help people who are not just working causally,” Schiller said.

The individuals who need the increase the most are the individuals who are living on their own, Schiller said.

“The increase will have a positive effect on the economy because more people [will be] out spending their money,” Schiller said.

Raising the minimum wage has always caused a bit of controversy, Schiller said.

“Raising minimum wage somehow reduces the number of jobs, a theory which a good bit of research has studied,” Schiller said. “The studies didn’t show a meaningful difference.”

Raising minimum wage can save employers cost of turnover because workers are less likely to seek employment Schiller said.

“The increase is meaningful, but not to be carried away,” Schiller said. “A thirty-cents-anhour increase will only keep up with inflation.”

SEE WAGES | 3

MARISA WHITAKER | SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

A LIVING WAGE Many service oriented workers such as Kevin Jones (above), 21, an employee at TUC’s Papa Johns can expect a raise in pay.

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Tanning research shows damage probability Frequent tanners are 74 percent more likely to develop melanoma, the Even with an extra 10 percent tax deadliest form of skin cancer and leading cause of death related to skin disease, slapped onto tanning fees nationwide in according to 2010 data published in July 2010, the link between tanning and “Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers fighting off the winter blues seems to and Prevention.” still hold strong as 30 million Americans Just four tanning sessions can increase the continue to tan each year, according to the risk for developing melanoma by 11 percent, Skin Cancer Foundation, an international according to organization devoted the Skin to increasing skin Cancer Foundation. cancer education.

“Younger folks A University of tend to use tanning Cincinnati professor beds more often led research that and because the reiterates the dangers —HEATHER SATTTERFIELD effects can be and health risks of THIRD-YEAR UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI lifelong, it can STUDENT slipping down to your potentially do more skivvies and sliding harm,” Sussman into the tanning bed. said. “The potential of causing lifelong Tanning causes premature aging, skin thickening, wrinkles and skin cancer, problems is higher when you’re young.”

When UV rays penetrate the skin, according to Dr. Jeffrey Sussman, chief of surgical oncology at the University of melanocyte cells begin to produce melanin.

The melanin is released, rises to the top Cincinnati College of Medicine. of the skin and oxidizes- that’s how a tan “The tanning mechanism is [the skin’s is formed. self defense in] protecting itself from too “People with fair skin have less much ultraviolet light,” Sussman said. “UV light is a known carcinogen, which causes natural protection from ultraviolet light,” Sussman said. damage to the DNA of normal cells.”

The darker pigmented the skin, the more

I feel I look better with tan skin and it makes me more confident.

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BETHANY CIANCIOLO | STAFF REPORTER

FORECAST

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PAT STRANG | PHOTO EDITOR

SMASH AND GRAB McMicken Hall’s first-floor Journalism lab, was victim to theft for the third time in three years. Thirteen Apple COURTESY OF MCTiMacs CAMPUS were taken from the lab.

CENTS AND SENSIBILITY Minimum wage workers received a 30 cent hike in wages. Some critics say the raise only covers inflation.

As the holiday season comes to a close, waistlines aren’t the only thing expanding.

Construction has begun at one of the University of Cincinnati’s health centers, which will drastically increase the size of the building and the number of services provided there.

The Precision Radiotherapy Center — located at 7710 University Court in West Chester — is expanding to 16,000 square feet, doubling its current size.

The center has been the only one of its kind in the region since its opening in 2003.

It was built to offer specialized radiotherapy treatment for cancer, benign tumors and abnormalities such as blood vessel malformations in the brain.

“The center was originally built for this very specific type of treatment, radiosurgery treatment, but that equipment wasn’t able to do some of the more general types of treatments for things like lung cancer and breast cancer,” said John Breneman, co-medical director of the center and professor of radiation oncology and neurosurgery at UC. “This new equipment will allow us to add that more conventional type of capability.”

The expansion will allow the center to treat 75 patients per day, an increase of 40 people from the current number of patients treated per day. Many of those patients will come from the northern part of the region where the center is located.

“There are a lot of cases where patients live up there and they want to get their treatment up in the suburbs, but the machines that are necessary for their case are down at the Barrett Center [in Clifton],” said Loraine Henderson, manager of business operations at Precision Radiotherapy Center and an executive director at the UC Department of Radiation Oncology.

While the center will work

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melanin one has to protect against UV rays.

While Vitamin D is essential in staying healthy, “it takes relatively little sunlight to get enough Vitamin D, particularly when combined with dietary sources,” Sussman said.

“I feel I look better with tan skin and it makes me more confident,” said Heather Satterfield, a third-year student at UC. “To me, tan skin looks healthier.”

SEE TANNING | 3

COURTESY OF MCT CAMPUS

WORTH THE COST UC researcher, Jeffery Sussman, argues that findings on tanning show the gain of Vitamin D and aesthetics are not worth the potential damage.

NATION & WORLD 2 Syrian dissidents, Arab league at odds Weekend Edition January 5 | 2012

NEWSRECORD.ORG

ALEXANDRA ZAVIS and AMRO HASSAN | LOS ANGELES TIMES

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Reporting from Beirut and Cairo — Syria’s government has taken steps to comply with a regional initiative to end months of bloodshed, including pulling tanks out of cities and releasing nearly 3,500 detainees, the head of the Arab League said Monday.

But he said gunfire continued and he called for a halt to the hostilities.

Syrian opposition activists disputed the assertion of significant progress, saying security forces had killed more than 150 people since Arab observers began work Dec. 27 to determine whether the government is ending a violent crackdown on dissent.

The reported death toll on Monday alone was as high as 26, said the Local Coordination Committees, a coalition that organizes protests and documents the violence. Most foreign journalists are barred from Syria, and it was not possible to verify the figures provided by the opposition.

The statement by Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby provided his first public comments on the findings of Arab observers, whose mission is the first of its kind for the 22-member regional bloc.

Elaraby defended the league’s efforts, saying tanks and other military vehicles had pulled back to the outskirts of cities and residential areas, food aid had been provided and bodies had been recovered.

“Yes, there is still shooting, and yes, there are still snipers,” Elaraby told reporters in Cairo, where the Arab League is based. But he said it was “hard to say who is shooting whom.”

“There must be a complete cease-fire,” he said.

Opposition activists in some of Syria’s

major trouble spots met Elaraby’s remarks with disbelief.

“Either the Arab observers are blind or they are working for the regime,” said an activist in the strife-torn city of Homs, who gave his name as Abu Rami. He said there were checkpoints “full of soldiers” in the city and tanks hidden on its outskirts that could be back inside within minutes.

“This is not a withdrawal,” he said.

The Arab League mission drew criticism even before it began last week. On Sunday, the Arab Parliament, a league advisory body, called for the withdrawal of the observers, saying their presence was providing cover for continued attacks on protesters by President Bashar Assad’s regime.

Activists posted a video on YouTube on Monday that appeared to show a league observer in an orange vest being hustled away from a crowded street in the central city of Hama amid the crack of gunfire.

Another video purported to show shooting erupting as a white vehicle containing observers drove through a demonstration in the northwestern town of Kfar Takharim.

The shooters were not visible in the video, whose authenticity could not be immediately confirmed.

The Local Coordination Committees said the league had “fallen victim to the regime’s typical traps,” and accused authorities of disguising soldiers in police uniforms and painting their vehicles to confuse the observers.

Activists welcomed the reported release of 3,484 detainees but said thousands of others remained behind bars, with more arrested every day.

Opposition groups contend that the observer mission is too small and too easily misled to effectively monitor a country of about 22 million. Elaraby said there were 70 monitors working in six cities, with 30 oth-

ers expected soon.

He said the head of the mission, Sudanese Lt. Gen. Mohammed Ahmed Dabi, would report on progress by the end of the week, and Arab foreign ministers would meet as early as next week to review the findings and decide whether more monitors are needed.

Elaraby defended Dabi, whose judgment was questioned when he described conditions in Homs as “reassuring” despite weeks of amateur footage appearing to show heavy shelling and bloodied bodies in the city’s opposition strongholds. The London-based rights group Amnesty International says Dabi headed a military intelligence branch in Sudan that was accused of severe abuses under his watch.

But Elaraby called Dabi “a capable military man with a clean reputation.”

Syrian authorities insist that they are committed to the league’s plan, which calls for the withdrawal of security forces from cities and residential areas, the release of political prisoners, free access for the media and dialogue with opposition groups. They blame the continued bloodshed on what they describe as foreign-backed armed terrorists, who they say have killed more than 2,000 security force members.

The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency reported that a law enforcement officer was killed Monday when a “terrorist group” opened fire on a patrol in front of Homs National Hospital.

What began in March as a largely peaceful uprising has become more violent in parts of the country where military defectors and some civilians have taken up arms against government security forces.

U.N. officials say more than 5,000 people have been killed since March, and they have warned that the country could be on the brink of civil war.

TOUR OF FORCE Rundown of the recent violence that has torn through Syria since protests began in April.

Bachmann ends campaign, presidential bid on hold

JaMES OLIPHANT | Mcclatchy newspapers

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WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — In the wake of a bottom-feeder finish in the Iowa GOP caucuses, Michele Bachmann ended a presidential bid Wednesday that once held so much promise in this state.

“Last night, the people of Iowa spoke with a very clear voice, and so I have decided to stand aside,” she said at a morning news conference.

Bachmann called on Republicans to uni- caucuses. Bachmann’s departure leaves the GOP race with a smaller field of Romney, fy behind the ultimate nominee, but did not say whom she would support. It was only Santorum, Gingrich and Ron Paul — alfive months ago, in August, that Bachmann, though Perry was suggesting Wednesday that he may remain in the race after saying an Iowa native, captured the Ames Straw the evening before that he would return to Poll, a test of a candidate’s strength among Texas and reassess his candidacy. influential conservatives in the state and a Her decision should come as welcome victory that appeared to establish her as a force to be reckoned with. But that never news to Santorum, who is trying to convince evangelicals and other social conservatives came to be — and in fact, Bachmann’s deto coalesce around his cline was quick revived effort. and irreversible.

But Bachmann gave Texas Gov. no hint as to whom she Rick Perry’s enwould support in the trance into the race; she recently critirace siphoned mecized Santorum for votdia attention and ing for earmarks while money. A series in the Senate. of uneven debate A ``tea party’’ favorite performances, —MICHELLE BACHMAN who liked to boast about gaffes, factual erMINNESOTA REPRESENTATIVE her “titanium spine” and rors, and staff demade her opposition to fections weakened the Democratic health her standing with care initiative the center of her campaign, voters. And her campaign’s decision to try Bachmann now returns to the House, where to compete nationally instead of hyper-focusing on Iowa may have broken her bond has a yet to make a decision on whether to run for re-election next year in her central somewhat with the residents here.

Minnesota district.

The Minnesota congresswoman Reading from a prepared statement, watched as various other candidates caught fire and then fizzled: Perry, Herman Cain, her voice slightly hoarse, Bachmann said, Newt Gingrich. But she never had her “I have no regrets, none whatsoever. We second moment in the sun. And when the never compromised our principles.” “I look forward to the next chapter of God’s plan,” time came for the social conservatives so she said. crucial to winning the caucuses here to Bachmann lost her campaign manager, make their choice, they overwhelmingly Ed Rollins, in September, as her poll numsided with Rick Santorum, not her, Tuesday night. Bachmann, who was born in Water- bers began to crash. Her New Hampshire loo, Iowa, ended up receiving just 5 percent staff embarrassingly resigned in October, and last week, she suffered another blow of the vote, compared with Santorum’s 24 when her Iowa point man, state Sen. Kent percent.

Former Massachusetts Mitt Romney Sorenson, left her campaign to support Paul. edged out Santorum to win the nonbinding

I have no regrets, none whatsoever. We never compromised our principles.

Olivier Douliery | MCT Campus

OUT FOR NOW Minn. Rep. Michelle Bachmann bowed out of the GOP primary after a poor showing in the Iowa caucus.

She became known for a series of misstatements and historical errors, including suggesting the first battle of the Revolutionary War was fought in New Hampshire, not Massachusetts, warning about the dangers of the Soviet Union, which hasn’t existed for 20 years, contending that a vaccine used to combat human papillomavirus causes mental retardation, and referring to the U.S. Embassy in Iran, which has been closed for more than 30 years.

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE WORLD

3 - Strait ahead

confrontation

The possibility of a confrontation between the United States and Iran appeared to grow Tuesday after the Obama administration dismissed an Iranian warning against moving a U.S. aircraft carrier into the Persian Gulf, saying the deployment was crucial to “the security and stability of the region.”

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4 - Pakistani coup on hold

Pakistan’s powerful army wants President Asif Ali Zardari gone, but it has ruled out staging a coup, and instead is hoping for a legal ruling that could lead to Zardari’s impeachment by the country’s parliament, analysts and military insiders say.

5 - Rail arguments heard

Lawmakers are now competing to influence the next big review of California high-speed rail, underscoring the project’s new political vulnerability.

Following a devastating state study issued Tuesday, a congressional watchdog agency is considering making its own assessment of the ambitious, $98.5 billion rail plan.

6 - Homeless in Japan

Fifty-four percent of evacuees from areas between 20 and 30 kilometers (12.5 and 18.6 miles) of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in Japan have yet to return home, three months after the government lifted its emergency evacuation preparation zones.

ALLAN J. SCHABEN | LOS ANGELES TIMES

All news derived from news wire services.

The Kyoto Tachibana High School Green Band marches during the 123rd Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, on Monday, January 2, 2012. .

OPINION.NEWSRECORD@GMAIL.COM | 513.556.5913

Sergei L. Loiko | LOS ANGELES TIMES

Participants in a large protest rally in downtown Moscow, Russia, carry pictures of fallen dictators as well as a likeness of Vladmir Putin.

FROM Sidelines | 2 Knowing this would definitely be my last year on the football field as a student, I just wanted to come out, do my job and try to make a strong effort for my portfolio. After all, that’s what the players on the field were doing, too.

By the time November came around, the season was already a world away from the previous one. By December, the bowl game I hoped to cover was going to be a reality, and I was just waiting to find out where I’d be driving.

The season had proved to be everything I had hoped the last one would be. It was announced that the Bearcats were going to Memphis for NewYear’s Eve and that meant I was, too. Fellow TNR photographer Eamon Queeney and I packed up and set out for the Liberty Bowl where we’d get to ring in the new year doing exactly what we love to do.

It was a bumpy road to this check FROM tanning | 1 Satterfield said she likes to keep her summer glow during the winter months, despite the members of her family who have suffered from skin cancer.

Research has shown that the fastest rate of increase in melanoma was found in young women, said Sussman.

FROM ENDOWMENT | 1

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from picks | 8 a sports book in Las Vegas or Delaware, that is.

DENVER (9) over Pittsburgh: Note that I am not taking the Broncos to win, simply to cover a nine point spread. I still think Pittsburgh wins this game outright, but the Broncos’ defense will keep the score close and make it interesting. Somewhere in a coaching office in the bowels of Heinz Field, Dick LeBeau is licking his chops and thanking his stars for being able to scheme against the Broncos despite missing Ryan Clark due to a blood disorder.

ELWAY o/u six face palms A nice side wager for this game is the over/ under of how many face palms John Elway has in his private suite at Mile High Stadium. I would go with more than six. If Tebow looks as bad as I think the Steelers defense will make him look, watch for Elway to seek out a veteran quarterback in the offseason and wmaybe even try and trade up for Andrew Luck if he can talk the Colts into a deal they can’t refuse.

LUCKS (-$1.75 million) over Mannings Just after the Super Bowl, Peyton Manning will probably be dealt by the Colts or cut so there is no infighting between the two families of mediocre quarterbacking fathers. Hope you enjoyed your run, Colts fans, it’s over.

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The first program of its kind in Ohio will be modeled after University of the Pennsylvania Wharton School — the No. 1 insurance and risk management department in the country.

“What we have are the companies,” Szymanski said. “So many prominent [companies] in the insurance industry are here in Cincinnati.”

UC’s insurance center will benefit from several Fortune 500 and next-tier size companies involved in the insurance industry, which call Cincinnati their home, Szymanski said.

The new center will give COB the opportunity to grow, Szymanski said. The endowment will help pay for new scholarships, faculty, research and conferences. “[It is a] super opportunity,” Szymanski said. “We are grateful for the support of the Lindners and AFG.” FROM HB79 | 1 “All women deserve the same peace of mind that they can obtain the health care they need, regardless of where their insurance comes from,” said Copeland on prochoiceohio.org.

The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) of Ohio plans to challenge H.B. 79 in court to voice concerns for those who cannot afford private health care from surrendering their access to these procedures. On the other hand, many pro-life Ohioans feel they shouldn’t be forced to pay for something they believe is morally wrong.

“We believe that every individual from the moment of conception has a natural right to life,” said David Weber, vice president of UC Students for Life. “To force taxpayers against their will to provide this service is unjust and contradicts our Constitution.”

FROM ARIEL | 5 world around us.”

Katie is also a supporter of This Star Won’t Go Out, a nonprofit serving families with children diagnosed with life-threatening cancer, and several other organizations.

So, Katie, my New Year’s resolution is to be more like you. I resolve to quit whining about the miniscule hardships and start to give back everything I can. I’m going to get involved and show that blasted 1 percent that everyday people can sacrifice for the common good, even if they can’t.

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on my photographer’s bucket list, but in the end I was happy it played out the way it did. I got to go on a two-year roller coaster ride with the seniors on the football team through a tough season that didn’t go the way they hoped, only to come back a year later for one of the best endings that shocked a lot of naysayers.

Seniors like Isaiah Pead and Zach Collaros put on the same show people became accustomed to seeing from them, Pead rushing for 150 yards and Collaros throwing for a touchdown. An unexpected 69-yard touchdown run from George Winn and even the most exillerating play of the game came when people least expected it as Ralph David Abernathy IV returned a Vanderbilt kickoff for a 90-yard touchdown.

The game was a blast to shoot and to watch.

In the end, I felt like it was a fitting way for me to go out shooting as a senior, and I think the guys on the team feel the same way.

FROM WAGES | 1 Low wages prevent many UC students from affording to live on their own, forcing them to live with their parents or guardians for longer.

“If I moved out at $7.70 an hour I would not be able to afford living expenses and gas,” said Alex Brunner, a first-year accounting student, currently working on minimum wage. “Living at home allows me to sustain my needs while working on minimum wage, without my parents I would need to seek new employment.”

FROM EXPANSION | 1 toward administering more conventional treatments it will still remain the only center in the region with the capabilities for extensive specialized treatment.

“There are other pieces of equipment scattered throughout the other hospitals that do part of these things that this equipment can do, but this is the only place that has it all consolidated in one spot,” Breneman said.

The center is run by two nationally recognized neuroscience programs affiliated with the UC College of Medicine: The Mayfield Clinic and University Radiation Oncology Associates.

The expansion not only equates to an increased number of patients treated, but increased research and residency training for future radiation oncologist as well — two equally important functions of the center.

“It definitely will potentially increase just because we’ll have a larger patient base and we’ll be treating additional types of cancer there,” Henderson said.

Construction is expected to finish early this summer, weather permitting, with patients receiving treatment in the expanded section of the building by July or August, Henderson said. from Bball | 8 going on a surge at the beginning of the second half with 15 points on the team’s first six possessions.

Parker drained three 3-point baskets during that span as UC took its largest lead of the game at 17.

“No I have not seen UC play with that much confidence,” said Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey. “This team has the best vibe and belief about them. I compare them to our group last year. We were old, and we were men. I said to one of our assistants at a timeout, ‘It’s kind of like men amongst boys out there. They were toying with us.’”

When Cincinnati leading scorer Sean Kilpatrick left with foul trouble with 10:23 remaining in the first half, the Bearcats showcased their depth as their bench accounted for 17 of their 31 opening period points.

Notre Dame’s leading scorer, guard Eric Atkins — who averages 14 points per game — was held to single digits with just eight points.

The Bearcats return to action at 2 p.m.

Saturday against St. John’s at FifthThird Arena.

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Weekend Edition January 5 | 2012 NEWSRECORD.ORG

CROSSWORD

Across 1 Fictional Bagne of Toulon prisoner 12 “How relaxing!”

15 Military sanction 16 Friend of Piglet 17 The Hulk, untransformed 18 Double-chevron wearer: Abbr.

19 Universal signal since 1908 20 Ultravox frontman Midge __ 21 Held up 23 Office orders 26 Tessellated artwork 27 Native American in Connecticut 30 Dylan contemporary 31 Gave a shot, say 34 Spica’s constellation 36 Sprinkling 37 Lacking a point 38 First name in spy fiction 39 2010 Literature Nobelist Mario Vargas __ 41 Ga. airport that serves Hilton Head Island 42 Prefix with -loquent 44 Highest score possible with a single dart 45 Keen 47 Missed payment result 49 Louisiana license plate image 51 Baseball Hall of Famer Cap 54 Easy to erect 55 Crony 57 Memory unit, briefly 59 Labyrinth location 60 The Bridge of the Americas locale 64 Gone by 65 Yellow Brick Road terminus 66 Remote abbr.

67 “Charlie’s Angels” actress

Down 1 Ring sequence 2 Reason for striking out 3 Divert 4 White House foreign policy gp.

5 Certain migratory pattern 6 Jump 7 Brace with a 90-degree bend 8 Krakowski of “30 Rock” 9 Southwest add-on 10 Really drawn-out 11 Dunn and Ephron of Hollywood 12 Lemming predator 13 Trousseau trunk 14 Reigns 22 __ Miguel, largest of the Azores 24 “Well said!”

25 PC peripheral 26 Hitchcock title kleptomaniac 28 “B.J. and the Bear” star Greg 29 Goliath, for one 31 Become extinct 32 Typically 33 London street known for high-end haberdasheries 35 His watch signals Superman 40 Whoppers 43 Mobile home?

46 Lack of similarity, informally 48 Holly follower?

50 “War with the Newts” sci-fi novelist, 1936 52 Old Dodges with front-wheel drive 53 “Swell!”

55 Trim 56 Key of Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 2 58 Romance novelist Elinor 61 Circus safeguard 62 Quarantine advisory org.

63 Speech balloon cry of dismay

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Weekend Edition January 5 | 2012 NEWSRECORD.ORG

AN ARIEL VIEW ARIEL

CHEUNG

Nerdfighters inspiration to give back When my mom told me about her elementary school Christmas drive collecting socks for soldiers, the idea seemed absurd.

Why would soldiers overseas, who are already risking their lives and sacrificing everything they know, be lacking something as simple as a pair of socks?

What sort of world do we live in that useless gluttons like Kim Kardashian have $10 million to waste on the most excessive, pointless of “weddings,” while we can’t even supply our soldiers basic needs like socks?

This is one of the reasons why I understand the outrage coming from Occupy Wall Street. There is something sickening about our crumbling society: celebrities and billionaires throw money about in the most wasteful way possible, while funds for the arts dwindle and children go hungry.

The Occupiers bemoan the fate of the 99 percent, but I saw something on Pinterest (my new favorite social sharing website) that knocked the 99 percent out of the ballpark.

It reads: “If you have food in your fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75 percent of the world.

“If you have money in the bank, your wallet, and some spare change, you are among the top 8 percent of the world’s wealthy.”

It goes on, but that alone is quite the wake-up call. I might not be the 1 percent, true, but how can any of us complain about being in the top 8 percent? When it comes down to it, some of our problems are just as silly as the “First World Problems” meme makes them sound.

This is why I can’t stand behind the Occupy movement.

It seems sort of silly to stand in Piatt Park, waving a sign calling for equality when, really, the scale is already tipped in our favor.

Instead, I’m turning to the old adage, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” If we want the 1 percent to wake up and smell the homelessness, let’s set an example. Let’s stop waving handmade signs and take some action. If those millions of people across the country stop occupying streets and, instead, do some good in this crazy, messed up world, then maybe that’s the first step.

Since I did promise to make An Ariel View dedicated to all things nerd this year, I’m pleased to say that there are plenty of Nerdfighters out there doing just that.

What is a Nerdfighter, you ask? It’s a person “made of awesome” who fights against all the awful, crummy, unfair things in this world. My friend Katie in Minnesota is one of them.

Katie is a college student just like every other college student, with busy class schedules and an empty wallet, but still became a rocking force in a group called the Harry Potter Alliance.

What does an organization with that awesome of a name do, you ask?

“The Harry Potter Alliance fights the Dark Arts in the real world by using parallels from Harry Potter,” according to its website. “We work for human rights, equality, justice and a better world just as Harry and his friends did throughout the books.”

Their campaigns include everything from Accio Books! (an annual book drive that sends thousands of books everywhere from the Mississippi Delta to Rwanda) to Not in Harry’s Name, which asks Warner Brothers to switch to Fair Trade chocolate for Harry Potter merchandise.

The nonprofit organization fights its own seven horcruxes: the climate crisis, child slavery, illiteracy, bullying, body bind (promoting positive body image), dementors (depression) and starvation wages.

“After the books came out, it left you wanting more. But people didn’t have anything to do at that point,” Katie said.

“So I think it takes some of the favorite aspects of the fandom — what you absolutely loved about the series — and applies it in reasonable levels to the

OPINION Caucuses worthless enterprise Regardless of party, straw poll delegations cloud voting JASON HOFFMAN | OPINION EDITOR Tuesday night’s Iowa Caucus was yet another example of over-hyping an event that was actually much ado about nothing.

The premise of a caucus — straw poll as some call it — is to allow anyone looking to run for their political party’s nomination to get their name on a ballot and let the people of a state vote on who they prefer to run for president. This idea, although seemingly decent in theory, is yet another facet of the political system in this country that needs to be changed for several reasons.

First, Iowa contains 1 percent of the total U.S. population, according to the Census Bureau — hardly an indicator of how Republicans across America feel about all eight of the candidates on Tuesday’s ballot.

This means candidates like Michelle Bachmann or Jon Huntsman who faired poorly in the caucus can be swayed into quitting before the election season swings into full gear.

Granted, Bachmann and Huntsman were in the basement of many polls recently, but that’s beside the point.

Secondly, the caucus votes are tallied differently than usual elections. The process is similar to the way the Electoral College votes for the president only not as openly controlled.

Caucuses work like a straw poll where each county holds its vote and then elects one delegate to cast its vote in the state poll.

In theory, you or I could hang around after a straw poll in Hamilton County where Mitt Romney or Ron Paul was the overwhelming victor and then cast a vote for Rick Santorum without anyone challenging the way the county voted — a curious way to project a candidate’s likelihood of election.

This format has led many to believe that Ron Paul may have actually won the Iowa Caucus, even though he finished third on the tally sheets.

“Part of what we’ve been training the Ron Paul people to do is not to leave after the vote,” said Dan Godzich, a senior campaign coordinator for Paul. “Stay and get elected to the conventions and get us those delegates.”

Godzich’s strategy is one employed by President Barack Obama’s campaign in 2008 when then-Senator Obama came from long shot to front-runner in less than a week.

Another slice of genius in Godzich’s theory is the way the delegate process works.

By getting people from his camp into delegate positions during the caucus, he ensures that in September, at the GOP convention in Tampa, Fla., his camp will have some clout when the final votes are cast for President Obama’s opponent — a scenario that many though Hillary Clinton’s camp would employ in 2008 that never came to fruition.

So does the logic behind Godzich’s plan mean that the system is flawed and needs retooling?

I believe so.

The final main reason the Iowa caucus

should be reworked or abolished is that it’s yet another example of having the biggest wallet and most name recognition triumphs — an unfortunate reality in our political system.

Mitt Romney left Iowa the week before the caucus to campaign in New Hampshire and get his message out in South Carolina — the next two stops for the Republican hopefuls.

If Romney, who many believe is the man to beat in September, can basically blow off the last week of campaigning before the caucus and still claim victory, why is so much attention paid to this seemingly meaningless step?

The answer to the above question is simple. The caucus represents another faction of our electoral process that perpetuates our American desire for competition — no matter how useless. Everyone wants to find out who the favorite is and whether or not the horse they picked for the race really stands a chance.

Did Michelle Bachmann supporters really think she stood a chance? Of course they did. Just like the Jon Huntsman and undecided supporters who cast their vote Tuesday night. Everybody wants to have some skin in the political game no matter how useless their emotional wager is.

The next step in the race for November takes place in South Carolina where the votes will actually count, sort of — there are still delegates to sort out.

Sit back and enjoy the horse race, delegates are depending on you.

ALL THE HYPE IN IOWA OVER LESS THAN IDEAL SITUATION FOR THE GOP

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Email us: opinion.newsrecord@gmail.com

Postal closures will hurt all Ohioans SHERROD BROWN This holiday season, Ohioans received scores of gifts — from Great Lakes beer to Cincinnati chili — but many of the parcels probably weren’t dropped off by their local postal carrier.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) — the second-largest employer in the United States and one authorized by the U.S. Constitution — is governed by rules that limit its financial viability. To address a growing deficit, more than 120 post offices and 10 mail processing centers in Ohio have been slated for possible closure because of financial challenges.

These closures could prove costly for middle-class families in our state, resulting in job losses and deteriorated service. That is why I fought for a moratorium on all postal facility closures until May 2012. With this additional time, Congress can modernize the rules and usher in the next era of the USPS. Private delivery companies perform an important service. But the Post Office should be able to compete for all the parcel business, too. That’s why I’m fighting to pass the Postal Service Protection Act, legislation that would help bring the USPS back to fiscal solvency.

First, it would deal with the USPS’s fiscal challenges. This bill would address a broken pension system which currently costs the

USPS more than $5 billion every year. Right now, the Postal Service must pre-fund 75 years of future retiree health care benefits in just 10 years. With this legislation, we can address immediate fiscal problems facing the LETTER TO USPS by overhauling THE EDITOR the USPS retiree benefit requirements.

Second, it would allow the Post Office to innovate. By easing current financial constraints on the agency, the USPS would have additional avenues to earn income — like shipping beer or issuing a state fishing license — that can put the Postal Service back on the road to fiscal health.

The legislation would also protect a sixday delivery — preserving Saturday delivery and maintaining current standards for firstclass mail delivery. This is vitally important for seniors and patients who depend on timely delivery of life-saving prescription medications.

With any postal reform legislation Congress considers, we must take into account what affect these decisions will have on America’s recovering economy. What would inaction mean for Ohio families?

Postal workers — many of them veterans, women, and rural residents — do more than deliver holiday cards and news from home.

They also watch out for elderly neighbors,

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THE NEWS RECORD FOUNDED IN 1880

The News Record, an independent, student-run news organization of the University of Cincinnati’s Communication Board, is printed during the school year every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, except holidays and examination periods, from its office located in 509 Swift Hall and is distributed to the UC community. The News Record distributes to more than 80 locations and has a weekly circulation of 22,500. One copy per person is free. Additional copies can be picked up at The News Record office for $1.

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and help build a sense of community. Since 1775, the USPS has kept Americans connected with one another and the rest of the world.

Our state ranks eighth in the nation for the number of USPS employees — including letter carriers and sorters — who help Ohioans cash checks, obtain passports, and operate small businesses. We must help the USPS, a self-supporting government entity, adapt to the challenges of the 21st century.

A robust Post Office means that small businesses and non-profits have reliable and affordable means to conduct their business. It means that the shopping centers and small businesses in urban areas — which, in many cases, are anchored by the presence of a post office — can continue to thrive. It also ensures that seniors can receive their mail-order prescriptions and Social Security checks without delay.

The motto of the Post Office: “neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night” dates back to antiquity. The Greek letter carriers likely faced unleashed dogs — though not email. Yet I’m confident that we can and must overcome the challenges faced by the USPS. This is our promise to our neighborhood postal worker, our neighbors, and our communities.

Sherrod Democratic

SPORTS EDITORS SAM WEINBERG BRITTANY YORK OPINION EDITOR JASON HOFFMAN ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR KEITH BIERYGOLICK

ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER JARED HOWE

PHOTO EDITOR PATRICK STRANG

NEWS EDITORS ANTHONY OROZCO SCOTT WINFIELD

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR BLAKE HAWK

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Brown Senator

is from

a Ohio.

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Weekend Edition January 5 | 2012 NEWSRECORD.ORG

SPOTLIGHT

on the IN ID L S E E S A

photos and story by sam greene | managing EDITOR

s one of the News Record’s primary sports photographers, I’ve had a lot of opportunities to sit, stand, kneel and crouch in-better than front-row seats at a lot of events that some Bearcats fans would drop a full paycheck on.

I’ve been privileged enough to see first-hand some of the best and worst moments in University of Cincinnati athletics from the past two or so years without ever even having to pay for a ticket –- I’ve been paid to be there, actually — and had the kind of access to that fans never get.

Sitting on the floor for the Crosstown Shootout two years in a row is the sort of thing reserved for River City royalty like Nick Lachey, but there I’ve been, camera in hand.

Despite all the cool things I’ve gotten to do as a student photojournalist, my little bucket list of things to shoot before graduating had a couple holes in it coming into this year.

There was one big one in particular: a college bowl game.

My first year at UC (and first at The News Record) also happened to be same year that the Bearcats went undefeated in regular season play and ended up getting to play in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day in New Orleans.

At that time, I was a rookie here at TNR and getting to cover that game was out of my league, but if a Winter break road trip to an event like that won’t motivate you to become a better sports photographer, nothing will.

Shortly after that bowl game,TNR’s main sports photographer graduated and moved on. From that point on, I was determined to pick up where he left off and continue on in the way of providing great sports photography for the paper — even if it meant traveling.

That summer I started early, driving out to the football team’s summer camp to cover pre-season practice in the 100-plus degree heat and honing my chops at shooting college football for the first few times.

I was all-in and ready for the season to start. The momentum of the team, and the football program coming into that season was incredible despite the loss of some key seniors and a head coach. Like a lot of people, I think I was ready for another big season on the football team, another Big East title and another bowl game.

Well. That didn’t happen.

The sensational season I looked forward to photographing got lost in the transition from Brian Kelly to Butch Jones football, and there was no bowl game waiting at the end.

That’s not to say I didn’t have a great time covering the team that year, and at the very least I learned a lot about how to cover football in that season. In retrospect, I wasn’t good enough to cover a bowl game at that point anyway and the basketball team made up for my disappointment during their season.

Fast forward to September 2010 and it was football time again in Cincinnati.

I spent my summer interning full time and gaining an all-new grip on my skills. There wasn’t as much hype surrounding the season this year and admittedly, I wasn’t as anxious for it this time either. Not that I wasn’t excited, but I was a lot more experienced coming into this season and just wasn’t going to hold my breath this time. see Sidelines | 2

BATMAN AND ROBIN Running back Isaiah Pead tiptoes into the end zone on a handoff from quarterback Zach Collaros during the fourth quarter of the 53rd Annual AutoZone Liberty Bowl between the University of Cincinnati Bearcats and the Vanderbilt University Commodores at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tenn. on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011.

BOWLING FOR LIBERTY [Left] Senior running back Isaiah Pead lifts the Liberty Bowl trophy following the 31-24 Bearcats win at the 53rd Annual AutoZone Liberty Bowl between the University of Cincinnati Bearcats and the Vanderbilt University Commodores at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tenn. [Center] Wide receiver Jordan Matthews is tackled by linebacker Nick Temple during the third quarter. [Right] Senior running back Isaiah Pead lifts the Liberty Bowl trophy following the 31-24 Bearcats win at the 53rd Annual AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tenn. on Dec. 31, 2011.

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Looking for an apartment? www. ucapartments.com Now available! 1, 2, and 3 bedroom apartments. Walk to UC. Newly renovated. www.ucapartments.com 513-300-0585.

EFFICIENCIES, 1-BEDROOM, 2-BEDROOM, 3-BEDROOM in HYDE PARK for rent in excellent condition. New appliances including dishwashers, A/C. HEAT and WATER paid. Balcony, pool use, 10 minutes from UC. New kitchens and bathrooms. Laundry, off-street parking/garage. Starting at $560 per month. Contact us at 513-4772920 or pgspropertiesincincinnati@ gmail.com.

One, two, three, four bedrooms and studios. Walk to UC. FREE UTILITIES! Hardwood, laundry, dishwasher, parking. Deposit special with approval. Call 513-651-2339.

1 block from UC. 1 bedroom, kitchen, bathroom. Move-in ready. $425 plus deposit. Call Angie 513328-4786.

Hear ye, hear ye!

We are currently looking for parttime reps for business to business phone sales. The position pays an hourly plus commission. Perfect opportunity for college students who may be looking for a flexible work schedule. Call Scott today to arrange an interview. 513-244-6542.

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3 blocks to UC shuttle. Photos: www.egepropertyrental.com Email: whartzler@gmail.com, 281 4855

Play it Again Sports needs part time sales clerks. Flexible schedule, fun job. Call Mary at 310-3933.

Keystone Bar & Grill is open in Hyde Park and we need hostesses. If you have an outgoing personality and thrive in a fast paced environment please apply at keystonebar.com or personally at 3384 Erie Ave in Hyde Park. Start immediately.

Keystone Bar & Grill has two locations: 313 Greenup St. Covington, KY and 3384 Erie Ave. Hyde Park. We are currently hiring servers for both locations. Apply at keystonebar.com or personally at either location.

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Weekend edition January 5 | 2012 NEWSRECORD.ORG

ARMCHAIR

FULLBACK JASON HOFFMAN

Blowout weekend is here

Welcome to the first round of the National Football League playoffs — more commonly known as “blowout weekend” — and that means there are several opportunities for gamblers to capitalize on some overly generous lines coming out of Las Vegas.

This past NFL regular season will be known for the end of defensive struggles, over-inflated passing statistics, Ndomakung Suh’s temper, Jerome Simpson’s agility, Peyton Manning’s neck and the Texans making it through the mediocre AFC South without Matt Schaub under center.

With the playoffs beginning, the AFC looks like a crapshoot between three teams to see who gets to lose to either the Packers or Saints in Indianapolis the second weekend in February. As cliché as it sounds, anything can happen, but betting against the NFC to win the Super Bowl would be pretty hard to justify.

At the end of the season, I finished six games over .500, and thanks to Tony Romo playing like himself in week 17, came out on top financially for the year — if betting on sports were legal and one could actually wager on such things.

I am still sticking with my preseason Super Bowl prediction of the Packers and Patriots meeting in Indianapolis.

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS) Cincinnati (3.5) over HOUSTON: The Bengals are heading down to Houston to welcome the Texans to the first playoff appearance in 10 years as a franchise. The Bengals are coming off what many see as a “Cinderella” season, and last week’s performance against the Ravens leaves plenty of doubt that they will be able to stop “Footsteps Foster” and the Texans’ offense Saturday.

However, the Texans are in their first playoff game with a third-string quarterback and walking wounded star wide receiver. This is one of the two upsets I am calling for the weekend as the Bengals come out on the high side of a shootout. It won’t be a pretty game, but it hardly ever is when the Bengals are involved. Andy Dalton will outshine T.J. Yates and lead a fourth quarter charge, earning the Bengals “sacrificial lamb” status next week in New England.

NEW ORLEANS (-11) over Detroit: Drew Brees and the Saints will continue their offensive superiority as they conquer the Lions late in Saturday’s late game. Brees’ record-breaking season was truly impressive to see and wager on (the Saints covered the spread all eight times at home). When these two teams met earlier in the season, the Lions went into the tilt without the NFL’s stomping machine, Ndomakung Suh, but that shouldn’t change the outcome this time either. The sharps have thrown 11 points to the Lions for this one, but they failed to cover 24 the last time. Drew Brees will throw approximately 50 times and somewhere near 400 yards, outshining Matthew Stafford and extinguishing the flame of hope for Detroit fans. Look for nearly 100 points scored in this game, as the NFL’s new rules protecting quarterbacks and wide receivers are on full display.

NEW YORK GIANTS (-3) over Atlanta: This game will be ugly, just the way Tom Coughlin and his ragged squad like it. Eli Manning is coming into his late season form as he plays terrible about 80 percent of the time and hits Victor Cruz for the salsa-dance-connection with infrequent perfection. The Falcons are coming off a season in which their choice of Matt Ryan at quarterback has come somewhat into question, while their coach made a couple of bone-headed decisions. Look for the Giants to take advantage of the Falcons’ undersized defensive line and pound Ahmad Bradshaw up the middle to victory in a low scoring affair at the New Meadowlands in Sunday’s opener. If the over/ under comes in higher than 40 for this game, that will probably be the best bet on the board — if you find yourself at SEE PICKS | 3

SPORTS

Bulls charge to 58-55 victory WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

SAM WEINBERG | SPORTS EDITOR

In a tale of two halves, the University of Cincinnati women’s basketball team fell 58-55 to the University of South Florida Tuesday at Fifth Third Arena.

Despite a game-high 22 points from UC sophomore guard Dayeesha Hollins and a strong first half performance by Cincinnati’s offense, the Bearcats were unable to close the Bulls out after half time.

Cincinnati’s sharpshooters netted 13-of-26 shots from the field in the first 20 minutes of play — including shooting 37.5 percent from behind the arc — but were lackluster in the second half, netting just 37 percent of their shots from the field.

“First half they were denying me, but in the second half it was tougher,” Hollins said. “It was more people denying me, so it was harder for me to get to the basket and be aggressive, so they pretty much took me out of the game in the second half.”

In the opening three minutes of the game, the Bearcats took a 9-5 lead off the hands of the Hollins who scored all nine points, including two 3-point baskets.

The Bearcats finished the first 20 minutes with a 7-0 run to enter halftime with a 31-27 lead.

In the opening two minutes of the second

half, the Bearcats netted five points, but then went on a five-minute scoring drought while the Bulls went on an 11-0 run to take a 40-36 lead.

With 32 seconds remaining in the game, the Bulls commanded a 55-40 lead when Cincinnati freshman guard Alyesha Lovett checked in and netted UC’s final five points.

Despite Lovett’s effort, USF was able to retain its lead and finish the game with the victory.

“The difference between the first half and second half is that we gave up transition points,” said UC head coach Jamelle Elliott.

“Defensively, we have to get better. We are not coming up with stops, and we need to get stops. We are not coming out with rebounds, and we need to get rebounds. We still held them to under 60 points a game — that’s pretty good — but if we do that, we have to continue to hold them, especially if we are not making open shots.”

The loss marked the end of the Bearcats’ three-game winning streak, and was also Cincinnati’s second Big East loss of the season in as many games.

The schedule will only get harder for the Bearcats as well. In UC’s 14 remaining games, the Bearcats will have to play six teams that are currently ranked in the top-25 including No. 2 Connecticut, No. 3 Notre Dame and No. 10 Rutgers.

“Honestly, we just have to stay disciplined, especially in the Big East, because we are going to be undersized; so we have to stay disciplined, because we are always going to be outmatched,” Chisholm said.

The Bearcats return to action at 2 p.m.

Saturday against Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J.

SAM GREENE | MANAGING EDITOR

GETTING THOSE BUCKETS Cincinnati sophomore guard Dayeesha Hollins scored a game-high 22 points Tuesday in UC’s 58-55 loss.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

NO FIGHT LEFT

IN IRISH HUNTER TICKEL | TNR CONTRIBUTOR

Playing at full-strength for just the second time this season and highlighted by the return of senior forward Yancy Gates, the University of Cincinnati defeated Notre Dame 71-55 Wednesday at Fifth Third Arena.

The Bearcats led from start to finish as they went with the same starting lineup as their prior six games, following the Crosstown Shootout suspensions.

“I feel we played pretty well from the tip,” said UC junior guard Cashmere Wright.“Even with Yancy not in the game, we played well. Then when he came in the game, you could tell he was trying to fit in and give us a chance to do our thing. We still gave him the ball like the last time when he was here.”

Following the suspensions, Cincinnati head coach Mick Cronin instilled a four-guard offense that was predicated on quickness, ball movement and spreading the floor for shooters — something that Gates said he adjusted to in practice while he sat out.

“Coach Cronin did a good job of mixing up who I played against in practice every day,” Gates said. “It made it an easier transition into the game. It wasn’t as bad as I expected. I like the style way better. Once I get back into shape, I can get more offensive rebounds and put-backs.”

Gates hit his first three field goals to finish with six points and blocked a season-high three shots.

In a contest where Cincy led by as many as 17, Notre Dame cut the lead to single digits twice prior to the 3:52 mark in the second half before UC guard Dion Dixon drained back-to-back jumpers that included a 3-pointer.

The Irish got within single digits just once more, but Dixon scored 11 of UC’s final 15 points as the senior guard netted a game-high 18 points.

“I just needed to pick it up,” Dixon said. “I [saw] us struggling a little bit down the stretch. I needed to pick up the offense. Once I hit that three, it gave me some confidence. If I got it going, they are going to come to me.”

Bearcats’ guards Jaquon Parker and freshman Jeremiah Davis poured in 11 and 10 points, respectively.

In front of a Fifth Third Arena season-high crowd of 10,142, the Bearcats opened up with an 18-8 advantage following a 15-foot jumper and a left-handed hook shot from Gates.

The rest of the Bearcat squad helped Gates by SEE BBALL | 3

PAT STRANG | PHOTO EDITOR

THOUSAND POINT CLUB With 18 total points, senior guard Dion Dixon is the 47th player in University of Cincinnati history to reach the 1,000 point mark in his career.

Gates welcomed back after suspension Yancy Gates adjusted to the Bearcats’ new offense with ease BRITTANY YORK | SPORTS EDITOR

Senior forward Yancy Gates returned to Fifth Third Arena Wednesday night for the first time since his six-game suspension to help the Bearcats defeat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 71-55.

Gates entered the game with 14:31 left in the first half, sinking a basket a minute and a half later.

Upon scoring, the 10,142 fans in attendance gave him a huge round of applause.

Gates said being subbed into the game was a big moment for him.

“It felt real good,” he said. “You know, it’s hard watching your team play every night on TV, so you know, to just be out there with them, it just felt real good.”

Gates’ second shot, a 15-footer, tied Lazelle Durden’s record for 25th on the Bearcats’ all-time scoring list with 1219 points.

In the first half, Gates shot 3-for-3 from the field, recording six points, a blocked shot and four rebounds.

Though Gates was suspended, he still practiced with the team, which he says made it easier for him to transition to the four-guard offense.

“Coach Cronin, I think he did good with mixing up the guys that I played with every day at practice,” he said.

Junior guard Cashmere Wright said he wasn’t worried about Gates fitting in with the new offensive scheme.

“We were just trying to gel and make everything work,”Wright said.

“When he came in the game, you can tell, like, that he was trying to fit in with us; and he was giving us the chance to do our thing we were doing when he wasn’t here, and we still gave him the ball like last time when he was here.”

Gates played 21 total minutes and finished the game shooting 75 percent from the field with six points, a team-high eight rebounds and a season-high three blocked shots.

Head coach Mick Cronin said Gates stepped up to do a lot of little things that helped the team.

“Three blocked shots is the stat I’m most pleased with. That was a big key for us,” Cronin said. “I wasn’t concerned at all [with how he’d fit]. He’s been doing it in practice.

His attitude’s been great. Earlier in the year, he was playing too much.

When you’re 270 pounds, you can’t play 36 minutes.”

Gates says the team’s learned a lot since the Crosstown Shootout and that he’s happy with the new style of play and different feel to the game.

“Everyone is more focused,” Gates said. “Everyone is just worried about winning. It just makes the game so much easier for the whole team.”

Gates will take the court again Saturday at 2 p.m. when the Cats take on St. John’s at Fifth Third Arena.

PAT STRANG | PHOTO EDITOR

COMING BACK STRONG Yancy Gates recorded six points, eight rebounds and a season-high three blocked shots in Wednesday’s game.

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