The News Record 3.11.13

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the 132-year-old award-winning independent student-run newspaper of the university of cincinnati

Vol. CXXXIIi Issue LVVVVVVVvVV

The News Record MONDAY | MARCH 11 | 2013

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DAAP invests $200,000 for technology

Students file complaints, more computers needed after semester conversion nicole sims contributor newsrecordnews@gmail.com The University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning invested $200,000 in technological upgrades to better serve students. Complaints made by students led to upgrades and additional equipment in the Computer Graphics Center and photo lab, said Anton Harfmann, DAAP associate dean. “Sometimes there are only one or two students saying it, but you know if one or two are saying it, probably a dozen are thinking it,” Harfmann said. An additional 10 computers were

purchased to accommodate the increased number of seats in classes since the semester conversion, totaling 46 new computers with larger monitors, said Dan Dugan, DAAP equipment and applications specialist. Although software on the graphic center’s lab computers is updated annually, the hardware is only updated every three or four years. DAAP student fees and private donations funded the upgrades. The additional computers allow more students to gain experience with programs and tasks they will use daily in their professional careers. Tasks, such as rendering a 3-D model,

can now be completed 30 percent faster, said Brian Higgins, DAAP computer lab manager. Students who previously came to the lab to connect their laptops to the computer monitors also have the option of a laptop bar — a workstation that allows up to 15 students to use, charge and connect their laptops to the Internet via an Ethernet cable. “They can use their laptops as the engines to drive these bigger screens so they can actually do some of their graphics work more easily instead of using one of the lab machines,” Harfmann said. The laptop bar was designed and constructed entirely by DAAP students

majoring in architecture and industrial design. The additions, such as the many power outlets and Apple product chargers that line the wall, provide DAAP students the tools required to complete their work. Improvements to the photography lab were made to keep up with the rise in digital photography and the demand for use of equipment from students. “The new high-end professional products are to best serve students, and provide access to equipment that would make their work highly professional,” Harfmann said. “More information and data is produced digitally, and we have to provide that opportunity.”

madison schmidt | contributor

CONTROVERSIAL DISPLAY Twelve detailed pictures of vaginas covered McMicken Commons Thursday and Friday. The demonstration, “Re-Envisioning the Female Body,” was a reaction to the images of aborted fetuses brought to UC by the Genocide Awareness Project in May 2012. UC Feminists partnered with UC Alliance to make the project possible.

SPREADING MESSAGES Vagina demonstration causes flurry of reactions throughout student body jake grieco senior reporter newsrecordNEWS@gmail.com

Female students at the University of Cincinnati used their vaginas to demonstrate gender empowerment, causing mixed reactions among students. The demonstration, titled “ReEnvisioning the Female Body,” featured 12 detailed pictures of vaginas on McMicken Commons Thursday and Friday. The demonstration was a reaction to the images of aborted fetuses brought to UC by the Genocide Awareness Project in May 2012. Kate Elliot, a fourth-year anthropology student wondered what the conversation would be if those images were vaginas. She coordinated with UC Alliance and UC Feminists to make the demonstration possible. “Our demonstration serves to call attention to the vagina as a site of conflict in medical, legislative, domestic and representational areas,” Eliot said. The demonstration received a mixed response from students. A “free speech

board” set up at the event predominantly contained notes of gratitude and appreciation. “This is exactly what the world needs right now,” said Cynthia Nesbit, a student from Ball State University who came to see the demonstration. “[It’s] better than boobs in bras in your face. We see plenty of that.” Some students found the event unifying, and expressed admiration for the way the images created a sense of solidarity among women. “I am all 12 of these vaginas,” said Rae Taylor, a third-year women’s, gender and sexuality studies student. Some students found the event empowering, but jarring. “[It’s] kind of making me uncomfortable right now, but I like the message,” said Stephanie Peek, second-year marketing student. Other students did not react so fondly to the demonstration. “I personally thought [it] was absolutely ridiculous,” said Angela Reed, a UC student. “Being a woman myself, I felt that they were simply looking to draw attention and

get publicity. I’m appalled.” UC Police officers were on standby at the event — standard practice for potentially controversial demonstrations — but their presence was not needed. “This is one of the most peaceful events we’ve had,” said UC Police Chief Michael Cureton. Several campus organizations approached UC President Santa Ono requesting the displays not be shown, but were denied. Ono said the demonstration is an opportunity for campus to feature stimulating discussions and foster growth. “I see this exhibit and others on campus as an opportunity for us to grow as thinkers and leaders on all sides of such issues — to interrogate our assumptions, grapple with our differences, clarify our convictions and, above all, uphold our commitment to civility and collegiality,” Ono said. Other Ohio universities contacted the students involved in the demonstration because they are interested in bringing the demonstration to their campuses, said Blake Plowden, a UC student and participant in the demonstration.

UC students take documentary skills to Africa Group utilizes technology for spring break trip, prepares for Tanzania dani kokochak senior reporter newsrecordnews@gmail.com

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CAPTURING CANDID MOMENTS Students will spend their spring break documenting village life in Tanzania. The group’s documentary will be shown at the Emery Theatre.

Instead of relaxing, students from the University of Cincinnati will spend their spring break using technology to expand cultural knowledge during a trip to Africa. UC students will travel to Tanzania to document village life and share glimpses of American life with villagers. In the documentary studies course, Documenting Studies in Tanzania, students studied Tanzanian culture in preparation for the trip and shot video around campus and Cincinnati to document life in the US. Students will visit four villages in Tanzania — Burere, Shirati, Roche and Nyambogo. In each village, students will focus on different aspects of village life by capturing candid footage and conducting interviews with villagers. “I’m excited to experience the culture, [and] the people … just to see what it is like. I think it is going to be really different from here, and I like different,” said Blair

CHIEF.NEWSRECORD@GMAIL.COM | 513.556.5908

Jones, a first-year mechanical engineering student. “I think we often overlook what other people are like and how they live, so I think it is important that we experience all kinds of cultures.” Students have been split into three groups, and each group has been assigned a specific aspect of culture to document in both the US and Tanzania. Footage obtained in the US over the course of the semester was edited to create a short documentary of each cultural aspect. The videos will be shared with villagers in Tanzania, to give the people an idea of what life is like in the US. One group of students worked with different bike shops in Cincinnati, attended community events surrounding bicycle culture and interviewed community members about the role that bikes play in everyday life. The group hopes to document bike culture in Tanzania in the same way, with the hope of capturing the similarities and see tanzania | 2


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