the news record 1.23.14

6
UC advocates working to combat, prevent violence against women THE NEWS RECORD A report released by the White House Tuesday served as a call to action to combat rampant sexual assault and rape across the country; a problem University of Cincinnati advocates say needs to be addressed on campus. The White House Council on Women and Girls released its report,“Rape and Sexual Assault: A Renewed Call to Action” Wednesday in an effort to combat sexual assault and provide assistance to rape victims, which affects one in every five women in college. “[U.S. President Barack Obama] saying that not only is this a problem that we’re seeing across the nation but we’re going to make a concentrated effort to talk about prevention programming … That’s so important,” said Ashley Rouster, UC sexual assault advocate. The report included the most recent data about rape and sexual assault in the U.S. Nearly 22 million women have been raped in their lifetimes, most victims know their assailants, and the vast majority of perpetrators — nearly 98 percent — are male, according to the report. Under the Clery Act, UC releases its data on sexual assault and rape annually, but the government report stated that sexual assault on campuses is a specific and particular problem. “The dynamics of college life appear to fuel the problem, as many survivors are victims of what’s called ‘incapacitated assault.’They are sexually abused while drunk, under the influence of drugs, passed out or otherwise incapacitated,” the report stated. According to university data, 13 acquaintance rapes and six stranger rapes were reported in the 2011-12 academic year. The volume of acquaintance rapes decreased from the 31 reported in the 2010- 11 academic year. Rouster said statistics can sometimes be misleading because sexual assault and rape frequently is not reported. “One of the reasons I hesitate is because sexual assault, we know, is extremely under reported,” she said.“Only about 12 percent of survivors report, so we want to be careful when we think about it in numbers and in terms of investigations.” One study found that 7 percent of college men admitted to committing rape or attempted rape, and 63 percent of these men admitted to committing multiple offenses — averaging six rapes each, according to the report. “Americans came to see how serious this problem was and how we all needed to do more to address it,” Obama said in a statement.“That’s resulted in ... a new chance at life for countless women.” The Violence Against Women Act was reauthorized in 2013, which improved support to cities and states to help end sexual assault including the process of testing more rape kits, Obama said. University officials and the Women’s Center have worked aggressively to provide support to rape survivors. UC Women’s Center and police work closely to provide support to sexual assault victims. “Advocates raise awareness about issues of sexual and gender-based violence on our campus, providing resources and opening up the dialogue so that we can have real community conversations,” Rouster said. The Reclaim 24-hour help line is 513-218- 9531. Community weighs in on external public safety review, call for more engagement RYAN HOFFMAN & BRYAN SHUPE THE NEWS RECORD As the University of Cincinnati Division of Public Safety undergoes an extensive external review, members of the community are calling for a more engaging and proactive approach to safety on and around campus. “I think the biggest thing is connecting with [students] more and more engagement,” said Jeremy Parker, campus ambassador for the graduate student governance association. Parker’s words echoed those of other students and faculty at a series of open sessions hosted by Margolis Healy & Associates, a professional services firm that specializes in campus safety and security. The firm brought together different segments of the population throughout the day Wednesday, in order to gain feedback on the current functions of public safety and more specifically UC Police Department. “I think [UCPD] has outstanding intentions,” said Megan Pfaltzgraff, director of college computing.“But they tend to be more reactive than proactive.” Faculty members suggested possible solutions, including increased foot patrols by UCPD and emergency drills on campus. Early in the 2013 Fall semester, UC increased patrols from four to seven days per week, as well as increasing the number of off-duty police officers from eight to 13. Christina Beer, a fourth-year information systems student and chief of staff for the undergraduate student government, said she’s noticed stronger police presence on campus. She said that could provide opportunities for more positive interactions between students and UC police officers, which would benefits public safety’s overall performance. Student body president Joe Blizzard said that while crime on campus statistically has decreased over the past couple years, there is a perception that UC is not a safe campus. He attributed the perception to increased media attention, as well as the emails concerning crime that the university distributes to students — a requirement under the Clery Act. Other students at Wednesday’s session also brought up the emails, specifically the volume of emails sent, which has been a consistent theme during Margolis Healy & Associates’ review, said Aaron Graves, an associate with the firm. Graves also said many of the people the firm talked to are suggesting an increase in more constructive interactions between UCPD and students. Students discussed possible improvements to UCPD’s education style. Most in attendance agreed that the current system of trying to reach students at freshmen orientation isn’t effective. Parker, the ambassador for GSGA, said orientation isn’t required for graduate students and, consequently, many students don’t show up and miss the public safety presentation. While many students and faculty members in attendance said they’ve seen improvements, others said they attended the sessions because they have serious concerns about safety on and around campus. “My concern is personal safety,” said Alyssa Nicholas, a first-year student in the College of Pharmacy. Nicholas, who is in her third year at UC, lived on and off campus during her first two years, but moved back home for her third. “I just don’t feel safe,” Nicholas said. Charlie Scruggs — a pre-med adviser in the pre-professional advising center and eight-year Clifton resident — said there is a definite lack of safety. Scruggs recalled a recent incident in which faculty member was assaulted near campus in the middle of the day. “The biggest concerns are in the evening,” Scruggs said.“Not just with faculty and staff but also with students maybe not being aware of their surroundings.You know, not looking forward, listening to their iPod or checking emails and being really coherent of who’s in front of them, who’s behind them or who’s next to them.” The general consensus of the group agreed that even though the UCPD is effective, there are measures that should be taken to ensure safety both on and off campus. “Students should be worried about NATALIE COLEMAN STAFF REPORTER Coming off the heels of a successful $1 billion fundraising campaign, the University of Cincinnati Foundation is attempting to build on its recent success by bringing in a veteran fundraiser. Jay Browning brings his 17 years of experience to the associate vice president for principal gifts position in the UC Foundation. Specifically, his focus will be on raising high-end principal gifts — the big-ticket fundraising priorities for the university — and developing relationships with important donors. “I was attracted to the University of Cincinnati because it is such a cutting-edge higher education and research institution,” Browning said in a statement to the UC Foundation. “The university has a bright future ahead and I want to do my part to THE NEWS RECORD Cincinnati Police are searching for a suspect involved in a double shooting that killed one victim and hospitalized another less than two miles from the University of Cincinnati Monday. Investigators have several leads and are conducting interviews but were not at liberty to release specific details as of press time, Sgt. Jeff Gramke said. Police were called to the 100 block of Woolper Avenue —in Clifton roughly 1.2 miles south of UC main campus — around noon Monday. Officers discovered two victims, both with gunshot wounds, in a vehicle outside 178 Woolper Ave. Both men were taken to University of Cincinnati Medical Center where one of the victims, 45-year-old William Moritz, was pronounced dead. The other victim suffered a non-life-threatening wound to his lower torso and was released later that day, Gramke said. Within hours arriving on the scene, police were able to determine the shooting occurred at 3606 Irving St. in Avondale — less than one mile away from where the victims were found. The victims, who are both residents of Florence, Ky., were shot while in a vehicle and preceded to drive to Woolper Avenue where the driver lost consciousness. Police are not releasing details concerning why the victims were in Avondale, as well as any possible motives for the shooting, Gramke said. Investigators are actively interviewing people including the surviving victim. THE NEWS RECORD After lengthy meeting, SG elects two new at-large senators White House report draws attention to college sexual assault culture Newly elected senators look to push initiatives in limited time before February’s general election ALEXIS O’BRIEN NEWS EDITOR Two open senator at-large seats on the University of Cincinnati Undergraduate Student Government were filled Wednesday night when new senators were elected after four rounds of voting. “You have two very distinct people that have regimented initiatives they want to implement and can implement in the next six weeks,” said student body president Joe Blizzard, “which is what the position is going to allow for before the February full-body elections.” Gracie Waters, a fourth-year biomedical engineering student, and Emily Heine, a first-year biology student, were selected by majority votes out of 11 total candidates. Traditionally, the general student body elects at-large senators during yearly campus-wide elections at the end of February. Waters and Heine are filling the empty seats left by former senators who left their positions at the end of Fall semester. Though their time now is limited, they could run for positions in the 2014-15 academic year in the upcoming general election. Waters plans to spend her time sanitizing computer lab keyboards and organizing a financial workshop for students. “I’ve talked to so many people who don’t even know how to make a budget, and that’s something so simple and standard that people use for the rest of their lives,”Waters said.“I really think that type of information should be available to students and that they should learn that during their time here.” Heine’s platform centers on student sustainability and activity through a sustainability conference, earth week competition and an all-Ohio track meet — events she thinks will be easily accomplished. “[My biggest challenge will be] learning the vocabulary in here,” Heine said. But Blizzard has faith in the new senators, who add two more female voices to the senate that only had one female at-large voice before they were elected. “They both came in with specific things they wanted to accomplish and presented really well,” Blizzard said.“We look forward to working with both of them and getting started on their initiatives.” THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI’S INDEPENDENT, STUDENT-RUN NEWS ORGANIZATION / THURSDAY, JAN. 23, 2014 PHIL DIDION PHOTO EDITOR Students and faculty shared suggestions for improving campus safety with officials from Margolis Healy & Associates, which is conducting an external review of public safety at UC. MADISON SCHMIDT CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER Student government speaker of senate Kathleen Hurley (center) talks with Gracie Waters (left) and Emily Heine (right), two newly elected senators-at-large after a lengthy student government meeting in Tangeman University Center Wednesday. [email protected] / 513.556.5908 EUROPEAN STUDY PAGE 5 PAGE 4 PAGE 4 PAGE 6 RETURN OF PIXIES WINNING STREAK GOLD RUSH PIXIES LEGACY TOO GREAT TO FAIL, NEW EP ALMOST UP TO PAR UC ARCHITECTURE STUDENT SHARES STORY FROM ABROAD New fundraiser joins ranks of UC Foundation Police searching for suspect in homicide SEE SAFETY PG 2 SEE FOUNDATION PG 2 VOL. CXXXVIII ISSUE XVVIIII • FREE-ADDITIONAL COPIES $1 NEEDED REFORMS

Upload: the-news-record

Post on 03-Feb-2016

221 views

Category:

Documents


1 download

DESCRIPTION

The News Record, the independent student news organization at the University of Cincinnati All the news you can use

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: The News Record 1.23.14

UC advocates working to combat, prevent violence against womenTHE NEWS RECORD

A report released by the White House Tuesday served as a call to action to combat rampant sexual assault and rape across the country; a problem University of Cincinnati advocates say needs to be addressed on campus.

The White House Council on Women and Girls released its report, “Rape and Sexual Assault: A Renewed Call to Action” Wednesday in an effort to combat sexual assault and provide assistance to rape victims, which affects one in every fi ve women in college.

“[U.S. President Barack Obama] saying that not only is this a problem that we’re seeing across the nation but we’re going to

make a concentrated effort to talk about prevention programming … That’s so important,” said Ashley Rouster, UC sexual assault advocate.

The report included the most recent data about rape and sexual assault in the U.S. Nearly 22 million women have been raped in their lifetimes, most victims know their assailants, and the vast majority of perpetrators — nearly 98 percent — are male, according to the report.

Under the Clery Act, UC releases its data on sexual assault and rape annually, but the government report stated that sexual assault on campuses is a specifi c and particular problem.

“The dynamics of college life appear to fuel the problem, as many survivors are victims of what’s called ‘incapacitated assault.’ They are sexually abused while drunk, under the infl uence of drugs, passed out or otherwise incapacitated,” the report

stated. According to university data, 13

acquaintance rapes and six stranger rapes were reported in the 2011-12 academic year. The volume of acquaintance rapes decreased from the 31 reported in the 2010-11 academic year.

Rouster said statistics can sometimes be misleading because sexual assault and rape frequently is not reported.

“One of the reasons I hesitate is because sexual assault, we know, is extremely under reported,” she said. “Only about 12 percent of survivors report, so we want to be careful when we think about it in numbers and in terms of investigations.”

One study found that 7 percent of college men admitted to committing rape or attempted rape, and 63 percent of these men admitted to committing multiple offenses — averaging six rapes each, according to the report.

“Americans came to see how serious this problem was and how we all needed to do more to address it,” Obama said in a statement. “That’s resulted in ... a new chance at life for countless women.”

The Violence Against Women Act was reauthorized in 2013, which improved support to cities and states to help end sexual assault including the process of testing more rape kits, Obama said.

University offi cials and the Women’s Center have worked aggressively to provide support to rape survivors. UC Women’s Center and police work closely to provide support to sexual assault victims.

“Advocates raise awareness about issues of sexual and gender-based violence on our campus, providing resources and opening up the dialogue so that we can have real community conversations,” Rouster said.

The Reclaim 24-hour help line is 513-218-9531.

Community weighs in on external public safety review, call for more engagementRYAN HOFFMAN & BRYAN SHUPE THE NEWS RECORD

As the University of Cincinnati Division of Public Safety undergoes an extensive external review, members of the community are calling for a more engaging and proactive approach to safety on and around campus.

“I think the biggest thing is connecting with [students] more and more engagement,” said Jeremy Parker, campus ambassador for the graduate student governance association.

Parker’s words echoed those of other students and faculty at a series of open sessions hosted by Margolis Healy & Associates, a professional services fi rm that specializes in campus safety and security.

The fi rm brought together different segments of the population throughout the day Wednesday, in order to gain feedback on the current functions of public safety and more specifi cally UC Police Department.

“I think [UCPD] has outstanding intentions,” said Megan Pfaltzgraff, director of college computing. “But they tend to be more reactive than proactive.”

Faculty members suggested possible solutions, including increased foot patrols by UCPD and emergency drills on campus.

Early in the 2013 Fall semester, UC increased patrols from four to seven days

per week, as well as increasing the number of off-duty police offi cers from eight to 13.

Christina Beer, a fourth-year information systems student and chief of staff for the undergraduate student government, said she’s noticed stronger police presence on campus. She said that could provide opportunities for more positive interactions between students and UC police offi cers, which would benefi ts public safety’s overall performance.

Student body president Joe Blizzard said that while crime on campus statistically has decreased over the past couple years, there is a perception that UC is not a safe campus.

He attributed the perception to increased media attention, as well as the emails concerning crime that the university distributes to students — a requirement under the Clery Act.

Other students at Wednesday’s session also brought up the emails, specifi cally the volume of emails sent, which has been a consistent theme during Margolis Healy & Associates’ review, said Aaron Graves, an associate with the fi rm.

Graves also said many of the people the fi rm talked to are suggesting an increase in more constructive interactions between UCPD and students.

Students discussed possible improvements to UCPD’s education style. Most in attendance agreed that the current system of trying to reach students at freshmen orientation isn’t effective.

Parker, the ambassador for GSGA, said orientation isn’t required for graduate

students and, consequently, many students don’t show up and miss the public safety presentation.

While many students and faculty members in attendance said they’ve seen improvements, others said they attended the sessions because they have serious concerns about safety on and around campus.

“My concern is personal safety,” said Alyssa Nicholas, a fi rst-year student in the College of Pharmacy.

Nicholas, who is in her third year at UC, lived on and off campus during her fi rst two years, but moved back home for her third.

“I just don’t feel safe,” Nicholas said.Charlie Scruggs — a pre-med adviser in

the pre-professional advising center and eight-year Clifton resident — said there is a defi nite lack of safety. Scruggs recalled a recent incident in which faculty member was assaulted near campus in the middle of the day.

“The biggest concerns are in the evening,” Scruggs said. “Not just with faculty and staff but also with students maybe not being aware of their surroundings. You know, not looking forward, listening to their iPod or checking emails and being really coherent of who’s in front of them, who’s behind them or who’s next to them.”

The general consensus of the group agreed that even though the UCPD is effective, there are measures that should be taken to ensure safety both on and off campus.

“Students should be worried about

NATALIE COLEMAN STAFF REPORTER

Coming off the heels of a successful $1 billion fundraising campaign, the University of Cincinnati Foundation is attempting to build on its recent success by bringing in a veteran fundraiser.

Jay Browning brings his 17 years of experience to the associate vice president for principal gifts position in the UC Foundation. Specifi cally, his focus will be on raising high-end principal gifts — the big-ticket fundraising priorities for the university — and developing relationships with important donors.

“I was attracted to the University of Cincinnati because it is such a cutting-edge higher education and research institution,” Browning said in a statement to the UC Foundation. “The university has a bright future ahead and I want to do my part to

THE NEWS RECORD

Cincinnati Police are searching for a suspect involved in a double shooting that killed one victim and hospitalized another less than two miles from the University of Cincinnati Monday.

Investigators have several leads and are conducting interviews but were not at liberty to release specifi c details as of press time, Sgt. Jeff Gramke said.

Police were called to the 100 block of Woolper Avenue —in Clifton roughly 1.2 miles south of UC main campus — around noon Monday. Offi cers discovered two victims, both with gunshot wounds, in a vehicle outside 178 Woolper Ave.

Both men were taken to University of Cincinnati Medical Center where one of the victims, 45-year-old William Moritz, was pronounced dead. The other victim suffered a non-life-threatening wound to his lower torso and was released later that day, Gramke said.

Within hours arriving on the scene, police were able to determine the shooting occurred at 3606 Irving St. in Avondale — less than one mile away from where the victims were found. The victims, who are both residents of Florence, Ky., were shot while in a vehicle and preceded to drive to Woolper Avenue where the driver lost consciousness.

Police are not releasing details concerning why the victims were in Avondale, as well as any possible motives for the shooting, Gramke said.

Investigators are actively interviewing people including the surviving victim.

THE NEWS RECORD

After lengthy meeting, SG elects two new at-large senators

White House report draws attention to college sexual assault culture

Newly elected senators look to push initiatives in limited time before February’s general electionALEXIS O’BRIEN NEWS EDITOR

Two open senator at-large seats on the University of Cincinnati Undergraduate Student Government were fi lled Wednesday night when new senators were elected after four rounds of voting.

“You have two very distinct people that have regimented initiatives they want to implement and can implement in the next six weeks,” said student body president Joe Blizzard, “which is what the position is going to allow for before the February full-body elections.”

Gracie Waters, a fourth-year biomedical engineering student, and Emily Heine, a fi rst-year biology student, were selected by majority votes out of 11 total candidates.

Traditionally, the general student body elects at-large senators during yearly campus-wide elections at the end of February. Waters and Heine are fi lling the empty seats left by former senators who left their positions at the end of Fall semester. Though their time now is limited, they could run

for positions in the 2014-15 academic year in the upcoming general election. Waters plans to spend her time sanitizing computer lab keyboards and organizing a fi nancial workshop for students.

“I’ve talked to so many people who don’t even know how to make a budget, and that’s something so simple and standard that people use for the rest of their lives,” Waters said. “I really think that type of information should be available to students and that they should learn that during their time here.”

Heine’s platform centers on student sustainability and activity through a sustainability conference, earth week competition and an all-Ohio track meet — events she thinks will be easily accomplished.

“[My biggest challenge will be] learning the vocabulary in here,” Heine said.

But Blizzard has faith in the new senators, who add two more female voices to the senate that only had one female at-large voice before they were elected.

“They both came in with specifi c things they wanted to accomplish and presented really well,” Blizzard said. “We look forward to working with both of them and getting started on their initiatives.”

THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI’S INDEPENDENT, STUDENT-RUN NEWS ORGANIZATION / THURSDAY, JAN. 23, 2014

PHIL DIDION PHOTO EDITOR Students and faculty shared suggestions for improving campus safety with o� cials from Margolis Healy & Associates, which is conducting an external review of public safety at UC.

MADISON SCHMIDT CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER Student government speaker of senate Kathleen Hurley (center) talks with Gracie Waters (left) and Emily Heine (right), two newly elected senators-at-large after a lengthy student government meeting in Tangeman University Center Wednesday.

[email protected] / 513.556.5908

EUROPEAN STUDYPAGE 5 PAGE 4 PAGE 4 PAGE 6

RETURN OF PIXIES WINNING STREAK

GOLD RUSH PIXIES LEGACY TOO GREAT TO

FAIL, NEW EP ALMOST UP TO PAR

UC ARCHITECTURE STUDENT SHARES STORY FROM ABROAD

New fundraiser joins ranks of UC Foundation

Police searching for suspect in homicide

SEE SAFETY PG 2

SEE FOUNDATION PG 2

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

NEEDED REFORMS

THE NEWS RECORDTHE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI’S INDEPENDENT, STUDENT-RUN NEWS ORGANIZATION / THURSDAY, JAN. 23, 2014

Page 2: The News Record 1.23.14

Syrian government takes more diplomatic tone in peace talks, critics call for peaceful regime changeMCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS

MONTREUX, Switzerland — The Syrian government and the opposition seeking its overthrow confronted each other face to face Wednesday for the first time since a national uprising began nearly three years ago. The talks were widely expected to last months if not years. But there were two unexpected developments in the course of the day of speechmaking in this Swiss resort town that augured hope for a more rapid agreement.

First, there was a striking shift in tone by the Syrian government’s chief representative, Foreign Minister Walid Moallem, from harsh and combative in his opening statement Wednesday morning to a measured and businesslike statement in final remarks in late afternoon.

Then, a short time later, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry disclosed that the United States and Russia are working closely to find other ways to bring pressure for a solution and that pressure includes increasing support to the rebels.

“There are still other possibilities of ways to be able to bring pressure and to try to work a solution” to the Syria crisis, he said. Kerry said he had spoken with Soviet Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov about this, and that President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin had “talked at some length about this.”

Kerry also said that he expected the growing refugee problem in Jordan and the rise of terrorist groups in both Lebanon and Syria will “compel others to think in different

ways about what the options may be as we go down the road.”

Another sign of a possible acceleration of efforts is that Moallem will head the Syrian delegation for the actual negotiations, which are to begin Friday in Geneva. Syria’s U.N. ambassador, Bashar Jaafari, told reporters that Moallem is prepared to stay “not one or two or three sessions,” but for a long-term dialogue, “whatever it takes.” Jaafari also said that Syria was ready to discuss every aspect of a U.N. action plan, which Moscow and Washington drafted in June 2012.

It calls for creation of a transitional government, in charge of security and all other functions, members of which both the rebels and the Syrian government negotiators would have to agree on.

But Jaafari said that the June 2012 statement was a “package,” and he pointed to its call for a nationwide cease-fire as an integral part of the package.

For those attending the daylong conference in the glittering resort town on Lake Geneva, the most lasting impression was the shift in tone by Moallem.

Moallem accused the Syrian opposition of “selling themselves to the highest bidder” and betraying their country, having sold themselves to Israel. In bitter, sometimes lurid language, he accused them of massive crimes, including rape, murder and even cannibalism. He urged the world to join his government in a fight against terrorism.

By late afternoon there was a different Moallem. He deplored the speeches of most of the 40 countries represented that he said were full of “aspersions” that were “out of place” and did not “deserve a response.”

Changes to NSA data collection does not go far enough, advocates say MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS

WASHINGTON — No matter what President Barack Obama announces Friday when he unveils changes to the federal government’s surveillance programs, he won’t appease critics on the most important question he faces: what to do with the massive collection and storage of phone records.

Obama is looking to reduce the amount of information the government may collect, a move that will anger those who think that bulk collection helps prevent terrorism but still won’t satisfy civil libertarians who think it remains intrusive and unnecessary.

“It’s almost inevitable someone is unhappy at the end of the day,” said Todd Hinnen, former acting assistant attorney general for national security at the Justice Department.

Obama considered asking a separate organization — perhaps a government contractor — to store the phone data.

He now is expected to allow the information to remain with the National Security Agency while calling on Congress to determine the program’s future, according to those familiar with White House deliberations.

In addition, he might limit gathering records from those further removed from the original suspects and reduce the

number of years the data may be retained. Information about Obama’s possible

actions Friday come from interviews with administration and Capitol Hill staffers and advocacy groups, some of whom attended meetings at the White House, who aren’t authorized to speak publicly about the deliberations.

The program — which collects the phone numbers dialed but not the content of the calls — was authorized by Section 215 of the Patriot Act and started after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. It didn’t require court approval until 2006.

Obama is expected to announce several changes — including appointing a public advocate to appear before the nation’s secret surveillance court, which now hears arguments only from the government, and stopping spying on some foreign leaders — but not far-reaching ones.

In many cases, he will defer to a divided Congress, where support for NSA changes does not fall strictly along party lines.

The Obama administration already has rejected two recommendations: separating two offices, the NSA and the U.S. Cyber Command, and tweaking an investigative tool — dubbed the national security letter program — that allows the FBI to quickly demand credit, financial and Internet subscriber information using a form of administrative subpoena issued without court order.

“He starts from the absolute commitment to maintaining the security

of the American people ... as well as the commitments we have to our allies,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said Thursday.

“He has also said that we can and should take steps to make the activities we engage in ... more transparent, in order to give the public more confidence.”

An advisory panel created by Obama recommended nearly 50 changes to the NSA programs, including the contentious bulk collection of phone records. Intelligence officials insist that the bulk phone-records program prevents terrorist attacks.

“The fact is terrorists use our communications infrastructure to radicalize others, to recruit operatives,” said Matthew Olsen, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center. “Our security depends on NSA’s ability to conduct surveillance on these targets.”

Opponents argue that the administration has never provided specific examples of attacks that were prevented through the program.

An analysis of 225 terrorism cases since 2001 indicates that the data collection had a minimal impact on preventing terrorism except for a case that involved a San Diego cabdriver convicted of sending money to a terrorist group in Somalia, according to a report this week by the New America Foundation, a nonprofit group.

Obama’s own advisory group said in its report that the program hadn’t been essential to preventing attacks.

achieve that success.”In this position, Browning said he plans

on working with UC President Santa Ono and the Board of Trustees to meet primary fundraising objectives.

“Jay’s breadth of experience coupled with his focus on relationship building makes him the perfect person to fill the role of associate vice president for principal gifts,” said Rod Grabowski, president of the UC Foundation, in a statement. “I am pleased to call him a part of the UC community, and I am confident that his skills will help advance priority initiatives at the university.”

Browning said he wants to achieve accomplishments similar to those at his previous job with Cabrini College, where he said he doubled fundraising output and helped turn around the fundraising operation in one year.

“I’m here to produce. I’m here to help accomplish goals and help the UC Foundation achieve their goals,” Browning said. “We’ll be finding ways to engage donors and get them to want to be a part of UC.”

schoolwork, not getting mugged,” Scruggs said.

Officials from Margolis Healy & Associates will spend the rest of the week meeting with other groups on campus before combing through the data to come up with concrete recommendations.

Discussions between the university and Margolis Healy & Associates could start as early as mid-February.

2 / NEWSTHURSDAY, JAN. 23, 2014 / NEWSRECORD.ORG

[email protected] / 513.556.5908

Obama’s changes to surveillance unlikely to satisfy critics

Syria delegation hopes Geneva talks will lead to peace

FROM FOUNDATION PG 1

FROM SAFETY PG 1

PROVIDEDU.S. Secretary of State John Kerry takes part in the Syria peace conference in Montreux, Switzerland, Wednesday. At the U.N.-sponsored international peace conference, the Syrian foreign minister rejected the international community’s demand for a transitional structure to replace the Bashar Assad regime.

1,2, or 3 issues$0.60 per word

+$10 for 7 days online

4,5, or 6 issues$0.50 per word

+$20 for14 days online

7, 8, or 9 issues$0.40 per word

+$30 for21 days online

10+ issues$0.30 per word

+$35 for30 days online

ONLILNE CLASSIFIED AD RATES 7 days: $25.00 14 days: $40.00 monthly: $75.00 semesterly: $150.00

CLASSIFIEDS POLICY1 All ads must be prepaid.2 Out-of-town advertisers must send check with copy.3 NIU’s must be signed and filled out before acceptance of ads.4 All ad changes are due two days prior to publication.5 No refunds unless a mistake by The News Record’s staff occurs in the advertisement. Refunds are not granted for ads placed, then cancelled. Adjustments are limited to the portion of the ad which is incorrect. Under no circumstances will an adjustment be issued greater than the cost of the ad.

6 To receive student discount, current verification must be shown.7 Students or student groups may not use display or classified discounts for non-university, for profit businesses.8 Advertisers should check their ads the first day of printing. The News Record is not responsible for more than one incorrect insertion.9 The News Record reserves the right to reject any ads at its discretion, with or without notification to the advertiser.10 These policies are not negotiable.

DEADLINESDeadline for classified ads is 4 p.m.,

two days prior to publication.Display ad deadline is 4 p.m., three

days prior to publication. Deadline for Monday issues is 4 p.m. Thursday for

display ads.For classified and display advertising information, please call 513-556-5900.

EQUAL HOUSINGOPPORTUNITY

All apartment rental/sublet advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing

Act of 1968, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap or familial status, or an intention to make any such

preference, limitation or discrimination. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any

advertising for apartment rentals or sublets which is in violation of the law.

Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an

equal opportunity basis.

RAT

ES

FOR RENT

Looking for an apartment?www.ucapartments.com

FOR RENT

Large Studios/1-Bedroom/3-Bedrooms in HYDE PARKLarge Studio (450 sq. ft.), Rent $620/month.1-BR, (700 sq. ft.) Hardwood floors, Rent $735/month.3-BR (1,200 sq. ft.) with 2 bathrooms, balcony, hardwood floors. Rent $1,350/month.HEAT & WATER PAID. Call us at (513) 477-2920 or [email protected].

FOR RENT

Now Renting for August 2014! See a video tour at UC4RENT.COM.

513-621-7032

CLASSES OFFERED

Concealed Carry ClassesOur one day certification course is taught by active duty Police Officers. Call 513-237-9423 or email [email protected] for more info.

Elite Smoke Shop Hookahs

Shisha

Vape Pens

E-cigss

Water Pipes

Smoking

Accessories

Hookah Accessories

233 West McMillan StreetCincinnati, Ohio 45219

513-381-1613

Elite Smoke Shop Hookahs

Shisha

Vape Pens

E-cigss

Water Pipes

Smoking

Accessories

Hookah Accessories

233 West McMillan StreetCincinnati, Ohio 45219

513-381-1613

Page 3: The News Record 1.23.14

3 / ADVERTISEMENT THURSDAY, JAN. 23, 2014 / NEWSRECORD.ORG

The Lipper award is given to the group with the lowest average decile ranking of three years’ Consistent Return for eligible funds over the three-year period ended 11/30/12. TIAA-CREF was ranked against 36 fund companies with at least fi ve equity, fi ve bond, or three mixed-asset portfolios.

TIAA-CREF mutual funds have achieved high rankings over various asset classes and market cycles. The 2012 Lipper/Barron’s overall ranking was determined by weighting fi ve fund categories in proportion to their overall importance within Lipper’s fund universe. TIAA-CREF’s overall ranking was 10th out of 62 mutual fund families for one-year performance, and 29th out of 53 mutual fund families for fi ve-year performance. TIAA-CREF did not qualify for the 10-year ranking. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. Go to tiaa-cref.org for product and fund prospectuses that contain this and other information. Read carefully before investing.TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC, and Teachers Personal Investors Services Inc. ©2013 Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association – College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF),730 Third Avenue, New York, NY, 10017. C11806A

BEST OVERALLLARGE FUND

COMPANY

The Lipper Award is based on a review

of 36 companies’ 2012 risk-adjusted

performance.

NEVER TRUST A MARKETNAMED AFTER AN ANIMAL THAT TRAMPLES PEOPLE.

Bull markets tempt investors with short-term gains. At TIAA-CREF, we invest wisely, for the long haul. It’s earned us the 2013 Lipper Award for Best Overall Large Fund Company. That’s how we deliver Outcomes That Matter.

Intelligent, informed investing.Award-winning performance.Get started at TIAA.org/award.

Page 4: The News Record 1.23.14

Band succeeds in rewriting traditional farewell long before actual goodbyeKATIE GRIFFITH MANAGING EDITOR

Before alternative rock it was easy to identify a band, describe the sound and place it into a category. Of course, that was when you still rewound cassette tapes by sticking your finger into the little holes and often reverted back to the record player.

It’s arguable that among a select few artists the Pixies were pioneers of alternative rock, a genre that seems indefinite today. With a new series of EP’s the band is bringing borders back to the limitless list of subgenres that stem from alternative, but at times even they sound confused.

“EP 1,” which came out in September, was the Pixies first release in 22 years and January marked the second with “EP 2.”

“Blue Eyed Hexe” is the first on the four-song collection. It oddly resembles “U-Mass,” off of the ’91 album “Trompe Le Monde,” with its timed guitar strums but never strikes the same chords. The intro — cowbell and all — is enticing. A gnarly guitar whines a grungy vibe while the

bell and drums steady a simple beat. But then, a screech of a voice subtly arises behind the cool groan of Black Francis, vocals that sound more like they should be featured in an ’80s metal song. Then it’s on to the mundane chorus, where the music and lyrics get less and less interesting, lost in their own repetitive conformity.

What is good about this hexed track is its official video. An animated scrapbook scribbled and torn full of eyes, brains, flies and devilish themes flicker and flash as if the blue-eyed witch herself was staging a curse.

But the spell doesn’t last long. New and old Pixies echo in “Magdalena,”

a calm, cool and collected track that takes the mysterious, eerie ambiance of songs like “I Bleed” to a new level but recalls the Pixie punk of “Something Against You.”

Basically the Pixies are stuck in a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” scenario. Diehard fans will never let it go. Their favorite band made new music that strays from the sound they grew to love. They sold out and will never be forgiven.

Critics would condemn them for resting on their laurels, still touring but don’t have it in them to make anything new. “The Pixies will forever close on ‘Gigantic,’” they would say.

Good news for the critics — definitely not for the latter — according to the band’s website vocalist and songwriter Francis was invested in a writing a “better” song to become the ritual closing of live shows. That’s where “Greens and Blues” comes in. Even void of former bassist and backup vocalist Kim Deal, it’s surprisingly deeper.

With a lax attitude Francis delivers the lyrics and lets the song evolve through the guitar’s highs and lows.

“I said I’m human, but you know I lie/I’m only visiting this shore/I’ll soon be leaving in the outbound tide/I’m wasting your time, just talking to you/Maybe best you go on home/I’ll leave you alone, fade from your mind/Slip into the greens and blues,” he sings.

It feels like a good end, like an agreement to walk away happy. But unlike any upcoming show, it’s not the sendoff song.

A wavering tempo clashes with monotonous vocals that betray insightful lyrics on “Snakes,” and although catchy, it falls into the same repetitively boring category as “Blue Eyed Hexe.”

Critic or not, diehard fan or fair weather listener, the Pixies have rocked, do rock

and always will. Maybe they’re two for four on this one but it doesn’t fail in piquing our interest in “EP 3.”

So swallow your pride and blame it on the Pixies, if you must, for all the ambiguity that stemmed from alternative — all their fault.

At least they’re still trying and if not for that, there would still be five other unbeatable albums to fall back on.

4 / LIFE & ARTS THURSDAY, JAN. 23, 2014 / NEWSRECORD.ORG

Jack Ryan is back, doing everything he’s always done

Pixies: 22 years later, alternative roots too strong to topple

Group of students embark on life changing journey, collaborate with student groups, professors MONROE TROMBLY STAFF REPORTER

During Spring semester, roughly 30 University of Cincinnati students are collaborating in interdisciplinary fashion in a race to finish an elaborate documentary.

Students are working to create a documentary that will recount and feature the 2013 Gold Rush Expedition Race, following the success of the 2012 documentation.

Nine students from four academic programs travelled to the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Yosemite National Park to cover and compile footage of the adventure race.

A total of seven teams combatted and raced against each other, and the UC group of filmmakers were there nearly every step of the way to capture the ups, downs and dynamics of the week-long race.

The students spent night and day following and capturing the unique stories of each team and formulated the overall narrative that was born out of this particular adventure race.

At times the conditions of the race proved to be very rugged as the film crew followed the participants and their process on a 24-hour cycle.

“The first day was really hot, we were always at about 6,000-8,000 elevation, and it was often cold at night. And I think on the last day of the race was the toughest day, because there was actually a hail storm in the place we were at,” said Callie Peters, a fifth-year electronic media student and supervising producer of the project. “It was freezing, and we were not prepared for that, and the racers actually had to change the race because a lot of them were pretty close to hypothermia.”

Currently, the whole group of 30 students is in the midst of the long and demanding process of editing the material gathered in the Fall semester. With the

hundreds of hours of film collected, students are practicing what is known as post-production in the screen media field, which involves sorting through interviews, logging shots, transcribing interviews and spending a huge amount of time trying to give narrative cohesiveness to the experiences of the participants in the Gold Rush race.

The students aim to formulate the rough footage into the final product of a film that will be accurate, inspiring and thrilling.

Since 2012’s Gold Rush Race documentary, the project has been funded and sponsored by the UC Forward Collaborative, a program initiated by the UC Provost Office that stresses experiential and interdisciplinary learning in unique settings and environments. The project was first established when a collaboration between electronic media professor Kevin Burke and UC alumnus Brian J. Leitten was formed.

Leitten, who is a professional television and film director and producer, first shot footage of the Gold Rush Expedition Race in 2011, ultimately coming back to UC to experiment with the idea of forming a post-production course to edit and work with the material gathered from each year’s race.

Burke worked closely with the students and was able to watch them grow from the experience.

“When students work in an interdisciplinary setting [they] get an understanding of where each other are coming from, and that broadens their horizons as well — not just as an emerging, young professional, but as a person,” Burke said.

The 2013 Gold Rush Expedition Race documentary will be complete by the end of Spring semester, and is projected to screen during exam week.

The 2012 documentary will be shown on MAV-TV on a to be announced date in March, and both films will show at MainStreet Cinema in Tangeman University Center.

Another Clancy action flick spoiled by overacting alongside trite plot lines MONROE TROMBLY STAFF REPORTER

Featuring the famous Jack Ryan character created by the late novelist

Tom Clancy, “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit” is a 2014 reboot from the previous installments of “Jack Ryan” movies, directed by Kenneth Branagh and starring Chris Pine as Ryan.

Written by Adam Cozad and David Koepp, it is an original story that borrows Clancy’s characters, instead of adapting the novel’s storylines.

Set in 2013, the film follows Ryan from his early days of witnessing the 9-11 attacks from London, to embarking on missions in Afghanistan three years later.

He is critically injured in a helicopter attack, effectively ruling him out of the war, and giving him a grueling rehabilitation period.

Ryan struggles to walk again due to the spinal injuries sustained, all the while watched closely by both his later girlfriend Cathy (Keira Knightley), and his soon to be boss, CIA agent William Harper (Kevin Costner).

Ryan goes undercover on Wall Street, posing as a financial analyst while being the financial eyes and ears of the U.S. government.

He travels to Russia, ultimately uncovering a plot to demolish the beating heart and soul of U.S. economy, Wall Street.

Ryan goes head to head with villain and financier Viktor Cherevin, played by the film’s director Kenneth Branagh, in one of the most overacted and overplayed role’s action spy film has ever seen.

Chris Pine, most well known from his contemporary “Star Trek” role as Cpt. James T. Kirk, plays Ryan with strength and flexibility, dropping the cockiness of Kirk and adopting a convincing, calm manner that remains consistent.

The film is refreshing in the sense that Ryan, at least the way the film’s writers portrayed him, is a competent, yet equally smart protagonist.

The James Bond spy swagger and style is dropped, but in favor of a brainier hero.

Jack Ryan finds himself predictably in over his head, with Harper having sold his Intel job as non-combat and certainly not filled with espionage. The movie slightly falters.

While “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit” certainly infuses the trite, tired spy-thriller genre with renewed life, it doesn’t succeed in all areas attempted to make it exceptional.

Chris Pine and Keira Knightley are adept in handling their characters, but the transition of happy New York couple

to partners in intelligence gathering is a bit too fast and unconvincing.

The film stays grounded and mildly entertaining when Jack Ryan is initially thrust into the realm of espionage, questioning both the kind and extent of service he wants to give to his country, and what life he ultimately wants to live with Cathy.

He assumes the pressures and demands of his boss, Harper all too quickly, and the film promptly becomes just another one-man saves the world feature.

But by world, we do mean the U.S.The plot is not too simple, not too

complicated, and genericism is plenty. Yet as the film’s momentum speeds up,

the second half of the film effectively destroys the progress of the first half.

Cheesy dialogue and uninspiring plot elements inhabit the ground Branagh covers, and sticks to the tried and true of thrillers to help the film along.

By the end of “Shadow Recruit,” the film sputters to close and unravels all credibility and authenticity that it could nearly and easily enough have attained.

Jack Ryan will surely be back to the silver screen soon enough, he’s down but never out.

PROVIDED

PROVIDED The team travelled across water and land alongside the race contestants. The race is always changing weather conditions and the team had to be ready.

PROVIDED The team filmed from morning until night, and now they are editting with equally long hours.

PROVIDED

PROVIDED

UC students film adventure race documentary

PROVIDED

Page 5: The News Record 1.23.14

5 / COLLEGE LIFE THURSDAY, JAN. 23, 2014 / NEWSRECORD.ORG

Architecture student builds experience abroad

Evan Sale follows passions to United Kingdom, France, as part of life-changing honors seminar tripELIZABETH DEPOMPEI CONTRIBUTOR

Polished, thoughtfully structured and professional, University of Cincinnati second-year architecture student Evan Sale is exactly the kind of student UC’s University Honors Program was made for.

His clothing — a sharp collar poking from a blue sweater — complements his reputation as an impressive young man with a promising future.

“His maturity, intellectual curiosity and ability to draw connections across disciplines is excellent,” said Erin Alanson, assistant director of the University Honors Program and Sale’s honors adviser.

The University Honors Program includes students across all undergraduate colleges who represent the top seven percent of undergraduate students. These academically advanced students are challenged through seminars and unique, experiential learning.

During the holiday break, Sale and 17 other students traveled to the United Kingdom and France as part of the honors seminar “A Global History of World War II: Ideology, Culture, Politics,” led by Jeffrey Zalar, history

professor at UC. Zalar said this course was particularly challenging,

even for honors students, and Sale was up to the challenge.

“Sale is one of the most gifted students I have taught,” Zalar said. “He possesses refi ned abilities in both spatial awareness … and analytical acuity.”

The seminar, which met weekly during Fall semester, examined World War II from a global perspective and, as Sale said, put the war into a more human context. For him, the most memorable classroom discussions focused on the impact WWII had on civilians.

“I thought that it kind of told a different story of the war than I had heard before, or that I guess Americans usually hear,” Sale said.

From Dec. 13 to 20, Sale and his classmates traveled throughout London and Normandy visiting museums and historical locations. The Holocaust exhibit at the Imperial War Museum in London was one of the more unforgettable experiences for Sale.

“It made everything more tangible,” Sale said. “It kind of took away some of the protection I guess that we sometimes get when we think that an event happened so long ago that it was totally outside of our experience, and that we’re kind of shielded by time,” Sale said. “That exhibit was probably where I saw most of the suffering of civilians.”

Visiting Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery in Normandy, where the remains of more 9,000 Americans who died in WWII are buried, was an emotional experience for everyone and one that made an impact.

“Maybe it’s a little cliché, but I don’t take as much about my life for granted as I did before,” he said. “I guess I have a little better perspective on the enormous suffering that a lot of people who really, I mean, who really didn’t deserve any of it, were subjected to.”

With all the talk about war, it’s easy to forget that Sale is still a college student traveling the world.

On one of the free days, he and about a dozen other students went to Paris.

Sale plans on getting a minor in history — his other longtime passion, second to architecture.

“Part of it was like shop, but then we also built a big

model neighborhood and everybody had a lot that they could put a house on that we did kind of basic fl oor plans and drawings of,” Sale said. “So I guess that was the fi rst time I really got into it.”

Originally from Springfi eld, Ill., Sale decided to enroll at UC because of the architecture program at the College of Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning. The co-op program peeked his interest in DAAP, which will require him to complete three internships before graduation.

“I enjoy it a lot. It forces you to adapt to different ways of thinking very quickly,” Sale said. “You kind of have to be a jack of all trades.”

An architectural history class taught by Gerald Larson, a professor at the School of Architecture and Interior Design, is one of Sale’s favorite and most infl uential experiences so far. That class, along with his studies and travels with Zalar, has shaped his architectural philosophy.

“One way that I kind of think of it is, in the buildings I hope to create one day, just doing whatever I can to affi rm the value of every person that inhabits the space; to be as humane as possible, because architecture, it can be used to improve people’s lives and it can be used for oppression too,” Sale said. “[For example] the Third Reich had kind of developed its own architecture of empire to reinforce authority and kind of establish its own values. So it makes me critical about the kind of designs that we make, the buildings we build and questioning what kind of statements they make about our beliefs.”

In order to get his architecture license, Sale plans to get a master’s degree in architecture. Whether or not he’ll stay at UC for graduate school, he hasn’t decided. For now, Sale is focused on his internship at HBRA and the upcoming Summer semester. For those that know him, there is little doubt that Sale will succeed.

“He is one of those individuals capable of producing the ‘next great thing,’” Zalar said.

Maybe one day students will walk through a set of glass doors — modernistic and authoritative in design like University Pavilion — Sale’s favorite building on campus — and into his next great thing.

PROVIDEDSecond-year architecture student Evan Sale poses by the Ei� el Tower in Paris. Sale traveled to France and the United Kingdom over winter break with 17 other students as part of a University of Cincinnati honors seminar.

PROVIDEDSale recalls the emotional experience of visiting the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach in Normandy, where 9,000 Americans who lost their lives in WWII are buried.

Page 6: The News Record 1.23.14

6 / SPORTSTHURSDAY, JAN. 23, 2014 / NEWSRECORD.ORG

Strong USF second half performance hands Bearcats another lossCHARLES GROVE STAFF REPORTER

The University of Cincinnati women’s basketball team dropped its second conference game in a row Tuesday in Tampa, falling to the South Florida Bulls 57-48.

The loss dropped UC to 8-10 on the year and just a step below the cellar in the American Athletic Conference with a 1-6 record in AAC play.

Senior Dayeesha Hollins led the Bearcats in scoring with 13 points to go along with seven rebounds, while senior Jeanise Randolph posted a double-double — her seventh of the season — with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Freshman guard Bianca Quisenberry finished in double figures posting 10 points in her 24 minutes of work.

The game was even for the first 20 minutes as neither team was able to pull

away and the game went into halftime at a 22-22 deadlock. But after the break, the Bulls were able to use a 14-2 run midway through second half to pull away from the Bearcats for good, earning their fifth conference win of the year.

USF head coach Jose Fernandez said his team played with a lot of energy, which eventually led to the strong second half performance.

“This team has energy and enthusiasm and we pride ourselves on that,” Fernandez said. “You can bank on our team playing hard every night. This team has continued to work and develop, and I’m proud of them for that.”

UC held the Bulls to just 9-of-31 shooting in the first half for 29 percent. But that same defense failed to show in the second half as the Bulls shot 60 percent, going 12-of-20 from the field. The Bulls also dominated the charity stripe, with a 14-of-17 performance from the free-throw line. UC only attempted four free throws in the game.

“Our coach just told us we needed to

shoot better from the field,” said USF senior Akila McDonald. “Clearly 30 percent was not good enough so we just had to come out and make shots.”

UC tried to get the outside game working but never caught fire, shooting 5-of-17 from three point land while USF stayed away from the outside game for the most part only shooting eight for the game, making one.

USF sophomore Courtney Williams had a field day with the UC defense, as she led all scorers with 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting while also grabbing seven rebounds. McDonald also scored in double figures adding 10 to the Bulls’ offense in 31 minutes played.

The Bearcats have now lost six of their past seven games, all in conference play.

UC will look to snag their next two conference wins against the University of Central Florida Knights who are currently 1-5 in the conference and the Southern Methodist University Mustangs who are 2-5 in AAC play, losers of three in a row.

UC women dropped by South Florida

NATE STEIN CONTRIBUTOR

Following his team’s NFC championship victory over the San Francisco 49ers, Richard Sherman gave one of the most memorable post-game interviews of all time.

He had just stopped 49ers’ receiver Michael Crabtree from catching what would’ve been the go-ahead touchdown in the final minutes of the game, tipping the deep ball into his own teammate’s hands for an interception.

ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews asked Sherman to reflect on the final play of the game, which ultimately sealed the victory for the Seahawks. To say that Sherman was too jacked up to be giving an interview would be an understatement.

He went on a rant, in which he ensured that everyone watching was aware that he’s the best damn cornerback in the NFL. He also confirmed that we all needed a few Advil to sooth our reeling ears, and that we know how mediocre Crabtree is.

For a second, I thought I felt his saliva jump through the TV screen. Poor Andrews was left speechless.

Crabtree and Sherman have had a history of trash talking, mainly on Sherman’s part. The Stanford graduate and all-pro cornerback is known for heckling opponents left and right, but his game speaks for itself. He led the league in interceptions this year, moving his way into an elite group of cornerbacks in the NFL.

Of course he has room to talk, but it is becoming a bit dramatic. Week after week he takes pride in his mouth, rather than just letting his game do the talking. I think he would get even more notoriety for his game if he stopped all the chitter chatter. His talk is getting to the point where it is overshadowing his talent.

Sherman and his Seahawks won’t have time for talk come Super Bowl XLVII. The 49ers are tough, but Peyton Manning’s Broncos are tougher. The Broncos boast the NFL’s most high-powered offense, pushing Manning into the record books for the most touchdown passes in a single season (51).

Sherman has talked so much that if he’s outplayed even for a second against the Broncos, he’ll be burned beyond belief by every media outlet in America. That’s the risk you take when you play football with your mouth.

This weekend’s AFC and NFC championships reminded me why I love the NFL so much. The grit and the camaraderie were on full display as some of the worlds most gifted athletes battled for a spot in every NFL player’s ultimate dream.

The AFC championship was headlined by two of the game’s most refined and prestigious quarterbacks, Manning and Tom Brady. Manning led the league’s most prolific offense past Brady’s 26-16. Manning continued to show why he is the best quarterback in the league, racking up 400 yards through the air on a very stout Patriots defense.

NFL fans got a quick break in the action before the highly anticipated matchup between the Seahawks and the 49ers for the NFC championship. The last time these two teams squared off in the regular season, the 49ers won a tough battle 19-17. The atmosphere of the regular season game was playoff-esque, leaving fans of both teams drooling in hopes of meeting in the NFC championship.

This championship game turned out to be a classic as Seattle edged San Francisco 23-17, setting up what looks to be a heavyweight battle with the Broncos.

But after arguably the best weekend of football in recent history, the only thing we’re talking about is what comes out of Sherman’s mouth.

Super Bowl XLVII will feature the No. 1 offense in the league versus the No. 1 defense in the league. After the Broncos racked up 500 yards of total offense on the Patriots, I don’t know if a train could stop them, much less the Seahawks.

Sure, the Seahawks were picked to win the Super Bowl during the preseason, but is there any doubt Manning and the Broncos won’t continue their post-season brilliance?

Sherman’s mouth had best pray that they don’t. He himself even said the trash talking is over and it is time to get it done. The Seahawks have talked a lot of game this year, and have backed it up, but this one boasts a different stage.

A lot of people are anxious to see how second year quarterback for the Seahawks Russell Wilson will react to the atmosphere and excitement of the Super Bowl, but I don’t think that is something even worth giving attention to.

The attention should only be focused on the matchup. This Super Bowl is all about the teams, as both boast an incredible résumé. This may be one of the best matchups in Super Bowl history because everyone expected these two to be in the finale.

At the end of the day, talk is cheap. We can talk about Sherman’s mouth, but can’t we just talk about the game?

Please stop running your mouth, Sherman

Cronin: Winning adds responsibility

Bearcats look to avoid ‘disappearing,’ loss against inferior UCF teamJOSHUA MILLER SPORTS EDITOR

In the world of college basketball, success brings pressure, and at the moment the University of Cincinnati has a plethora of both.

“When you win games it adds responsibility because your opponent is going to be ready for you,” said UC head coach Mick Cronin. “When you’ve won 10 in a row and your ranked 15th in the country and you’re first in a conference that includes Louisville, Memphis, Connecticut, you’re not sneaking up on Central Florida. It’s not going to happen.“

Since falling to crosstown-rival Xavier University 64-47 Dec. 14, 2013, UC has smothered 10 straight opponents — including No. 20 Pittsburgh and No. 22 Memphis — into submission, allowing more than 60 points only once during the stretch.

With one of the most efficient defenses in the country UC has established itself as a threat to any team, with the ability to grind out victories in the second half regardless of the score at halftime. A quality that embodies what Cronin preaches above all else is winning with

defensive toughness. “Too many people say we don’t have

talent,” Cronin said. “Yes we do. Playing hard and playing to win is a talent. Unfortunately, that talent isn’t extenuated by recruiting analysts.”

UC can’t play another way and expect to win, Cronin said. And win is what they must continue to do, as UC seemingly doesn’t posses the national respect of poll voters to be able to suffer a loss against an inferior team.

“There are certain teams in college basketball that if they lose it would take four games in a row and they’d still be ranked,” Cronin said. “If we were to lose one game we’d disappear and I make sure our guys understand that.”

As a team with nothing to lose and everything to gain in a game against UC, UCF (9-7, 1-4 AAC) posses a threat, too.

After the Bearcats face UCF they go to Louisville, which could throw the team’s focus away from a squad like UCF.

“You always want to have a big game,” said UC senior Justin Jackson. “But some games aren’t big and you have to maintain and keep your focus, understand that everybody is going to give you their best game.”

For UC, the key to victory will be on the boards because, as Cronin pointed out, the Golden Knights rebound as well as anyone in the country.

“Their rebounding scares me to death,” he said. “In conference play their two guard is averaging eight rebounds per game; I’ve never seen that in college basketball.”

USF ranks 16th in the country with 40.5 rebounds per game and the two guard Cronin referenced is Isaiah Sykes who, at 6 feet 6 inches, is only two inches shorter than Jackson, UC’s center who stands at just 6 feet 8 inches.

UC will be focused on winning the turnover battle — with a plus five turnover ratio UC leads the AAC in just that — to try to alleviate what will likely be at least a slight gap in the rebounding department.

But, as it has been for the majority of the season, keeping Jackson and his relentless rebounding and defensive presence on the floor and out of foul trouble will be the key to UC’s success.

“He needs to play 30 minutes for us to be at our best,” Cronin said. “Really, at this point in the season, almost everyone we play is bigger than us.”

For Cronin and UC, which has four games remaining against UConn and Louisville, it’s imperative — both from the standpoint of seeking an AAC title and from continuing to clime in the national pools — not to fall to a team with a low RPI ranking. Currently ranked 209th, that’s where UCF stands.

MADISON SCHMIDT CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHERUC Forward Shaquille Thomas attempts to block Temple’s inbound pass passing during UC’s 69-58 victory against the Owls Jan. 14.

ONLINE EXCLUSIVECheck newsrecord.org for a photo gallery of UC’s basketball game against the University of Central Florida Thursday.

Happ named pre-season All-American UC sophomore looks to improve on strong freshman season JOSHUA MILLER SPORTS EDITOR

Ian Happ’s first hit as a collegiate baseball player was a home run. It clearly set the tone for what has, thus far, been a very successful career at the University of Cincinnati.

Monday morning Happ was selected as a second-team pre-season All-American by Perfect Game magazine.

Happ, who started all 56 games for UC last season, joins University of Louisville pitcher Nick Burdi as the American Athletic Conference’s only All-American representatives.

“It’s a great honor to be selected,” Happ said. “ But it doesn’t really matter until we see what happens by the end of the season.”

First-year UC head coach Ty Neal is excited to see what Happ is capable of in his first year at the Helm, of the program, as Happ is the quality of player Neal hopes to continue recruiting to UC.

“Quite frankly, those are the guys that make you better coaches and help you win baseball games,” Neal said. “Ian had a great freshman year and a great summer in the Cape, he was a little banged up in the fall but we’re excited to see what he’s capable of this year.”

Happ led UC in a barrage of offensive categories in 2013, posting team-high numbers in runs scored (41), doubles (13),

home runs (six) and walks (47). He also recorded a team-high .322 batting average, a .483 slugging percentage and a .451 on-base percentage.

Perfect Game magazine named Happ a Freshman All-American for his performances in 2013, which were highlighted by his series against Pittsburgh, in which he had six hits, four RBIs, two home runs, two walks, and three runs scored.

Happ is widely regarded as a well-rounded player, whom Neal categorized as already possessing four of the five tools of an all-round player.

“In scouting and recruiting you always try to identify the five tools of baseball, which are fielding, running, throwing, hitting for average and hitting for power,” Neal said. “He’s a guy with good foot speed, an above average arm and he’s proven that he can hit for average and power. The fifth tool, he still needs to settle on a position and find the best spot for himself.”

After spending the majority of fall playing in the outfield because of a knee injury that limited his mobility, Happ has been taking all of his defensive reps in the infield for UC.

Already a proven outfielder, Neal is trying to find the best spot for Happ’s future, which looks professionally bright at this point in his progression, and his best spot in terms of UC fielding its best possible lineup.

As for his expectations of Happ this

season, Neal expects the same thing as all of his other players: improvement.

“My expectation is that he continues to handle everything in a first class manner,” Neal said. “Right now he’s got everyone telling him how good he is. I want him to keep two feet in today and continue to become a better player.”

Happ, on the other hand, just wants to improve on what was a very disappointing 2013 for UC baseball.

“I just want to improve on last year for the team,” Happ said. “We were very disappointed with where we finished in the conference and not being able to participate in postseason play. “

FILE ARTUC’s Ian Happ singles against Purdue in a March 13, 2013 contest at Marge Schott Stadium.