March 28, 2018 by The News Record

Wednesday, Mar. 28, 2018

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Cincinnatians march for their lives pg. 11

Opening Day: A tradition like no other

News

Tensing receives over $300,000

Mar. 28, 2018 | newsrecord.org

JACOB FISHER | COPY EDITOR

Former University of Cincinnati police officer Ray Tensing, who in July 2015 was indicted on murder and voluntary manslaughter charges for his role in the death of Samuel DuBose, will receive over $300,000 from the university. In an email to the student body, UC President Neville Pinto announced a payout of $244,230 in back pay and benefits for the former officer, per an agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP). The university also agreed to pay Tensing’s legal fees amounting to $100,000. “As a result of this agreement, Mr. Tensing has resigned his position as a University Law Enforcement Officer,” the email reads. “[He] will not return to employment at the University of Cincinnati in any capacity.” The agreement marks the end of a lengthy grievance process between the university and Tensing, who shot and killed DuBose during an off-campus traffic stop on July 19, 2015. DuBose, an unarmed African-American motorist, was stopped for a suspended license and missing front license plate. UC fired Tensing immediately following his indictment ten days later. The Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio (FOP) subsequently filed a grievance against the university on behalf of the former officer, deeming his termination unlawful. DuBose’s death sent shockwaves through the community and news media, further fueling a national dialogue about excessive police force. Then-Cincinnati Police Chief Jeffrey Blackwell questioned the UCPD’s ability to effectively patrol off-campus neighborhoods. “I don’t believe [UC] officers have the skill set to police Cincinnati with the same philosophy of fairness and cultural competency that

my officers display,” he said, according to The New York Times. Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney Joe Deters dropped the case against Tensing in July 2017 following two mistrials for the former officer, both of which resulted in a hung jury. FOP reiterated their support for Tensing in a statement preceding the second trial, calling plans to spend taxpayer dollars on a retrial for the former officer “wasteful.” “What’s most important now is for [Tensing] to get a fair hearing,” Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio President Jay McDonald said in a written statement. “That must start with the prosecutor and media acting more responsibly, without creating a circus atmosphere before, during and after the trial.” Per the agreement, Tensing permanently resigned his employment with UC and surrendered his right to

future employment with the university or its affiliates. While the agreement between UC and Tensing sparked some controversy on social media, some UC students had conflicting views on the subject. “This is one of those issues that divides people and makes people mad at each other for having different opinions,” said Jeff Robinson, a fourth-year communications student. “Being a police officer is a stressful job, and if I was an officer who felt like my life was in jeopardy, I don’t know how I’d react myself because I’ve never been in that situation.” Robinson doesn’t think the agreement sets any precedents for future officer-involved shootings, as officers know that such cases are investigated thoroughly. “People don’t become police officers with the intention to shoot people,” he said.

FOR RELEASE MARCH 18, 2018

THE TV CROSSWORD by Jacqueline E. Mathews

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ACROSS Actor __ Lee Jones Series for Allison Janney Airport in Chicago “__ of a Woman”; Al Pacino film Skirts for Twiggy Prime-time soap opera that ran for 14 seasons Piglet’s mother “Baby __”; movie for Tina Fey “__ to Be You”; short-lived Faye Dunaway/Robert Urich sitcom “The Big __ with Donny Deutsch” “Now and __”; Demi Moore film Deli loaves “__ Knows Best” Sitcom set at a Boston bar Opera solo “Dallas Buyers __”; Matthew McConaughey movie Short-time office worker sent out by an agency More factual Disney’s “__ and the Tramp” Yoko __ Sarandon and Lucci Solution to Last Week’s Puzzle

TNR FILE

42 44 45 46 47

“__ & Martin’s Laugh-In” “The __ and the Ecstasy” Bert’s buddy “__ Wants to Be a Millionaire” Banana casings

DOWN 1 Smothers and Hanks 2 “The Prize Winner of Defiance, __”; Woody Harrelson movie 3 Sitcom for Liza Snyder 4 Diagnostic scan, for short 5 “Say __ to the Dress” 6 Alice’s boss 7 “Cat __ Hot Tin Roof” 8 McKinley and Rainier: abbr. 10 Elliott or Waterston 11 Role on “The Good Doctor” 13 “American __!” 15 “Last __ Standing” 17 “Wisdom of __ Crowd” 18 “Death Becomes __”; film for Meryl Streep 20 Actor on “Touched by an Angel” 21 Suffix for puppet or auction 22 Pack animal 25 “My Big __ Greek Wedding” 26 “Who Do You Think You __?” 27 Conway or Allen 28 Actor __ Gulager 29 Color 31 “Boys Don’t __”; Hilary Swank movie 33 Six-pointers, for short 35 “__ Which Way You Can”; film for Clint Eastwood 37 Tack 38 “The Crazy __”; Robin Williams series 39 Cary Elwes horror movie 40 Exclamation of disgust 41 Jack __ of “Barney Miller” 42 Paul Ryan or Nancy Pelosi: abbr. 43 Miner’s discovery

editor in chief,

News

High Steaks closes after three days of business ELIZABETH SCHMITT | NEWS EDITOR

DAVID GIFREDA | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

After the march, an open mic was held on the steps of City Hall during the Cincinnati March For Our Lives rally on Saturday March 24, 2018.

DAVID GIFREDA | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Thousands participated in the March For Our Lives Cincinnati rally downtown on Saturday, March 24, 2018.

Cincinnatians march for their lives

Mar. 28, 2018 | newsrecord.org

ELIZABETH SCHMITT | NEWS EDITOR

Normally on snowy Cincinnati mornings, the roads are sparse, and the streets of downtown are largely vacant as people opt to stay indoors to avoid the harsh weather. This weekend, the opposite rang true. Despite the frosty air Saturday, thousands of Cincinnatians attended the nationwide student-organized protest March for Our Lives (MFOL) at Cincinnati City Hall. The event was hosted by United We Stand: Cincinnati and the Young Feminists Coalition. The route for the march began on Plum Street and spanned the length of Piatt Park. It continued through Vine Street around Fountain Square before looping back to its starting point. The national movement was organized by students and teachers from Stoneman Douglas High School, which on Feb. 14 became the site of the deadliest school shooting in American history, with 17 reported casualties. Mass shootings in high-traffic environments have become a common occurrence — an unsettling trend for many Americans. The high volume of deaths caused many protest attendees to demand immediate action from their elected government representatives. Those who marched are calling for increased research funding on gun violence and prevention, the elimination of some Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives policies to better regulate firearms, universal background checks, high-capacity magazine bans and limiting some consumer access to firepower on the street, according to MFOL. Cincinnati’s march joined over 800 others of its kind

throughout the nation. In Washington D.C., over 200,000 people attended the event, according to Digital Design & Imaging Service (DDIS), an aerial photography firm. Organizers estimated attendee figures at nearly 800,000, CBS News reported. “I found the march on Saturday to be a really moving experience,” said Audrey Osterling, a second-year language arts and secondary education in English student. “As a student as well as a future educator, it is inspiring to see so many students using their voice in a society where many of our leaders remain silent.” The crowd featured people from all ages and walks of life, many of whom held signs reading “Protect us, not the NRA,” “Protect Me, not Guns” and “#NeverAgain,” among others. Numerous speakers were present at a rally preceding the march, many of whom were personally impacted by a mass shooting. Speakers included students from various local high schools and universities as well as Ethel Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old granddaughter Jamie lost her life in the Parkland shooting in February. Guttenberg remembered the day of the shooting and the despair which followed the loss of her granddaughter. She fondly recalled Jamie’s love for dance. Guttenberg drew tears from the crowd as she finished her speech. Her rage and confusion from the loss was clear, as well as her frustration with inaction on tighter gun legislation among elected officials. Raw, unfiltered emotion made the environment of this march stand out among many others. Protesters held more than just their signs. They held anguish spearheaded by the loss of innocent life, voicing the necessity of safety as a human right.

High Steaks, a new steakhouse on W. McMillan St., closed Thursday, March 22 after just three days of business. The restaurant filled the vacancy formerly occupied by Cilantro Vietnamese Bistro. Restauranteur Simon Verderame, who owned both businesses, announced the restaurant’s permanent closure to his staff in a group text message Thursday morning. “The restaurant was open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and then I think he closed early one day,” said Katherine Glover, a third-year nursing student. “The girls [waitresses] were making zero dollars. Unlike his closure of Cilantro, Verderame made no formal statement of High Steaks’ closure on social media. The only recent postings on the High Stakes Facebook page include an updated profile picture and cover photo from Sunday, March 18. “[Verderame] had not done any promotion,” Glover said of the sudden switch from Cilantro to High Steaks. “No one had known that it had changed over. People had no idea.” Glover recounted the unexpected text she received Thursday morning in which Verderame told his staff that they were no longer employed. “Thursday morning, I was supposed to work my first shift back after not working for two weeks,” she said. “Then, he texted the group chat, ‘Thanks, but I’m closing the restaurant, you can pick up your paychecks if you worked,’ [and] then he left the group chat.” Many staffers were surprised, as Verderame had informed them of his decision to close Cilantro just two weeks before the University of Cincinnati’s spring break.

During spring break, Verderame closed the restaurant for renovations to open High Steaks. Glover says renovations included repainting, purchasing new dining wear and replacing kitchen appliances. The restauranteur invested significant time and money into the renovation and rebranding of his business. In an interview with The News Record, Verderame claimed he lost over $15,000 since purchasing the restaurant. Glover backed these claims, saying Verderame frequently mentioned his financial troubles to her. Since starting at Cilantro in August, Glover noticed a decline of many regular customers. Additionally, Glover says many staffers who were employed before Verderame purchased Cilantro left due to their dissatisfaction with the new boss. “He wanted to do this thing where we were going to serve animal crackers with coffee,” she said. “One of the last senior servers told him that idea was dumb, so he fired her. She had been there for years; she had worked with the old owner, was our best server, and she had worked the most hours.” Despite high staff turnover, Glover says she stuck with him. “I gave him the benefit of the doubt,” she said. “I knew I was not going to make as much money, but I was hopeful it would pick up.” However, following the abrupt closure of High Steaks, Glover reached out to Verderame via text to confront him about her unexpected loss of employment. “If it makes you [Glover] feel any better,” he replied, “I was going to fire you the first chance I got.” Verderame declined to comment. For more coverage of this story visit newsrecord.org.

News

UCPD officers, sheriff’s deputy honored for lifesaving heroics

PROVIDED BY UCPD

DARIUS DUDLEY | STAFF REPORTER

Mar. 28, 2018 | newsrecord.org

Four University of Cincinnati police officers and a sheriff’s deputy saved the life of 28-year-old Sean Toomey from a heart attack earlier this month. Toomey was installing a cell phone antenna near Nippert Stadium on March 1 when he collapsed suddenly. Fortunately, UC police officer Lance Long and Hamilton County Sheriff’s Deputy Dan Kissing were training nearby. “I flipped him over to assess his needs,” Long said. “I got a pulse on his neck, but it was getting weaker … and I came to the conclusion he was having a heart attack, and had to start CPR.” Long and Kissing immediately began performing CPR on Toomey while UCPD officers Robert Doherty, Andrew Mueller and Alan Van Pelt arrived with an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED). The AED, a portable device which delivers an electric shock to the heart in order to return it to its normal rhythm, was used three times before Toomey was transported to the hospital. “Everyone was there at the right time at the right place,” Long said. “A coworker volunteered to assist with CPR, [and] truly all hands were on deck. Everyone did what they should have done, and everything fell into place perfectly.” Officer Doherty, who applied the AED to Toomey, described the scene. “When we arrived on the scene with the AED, Toomey was as grey as a carpet,” Doherty said. “Some were doing chest

compressions, some were calling at [Toomey] to get up … The scene was getting emotional.” After several minutes of CPR, chest compressions and shocks from the AED, Toomey regained consciousness. Toomey talked and behaved clearly after he awoke, according to the officers on scene. “Never seen anyone wake up, clear as day, and be able to give his name after something like that,” said Doherty, who ran life squad for a number of years before becoming a police officer. “If you didn’t believe in miracles, that was the time to make you a believer right there.” Two weeks later, on March 14, Toomey was healthy enough to attend a ceremony where the UC police officers were presented with commendations and life-saving awards for their efforts in saving his life. “We followed up at the hospital and spoke with two doctors, and [his condition] was miraculous,” Mueller said. “That was due to us hopping into action so quick and keeping him alive. They had no doubt that if we weren’t there, he would not be here today.” Doherty went on to highlight the preparedness of the UCPD. “UC has really focused on widespread training for the officers so [that] we can be the role model for university law enforcement,” he said. “We know how to team build and be in sync, and I believe that if it was any one of our officers, it would have had the same outcome. I feel that we work with a good group, and although things might get slow, when the crap hits, we are ready.”

News

Saying goodbye to McMicken Avenue

How one Cincinnati woman changed her life after sex work and addiction MARLENA TOEBBEN | STAFF REPORTER EMMA HODGE | CONTRIBUTOR

Bobby never thought she would be a sex worker, walking McMicken Avenue and engaging in sex work to support her drug habit. Bobby is a college-educated mother of five; a woman who has worked every day since she was 13 years old. She certainly does not fit the traditional stereotype of a sex worker. Sex workers are typecast as people perpetually stricken by poverty; dehumanized by those who view sex work as a choice rather than a necessity. In reality, sex workers come from many different racial, geographical and socioeconomic backgrounds, and they all have their reasons for being on the streets.Yet all sex workers remain linked by how the greater society views them: as dangerous, lost causes. Bobby could never have received the help she needed if someone hadn’t given her a chance, ignoring the oftperpetuated stereotypes of sex workers and drug addicts to place their faith in her. She gives full credit to Scarlet Hudson, founder of The Women of Alabaster, a nonprofit organization that helps get women off the street. To Bobby, Hudson is known simply as “mom,” and she attributes most of her recovery to her. Bobby was once one of over one million sex workers in the United States, according to a report by Foundation Scelles. Unlike many sex workers, however, Bobby managed to leave the streets and form a stable life for herself. Bobby’s story is ridden with struggle and heartache, but underscored by triumph and success. Bobby is not naïve to the harsh realities of sex work. Whenever one woman left the street, she said, “there were six more new girls out there” to replace them. Bobby grew up in Ohio. At age 10, her father died. Her mother, an uneducated woman from Hazard, Kentucky, abandoned Bobby three years later. With no other family to turn to, Bobby was emancipated and legally classified as an adult by the state of Ohio. Within a year, she was married and expecting her first child. She and her husband would stay together for 20 years and have five children before their

didn’t … I went to her and I begged to get into a place,” Bobby said. “We called like 10 places, and nobody had a room. This was a Friday and they said, ‘Call us back on Monday’ … I said, ‘[I] can’t wait until Monday. I cannot go out there and get more money.’ I said, ‘I can’t do this another day of my life.’ And I went [outside] to smoke a cigarette, and I got on my knees and asked God, ‘Please, please, please, please help me.’” Then, her prayers were answered. Woodhaven, an inpatient rehabilitation center located in Dayton, Ohio, had one bed for her.

“She struggled in recovery... She was tempted and haunted by her past, but personal health was her new priority. Bobby was determined never to return to the streets; never to return to McMicken Avenue”

She struggled in recovery. After a full year of ongoing hard drug abuse, her body ached for the toxins it had become so accustomed to. She was tempted and haunted by her past, but personal health was her new priority. Bobby was determined never to return to the streets; never to return to McMicken Avenue. Now, she keeps her chin high and knows she has accomplished her goal. For the past 14 months, Bobby has stayed clean. She works full-time cleaning houses. She has her own apartment and looks forward to getting her own car. Her relationships with some of her children remain strained, she said, but they are all working toward forgiving and rebuilding. Amidst her recovery, Bobby has taken steps to help others like her. She now sits on the board of directors for the Women of Alabaster, giving speeches and advocating on its behalf to individuals and organizations alike. Bobby wants a better life for those who struggle on the streets, just as she once did. She believes the current system of forced sobriety through incarceration does not work, saying that while incarceration forces individuals to sober up physically, it does not mentally prepare them for long-term sobriety. For an addict to successfully get clean and reenter society, she says, they need to be “set up with jobs before they walk out of [treatment], [and] set up with a good transitional home where people aren’t going to be using.” No individual wants to become a sex worker, Bobby says, no matter what their addiction may force them to do. She described her life on the streets as “not even a life, [but] a horrible existence.” But not everyone escapes the trap of homelessness, sex work and addiction like Bobby has. Bobby’s life has been tough; filled with death, pain and struggle. It would have been easy for Bobby to succumb to addiction and life on the streets. In the end, though, she wanted more for herself. “I think about it now, the things I did, [and] I cannot imagine doing the things I did high, sober,” she said. “There is no way in the world, there is no way in the world, there is no way. I don’t think I could ever go back. I don’t even feel comfortable walking down those streets.”

Mar. 28, 2018 | newsrecord.org

PROVIDED

Scarlet Hudson comforts one of the other volunteers at the Women of Alabaster after they had lost one of the girls they were helping overdosed on heroin on Monday, Nov. 20, 2017.

divorce in 2000. After sustaining an injury at her job, Bobby experienced her first run with addiction. It began with prescription opiates before she gradually turned to street heroin. “I was a functioning addict for years. I would get my medication and go to work all day long,” she said. Ron, her second husband, helped her through it. There seemed hope for Bobby when she met Ron in 2010 and later married him. He got her life on track, saying he would only be with her if she got clean. He loved Bobby and her children, and he encouraged her to live a fulfilling life. She took his advice, staying clean for two years and earning a degree as a medical assistant. She was thriving in an environment that promoted health and love. But her fantasy came to an abrupt and unexpected halt in April 2014, when Ron revealed that he had inoperable brain cancer. He died three weeks later. “My whole world just fell apart,” she said, recounting her mental state in the aftermath of Ron’s death. Desperate to escape her inner turmoil, Bobby relapsed. Abusing the rest of Ron’s prescription OxyContin, she quickly fell back into the world of addiction. When Ron’s prescription ran out, she once again turned to heroin. Eventually, though, the high simply wasn’t enough. Soon after, she was introduced to crack cocaine and says she “fell right in love with [it].” Slowly but surely, Bobby lost everything. She was evicted, forcing her to transition to a life on the streets. To support her habit, she began engaging in sex work, servicing everyone from lawyers to the mailman. Now sober, Bobby said she couldn’t imagine returning to sex work. “[It] took my dignity, my self-esteem, my morals, my self-worth, my respect for myself, my looks, my hygiene — everything,” she said. She was homeless and engaged in sex work on McMicken Avenue for about a year. She realized that many other women on McMicken Avenue had been there much longer than she, and guesses many of them may still be there. Life on the street was cold and dangerous. Bobby was constantly at risk of attacks from vagrants and johns, including those she trusted. She says she was brutally beaten for drugs and money multiple times, and was once raped by one of her regular clients at gunpoint. “I don’t know what it was that day,” she said, recalling the assault. “But that was horrible.” The average age sex work begins for victims is between the ages of 12 and 16, according to a report from the National Institute of Justice by Abt Associates. In December 2015, Bobby had a pivotal, life-changing moment. Weighing just 107 pounds, her health was declining rapidly after being on the streets for a year, and she began feeling a sickness which differed from her usual “dope sickness.” Hudson rushed Bobby to Good Samaritan Hospital after having found her in a state of deterioration. There, she was diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a severe skin infection. They kept her for just four days before releasing her, supplying a prescription for antibiotics and leaving Bobby to struggle through severe withdrawal symptoms. At that moment, she knew she had to get better. She walked from the hospital to Tamar’s Place, a Catholic church. There, she met a colleague of Hudson’s. “I could have got dope, I could have gotten money, and I

Life & Arts

Opening Day: What to do and the best places to go NOELLE ZIELINSKI | LIFE & ARTS EDITOR

Opening Day is right around the corner. For the Cincinnati Reds, it starts Thursday, March 29, and the festivities are back and better than ever. If you’re new to the Opening Day excitement or simply want a rundown of where to go and what to do, here are a few ideas to help get you started.

The Annual Block Party: The annual block party begins at 11 a.m. and goes until 4 p.m. During this time, there are several activities that you can participate in leading up to the Opening Day game. There will be food and beverages available for purchase all day long, as well as live music from The Naked Karate Girls and DJ ETrayn. Be sure to pick up your free rally towel for the game at 2:10 p.m. so you can cheer on the Reds in style. Opening Day at Rhinegeist Brewery: Rhinegeist Brewery is hosting a

pregame party beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday, including brunch, different DJs, plenty of beer and “beermosas” (and yes, they’re exactly what they sound like).

Opening Day Party at Moerlein Lager House: Moerlein

Lager House is hosting an Opening Day party featuring a party tent, live music and specials for food and drinks. The festivities begin at 10 a.m., and admission is free.

Taft’s Season Opener Weekend and Parade Party:

From 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, visit Washington Park for a day of fun-filled activities. Get drinks, watch the game, listen to live music, play lawn games and witness an artist create a mural throughout the weekend. The festivities continue Friday from noon to 6 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. The pregame ceremonies will begin at 3:30 p.m. Ceremonies include a military appreciation ceremony, where five local veterans “will be honored on the field during pregame ceremonies in salute to their service and the sacrifice of all who have served and continue to serve in our Armed Forces,” the Opening Day description reads on MLB.com. “Joining the veterans on the field will be U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH).” This will be followed by the display of the American flag and the “In Memoriam” part of the ceremony, during which the Reds will pause and remember the lives of the Reds family who passed away during the offseason. This will be followed by the singing of the National Anthem and the ceremonial first pitch. “Olympic freeskier Nick Goepper will throw out the ceremonial first pitch,” the Opening Day description reads on MLB.com. “The Lawrenceburg, Indiana native won a silver medal in the men’s slopestyle competition at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. The ball that Nick will throw will be delivered by the World Famous Budweiser Clydesdales.” Come out and support the Reds on Opening Day this year for the opportunity to meet and interact with Reds fans from around the country.

SUMMER @ SINCLAIR GET AHEAD.

TAKE YOUR GEN ED CLASSES IN THE SUMMER!

LEARN MORE WWW.SINCLAIR.EDU/SUMMER

Summer Registration Begins March 26 Visit www.sinclair.edu/dates for a complete list of all Summer 2018 term dates.

CHRIS LEE | ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH | MCT

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto successfully dives for a line drive off the bat of the St. Louis Cardinals’ Skip Schumaker to end the top of the sixth inning at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, Ohio, Monday, Aprl 5, 2010. The Cardinals defeated the Reds, 11-6.

Mar. 28, 2018 | newsrecord.org

Make the most of your summer: take classes at Sinclair Community College. Check out available courses and ask your advisor how Sinclair courses can transfer back to the University of Cincinnati. Take 4-week, 8-week or 12-week classes at one of our convenient locations or online.

Life & Arts

‘The Theory of Relativity’ gravitates towards CCM universe NOELLE ZIELINSKI | LIFE & ARTS EDITOR

PROVIDED BY CCM

The University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) is combining musical theatre and physics in their upcoming performance, “The Theory of Relativity.” CCM students teamed up with UC’s physics department to create something original and unique. “The Theory of Relativity” is a “song cycle” — a show containing multiple storylines centered around Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. The different plotlines deal with a variety of topics that college students face on a day-to-day basis. There are 13 characters, all of whom portray college physics students. Throughout the production, the characters come to various revelations concerning the issue they are enduring, whether it be witnessing their parents go through a divorce, weighing serious personal decisions or exploring their sexuality. The show is based around a chalkboard which is empty at first. As each of the characters’ problems unfold, a new equation — or part of an equation — is added to the board. CCM’s production invited Dr. Richard Gass, undergraduate director of UC’s physics department, to give the cast a short crash-course on general relativity, allowing the cast to relate their work to science. What was supposed to be a short crash course turned into a two-hour interactive lesson in which CCM and physics students conversed about light cones, Newton’s laws, the Theory of Relativity and other concepts. “Our students became enraptured by the physics, and it launched a huge discussion about technology

usage in our generation, perceptions people try to maintain through social media and how important our every action is during our time here on Earth,” said Katie Johannigman, a director and choreographer. Gass listened to the musical and applied all the physics lessons through the lyrics in the songs. He then brought 10 of his students to watch a rehearsal, after which the cast and physics students discussed ways in which art and science overlap. “This conversation led us to ask, ‘How are artists and physicists similar?’” Johannigman said. “Both are constantly wondering about the universe.” The most challenging part of directing the show, Johannigman said, was figuring out how much of the information to use from Gass and his students. She wanted to find a balance to integrate the information into the show without confusing or overwhelming the audience. There are several themes throughout “The Theory of Relativity,” but Johannigman sums it up with a few main ideas, underlining the many ways in which humans are the same yet different, but ultimately interconnected. “I would say at the heart of it all, it’s how humans are connected,” she said. “It’s about how your trajectory connects you to others and the insatiable need to discover.” “The Theory of Relativity” premieres Thursday, March 29 at 8 p.m. and will be showing until Saturday night. Don’t miss your chance to see these two worlds combine to create something amazing and original.

‘Pacific Rim: Uprising’: A pointless sequel that had no clear direction

Mar. 28, 2018 | newsrecord.org

NOELLE ZIELINSKI | LIFE & ARTS EDITOR

“Pacific Rim Uprising,” the sequel to its 2013 counterpart, was released Friday. The first film, directed by Guillermo del Toro, is based around creatures called Kaiju which arose from the sea and brought with them a raging war. To fight the Kaiju, humans developed giant robots called Jaegers — mobile weapons to be piloted by two humans. It is ultimately up to Raleigh Becket, (Charlie Hunnam) and Mako Mori (Rinko Kikuchi) to save humankind. The first film received a 6.9 rating on IMDb and a 71 percent “Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and overall, it was an entertaining action movie. Viewers were eager to see a sequel just as

intriguing and actionpacked as its predecessor. Unfortunately, audiences were left disappointed in the sequel that hit theaters. In the opening scenes, the audience is introduced to Amara, a tech genius played by Cailee Spaeny. Amara is crafting her own Jaeger by piecing together old remnants from the previous war. The story also follows Jake Pentecost — the son of a war hero from the first film played by John Boyega. Despite the new characters, the film lacked del Toro’s heart and creativity, making it a pointless sequel with no true direction. The box office numbers make no secret of the fact that audiences were not huge fans of this film. The movie generated just $26.2 million — an incredibly weak opening weekend

when compared to its estimated $155 million net production cost. As a result, Legendary and Universal Studios have no choice but to rely on sales from foreign showings to dig them out of a financial sinkhole. The film is open in 62 offshore markets including China, which was the biggest hub for its 2013 original. “Pacific Rim Uprising” projected a $65 million three-day start in China — roughly the same figures projected this February for Black Panther. Elsewhere, the film was projected to garner just $55.5 million, suggesting an international box office opening of $120.5 million. The film did indeed perform well in China, raking in $22.8 million on Friday and $25.2 on Saturday — the biggest opening day in China for a

Hollywood movie this year. Some critics found the movie repetitive, however, exchanging a compelling story for senseless action. “There are big robots, monsters, and plenty of battles between the former and the latter; and there’s the barest dash of exposition about the emotional lives of the puny people inside the Jaegers,”

wrote David Sims from The Atlantic. “What more does one need? Well, at least for me, a semblance of stakes might make the whole thing a little more enjoyable.” Michael O’Sullivan from The Washington Post said the film lacked heart but had enough action to last for days. “The sequel ‘Pacific Rim: Uprising’ is, like the 2013

‘Pacific Rim,’ something of a chimera,” she wrote. “[It’s] a cheesy Japanese monster movie for people who happen to love ‘Transformers’ for its gigantic, battling robots and thunderous soundtrack, and ‘Power Rangers’ for its cast of teeny-bopper heroes and kinetic, overeager display of martial-arts action.”

PROVIDED

Life & Arts

Lizzy’s latest looks: How to properly take care of your skin ELIZABETH SCHMITT | NEWS EDITOR

Let’s start with the base — your face, or rather, your skin. Skin is one of those things I feel most people either struggle with or ignore until it becomes a problem. Recently, while on spring break, I made a few of the guys on my rowing team use a clay face mask for the first time. During the 15-minute required waiting period, I learned that most of them never cleanse or even apply lotion to their faces. I was bewildered. Countless people work incredibly hard to keep their skin clear and healthy, yet these guys do nothing and have beautiful skin? It’s just not fair. However, the important thing to remember is that everyone’s skin is different and unique to them. Though the beauty industry occasionally markets this fact, they really should stress the multitude of factors which make each person’s skin different. Often, people are categorized into four different skin types

— normal, dry, oily or combination. Knowing where your skin falls into these categories can help you figure out the best products to use. It did for me. I have dry skin, which means my skin produces less sebum, or oil produced by the sebaceous glands. As a result, my skin has fewer lipids than it needs to retain moisture and make an external layer, according to the dermo-cosmetic brand Eucerin. In addition to dry skin, I also have relatively sensitive skin, meaning my skin tends to react or irritate more easily than normal skin types. For me, I find that I cannot exfoliate too often. I also stay away from many products which use fragrances or other products containing alcohol. Additionally, I must be extremely cautious about which makeup products I use, and vigilant about removing makeup before I go to bed or take naps. If this seems a lot of effort to put into your skin, I encourage you to consider how important your skin is. I’m not suggesting that your skin needs to be “beautiful”

(whatever that means) or that it needs to be baby soft, but I am encouraging people to discover ways to keep their skin healthy. But what does it mean to have healthy skin? Vaseline describes healthy skin as “sufficiently hydrated and therefore able to protect you from environmental damage. When your skin is well cared for, you’re free from dryness.” It is truly a matter of how your skin feels. Does it feel dry or irritated? Does it burn? Taking care of your skin is an important aspect of your physical health. So, research the characteristics of your skin type, visit a dermatologist, and learn how to make your skin feel good to you. I want to reinforce the individuality of skin; remember, what works for me may not work for you. Research the ingredients of the products you use on your face. Notice patterns and use the trial-and-error method. It took me 20 years to develop a skin routine I’m finally happy with, so have some patience. Don’t be afraid to learn more about what’s best for you.

Mar. 28, 2018 | newsrecord.org

COREY LOWENSTEIN | RALEIGH NEWS OBSERVER | MCT

BOB CHAMBERLIN | LOS ANGELES TIMES | MCT

Anti-aging skin care products from drugstore are pictured at studio in Los Angeles, California, December 18, 2009. At the department store, you’ll encounter trained sales associates ready to help you choose; at the drugstore, you’re on your own, facing lengthy rows of pump bottles and squeeze tubes that all claim to moisturize, balance, tighten skin or erase wrinkles.

Freshly cut soaps are stacked and ready to be wrapped at JustNeem, a body and skin care company incorporated in 2007 and based in Cary, North Carolina.

Sports

CHRIS LEE | ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH | TNS

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto tosses the ball to the pitcher covering first to retire the St. Louis Cardinals’ Randal Grichuk in the eighth inning on Friday, April 7, 2017, at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. The Reds won, 2-0.

The News Record predicts the Cincinnati Reds 2018 season JASON SZELEST | SPORTS EDITOR MATT HUFFMON | STAFF REPORTER

Mar. 28, 2018 | newsrecord.org

DAVID WYSONG | THE BIG CHEESE

Opening Day is here. The Cincinnati Reds open their season against the Washington Nationals at 4:10 p.m. Thursday at Great American Ball Park. The Reds are looking to rebound from three consecutive seasons in which they lost 90 or more games. Last season brought a lot of new faces, especially in the pitching department, and the Reds will hope that those faces will improve with some seasoning under their belt. Our staff attempts to predict how the 2018 season for the Reds will go.

Jason: 76-86

Last year, the big problem with the Reds was starting pitching, where they combined to finish with the worst ERA in baseball. They had a couple breakout rookies last year in Luis Castillo and Tyler Mahle, and they should be able to provide depth to a rotation that has been ravaged by injuries since 2014. Offensively, the lineup has the firepower to keep them in

games, as all five Reds who hit at least 25 home runs last year are back in 2018. Overall, the pitching is still not on a level where they can compete for a playoff spot, but this team will be improved from the last couple years.

Matt: 82-80

With the core of talent returning for the Reds, it will come down to consistency and staying healthy in 2018. Picking up a veteran like Jared Hughes will help depth in the bullpen and overall team chemistry. I am very intrigued by young pitchers in the starting rotation, such as Amir Garrett, Sal Romano and Luis Castillo. A 29-52 road record in 2017 was simply embarrassing, even if it was considered a “rebuilding” or “growing” season. For 2018, I see the Reds competing with the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals for the No. 2 spot in the National League Central behind the Chicago Cubs. The National League has become stronger over the past few seasons with the Cubs, Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Nationals dominating. The Reds simply do not have the star power to consistently compete with these squads.

It is time for the Reds to win 80-plus games — something they haven’t accomplished since 2013 when they still finished third place in the division.

Dave: 75-87

The Reds won 68 games last year. That is horrendous. They did not sign any savior to take them to the promised land, either, so I think they will still stink. An injured pitching staff hurt Cincinnati in 2017. Homer Bailey returned towards the end of the year, but he has hardly pitched at all since signing his $105 million contract in 2014. Anthony DeSclafani was injured the entire season last year and Brandon Finnegan only pitched in four games. If these guys can all stay healthy this year — ¬¬once they both return from the disabled list, of course ¬— then the Reds can win a few more games than they did last year. There is some talent coming from the minors soon as Nick Senzel should make the jump to the majors this year, and No. 2 overall pick Hunter Greene should be on his way within the next couple years. So, the future is bright, but the present is not.

Sports

What is the future of University of Cincinnati basketball? MATT HUFFMON | STAFF REPORTER

Gary Clark and Kyle Washington are graduating. Junior guard Jacob Evans III is contemplating whether to enter the 2018 NBA draft. Evans, a 6-foot-6 small forward, is currently projected to be picked in the second round of the 2018 draft. Regardless of whether you think he should stay for his senior year or chase a pro career, his 13 points and 4.7 rebounds per game were crucial to UC’s ability to take over games this past season. What’s next for Cincinnati basketball after a devastating second-round loss to Nevada in the NCAA tournament? The top recruit joining the Bearcats is Logan Johnson, a 6-foot-2 point guard from St. Francis High School in Mountain View, California. A three-star prospect, Johnson is considered the No. 32 high school point guard in the class of 2018, according to

247sports. Laquill Hardnett, a 6-foot-8 forward from Perry Hall High School in Nottingham, MD also committed to UC. With guard-like skills and great size, head coach Mick Cronin could use Hardnett in the post., like Clark; or as a ball handler, like Evans.

Point guard

Possibly the deepest position returning for the Bearcats. Cane Broome and Justin Jenifer each have three years of collegiate experience under their belts. Although Broome had the better statistical year in 2017-18, Jenifer earned the starting nod from Cronin. Although he will be third in line, Johnson will look to earn playing time during his freshmen year.

Shooting guard

The obvious candidate for the starting position at shooting guard is Jarron Cumberland, the American

Athletic Conference Sixth Man of the Year during 201617. Incoming sophomores Trevor Moore and Keith Williams are next on the depth chart.

Small forward

Evans will be the Bearcats starting small forward for the third year in a row if he decides to return to Cincinnati. If Evans turns pro, look for Hardnett, Moore or Williams to fill into the rotation.

Power forward

Tre Scott and redshirt freshman Mamoudou Diarra will take over for Clark at the power forward position. Together, the defensive ability of Scott and Diarra should rival Clark. Offensively, the power forward position needs contributors to replace Clark’s 12.9 points per game.

Center

Nysier Brooks (9.7 minutes)

and Eliel Nsoseme (5.7 minutes) will attempt to fill the shoes of Washington. Like power forward, the center position will need to find offensive consistency.

Departing

F Gary Clark – 12.9 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.4 spg, 1.2 bpg F Kyle Washington – 11.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.4 bpg F Jackson Bart

Commits

PG Logan Johnson (Mountain View, California) F Laquill Hardnett (Nottingham, Maryland)

Expected to return

G Keith Williams ¬¬– 3.1 ppg, 1.2 rpg PG Justin Jenifer – 4.8 ppg, 2.5 apg G Trevor Moore – 3.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg F Tre Scott – 3.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg PG Cane Broome – 7.9 ppg, 2.8 apg F Mamoudou Diarra – 2.9 ppg, 1.9 rpg F Eliel Nsoseme – 0.9 ppg, 1.7 rpg G Jarron Cumberland – 11.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.9 apg F Nysier Brooks – 2.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg G Sam Martin G John Koz G Jacob Evans (contemplating entering the 2018 NBA draft) – 13 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.1 apg

JUSTIN HILES | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Kyle Washington (24) talks things over with Jarron Cumberland (34) during the men’s basketball game at BB&T Arena on December 12, 2017.

Opening Day: A Cincinnati tradition like no other ALEX FRANK | STAFF REPORTER

Day means to this city. “Originally being from Cleveland, I always loved going to Opening Day as a kid,” second-year business student Max Kolman said. “When I came down here to start going to school, it’s like a big thing. Everyone goes downtown I hear. It’s almost like a religious holiday or something, so it should be exciting, and honestly, I’ll probably be downtown.” While the traditional Opening Day parade will not be held on Thursday, there is still plenty to do leading up to the game. “There’s a lot of cool shops [and] restaurants downtown,” first-year sport administration student Ben Nutter said. “A lot of people just kind of convene, meet a bunch of strangers [and] talk about the game, and everyone heads over together.” Local parties on Thursday are listed on cincinnatiusa.com, including one at Fountain Square where attendees can enjoy food, local beer and entertainment from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The game will air at 4:10 p.m. when longtime Reds right-handed pitcher Homer Bailey makes his first Opening Day start against Max Scherzer, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner.

Mar. 28, 2018 | newsrecord.org

MARK RIGHTMIRE | ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

A statue of Reds pitcher Joe Nuxhall stands outside the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio. (gsb) 2005

In Cincinnati, Opening Day speaks tradition. It means so much to sports fans throughout the city who annually honor the oldest team in baseball as they begin their seasonal campaign. That day has finally arrived. The Cincinnati Reds’ 129th season will commence on Thursday when they take on the Washington Nationals. “I think it’s a great day because a lot of Cincinnatians come together and celebrate,” fifth-year mechanical engineering student Varun Nagarajan said. “It’s just a good atmosphere because I know a lot of my friends are going, and it’s a good time to have fun and celebrate with your friends. [It’s] a great day that means a lot to Cincinnati.” Since Great American Ball Park opened in 2003, some of its largest crowds have arrived on Opening Day. The opening game of the 2016 season saw the largest regular-season crowd in the venue’s history with an attendance of 43,683. That record lasted only one year, as 43,804 poured into GABP on Opening Day in 2017. “The fact that all my friends come together

and want to go to this one game is what I like most about it,” Nagarajan said. “This is the one day most of us are excited to go and have fun there, and have a good time.” Thursday is the first game of the season for history’s first professional baseball team, adding to the rich tradition in the Queen City. “[Baseball] is our big sport down here,” third-year criminal justice student Ryan Belleman said. “So, we take pride in our team.” Pride has not been easy to wield as a Cincinnati Reds fan the past four seasons. After earning playoff berths in three of the first four years of the decade, the Reds have missed the postseason in each of the last four years and compiled a dismal overall record of 276-372 — good for a .426 win percentage. While average attendance has dropped by over 8,000 since 2013, one day still draws a sell-out crowd. “Everybody has a positive attitude and it always brings up hope for the new year,” Belleman said. “I’m always hopeful, but I just keep my mind open to whatever happens.” Even for those who are not Cincinnati natives, they quickly learn what Opening

Sports

Picking the MLB playoff teams JASON SZELEST | SPORTS EDITOR MATT HUFFMON | STAFF REPORTER DAVID WYSONG | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Offseason moves, Spring Training and everything in between are now over, and the MLB regular season is upon us. Several big names are in new uniforms, and a new batch of prospects are ready to emerge as big-time big leaguers. Our staff gives you their projections on who will still be playing when the calendar rolls into October.

AL East- Jason: Boston Red Sox Matt and David: New York Yankees

Jason: A lot is being made of the Yankees adding Giancarlo Stanton to an already powerful lineup, but the reigning AL East champs also added a power hitter in J.D. Martinez. With a fully healthy David Price and a bounce-back year from former Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello, the Red Sox will narrowly edge their hated rivals in the AL East race.

AL Central- Jason, Matt and David: Cleveland Indians

David: The Astros won the World Series last year behind their stellar offense. The likes of Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa will be too much for the rest of the AL West to contend with. There may be a hangover at the beginning of the year, but this roster is too good to let it impact their playoff chances.

AL Wild Cards- Jason: New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels Matt: Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins David: Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels

Jason: The Yankees may be the hottest team of the Spring after their 2017 postseason run and offseason signings and should have no problem reaching the postseason. The Angels were also busy this offseason, adding All Star shortstop Zack Cozart and Japanese sensation Shohei Ohtani. They should help perennial MVP candidate Mike Trout get to October.

NL East- Jason: New York Mets Matt and Dave: Washington Nationals

David: This one is easy. There is no one who will even contend with the Nats in this division. The second-place team last year was the Marlins and they lost their best player in Stanton, so I think the Nationals will lead this wire to wire.

NL Central- Jason, Matt and David: Chicago Cubs

Matt: Like the Indians, it was considered a disappointment for them to miss the 2017 World Series. Still, they should have no problem to beat out the Brewers and Cardinals for a playoff spot. Too much young talent, paired with a solid manager in Joe Madden.

NL West- Jason, Matt and David: Los Angeles Dodgers

Matt: The race for the west could be closer than most think this season. Although the Dodgers won by 11 games in 2017, Arizona and Colorado could prove to be viable threats. Still, L.A. has a terrific blend of veterans and young talent. Do not be surprised if they make a postseason push to the World Series once again.

NL Wild Cards- Jason: Washington Nationals and Colorado Rockies Matt: Arizona Diamondbacks and Milwaukee Brewers David: St. Louis Cardinals and Arizona Diamondbacks

Jason: The Nationals are the favorites to win the division, but it would be boring if we kept picking the same teams every time. Colorado might have the best lineup in baseball with Nolan Arenado, D.J. LeMahieu and Charlie Blackmon. A mediocre rotation will keep them from winning the division, but the offense should be enough to get them to the postseason.

Mar. 28, 2018 | newsrecord.org

Matt: 2017 was a huge disappointment for Cleveland, as many thought they would return to the World Series. A healthy Michael Brantley and Corey Kluber will help them to stay above the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central. Not sure they have enough to take down New York though.

AL West- Jason, Matt and David: Houston Astros

LUIS SINCO | LOS ANGELES TIMES | TNS

The Houston Astros celebrate after a 5-1 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 7 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017.

CURTIS COMPTON | ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION | TNS

New York Yankees Giancario Stanton (left) celebrates his 2-run homer with Aaron Judge after both scored to take a 4-0 lead over the Braves during the third inning in a MLB baseball preseason game on Monday, March 26, 2018, in Atlanta. The Yankees won, 5-1.

Opinion

Mounir’s weekly

MOUNIR LYNCH | OPINION EDITOR

1. Hot dogs that aren’t all beef

Thursday is Opening Day, marking the beginning of a long season honoring America’s favorite pastime: the great game of baseball. For me, a baseball game isn’t complete without Cracker Jack and an all-beef hot dog. Hot dogs are an on-thego sausage that screams both “America” and “baseball.” But do y’all know what you’re eating in a regular hot dog? If I’m going to eat a tube of mashed up meat, I want it all to come from the same animal. Nathans, Hebrew National, Niman Ranch — all the best hot dogs are 100% beef. And sure, they may cost more than a regular dog, but at least they aren’t meh.

2. Watching baseball on TV

Over the years, I have fallen more in love with the game of baseball. I mean, how could you not? The Cubs breaking their 100+ year drought a couple years ago showed us that curses can end. However, the average baseball game — especially when the Reds are playing — can be pretty dry for a significant portion of the game. There is nothing like being there in-person and seeing the real thing. The ambience of being at a baseball game in-person is not like any other sport, and I’ll admit that baseball isn’t even my favorite sport. The seventh inning stretch, seeing the ball fly out of the park and singing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” are a huge part of the experience.You just don’t get that on television.

3. Going out on the banks

4. Opening day parade not being on opening day

TIM GOLDENBERG | STAFF REPORTER

Last week, this column hinted that President Trump’s National Security Advisor H.R McMaster was on his way out. This week, our predictions rang true as McMaster was removed from the position and replaced by former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton. While that itself is not overly pertinent to the investigation of Russia’s interference in the 2016 Election, Bolton’s ties to data analytics firm Cambridge Analytica lend his name more interest. Both the Trump campaign and Bolton’s super PAC contracted Cambridge Analytica in the recent past to acquire data analytics for their electoral ambitions. Cambridge Analytica, meanwhile, has been in major hot water for their business practices this week after reports revealed the firm acquired the user information of over fifty million Facebook users for political purposes. They did this without user permission by using an

outside researcher who claimed the data was for academic purposes. Britain’s Channel 4 News aired an investigative piece which, among other things, revealed Cambridge Analytica CEO Alexander Nix boasting about discrediting politicians through methods including prostitutes and honey traps, claiming that the company ran the entirety of Donald Trump’s digital campaign. This major connection to the Trump campaign, coupled with the potentially illegal acquisition of over fifty million users’ worth of data, will be a lot to unpack for Mueller’s team, as they can indict any illegal actions committed — not just those specifically related to Russia. In addition, evidence of Russia’s tampering in the 2016 election was strengthened even further this week as notorious hacker Guccifer 2.0 was outed as an intelligence operative acting as a member of the GRU, the Russian military’s foreign intelligence agency. The individual, typically masking

his location through a virtual private network (VPN), had one slip-up during which he failed to activate his VPN before logging into a social media site. The subsequent data not only tied him to GRU, but placed him directly in the GRU’s headquarters in Moscow. Guccifer 2.0 is widely known as the hacker responsible for the data breach and leak of the Democratic National Committee in 2016, including breaches of Clinton campaign officials — one of the higherprofile and most public pieces of evidence regarding direct Russian interference. These new revelations tying Russia — and potentially the Trump campaign — to the 2016 election interference come at a rough time for the president. As Mueller continues to seemingly close in on the president, Trump’s defense attorney John Dowd announced his resignation Thursday, March 22. Dowd was the lead attorney for President Trump’s legal team in the Russia probe,

reportedly leaving due to friction with the president regarding a face-to-face interview with Mueller. While Trump has been in favor of such an interview, Dowd ardently opposed it. This is far from the first attorney who has abandoned Trump’s legal team. Mark Corallo, a spokesperson for the team, left in July 2017 after just two months. Politico reported, at the time, that he left due to his frustration with how the White House was operating. Mark Kasowitz, a personal attorney for Donald Trump, was also hired to the legal team in May and left in July. However, with Dowd’s resignation, a major roadblock in the path of a sit-down interview between Special Counsel Mueller and President Trump has now been cleared, paving a path towards an interview that’s beginning to feel like an inevitability. It should be an interesting couple of months moving forward.

The MLB really screwed Cincinnati over this time. For what seems like generations, Opening Day has begun in Cincinnati — the city where Major League Baseball began — with a huge parade and celebration preceding the first game of the season. It is historic, symbolic and purely Cincinnati. When I first came to UC, my chemistry professor cancelled class (and a quiz) due to Opening Day festivities. Now that the parade isn’t on Opening Day, it isn’t really an Opening Day parade. It makes it feel like Cincinnati is disconnecting from its well-established MLB history. However, that doesn’t mean we won’t still have a grand old time at the parade.

MuellerWatch: Cambridge Analytica, Guccifer, and Trump’s severely dwindling legal team

Mar. 28, 2018 | newsrecord.org

As I’ve grown older and more knowledgeable about Cincinnati, I’ve expanded my social life further into the city. This year, my friends wanted to go to The Banks by Great American because … well, adulting, I guess. Honestly, going out on The Banks is a similar scene to good old Clifton. Rowdy, intoxicated young professionals and middle-aged people alike make for fascinating and hilarious people-watching. However, for a slightly more “upscale” ambience, you can expect to pay a lot more for the night than you would in Clifton. For the guys, that usually means paying a cover charge you don’t want to pay. Going out downtown definitely makes you feel like you’re a part of the city rather than the UC bubble. It’s also where all the fun is during the Reds games, which makes it a little more exciting and worth the trek from the UC area.

OLIVIER DOULIERY | ABACA PRESS | TNS

U.S. national security advisor H.R. McMaster answers questions during the daily news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on May 12, 2017.

Opinion

UC decided to pay Ray Tensing too soon MOUNIR LYNCH | OPINION EDITOR

TNR FILE

On Friday, UC President Neville Pinto released a statement detailing a settlement reached between the university and murderer/former UCPD officer Ray Tensing. The statement indicated that the university is required to pay Tensing $244,230 in back pay and benefits, plus legal fees of $100,000. Typically, reimbursement of legal fees is expected for anyone who endures such an expensive trial. Tensing was booked on murder and manslaughter charges and went through many aspects of the criminal justice system, only to be acquitted after a jury was unable to reach a verdict. Tensing’s legal fees were certainly not cheap, and anyone who is wrongfully charged with a crime should be reimbursed. However, on the same day Pinto sent his universitywide announcement of the settlement via email, the U.S. Attorney’s spokeswoman Jennifer Thornton revealed that an ongoing review of the facts of the case had not been completed, according to AP. The U.S Attorney’s office stated that civil rights violations could have potentially occurred in Tensing’s case. Tensing didn’t just violate Sam Dubose’s civil rights — he wrongfully executed him and snatched him away from his loved ones. The University of Cincinnati has a non-discrimination notice which all students, faculty and staff must abide by. That includes Tensing, who was employed as a UC police officer at the time of DuBose’s slaying. The non-discrimination statement reads: “The University of Cincinnati does not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, color, religion, national origin,

ancestry, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, age, sexual orientation, veteran status or gender identity and expression in its programs and activities. The university does not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on these bases and takes steps to ensure that students, employees, and third parties are not subject to a hostile environment in University programs or activities.” I do not believe that now is the time for UC to be reaching a settlement with Tensing. Although the money for his severance package must be paid out eventually, legal fees payments should at least be postponed until the federal investigation is complete. Tensing may have gotten away with the murder of Sam DuBose, but the case for a civil rights violation is clear and concrete. If the federal government’s investigation finishes on the side of justice, it will confirm this. Sure, there is a “legitimate” reason for UC’s payout to Tensing. That doesn’t make it right or fair. It is also another consequence of our unjust “justice” system. Sam DuBose, an unarmed and innocent man, was murdered by an individual who was sworn to protect and serve our university and immediate community. Instead, he used unnecessary force in a routine traffic stop. Pinto acknowledged that although the decision had to be made, it will be a difficult one to deal with, and he is right. This is an uneasy time to be a student at UC, and students of color are liable to feel even more uneasy. The deed has been done and there is nothing we can do to change it. However, that doesn’t mean we cannot express our frustration, and it certainly doesn’t mean it is time for the conversation about Sam DuBose and civil rights in Cincinnati to end.

Why Cincinnati City Council must raise the legal tobacco age to 21

Mar. 28, 2018 | newsrecord.org

MOUNIR LYNCH | OPINION EDITOR

Recently, cities across the country have begun implementing a policy to protect future generations, public health and the environment: raising the legal minimum age to purchase tobacco to 21. Cincinnati could follow in the footsteps of other cities across the country by creating legislation to make our city a better place to live overall. Since raising the legal tobacco age to 21 is only recently becoming more widespread, research behind the benefits of these policies is limited. However, there are many clear reasons why communities around the country, including several states and major cities, implement these policies in the first place. Raising the minimum

tobacco age creates a cleaner environment within the city. In May 2017, UC implemented a tobacco-free policy, dubbed “Tobacco Free UC,” on all campuses. The policy bans the use of all nicotine delivery systems on campus. Since the implementation of Tobacco Free UC, litter from cigarette butts on main campus has decreased exponentially. Furthermore, secondhand smoke is now nearly nonexistent. Cigarette smoke fills the surrounding environment with pollutants and toxins which, over time, affect our atmosphere. Although I do not pedestalize banning public smoking in Cincinnati as a realistic policy, several public health researchers have proven that secondhand smoke exposure is just as harmful to health as direct

tobacco use. Secondhand smoke exposes non-smokers to the many toxins and chemicals in cigarette smoke that are detrimental to health. Increasing the legal tobacco age to 21 reduces the number of smokers, eliminating a significant amount of waste and air pollution in the city. Furthermore, widespread tobacco use among lowerincome individuals is more common than among higherincome individuals. This is a direct, clear example of class warfare and inequity that can easily be prevented in our city. A lack of transportation access to grocery stores, many of which are located far from low-income neighborhoods, reroutes consumers to convenience stores which sell a large selection of various tobacco

products. Many kids and young adults must work to take care of their families. Many of them shop for groceries for their aging or disabled families, or for family members battling drug addiction. Their access to tobacco is directly increased by regularly shopping at convenience stores — locations that big tobacco corporations deliberately target for high sales. According to the U.S Department of Labor, young non-smokers can save upwards of $10,000 annually by cutting the expense of regular tobacco use. This money can be funneled into our communities and into the pockets of struggling people. Minimum wage in Cincinnati is $8.30 per hour. Let’s assume I was a

full-time minimum wage worker who smokes one pack of cigarettes per day. Estimating the price of a pack of cigarettes in Cincinnati at $6, I would spend $42 a week, $182 a month and $2,184 a year on cigarettes alone. A full-time minimum wage worker makes just $16,000 before tax each year. The expense of regular smoking takes away a significant amount of money that could easily be used on the many life expenses the everyday Cincinnatian encounters. Finally, it is a well-known fact that tobacco use is the number one preventable cause of death in the U.S. and worldwide. Lung cancer has the highest mortality rate of any other cancer, and nearly every case of lung cancer has been connected to tobacco use, according to

the CDC. Frankly, tobacco use is practically the worst health behavior one can exhibit. A large proportion of smokers begin smoking between the ages of 18 and 21, with many of them going on to become regular smokers in little time. When we ban the sale of tobacco for individuals under the age of 21, we can prevent a massive number of people from becoming regular smokers. Using tobacco from a young age can easily lead to long-term use. By increasing the minimum age of tobacco sales, we will create a cleaner, healthier and more wealthy community. The city of Cincinnati is rapidly growing and developing. It is time that we adopt policies that will guarantee this growth.

Interactive

TNR staff question of the week:

What is the best April Fools prank you have been a part of? I hid every article of clothing my dad owned so he came home to an empty closet. -David Wysong, Editor-in-Chief

On April fools my best friend told me she was pregnant, but she was actually pregnant. - Lizzy Schmitt, News Editor

In high school I convinced my mom that I joined the navy instead of going to college. She slapped me and cried hysterically because she thought I was going to die. I feel really bad about it and it did not go as planned at all. -Mounir Lynch, Opinion Editor

I told someone it was St. patrick’s Day and pinched tem because they weren’t wearing green. Then I said it was actually April Fool’s Day. They were all around confused. -Erin Couch, Managing Editor Got my mom with the old rubber band around the side sprayer on the sink. -Zach Perrin, News Editor I told my high school girlfriend that I thought we should break up. When she got home, there was a huge sign in her yard asking if she would go to prom with me. -Jason Szelest, Sports Editor

Editor-In-Chief David Wysong

Online Editor Stephanie Smith

Managing Editor Erin Couch

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Newsroom 509 Swift Hall 513-556-5912 Chief.newsrecord@gmail.com

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University of Cincinnati 45221-0135

Things to do this weekend: •

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The News Record, the independent student voice of the University of Cincinnati, is now accepting editor-in-chief applications for the 2018-2019 academic year. If you are a student with strong leadership skills and knowledge of AP Style, you can apply by expressing your interest to David Wysong, current editor-in-chief, at wysongdk@mail.uc.edu, and he will send you the application. The due date to send in applications is April 5 at midnight. The News Record is a great environment to develop journalism and professional skills. The editor-in-chief position pays $10/hour and will work up to 24 hours/week. Any questions about the position and application process can be sent to David Wysong at wysongdk@mail.uc.edu.

Mar. 28, 2018 | newsrecord.org

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Cincinnati Reds vs. Washington Nationals: Baseball season is back! Check out the hometown Reds take on the Nationals Saturday at 2:10 p.m. or Sunday 4:10 p.m. You can find tickets for as low as $10. Mat Kearney: If you are looking for a good concert, Matt Kearney will be at Bogarts at 8 p.m. Friday. You can find info about tickets at bogarts.com. Art After Dark: Do you want to dance like an Egyptian? Do that and enjoy a silent disco at art after dark in the Cincinnati Art Museum. The fun takes place Friday from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Cincinnati Cyclones vs. Toledo Walleye: Enjoy a hockey game while eating $1 hotdogs during fan appreciation night as the Cincinnati Cyclones take on the Toledo Walleye at U.S. Bank Arena. The game starts at 7:30 p.m.

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