UC faculty member works with athletes, coach to improve sled; competition to start Feb. 13CASSIE MERINO CONTRIBUTOR

Members of the U.S. skeleton sled team could ride their way — fast and smooth — to victory at the Winter Olympics courtesy of the University of Cincinnati.

Grant Shaffner, an assistant professor in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, worked closely with the team tasked with redesigning the sled.

Skeleton is a racing event in which individuals race down an incline covered in ice, with speeds often exceeding 90 mph.

Shaffner worked with the athletes — Matt Antoine, Katie Uhlaender and John Daly — and head coach Tuffi eld Latour to fi nd out what they needed in a sled.

The result was a combination of engineering, science and trusting the intuition of the athletes.

More often than not, he said, the modifi cation resulted in real improvements.

Shaffner originally helped design a skeleton sled known as the X2 for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. Soon after the 2010 games, he and the rest of the team went to redesign the sled that is currently in Sochi, Russia — the ProtoStar V5.

The team used a different metal on the ProtoStar V5 because the standard steel previously used on the sled led to corrosion.

“While it may not have had a big impact on the steel, it just looked bad,” Shaffner said. “As an athlete riding on rust it doesn’t build your confi dence. We learned very quickly, they need to feel they are riding on the best equipment.”

They also redesigned the frame to better absorb the shock from the track. The sleds are not actually allowed to have shock resistant system, but redesigning the frame helped make the sled ride smoother.

To help gain more of perspective, Shaffner tested the sled himself.

“It was quite a rush,” Shaffner said. “We learned very

New director of athletics looks to build on recent momentum at UCRYAN HOFFMAN NEWS EDITOR

The University of Cincinnati’s new athletics director Mike Bohn wants to continue building the successes gained under former athletic director Whit Babcock, and he’s being paid more money to do just that.

“I want to take advantage of the momentum here,” Bohn said. “The fans want to see that consistent commitment.”

Bohn, who last worked as the director of athletics at the University of Colorado, impressed those involved with the search process, which started and fi nished in about two weeks.

“We have been able to attract to the University of Cincinnati someone whose truly exceptional, who is a seasoned professional who has really moved three great institutions forward,” said President Santa Ono. “I have every optimism and confi dence that Mike Bohn is the person who will move the University of Cincinnati program to even greater heights. The future of Bearcat athletics has never been brighter.”

Ono started the search immediately

after learning of Babcock’s departure in late January. The list quickly narrowed to 50 candidates, then 40 candidates and fi nally 10 candidates.

Ono said fi nding a new director of athletics became one of his top priorities.

“My job is not to mess around when it comes to the well being of students and the university,” Ono said.

Of those fi nal 10, Bohn stood out the most because of “experience and connections with power conferences,” said Fran Barrett, chairman of the Board of Trustees.

While at Colorado, Bohn successfully oversaw a move to the Pacifi c Athletic Conference in 2011, a step up for Colorado. UC has been actively trying to get into a conference with more clout and competition than the fl edgling American Athletic Conference that was created after the old Big East fell apart.

Bohn said that — along with the recent surge in momentum — the commitment and communication between Ono, the board and other administrators was instrumental in his decision to come to UC.

“The sense of team came through loud and clear and that’s impressive to me,” Bohn said. “You should be proud of that. I believe our future is very, very bright.”

Bohn takes the job formerly held by Babcock, who announced Jan. 24 that he was leaving UC to take the same job at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Babcock was instrumental in the current renovations of Nippert Stadium, as well as hiring head football coach Tommy Tuberville.

Ono said he is not worried about Bohn living up to the standards set during Babcock’s 27 months at UC.

“He is a communication and marketing genius,” Ono said. “He’s got big feet too, so he’ll have no problem fi lling those shoes.”

Bohn is slated to receive a salary around $500,000 with incentives as high as $150,000, Ono said. His base salary is the second highest at UC, trailing only Ono, and it’s $75,000 more than Babcock’s base salary.

Bohn admits it’s going to take time to learn the ropes and the depths of the current situation, fi nding a home in a more successful conference and renovating the dated Fifth Third Arena are at the top of Bohn’s priority list.

While UC has experienced a consistent exodus of coaches and administrator in the past decade, Bohn said he is here for the “long hall.” Ono pointed to Bohn’s

JAMIE MAIER STAFF REPORTER

A local church’s desire to establish a location near the University of Cincinnati could help ongoing development efforts in the area while giving students and residents a new place to worship.

Crossroads, a so-called “mega church” with three current locations throughout the region, recently announced that it wants to add a property in the uptown area.

“We’re still in the beginning stages of exploring locations on and near campus,” said Jennifer Sperry, a Crossroads representative. “We’d love to fi nd something that allows us to create a great atmosphere, both for students who are used to attending service in Oakley and also for them to invite their friends, too.”

Currently, the nondenominational church hosts more than 15,000 people during weekend services at its three campuses in Oakley, Mason and Florence, Ky.

The UC expansion would follow the opening of Crossroads’ site on the west side, which is set to open in late spring. A property in the uptown area would be the church’s fi rst university location.

“We’re looking at existing spaces, [and are] not planning to build something new from the ground up,” Sperry said.

The UC location would draw people from surrounding neighborhoods as well as provide a location closer to home for students who usually attend services at the Oakley location, Sperry said.

“I am always encouraged by churches actively investing in students,” said Alyssa Morrison, a fourth-year communications sciences and disorders student. “University Christian Church does its best to invest in students while they are attending the university and I think it is neat when other churches do the same.”

The new location could also affect surrounding businesses and developments.

“More people expressing an interest in the area shows that what’s happening is positive and people want to be a part of it,” said Matt Bourgeois, Clifton Heights Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation director.

The past few years have brought large-scale re-development to the uptown area and CHCURC has been involved with, or helped facilitate much of it. U Square @ the Loop opened in 2013 in the space between Calhoun Street and McMillan

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UCPD offers exclusive look into protective service team training

Professor helps design new, improved sled for Winter Olympics

Unit tasked with protecting important guest at UC conducts monthly training simulationMADISON SCHMIDT CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

The University of Cincinnati’s new athletic director has received a low-level threat from the father of a former basketball player and requires additional protection from the suspected adversary in order to secure smooth transitions throughout his busy day.

This is the scenario members of the Dignitary Protection Unit, UC’s protective services team, was given when they arrived at the offi ce early on a snowy Sunday morning.

DPU consists of a team of offi cers that has undergone training through the Executive Protection Institute in Winchester, Va. and specializes in providing public and private executive protection training.

The team has provided protective services to high-profi le people that visit campus including Speaker of the House John Boehner and U.S. President Barack Obama. The team conducts training exercises similar to Sunday’s once a month.

Once the team arrived at the offi ce, they received a phone call from UCPD Capt. Rodney Chatman instructing them on the day’s mission.

Once the plan was initiated, David Brinker, a three-year DPU team member, and Rick Rowan, a 10-month team member, climbed into UCPD’s new, unmarked vehicle and

drove to the Hampton Inn on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.Former UCPD captain Gene Ferrara, sat in the back seat

and critiqued the tow offi cers during the simulation.When they arrived at the Hampton Inn, Rowan and

Brinker walked into the lobby and quickly shifted gears to begin their advance — a detailed check of the environment to ensure safety for their principal. Rowan, the newest addition to the team, followed Brinker for the morning and later put his freshly attained skills to the test. Chatman told Brinker to use the few mistakes that he made as a learning experience.

“I don’t know what I don’t know yet,” Rowan said. “The more we do this type of scenario thing, the better I think I’ll be able to catch on.”

The offi cers’ main objective was to control the environment and reduce the risk of exposure to the target — in this case the new athletic director — without him knowing what is going on. The main difference in DPU training from regular police training includes maintaining a proactive mind set and avoiding embarrassment for their principal, where regular police training is mostly reacting to incidents in the community.

“The unprofessional approach is to have this big guy with muscles to push people around and keep people away,” Chatman said. “The professional approach is to really research the person you’re protecting, research the environment in terms of the local environment and what

THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI’S INDEPENDENT, STUDENT-RUN NEWS ORGANIZATION / MONDAY, FEB. 10, 2014

MADISON SCHMIDT CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHERMike Bohn, the new director of athletics at the University of Cincinnati, said he was eager to continue the momentum built under former athletic director Whit Babcock at a press conference Thursday. UC President Santa Ono (right) said he was impressed with Bohn’s experience as an administrator and his success at the University of Colorado.

PROVIDEDProfessor Grant Sha� ner was part of the team that redesigned the skeleton sled for the U.S. team competing in the Winter Olympics.

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MADISON SCHMIDT CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER O� cer Rick Rowan (left) escorts Eric Hoe� el (center), who played the new director of athletics during a training exercise, while UCPD Capt. Rodney Chatman (right) plays the role of Hoe� el’s security detail.

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quickly over three days. All three of us admitted afterwards that there was a moment in the run we all thought we were going to die.”

Shaffner said the ride gave him a new level of respect for the athletes and helped him make needed improvements, including ways to improve the steering.

The sled does not have a mechanism that helps the riders turn. Instead, the rider puts pressure on the opposite sides on the sled with their shoulders and knees.

“It was a very good experience and we learned a lot from that,” Shaffner said.

The improvements were a collaborative effort between Shaffner’s team, Cincinnati-based ProtoStar Engineering, Fairfield-based Machintek Corporation, deBotech Inc. of Mooresville, N.C. and Carpenter Technology Corporation of Wyomissing, Pa.

“It was a real engineering challenge,

but we live for it,” Shaffner said. “Still complying with the regulations and being innovative was just a great challenge and tremendously rewarding.”

Women’s Skeleton is scheduled to start Feb. 13 and the men’s is scheduled for Feb. 14.

extended tenure at Colorado as proof that he is committed to the job wherever he is at.

Bohn, an Ohio University alumnus, took over as athletic director at Colorado in 2005 and stayed until May 2013, when he left because the university wanted a new athletic director. Prior to that, he served as the director of athletics at San Diego State University and the University of Idaho.

UC president addresses League of Women Voters at annual conferenceMELANIE TITANIC SCHEFT STAFF REPORTER

President Santa Ono stressed the importance of young adults’ involvement in the political process at the Cincinnati League of Women Voters 27th annual Susan B. Anthony Luncheon Saturday.

“The entire 2012 presidential election came down to four or five states, unfortunately for many, they were the states of confusion, dismay, anxiety and despair,” Ono said. “So nourishing the next generation of voters is very important. We all have that responsibility, and the work you do everyday in the LWV is of great value.”

In a packed room in the Hall of Mirrors at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, Ono addressed the current problems with voter’s rights, registration and locations.

He complimented the LWV for the group’s tireless efforts to bring equal rights to all voters, especially during a time of political gridlock.

Ono said young adults have to be involved in the political process in order for it to be successful, and also because the rights and freedoms Americans enjoy are closely tied to civic responsibilities.

“My students told me early on that if I wanted to reach them I had to become active on Twitter and Facebook,” Ono said.

Ono shared our country’s historical success with diverse modes of communication with the LWV including Franklin Roosevelt’s fireside chats, John F. Kennedy’s first inaugural address on color TV and Ronald Reagan’s use of anecdotal stories to connect with and encourage the American people.

“Regardless of the technology of the day, communication done well is incredibly important,” Ono said. “If you put something of yourself into that communication, if you put something in there broadly, as well as personally, you create something bigger and much more important that just yourself.”

Ono said that together, the University of Cincinnati and the LWV can reach students and young adults through social media to educate, inspire and give a much more powerful voice to the future of the U.S.

“We have to get out of this gridlock in terms of the government,” Ono said. “We all must spread the word and take this vital political experiment that our forefathers created for us forward, because even though it is a mess right now, it is still the best system on this planet.”

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Ono stresses importance of political engagement

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Street that use to be a gravel parking lot. Continuing efforts to revitalize

Corryville — the neighborhood east of main campus — are bringing new restaurants, bars and apartment complexes to the neighborhood, primarily in the area known as Short Vine.

Construction crews razed the Goetz House, formerly Christy’s & Lendhardt’s German restaurant, in early January to make room for a six-story complex that is expected to include apartments and retail space.

Bourgeois said the local businesses he has worked with would “welcome the additional business that Crossroads could potentially bring to their doorsteps.”

“My understanding is, Crossroads is very good at coordinating volunteer efforts and we would certainly like to work with them on areas of concern that we share,” Bourgeois said.

Bourgeois’ potential concerns would relate to traffic and the timing of services. However, he does not foresee significant problems arising.

For Crossroads, the new location is an opportunity to reach more people and tap into the large population of younger people that surrounds UC and populates the area.

“Our mission is ‘connecting seekers to a community of growing Christ-followers who are changing the world,’” Sperry said. “We’d love to reach students who are ready to explore what this means in all aspects.”

threats are out there and anticipate all of that.”

After the “athletic director” and his personal security detail — played by Chatman and Erik Hoeffel, a third-year criminal justice student — arrived and settled in, Brinker and Rowan engaged in a two-car motorcade to transport them to the Frisch’s on Central Parkway for an interview with a reporter — played by Chatman’s wife.

When protecting a high profile individual, time spent standing around is time spent exposing your principal to potential risks, Chatman said.

“This is something that you really have to want to do,” Chatman said. “In a case like this, you would facilitate all this movement and you’re interacting with your principal for a very short period of time — you put in 20 hours of work and you only interact with the principal for 20 minutes.”

After the interview, everyone returned to the hotel room at the Hampton Inn. There, Chatman concluded the simulation and requested a brief meeting at UCPD station in Edwards for an evaluation.

Ideally, the team would have planned their advances hours before the principal arrived and other team members would have been stationed in the restaurant and hotel room in addition to Rowan and Brinker.

Due to outside forces, the DPU team for this month’s training day was reduced to just Brinker and Rowan. Regardless, Chatman and Ferrara praised their officers for how they handled the work.

“You have to be flexible,” Ferrara said. “I’ve never worked a detail that went exactly as it was planned to go.”

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MELANIE TITANIC SCHEFT STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER President Santa Ono spoke of the importance of youth engagement in politics at the annual LWV conference.

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Indie pop shows emotional side

‘The Monuments Men’ becomes monumental failure

Classic mythology on water; ‘Metamorphoses’ visually appealingJAKE GRIECO ARTS EDITOR

Roman poet Ovid’s “Metamorphoses” contains more than 250 classic tales, and the Mary Zimmerman play by the same name might have one or two.

Though these stories have stood the test of time, they don’t exactly make for a riveting theatrical production.

The College-Conservatory of Music mounted this ambitious performance and even went as far as to create the 3,000-gallon pool needed for the show.

Guest director D. Lynn Meyers took full advantage of the technical staff at CCM. Lighting director Wes Richter and set designer Dana Hall are the true heroes of these tales. Their brilliance is most captivating element of “Metamorphoses.”

King Midas (John Odom) wished that everything he touched would turn to gold. So when he walked around the stage each step was illuminated in gold by the lights.

The blocking had to be challenging considering the landscape, or lack there of, but Meyers did a fantastic job.

The story of Alcyone (Bailie Breux) and Ceyx (Christian Carey) is particularly well put together. Alycone has a premonition that her husband is going to die at sea during his next journey. She’s right and at the end she turns into a bird — or something. But the story isn’t the interesting part. The shipwreck itself is visually stunning. Poseidon (Trey Wright) drags Ceyx’s body through the pool seemingly into a watery grave, while

an ensemble of actors create tidal waves. Ceyx’s body returns, possessed by a god, so his wife can know he’s dead and Richter turns his body green making him look like a ghost from an old episode of “Scooby Doo.”

There isn’t an intermission in the 80-minute performance and it’s probably for the best. The lack of a cohesive story line makes it hard to stay immersed. The actors do the best they can, but there really isn’t time for them to add to their characters due to the play’s design. There are instances of humor — basically whenever Joe Markesbury is on stage — but the audience is never ready for

humor so they forget to laugh, or the jokes just aren’t that funny.

These old tales are timeless, and have survived all these years just on a page so it’s hard to see a reason for there to even be this much-talked-about pool. One thing the pool does do for the performance, is give the audience something to look at when they zone out.

“Metamorphoses” is obviously not supposed to be a run-of-the-mill theater experience. It’s an experimental production, and like most experimental art once the idea is understood, there really isn’t a need to see more.

Dum Dum Girls sounds catchy, lyrics reveal darker messages from band AILISH MASTERSON CONTRIBUTOR

Dum Dum Girls trade in sweet indie pop for a bitter fl avor.

The indie pop band released its third studio album, “Too True,” Jan. 28 to much acclaim by their fans.

Dum Dum Girls formed in 2008 and have had many member changes since then with Dee Dee Penny remaining the consistent lead vocalist. They released two EPs before being signed to their current label Sub Pop in 2010 and have since released two others.

After touring in 2012, Penny felt that her vocals needed a break and stopped recording the album. During that time, she re-wrote a majority of the songs

appearing on “Too True,” taking it in a different direction. She found inspiration in 19th century poets and journalists who have writing styles that can be described as mystical and unique.

The feel of the album is relaxing, yet uplifting with a somewhat hypnotic vibe. The sound of layered guitars, echoes and methodical drumbeats make listening to this album feel like sinking into quicksand.

“Cult of Love” introduces the album and sets the tone by putting the listener into a trance.

Emotion is heard and felt in “Are You Okay?” and “Under These Hands,” which keep listeners captivated. “Are You Okay” is a song of relationship regret while “Under These Hands” gives the message of being away from someone and being in control of your heart. The spellbinding

“Trouble Is My Name,” closes the album. The title is pretty self-explanatory

of what the song is about, visions of destruction, cruelty, and of course, trouble. The heavy ’70s and ’80s infl uences are felt throughout the songs, making the album cohesive and Penny’s voice is reminiscent of a young Madonna.

Listeners will become so captivated by the easy feeling of the music and soft vocals that they won’t hear the somewhat dismal lyrics.

While most of the songs are upbeat in sound, a closer listen reveals a dark side of Dum Dum Girls that is defi nitely not cotton candy fl avored. Every song has an underlying message of regret, sadness, judgment and unhealthy relationships, but listeners would never know unless they pay close enough attention.

Even with Clooney’s delayed release, ‘Monuments’ relies on filler dialogueMONROE TROMBLY CONTRIBUTOR

While “The Monuments Men” was supposed to be George Clooney’s brainchild of World War II heroics, it feels more like a trite, glossy once-over of a sliver of time that remains fl at-footed from the very beginning, fi xed on the ground with indefi nite dullness.

Directed and written by Clooney, alongside producer Grant Heslov, the fi lm recounts the story of a group of allied men tasked with protecting the world’s greatest monuments, buildings and art during World War II.

Based on the book, “The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History,” the fi lm crafts composite characters to create an ensemble cast starring Clooney, Matt Damon, John Goodman, Bill Murray, Jean Dujardin, Bob Balaban, Hugh Bonneville and Cate Blanchett.

Led by a mustachioed Clooney in all his charm reminiscent of his “Oceans” days, he leads his trope of men in a hunt for the lost, stolen and often times destroyed culturally priceless pieces of art. They race against the clock of war and Hitler’s

designs to appropriate every artwork he can steal and to build a museum deemed the “Fuhrer Museum.”

Once considered a possible contender for the Oscars, the post-production took longer than expected, due to reported issues with balancing the fi lm’s humor with the serious subject matter of war. Clooney opts yet again for his well-known ensemble cast humor and camaraderie-inspired wit, but there is no wit here.

One would think that a group of art historians, architects, sculptors and scholars would spend at least a small moment talking about, well, art. Instead Clooney and Heslov fi ll the screen’s dialogue with tacky crowd-pleasing moments and clichés with far too many stale speeches. Clooney apparently thought that the familiarity of the actors would make up for any shortcomings with regards to their backstories and lack of individuality.

This fi ller dialogue is short and sweet, making fl eeting scenes that contribute nothing to the humor, plot or the signifi cance of fi nding stolen artwork. By art, the fi lm means only three to four pieces of art that are fi xated to be the sole signifi ers of humanity’s culture throughout the fi lm.

There is no footage of the war, which is

a wasted opportunity to portray scenes that would have contrasted well with the men’s struggle to track down humanity’s history.

The music tries to manipulate tension and drama, which is understandable with such an uninspiring script. These short musical interludes provide the separation between scenes, but do little to fi t the fi lm’s serious-minded tone.

What results is an uninspiring, overly simplistic story because of the pure lack of story or intricacies of war.

“The Monuments Men” comes across as a contrived feel-good fi lm that tries to entertain with the supposed wit of the group of allied monuments men, bumbling their way through war-torn Europe.

LAUREN KRAMER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Cellist Jacob Yates set the mood for the entire performance. This performance was truly about atmosphere. The shipwreck scene, pictured above, was one of the performances most intense and engaging scenes.

LAUREN KRAMER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER The story of King Midas was one of the most compelling tales in “Metamorphoses.” John Odom did a great job of portraying Midas’ greed.

MADISON SCHMIDT CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER Bill Murray promoted ‘The Monuments Men’ all over social media outlets. Its a shame critics didn’t share the same enthusiasm for the fi lm.

Contrived, outlandish plot makes film

CCM drama not for mere mortals

JAKE GRIECO ARTS EDITOR

“I am a writer, a doctor, a nuclear physicist and a theoretical philosopher. But above all, I am a man, a hopelessly inquisitive man, just like you.”

Philip Seymour Hoffman lived a life of endless inquisition. His career was dedicated to investigating the souls of the characters he portrayed on screen.

He was said to be a shy man. A man that was modest about his endless ability to change skin in front of a camera and become a classic writer, a cult leader or a reclusive music journalist.

Hoffman was found dead a week ago in his Greenwich Village apartment in New York City.

Authorities suspect the cause of death to be drug overdose, but the most recent autopsy came back inconclusive.

Since news of his death broke, the media and the mass public have been far too concerned with the Academy Award-winning actor’s drug use, rather than refl ecting on his life and career, both of which ended much too early.

Some of Hoffman’s most prolifi c performances come from when his characters are concerned with death. In Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Magnolia,” Hoffman plays Phil, the kindhearted hospice nurse who helps an old man reunite with his son before he passes away.

In “The Master” Hoffman plays Lancaster Dodd, a man who convinces his following that death is a dragon that can be tamed.

Hoffman has been a subtle force in the fi lm industry. Each role he played continued to prove his talent. There was no role he couldn’t assume, except for his own character on the world’s stage.

He wrestled his demons for decades before it was fi nally too much for him.

Hoffman understood the nature of man and its fl awed characteristics, which were embodied in his many characters. He knew how it looked to feel any emotion. He could create love, hate, arrogance, anything in his performances. He was the loveable chubby blonde and when someone said, “Philip Seymour Hoffman is in it,” people paid attention.

He knew how to choose roles, and like Midas, anything he touched turned to gold and it ended just as tragically.

“If you fi gure a way to live without serving a master, any master, then let the rest of us know will you? For you’d be the fi rst person in the history of the world.”

There is no way to live this life right. There will never be a reason for everything that happens. There’s nothing in control of tomorrow or yesterday, but we’re stuck, serving a master of forward rushing time.

Hoffman, though a servant to a master not all of us struggle with, accomplished so much in his life here. The moments of him we are left with will live on in our DVD collections and Hoffman will be permanently placed in the archive of Hollywood legends, though too soon.

A celebrity death rarely feels like the loss of a friend. But fans of Hoffman’s work feel connected to him. It sounds strange, but the man is an actor. With some of the sorry excuses for actors currently on their “long journey to the middle,” we forget what it actually means to be a professional. A true actor, like Hoffman, turns characters into company.

Philip Seymour Hoffman, 46

5 / COLLEGE LIFE MONDAY, FEB. 10, 2014 / NEWSRECORD.ORG

Boris Slutsky takes stage as part of fifth annual Bearcat Piano Festival A.J. KMETZ STAFF REPORTER

A man perched at a lone grand piano was the sole focus in a College-Conservatory of Music recital hall Friday,

demanding attention with masterful compositions that exhibited a lifetime of experience.

Boris Slutsky, a Russian-born classical pianist and chamber musician, played the Robert J. Werner Recital Hall as the second musician in the fifth annual Bearcat Piano Festival. The pianist

presented pieces by Mozart, Schumann and Chopin, exhibiting his skill with performances that kept audience members engaged and inspired.

The audience was immediately taken with Slutsky. With the lights dimmed, talking ceased and all attention turned to the musician as he took his seat at the hall’s sprawling grand piano. A true virtuoso of the keyboard, Slutsky’s technical expertise was on full display right from the start, evidenced by his renditions of several classical pieces.

Essentially raised as a musician, Slutsky was born in Moscow and began training at the Gnessin School for Gifted Children. After emigrating from Russia to the United States in 1977 at 15 years old, Slutsky studied at the Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard School in New York.

His performance debut came in 1980 with the New York Youth Symphony in Carnegie Hall, but it wasn’t until the following year, when he swept the competition and won first prize in the William Kapell International Piano Competition at the University of Maryland, that he gained international attention. Slutsky has since performed around the world, winning awards in several major piano competitions and collaborating with dozens of prominent conductors and orchestras.

The pianist now serves as the Piano Department Chair of The Peabody Conservatory of Music of The Johns Hopkins University, which Slutsky joined in 1993. In addition to giving recitals around the world, Slutsky records his music, teaches master classes and serves on the juries of international piano competitions.

Slutsky channeled this extensive experience in his opening piece, Mozart’s “Rondo in A Minor K. 511,” giving a hypnotizing performance that set expectations of grandeur fulfilled by the artist throughout the evening. Slutsky’s second performance, a rendition of Schumann’s kaleidoscopic piece “Kreisleriana Op. 16,” was filled with emotion, reflected in the pianist’s expressive face as he played. Slutsky’s tonal beauty gave the eight-part piece life as it transitioned between agitated and uplifting.

After intermission, Slutsky performed five works by Chopin, each with its own brilliance. He opened with the wistful, impassioned “Barcarolle Op. 60” and continued with two of Chopin’s 27 Etudes: “Cello,” and a grim piece known as “Torrent.” Slutsky then presented an exquisite rendition of “Nocturne Op. 55 No. 2,” his hands flying across the keys, and closed dramatically with the “Polonaise-Fantaisie Op. 61.”

Brianna Matzke, a doctoral piano student, was already familiar with Slutsky’s work when she attended the concert. She said seeing a renowned master perform helps her improve her own work.

“For a piano student, every recital is a learning experience,” Matzke said.

Matzke’s sentiment was reflected by the audience as a whole; applause grew louder and more enthusiastic between performances. Slutsky stood and bowed after each piece, walking briskly offstage each time to the tune of a thunderous ovation. During his pieces, however, the auditorium remained completely silent, the audience enraptured by Slutsky’s artistry.

Krista Sigler’s fascination with history flourished, taking her across world, back to classroomAMONA REFAEI STAFF REPORTER

With the Winter Olympics in full swing, Russia has moved into the spotlight as the games run rampant in Sochi. But a history professor’s interest in the country was sparked by something very different: a unique, historic picture she discovered in a book.

As a child, University of Cincinnati Blue Ash professor Krista Sigler fervently pursued her passion for reading. She walked to her local library with her older brother, sifting through books to broaden her knowledge of the world.

Nestled on a library shelf was a book that would change Sigler’s life. The text contained one of the last photos taken of the Romanov family, the powerful family of Czar Nicholas II, whose execution brought a three-century-old dynasty to an end.

“I had no idea about Russia or the Romanovs’ story, but from that moment on, I did want to know more about the people in the picture,” Sigler said.

The photograph sparked Sigler’s interest that sent her across the world. She first set foot in Russia as part of a student group.

She later returned to the country on her own, taking courses at a local school while staying with a St. Petersburg

family. Sigler first pursued English at Xavier University, and

later added history to her academic career. She became a graduate student at UC, a choice that opened up room for additional travel opportunities.

“I missed the flexibility of history, which allows you to discuss an unlimited amount of topics and to approach it any way you like,” Sigler said.

While working on her dissertation at UC, Sigler traveled to Russia in order to gather information and sources while improving her understanding of the language. She spent most of her time in St. Petersburg between 2003 and 2006.

The experience exposed Sigler to the way of life in Russia and helped her understand her own perspectives as an American. She was simultaneously pushed to break her own patterns.

“It is hard for me to put into words how significant that experience was for me,” Sigler said. “It was an enormous challenge, and I sometimes joked it felt a bit like being in a video game, with every day a challenge to level up by trying something new.”

Her experiences traveling are an important aspect of Sigler’s teaching style, allowing her to provide anecdotes with emotional resonance rather than generic statements.

“I think [traveling] has given me more empathy for other cultures, which I then reflect in my teaching,” Sigler said.

Sigler began working with students around 2000 and has

been teaching since 2006. She currently teaches first-year level courses in both world and European history.

Some of her areas of interest include imperial and modern Russia and Tudor England. But, Sigler is quick to add she often learns more about world history, and as a result she’s come to enjoy a wide variety of historical time periods and places.

Her classes embody a personal edge. Students read novels and analyze music and fashion.

Sigler is currently working on a project about her original dissertation topic: the house of Mathilde Kshesinskaia, an elite ballerina and former mistress of the last Russian czar. In April, Sigler will also dedicate a presentation to the 1925 Soviet film “Battleship Potemkin” as part of the History Club.

“I’ve never done a talk on that film, which is a famous piece of Soviet propaganda, so I am excited about it,” Sigler said.

The professor’s passion for history has come a long way since the discovery of a forgotten photograph, growing to include poignant experiences and a deep understanding of Russian life and culture.

Sigler’s thirst for knowledge continues to be stimulated. She is inspired by her students, who strive to overcome academic and situational challenges to achieve the education they desire.

“Those are the moments, and the people, who make teaching so important to me,” Sigler said. “They bring home the point that education matters.”

Photograph sparks history professor’s lifelong passion for travel

Class project takes group to City Gospel Mission, downtown Cincinnati A.J. KMETZ STAFF REPORTER

In the early hours of Feb. 1, long before sunrise, a crowd of tired people began to form outside a short brick building, a relic of Over-the-Rhine’s heyday, hoping to find a seat in the cafeteria and get a hot meal. At about 5 a.m., the door labeled City Gospel Mission finally opened and those gathered were ushered inside to a small chapel as food was brought out in the cafeteria.

Among the group waiting for breakfast were 10 University of Cincinnati students. To an outsider, they might have blended in. They were dressed in donated clothes, they hadn’t showered and they had only gotten a few hours of sleep. But to the people they sat with, they were obviously not homeless, nor in need of the food offered by City Gospel. In fact, they were there as a part of the Urban Immersion Experience, a project for a UC Intercultural Communications class. The goal is to get a glimpse into what it really means to live on the street and what the homeless go through on a daily basis.

The experience works through City Gospel Mission, though it isn’t actually a part of the organization. City Gospel provided students with an easy place to begin interacting with the homeless and serves as a jumping-off point for the experience. For the homeless, however, City Gospel is one of the better shelters to stay in. Staying in the shelter’s dorm for a week costs 15 dollars, and for the safety of the tenants, there is a zero-tolerance policy for drugs, alcohol and violence.

It might seem insensitive and dishonest to go out on the street posing as a homeless person; a few of the regulars at the non-profit shelter commented that what the students would experience would be “fake,” which is really the truth.

The leader and creator of the project, M.J. Woeste, warned the students that while the experience is meant to shed light on the homeless community, some people who live under those circumstances might take offense to their presence.

Most, however, readily approached the students, eager to talk to them. As the group moved to the cafeteria for

breakfast, the students separated and sat with the homeless, who quickly warmed to them. A few students later said that some of their favorite moments during the experience occurred during conversations over breakfast.

The students were later sent out on the street and split up into smaller groups. Each group had a list of tasks designed to simulate what the homeless deal with every day. Some of these overlapped, and others were unique to each group.

Each group had to visit a number of non-profit and government organizations designed to aid the homeless and impoverished. One of these is the Mary Magdalene Center, which will wash and store an extra set of clothes for the homeless. On a busy day, the center can wash up to 125 sets of clothing in its three washing machines and four dryers. There are also showers available in the center.

The center accepts clothing donations and picks clothing out for the homeless with comfort as a top priority.

Some of the most eye-opening lessons from the project, however, were the ones

learned from the homeless themselves. Every group was given a small amount of money, but to complete their tasks they needed to get more, meaning that they had to learn to panhandle. For most groups, this was a struggle at first; one group in particular didn’t get the hang of it until they were taught by a homeless man. Many, but not all, homeless people are unemployed and often find that the only way they can make the money to feed themselves is to rely on the generosity of others.

Students were told that while a panhandler’s moneymaking story may not always be true, his or her need almost definitely is. The amount of money a homeless person makes in a day can determine whether or not they will eat that night, or if they will sleep in a shelter or on the street for the next week. Life on the street is something of a balancing act, and deciding which needs are greatest, which shelters are the most secure and even which street corner to panhandle on affect a person’s safety and, in the long term, his or her ability to get out of homelessness.

PHIL DIDION | PHOTO EDITORA group of 10 students got a glimpse of what it’s like to be homeless in Cincinnati as part of a class project.

Students analyze homelessness from first-hand experience

CITY GOSPEL MISSION

130,000

28,000

12,000

9,200

2,500

Number of meals served by City Gospel Mission every year

Number of nights of safe shelter provided by City Gospel

Mission annually

Youths served by the center each year

Adults served by the center each year

City Gospel Mission volunteers

PROVIDED Masterful musician Boris Slutsky demanded attention in the Robert J. Werner Recital Hall Friday. The only sounds were those of his piano as he performed an extensive repertoire of works by Mozart, Schumann and Chopin.

Pianist sets impressive tone during CCM performance

*Stats according to City Gospel Mission, 2014

6 / SPORTSMONDAY, FEB. 10, 2014 / NEWSRECORD.ORG

Mustangs trample Bearcats’ 15-game win streak

UC fails to overcome ‘Moody Madness’ as offense falters in first AAC lossJOSHUA MILLER SPORTS EDITOR

Nearly two months removed from their last loss, the No. 7 University of Cincinnati Bearcats have had an ever-growing target on their backs for some time now.

Saturday night, an up-and-coming program in search of its biggest win in two decades hit the target head on.

In a game that played out in an eerily similar fashion to UC’s last loss — a 64-47 setback against cross-town rival Xavier University Dec. 14 — Southern Methodist University (19-5, 8-3 AAC) capitalized on a myriad of UC (22-3, 11-1 AAC) turnovers and a hot shooting night. SMU coasted to a comfortable 76-55 victory before a raucous 7,278 fans at Moody Coliseum in Dallas, Texas.

Titus Rubles gave UC a 2-0 lead with a short jumper in the lane exactly 1 minute and 30 seconds into the game. After SMU’s Shawn Williams tied the game moments later, the Bearcats never led again.

“They out played us in every facet of the game, period,” said UC head coach Mick Cronin. “They were the more physical team and we didn’t meet the challenge. I was expecting them to play great and they played great, we did not.”

UC struggled in every facet of the game and never found any sort of offensive rhythm against the Mustangs stifling defense, which currently ranks second in the nation in field goal percentage defense (36.8 percent). UC shot 35.4 percent for the game and struggled even more from 3-point range, connecting on just 4-of-24 (16.7 percent), their worst performance of the season.

Although he finished with a game-high 22 points, American Athletic Conference leading scorer Sean Kilpatrick seemingly tried to bare too much of the load for UC’s struggling offense.

Kilpatrick, who surpassed Keith Gregor for the school record for consecutive games played (131), finished the game 5-of-18 from the floor and was 3-of-12 from 3-point range.

“He did not play well and he would be the first guy to tell you that,” Cronin said. “But he’s carried us all year. He’s a great player and I’m lucky to have him on my team.”

After Kilpatrick’s first 3-pointer of the night tied the game at 7-7, Nic Moore connected on four straight free throws and the game effectively never felt close again.

The Mustangs went on a 9-0 run to take 22-12 lead with 5 minutes and 25 seconds remaining in the first half, while the Bearcats went more than five minutes without scoring before Kilpatrick eventually knocked down another 3-pointer.

UC briefly cut SMU’s lead back to seven points but the Mustangs finished the half on a 10-3 run. As Keith Frazier drained a contested 3-pointer just before the halftime buzzer to push the Mustangs’ advantage to 38-24, it became clear that it was not to be the Bearcats’ night.

With both Justin Jackson and Jermaine Lawrence in early foul trouble, SMU notched 14 of its 38 first half points in the paint.

The Mustangs outscored UC 34-18 in the paint on

the night, and advantage UC knew coming in that they couldn’t allow.

“Our whole game plan was not to let them get it inside,” Cronin said. “So like I said, we didn’t execute what we were trying to do. They’re a team that needs to get the ball inside, they only have two shooters.”

Things quickly worsened for the Bearcats in the onset of the second half, as their 14-point deficit increased to 18 in less than two minutes of play.

SMU led by more than 15 for the majority of the second half, but UC cut the lead down to just seven points (48-41) after Titus Rubles finished off an 8-0 run with a steal and a pair of layups.

UC had the chance to cut the lead even further, but couldn’t capitalize after an uncharacteristic error in the Bearcats usually relentless full-court press. It summed up UC’s entire game.

“We had [Markus Kennedy] trapped in the corner who ways 270 pounds and somehow he twinkle-toed his way through the trap,” Cronin said. “But again, that’s because he was tough and my two guys in the trap were not. That’s the story of the whole game, they made every tough play that needed to be made.”

After breaking trough UC’s press, Kennedy dished to Nick Russell for an easy layup and the SMU route was back on. With Russell and Moore leading the way, and UC turning the ball over on consecutive possessions, SMU went on an 11-0 run to take a 59-41 lead and send Moody Coliseum into frenzy.

“I think we just got rattled,” Cronin said. “We didn’t show poise. When the other team is on a run, you’ve got to make sure you get what you want. There’s a lot that needs to happen to run a play. Somewhere in our chain we kept breaking down.”

Russell and Moore each finished the game with 15 points, as the Mustangs more or less celebrated in the final minutes of the game.

With the win, SMU improved to 13-0 at home as several fans stormed the court after the game. The Mustangs hadn’t beaten a top-10 opponent since 1987.

Although the loss snapped UC’s 15-game winning streak and represents the Bearcats first loss of the year in AAC play, Cronin isn’t concerned that it will have any sort of lasting effect on the team.

“I don’t think our guys harbored any illusions of not losing again for the rest of the year. I think it’s important to realize what happened; I think that’s why we went on a winning streak. We realized the last time we lost that the other team was much tougher than us, had the underdog mentality and out fought us. We got out fought tonight.”

PHIL DIDION PHOTO EDITORUniversity of Cincinnati senior forward Justin Jackson slams home a dunk against UConn earlier this season.

Bearcats finalize 2013 football recruiting class

Bearcats drop fourth game in row as season slips further awayPATRICK LAAKE STAFF REPORTER

It will be back to the drawing board for the University of Cincinnati women’s basketball coaching staff after another dismal day for the offense and a 48-39 loss against the Houston Cougars.

Although the Bearcats are still in eighth place in the American conference, with a record of 9-14 overall and 2-10 in conference, they allowed the worst team in league with an 11-game losing streak to shut their entire offense down.

Right away it was apparent Cincinnati was going to struggle. The Bearcats missed their first four shots and didn’t score until the 15-minute mark of the first half. Houston, who had yet to win a game in the American conference,

started the game out on a 19-4 run. “I thought we started really flat,” said

UC head coach Jamelle Elliott. “They did a good job of keeping on Jeanise [Randolph] to start the game, double teaming her and denying her the ball so she wasn’t able to get her early paint touches that we normally get her and she got into foul trouble.”

Randolph went one for three in the first half with two points and four rebounds. With Houston shutting down Randolph, Cincinnati guard Bianca Quisenberry had to step up if the Bearcats were going to have a shot. But Quisenberry finished the half 1-for-6 from the field and scored just two points.

For the Bearcats, halftime couldn’t come fast enough. Neither team was able to score in the last two minutes and Houston led 26-12 at the half.

Cincinnati came out a little better in the second half. Within the first seven

minutes the Houston lead was cut to just 10. Both teams had problems getting the ball in the basket throughout the game but Houston scored just enough to hold off the Bearcats.

“We couldn’t get it over the hump, we got it to seven points I think a couple times and we had the ball,” Elliott said. “Sometimes you just need that one thing to get you going, a charge or 3-point play, or a defense stop but we just weren’t able to get that done today.”

Since the announcement that senior guard and leading scorer Dayeesha Hollins was out for the season, the Bearcats have gone 1-5 and have only scored more than 50 points once. The minute the announcement was made, every Bearcat fan was left wondering who would pick up the slack and lead the team. So far, no one has risen to the occasion.

The Bearcats have seen their once

promising season plummet. The 39-point final score is the third-lowest scoring output of the season, the other two came against No.1 Connecticut. They are 2-10 in their last 12 and don’t see an end to the struggles in sight. Without Hollins, the Bearcats do not have legitimate scorer.

In their next game the Bearcats take on the Memphis Tigers who currently sit seventh in the conference, with an 11-12 overall record. After a loss like this, the Bearcats could be looking at a similar situation against Memphis.

“As a coach we are going to continue to play our guys, we have an off day tomorrow we have practice on Monday and Tuesday and we play on Wednesday,” Elliot said. “Memphis is a really tough team they beat Rutgers in overtime early on in conference play. They are just as athletic as Houston.”

UC women continue to struggle without Hollins

Tuberville adds 28 players, including 10 linemen, to UC’s roster after first full year of recruitingPATRICK LAAKE STAFF REPORTER

On Jan. 6, the Florida State Seminoles claimed the title of national champions and were atop the college football world. For most football fans, it represented the end of the season, but for coaches and recruiters across the country, the season still had one month to go. National Signing Day often controls who lifts the crystal ball each January.

The University of Cincinnati coaching staff was glued to the fax machine Wednesday morning, National Signing Day, waiting and hoping for letters of intent from prospective student athletes to come through. As the day went on, 28 letters filed through from all over the country.

Jarred Evans (Queens, N.Y./West High/Santa Barbara CC) highlights the four members of the class that are already on campus at UC. Evans is a junior college transfer and might make an immediate impact for the Bearcats. Evans threw for more than 1,500 yards and ran for 440 this past season.

“Evans is a guy I have had my eye on for over a year. He reminds me a lot of Munchie [Legaux],” said head coach Tommy Tuberville. “[Gunner Kiel] will feel a little pressure from Evans.”

The surprise of the day came in from Norcross, Ga., when four-star prospect Kevin Mouhon switched his commitment from Tennessee to the Bearcats. Mouhon is one of the best linebackers in the nation and seemed

set on a SEC school. But Cincinnati had one edge over Tennessee, Kevin’s brother and starting defensive lineman Silverberry Mouhon.

“Silverberry was probably our better recruiter,” Tuberville said. “I think family won out in this one. He is going to be an exciting player here for the Bearcats.”

Most of the guys on this year’s list were all about speed. Speed is a must have on every football team and Tuberville knows that and preaches it to his recruiters.

“If you don’t have speed on your football team, you’re not going to win,” he said.

Cincinnati dipped into the Ohio pool this year for nine of their prospects. In the past, it has been tough to recruit in Ohio since the Buckeyes usually grab all the real talent and leave the rest for the other Ohio schools.

Highlighting the Ohio signees is Tyrell Gilbert (Cincinnati/Princeton). Gilbert is the only prospect from Cincinnati to sign with the Bearcats and was one of the top prospects in the state. The others from Ohio include Ja’Merez Bowen (Shaker Heights), Odell Spencer (Shaker Heights), Luke Callahan (Powell), Landon Brazile (Dayton), J.J. Pinckney (Sylvania), Ryan Stout (Sylvania), Jeff Duncan (Kettering) and Isaac Little (Bluffton).

Most incoming recruits don’t make an immediate impact but UC has some that will be playing next season.

Jarred Evans is one along with Marcus Tappan (Pasadena, Calif./La Salle/Glendale College), Hakeem Allonce (Greenbelt, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt/Pierce College (LA) and Casey Gladney (Columbia, S.C./Columbia/Copiah Lincoln CC).

Gladney will bring more depth at the wide receiver

position, which is already extremely talented, while Allonce is a player Tuberville expects to play immediately on the defensive line.

In the past year, Cincinnati’s defensive line frequently showed an inability to stop the run or pass with only a four-man rush. Allonce is 6 feet 5 inches, 290 pounds and can clog up the middle of the line. He should help the defensive numbers immediately. Cincinnati signed 10 linemen, seven defensive and three offensive. With immense depth at those positions, the Bearcats can get more rest and be more effective when they do play.

Marcus Tappan recorded 56 tackles last year in junior college, along with four interceptions. With defensive leader Greg Blair graduating, Tappan and Mouhon could both see significant time at linebacker next season.

Hakeem AllonceMike BooneJa’Merez BowenLandon BrazileCortez BroughtonLuke CallahanJeff DuncanJared EvansChris Ferguson Kimoni FitzCasey GladneyTyler HillCarter JacobsJohn KurtzFrank LabadyIssac LittleKeith MinorHayden MooreKevin MouhonJJ PinckneyOdell SpencerLinden StephensRyan StoutMarcus TappenAlex ThomasDavon WitherspoonLuke Wright

DTRBDTDEDTOLOLQBDTDEWRLSDBOLWRLBDTQBLBCBCBCBOLLBCBATHQB

Greebelt, Md./Pierce College (LA)Glen Saint Mary, Fla./Baker CountyShaker Heights, Oh./Shaker HeightsDayton, Oh./Thurgood MarshallWarner Robins, Ga./VeteransPowell, Oh./Olentangy LibertyKettering, Oh./Fairmont Queens, N.Y./Santa Barbara CCOrlando, Fla./Lake NonaRinggold, Va./Dan RiverColumbia S.C./Copiah Lincoln CCBuffalo, N.Y./St. Joseph CollegiateFort Lauderdale Fla../HeritageLouisville, Ky./St. XavierHialeah, Fla./Champagnat CatholicBluffton, Oh./BlufftonTyler, Texas/Chapel HillClay, Ala./Clay-ChalkvilleNorcross, Ga./NorcrossSylvania, Oh./Slyvania SoutviewShaker Heights, Oh./Shaker HeightsEuclid, Oh./Fork Union Military Sylvania, Oh./ Sylvania SouthviewPasadena, Calif./Glendale CollegeHollywood, Fla./Chaminade MadonnaMiami, Fla./McArthurAtlanta, Ga./Holy Innocents’ Episcopal

NAME POS. HOMETOWN/LAST SCHOOL 2014 UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI RECRUITING CLASS

FILE ARTUniversity of Cincinnati head football coach Tommy Tuberville speaks to the media on national signing day.