DAVID WATKINS | STAFF REPORTER

More than 40 University of Cincinnati political

science students gathered Tuesday evening at Mick & Mack’s to watch

midterm election coverage, discuss the

college student’s crucial role in elections, and theorize about the future of politics in the United States.

“The issue I’m focusing on is economy and jobs,” said Joe Deye, a third-year communications and political science student. “Coming out of school … I want to know that whether I go to school for two more years after undergrad or whether I jump right into the job market, I want jobs to be there. I’m really focused on the economy.”

With republicans gaining control of the U.S. Senate, some students are wondering how the GOP will work with President Barack Obama on issues like the job market for graduating students and student loan debt.

“Those are all big things that I hope get focused on for students,” Deye said.

While other UC students sympathized with Deye, Sam Fraley — a fourth-year criminal justice and political science student — focused on an issue that hits closer to home for him.

“Student loans, the economy, and job

market are crucial issues, but for me personally, I’m a Hamilton County resident and I think Issue 8 is a very big issue and I think people need to vote ‘yes’ for that,” Fraley said.

Issue 8 was passed Tuesday night with 61.4 percent of the vote. The tax levy, lasting for five years, will earn money for the restoration of Union Terminal beginning in 2015. The project will refurbish damaged areas of the museum, a local historical monument that has received national recognition for its architecture and impact.

When issues like Union Terminal hit the ballot, the need for student voters showing up on Election Day rises.

“Unfortunately, the college age demographic doesn’t vote in large numbers. So when you’re looking at where you spend your dollars on a campaign, because [college students] don’t vote, you don’t usually get that kind of attention,” said Dr. Richard Harknett, head of UC’s political science department. “That is another reason to vote. If you want politicians to take you seriously, you have to show up at the polls.”

Lindsay Scribner, a second-year political science student, said she believes the lack of attention politicians give to students during the midterm elections is related to a lack of knowledge students have of the candidates and issues.

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FREE • ADDITIONAL COPIES $1

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UNION TERMINAL LEVY PASSES

2014 MIDTERM ELECTION ISSUE

44.12%of Hamilton County registered voters turned out for the midterm elections

YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS

CECIL THOMASOHIO STATE SENATOR

OHIO GOVERNOR

JOHN KASICH

ISSUE

1 CINCINNATI CITY SCHOOLS TAX LEVY

PASSEDISSUE

8The tax increase will

cost residents

$23per year.

The tax increase will end in

five years.

The tax will generate

$172 million.

BECKY BUTTS | ONLINE EDITOR

With a more than 30 percent lead, Ohio voters gave incumbent GOP Gov. John Kasich the victory over Democratic

challenger Edward FitzGerald Tuesday night. As election results rolled

in, Ohioans saw a recurring trend — republicans are taking over Ohio seats. With most precincts fully reported, constituents voted in Mike DeWine (R) for Attorney General, Jon Husted (R) for Secretary of State, Dave Yost (R) for Auditor of State and Josh Mandel (R) for Treasurer of State.

“We’re only at half time here in Ohio, and let me tell you that all of us, all of our team, we are going to do our best, and yes, we are going to have failures and we are going to have fights … but we will build a strong Ohio,” Kasich said during his victory speech in Columbus.

Throughout his speech, Kasich expressed high hopes for the future of Ohio.

“I think with this tremendous win we are having tonight all across Ohio … there is a signal being sent that we can face our challenges,” Kasich said. “Nothing good is ever lost. Over the next few years we need to reclaim our communities, reclaim our schools.”

John Kasich defeats Democratic challenger, wins second term

Students discuss importance of young voters to midterm election

PROVIDED

This will be Gov. John Kasich’s second term as Ohio’s governor.

PATRICK MURPHY | STAFF REPORTER

Champagne and cheers shot off at Union Terminal as supporters and donators gathered to celebrate the passage of Issue 8, which sought to increase the Hamilton County sales

tax from 6.75 percent to 7 percent for the Cincinnati Museum Center’s

renovations. The issue passed with 61.4 percent of the 233,102 votes cast.

According to Francie Hiltz, chairman of the board of trustees at the Cincinnati Museum Center, the repairs needed for the museum include: repairing water damage caused by an ineffectual roof, adding support structures to the rusted steel inside the infrastructure, replacing of all the original wiring from 1930 and installing new heating and cooling systems.

“The money will only be used for restorations,” Hiltz said. “Once we get all of these things fixed, this building

will be restored for another 50 to 75 years.”The complete cost for the renovation is $208,212,000.

Fifty-three percent of that cost will come from the five-year tax levy passed in Issue 8. The other 47 percent will come from donations, historic tax credits and capital grants.

The Board of Trustees began its mission by approaching Douglass McDonald, former CEO of Proctor & Gamble, to create the Cultural Facilities Task Force — consisting of 17 community leaders, engineers, architects and building corporations.

Bernadette Watson, member of the Cultural Facilities Task Force who appeared on radio commercials advocating for Issue 8, said the restoration is not only essential for the Greater Cincinnati area, but in providing opportunities for individuals.

“We have to preserve our history. In the 50s, when I used to be down here, this was one of the few places

Total votesfor the levy

143,130votes.

STEVE CHABOTU.S. REPRESENTATIVE

DENISE DRIEHAUSOHIO STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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MADISON SCHMIDT | PHOTO EDITOR

James Burns, manager of the Omnimax theatre, celebrates the levy’s victory for the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal.

SECRETARY OF STATE

JOHN HUSTED

ISSUE

6 FAMILY SERVICES TAX LEVY

PASSED

ISSUE

7 HEALTH & HOSPITALTAX LEVY

PASSED

ATTORNEY GENERAL

MIKE DEWINE

SEE GOVERNOR PG 3

2 / ARTSWEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014 / NEWSRECORD.ORG

KRANTHI PAMARTHI | STAFF REPORTER

“Safe House” might be dear to the residents of the city of Cincinnati, as it’s the creation of homegrown playwright Keith Josef Adkins.

The play, set in the Northern Kentucky region in 1843, is a riveting narrative about oppression, family and betrayal, as family relationships grow tense between two black brothers who were born free men in a pre-Civil War era.

“Safe House,” directed by Timothy Douglas, has its world premiere production continuing Oct. 18 through Nov. 15 at Cincinnati Playhouse in the

Park, located in Mount Adams.Addison Pedigrew, a gifted cobbler, is

the elder brother of the family. Played by LeRoy McClain, Addison is handsome, ambitious and controlling.

Frank Pedigree, played by Shane Taylor, is a more spirited young man who constantly threatens the family status of the Pedigrew’s in those troubled times by helping slaves to freedom.

Dorcas, played by Stephanie Berry, is the aunt of the brothers who is more like a mother to both of them.

Ever since the Pedigrew family was caught trying to help a slave escape to Liberia, the sheriff has put stringent

restrictions on the family. This made Frank more and more

resentful because, even though they were born free, they are still treated as slaves.

The story builds up around the fascinating journey of a free black family as the two brothers engage in a conflict that questions moral standards as the play progresses.

Set designer Tony Cisek did an exceptional job in designing a set that looks both real and picturesque on the stage, like a small cabin in the woods. Even minute details, like the pattern of a wooden floor, are given great thought.

This set, combined with stark lighting

designed by Michael Gilliam and sound scores of Vincent Olivieri, has successfully integrated liveliness in the play’s historical setting and its surroundings.

Each brother has his own way of securing the future of the family.

In a society that prohibits blacks from owning or renting land, voting or holding office, Addison dreams about starting a shoe store right at home.

McClain captures lengthy scenes and poetic dialogues in his own flair.

His change of emotions and feelings as he turns from a caring brother to someone capable of profound betrayal grows with him as the story reaches its climax.

Taylor plays the part of the high-spirited but not-so-intelligent character Frank, portraying high energy and compelling empathy.

Berry excels in the matriarchal role by setting an example, but is constantly overshadowed by different opinions.

She is lost in an internal conflict — should she take a moral stand or secure the family status?

Wilbur Edwin Henry takes on the role of sheriff Bracken, a troubled man haunted by his past.

Similarly, Deonna Bouye plays the role of Clarissa, who is loved by both the brothers and is one of the sources of conflict between them.

The betrayal unravels in the second act, as the entire story collapses around the escaping slave who takes refuge with the Pedigrew’s without Addison’s knowledge.

The lighting effects of the final conversation between the brothers near the streak are particularly beautiful.

The light and sound effects have taken the script of “Safe House” to new heights.

The play isn’t particularly about slavery, but about the widespread oppression of people based on their skin color in an era not too long ago.

‘Safe House’ captivates onstage with unique premise

PROVIDED/CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK

The drama “Safe House” focuses on a free family in Northern Kentucky as they navigate a pre-Civil War world that oppresses them.

ArtWorks teams with Metro for citywide exhibit, ‘Touching Strangers’MACKENZIE BOWER | CONTRIBUTOR

Cincinnati Metro recently partnered with ArtWorks, a local nonprofit organization, to remind Cincinnatians to take a moment and acknowledge, maybe even get to know, the strangers they pass on the street every day, hoping it may lead to a stronger and more enriched community.

ArtWorks serves Cincinnati by empowering local youth to transform the community through public art and other projects, like its recent collaboration with acclaimed New York photographer Richard Renaldi on an extension of his internationally recognized “Touching Strangers” project.

In “Touching Strangers,” Renaldi asks complete and diverse strangers to pose with each other intimately in front of a camera, resulting in powerful photographs that remind us that we are all part of a greater community.

Renaldi traveled to Cincinnati and devoted two weeks of summer to work with two talented local professionals and four local high school ArtWorks apprentices, who interviewed alongside 300 other students.

“ArtWorks places a priority on the diversity of project teams,” said David Heyburn, public art manager at ArtWorks. “So the students were of different genders, races, ages, socioeconomic background and levels of previous skill.”

The results were 20 moving photographs of Cincinnati strangers from Renaldi and eight from the local team that were displayed in this year’s biannual FotoFocus lens-based art exhibition, and are now displayed on transit cards, a vinyl

bus wrap, and in countless bus shelters in the city.

“It was an interesting thing to realize that Richard was basically done with this project,” Heyburn said. “He started it in 2006, but it was getting a lot of press and he got a lot of requests to do projects with different people.

“He turned them down because they weren’t getting the intent of the project, but he accepted the project with ArtWorks. The project took a new life for him with our unique iteration.”

For Cincinnati Metro Public Affairs Manager Jill Dunne, it seems only appropriate that the “Touching Strangers” photographs should be displayed in bus shelters. “Public transit brings people together who might have never met

otherwise,” Dunne said.Dunne’s favorite photograph was one

that Renaldi took from the back of two people on a bus.

“It is a really neat photo. You can tell they were comfortable with each other even though they were complete strangers,” Dunne said.

Cincinnati Metro has worked with ArtWorks before, and they have gotten lots of positive feedback from the community for the large, striking photographs that are beautifying shelter spaces, and hopes to work with them on more projects in the future.

“Infusing art into public spaces in meaningful ways can create emotional connectivity to that place,” Heyburn said.

Heyburn also pointed out that he

hopes the work that ArtWorks does helps make the citizens of Cincinnati feel more attached to their community, and that the “Touching Strangers” project sparks a sense of compassion for people.

“[This project] created curiosity and intrigue in spaces that would previously otherwise have just been passed by,” said Heyburn.

“Hopefully it builds a sense of potential in the community that although we may be strangers, we have the ability to embrace and love each other.”

Public art project sparks compassion

Review: Neil Young’s ‘Storytone’ falls flatZACK HATFIELD | ARTS EDITOR

You never really know what you’re going to get with a new Neil Young album.

The Canadian folk hero has a musical life that could only be called prolific. During his 35 albums, he’s perfected acoustic balladry with subtle masterpieces like 1972’s “Harvest” and 1970’s “After the Gold Rush,” served as midwife to the ’90s grunge movement with 1989’s “Freedom” and 1990’s “Ragged Glory,” and has put out a wide range of albums genre-wise, from roadhouse blues to electronica to soul. In this century we’ve seen Young shift into a more politically active role, using his music to serve on the frontlines against oil corporations, politicians and war.

His latest album, “Storytone,” sees him playing either with a full string orchestra or a big band setup, the songs ranging in material from nostalgic love (“I’m Glad I Found You”) to quiet anthems about saving the world’s natural resources (“Who’s Gonna Stand Up”). Overall, the aesthetic proves saccharine and more akin to releases like 2005’s “Prairie Wind” and 1985’s “Old Ways,” but with a layer of lushness and pristine sparkle that sets it apart.

The album’s texture is noticeably different from others in Young’s body of work. Soft, nuanced string arrangements evoke a pastoral soundscape, Young’s voice aged and straining to reach the right notes. It’s a striking change from “A Letter Home,” the Jack White-produced album he released this April that revolved around acoustic songs that crackled like well-worn vinyl. “Storytone” is an apt name, its contents more like a carefully sculpted Disney fairytale soundtrack than the tender confessions and insight that earned Young his legendary reputation. Unfortunately, many of Young’s recent releases can’t escape sentimentality, and this album is no exception. Take “Glimmer” for example, which features a sweeping harp and swelling violins as Young sings in his emotional tenor, “Tough love can leave you almost alone/But new love brings back everything to you/All the feelings in your heart come reawakened.”

We know from albums like 1980’s rustic and minimal “Hawks & Doves” that Young knows how to write both beautiful and interesting lyrics against a softer backdrop of music — so why does “Storytone” fall flat? Maybe it’s the overproduction, the refusal to let any real flaws register throughout the 10 tracks on the album. Even though the album’s lyrics display an honorable amount of honesty and truth, they recall a hastily written love letter to the general world rather than the intimate observations found in his earlier catalog.

In a way, Young is growing both lazier and more ambitious with age. His releases within the last 10 years find him in challenging and new arenas of art and music, but the songs just aren’t delivering like they did when Young stuck to what he knew best.Some highlights ironically live in the deluxe edition, where the songs on the album are stripped of the orchestra and just feature Young by himself and a single instrument. Here, the vulnerability of Young’s frail voice can be savored the way it was supposed to, and proves the decision to include a full orchestra confusing.

In “Today I paint my masterpiece,” Young sings on “While I Watch You Sleeping,” adding “Tonight I trace my tears/Thinkin’ through the road I took to you/And where I stumbled through the years.” While “Storytone” isn’t Young’s masterpiece, he’s already created several since his first solo album in 1968. The deluxe version of “Tumbleweed,” which sees Young plucking poignant chords on a ukulele and singing in a whisper, serves as reminder that Young still has moments of beauty to offer, and that he might still one day make another masterpiece.

PROVIDED/CINCINNATI METRO

New York photographer Richard Renaldi focused his project on taking portraits of two strangers posing together as if they knew each other. The result captures the poignancy of our missed connections with those we pass everday. The photos are on display on Metro bus shelters throughout the city.

“Infusing art into public spaces in meaningful ways can create emotional connectivity to that place.”

David Heyburn, Public Art Manager, ArtWorks

PROVIDED/CINCINNATI METRO

Two strangers embrace as part of the project, which was part of 2014’s biennial FotoFocus.

NEWS / 3 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014 / NEWSRECORD.ORG

 

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Sessions  begin  at  7:00  p.m.    Refreshments  served  at  6:30.  

 

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Elizabeth DePompei

MANAGING EDITOR

Becky Butts

NEWS EDITOR

Natalie Coleman

NEWS EDITOR

Katie Coburn

PHOTO EDITOR

Madison Schmidt

SPORTS EDITOR

Ellen Hadley

COLLEGE LIFE EDITOR

Emily Begley

ARTS EDITOR

Zack Hatfield

DIGITAL EDITOR

Courtney Stanley

CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

Lauren Kremer

CHIEF REPORTER

Cassie Merino

LEAD DESIGNER

Hannah Sellers

BUSINESS MANAGER

Celie Shaffer

FROM UNION TERMINAL PG 1

MADISON SCHMIDT | PHOTO EDITOR

Richard Duval, president of Cincinnati Preservation, and his wife Kit hold a cutout of Union Terminal during the post-election party at the Museum Center.

GOP secures majority in Ohio midtermsThe Republican Party swept the polls

nationwide in Tuesday’s Senate elections, gaining at least seven seats and losing zero,

whereas the Democrats lost seven and gained

zero, according to politico.com at 12:30 a.m. Wednesday. The GOP now holds the majority in the Senate with 52 seats.

“It’s a really Republican night, a very, very Republican night on all fronts around the country,” said Fred Kundrata, a District 1 Democrat who ran for a seat in U.S. House of Representatives. “So, tonight the Democrats just didn’t get to the polls like they probably should have. We have strong Democrat voters, but they just didn’t show up at the polls. Republicans went to the polls today — a lot of that was anti-President Obama.”

Kundrata ran against Republican challenger and incumbent Steve Chabot. Kundrata said he wanted to increase University of Cincinnati students’ involvement in Congress and hear how they

think government can bring more jobs to Cincinnati.

“You are our future jobs and future leaders, and it is my duty to provide a foundation for you guys,” Kundrata said.

Chabot said one of his biggest concerns regarding UC students is college debt, something he said students should not have to worry about upon graduating. Chabot is trying to minimize college debt by implementing strict boundaries on how universities will be reimbursed.

“We have to control state universities because we fund them,” Chabot said. “One of the things we’ve changed in this last decade is we have universities who get reimbursed based on the percentage of students who graduate.”

Chabot said unemployment is still a weakness of Cincinnati’s economy even though its percentage has decreased on a national level.

“About 70 percent of the jobs that are created today in this country are created by small businesses, not by large corporations,” Chabot said. “I think the business community — and private individuals as well — are over taxed in this country. For example, we have the highest corporate tax rate in the United States than in any other industrial country in the entire world.”

Chabot said it is important to not only lower taxes, but also decrease time-consuming regulations that small businesses are required to deal with, because they distract the businesses from performing functions.

“Steve is one of the most dependable, honest forthright people,” said Ohio Rep. Lou Terhar, who was reelected in District 30 and has known Chabot for more than 20 years. “If Steve says he’s going to do something, whether it hurts him politically or not, if he thinks it is right he’ll do it.”

Sammy Sohl, a third-year political science and criminal justice student, said she liked how Kundrata maintained moderate stances on both sides of the political spectrum. Sohl served as one of Kundrata’s student interns.

Kundrata lost to Chabot, winning 56,861 (41.97 percent) votes of the 135,474 votes

cast compared to Chabot’s 76,613 (58.03 percent) votes.

“I’d like to have won, but everything is a learning experience,” Kundrata said. “I got my name out there; everybody knows me and that I had a good, clean campaign.”

Jonathan Hardy, Kundrata’s campaign manager, said the biggest advantage Chabot had over Kundrata was name recognition.

Kundrata is confident that he will run in the 2016 election on the Democratic ticket for Congress. In the meantime, Kundrata said he will focus on strengthening his relationships with the people he met throughout his campaign, maintain dialogue with community members and continue to keep a close eye on Chabot.

“A lot of people are still getting to know me, but I want to continue being a leader,” Kundrata said. “I’ve learned a lot about the community, and I want to not let that rest.”

Cecil Thomas (D), who was elected State Senator for District 9, said he plans to pump more money for programs that will help flourish student education.

“The foundation and stability of any state is the quality of the students coming out of the education system,” Thomas said. “We need to pour resources into the education system, not take them out.”

Thomas also said he plans to work with other officials on how to improve the working class conditions while in the Senate.

“I have always said from the beginning, some of the things coming out of the Senate are detrimental to the working class, middle class and the working poor … I am going up there to fight for them.”

Thomas hopes to bring a new thought process to the Ohio House.

“I’m bringing a balanced prospective, I’m bringing the ability to work across party lines. I’m bringing the heart to work with as many folks as I can,” he said.

Thomas beat out Charlie Winburn with 47,256 (58.03 percent) votes of 82,972 votes casted compared to Winburn’s 35,716 votes.

Less than half of Hamilton County’s registered voters cast ballots in Tuesday’s midterm elections. Out of 545,134 registered voters, 240,534 ballots were cast, which amounts to 44.12 percent of Hamilton votes.

ELECTION CONTRIBUTORS

CHANDLER BONN

BAILEY DOWLIN

CHRISTINA DROBNEY

RUSSELL HAUSFELD

CASSIE MERINO

ROB MISLEH

PATRICK MURPHY

DAN SULLIVAN

CLAUDE THOMPSON

DAVID WATKINS

DESIGN

HANNAH SELLERS

“I think [voting is] important because it affects [students], but I also think the downfall is [students] don’t know who to vote for because, honestly, a lot of people do not keep up [with politics],” Scribner said.

Harknett said that it is a student’s civic duty to go out and vote for every election.

“That is what democracy is all about,” Harknett said. “Votes matter even if you do not end up electing who you want to elect. It’s your voice in the process and you send signals to Washington. If you give up, then you’re conceding your voice.”

FROM WATCH PARTY PG 1

FROM GOVERNOR PG 1

The Ohio Board of Elections reported that 240,534 total ballots were cast in Hamilton County for Tuesday’s election. With 545,134 registered voters in the county, voter turnout came in at 44.12 percent, down from 2010’s 51.25 percent participation rate.

Kasich is proud of the GOP statewide sweep, and looks for it to reach beyond Ohio’s boarders. As of press time, Republicans took the majority in the U.S. Senate with 52 seats and kept control of the House with 232 seats.

“This is a movement to restore hope in our state,” Kasich said. “And maybe it can even become contagious to restore hope to all of the United States of America.”

ROB MISLEH | CONTRIBUTOR

Steve Chabot, 1st district Congress elect, talks to members of the Republican party Tuesday.

DAN SULLIVAN | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Cecil Thomas discusses his victory over Charlie Winburn for Ohio senator with local news.

DAN SULLIVAN | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Denise Driehaus, newly elected State Representative of Ohio, rallies supporters.

within the Cincinnati district where African-Americans were employed,” Watson said.

Watson said this is also a cornerstone in the education of the children of Cincinnati.

“It really resonates with people because it’s a place for children to be educated and learn. I don’t think people understand the amount of time Cincinnati Public Schools affords for children to experience what the Children’s Museum has to offer,” Watson said.

Issue 8 also had significant help from the National Trust for Historic Preservations, a national nonprofit membership-based organization.

The trust receives a list of 11 endangered historical locations every year to decide on protecting or restoring. This year the Cincinnati Museum Center and Music Hall made that list.

Jennifer Sandy, senior field officer for

the Trust, said that this is the first time that two buildings in the same city have been on the same list.

The organization opened a booth in Fountain Square for the past month putting on concerts, educational booths and lectures.

The booth spoke to over 13,000 people in one month.

“It’s the first time we’ve ever done that in a city where we don’t have an office staff in,” Sandy said.

McDonald declared victory for Issue 8 early in the night, when only 194 precincts out of the 555 had been reported.

“A lot of organizations came together, and it is always the case in community achievements,” McDonald said. “Communities come together as partners and work together to achieve great things; arts and culture, political communities, and tea parties members all came in support of this tax.”

Miss Kuamka 2014 creates ‘I Am a Queen’ with music, speakers, more BRITT FILLMORE | CONTRIBUTOR

A student leader is using her position to bring an event to the University of Cincinnati designed to inspire women to find their inner royalty.

Tiffany Peterson, who currently holds the title of UC’s Miss Kuamka 2014, said she believes that all women are Queens in their own special way.

That is why she has come up with UC’s first annual I Am a Queen event.

The free event includes special guest motivational speakers, live performances from local Cincinnati musicians, honorary awards, giveaways and a grand-finale fashion show.

The fashion show will feature student models and student stylists, as well as apparel and accessories from local boutiques that will be donating their clothes specifically for the event.

Not wanting to get too detailed about who and what specifically will be part of the event, Miss Kuamka 2014 said she would appreciate it if students would attend and simply find out for themselves.

If you would like to know more about the event, take it from the fourth-year marketing student herself. This Q & A with the cultural beauty queen will give you more insight on not only the event, but who she is as an individual.

You currently hold the title of UC’s Miss Kuamka 2014 Queen. Can you explain what it is and what it means to you to hold the title?

Kuamka is Swahili for “in the beginning,” and every year the African American Cultural and Resource Center hosts a pageant to recognize a male and female as the King and Queen of the Black Community. My role as Miss Kuamka is to host events, speak at various engagements, strengthen and unite the black community through my platform: to create programs and initiatives that will empower women on campus and in the community. It is truly an honor to be Miss Kuamka 2014. It means that I have something important to fulfill, having this title is bigger than me and at the end of the day my goal is to motivate and empower other women.

As Miss Kuamka, you are holding an event later this month called #IAMAQUEEN. What can people expect from this event and how can people get information about the event if they are interested in attending?

#IAMAQUEEN is a women’s empowerment event that will recognize women and students on campus and in the community. The event will consist of speakers, performances, a fashion show and more. People can definitely expect to witness an event like no other that will encourage women to embrace their inner sexy, exude confidence, know their history and empower one another while being entertained.

You mentioned there is a fashion show to end the event. What does fashion mean to you, and as a young woman, how does fashion play a role in your life?

Fashion simply means to express your inner self through creative art and clothing; it is about showing your personality and who you are. Fashion plays a role in my life by allowing me to convey who I am and, depending on the fit for the day or occasion, it enables me to feel that extra confidence and my fierce alter ego Carmen shines through.

Do you have any fashion inspirations for your personal style?

My fashion inspirations are of course Beyoncé and then Ciara. I love the versatility in their style and how sexy they make their overall look. These women can wear almost anything and make it look flawless.

Going back to your #IAMAQUEEN event, what inspired you to have such an event? Who does this event benefit?

I had a vision about creating a women’s empowerment movement, therefore, I took action to make this vision come to life. I am very passionate about women empowering and uplifting one another. There is a negative image in the media that is portrayed of our women. People tend to see women displayed in a negative manner, degrading each other when not all women act like that. Therefore, I named the movement IAMAQUEEN to encourage women to affirm the Queens that they are. This event will benefit all women to embrace who they are and it will also benefit men to understand the value of women.

What is your secret on balancing your extracurricular activities as Miss Kuamka 2014 and focusing on your academics simultaneously?

When you are trying to put together a big production and manage your academics, it is not always easy. One of the things that has helped me out is having a committee that come to the rescue when I need help. My Queens definitely take some of the load off of my plate. The next big secret to balancing my activities and academics, that I had to learn, is putting my academics first and utilizing my Queens for help. Keep a planner and keep your priorities first.

Tell the readers something about yourself that you would want them to know, that they may not know about you already.

Well, one thing that people would not know about me unless I told them is that I am the youngest of 14 siblings. And yes, I really have 14 siblings.

What are some long-term goals of yours?

My long-term goals would be to become that virtuous woman and light to other women by encouraging them to be free and be the women they are capable of becoming. After graduation, I aspire to work on the business side of the entertainment industry and I plan to attend graduate school and further my education and to live life to the fullest with a liberated spirit, while traveling the world seeing God’s beauty and becoming a philanthropist.

With the support of sponsors, faculty members, and much help from the University of Cincinnati’s African American Cultural Resource Center, student committee members solely put on the event.

Students have come together to plan out the entire shindig.

From the finale fashion show to the food, even right down to the decorations, students planned everything.

The event is ideal for anyone interested in Cincinnati’s blossoming fashion scene; it is a family-friendly day comprised of free food and entertainment.

The event will take place 3-6 p.m. Nov. 23 in TUC Great Hall.

4 / COLLEGE LIFEWEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014 / NEWSRECORD.ORG

Fashion event to royally empower women

MICHELLE BRANDSTETTER | STAFF REPORTER

Imagine a person. You already know this person: they’re the distant friend-of-a-friend whose every post on Facebook

makes your eyes roll. They’re the YouTube

commenter who forces you to question the education system. Everything they say makes your skin crawl.

Just thinking about them now, you’re building up a little bit of rage.

Everything you think, they think the opposite. You can’t even begin to understand their views on taxes, on marijuana, on same-sex marriage, abortion, any of it. You’re standing in such different places politically that you couldn’t even begin to see eye-to-eye if you tried.

You need to vote, because they’re going to.

When you decide not to vote, you’re deciding your opinion doesn’t matter.

Do you think there’s half a chance that that person we were imagining thinks their opinion doesn’t matter? Do you think they’re loud 364 days out of the year, and then mysteriously quiet on Election Day?

They aren’t. They’re out there, voting. I know what you’re thinking: That their

votes don’t matter. No single person’s vote does anything.

But are you really only imagining one person?

This imaginary person we’ve constructed does not write every YouTube comment. There is more than one Facebook friend who makes your teeth grind. And they all have more friends who “like” those posts.

The opposition is multiplying. “But no single person’s vote does

anything!” I hear you cry, explaining why your vote would be ultimately meaningless compared to the multiplying opposition.

The falsehood is in assuming that you stand alone in your views. You do not.

For every loud, obnoxious person on Facebook, there are dozens of quiet moderates. If every one of them votes, the odds are pretty high that a lot of them are going to agree with you.

Maybe your cause will win, and maybe it won’t.

At least you’ll know you had an impact. The voting system works if we all use it.

A country cannot represent the views of people who won’t share them. If you don’t share your views, you’re leaving it to the people that will. Think about the people that will.

Their Facebook posts probably won’t make a difference, but their votes will.

Opinion: While you’re not voting, opponents are

8 p.m. Thursday, Friday; 2 p.m., 8 p.m. Saturday

2 p.m.Studio Drama Series: “Speech and Debate”

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Global Health and Poverty RoundtableTaft Research Center

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Tiffany Peterson, Miss Kuamka 2014, created the upcoming I Am a Queen event.

SPORTS / 5 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014 / NEWSRECORD.ORG

The University of Cincinnati basketball season officially tipped off during the Bearcats’ first exhibition game Monday night against the Bellarmine University Knights. The Bearcats won the game 86-79 but it was not an easy win for the home team by any means.

The Knights started off the game fast and strong in the first half, not missing a shot until there was 13:08 left in the half — when the team had a 21-17 lead. The Knights offense moved the ball quickly and efficiently, having 12 total team first-half assists compared to the Bearcats’ five.

The Bearcats allowed the Knights to shoot nearly 71 percent in the first half. Sophomore forward Josh Derksen’s 13

first half points led Bellarmine. The Knight’s head coach Scott

Davenport is known for his efficient offense.

“He’s the best offensive coach I have ever coached against when it comes to their ball movement, their assists and their player movement,” Cronin said. “They have led the world in field goal percentage, NBA Europe and all of college ball, three out of the last five years.”

Despite the Knights having the lead for most of the first half, the Bearcats were led by redshirt freshman guard Deshaun Morman’s 11 first half points and a buzzer beater three-pointer to end the half in a 46-46 tie.

Opening the second half, the Bearcats looked like a completely different team. During the first 10 minutes they went on a 27-13 run to steal a 73-59 lead from the Knights. UC was led by junior forward Jermaine Sander’s nine second-half points.

Despite an eventual 18 point UC lead in the second half, Bellarmine would not go away. They trimmed that 18 point lead to an 84-79 five point lead with 59 seconds to go in the game. The Bearcats did not allow the Knights to completely come back though after sophomore guard Troy Caupain iced the game by making two clutch free throws with 31 seconds left.

Despite the win, UC did allow Bellarmine to shoot over 56 percent in the game, but Cronin said he believed that defense would be an issue this season with losing top defensive players after last year.

“When you have seven new guys and no returning big guys you have to rebuild your defense,” Cronin said. “Justin Jackson erased a lot of mistakes [last year]. In fact, there were a lot of mistakes that nobody knew were mistakes … the same with Titus Rubles. We had two guys that were two of the best defensive guys I have coached on the same team.”

Senior forward Jermaine Sanders has played on solid defensive teams throughout his career at UC and agreed that the defense did not play up to par on Monday night.

“I think that was one of the worst performances defensively we have had since I have been here,” Sanders said. “We gave up a lot of lay ups and the team was great with their ball movement so that caused a lot of the defensive breakdowns.”

One feel-good story on Monday night was the return of junior forward Octavius Ellis. Ellis played for the Bearcats in 2011 but broke his hand during that November and received a medical hardship for the year, according to gobearcats.com. Ellis then played at Trinity Valley College in Texas for two seasons. Cronin wanted experience on this young team so he and Ellis both agreed for Ellis to return to the

Bearcats this season. “It felt good being back,” Ellis said. “It

is a blessing. It was just like a little kid going to Disney Land for the first time. That is how I feel because I am back in Cincinnati, where I live.”

Ellis finished his first game back with 12 total points and nine rebounds.

The Bearcats had some positives come out of the game on Monday, looking forward to the upcoming season. The Bearcats out-rebounded Bellarmine 28-24, shot 50 percent from the three-point line in the second half and saw 48 bench points — one of the biggest positives the Bearcats could pull from the game.

The Bearcats have one more exhibition game before their first regular season game Nov. 14 against Saint Francis University at 8 p.m. in Fifth Third Arena. Their next exhibition game is Saturday at 2 p.m. against Fairmont State University.

Men’s basketball sees close call in home openerDAVID WYSONG | STAFF REPORTER

DAN SULLIVAN | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Coreontae DeBerry, Cincinnati center (left), presses hard against Bellarmine’s Jake Thelen (right).

The University of Cincinnati women’s volleyball team fell to 5-7 in American Athletic Conference play after losing three sets to one against the Temple University Owls at Fifth Third Arena on Sunday, marking the squad’s fifth straight loss.

The Bearcats started off with a convincing win in the first set with a score of 25-20, led by junior right side hitter Emma Roberson’s four kills. Cincinnati rattled off four straight points to close out the set, energizing the home crowd of 215 as they switched sides preparing for the second set.

The Temple Owls would not take that bad set lying down as they jumped off to a 12-6 lead in the second set and refused to relinquish the lead for the whole set. The Bearcats used a timeout when they were down 8-4, but could not capitalize on the breather and failed to rally as they lost the set, 25-17, and headed into the locker room for the break in order to regroup for the third set. The match was tied at one set a piece.

The third set started off much like the second set ended, as the Owls took a 3-0 start, but the Bearcats roared back to tie the set at four — the first of seven tie-scores in the third set alone. Tied up at 24, the Bearcats could not afford to make any errors, yet Cincinnati senior defensive specialist Jamie Netisingha served the ball into the net to give the Owls a 25-24 lead.

With the dire set point looming for the Owls, a routine spike and kill from Temple senior Jennifer Iacobini was enough for Temple to secure the crucial 2-1 match lead with the 26-24 victory in the third.

The fourth and final set of the match followed a very similar pattern to the third set, as Cincinnati forced 5 tie scores but failed to steal away the set from the Owls. Despite taking five consecutive points to set up a 12-6 lead, the Bearcats began to let the Owls back into the set in large segments.

Temple scored four consecutive points on two separate occasions in the fourth set and regained the lead midway through with a score of 16-15 — which would be the last time the set, and the match, would see Cincinnati threatened. Temple finished off the set with

another kill by Iacobini, assisted by a blocking error from UC sophomore outside hitter Ciara Hill.

“This is the best volleyball we’ve played in the past two or three weeks,” UC head coach Molly Alvey said. “I thought we played a really great game. You know, our side out got us into a little bit of trouble and I think that was the difference between a win and a loss. I thought our execution of the game plan was very good.”

The Bearcats finished the match with 65 points. Junior right side hitter Emma Roberson continued her outstanding performance this season, contributing 12.5 points. Cincinnati also saw strong performances from senior middle blocker and outside hitter Me’Ashah Nicholson with 15 points and from freshman middle blocker Cortnee Bowser who set a new career high for herself with 12 kills and 13.5 points.

Cincinnati falls to 13-9 on the season and tries to return to winning ways on the road against Tulsa Friday at 8 p.m.

Women’s soccer closes fall season

The Bearcats finished the season 10-8-2 (4-5) putting them sixth overall in the American Athletic Conference for the regular season.

The University of Cincinnati women’s soccer team saw the program’s third double-digit winning season in the last 12 years after concluding fall play Sunday.

UC lost 3-2 in the quarterfinals of the AAC tournament to the University of South Florida.

“I wish there was a microwave button to press when you are rebuilding a program,” head coach Neil Stafford said.

Since Stafford took over the program in 2013, the Bearcats have seen steady improvement. The year before Stafford took over the team, the Bearcats had a shot differential of minus 124. With Stafford at the helm this year, the team has a shot differential of plus 147 — one of many improved statistics.

“The players and the rest of my staff could have gotten more out of the season than we did,” Stafford said.

UC was very close to hosting a conference tournament game for the first time since 2008. But with back-to-back loses to conclude the season to USF and the University of Central Florida, the Bearcats had to travel to Tampa Bay, Florida, where they faced off against the number three seeded USF Bulls.

“It was a great team effort,” senior midfielder Megan Cravenor said. “We went down to Florida early to get used to the weather and playing on a grass field. We just tried to stay positive and believe in each other.”

The Bearcats started off the scoring with a goal by Cravenor in the third minute to give the Bearcats the early lead. The lead did not last, however, as the Bulls tied the game just 10 minutes later.

Cravenor claimed the Bearcats’ second goal, kicked off the second half assisting junior forward Danielle Rotheram’s goal in the 63rd minute. However, the Bulls tied the game on an own goal.

With the match looking as if it would go into extra time, USF tacked on a final goal in the 83rd minute by sophomore forward Leticia Skeete. The winning goal was Skeete’s second of the match as well.

“There really was not much we could have done differently,” senior defender Jae Atkinson said. “Sometimes the game just does not go in your favor.”

Atkinson was a bright spot for the Bearcats this year. She has notched 11 assists, which puts her 13th in the nation for assists. She also became the first Bearcat since Sydney Barker in 2010 to receive Capital One Academic All-District honors.

“This is a new beginning for the program,” Atkinson said. “We may have not won any championships this year, but the seniors consider ourselves the start of something new.”

Cravenor, a team captain, recognizes the challenges the seniors had to overcome.

“The seniors on this team have been through a lot of adversity,” Cravenor said.

The seniors saw a change in conferences, a new head coach and a new athletic director all in a span of just two years.

“We know what our expectations are for next year,” Stafford said. “We have a recruiting class coming in that can really add some talent.”

The Bearcats are graduating nine seniors this season, and will be a younger and fresher team next season.

JOEY LAURE | STAFF REPORTER

Volleyball drops to conference foe, 3-1CLAUDE THOMPSON | STAFF REPORTER

MADISON SCHMIDT | PHOTO EDITOR

University of Cincinnati’s Ciara Hill (13), a sophomore outside hitter, bumps the ball during UC’s 3-1 loss to Temple University.

DAN SULLIVAN | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Troy Caupain had 10 points, one rebound and three assists for the night during UC’s win.

MADISON SCHMIDT | PHOTO EDITOR

Jamie Netisingha (2) had four spikes during UC’s loss to the Temple Owls Sunday afternoon.

2 p.m. 7 p.m.M. Basketball

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