Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2018

SG bill requesting benefit hikes fails Being a Cincy basketball fan can be toughpg. 3

pg. 12

pg. 11

Thank you ,Gary Clark!

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3News

DARIUS DUDLEY | STAFF REPORTER

JACOB FISHER | COPY EDITOR

An enactment bill which sought to raise the honorarium of undergraduate student government (SG’s) executive staff was struck down in a 12-12 vote on Wednesday, March 7.

The bill, which required a two-thirds majority to pass, would have increased payment for seven executive members on SG staff. Roles affected would have included the student body president and vice president, speaker of the senate, treasurer, internal and external holdover senators, and the chief justice.

For all seven positions affected, the bill would have granted a 50-swipe meal plan and free parking pass to the executive’s garage of choice. For executives other than president and vice president, both of whom receive free tuition as part of their position, honorarium payment would be increased from 10 percent of in-state tuition to 25 percent, rounded to the nearest dollar.

Proponents of the bill cite the demands of administrative student government roles, saying the balance between school and a job is difficult to maintain. They argue higher honoraria would alleviate some of the executive staff’s financial needs, allowing them to invest more time into their administrative duties.

“This isn’t about getting paid,” said Student Body President Dana Drage, a supporter of the bill. “This is about having the security to not have a job and [still] do what I was elected to do.”

CCM Tribunal Senator Nicole Price echoed Drage’s sentiments during the discussion.

“This allows us to give the people that are administrating student government the opportunity to do more,” Price said. “The more availability people in these positions have, the more they can do for the

students.”External Holdover Senator

Vineela Kunapareddi agreed, citing demanding time commitments.

“These positions take up much more than 15 hours, and we also serve on committees that take up much of [our] time,” Kunapareddi said. “It would be so much easier to invest all [our] time into student government. I had to push my work schedule to night to even attend student organization meetings.”

Those who opposed the bill suggested that such an amendment should be voted on via student referendum, since SG’s budget is ultimately funded by students. Speaker of the Senate Christopher Stone, who holds a position affected by the bill, expressed this sentiment.

“As it stands, [the bill] would increase honoraria by $5,000 — higher than all of our appropriations this year,” he said. “It should be put through a referendum bill. Students ought to have an input as to the value of execs.”

At-Large Senator Sam Mangold-Lenett, also thought it best to put the bill through referendum, rather than put it to a vote before SG’s voting body.

“This should be decided by the general student body since their funds are funding this,” Mangold-Lenett said. “We have a sense of responsibility to the students, and it is irresponsible to spend the money on ourselves when the money can be used better on [them].”

Mangold-Lenett went on to suggest that the $5,000 proposed allotment could instead be allocated “to other initiatives and programs that can help better the student experience, and would help to enhance student experience more than honoraria would.”

However, some of the bill’s proponents said a referendum would not be ideal in deciding the outcome of such a proposal.

“Students won’t truly understand because they have not held this position,” Drage said. “The vast majority of these positions are not glamorous. I did not go home for four months because I was tied here.”

“If you gave students the choice to decide, they would not be educated enough to make this decision,” Price said. “The 5,000 dollars will go back into the students. We push back on the ability to best serve students without it.”

SG bill requesting more benefits struck down

PROVIDED

ACROSS 1 “This __” 5 Actor __ Ikwuakor of “Inhumans” 8 “Spenser: For __”; Robert Urich

series 9 __ Haute, Indiana 12 Farr of “M*A*S*H” 13 Ladd or Tiegs 14 Needless commotions 15 Newsman Huntley 16 Wife to Mickey, Artie and Frank 18 “Last __ Standing” 19 Singer/songwriter Billy __ 20 Make bootees 21 “__, Caesar!”; movie for George

Clooney and Josh Brolin 23 Actor Eisenberg 24 “__ of Tomorrow”; Tom Cruise

film 25 Beaver’s mom 26 Actresses Tracey and Missy 28 Dog on “The Thin Man” 29 Flows back 30 Angry speech 32 Expert accountant, for short 35 Actress West

36 __ dream; unattainable wish 37 Pebbles’ pop 38 “Dr. Jekyll and __” 40 “Men in __” 41 Nimble 42 “__ of Eden”; film for James

Dean and Julie Harris 43 __ person; apiece 44 Colony insects

DOWN 1 “If __ Hammer”; Pete Seeger

song 2 Actor on “The Big Bang Theory” 3 Author Leon __ 4 “We’re off to __ the Wizard...” 5 Fred Mertz’s wife 6 “__ the Press” 7 Make a boo-boo 10 “American Idol” host 11 Lisa Marie’s dad 12 “Space __”; movie for Michael

Jordan 13 Revolutionary Guevara 15 Nat King __ 17 Feasted 19 Lively Irish dances 20 Clark __; Tom Welling’s role on

“Smallville” 22 __ up; tallies 23 “__ Shoot Me!” 25 Kyra Sedgwick’s role on “Ten

Days in the Valley” 26 Ruby or topaz 27 Michelle or Malia 30 “Ghost __”; movie for Nicolas

Cage 31 King Kong, for one 33 Amanda and her family 34 Commercials 36 Role for Jim Nabors 37 Lead role on “The Nanny” 39 Joint closest to the waist 40 Actress Leoni

THE TV CROSSWORD by Jacqueline E. Mathews

Solution to Last Week’s Puzzle

(c) 2018 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

All Rights Reserved.

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News

TYLER KITTS | CONTRIBUTOR

Within the next fifty years, a series of islands in the southwest Pacific — and roughly all 560,000 of its inhabitants — will succumb to the depths of the ocean, according to Dr. Mike Roman, co-founder of Humans of Kiribati.

In his lecture “The Human Faces of Climate Change: The case of Kiribati,” Roman addressed concerns imposed by climate change upon island nations. Held in TUC Cinema on March 7, the talk centered specifically on Kiribati.

Elevated just six feet above sea level, Kiribati is one of the first nations to be labeled as endangered. It is joined by countries including the Marshall Islands, Tokelau, Maldives and Tuvalu — all of which hold the title.

Rising sea levels and a warming climate have caused an increase in the tides and tsunamis in this region over the past half century. The waters are beginning to swallow the islands foot by foot as natives constantly relocate their

houses further inland to evade the fast-approaching ocean. Roman, a University of Pittsburgh graduate, is an

academic advisor at the University of Cincinnati who travels the world raising awareness for these islands. Twenty years ago, he stayed on the island with the Peace Corps, where he and his colleagues taught at local schools and constructed sea walls by hand in blistering ninety-degree tropical heat. Despite their efforts, many of the natives left the island to avoid the rapid effects of climate change on the surrounding environment.

In 2014, a 5,000-acre plot of land on the island of Fiji was bought by Anote Tong, former President of Kiribati from 2003 to 2016, as a place where his people can approach for sanctuary. It’s one of the first-ever refugee camps established to counter the effects of climate change.

As for a permanent solution for Kiribati natives? Roman says relocation is the only viable option.

“[Tong’s] 5,000 acres in Fiji might be the best option — as hard as it is for me to say that,” he said.

Some of the students in attendance simply sought help or background research for a class. First-year environmental studies student Tatum Adrian, for instance, attended the lecture to gauge information for a research paper.

“Climate change isn’t brought up as much [anymore],” said second-year neurobiology student Casey Swoboda, who said she attended the lecture “to have a new perspective on the world and [stay] involved.”

Though UC students may find it difficult to directly impact Kiribati’s impending fate, Roman says involvement is the most important aspect students can pursue.

“Speak up,” he said. “Although Kiribati is the first island to go, it won’t be the last. Our generation needs to speak up on climate change and be active on it. Spreading awareness does a lot.”

Roman also stressed the importance of student involvement in state and local government. To help raise awareness, call upon state representatives and congressmen to raise interest on the issue.

Kiribati: The endangered island that many haven’t heard of

GARY CORONADO | LOS ANGELES TIMES | TNS

A worker picks strawberries in California in a 2017 file image. A new study says California farmers must change some practices ” including what they grow” to continue producing yields that historically have fed people nationwide.

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5News

LAUREN STYCZYNSKI | STAFF REPORTER

ELIZABETH SCHMITT | NEWS EDITOR

Cilantro Vietnamese Bistro, a Vietnamese restaurant formerly located at 235 W. McMillan St. roughly one block from campus, abruptly closed its doors March 11 before announcing its permanent closure in a Facebook post March 12.

The reaction from the bistro’s former patrons was immense, with many quickly taking to Facebook’s comments section to voice their sadness, confusion and concern. The post quickly grew to over 100 Facebook shares and nearly 400 reactions, including likes.

“Cilantro closing came as such a shock,” said third-year environmental sciences student Lindsey Zinno. “It was truly one of the only great vegan-friendly restaurants that

I consistently supported. Their pho was flavorful and bold, and [it] was incomparable to other local Vietnamese joints in Cincinnati.”

Cilantro closed amidst an average 4-star rating on Yelp complemented with many raving reviews. However, 40-year-old owner Simon Verderame ultimately opted to change his business concept to a new restaurant called High Steaks, which will take the place of Cilantro at 235 W. McMillan St.

After selling everything he owned, including his house on the East Coast, Verderame purchased Cilantro through BizBuySell — an online marketplace for businesses — in order to be closer to his son, he said in an interview with The News Record. He purchased the restaurant in April 2017.

At first, Verderame kept

all the same suppliers, ingredients and methods as the previous owner. Though he originally had plans to redecorate and new marketing strategies to attract more customers, Verderame ultimately experienced too many financial losses to justify keeping the restaurant afloat, he explained in a Facebook post.

“I apologize for closing Cilantro so abruptly, but I had no recourse,” he said. “Myself and my incredible staff have been working for weeks in order to bring High Steaks to Clifton Heights.”

Verderame describes his new restaurant as a “casual dining steak restaurant,” stressing his desire to open for brunch. High Steaks will also feature weekday lunch and dinner menus in addition to brunch. One of their featured courses includes culotte steak

served with a béarnaise steak sauce, fresh cut fries and a salad for 15 dollars. The restaurant will also offer seconds of the same portions for 8 dollars.

“I wanted to create a hybrid experience with high-end food on a budget that offers a unique experience and the possibility for different events,” Verderame said.

He also hopes to retain the same clientele and aims to offer a different variety of food. His decision to shift direction stemmed from the takeout crowd Cilantro catered to and the competition it faced, saying he wanted to utilize dining space in the restaurant more often.

High Steak will be open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays, 10:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Saturdays and 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Sundays.

Verderame said that businesses don’t usually change their concepts if they are performing well. Though he is disappointed

Cilantro had to close, Verderame said he expects that High Steak will fit well in Clifton.

ELIZABETH SCHMITT | NEWS EDITOR

NASA will launch a satellite produced by CubeCats — a student aerospace organization at the University of Cincinnati — as early as next year, the agency announced March 2.

LEOPARDSat-1 — the Low Earth Orbit Platform for Aerospace Research and Development — is a small research satellite, or “CubeSat,” developed by the CubeCats organization. The mission will “teach in-depth space mission and systems engineering to undergraduate and high school students,” according to the NASA website.

The LEOPARD satellite studies radiation mitigation. It should help NASA and aerospace researchers develop space suits and instruments that can withstand massive amounts of radiation, in hopes of one day enabling humans to travel to Mars.

“We are trying to learn how effective carbon composite materials are,” said Reeve Lambert, CubeSat program manager and a fourth-year mechanical engineering student. “Right now, we have six different sensors testing different thicknesses and designs of the material on top of a radiation sensor, so we can see how protective they are.”

The club also aims to make radiation protection technology more economical. Compared to other NASA satellites, which

Lambert says can cost hundreds of millions of dollars, CubeCats’ satellite will cost roughly $25,000.

The organization does not yet know when LEOPARD will be launched; however, the satellite will be used on a mission sometime between 2019 and 2021, according to NASA.

There remain multiple review steps the club must endure before creating the final version of LEOPARD. For now, though, they are full steam ahead.

Currently, the organization is in “critical design review,” meaning they have sent their computer-generated design to NASA and explained how the subsystems will operate. Since NASA approved their design, CubeCats can now begin creating simulations and testing prototypes —most of which will happen right here in Cincinnati, Lambert said.

“It’s an iterative process,” said Lambert, explaining that much of the project will involve trial-and-error. The organization will be redesigning and testing the CubeSat to ensure the radiation sensors, communication systems and other components function smoothly.

“If one thing changes, it affects the rest of the satellite,” Lambert said.

As CubeCats plans future projects, they also plan for their organization. They hope to grow membership to over 40 individuals to

keep up with their many ambitious projects, highlighting the unique nature of the club.

“There are a lot of people who build CubeSats, but very few are student organized and run,” Lambert said. “Clubs generally are not trying to launch stuff into space and are not responsible for hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

Unlike other universities whose CubeSat projects are traditionally undertaken in faculty-led research labs, CubeCats is an undergraduate club of engineers and computer science students who create, develop and test their projects with the help of advisers.

“We were the ones who decided to do this mission and apply for a launch,” Lambert said. “It was not a faculty member who did this for their research. We have the initiative to go out and do something that no one else has done before.”

Their success as an undergraduate student club has already impressed aerospace companies, many of which have offered co-ops to involved students.

“This has been monumental,” Lambert said of the program. “Because of [CubeCats], students have gotten co-ops with companies. Specifically, because of the work we have done here, I got a co-op with the NASA-Johnson Space Center.”

Cilantro Vietnamese Bistro closes, new steak restaurant to take its place

CubeCats satellite is a go for launch next year

PROVIDED

AARON DORSTEN | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

The corner of Jefferson and W. McMillan St. will soon be the home of High Steaks since it was recently vacated by Clifton favorite, Cilantro.

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News

CAMERON KEEFE | CONTRIBUTOR

During its recent National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPCH) week, the University of Cincinnati hosted Rasheed Cromwell, a leading authority on fraternity and sorority life at the Harbor Institute, to speak to students about increasing awareness for Greek life in the African-American community.

Cromwell was a member of Omega Psi Phi during his collegiate career. He is challenging his African-American peers not only to embrace the culture around them, but to transform it into their own.

There are nine historically Black Greek letter organizations (BGLOs) which comprise the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Collectively, these organizations are referred to as “The Divine Nine.” Each of these organizations are rich in history, and ties to one or more of them may be found in many families throughout the United States.

During his presentation, Cromwell suggested three different areas to strive for change and development, including purpose, perspective and power. All three of these stages were discussed at length.

To begin, Cromwell said the purpose of an African-American society is to establish a support network through connections and peers through which to fight against oppression and segregation. Therefore, he says, the first step is to stand up and fight back.

With purpose comes history, and United States history is stained with segregation and discriminatory practices. The notion to be “separate but equal under the law” was a life many African Americans were forced to endure during the late 1900s.

The purpose of BGLOs on campuses are to fight against racial disparities. For example, health, wealth, voting and education are all disparities these organizations wish to change.

“The difference between the African American fraternities is surrounded by culture rather than a social aspect like many fraternities on campus,” said first-year business and entrepreneurship student Andy Powell, a member of the Greek community at UC.

The culture Powell mentions was built out of necessity. When forming these organizations, the drive to stand up and fight back against oppression and segregation played a defining factor.

Secondly, Cromwell’s perspective held that students need to incorporate cultural differences in their organizations while remaining proud of these differences. To cite an example, he spoke about the significance of lining up by height in a pledge line.

Moreover, the signs and calls these African-American organizations embrace are rooted in the beliefs they hold. Outsiders looking in can see how these signs and calls are crucial to the organization.

The pledge process, Cromwell said, developed many men and women to face the nonviolent movement between 1955-1968.

“The differences are astounding,” said Kevin Starmack, a computer science student and a part of the Greek community. “The effect that the culture has on these organizations is far different that the culture that surrounds many fraternities throughout the US.”

Finally, the power that these organizations hold is much more than simply a fraternity or sorority. Rather, it constitutes a success network devised to provide these students with enhanced resources to achieve better grades, retain focus on their community and excel academically.

ZACH PERRIN | NEWS EDITOR

The Greater Cincinnati Food Coalition and the Cincinnati Interfaith Workers’ Center hosted a panel of activist group representatives at the First Unitarian Church on Friday to discuss the possibility of revamping Cincinnati’s food system.

Groups in attendance included the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Slow Food Cincinnati.

The food system is comprised of production, distribution and consumption. The Greater Cincinnati Coalition aims to change the way large institutions, like schools and hospitals, buy food. The coalition hopes to make it more nutritious, sustainable and fair through an initiative called the Good Food Purchasing Program (GFPP).

“The system we have now, by and large, causes environmental pollution [and] degradation of natural resources,” said Sarah Reinhardt of the Union for Concerned Scientists (UCS). “It doesn’t necessarily respect the animals that are a part of that livestock system. It

doesn’t provide livable wages for the workers most of the time, and in fact, [it] exploits a lot of workers.”

The GFPP contains five value categories — increased development of local economies, sustainability, a valued workforce, nutrition and animal welfare — that proponents believe are essential to an improved food system. The main way the initiative seeks to improve these categories is by changing the way it purchases food.

“We have very, very few laws, either state or federally, that control how farm animals are to be raised,” Susan McMillan of the ASPCA said.

The ASPCA has a two-prong approach to how institutions would improve animal welfare. They could either buy from sources with higher welfare standards or purchase a lower volume of food.

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union emphasized the need to remember the traditional supply chain, including factory farms and processing plants which hire many union workers. This clashes with the notion of shifting purchasing entirely to local farmers who hire less workers and typically cause less pollution.

Reinhardt offered numerous possible solutions, including food hubs, storage and packaging facilities and cooperatives which have been used in other cities.

One of the plan’s main claims is that its value categories can be attained through methods tailored to each city’s specific needs, allowing for flexibility.

A case study of this claim rests in the Los Angeles food system after the GFPP was implemented in 2012. The city currently sources roughly 20 percent of its food locally, which benefits the local economy by an estimated $48 to 94 million per year. The economic model for the study found that this investment supported more than 260 jobs. UCS was available to validate at least 220 jobs through news reports.

The LA Unified School District serves about 650,000 meals per day. Since 2011, over $13 million of district funds have been redirected toward local farmers, processors, warehouses, distributors and workers. The school also switched to 100 percent sustainable wheat flour buns as of 2014, and implemented “Meatless Mondays,” which reduced the school’s carbon footprint by 22 percent and curbed water use by an estimated 1.2 billion gallons per year.

Speaker increases awareness for African-American Greek life

Greater Cincinnati Food Coalition discusses revamping Cincy food system

PROVIDED

ALLEN J. SCHABEN | LOS ANGELES TIMES | TNS

Third-generation farmer Frank Hillier Frank Hilliker holds one of his 8,000 Leghorn chickens in a cage-free aviary system barn at Hilliker’s Ranch Fresh Eggs, a family business since 1942, in Lakeview, Calif., on December 19, 2014.

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7Life & Arts

NOELLE ZIELINSKI | LIFE & ARTS EDITOR

Bike & Build was founded in 2002 with the mission of funding affordable housing through cycling trips and empowering young adults for a lifetime of service and civic engagement.

“Bike & Build envisions future generations who are committed to a lifetime of civic engagement and who inspire individuals and communities to create fair, decent housing for all Americans,” their vision statement reads.

Before their ride, cyclists between the ages of 18 and 29 raise $5,000. They then bike to different cities every three to six days, depending on their route, in order to build affordable homes with organizations including Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together and others.

“Each team uses a portion of their total money fundraised to grant to affordable housing organizations across the country that apply for our competitive grant

program,” said Lily Goldberg, UC director of outreach and alumni relations. “Since 2003, over $6.4 million has been donated to AH [organizations] across the country through our riders.”

Michelle Baverman, a UC alumna, is joining 36 other young adults on the southern U.S. route to help Bike & Build construct affordable housing. Her journey will begin May 10 when she meets her team in Jacksonville, Florida. Over the next 11 weeks, they will pedal 71 miles per day on average to Santa Cruz, California. They should arrive on July 28. During the ride, the team will participate in 16 volunteer build days where they will build homes for families in need. The riders will build in towns including Tallahassee, New Orleans, Dallas, Santa Fe and various others.

“We are deeply proud of riders like [Baverman] who are so committed to the affordable housing cause that she is willing to raise much-needed funds and spend over two months biking across the country,”

said Claire Collins, Bike & Build’s senior program director. “Bike & Build provides the opportunity, but it is the riders who make the lasting impact in so many communities.”

The southern U.S. route is one of three cross-country trips Bike & Build offers each summer. In total, roughly 180 riders between 18 and 29 years of age will gain firsthand experience with the affordable housing need in this country. Along with volunteering with construction efforts at affordable housing sites, riders also meet with local officials and community members to discuss housing affordability concerns.

“Riders will sleep in local churches, community centers, and schools, and will rely on the generosity of hundreds of community members for food, showers, and other necessities,” reads a news release detailing the cause. “When the trip is complete, many Bike & Builders have gone on to continue their commitment to service through their career choices or further volunteering.”

“Bike & Build combines service and adventure,” Goldberg said. “While many of our riders come into their summer with Bike & Build looking for an adventure, the riders leave their summers as advocates for affordable housing. They find a new sense of accomplishment and empowerment, as well as an incredibly enhanced knowledge of biker safety and advocacy.”

NOELLE ZIELINSKI | LIFE & ARTS EDITOR

National “Kick Butts” Day begins this Wednesday, March 21. In their effort to speak up against Big Tobacco, the University of Cincinnati and several other schools across the nation will be hosting events to spread tobacco awareness. Over 1,000 events are planned throughout the U.S. for this national holiday, all of which are sponsored by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

This year, Kick Butts Day is turning its attention toward the progress which the U.S. has made toward reducing youth smoking, addressing various proposed actions to create the first tobacco-free generation. Since 2000, the national smoking rate among high school students has dropped by 71 percent, from 28 percent in 2000 to just eight percent in 2016.

In recognition of National “Kick Butts” Day, let’s review the facts about tobacco and tobacco products:

-Tobacco use remains the No. 1 cause of preventable death in the U.S., killing over 480,000 people and costing roughly $170 billion in healthcare expenses every year.

-Tobacco companies spend roughly $8.9 billion annually — $1 million every hour — marketing tobacco products in the U.S., often using tactics which appeal to children.

-Electronic cigarettes have become the most popular tobacco product used by kids, with 11.3 percent of high school students using e-cigarettes nationwide (compared to eight percent who smoke cigarettes). The latest trend with teens is JUUL — an e-cigarette that looks like a computer flash drive and offers flavors including mango and fruit medley.

“In Ohio, tobacco use claims 20,200 lives and costs $5.64 billion in health care bills each year,” reads a press release detailing the event. “Currently, 15.1 percent of Ohio’s high school students smoke.”

The press release also states that this year, kids and health advocates are calling upon elected officials to apply proven techniques which comprise a “roadmap to a tobacco-free generation.” These techniques include tobacco tax increases, comprehensive smoke-free laws, raising the tobacco sale age to 21, well-funded tobacco prevention programs and

banning the sale of flavored tobacco products.

“On Kick Butts Day, kids are celebrating the progress we’ve made to reduce tobacco use and building momentum to get us across the finish line,” said Matthew L. Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. “Elected leaders in every state can help create the first tobacco-free generation by supporting proven strategies to prevent youth tobacco use.”

UC will host a cigarette butt cleanup organized by the UC Wellness Center from 1-3 p.m. on March 21. Additionally, UC will feature activities led by students and spokespeople.

Other schools will be having events of their own to help spread awareness as well. At Marion L. Steele High School in Amherst, for instance, students will dress as zombies, promote tobacco statistics, sign a pledge wall and decorate the sidewalk with anti-tobacco messages.

Richland County students will have their artwork on display at the Community Action for Capable Youth, Inc. — an anti-tobacco art show at the Mansfield Art Center. Displayed works will include canvas art, photographs and video public service announcements.

UC alum joins Bike & Build to raise money for affordable housing

UC students to help clean up butts

PHOTO PROVIDED

Dayton | Eaton | Englewood | Huber Heights | Mason | Online

GET AHEAD. TAKE YOUR GEN ED CLASSES IN THE SUMMER!

Make the most of your summer: take classes at Sinclair Community College. Check out available courses and ask your advisor how Sinclair courses can transfer

back to the University of Cincinnati. Take 4-week, 8-week or 12-week classes at one of our convenient locations or online.

LEARN MORE WWW.SINCLAIR.EDU/SUMMER

Summer Registration Begins March 26

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

SUMMER @ SINCLAIR

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Life & Arts

ANNE SIMENDINGER | STAFF REPORTER

All you “wild hearts” get ready to fall in love with the groundbreaking new romantic comedy, “Love, Simon.” The film debuted in cinemas March 16 and has been extremely well received by audiences nationwide. “Love, Simon,” produced by a major film studio, makes history as the first film of its nature by depicting a gay love story at its forefront. Directed by Greg Berlanti, the film is based off the novel “Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda” by Becky Albertalli.

The movie is led by actor Nick Robinson who plays Simon — a closeted high school senior. The movie starts off with Simon musing about his similarities with the audience, describing his relatively normal life. “I’m just like you, for the most part,” he says. After going on to describe his wonderful family and friends, Simon discloses his one secret: he’s gay. After finding a post from an anonymous person with

the screenname “Blue,” who confesses that he is gay on their high school’s gossip Twitter, Simon contacts the individual and they begin a relationship via email. When this relationship and their secret is placed in jeopardy, Simon must come to terms with how he wants to handle his secret as he struggles to figure out who Blue truly is.

There are quite a few screen favorites in the film besides Robinson. Jennifer Garner plays Simon’s extremely liberal mother. At one point in the movie, Garner delivers a beautifully eloquent monologue, aiming for the hearts of moviegoers everywhere. Equally powerful is Josh Duhamel’s portrayal of Simon’s overemotional father. The connection between Duhamel and Robinson’s characters is a truly touching experience.

“Love, Simon” has a very natural script written by Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger. It illustrates the story of two love-struck high schoolers in such a realistic

light while carefully and maturely dealing with the issue of coming out in an honest and authentic way. Throughout the film, audiences will experience a rollercoaster of emotions — uproarious laughter, powerful tears, and plenty of heartwarming moments. It is so refreshing and important that the world finally gets this kind of love story. Now, many people will not have to substitute genders in the process of relating to the main characters. Admittedly, it is incredibly frustrating that it has taken this long for a movie of this nature to come out. But the more we support this beautiful and impactful film, the more films of this nature will be produced.

Enough good things cannot be said about this revolutionary film. It is worth every penny. “Love, Simon” tells an important and heartfelt story with intense relevance and relatability in contemporary society. Like the movie’s tagline says, “Everyone deserves a great love story.”

‘Love Simon’ is revolutionary, worth every penny to experience

PROVIDED

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9Life & Arts

BRESLIN SAND | CONTRIBUTOR

I honestly have mixed views on the new “Tomb Raider” film. Unlike Angelina Jolie’s rendition of Lara Croft — with her playful, overconfident smile and on-top-of-the-world, strictly-business bravado — Alicia Vikander’s Lara Croft seemed primarily focused on survival. For most of the movie, Vikander’s Croft seemed along for the ride rather than the driving force behind anything, save two scenes (and one was a

mistake, too, so does it even really count)?While enjoying Jolie’s Croft, the audience

is quickly thrown into the middle of the action. She was already a well-seasoned explorer and adventurer with ample amounts of money and resources at her disposal, and a well-defined antagonist is swiftly introduced. However, Vikander’s Croft was set at her origin. It began with Croft still coping with her father’s disappearance and refusal to take the family inheritance. It not only illustrates how she

became the Tomb Raider, but suggests why she did so.

Based on the 2013 and 2015 games “Tomb Raider” and “Rise of the Tomb Raider,” the movie follows key aspects of both games and mirrors specific suspenseful cutscenes. Among them include a daring jump from a waterfall to a World War II bomber plane, as shown in the trailer. Although Croft didn’t dramatically die as many times in the movie as her videogame counterpart might have, her Hollywood-adapted story mirrored the game quite harmoniously.

To be honest, I never played any of the games and wouldn’t have known how well the movie followed its counterpart without relying on information from friends and colleagues. But as a moviegoer and lover of action films, Tomb Raider was alright. For an origin film which hopes to birth a franchise, the movie did its part. It set up Croft’s character well and defined an ever-present antagonist.

For an origin movie aiming only to lay a foundation for its successors, Tomb Raider did its job well. Standing alone, the movie

— though enjoyable — was not the best. The plot was slow-moving, making it seem like anyone who can take a beating and solve puzzles would be just as equipped as Croft — as long as their dead dads left them treasure maps detailing step-by-step instructions for every task they must complete, of course. Croft was mainly an icon for the camera to follow until the quick climax and even quicker plot resolution.

Regardless of the slow plot, the action scenes were cool, and the movie was packed with them. With interesting camera angles and quick wits, they were enjoyable to watch unfold. If there wasn’t action, there was suspense. Despite the actors and actresses portraying suspenseful scenes well, producers were heavily reliant on the engulfing music used to set the scene. Ultimately, the overuse of music for storytelling made the film’s dramatic scenes all too predictable.

Though Tomb Raider is worth the ticket to check out in theaters, don’t expect it to become the next big blockbuster franchise.

‘Tomb Raider’: Fantastic for a franchise, shoddy for a standalone

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Sports

MATT HUFFMON | STAFF REPORTER

He may not be from Cincinnati, but his play style would never tell you that.

Over the past two seasons, University of Cincinnati Bearcats men’s basketball fans have enjoyed watching the intense, gritty play of Kyle Washington.

On Sunday evening, Washington saw his collegiate career abruptly end in Nashville as the University of Nevada mounted an enormous 22-point comeback with less than 11 minutes to go, defeating the Bearcats 75-73.

Washington finished his Bearcat career with 10 points on 5-of-9 shooting, 11 rebounds and two blocks in the loss.

Transfers in NCAA Division I basketball do not always work out as planned. This is not the case for the Cincinnati senior, however, who epitomized the “Bearcat way” with his blue-collar work ethic and unparalleled leadership during his two seasons under head coach Mick Cronin.

“He’s always been great with his leadership,” Cronin said to Bearcats TV in October. “His energy is always tremendous. He’s always prepared. He takes his craft very seriously. He’s been a professional with his approach to the game.”

Prior to this year’s NCAA tournament, Cronin made it clear how much he has enjoyed coaching his seniors.

“Even if we win it all, I’ll be sad,” Cronin said before the Nevada game on Saturday. “Because I won’t get to coach Gary [Clark] and Kyle Washington anymore.”

Jumping aroundWashington was born in Champlin, Minnesota — a suburb

located just 20 miles north of Minneapolis with a population of 24,000.

From 2009-11, he earned three varsity basketball letters at Benilde-St. Margaret’s Prep School, a private school in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.

Washington transferred to The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut for his junior year, where he averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds per game.

After being ranked in the top-100 nationally by Rivals (93) and ESPN (97) preceding his senior year, Washington transferred to Brewster Academy — a boarding school in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire.

Brewster provided Washington with stiffer competition to prepare him for the college level. He averaged 12 points and 10 rebounds while being recruiting by many of the nation’s top basketball schools.

On Nov. 14, 2012, the 6-foot-9 power forward signed with North Carolina State University after carefully considering Iowa State, Ohio State, Washington and Minnesota.

During his freshman campaign with the Wolfpack, Washington provided 4.8 points and 3.9 rebounds in 19.9 minutes per game.

However, after seeing his playing time cut to 17 minutes per game throughout his sophomore season, Washington hit the market in search of a new school and new role.

On July 1, 2015, Washington chose the Cincinnati Bearcats — a team which would become his final destination.

“I’m proud to wear Cincinnati because I’m proud to represent what it stands for,” Washington said. “It’s blue-collar and an exciting environment. We work hard and like seeing the results. You look at the fans around the city, and the gratitude that they show every day is rewarding. I feel as if my values have aligned with Cincinnati’s values.”

Meticulous team playerWashington responded to the second-round loss to Nevada

with exemplary senior leadership, not placing blame on anyone or anything.

“I’m proud of everybody in the locker room,” Washington said after the Nevada loss. “Obviously we wanted to go further, but if you look at this team, we accomplished a lot. I’ll never forget it.”

Known for his unselfish and consistent attitude, Washington admired his team’s accomplishments more than his own.

“We came together throughout the season,” Washington said. “It was never a one-man show. We weren’t worried about each other’s success. We were happy for the entire team.”

Many consider Washington, whose retrospective and upbeat attitude softens the blow of major downfalls, wise beyond his years.

“Kyle has changed the vibe around our program and keeps us in a positive mood all the time,” junior guard Jacob Evans III said.

“Every type of failure in life has a meaning,” Washington said prior to the NCAA tournament. “You either learn from failures or it’s going to happen again.”

Leading by exampleWashington scored 1,275 points during his collegiate career,

including 871 during his two-year stint as a Bearcat. A solid rebounder, Washington grabbed 718 career rebounds,

averaging 5.1 per game over his four years.

During his junior season at UC, Washington started 35 of 36 games, averaging 12.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks while shooting 51.0 percent from the field. His numbers were good enough to earn a spot on second team all-conference.

Senior year treated Washington well. He was named to the 2017-18 American Athletic Conference (AAC) Honorable Mention team after averaging 11.3 points and 5.5 rebounds.

He also was named to the first team all-tournament team for his play at the AAC tournament, averaging 12 points and 5 rebounds per game.

Washington was fortunate enough to participate in four NCAA tournaments: two at NC State under head coach Mark Gottfried, and two at Cincinnati under Cronin.

If Washington would have played all four years at Cincinnati, he could have easily become a fan-favorite on a level rivaling that of fellow senior forward Clark.

“Kyle is everything Bearcats fans hoped he would be and then some,” James Rapien of ESPN 1530 said. “He’s the king of the ‘No, don’t shoot! Wait, that went in?’ shot. He played with passion and made two of the biggest shots of the season. Washington’s game-tying three pointer against Houston was HUGE. He also had a clutch basket in the final minutes in the win over Wichita State. Those are the two shots I’ll remember for a long time.”

Big shoes to fillOver the past two seasons, Washington and Clark have

become one of the best big man duos in Bearcat basketball history.

“[Winning the conference tournament] is a representation of how close we are together on-and-off the court,” Washington said after Cincinnati’s win over the University of Houston. “We created a great atmosphere of people always caring and being held accountable, starting with us. I’m happy this team is able to experience winning a conference championship.”

“Kyle never gives up on a play,” 2018 point guard commit Logan Johnson said. “Whether it’s in a game or in practice, he is the ultimate competitor.”

Washington and Clark leave big shoes to fill in the 2018-19 Cincinnati depth chart. Forwards Nysier Brooks, Tre Scott, Eliel Nsoseme and Mamoudou Diarra are the viable candidates, each standing at 6-foot-8 or taller.

The Bearcats have landed a commitment from 6-foot-9 power forward Laquill Hardnett for next season. Depending on where Cronin decides to play Hardnett, he could also help fill the gaping hole in the front court left by the two big men.

Kyle Washington embodied Cincinnati’s unique style

SHAE COMBS | PHOTO EDITOR

University of Cincinnati senior Kyle Washington (24) hypes up the crowd after the Bearcats take down Houston in 56-55 the American Athletic Conference Tournament championship game at the Amway Center in Orlando Florida, Sunday March 11, 2018.

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Sports

DAVID WYSONG |EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

I don’t even know what to say. All I know is that being a Cincinnati fan is pretty damn hard.

I was making plans for Atlanta. The Bearcats were making the Sweet 16; it looked like a sure thing. Until it wasn’t.

22 points. There is no way Nevada comes back from that with less than 11 minutes left on the clock, right? Wrong.

When Cane Broome’s shot was blocked and the buzzer sounded, the past four years went rushing through my mind.

I have spent the past four years covering this team for The News Record. I have witnessed incredible moments and excruciating losses. I can remember how excited I was when Troy Caupain hit that buzzer-beater in the 2015 NCAA tournament game against Purdue. But I can also remember the devastation I felt watching UConn’s Jalen Adams hit that shot from half court during the four-overtime American Athletic Conference tournament game.

I never thought there would be something more heartbreaking than that game. If you roll the tape, you can even see me in the highlight. I was crushed. As were the other fans. As, I’m sure, were the players.

None of us knew what was to come.Watching the Nevada players run towards the side of the

court I was sitting on; it didn’t feel real. But it was. This stacked Cincinnati team, the best team of the Mick Cronin era, was done. They weren’t going to Final Four, Elite Eight or even the Sweet 16.

They were the exact kind of team I hoped to cover while at UC. They had a loaded roster. They didn’t fulfill their

potential, though, and that’s the worst part.Then I remembered Gary Clark. We have all watched him

grow up these past four years, but it felt like he and I had grown up together. We both came to UC in 2014 and we will both be leaving in 2018. The fact that he will never wear a Cincinnati jersey again is a tough pill to swallow.

I can’t imagine what he is going through, what the entire team is going through. Seeing their faces in the locker room after the game was a punch to the stomach. They worked their asses off all year and they were extremely successful. They won an AAC regular season championship, an AAC tournament championship, and they were good enough to earn a two-seed in the NCAA tournament. They have a lot to brag about, but their ultimate goal was not met.

As I saw Jacob Evans and Kyle Washington walk into their press conference with their arms draped over each other’s shoulders, I saw the love they had for each other. They were truly there for each other during one of the toughest moments of their lives, and Cincinnatians must do the same for each other.

Heartbreak after heartbreak; it feels as if Cincy is the new Cleveland, but sticking together, remaining hopeful for the future and taking pride in the city we live in will help us get through the bad moments.

So here is to the future of Cincinnati sports. May it not be as heartbreaking as it is right now and may there be many championships ahead of us.

Oh, and to all my other heartbroken UC fans, may Xavier’s loss help this burn a little less.

This one hurt us all

SHAE COMBS | PHOTO EDITOR

University of Cincinnati senior Kyle Washington (24) walks off the court after a heartbreaking loss to Nevada in the NCAA Men’s basketball Tournament game at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, Sunday March 18, 2018.

SHAE COMBS | PHOTO EDITOR

University of Cincinnati senior Gary Clark (11) lays on the ground after a heartbreaking loss to Nevada in the NCAA Men’s basketball Tournament game at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, Sunday March 18, 2018.

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JASON SZELEST | SPORTS EDITOR

The University of Cincinnati men’s basketball team’s season came to a screeching halt in Nashville on Sunday. Marking the biggest second-half collapse in NCAA tournament history, the Bearcats surrendered a 22-point lead with less than 11 minutes to go, losing 75-73 to the University of Nevada.

The loss constituted senior forward Gary Clark’s last game in a Bearcat uniform. That said, it is time to reflect on the career of one of the most decorated players in UC basketball history.

From humble beginningsClark grew up in Clayton, North Carolina — a suburb

roughly 20 miles southeast of Raleigh which over 20,000 people call home.

Despite emerging from the heart of what many refer to as the “basketball triangle,” North Carolina State was the only school in the area to offer Clark a scholarship.

Ranked as the No. 100 overall prospect by ESPN, No. 87 by Rivals and No. 90 by 247sports, the 6-foot-7 power forward piqued the interest of UC assistant coach Larry Davis, who headed the recruiting effort.

On Sept. 18, 2013, Clark made his collegiate decision to stray from home, accepting a scholarship offer from the Bearcats.

A grand entranceThe Bearcats were coming off a season in which they

finished 27-7, ranking as high as No. 7 during the 2013-14 year.

Still, they had a lot of holes to fill after their top-three minute-getters — Sean Kilpatrick, Justin Jackson and Titus Rubles — all graduated.

It did not take long before Clark staked his claim to one of the open spots in the rotation, proving that he was no ordinary teenage freshman.

“He’s probably the most mature freshman player I’ve ever coached,” head coach Mick Cronin said during a practice session before Clark’s freshman campaign began. “He’s a tremendously mature young man as a person, and that’s how he plays. He plays like a veteran.”

Davis echoed Cronin’s sentiment, predicting a successful freshman campaign for the big man.

“I’ll be shocked if he doesn’t play really well in the games,” Davis said. “He’s just one of those guys that’s got a knack for getting the ball in the basket. He’s got a nose for the ball.”

Clark proved his coach a fortune teller. He started all 34 games in his first year on campus, averaging 7.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.0 steal and 1.3 blocks, en route to being named to the first team all-American Athletic Conference (AAC) rookie team.

Coming out of his shellDespite his success out of the gate, Cronin admits he had

a hard time convincing Clark to become more aggressive. Though Clark demonstrated the ability to take over games, he sometimes seemed hesitant to take shots that he consistently made, contributing to only 6.7 shot attempts per game during his first two years.

“Gary is another humble star,” Cronin said in an interview midway through Clark’s junior season. “I’m trying to get him to break out into a dominant mentality. It is nice to have such a good person, but at times, I need a guy like Gary to transform a little bit into a dominant force on both ends of the floor. He’s such a team player that he defers a little bit. He’s got to take some more chances. Our coaches have great respect for him because they all know that he is completely unselfish. I need him to take a bad shot every now and again, be more aggressive and come out of his shell to where he can be a dominant player in college basketball.”

A star is bornClark went into his senior year with a slew of

accomplishments already notched into his belt, including an AAC defensive player of the year award to complement a second team all-conference nomination.

He truly broke out during his final season, though, leading the conference in rebounding and double-doubles.

In a Jan. 24 game against Temple, Clark became the fifth member to join the 1,000/1,000 club in UC basketball history after reaching 1,000 points and rebounds.

After the game, the humble superstar did not wish to overhype his major accomplishment.

“I didn’t realize it at first until [Cronin] wrote it on the board and was explaining it,” he said. “Kyle was always telling me how good of an accomplishment that would be, so for me to do it tonight … was pretty cool.”

Instead, Clark’s senior frontcourt mate — Kyle Washington — recognized what a truly special night it was.

“It’s amazing,” Washington said of Clark’s accomplishment. “[Gary] is an amazing person. I’m just happy to be by his side, happy to be his frontcourt mate, and just happy to see everything he has worked hard for and everything that he has sacrificed for this program … pay off. Like I said, he is an amazing person and an amazing player, so I am just glad to be by his side.”

The AAC Conference Awards- aka the Gary Clark Award Banquet

Following the end of the regular season, the senior who averaged 12.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.4 steals garnered quite a bit of recognition.

Clark became the first player in the conference to ever win Defensive Player of the Year twice, as well as the conference’s Player of the Year and Sportsman of the Year titles. He was also named first team all-conference.

“It means a lot,” Clark said. “All my hard work, my teammates, my coaches constantly pushing me and giving me that confidence, believing in me … for all that to finally pay off is rewarding.”

“The Problem” becomes a nightmareGoing into the conference tournament, Clark had never

cut down a net before — a tradition Cronin wanted him to partake in.

“It’s their last chance to win a conference tournament,” Cronin said before the Bearcats AAC championship game

match against Houston. “Gary Clark and Kyle Washington have never cut down nets after a game, in their high school career or college career. We won the regular season on the road and I didn’t want to go home and do it because I wanted them to be hungry.”

Clark rose to the occasion, hitting the game-winning free throw with four seconds remaining to secure a 56-55 victory for the Bearcats.

For the tournament, Clark finished with 16.3 points and 11.7 rebounds, earning him AAC tournament Most Outstanding Player and a member of the first team all-AAC tourney team.

His performances throughout the tournament had other people taking notice — including former Memphis head coach Tubby Smith — who was defeated by Clark in the semifinals.

“He is a nightmare as far as a matchup is concerned,” Smith said. “I thought for the most part in the first half we were okay, but he was still 4-for-7, the leading scorer and the leading rebounder.”

After cutting down the nets, Clark continued his run, notching two more double-doubles in the NCAA tournament and ending his career on a five-game double-double streak.

On an individual perspective, it’s a fitting end for a player who will go down with the most career starts as a Bearcat — one who notched the most victories in a Bearcat uniform in history. He’s a player who never put himself first, even when everyone who knew him always did.

Gary Clark: The problem that will never be forgotten

SHAE COMBS | PHOTO EDITOR

University of Cincinnati senior Gary Clark (11) does a television interview after the Bearcats take down Houston in 56-55 the American Athletic Conference Tournament championship game at the Amway Center in Orlando Florida, Sunday March 11, 2018.

“I’ll be shocked if he doesn’t

play really well in the games...

He’s just one of those guys

that’s got a knack for getting

the ball in the basket...” - Larry Davis

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Mounir’s weeklyOpinion

MOUNIR LYNCH | OPINION EDITOR

1. Krusty Krab v Chum Bucket MemesFor those of you who haven’t been paying attention to

any social media, there is currently a meme circulating which features a picture of the Krusty Krab next to one of the Chum Bucket. The Krusty Krab is meant to represent something good, while the Chum Bucket represents something comparatively worse. At first, I was absolutely crazy about these memes. Then, they flooded my Twitter and Facebook every single day — nonstop — for weeks on end. They still do. Guys, we get it — one thing is better than the other. They’re obviously all over the timeline for a reason, though.

2. Food service delivery feesCilantro, our local Clifton Pho and Vietnamese foods shop,

recently had to change their concept to a steak dinner restaurant after Cilantro became a takeout and delivery-based joint. With so many restaurants now offering delivery from apps like OrderUp and Uber Eats, many of us don’t feel like going out anymore. Some of these delivery fees can cost as much as the food alone. Walk off those calories and hit up some places around Clifton! You’ll be supporting servers and bartenders who need the tips (and your company) in the process.

3. DreamWorks moviesWe all seem to be crazy about throwbacks. Music hits

from the ‘90s and early 2000s play regularly at our parties, and we’re once again into the shows and movies we often watched as kids. A huge part of our childhoods was the time-honored Pixar vs. DreamWorks debate. I am sorry to say that DreamWorks classifies as a meh. Compared to Pixar, they just don’t make the cut. According to Metacritic, the top 3 highest rated animated films are Ratatouille (Pixar), Wall-E (Pixar) and Toy Story (also Pixar). Notice anything? None of those are DreamWorks. We can’t ignore the fact that Shrek was an absolute masterpiece, though. As a whole, though, DreamWorks is just meh.

4. Flamin’ Hot CheetosOn Poke bowls (coming to campus soon), cupcakes, donuts

and even sushi, making foods with Flamin’ Hot Cheetos has become a thing. Somehow. Consequently, Flamin’ Hots themselves have become super popular. Why not? They’re really tasty and really, really addicting. If you can handle the spice, they’re difficult to put down. However, be warned that after downing that bag of spicy Cheetos, your hands turn a fluorescent red hue for days. Ever notice how bright the color of those are? That can’t be good for your health.

5. Spring in OhioYesterday was the first official day of spring. From here on,

we will gain about a minute of sunlight per day. We returned from spring break to absolutely perfect weather. Sunny, mid-60s, a slight breeze ... it made returning to school a little less agonizing. The depressing grey skies and cold air will soon go away, right? Ha! Think again. We live in Ohio — the land of annoyingly unpredictable weather. Our springs seem to bring abnormally high temperatures that lead to the flowers and trees blooming early. But the beauty of spring doesn’t often last long after it snows in the middle of April because, well, Ohio.

TIM GOLDENBERG | STAFF REPORTER

Two major developments were brought to the forefront of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation concerning Russian interference in the 2016 election this week. The first surfaced after the firing of former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Subsequent his termination, McCabe informed the Mueller investigative team of memos he kept of his meetings with the President, turning all of them over to the investigation. The second, and potentially most significant of the two occurrences, was Mueller’s long-awaited subpoena of the Trump Organization — the term given to the roughly five-hundred businesses owned and operated by President Donald Trump.

McCabe’s firing sent shockwaves through the political realm, suggesting a continuation of the Trump

administration’s conflict with the U.S. intelligence community. Attorney General Sessions said McCabe lacked candor, while McCabe fired back, accusing that the firing was political motivated. As such, it’s likely that whatever memos and information McCabe submitted to the Mueller investigation will gauge new insight on the Trump administration’s relationship with the intelligence community.

Even more striking than McCabe’s firing was the subpoena Mueller filed against the Trump Organization. With the event marking the first publicized instance of Mueller requesting records regarding President Trump’s businesses, it’s becoming clear that the investigation continues to stretch closer to the commander-in-chief himself. Previous major steps in the investigation — such as the indictment of thirteen Russian nationals, Trump’s

former campaign manager Paul Manafort and the plea deal agreed upon by former deputy campaign manager Rick Gates — have been only loosely tied to the president. As such, anything found in the subpoena of the Trump Organization may contain direct ties to the president and his family.

It is worth noting that Mueller holds the authority to issue indictments on any criminal activity he finds due to the investigation. Since President Trump said in a New York Times interview that looking into his and his family’s finances would be crossing a “red line,” one has to wonder what the president might be so worried about being revealed. President Trump isn’t unfamiliar with legal troubles relating to his businesses.

These events occur after a tumultuous week during which, among other events, the president fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson over Twitter, announcing that he

would be replaced by CIA Director Mike Pompeo.

Though Trump thanked Tillerson for his service, relations between the two individuals had been sour for months. At one point, Tillerson called the president a moron, following up with a refusal to disavow claims that he made such a statement. Additionally, sources close to the White House indicated that National Security Advisor H.R McMaster may soon be on his way out as well.

Ultimately, in a week marred by chaos in the Trump administration, Mueller’s investigation continues to maintain steady and methodically progress toward discovering the truth behind what truly happened in the 2016 presidential election.

(This will be the first of a series of articles containing updates on Mueller’s investigation of the Trump administration).

MuellerWatch: Investigation continuing to uncover hidden truth of 2016 election

JAMES BERGLIE | ZUMA PRESS | TNS

Robert Mueller on February 16, 2011, as he testifies before a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing in Washington, D.C.f

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Opinion

MOUNIR LYNCH | OPINION EDITOR

Since March 2, five package bombs have detonated in various locations throughout Texas. Two people have died and five have been injured. Some of these explosives have been dropped off at victims’ doorsteps while others have detonated in public spaces or during the shipping process.

Authorities have begged for the serial bomber to come forward and cooperate in the investigation. Information on potential suspects remains minimal. No motive has yet been identified and no persons of interest have been named. Authorities have offered a reward of over $100,000 to anyone with information related to the serial bombings.

The targets of the bombings have tended toward prominent black families in the Austin area, and

although authorities have not yet determined a specific targeted population at this point, it is becoming increasingly clear that race may be attached to the targeting of victims.

On March 2, Anthony Stephan House, 39, was killed by the detonation of a package explosive placed on his doorstep. This was the first reported occurrence of the serial bombings.

His stepfather, Freddie Dixon — a civil rights activist and former preacher — insists that the bombings constitute racially motivated hate crimes. The bomb may have been intended to harm Dixon, who certainly fits into the category of

influential black Americans residing in Texas. Dixon formerly preached at a black church founded by freed slaves.

Dixon has a close connection to the family of another victim of a package bomb, Draylen Mason.

Mason, a seventeen-year-old high school senior bound for music school, was murdered by another package bomb on March 12.

His grandmother, Lavonne Mason, co-founded the Austin area Urban League and is a known civil rights activist. They attended the same church as the House and Dixon families.

The Austin NAACP president said that a third bomb, which injured 75-year-old Esperanza Herrera, may have been intended for “another person who might be connected

to the House and Mason families.”

On Sunday evening, two young men were injured when a bomb was activated by a tripwire in a public space in Austin. These bombs seem to be activated when the package is picked up and moved.

Hatred is becoming increasingly equipped by violence. Attacks on minorities cannot be accepted or ignored. These groups are being targeted, and our communities of color must be protected.

Neither the media nor reports by local authorities have linked these events to terrorism. However, these attacks are clearly acts of domestic terrorism which are likely racially motivated. I pray that nobody else will be injured or killed by these very confusing

serial bombings, and that authorities will soon be able to gather more information. If not, many more precious lives will be cut short.

Although the Cincinnati

area does not face an immediate threat, anyone who encounters a suspicious or unexpected package should contact authorities immediately.

MOUNIR LYNCH | OPINION EDITOR

On March 14th, millions of high school students across the country walked out of class and held rallies to combat the gun violence epidemic. They stood up, walked out, protested and turned kids into activists.

Legislators and lawmakers in all branches of government, listen up. The youth are creating a movement with the potential to reform our political system as we know it. They have demands, and they should be taken seriously. If you want to keep your jobs, you must begin standing up for them.

This widespread, highly organized demonstration by students across the country shows unity in a time of consistent political unrest and debate within our country. In their desire to simply establish a safer future, millions of students stood united, and their voices were heard loud and clear.

On March 9, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (MSDHS) Public Safety Act, bringing many unprecedented gun control measures to the extremely conservative state of Florida.

It is abundantly clear that the students

of Marjory Stoneman Douglas were on the minds of Florida lawmakers leading up to the adoption of their new gun law measures.

Tess Louden helped coordinate the walkout at William Mason High School near Cincinnati on March 14. Their walkout lasted 17 minutes — one minute for each of the victims of the massacre at MSDHS on Valentine’s Day this year.

“We decided to organize this walkout to increase awareness in the school and community of the dangers of when schools and guns meet, while showing our support for victims’ families,” Louden said. “I know that my contribution made a positive influence on my town.”

At Mason, students were registered to vote during the walkout, allowing them to make their mark on society early on.

“We were fortunate enough to work with our school to ensure student safety while they allowed us to exercise our right to free speech,” Louden said. “This included bringing in adults to help kids who will be 18 by the primaries to be registered to vote. By doing this, we gave hundreds of students the opportunity to help make informed and valuable decisions in our democracy that will hopefully lead to a

change for pro-gun control.”Louden says her voice will be amplified

this fall when she casts her ballot for representatives who support the changes she wishes to see.

“As a future voter, I was very excited to register to vote and be an influence on our country,” she said. “In November, when I have my first opportunity to vote, I will be in support of candidates who want to help make strides for change.”

Louden also says that she anticipates her generation will reshape the way our country operates.

“Young people who participated, wanted to participate or helped to organize the national walkouts are shaping our society into one that incorporates opinions of a new generation that is more informed than ever before,” she said.

To this point, Louden is spot-on. The younger generations in our society are the future, and they are more fired up than ever before. Furthermore, they know their rights and the future they envision.

Do not get it confused. This is a revolution. This is a movement that will linger for decades and completely transform the way America runs.

Frankly, we should be excited.

Austin bombings may be a hate crime unlike anything seen before

School walkouts show a new generation eager for change

MARCUS YAM | LOS ANGELES TIMES | TNS

Students rally inside the school compound for the National School Walkout for Gun Control on Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at Miguel Contreras Learning Complex in Los Angeles, Calif.

RICARDO B. BRAZZIELL | AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN | TNS

Authorities and media at the scene in East Austin after a teenager was killed and a woman was injured in the second Austin package explosion in the past two weeks on Monday, March 12, 2018.

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If you could change your name to anything what would it be? TNR staff question of the week:Interactive

Things to do this weekend:

• Play with your lunch: If you don’t want to just have a typical lunch,

go to Play With Your Lunch presented by Memorial Hall Cincin-

nati. Lunch will be catered and short plays will be performed by

some of the city’s actors. To just see the pay is $18, adding food

is $34 total. The event takes place from 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. on

Friday at Memorial Hall.

• Cincinnati Cyclones Hockey: Your hometown hockey team will be fac-

ing the Atlanta Gladiators Friday at 7:30 p.m. The first 3,000 fans

will receive a Puckchop Cuddle-Up pillow character.

Reg Reginald Fairfield. Look up Boy Meets World season 3

episode 8 and you’ll understand

why.

-David Wysong, Editor-in-Chief

Esteban Julio Ricardo Montoya

de a Rosa Ramirez

-Mounir Lynch, Opinion Editor

Princess Consuela banana-

hammock

- Shae Combs, Photo Editor

• Brews & Baseball: Kick off the baseball season with beer. A ticket

includes nine innings of beer tastings, music and food. There

will also be visits from some local celebrities and mascots,

according to the Brews & Baseball site. The event will be 7

p.m. – 11 p.m. Saturday at the P&G MLB Cincinnati Reds Youth

Academy. All proceeds go the Reds Community Fund.

• Chicago: The popular musical is at the Aronoff Center. Go

watch a tale about fame and fortune this weekend as there

will be a show at 8 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday,

and 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at around $30.

Editor-In-Chief

David Wysong

Managing Editor

Erin Couch

Chief Photographer

Aaron Dorsten

Broadcast Reporter

Emily Wilhelm

Sports Editor

Jason Szelest

Copy Editor

Jacob Fisher

Videographer

Mallory Elder

Online Editor

Stephanie Smith

Designer

Gabrielle Stichweh

Photo Editor

Shae Combs

Opinion Editor

Mounir Lynch

Life & Arts Editor

Noelle Zielinski

News Editors

Zach Perrin

Lizzy Schmitt

University of Cincinnati

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