The News Record @NewsRecord_UC /TheNewsRecord @thenewsrecord Wednesday, November 6, 2019 HOMECOMING 2O19 pg. 3 | Homecoming pg. 4 | What will go in pg. 8 | AD Mike Bohn events around campus UC’s time capsule? could leave for USC PHOTO: ANDREW HIGLEY | UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI November 6, 2019 Page 2 The elusive dining hall only marketed to athletes QUINLAN BENTLEY | STAFF REPORTER website. Some have even taken to social media to protest what they say is UC’s Tucked quietly away on the 700 level of lack of transparency, while others view the the Richard E. Lindner Center, a little- facility’s existence as inconsequential. known dining facility has stirred up debate “[One] reason student athletes are likely surrounding preferential treatment of more aware of the facility is because student athletes. student-athletes’ meal plans support the The Varsity Club is a dining facility that operations of the facility,” said Reilly. “It debuted last fall as a partnership between doesn’t meet most students’ needs as do Food Services and UC Athletics to lessen other campus dining options that have demand at the university’s other dining wider food selections and continuous hours facilities in response to rising enrollment of operation from early morning to late and to better meet student athletes’ night,” she said. nutritional needs. Considering National Collegiate Before its transformation, the space was Athletic Association (NCAA) regulations originally titled the Seasongood Dining that prohibit universities from giving Room and was a faculty dining facility preferential treatment to student athletes, operated by the nonprofit Cincinnati Faculty Wentland said he views this lack of Club, Inc. As the organization’s membership University of Cincinnati dining hall The Varsity Club opened last fall and is aimed to cater towards student advertisement as an underhanded attempt athletes. QUINLAN BENTLEY | STAFF REPORTER declined, the dining room was forced to by UC to skirt the rules and offer athletes a close in 2017 — used only occasionally to CenterCourt’s eight entree stations and competition schedules as well as academic private dining facility. cater events, said M.B. Reilly, university additional salad options, said Katy Wahlke, course loads, they need to eat in shifts due “I think this is UC’s way of getting around spokesperson. director of food services at UC. The facility to space limitations.” these regulations,” he said. “It’s technically a Considerably smaller than other on- is completely open to all meal plans and Despite receiving a small amount of dining hall open to anyone, but only student campus dining facilities, the Varsity Club accepts other forms of payment as well, she publicity when it was first unveiled, the athletes are told about it, and I find that to seats only 50 to 75 people, said Reilly, said. facility is relatively unknown on campus. be incredibly dishonest.” adding that it would be more appropriate to Food served at the facility is no different Jordan Wentland, a second-year cyber Nevertheless, Reilly said the facility cannot call the space a “dining room.” than what is served at UC’s other dining security student, said he stumbled across handle additional demand. The space is also more limited in terms of halls. the Varsity Club completely by accident “The limited hours and seating already operating hours, only open Monday through “What all of this means in terms of actual while exploring campus. present basic space and service fulfillment Friday and closing between mealtimes – usage is that the space can fill up quickly,” “I never knew it existed,” said Wentland. issues, and additional promotion beyond the dinner is not served on Fridays. said Reilly. “There’s no mention of it anywhere on UCs initial marketing might well create more,” The Varsity Club also offers a smaller “For instance, if teams want to eat together dining sites or anything of the sort,” he said. she said. “Creating demand that cannot be selection of options with two entrée stations in order to keep pace with early morning UC Food Services has yet to list any fulfilled is a poor service model.” and a single salad stand, compared with to late day practice, training, travel and information about the facility on their Women’s honorary to host homecoming dance KEELY BROWN | NEWS EDITOR said Tibebe. The organization’s “Daisy Scholarship” will also be presented at Sigma Phi, a women’s honorary at the the event. The scholarship is given to a University of Cincinnati, will host the 12th third-year or above who exemplifies the annual Fall Ball during the university’s honorary’s pillars, said Tibebe. homecoming weekend. “These are just kind of factors that make The official UC homecoming dance our event unique because we really want will be held at Bogart’s Thursday, Nov. students from all sectors of campus to 7, from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. The annual event come under one roof and celebrate and was discontinued years ago but was enjoy being a Bearcat,” she said. rejuvenated by Sigma Phi in the early Fall Ball is open to anyone, but the 2000s, said Abygia Tibebe, co-fall ball organization specifically targets students chair for the organization alongside and alumni, said Tibebe. Tickets are $10 Amari Thomas. for individuals and $7 for groups, which “It was a tradition — Sigma Phi brought include entrance to the event, snacks it back and made it cooler and hipper,” she and transportation. Tibebe encourages said. “We know that homecoming week students to purchase tickets as soon as has like a ton of events going on, and so possible. the fact that we’re able to bring back this “We make group tickets on a little bit tradition again means a lot.” cheaper because we want groups and Sigma Phi was founded in 1994 and its organizations to come to our event, and Sigma Phi will host the 12th annual Fall Ball during the university’s homecoming weekend. PROVIDED foundational pillars include women’s that was our way to intensify that,” she empowerment, scholarship and love spirit, and desire and dedication to been able to work with them and ensure said. “They should buy [tickets] soon, and for UC, said Tibebe. The organization making a difference in the future. that everything will be good for the we will love for anyone and everyone to be strives to fulfill its pillars through Bogart’s, a popular music venue on Vine night,” Tibebe said. “We want it to be as at our event because we truly believe that campus involvement, programming, and Street, was chosen because of its ideal successful as possible, so we just wanted with different partnerships with officers service and outreach efforts within the location close to campus, said Tibebe. an event close to students.” and organizations, we can make this event surrounding community. Sigma Phi also “We know that Bogart’s has a really The UC Bearcat will attend Fall Ball awesome.” recognizes women for their achievements, good relationship with UC, so we’ve and food and drinks will be available, November 6, 2019 Page 3 Here’s what to do during homecoming Insurance firm to join 1819 iHub KEELY BROWN | NEWS EDITOR Nov. 8 Head over to Clifton Avenue four hours before The University of Bicentennial Bash kickoff to experience the Cincinnati’s 2019 This family-friendly “Down the Drive” parade, homecoming celebration celebration from 7:30-11 where students, alumni and will take place Nov. 8-9 and p.m. features food, drinks, members of the community host events unique to the Greater’s “Boldly Bearcat” display their Bearcat spirit. university’s bicentennial. ice cream, a toast to 200 Food trucks and Whether you’re a UC years, special-edition UC complimentary swag will be student or an alumnus swag and entertainment available. coming back to campus, by The Sly Band and DJ here are some of the events ETrayn. Alumni Band Parade and you can get involved with: Halftime Performances CAHS Alumni & Friends The Alumni Band Nov. 6 ‘Back in Class’ “Marching 200 for 200” Join the UC College of will feature 200 alumni McMicken Madness Allied Health Sciences for marching in celebration of Get excited for “Back in Class,” a continuing UC’s Bicentennial at the homecoming with RallyCats education program for Arena Club in Fifth Third and the UC Student Alumni alumni and friends during Arena from 5-7 p.m. Council (SAC) on McMicken Homecoming week at the Lawn from Noon- 2 p.m. Health Sciences Building CEAS & Nursing from 8:30 a.m.-Noon Homecoming Celebration Nearly Naked Mile This year, the college Swing by the College of Cincinnati Insurance Companies Inc. has officially moved staff into the University of Cincinnati’s 1819 Strip down and run around is partnering with the Engineering and Allied Innovation Hub. ADAM DOTY | CONTRIBUTOR UC’s campus to raise money Improving Aging Education Science and College of QUINLAN BENTLEY | STAFF REPORTER “If you think about it, we really haven’t to benefit the Cincinnati Initiative, an initiative in Nursing bicentennial had a place where the university and the chapter of the St. Vincent De the School of Social Work homecoming celebration on Cincinnati Insurance Companies, Inc. community can connect,” Adams said. Paul Foundation at 7 p.m. at supported by the James Schneider Quad four hours (CIC) has officially moved staff into its new 1819 is just one example of a larger, Sigma Sigma Commons. Gruber Endowed Fund for before kickoff. space at the University of Cincinnati’s 1819 nationwide trend –public universities across Aging Education. Join college faculty, staff Innovation Hub, solidifying yet another the country are similarly adopting their own Nov.