newsrecord.org@NewsRecord_UC /TheNewsRecord @thenewsrecord pg. 2 | Day in the life of pg. 7 | How to experience the UC Bearcat mascot pro sports in Cincinnati Wednesday, May 8, 2019 Bearcat Bound Edition TNR suggests BoK classes TNR STAFF existence of dinosaurs, specifically through Jurassic General education Park. The class doesn’t required classes may not exactly make you love be your favorite classes, but dinosaurs, but it made you they don’t have to be boring appreciate the finding of or mind numbing. UC offers fossils, and it was overall a many interesting classes to good time. fill breadth of knowledge (BoK) requirements, but Mitchell Parton | here’s a condensed list of Multimedia Director: The some of our favorites so you Internet and Everyday Life don’t have to weed through (COMM 2089) Catalyst to find them. It makes you think about the internet in different Matt Huffmon | Managing ways. At the end of the Editor: The Age of class it makes you feel Dinosaurs (GEOL 1008) very grateful for all the It was a wacky class that I technology that we have was somewhat forced into now, and how much our in order to fulfill an elective society has grown. It also and it ended up being makes you think about how extremely informative. It BoK Classes Continued talked about the way the on Page 6 media has portrayed the An artist’s rendering of the exterior of Probasco Auditorium. ILLUSTRATION PROVIDED BY WEISKOPF, WAGSTAFF AND GOETTEL UC expands to meet demand MITCHELL PARTON | MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR university an estimated total of $97.5 million. KEELY BROWN | NEWS EDITOR The plans include constructing an academic hall for the Colleges of Arts and Sciences (A&S) and Engineering and Incoming students at the University of Cincinnati will Applied Sciences (CEAS), converting the vacant Second experience a transformational period in the university’s Church of Christ Scientist at the corner of Clifton Avenue history throughout the next three years. The board of and Probasco Street into an auditorium and creating a trustees has approved three new projects bordering the new studio and working space for the College of Design, west side of campus to expand academic space. Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP). The projects, which the UC board of trustees voted to Expansion Continued on Page 4 move forward with at its April 23 meeting, will cost the The University of Cincinnati offers a variety of Breadth of Knowledge courses for students. ALEX MARTIN | PHOTO EDITOR May 8, 2019 Page 2 greeting fans during pregame celebrations. What’s it like to be At game time, he goes into the stadium to cheer along with the crowd and interact with the fans. Like the Bearcat mascot? with the players, games days take a toll on the OLIVIA TAYLOR | STAFF REPORTER Bearcat,” the student said. Bearcat’s physical and “I love the secrecy, because mental stamina. The turf is It’s commencement day in being the Bearcat isn’t 10 degrees warmer than the May and recent graduates about glory, bragging regular temperature, and are walking toward Nippert rights or people chanting being inside the fur costume Stadium in their caps and your name, and I can be can create even more heat. gowns. Friends and family the truest, most energetic “You can never sit still,” bustle around campus version of myself, without he said. “You always have as they try to get the anyone knowing.” to keep moving and doing best picture of their new Becoming the Bearcat something like riding in graduate. the golf cart, taking An selfies, anything undergraduate but sit on the student sidelines.” walks by A constant the crowds presence and The University of Cincinnati LGBTQ Center will walk in the Cincinnati Pride Parade on Saturday, June 22, sporting icon of the 2019. @UCLGBTQCENTER | INSTAGRAM a gray UC university, the T-shirt. He Bearcat has looks just formed close like any relationships LGBTQ Center to take other student, with regular but at any fans, even if UC event who is in the every eye is costume is a part in Cincinnati Pride on him. This mystery. seemingly “The Bearcat DAVID REES | FEATURES EDITOR Pride Index, which is a national listing of ordinary student recognizes LGBTQ friendly universities. In addition, hypes up the crowd [the fans] but they The University of Cincinnati’s LGBTQ UC was ranked #52 among the top LGBTQ and represents UC starts don’t recognize me when Center will be participating in the 2019 friendliest colleges. through its iconic mascot, with three days I’m not in the suit,” he said. Cincinnati Pride festival June 22. All UC “Bringing UC to Cincinnati Pride shows the Bearcat. of tryouts, which “Kids and fans will hug you students, staff, faculty, alumni, friends and the university’s commitment to creating Front and center at many include tests of physical all game and I could walk family are welcome to register to walk with and nurturing a welcoming environment school functions and strength, endurance and past them after the game UC on the parade route which begins at the for students, faculty, and staff who identify sporting events, the Bearcat improvisation with random and they have no idea.” corner of Seventh street and Central avenue as LGBTQ,” said Director of the LGBTQ is a position sworn to props. Any student can Being the Bearcat takes an at 11 a.m. in downtown Cincinnati. Center, Preston Keith. “It is a way to anonymity. The identity of try out, even those who exaggerated persona, and The LGBTQ Center will be working with showcase that there is a strong, vibrant, and the Bearcat is not revealed have not been on the UC the UC student who wears its Faculty and Staff Association to organize thriving community here that is supportive.” until the student graduates, cheerleading team. the costume has to adopt a strong UC presence at this year’s festival. This is not the first year that the LGBTQ which is a deliberate choice On game day, the Bearcat another personality when The center will be working with campus Center will be participating in pride, by the UC marketing wakes up as early as the they assume the role. partners to bring students, faculty and staff and it has proven to be a great platform department. players. Hours before “I’m just a regular student,” to the festival to march in the parade. for the center to be engaged with the “I have really close friends kickoff, he can be seen he said. “But once the The Pride festival will begin at noon at larger Cincinnati community. It creates who don’t know I’m the walking around campus costume comes on, I’m the Sawyer Point, where UC will be tabling opportunities for LGBTQ students to Bearcat. There’s a sassiness to showcase the LGBTQ resources and connect to resources, community and to the Bearcat that comes support available on campus to display support outside of UC as well, Keith said. out every time.” the university’s commitment to diversity, This year will be Keith’s first Cincinnati Still, the Bearcat says it inclusion and equality. Pride. takes a certain maturity to For the program coordinator of UC’s “I am excited to see what unique features represent UC while wearing LGBTQ Center, Jayson Douglas, Pride is will be incorporated in the Pride festival,” its most iconic symbol; there a time where he gets to envision himself Keith said. “In my experiences with other is a line between harmless walking alongside the LGBTQ+ giants; pride festivals, I have always found that it fun and inappropriate those that have come before him and made is a space for celebration and community behavior that should room so that he can come to work every day building. It is a reminder that there are so not be crossed. Despite and show up as his authentic self. many people who identify as LGBTQ or the responsibility, every “These same giants are people that made who are supportive and are allies with the moment as the Bearcat is a ways so that I can marry who I choose to LGBTQ community.” rush of excitement. marry and do so unapologetically,” said Beyond Pride there are many ways for “When the adrenaline Douglas. “Pride is historical, social and of the UC community to support the LGBTQ gets going, I feel like one of course, educational. I attend pride every community in Cincinnati, such as volunteer the football or basketball year. I even travel to other pride events in at local nonprofit organizations that provide players,” he said. “But being other states on occasion.” support services for LGBTQ members, the Bearcat is really just UC has made strides for the LGBTQ such as the Safe and Supported program about connecting with fans community on campus with the creation at Lighthouse Youth and Family Services, and making people laugh of the LGBTQ Center and sequentially Caracole and Women Helping Women. The University of Cincinnati mascot, the Bearcat, attends many on- and smile.” earning a 4.5 out of 5 stars in the Campus campus events such as sporting events. ALEX MARTIN | PHOTO EDITOR May 8, 2019 Page 3 Five impactful moments that happened over the past year third-year economics and “This is a true The new building, began advocating for the political science student, homecoming and honor to located on Reading Road removal of the McMicken’s is the new student body be the next leader of the near the 71 Interchange name, arguing that his president. His running mate, Carl H.