Mitt Romney, the newly minted presidential candidate for the Republican party, brought his campaign to Cincinnati Friday, his fi rst stop after the Republican National Convention.

Approximately 3,000 people gathered in the lobby of the Cincinnati Museum Center at 10 a.m. to hear Romney and prominent Ohio Republicans speak. Speakers included Sen. Rob Portman, Rep. Steve Chabot and Speaker of the House, Rep. John Boehner.

“I was asked why we made Cincinnati our fi rst stop after becoming the nominee,” Romney said. “I think you gave them the answer this morning.”

The former Massachusetts Governor promised to create approximately 12 million jobs in America with an estimated 460,000 jobs in Ohio because of the Romney-Ryan fi ve-part plan. The plan includes using America’s natural energy resources, opening up trade, improving education, cutting the defi cit and lifting regulations on small businesses, Romney said.

Romney praised Ohio Gov. John Kasich — who was not in attendance — for making Ohio one of the best states in job growth by making it more business friendly and lowering taxes.

“John’s showing the president, if the president would only listen, how it is you can bring more jobs back to a state,” Romney said.

Unemployment numbers from July — the most recent month statistics have been compiled for — show Ohio’s unemployment rate at 7.2 percent, more than one percentage point below the national average of 8.3 percent, according to

the Bureau of Labor Statistics.Romney’s speech focused heavily on the

economy. The Republican Party failed to cut the defi cit in the past, he said. If elected president, Romney promised to “get us on track to balance the budget.”

“We’re going to fi nally have to do something that Republicans have spoken about for a long time, and for a while we didn’t do it,” Romney said. “When we had the lead, we let people down.

We need to make sure we don’t let them down this time.”

Romney criticized the Obama administration for not fulfi lling many of its promises, which was a common theme among the speakers present.

“The president made a lot of promises in his campaign,” Boehner said. “There was a lot of belief that things really would change. He’s the one who said if we pass the stimulus bill, unemployment wouldn’t exceed eight percent.”

The United States has exceeded 42-consecutive months of unemployment above 8 percent, Boehner said.

Approximately 23 million Americans are out of work or are unemployed, and this is proof that Obama hasn’t kept his promise of creating more jobs, Romney said.

“If you have a coach that is 0-23 million, you say it’s time to get a new coach,” Romney said. “It’s time for America to see a winning season again, and we’re going to bring it to them.”

The crowd was raucous and energetic — a “Mitt” chant broke out after he mentioned repealing ObamaCare — and included a surprising number of young people, Betsy Collins, 63, of Middletown

The University of Cincinnati’s international student population is on the rise and in line with statewide numbers.

With a current population of fi ve percent ¬— or approximately 2,600 students — UC has the second largest population of international students in Ohio, said Jonathan Weller, director of UC International Admissions.

“About 60 percent of our international students are from Asia, but we try to enroll a very diverse population,” Weller said. “UC is currently home to students from China, India, Vietnam, Iraq, and we’re exploring Brazil and Turkey.”

There are a multitude of factors making UC an attractive choice for international students, Weller said.

“One of the big draws for undergraduates is the co-op program,” Weller said. “It’s a big opportunity for students that other schools don’t have. When we start talking to students about Cincinnati’s opportunities, medium sized city, low cost of living, family values and diversity - students really like that.”

One of the goals of the UC2019 Strategic Plan is to increase the number of international students to eight percent — the university is currently on track to meet that goal, Weller said.

“This goal is in line with more prestigious universities across the country because those universities already have an international

population of eight percent,” Weller said.

The growth in international student enrollment at UC is part of a statewide trend at Ohio institutions of higher learning.

Ohio had the greatest percentage increase of international students in 2010-2011 — the most recent year that such

data is available for — with 10.5 percent, according to the Open Doors report published by the Institute of International Education. Ohio is ranked eighth in the United States for enrollment of international students.

“Universities are being proactive about enrollment level and surviving fi nancially,” Weller said. “The next large market is international students.”

Ohio State University has the most international students in Ohio with more than 5,500, according to their Offi ce of International Affairs website.

Kent State University has approximately 2,000, according to its admissions website.

“Ohio has a large number of excellent public and private universities, and families abroad are interested in the lifestyle of the American Midwest where we enjoy academic quality and four beautiful seasons,” said David J. Keitges, director of international education at Miami University (MU).

At MU, fi ve percent of the 20,780 undergraduates and 10 percent of the 2,459 students are international students, Keitges said.

“One of the strongest reasons for recruiting international students is that we feel as a university, we need to prepare our students for the 21st century global economy,” Weller said.

The University of Cincinnati Undergraduate Student Government announced its goal to increase student awareness and participation in student government, Tuesday night.

“I think that the most important thing is getting new students exposed to the government process,” said Student Body President Lane Hart. “Getting students exposed to the fact that senate’s here and getting out amongst the students instead of just being in our senate room upstairs.”

“Our slogan when we were campaigning was ‘Students for Students’,” Hart said. “And really that encompasses everything from students working on committees with administrators to students being out in the community giving back.”

The senate originally wanted to host Wednesday’s weekly meeting outside behind the Tangeman University Center to facilitate this plan, but inclement weather necessitated the senate moving the meeting in doors.

A bill to enact a new “Student Government Toolbox”,

a marketing and public relations tool conglomeration designed for better communication between the senate and student body, was voted in by a recognizable majority of senators.

The “Toolset” will be universally accessible by student groups and includes the Student Government Twitter, the Student Government Facebook page, Student Government Blackboard Polls, Student Government Blackboard News, access to the Student Government Calendar on Google, Student Government Design, Television, Photography, Website, and weekly Bearcast Radio program, said Christina Beer, SG marketing director.

Student government will host weekly radio shows every Friday. Hosted by Hart and Vice President Maesa Idries, their plan is to have students call in and even guest host, Hart said.

“We’re not trying to create more red tape,” said Shyamal Ruparel, third- year engineering student. “We are trying to make it so people are aware about the resources that we have and let them know that everyone in the student government and everyone at the university can use them.”

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The University of Cincinnati’s Clermont Campus has a new associate dean following its most recent appointment.

Rajiv Soman was appointed to the position Aug. 1 following an extensive search process that sought to draw candidates from

a nationwide pool. Soman brings with him over 20 years of experience in higher education, including 18 years at UC.

“I saw it as an opportunity

to continue contributing to the university, and student learning—that is my ultimate passion,” Soman said.

It was Soman’s dedication to student learning that secured him the spot, said Gregory Sojka, dean of the Clermont campus.

“He was the only candidate that had the unanimous recommendation of the search committee,” Sojka said. “He is totally student focused.”

The main vision for the Clermont campus is to make undergraduate research available to all students, Soman said.

“It is not just about what you learn in the classroom,” Soman said. “It is about building on classroom knowledge with real world experiences.”

The hope is to establish opportunities for students to collaborate across disciplines in projects that involve not only scholastic and technical components, but also emphasize the importance of communication and group collaboration, Soman said.

He is dedicated to encouraging the undergraduate student to set high goals and work hard to achieve them, Soman said.

“If you dream big, you have a chance at success,” Soman said.

Soman, a native of India, received his bachelor’s of science

The University of Cincinnati, Case Western Reserve University and Ohio State University began collaborative efforts in August with the intent of increasing the pace for approval of shared clinical trials.

The new system should cut approval times from two to three months to about two weeks, said Dr. Carl Fichtenbaum, the assistant dean at UC’s College of Medicine.

The beauty of the system is that it only requires the approval of one institution instead of every participant, Fichtenbaum said.

The new plan has already shown its effectiveness at UC, Fichtenbaum said. He has been researching infectious diseases for 13 years.

“I’m glad it’s working for the study I’m working on,” Fichtenbaum said. “I can’t see a negative.”

The university’s involvement in the new plan came at the suggestion of Susan Groh, manager of Regulatory Affairs for UC’s AIDS Clinical Trials Unit, Fichtenbaum said.

“[Groh] thought it would be a great idea if we used the review board of Case Western,” Fichtenbaum said. “The effort was initiated by the colleges, I just happened to be the fi rst to use it.”

Groh was unable to respond to interview requests.

Efforts are being made across Ohio to increase the pace of clinical study approval and attract out of state medical research investments, said Gov. John Kasich in the State of the State Address on August 7.

“You see, we’re working now to make a medical corridor,” Kasich said. “And what we know is if we get them to work together, we can have an awesome result in all the fi elds of medicine today and bring tremendous advancement to us. Divided we fall, work together we win.”

In Ohio, biopharmaceutical companies invested $734.6 million in research and development, and there were 2,906 ongoing

ROMNEY ON STUMPRepublicans campaign for votes in Cincinnati

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told the thousands at Time warner cable Arena that obama had worked tirelessly to make the economy more stable, ease college students loans and improve health care.

“he believes that when you’ve worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity . . . you do not slam it shut behind you . . . No, you reach back, and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed,” she said.

The audience erupted into their longest, loudest cheers of the night when Michelle obama came to the stage to the tune stevie wonder’s “signed, sealed, delivered, I’m Yours.” They waved thousands of blue signs: “we Love Michelle” and interrupted her from time to time with chants of “Four more years!”

her appeal capped a day that included the adoption of a party platform that for the first time embraces gay marriage but dropped the party’s earlier support for Jerusalem’s status as Israel’s capital. Republicans quickly pounced on the omission, with house Majority Leader eric cantor of Virginia saying the administration was distancing itself from Israel.

The platform also stirred controversy with another omission _ no reference to God. It also included strong support for abortion rights.

The evening saw a diverse parade of speakers that included san Antonio Mayor Julian castro, the first Latino keynote speaker in convention history, as well as the chairman of the congressional hispanic caucus, the first woman to reach the rank of Army three-star general, Black members of congress, and the convention chairman, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Together, they served as a not-

so-subtle nod to the changing demographics of the nation.

“My family’s story isn’t special. what’s special is the America that makes our story possible,” castro said. “ours is a nation like no other — a place where great journeys can be made in a single generation. . . . No matter who you are or where you come from, the path is always forward.”

More than 300 miles away, obama used the campus of a historically black university in Norfolk, Va., as his last campaign stop before he heads to charlotte on wednesday for the final two days of the convention.

“we’ve come too far to turn back now,” obama said at Norfolk state University. “we’ve created a lot of jobs. But we’ve got more jobs to create.”

speaking to an enthusiastic, primarily black audience, obama cast the election as a choice between a president who looks out for the middle class and a candidate who’d raise taxes on them to cut taxes for the wealthy. he repeated his warning that Republicans are expecting dispirited democrats to help them get elected and are running ads to underscore that “everything’s bad and it’s all obama’s fault.”

“They’re counting on you, maybe not to vote for Romney, but they’re counting on you to feel discouraged,” he said.

obama said he planned to watch the first lady’s speech at the white house, with their two daughters, and would try not to let the girls see him cry, as her speeches make him “misty.”

New York. cuomo, who spoke at the 2000 and 2008 democratic conventions, is avoiding the national spotlight and keeping a low profile at the convention.

several potential candidates are visiting convention delegations this week from states, such as Iowa and south carolina, that vote early in the nominating process. They include sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, 52, and Mark warner of Virginia, 57, as well as Maryland Gov. Martin o’Malley, 49. o’Malley is using his seat as the head of the democratic Governors Association to make fundraising and political contacts.

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reviewing the ruling, as well as whether or not it would appeal, with Virginia Tech officials.

sen. Robert Menendez, d-N.J., sponsor of legislation to increase penalties against colleges and universities that fail to provide timely warnings of campus emergencies, said in a statement that duncan’s decision showed that “the penalties for putting lives in danger absolutely must be increased to match the seriousness in which we take the safety of our children.”

with Afghan officials, who passed him over to the deA.The drug-fighting agency equipped Jaweed with a tape recorder

and a tiny video camera and had him tell Mohammed that he knew a man who was in the market for opium. Mohammed eagerly provided the opium and, later, nearly 2 kilograms —about 4 pounds _ of heroin.

deA agents then seized Mohammed and packed him off to trial in washington.

Mohammed’s defense attorney argued that no evidence linked the drug sales to an attempted attack on the air base. The trial judge, though, agreed with prosecutors that Mohammed was planning to use some of his drug profits to buy a car that would transport Taliban. In settling Mohammed’s judicial fate, the court combined those plans with Mohammed’s own tape-recorded statements about his hopes for how the heroin would poison the United states.

“May God turn all the infidels to dead corpses,” Mohammed said, according to one recording.

The appellate court concluded that the narco-terrorism law applied, saying that “it is clear that congress intended to punish those who support terrorism directly ... as well as indirectly.”

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KANsAs cITY (+2.5) over Atlanta: Reports out of the chiefs’ training camp say the team likes its newest coach, but that was also what was said about the Browns under Romeo crennel. Take the home team and the points because Atlanta is almost as overrated as the chargers on an annual basis.

san Francisco (+5) over GReeN BAY: This is the shakiest pick of the week. The Packers will probably score 49 points and leave Alex smith’s corpse on Brett Favre Boulevard, but I am taking the points and the surprise team from a year ago. here’s to hoping Jim harbaugh has something up his sleeve.

ARIZoNA (+2.5) over seattle: This is another game that honestly doesn’t matter and could go either way. so, when confronted with an undesirable proposition, take the home team and hope for the best.

carolina (-1) over TAMPA BAY: The Buccaneers are not a good team and they will be facing the most exciting quarterback in football. cam Newton should have a field day against an inexperienced defense and the Greg schiano era will get off to a rocky start. Give the points in the National convention Bowl.

deNVeR (-1) over Pittsburgh: Peyton Manning’s shoulder could be permanently separated at any time. The Broncos’ offense has only been functioning as a unit for a little more than a month, and the steelers usually get off to strong starts. I don’t care about any of that because the Broncos will win by a field goal and the Manning era will get off to a winning start in denver.

BALTIMoRe (-7) over cincinnati: Ray Rice might be the only viable weapon the Ravens’ offense possesses, but he dominates the Bengals on a regular basis. on the other sideline, Andy daulton has looked less than stellar in the preseason and the Bengals don’t have any real threats outside of A.J. Green. This one should be a snorefest.

oAKLANd (pk) over san diego: carson Palmer will have a decent game against the consistently overrated chargers. Phillip Rivers is out of weapons and will preside over the last offense Norv Turner will ever coach in the NFL. Not that this game matters, but esPN saw the need to put it on the bill for Monday Night Football, so enjoy watching the Black hole’s inhabitants.

to make an effort to further themselves outside of the university grounds? only time will tell.

The individuals who don’t put forth the effort to make something out of these next four years might find themselves a part of the 60 percent of college graduates who are under-employed or unemployed. But those of us that take advantage of the opportunities out there might just unlock the key to a successful life outside of the farm.

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inevitable, but in this case I think it’s so even-keel that nobody will even waste their breath.

After all, how much different can a character who has given his entire life to “the program” be?

To Jeremy Renner’s credit, he filled the role of Aaron cross (the would-be Jason Bourne) well. so well, that if damon’s face was somehow cGI animated onto Renner’s body, nobody but hardcore Bourne-buffs and Matt damon groupies would know the difference.

considering that this movie is simply an extension of the Bourne novels, the disappointing ending shouldn’t surprise anyone. It has no resolution, nor cliffhanger. It is the worst of both worlds. The audience is left with a sense that neither side is out of the woods, yet there isn’t enough reason to believe that there will be another.

I hope there is another, though, if only to keep from tarnishing the trilogy.

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said. ohio, which has played a pivotal role in two of the last three

presidential elections, is also a battleground for a senatorial race, which sees ohio Attorney General Josh Mandel attempting to depose sherrod Brown.

“I am so pleased and proud to see young people excited about and involved in the Republican Party, like Josh Mandel,” collins said.

Mandel spoke about his race — in which he has made a 17-point comeback — for a senate seat with sherrod Brown.

“when we started this senate campaign about a year ago, we were down 17 points,” Mandel said. “Around the super Bowl it was around 12 points and they were saying, well, at least he’ll make sherrod Brown spend his time here. Around spring training it was down around 10 points and they said, well, maybe this kid’s got an outside shot.”

Mandel then highlighted his recent accomplishments and gains in polls.

“A month ago it was around 7 points and they said well, maybe this Josh guy can actually do this. Last sunday a new poll came out and it has us tied 44-44,” Mandel said.

while obamacare was scarcely mentioned, dr. Brad wenstrup, an ohio congressional candidate, said that it would “erode the doctor-patient relationship,” and that there will not be enough providers.

Alex Triantafilou, chairman of the hamilton country Republican Party, announced that the “Buckeye Blitz” would be held next saturday, where local Republicans have pledged to go door-to-door to campaign for Romney and Ryan.

Romney currently trails President Barack obama by one percentage point, according to a Gallup poll published Tuesday.

in chemistry with honors from Bombay University, and his master’s of science in applied chemistry from the Faculty of Technology and engineering, M.s. University of Baroda, India. he earned his doctorate in analytical chemistry from Northeastern University, Boston.

Before his appointment at clermont, soman was a professor at the college of engineering and Applied science. Prior to the merger of the college of engineering and the college of Applied sciences, he also served as department head at the college of Applied sciences, where he managed the chemical technology program, the culinary arts and science program and the horticulture program.

tremendous advancement to us. divided we fall, work together we win.”

In ohio, biopharmaceutical companies invested $734.6 million in research and development, and there were 2,906 ongoing clinical trials across the state in 2008, according to a 2008 report by Archstone consulting, now a division of The hackett Group.

encouraging, hart said. Alanna sudberry, second-year arts and science major, went to the sG meeting for the first time on wednesday.

“I wasn’t expecting this much organization,” sudberry said. “I have to commend them, they did a really good job.”

Michelle obama held a campaign conference call with college students across the country Tuesday.

students nationwide involved in the obama re-election campaign and members of students for obama were invited to participate in the call, which she made from charlotte, N.c.

obama’s initiatives to keep college affordable through methods like increasing federal student aid and working to keep interest rates for student loans low was the subject of much of the call.

“when it comes to making college affordable, Barack has got your back, and he’s got your back in so many other ways as well,” obama said.

The first lady noted that the president is looking out for

women with his “historic health reform,” which gives women access to “free preventative care – things like mammograms and contraception,” she said.

obama assured those on the call that the president is thinking about them, and that he is working to “rebuild this economy” so that college graduates’ “hard work is rewarded” when they graduate, she said.

she stressed that the obama administration is committed to social equality for all Americans.

“And he’s also working every single day to make sure that no matter where you come from, what you look like or who you love, you’re going to be treated fairly in this country,” obama said.

The first lady encouraged everyone on the call to go out and campaign for the president. Young, first-time voters could be

the deciding factor in a victory for Barack obama’s reelection, she said.

Ronell chatmon, a student of hampton University in Virginia who serves as president of the political science and prelaw clubs there, introduced the first lady.

“I started volunteering for President obama when I was 12 years old,” chatmon said. “he was running for U.s. senate, and his passion and purpose put a spark in a young kid’s mind. I’ve been with him ever since.”

obama was the keynote speaker Tuesday night at the democratic National convention. President obama is scheduled to speak Thursday.

For more information about politics and the presidential election, visit newsrecord.org.

clinical trials across the state in 2008, according to a 2008 report by Archstone consulting, now a division of The hackett Group.

For more information about the newest members of the University of Cincinnati administration at the uptown and satellite campuses, check out newsrecord.org.

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WASHINGTON — An appellate court on Tuesday upheld the conviction of a former Afghan Taliban member who’s serving a first-of-its-kind life sentence in the Southern California desert.

Khan Mohammed was the first Afghan Taliban member to be tried in a U.S. courtroom, and the first individual convicted under a 2006 federal narco-terrorism law. Now incarcerated at U.S. Penitentiary Victorville, 80 miles east of Los Angeles, Mohammed failed to persuade the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that his drug dealing couldn’t be linked to a specific act of terrorism.

“Mohammed need not have planned for his drug proceeds to fund terrorist ends,” Judge Thomas B. Griffith wrote. “It

is sufficient that the proceeds went to a terrorist _ him.”

Even with some national-security secrets blacked out, the appellate court’s 23-page majority opinion sheds light on the dangerous operation in which a U.S. informer and Drug Enforcement Administration agents ensnared Mohammed in Afghanistan. Coming from a court that’s sometimes called the second most powerful in the United States because it oversees many federal agency actions, the decision also could shape future narco-terrorist prosecutions.

While upholding Mohammed’s conviction and life sentence, the appellate court panel gave the 42-year-old native of Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province one final lifeline: Two of the panel’s three judges agreed that Mohammed still may pursue claims that his initial trial attorney

was ineffective, in part for failing to aggressively challenge the credibility of the key prosecution witness. Mohammed’s initial trial attorney didn’t call any defense witnesses and offered no evidence on his behalf.

Prosecutors, meanwhile, presented considerable evidence that Mohammed viewed drug dealing as a way to hurt the United States. The trial judge, Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, noted at Mohammed’s 2008 sentencing that “he equates selling heroin destined for American cities with shooting/attacking Americans who have armed forces in Afghanistan,” a trial transcript shows, and secret recordings showed Mohammed bluntly speaking for himself.

“We will eliminate them, whether by opium or by shooting,” Mohammed said to a wired-up U.S. informant while in Afghanistan, according to a tape recording

presented at the four-day trial.Afghanistan produces about 90 percent

of the world’s opium, according to the United Nations. Last year, the value of the country’s opium crop leapt to an estimated $1.4 billion.

The case had its beginnings in 2006, when an Afghan named Jaweed, who like many Afghan men has only one name, met a former Taliban official living in Pakistan. The former Taliban official was plotting an attack on Jalalabad airfield in eastern Afghanistan, and he dispatched Jaweed to meet with Mohammed in Afghanistan. Mohammed was a connected man, involved in shady business, according to testimony.

Jaweed told Mohammed he’d get missiles to attack the key air base, but he had a change of heart and began cooperating

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Most Democrats tell you it’s too soon to start talking about it. Their focus, they say, has to be entirely on re-electing President Barack Obama.

But as they gathered in Charlotte for the Democratic National Convention, the truth is that some of them already have begun jockeying for position to run for the presidential nomination themselves in 2016. The speculation has started, too.

Will Vice President Joe Biden run? What about Secretary of State Hillary Clinton? Is there an unknown star in the speaking schedule who’s waiting to burst onto the national stage and into a campaign, as Barack Obama did as a Senate candidate giving the convention keynote speech in 2004? What about the senators who are making visits to breakfasts with delegations from early caucus and primary states?

The reason for the speculation is that Democrats assume that Obama will win a second term and be ineligible to run again in 2016. The unspoken alternative is that he will lose. But that would take him out of the running in 2016, too.

“I think it is way too early to have this conversation,” said Mo Elleithee, a national political consultant and spokesman for Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential bid. “A week before the Democratic convention in 2004, most people had never even heard of Barack Obama. There’s so much that can be changed between now and then.”

True, said Jim Williams, a polling analyst with Public Policy Polling, Democratic-leaning pollsters based in North Carolina. But that hasn’t stopped the firm from asking potential primary and caucus-goers in New Hampshire and Iowa about whom they like for 2016. It’s “just for fun,” Williams said, “just to see where people’s heads are.”

So far, potential Democratic voters overwhelmingly lean toward Clinton, Williams said. Fifty-five percent of those surveyed in mid-August in New Hampshire preferred the former first lady. Nine percent liked the prospect of Biden as the nominee in four years. It “might be instructive” that Clinton has such a dominant lead, Williams said. “There’s a deep sense that it’s her turn if she chooses to run.”

“Win or lose _ and I do think the president will prevail _ the frontrunners certainly have to be Secretary Clinton and Joe Biden,” said Robin Rorapaugh, a political consultant based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., who advised the Obama campaign in 2008.

If they have the right of first refusal — which itself is open to question in a party prone to first-time candidates — does either one even want it?

Neither Clinton nor Biden has said they do, although there was the recent gleeful suggestion from Republicans, including former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, that Obama dump his gaffe-prone vice president and replace him with Clinton this time.

Age, though, might be the biggest reason for the two to decline another bid for the White House. Clinton would be 69 on Inauguration Day 2017, and Biden would be 73.

Plenty of younger potential contenders are emerging, although with Clinton and Biden out of the mix, Williams said, Public Policy Polling’s surveys show “kind of a jumble,” led primarily by Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York.

Cuomo, 54, has sky-high approval ratings even among Republicans in his own state, and he made friends among progressive Democrats for his support of same-sex marriage

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — First lady Michelle Obama headlined the opening Tuesday of the Democratic National Convention, an emotion-charged finale to an opening act designed to build enthusiasm among women and minorities whose votes are critical to re-electing her husband.

“We must work like never before,” she told the convention, urging them to help President Barack Obama defeat Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. She asked supporters to rally to her husband’s side as they did in first helping him win the White House four years ago.

“And we must once again come together and stand together for the man we can trust to keep moving this great county forward, my husband, our president, Barack Obama,” she told the cheering delegates.

In a largely personal tale, the first lady tried to connect her husband to working Americans, talking about his humble beginnings, his decision to forgo a high-paying career in favor of community work and public service, and about his life as a loving husband and father. She recounted her husband’s modest upbringing by a single mother and his grandparents and later their life as a young married couple who had student loan bills higher than their mortgage.

“Today, after so many struggles and triumphs and moments that have tested my husband in ways I never could have imagined, I have seen firsthand that being president doesn’t change who you are _ no, no it reveals who you are,” she said to a thunderous ovation.

The first lady — lauded earlier by her brother, Craig Robinson, and her sister-in-law, Maya Soetoro-Ng —

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WASHINGTON — U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has reinstated a $27,500 fine against Virginia Tech, finding that the university failed to provide a timely warning to the campus community in the 2007 shooting rampage that left 33 people dead.

Duncan reversed a ruling by the department’s chief administrative judge, who earlier this year overturned the fine after concluding that the university did not violate a federal law requiring timely warnings of safety threats.

A federal court appeal is a “strong possibility,” a university spokesman said.

School officials said they had believed the approximately 7:15 a.m. shooting of two students at a dorm was a domestic incident. An e-mail went out at 9:26 a.m. alerting the campus community of the shooting and urging people to use caution and contact police if they saw anything suspicious.

Duncan said that even if campus police

had believed the shooting were domestic, the university took a series of actions that demonstrated “concerns that the crime might represent a continuing threat to the campus,” including locking down its Center for Professional and Continuing Education at 8 a.m., canceling bank deposits at 8:25 a.m. and locking down its Veterinary College shortly after 9 a.m.

“Although the police department hypothesized that the crime was ‘domestic in nature,’ the record is clear that the respondent had not located the suspect, had not found the weapon, and was confronted with the distinct possibility that the gunman was armed and still at large,” Duncan wrote in his decision.

“Faced with this possibility, the respondent should have resolved any doubts it had regarding the timing of the warning by issuing the warning before 9:26 a.m.”

Between 9:40 and 9:51 a.m., student Seung-hui Cho killed 30 people and himself inside a classroom building. A second e-mail went out at 9:50 a.m. warning people to stay put because a gunman was “loose on campus.”

Duncan reinstated half of the $55,000 fine

originally imposed by his department. He said the university should pay the maximum $27,500 fine for failing to provide a timely warning. He directed an administrative law judge to determine the fine for the university’s “inconsistent” warning policies.

Larry Hincker, associate vice president for university relations, said: “Once again, the higher education community has been put on notice that timeliness is situational and will be determined by department officials after the fact.

“The federal government has never defined a timely warning and continues to hold universities accountable even when a university’s actions are well within the department’s own guidelines,” he added.

A spokesman for Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli said the office was

4

Michelle Obama: ‘We must work like never before’

OLIVIER DOULIERY | ABACA PRESS

LOOKING TO WOMEN First lady Michelle Obama speaks to the delegates after finishing her speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, Tuesday, September 4, 2012.

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

DONATIONS IN PERSPECTIVE Chart showing donations to the Democratic and Republican national committees in years before a presidential election.

First lady appeals to women, minorities for re-election effort

duncan

Weekend EditionSept. 5 | 2012

NEWSRECORD.ORG WORLD5

MEXICO CITY — Mexican authorities on Monday ordered 12 federal police offi cers to remain jailed as a criminal probe deepened into why they ambushed a U.S. Embassy vehicle last week in a hail of bullets that left two Americans wounded.

Attorney General Marisela Morales said that a court had accepted a request that the offi cers be kept in jail for 40 days, a key step toward fi ling criminal charges.

"We are asking for this detention to have the time necessary to carry out an exhaustive investigation," Morales said.

The detentions came in the ambush Friday of an armored Toyota SUV belonging to the U.S. Embassy. It was carrying two U.S. Embassy employees and a Mexican navy captain to a naval installation about 35 miles south of the capital. The embassy vehicle was cut off by another vehicle carrying armed men, who opened fi re when the embassy vehicle tried to fl ee. At least three and possibly fi ve other vehicles joined in the attack, according to Mexican news reports.

Only after reinforcements from the navy came did the federal police attack on the vehicle halt. Press reports said more than 50 bullets struck the embassy vehicle.

The two wounded Americans were hospitalized Friday

in Mexico City, but their whereabouts and conditions were unknown Monday. The U.S. Embassy refused to comment. Last week, the embassy declined to identify the U.S. agency the two worked for or to say why they were traveling to the naval facility, which an embassy statement referred to as a training facility.

The ambush underscored possible criminal connections of the federal police, a force of some 35,000 offi cers that U.S. offi cials have helped vet and train as a key force against brutal organized gangs.

At least one of the 12 federal police offi cers detained appears to have received training from the United States. Francisco Humberto Segovia Dominguez, a 35-year-old native of southern Chiapas state, is mentioned in a U.S. diplomatic cable dated Nov. 18, 2008, as among offi cers approved for small arms and basic explosives training. The cable, obtained and released by WikiLeaks last year, said the embassy had "no credible evidence of gross violations of human rights" by Segovia or any other offi cer listed.

Morales did not specify what crimes the detained offi cers might eventually be charged with. She said the offi cers had not explained why they fi red on a vehicle with diplomatic license plates that offered no threat, although Morales said some of the offi cers cited confusion, presumably over whether the vehicle carried gangsters.

"For the moment, no charge or line of question has been discarded," she said, adding that prosecutors are in "total collaboration" with the Mexican navy and U.S. offi cials.

Except for a statement more than 12 hours after the shooting, the U.S. Embassy has remained silent, declining to provide a detailed account of what took place. Mexican authorities have also kept details of the attack largely secret.

Mexican news reports, though, say that many of the federal police were out of uniform and operating in unmarked vehicles when they carried out the initial attack and subsequent pursuit of the embassy vehicle, fi rst on a dirt road, then on a two-lane highway leading to the resort city of Cuernavaca.

The area were the ambush took place has been in dispute between various powerful drug gangs, including remnants of the Beltran Leyva syndicate. The Proceso newsweekly said the U.S. Embassy vehicle was helping Mexican marines try to pinpoint Hector Beltran Leyva, a fugitive kingpin of the gang.

Lawyers for the detained police offi cers say their clients were on an undercover operation a day after a kidnapping in the area of a functionary from the National Institute of Anthropology. They did not explain why they fi red on a vehicle with diplomatic license plates that offered no threat.

DAVID ENDERS | MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS

ANTAKYA, Turkey — The number of people killed in violence in Syria has skyrocketed since U.N. efforts to broker a peace agreement fell apart in June, with the total number of dead, including both government loyalists and opponents, now likely surpassing 30,000 since demonstrations against President Bashar Assad began nearly 18 months ago, according to recently available statistics.

The pace of killing grew by 55 percent in July and then another 48 percent in August, according to numbers gathered by the Syrian Network for Human Rights, which documents rebel and civilian deaths.

While the increase in violence has been obvious — the rebels launched assaults on the country's capital, Damascus, and its business center, Aleppo, in July, and the government counterattacked in August — the speed with which the violence has surged, as captured by the numbers, is breathtaking.

During April and May, the two months when the U.N.'s Syria envoy, Kofi Annan, was actively trying to fi nd an

accommodation between Assad and his opponents, the death toll dropped 36 percent from its previous high, in March, when the Syrian Network for Human Rights recorded 2,101 deaths. In May, that number had fallen to 1,344.

But once the rebels declared an end to the cease-fi re and the U.N. pulled back its observers in mid-June, deaths shot up quickly — by 78 percent, to 2,336, in June; up another 55 percent, to 3,643, in July, and then up nearly 48 percent in August, to 5,384, a record high. The last U.N. monitor left Syria on Aug. 23.

Those totals do not include the deaths of Syrian soldiers, police and government sympathizers killed by the rebels. The Syrian government news service, SANA, last reported casualty counts for its forces in late June, when at least 649 had died so far that month.

Altogether, however, the likely death toll is now in excess of 30,000 since the uprising began in March 2011, with the Syrian Network for Human Rights saying it had recorded more than 24,000 civilian and rebel deaths, and the government reporting a total death toll of 7,928 as of July 9, according to a U.N. report released last month.

How many of the dead are combatants is impossible to know. The Syrian Network for Human Rights said 596 women and children died in July and 784 in August.

The rising violence also has driven more people from their homes, with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees reporting that more than 200,000 Syrians have sought refuge outside Syria. Thousands more are waiting to do so but have not been allowed to cross borders, as neighboring countries have tightened border controls in anticipation of a surge of refugees.

It's diffi cult to say who has the upper hand in the fi ghting. August saw major offensives by the Syrian government to dislodge rebel fi ghters from areas they had taken in July, particularly in Damascus. But despite heavy shelling and the government's troops overrunning one rebel stronghold in the southern part of the city, fi ghting continues in many of the same places where the government has been battling rebels since mid-June. Rebels also have continued their campaign of bombings in the capital, striking government security offi ces on Sunday.

Syrian anti-government activists contend that the regime has recently instituted a "shoot-on-sight" policy,

AUSTIN TICE | MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS

MORE CIVILIANS KILLED A rebel fi ghter gives a victory cry after capturing a government position in Al Tal, Syria.

THOUSANDS MORE KILLEDDeath toll for Syrian civilians, soldiers skyrockets as rebels, government forces clash countrywide for control of nation

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THENEWSRECORD

Just like Jason Bourne, this franchise seems impossible to kill.

It saddens me to say that all of my pessimistic expectations for “The Bourne Legacy” turned out to be true; it is just a plug-and-play of the same formula used in the last three Bourne movies.

Even when the previews came out, everyone seemed to translate Edward Norton’s dramatic line, “there was never just one,” as, “I guess Matt wouldn’t do a fourth.”

It just reeked of a copout and a prod to see how much further they can take this movie series.

Every major facet of the Bourne movies either stayed exactly the same or replaced with something virtually equivalent in nature. The classic identity crisis that Jason Bourne faced for the past three movies was replaced with a dependency on “program chems,” or pills, for the laymen.

It was a perfect replacement because both of those internal crises must be dealt with

by going someplace, being tracked, fi ghting swarms of police and eventually ducking away cleverly with a baseball cap on.

Of course, there must be a room full of corrupt government workers trying to cover up their conspiracies, and also a woman who is seemingly only attracted to one’s ability to evade police.

In short, there wasn’t much of an effort to present the world with a new fi lm – but why do that when the “Bourne” formula for making money has already been discovered and proven?

The laziest bit of writing comes when the need arose to replicate the chase through the slums and the one-on-one fi ght that was in “The Bourne Ultimatum.”

The fun part about having made up “programs” of killing machines is that there is no shortage of them; if the audience wants another killing machine, writers make up another “program.”

Even though the story was lazy, the action was worth the price of the movie ticket. For some reason, super savvy tactical killers

who can escape using parkour never get old. Damon and Renner must have gone to the same top secret acting school.

Usually, debates on which actor did the better job playing the part are

LIFE & ARTSThursdaySept. 6 | 2012

NEWSRECORD.ORG

Nothing says welcome to college like a surprise fi re alarm and evacuation of 680 students at the Calhoun dorm. Needless to say, my Welcome Weekend was anything but boring.

As the alarm rang out, I wandered outside foggy-eyed and confused. While being evacuated at 11 p.m. wasn’t the highlight of Welcome Weekend, it certainly did make quite the memory.

Part of these 680 slightly perturbed strangers, I got my fi rst glimpse of a small part of the massive herd of freshman entering the University of Cincinnati this fall.

This herd was corralled from mandatory event to advisor meeting, and from hall meetings to the pinnacle of boredom that is Convocation — where we were told to stand, sit, sing and dance.

The fi rst-year cattle roamed around the university awkwardly, learned the land, grazed at dining halls and waited through an endless number of lines to pick up supplies.

We wandered around the streets with looks of concern trying to fi nd any sign of familiarity — any sign that they weren’t roaming alone. The herd came in, mostly blind, to the new land it would inhabit for the next four or so years. As it roamed its new pasture, we found an overwhelming amount of unfamiliarity.

While it is easy to follow the masses, it is the individual decisions we make that will determine our paths when the gates open and we move on to the next part of their lives. These decisions not only determine our individual identities and help distinguish us from our peers, they also lay the groundwork for the rest of their lives.

The vast amount of opportunities for involvement and interaction at the University of Cincinnati creates a virtually unlimited number of possibilities for each individual trying to fi nd their way. But these opportunities are not always clearly visible, and they certainly don’t come gift-wrapped with a shiny bow on top.

Therefore, it is up to us to go out and fi nd the opportunities. It is our job to make the most of our time here, before real life hits us in the face after college.

The complacent individuals who don’t venture outside of herding rituals like classes might fi nd themselves with nothing to look forward to. While those of us who reach to every nook and cranny of the university might just fi nd the key to our success outside of it.

Speaking from my own experiences here at the News Record, I can say that going outside of your comfort zone while terrifying, can be incredibly rewarding. I never thought I would be published in the school paper before school started. But I came down to the newsroom, made the effort and now I’m writing a column.

By reaching outside of our comfort zone we sometimes struggle to remain connected to our roots, but we do gain confi dence and independence from them. As independence is gained, so will a sense of place and belonging in a new environment. While the large freshman herd can seem intimidating, true connections can be yours by venturing out into the unknown.

Members of our class will go on to make a tremendous difference in the world outside of Clifton. Future doctors, lawyers, architects, engineers and much more make up this amazing mass of newcomers.

Sadly, other freshman might go on to lead lives that never attain the lofty goals they entered college with. The difference between these students will be determined right here at UC.

The decisions we make, and the opportunities we choose to take — or not take —will play a large part in deciding the path for the rest of our lives.

Who will be the leaders? Who won’t be satisfi ed to simply go through the motions? Who will be the ones

‘Bourne Legacy’ tarnished

Minus the Bear’s longevity has been set in stone for many years. The indie-progressive band’s career has always been in the same zone. It’s always had fans, it’ll always be around and probably doesn’t need to change anything to keep that going.

For Minus the Bear, the question of staying where it was versus progressing probably got answered like this: “We really don’t use a lot of guitar in our songs do we? Hmm, let’s add a lot of that!”

That’s the best explanation for the band’s fi fth album, “Infi nity Overhead,” which is sure to fl y over the heads of some fans.

When accustomed to playful pop of tracks such as “My Time” or the mellow, simplistic fl ow of “Pachuca Sunrise,” the grotesquely rigid guitar that attacks the listener in the fi rst seconds of the opening track might catch listeners off guard.

Suddenly, Minus the Bear’s quirky sound encapsulates a post-“Because of the Times” Kings of Leon or a Foo Fighters knockoff complete with epic sing-alongs, power ballads and the all-too-familiar feeling of an attempt to sacrifi ce quality for mainstream recognition.

While this can ruin a fan’s relationship with a band, “Infi nity Overhead” doesn’t leave all of its integrity at the door. Actually, it’s probably one of the most ambitious albums of Minus the Bear’s career.

There are no more with goofy song titles like “Absinthe Party At The Fly Honey

Warehouse” or the old cut “We Are Not A Football Team.” While these tunes can hardly retain the band’s typical progressive-pop characteristics, the album offers several classic indie-pop tunes.

“Lies and Eyes” in particular weaves the newfound guitar into spacy synthesizer sounds and instrumentations, ultimately bringing a smile to the listeners already bobbing head.

Ultimately, the relationship between old and new styles confl ict. “Heaven Is a Ghost Town” is a song that’s title does not match the personality. What one might expect to be a satirical song is in fact a dull emo ballad, which brings nothing new to Minus the Bear’s song writing.

Despite a few undeniable gems, “Infi nity Overhead” is mostly lazy. Adding guitar by the truckload might sound different for Minus the Bear, but it has been done before and is proof that the indie-pop outfi t should’ve stayed in its comfort zone.

NICK RUE | CONTRIBUTOR

Killer Joe is a fi lm that an unprepared, unhardened soul could easily storm out of feeling offended during the fi rst fi ve minutes.

For those fortunate enough to have become desensitized to the NC-17 elements of the world, it is an engaging, though sometimes uncomfortable, darkly comedic Texan crime noir that will have you sickly grinning at points throughout, and griped until the fi nal frame.

William Friedkin, critically renowned director of The Exorcist and The French Connection, has publically declared his distaste for the works that come out of modern Hollywood, and has chosen to work outside that realm.

Without the inherent limitations of a mainstream studio production and the expectation of appealing to a broad audience, something like Killer Joe is able to come about — a fi lm portraying a world that exists entirely within moral grey area where crime is a fact of life and sleaze and sexual perversion are the norm.

The fi lm, adapted from a play by Tracy Letts, tells the story of Chris Smith (Emile

Hirsch) a failed rabbit farmer, and fl edging drug dealer, who is soon to fi nd himself six feet under, unless he pays a $6,000 debt to his boss for a drug deal gone wrong.

With no other conceivable option, Chris goes to his father Ansel (Thomas Haden Church) with a plot to hire a man to kill his mother, Ansel’s ex-wife, so they can collect on the life insurance policy that is set to pay off $50,000 to his sister, Dottie (Juno Temple).

Ansel agrees, on the condition that his current wife (Gina Gershon) gets a quarter cut of the money as well as him. They decide to hire “Killer Joe” Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), a Texas detective with a side job as a hired gun.

However, as Chris and Ansel are unable to pay Joe for the job upfront, he nearly rejects their job, but ultimately agrees on the condition that he is allowed Dottie as a “retainer”.

Matthew McConaughey seems to have decided to actively distance himself from the romantic comedy roles that made him famous, playing the coolly collected and sadistic titular “Killer Joe,” with an ability to seamlessly transition from endearing to terrifying in mere moments.

Hirsch and Church both deliver strong and funny performances.

While Gershon and Temple must be commended for being able to so skillfully deliver all that was asked of them for their roles, McConaughey’s performance is the standout.

In the fi nal third of the fi lm it escalates into something more bothersome as Joe and Dottie’s relationship grows, though the mutual consent of it is questionable, and the criminal plot goes very much awry, with serious debts still on the line.

The fi nal scene seems like an eternity, containing an unsettling display of brutal sexual and physical abuse.

The fi lm ends at an incredibly intense and chaotic point, leaving the viewer to mentally reckon what they just saw as the credits roll.

While there is a lot that could scare many viewers away — a psychical beating to the point of disfi gurement, a sex scene where both participants role play as twelve year olds, and the forced, bloody fellatio of a fried chicken leg — Killer Joe is a solid, intriguing fi lm with great performances that occupies a very unique place in the world of cinema.

ANNIEMOORE

7

COURTESY OF LD ENTERTAINMENTCHICKEN LICKIN’ GOOD “Killer Joe” tells the morbid story of a redneck son who decides to kill his mom in order to collect her life insurance policy. The problem is, he can’t do it. Enter Killer Joe (Matthew McConaughey), the ice cold killer he hires to do it.

KILLER

FRESHVIEW

MINUS THE QUALITY Minus the Bear tried something new on their fi fth album, “Infi nity Overhead,” and failed. The band added a lot guitar of guitar, but lost some of its quality.

NEVER JUST ONE Jeremy Renner (left) plays a fi eld agent with similar survival skills to Jason Bourne in “The Bourne Legacy.”

SEE BOURNE | 2

JOE

NEWSRECORD7FRESHVIEW

SPORTS.NEWSRECORD@GMAIL.COM | 513.556.5913

SPORTSWeekend EditonSept. 6 | 2012

NEWSRECORD.ORG8

The No. 22 Xavier Musketeers defeated the University of Cincinnati men’s soccer team 2-1 Sunday, Sept. 2 at the XU Soccer Complex.

Xavier (2-0-1) opened the scoring in the 31st minute when Luke Spencer slotted a shot past UC goalkeeper Taylor Hafl ing for a 1-0 lead.

The Bearcats tied the game less than a minute later when Cole DeNormandie set up Matt Bahner — who missed the entire 2011 season with a knee injury — for his fi rst goal since 2010.

Shortly after the game resumed from a halftime extended by a lightening delay, Will Walker gave XU a 2-1 lead and the Bearcats never equalized.

For UC, the loss snapped a seven game unbeaten streak (5-0-2) against Xavier.

UC will head to the ProRehab Aces Classic on Friday, Sept. 7, to take on Bradley. The Bearcats will wrap up tournament play against Evansville on Sunday, Sept. 9.

JOSHUA A. MILLER | SPORTS EDITOR

The University of Cincinnati women’s volleyball team dropped its fi rst home match of the season Tuesday, falling 4-1 against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.

The loss dropped the Bearcats to 1-6 on the year.

“It’s pretty obvious we have some very big tools on our team; we have some good offensive weapons and some really phenomenal defensive weapons,” UC coach Molly Alvey said. “When it all comes together we’re great, when it doesn’t I think we’re still kind of looking for that feeling of six pulling together and staying a team, instead of falling apart at the seams.”

Western Kentucky prevailed in the fi rst game, 25-19, thanks in part to a 7-0 WKU run in the early stages of the set, as UC struggled to fi nd consistent setup play.

UC used a seven point run of its own to pull the match even at one set a piece, winning the second set 25-22. UC seniors Jordanne Scott and Emily Hayden Combined for 10 kills in the set, including four of the fi nal fi ve points to help the Bearcats survive a late WKU rally.

The third set saw the Hilltoppers prevail, 25-21, to take a 2-1 lead amidst a few controversial offi ciating decisions.

With WKU leading the set 9-6, offi cials called UC for a four-hit-violation at the end of a long volley, in which the Bearcats had clearly won the point on a traditional three-hit exchange.

Moments later, UC fi nished another volley — but were never awarded the point.

Alvey said service errors also hurt UC in the third set.

“I think, bigger picture, serving needs to be a bit tougher and that changes the whole game,” she said.

UC never recovered in the fourth set, giving up a 9-0 run in the beginning of the set, and

lost 25-14.Despite the loss, the improved

play of Scott (18 kills), Hayden (13 kills) and fellow senior Becca Refenes (12 kills) left room for optimism moving forward.

“I think, 100 percent, it [senior leadership] should carry on. In this type of match they can see the offense execute well,” Alvey said. “All of their opportunities they took advantage of and that

is really how our offense should work most of the time, so they can dominate. I think you could see a little bit more confi dence out of them tonight as well, so now we just have to keep that consistent so that they are bringing that every night.

UC will hope to put it all together when it takes the court again Friday, Sept. 7, against the University of Illinois.

The University of Cincinnati’s football team will open the 2012 regular season Thursday, Sept. 6, against the University of Pittsburgh in the fi nal installment of the River City Rivalry.

The rivalry — which Pitt leads 8-3 — has led to many thrilling games in the past few seasons, with four out of the last fi ve games being decided by single digits.

In 2009, the two teams met for arguably the most exciting game of the college football season, and one of the biggest wins in Cincinnati football history. Last season, the Bearcats won another close battle at Heinz Field en route to a third conference championship in four years. In between those two wins came a blowout loss in a 2010 snow-laden Nippert Stadium.

Pitt is looking to rebound after an unexpected loss to Youngstown State University in its season opener while the Bearcats look to open conference play with a win.

How UC’s 65 fi rst or second year players respond to their season opener will go a long way in determining who wins, said

head coach Butch Jones.“Your fi rst games are always your

unknowns, and as we head into this game with 65 fi rst or second year players, a number of players that are playing for the fi rst time are inexperienced,” he said.

Munchie Legaux will lead the Bearcats in his fi rst season as the opening day starter for UC. After starting three games last year during Zach Collaros’ absence, this will not be Legaux’s fi rst time running the show. But it will be his fi rst game as a starter in a major rivalry.

The Bearcats will go the running-back-by-committee route with George Winn, Jameel Poteat, and Ralph David Abernathy IV splitting carries this season in an effort to replace the 2011 Big East Offensive Player of the Year Isaiah Pead.

Winn had a 69-yard touchdown run in the Liberty Bowl last season while Abernathy IV returned a 90-yard kickoff for a touchdown. UC will look to its trio of backs to help remove pressure from Legaux and the passing game.

Pitt’s new head coach Paul Christ didn’t get off to the start he would have liked to with the 31-17 upset loss to Youngstown State.

Despite the loss, the Panthers still have some potent talent on offense.

Returning running back Ray Graham and quarterback Tino Sunseri will anchor the team.

Wide Receiver Devin Street, who caught eight passes for 118 yards last season against the Bearcats also remains a threat downfi eld.

“We’re going to be challenged. Devin Street has made a lot of plays in this conference [and] Ray Graham was one of the best backs in the conference last year,” Jones said. “You are looking at a team that two years ago were Big East Conference Champions with most of them back as returning starters, so it’s going to be a great challenge.”

Despite the loss last week, Pittsburgh has won four straight conference openers. For UC, an offseason of work will be on display for the fi rst time Thursday.

“As much situational football as you can do and as much of creating adverse situations in practice, you really never know until game day how they’re going to show up when the lights go on,” Jones said. “We have stressed to our team is just focusing on playing winning football.”

Kickoff is set for 8 p.m.

Volleyball drops home opener

PHIL DIDION | SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

EARLY SEASON STRUGGLES A brutal opening stretch has seen the University of Cincinnati women’s volleyball team get off to an uncharacteristic 1-6 start. The team opened its season with a brutal string of games against Iowa State, Tennessee and Florida State. UC will look to get back on track during the Big 10/Big East Challenge that kicks off Friday, Sept. 7, against the University of Illinois.

The United States economy might be circling the drain, and your radio, television and computers are inundated with negative political ads, but fear not because the NFL is back.

It was a long offseason. Actually, it was the same length as every other offseason, but anytime I am forced to go extended periods of time without watching football, it seems like an eternity.

With the start of a new season also comes the promise of another successful campaign of picking winners against the spread. Welcome to the fi rst edition of what will hopefully be another prodigious campaign of the “Armchair Fullback.”

(Home team in CAPS)NEW YORK GIANTS

(-3.5) over Dallas: The NFL’s season opener should be a dandy. The Giants are coming off a Super Bowl-winning season that was eerily similar to the 2007 season, which ended in spectacular fashion. Conversely, the Cowboys enter the 2012 season with question marks all over its roster and Jason Witten missing in action. General rule is to take the team raising a banner, no matter the points. Giants take the game going away.

Indianapolis (+11) over CHICAGO: Andrew Luck makes his fi rst professional start against one of the oldest and most injured defenses in the NFL. If Indianapolis plays keep away from Devin Hester, the Colts should be able to keep the game close enough to cover the double-digit spread. Look out for Jay Cutler to make his disinterested yet surprisingly smug face all day.

Jacksonville (-7.5) over MINNESOTA: The loser of this game should automatically change its name to the Los Angeles Riders to prepare for the 2014 season. If anybody cares about this game, please email me and I will attempt to give one modicum of interest to the Nobody Cares Bowl.

Buffalo (+1) over NEW YORK JETS: Tim Tebow looks like the most incredible up back to ever lace up a pair of cleats, but nothing can salvage what will be another disappointing season for Gang Green in New Jersey. The Bills, on the other hand, look poised to improve on its nine-win tally from last year.

HOUSTON (-13.5) over Miami: The most talented member of the Dolphins’ organization will be sitting with the other players’ wives Sunday, and that should tell you all you need to know about the pride of South Florida. The line for this game could be 15 and I would still take it.

New England (-5) over TENNESSEE: The Titans have a long term solution to its quarterback situation, but is lacking in too many other positions to stand a real chance against the Patriots. This one should be boring, but will ultimately end with New England up by more than a touchdown.

DETROIT (-7.5) over St. Louis: Hopefully Sam Bradford is all paid up on his life insurance because the Lions’ defensive line is going to have him for lunch. Look for Matthew Stafford to have a big day against the weak secondary of the Rams and expectations to be high all year in the Motor City.

NEW ORLEANS (-8.5) over Washington: The Redskins stand a chance against the Saints, but looking at this match up it’s hard to see Drew Brees throwing for any less than 400 passing yards. Robert Griffi n III will probably be running for his life most of the afternoon, and the Saints will get off to a good start following its offseason drama at the hands of the iron-fi sted commissioner.

CLEVELAND (+9) over Philadelphia: There is a strong possibility that this will be the last season Michael Vick is upright and mobile. The Browns might not be a vaunted opponent, but I’m not buying into this year’s “Dream Team” Eagles. Take the points and cheer the Brownies all the way to the bank.

The University of Cincinnati women’s soccer team fell to the University of Nebraska 2-1 Sunday, Sept. 2 at Gettler Stadium.

The Nebraska Cornhuskers gained control early with a 7th minute goal from freshman forward Alex Massey.

Nebraska (2-4-0) maintained a 1-0 lead for the majority of the game, until Katie Kraeutner’s long distance effort slipped through UC sophomore goalkeeper Kristina Utley’s hands in the 85th minute and pushed the lead to 2-0.

UC (3-1-1) managed to pull back a goal moments later, when sophomore forward Mackenzie Grause slotted a well-paced effort into the back of the net from the 18-yard box.

UC will take the fi eld again on Friday, Sept. 7, against the University of California Irvine in the opening round of the Denver University Invitational.

The University of Cincinnati men’s and women’s cross country teams are set to host the Queen City Invitational on Friday, Sept 7.

The 31st edition of the annual tournament, which rotates hosting duties between UC, Northern Kentucky University and Xavier University, will take place at Mount Airy Forest, located roughly fi ve minutes from campus on Cincinnati’s west side.

UC has won the men’s race 17 times and the women’s race nine times.

The Invite will include Wright State University, University of Indianapolis, Thomas More College, Cincinnati Christian University, Asbury University, Bellarmine University, Campbellsville University, Cumberland University, Georgetown University, Lindsey Wilson College and the aforementioned tri-hosts.

The men’s race is set to begin at 5 p.m. and the women’s race is slated for 5:45 p.m.

Road dogs will roll in week one

JASON HOFFMAN

ARMCHAIR

JASON HOFFMAN

ARMCHAIR

FILE ART

STIFF COMPETITION In the past four seasons, the winner of the River City Rivalry has gone on to win at least a share of the Big East Conference Championship.

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