Jan. 28, 2013 by The Scribe

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General education curriculum page 4 University faculty has approved a new general education curriculum at UCCS to be more diverse while being cohesive across colleges.

culture GOCA Styrofoam robot exhibit page 5 Artist Michael Salter uses recycled plastic foam to make robotic sculptures about “nothing.” It is on exhibit at GOCA Jan. 24 through March 22.

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UCCS Student Newspaper

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson to speak at UCCS Alexander Nedd anedd@uccs.edu Science majors and astronomy lovers may be anticipating one campus event more so than any other this April. As a result of the combined efforts of the Office of Student Activities, Student Life and Leadership and Residential Life and Housing, world-renowned astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson will speak at Gallogly Events Center on April 17 at 7 p.m. Ticket availability is pending. “He is the modernday Carl Sagan,” said Dr. Sam Milazzo, senior physics instructor. “I’m sure he is on the cutting edge of more research, so it would be beneficial for everybody to go.” Originally from New York City, Tyson was educated in the public schools before his graduation from Bronx High School of Dance. From there, he went on

to earn a B.A. in physics from Harvard University and his doctorate in astrophysics from Columbia University. Tyson’s work has focused on evolution, and he is most known for his views on stellar formation based on the focus of astronomy. President George W. Bush selected Tyson in 2001 to be on a 12-member board studying the future of United States Aerospace Industries. The group published its findings in 2002, which contained information on the future of space transportation, exploration and national security. In 2004, Bush appointed Tyson again to work with nine members and oversee the implementation of the United States Space Exploration. The group was able to navigate a new vision for space exploration, and in 2006, Tyson was given the honor of serving on the advisory council for

NASA to help proceed with the plan of a reduced budget. Through his research and professional findings, Tyson has published many books for the public. Tyson’s “Death by Black Hole and Other Cosmic Quandaries” has become a New York Times bestseller. His controversial novel “The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America’s Favorite Planet” details his work with NASA and provides insight on how his findings helped lead to a stripping of the former planet’s name. Tyson’s work has made him popular among daytime shows, including “Jeopardy,” “The Colbert Report” and “The Big Bang Theory.” Also, he has a PBS/NOVA

documentary, “The Pluto Files,” based on his book of the same name, which debuted in March 2010. Throughout his career, Tyson has earned many awards for his work, including the prestigious NASA Distinguished Public Service Award,

the highest civilian honor given by NASA. Tyson holds the position of the Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for the Earth and Space. S Photo by Jr Scientist

Lane Center construction exchanges parking at Four Diamonds opinion Police officers page 9

Peter Farrell pfarrell@uccs.edu At the Four Diamonds parking complex on North Nevada, large mounds of dirt now

command attention from motorists and students, declaring parking has changed. In June 2012, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Lane Center

took place, and a large portion of the Four Diamonds parking runoff was eliminated to make way for the new health and science facility, requiring a compromise

from commuter students. The Lane Center was initially proposed in November 2011 and is part of the university’s master plan.

“The Lane Center for Academic Health Sciences [is] a partnership between the university and community health Continued on page 2 . . .

Men and women in blue are the unsung heroes of our country. While many suffer dangerous situations and psychological problems from work, they often get forgotten.

sports New women’s volleyball coach page 12 UCCS women’s volleyball team welcomes a new coach for a new season. She will take over starting Feb. 1.

Photo by Alex Gradisher A pile of dirt now sits on top of several parking spots in Four Diamonds, Lot 12.

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(Continued from page 1) centers, [which] will be approximately 54,000 square feet and house clinic, research, and office space,” according to the official documentation. For a majority of the student population, the parking situation on campus is a familiar routine. Arrive early or fight for 15 minutes for a chance at anything large enough to fit a vehicle into is the ultimatum most students face after 9 p.m. In 2010, The Scribe

January 28, 2013

Lane Center construction, Four Diamonds

published an article drawing attention to the inadequate campus parking. Since then, not much has changed in terms of numbers. Last semester, UCCS saw its largest incoming freshman population at 1,477, many of whom will likely own vehicles before they graduate in four years. Currently, UCCS has a campus population of approximately 10,000 students plus faculty and other employees around

campus. Currently, the university anticipates “overall enrollment will grow to between 13,000 and 13,600 students by 2020.” Many students may be left wondering what to do. Stan Rovira, senior project manager for Facilities Services, is aware of the issues surrounding the parking issues faced by students. “When the project is complete, the Lane Center will have its own

dedicated parking lot.” The south side of the Four Diamonds lot will also be reopened once construction has finished but will remain closed until then. In the meantime, Lot 15 has been created in front of the Veterinary Complex and Sunset Creek Apartments on North Nevada, where Timberline Village is located. Although Lot 15 is not connected to the Four Diamonds lot, Ro-

vira said that it is a “very short walk” to the Four Diamonds bus stop that most commuter students board to reach main campus. For some students, parking is a non-issue despite the changes. Kevin Wehmeier, a mechanical engineering senior, commutes for his classes but arrives early enough to find a spot at Four Diamonds. When asked if he could park on campus, Wehmeier said he would.

Among the other plans for expansion along North Nevada over the next several years, a sports stadium and parking complex is slated to replace Lot 9 at the Alpine Village Apartment Complex. According to Rovira, plans are in the works and a meeting will be held in February to move the new parking complex into the next phase. He complex was “very much an attractive option.” S

Henrietta Lacks’ family to host All Campus Read discussion awefler@uccs.edu When you go to the doctor for blood work, possibly the furthest thing from your mind is that your cells could be taken without your knowledge and used for science. However, Henrietta Lacks, a young, poor black woman in the 1950s, unknowingly had cells taken by her doctor. The cells, which would then become known as HeLa, outlived Lacks. “It was a different culture – a different time,” Teri Switzer, dean of the Kraemer Family Library, said. Although companies made millions from the cells, the Lacks family was unaware of their existence until the 1970s, when scientists experimented on Henrietta’s children, who did not profit from the commercialization of the HeLa cells. Henrietta Lacks and her cells are the subjects in Rebecca Skloot’s nonfiction book, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” which was the All Campus Read choice for last year. The library will host a reception with David “Sonny” Lacks and Veronica Spencer, the son and great-granddaughter of Henrietta Lacks, on Feb. 26 from 4-4:45 p.m. in the third-floor apse. From 7-8 p.m. in Berger Hall, Lacks and Spencer will be available for questions. A book signing

will follow from 8-8:45 p.m. Lacks wants to share his family’s story. “He wants to carry on with some of the legacy that his mother has given. He’s really introspective in what happened to his family,” Switzer said. Lyceum Agency, which selects and works with writers and speakers, said, “Sonny’s visits put a personal face to big issues such as the dark history of experimentation on African-Americans, the birth of bioethics, and the legal battles over ‘informed consent.’” Switzer said she was familiar with HeLa cells prior to reading Skloot’s novel; while reading the book, it made her question how often these types of situations oc-

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It will give students an opportunity to hear firsthand from the family. They can ask questions and get answers without any kind of filter. - Teri Switzer

cur.

“They [medical staff] take your blood, they take tissue samples, but you don’t question what happens to them. Is this an isolated case?” she said. She added that Spencer is a student at Baltimore Community College and is studying to be an RN while mentoring Dunbar Scholars at Johns

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Hopkins. “What a great opportunity for students to talk with her about her greatgrandmother and, as a nursing student, what she thinks about her greatgrandmother’s role in the advancement of medicine,” Switzer said. Switzer said that Lacks won’t have a prepared speech. Rath -

uccs

er, the event will be a question-and-answer session for the students and faculty in a living room setting. “They don’t want a lecture; they want a discussion. They want to know what we think and what our students think. They want the audience to explore [the book] with them,” she said. “It will give students an opportunity to hear firsthand from the family. They can ask questions and get answers without having any kind of filter,” she added. The event is part of a series of discussions named Kraemer Conversations. The library

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April Wefler

has a lecture fund that will pay for the event. The bulk of the money comes from the Kraemer Family Endowment and Douglas Johnson Endowment to provide for lectures and programs. “I’m sure it’s been a real journey for the family. I’d like to know if their attitudes have changed about HeLa cells,” Switzer said, adding, “Hopefully, we’ll get some real thoughtprovoking questions and really probe into what the family thinks.” Those that would like to send questions for Lacks ahead of time can email tswitzer@uccs.edu. Free tickets are available in the library or at the University Center Info Desk until Feb. 19. S Photo by Alex Gradisher

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January 28, 2013

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Amendment 64 public information session on campus Eleanor Skelton

eskelton@uccs.edu Confusion about interpreting the impact of Amendment 64 is prevalent in both El Paso County and on campus. The UCCS chapters of the Young Americans for Liberty and Students for Sensible Drug Policy sponsored a public information session on Jan. 15 concerning A64 at the Penrose branch of the Pikes Peak Library District downtown. Raul Perez, the president of Students for Sensible Drug Policy, opened the session with prepared questions for three panelists – Mark Siaugh, the CEO of iComply, Loring Wirbel, the chair of Pikes Peak ACLU, and Jason Lauve, the publisher of CHNM and “long-time hemp activist.” One of the main issues discussed, with which the meeting opened, was the question of how legalized marijuana would be integrated into the economic system. Perez began with what he described as “the

question I’m sure everyone is asking – what will the regulation and sales of cannabis look like?” “What can we expect [the] retail shops to look like? Will they sell whole buds, concentrates?” Perez said. He also asked the panelists about licensure for the shops and for bars. “The governor, shortly after the passage of Amendment 64, formulated the Amendment 64 task force,” Siaugh responded. “This is a group of experts that have come across from all fields and over the spectrum from staunch prohibitionists to advocates and business owners,” he said. “They have about a two-month deadline to come up with various issues that they’re going to be tackling,” he added. Siaugh indicated that the group will be addressing criminal law and prosecution, licensure and labeling standards, and enforcing that only those of age could obtain cannabis. “When you go into

a liquor store, you look for a bottle on the shelf, [and] that proof tells you how strong that bottle is,” Siaugh said. “We need similar standards with cannabis and testing to make sure you know exactly what’s in the product every time you purchase it.” He said that the recommendations would be formalized and submitted to Colorado lawmakers to be written into legislation by July 1. Wirbel talked on the micro and macroeconomic impacts of the passage of the law. “Dispensaries will have kind of like a first right of refusal on all this, which means that larger corporate liquor store environments won’t necessarily be able to dominate the market,” Wirbel said. “There are so many aspects to the industry.” Wirbel said the existing hemp industry is structured toward local markets, leading to smaller businesses and more dedicated business. “[It] doesn’t mean the corpo-

Photo by Nick Burns Raul Perez, left, discusses Amendment 64 intricacies. rate chain can’t move in and try to squeeze something out,” Wirbel said. As predicted, Lauve did move the conversation in the direction of the industry and how products may be sold. “Obviously, there are a lot of products that are directed more towards the medical use, but we

are starting to see overlap,” he said. “For example, the epen, those vaporizers. Originally, that was really for the medical patient that needed that for constant use … but we see that also applies to social user,” Lauve said. “There are some lotions, creams for first aid and arthritis

which you’ll probably see migrate more towards the medical establishments.” The panelists continued with more of Perez’s questions and took questions from the audience at the end of the session, including UCCS students, marijuana growers and landlords. S

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January 28, 2013

Chinese university presidents visiting UCCS this spring Eleanor Skelton eskelton@uccs.edu The conference room in Dwire Hall appeared more similar to a UN conference than an academically-oriented event. Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak welcomed five professors from the Jiangsu province of China to the UCCS campus on Jan. 14 in an official ceremony supplemented by a gift exchange. “This is the first time that we have had the privilege of hosting a fellowship program, because it’s a university presidents’ fellows program,” the chancellor said. “This is our first opportunity to have these wonderful people here for 17 weeks on our campus.” The chancellor introduced Dr. Ding-Jo H. Currie, the founder and the president of the United Educational Alliance, which “promotes the enhancement of higher education through collaboration.” “This president’s fellows program to me is

really more than a program about five fellows or about UCCS, frankly,” Currie said in her address. “I wanted to share with you the vision is really about connecting the two worlds together.” She said that the program is one of the visions of the Jiangsu province’s Department of Education. Currie also described the broader intentions of the project. “The goal and the purpose of the program is really for the fellows, who have been selected through a very rigid process, to participate in this process … looking at the American higher education model and how it functions as a system at the national level, at the state level and here at the institutional level, all of the operational aspects,” she said. “They will be talking to everyone from a broad spectrum, in terms of breadth as well as depth. It’s really a complete 360, if you will, of UCCS,” Currie said. “Not only that, they will also study

the community and they will look at different kinds of systems in addition to UCCS – anther university within the CU system as well as looking at maybe a small, private college and, of course, from me, a community college.” The five fellows – Qu Lixin, deputy principal of Wuxi City College of Vocational Technology, Shen Sulin, vice president of Wuxi Institute of Commerce, Jin-hong Liu,vice president of Nantong Vocational College, Zhang Qingtang,vice president of Jiangyin Polytechnic College and Zhuang Guozhen, vice president of Changzhou Institute of Mechatronic Technology – all addressed the group at the podium. The presidents thanked the chancellor and the campus for their hospitality. Several commented on the cold weather in Colorado Springs in contrast to their home province. Guozhen said, “We have been here just for three days … The first

Photo by Eleanor Skelton Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak welcomes several professors from China. day cold, the second day windy and the third day snowy. But we [had] comfortable accommodation and convent transportation [and] the integrity and friendliness and hospitality of the people we met at UCCS. I’m very glad to meet you.” He displayed an ID card he had been given, and said, “Because I am a [member] of UCCS, I

am proud of any and every achievement made by UCCS in the future.” Brian Burnett, vice chancellor for Administration and Finance, David Moon, the provost and professor of political science, Homer Wesley, vice chancellor for Student Success, and Martin Wood, vice chancellor for University Advancement, all presented gifts to the

fellows. Burnett had gifts to warm the negative temperatures, and Moon gave gifts for when the sunshine returned later in the week. The chancellor presented official seals of the university. The five fellows presented Chancellor Shockley-Zalabak with a necklace and a carved wooden sculpture. S

New general education curriculum to cover all colleges Mikaila Ketcherside mketcher@uccs.edu UCCS faculty has approved a new general education model to further diversify students’ education and create cohesion among the colleges. The current general education model is structured independently by each individual college. The new curriculum, which may be enacted as soon as Fall 2014, will include courses put forward by each college. All students will participate in a single general education curriculum. Each college already has about 22 required credits in common with one another. These requirements were used as a building block to begin creating a standard general education program. “More emphasis went into why these classes are important in general education and how to use high-impact practices in teaching these classes,” said Tom Christensen, former dean of LAS and dean representative of the general education committee. High-impact practices will be especially emphasized in existing classes with the goal of continued

improvement of current college curriculum. One high-impact program that will receive revision is freshman seminar, which is taken by about 80 percent of freshmen. It will be remodeled into a gateway course with emphasis on exposing incoming students to everything UCCS has to offer. English courses and the writing portfolio will remain important aspects

of general education in the new model. Quantitative reasoning classes will also remain a requirement. Higher level core classes will be included for students taking upperdivision courses, but advanced general education classes will still largely be determined by individual colleges. Writing-intensive global diversity and sustainability courses will continue to be important aspects of

UCCS education, but may not be included in general education requirements as these courses are likely included in requirements for completing majors. The general education program seeks to prepare students for success in their majors and careers after college, as well as develop competency in three important areas of education: evaluate and create, know and explore, and act and interact.

A key objective of the general education model’s revision is to establish coherence in the program while still maintaining students’ flexibility in choosing courses. Each college will also have flexibility in choosing courses to supplement the university-wide general education curriculum. The new curriculum will expose students to a wider range of classes and experiences. It will en-

Photo illustration by Robert Solis All of the colleges at UCCS will attempt to integrate curriculums in an effort to help students.

courage more interaction between colleges and encourage classes to have a wide range of students. Professors will receive incentives to teach general education courses under the new program. This is meant to provide students with the best and most varied experiences in classes. Current students will continue to complete the current general education model. Only students coming in after the new model’s implementation will complete the new curriculum. The new model is not completed as of yet and is currently in the second phase of the three-phase process. Phase one laid out the intended goals of the curriculum and was approved Fall 2010. Phase two began Spring 2011 and established the framework of the general education model and was approved Fall 2012. Phase three is focused on implementing the new framework and will begin soon. Some aspects of the new curriculum could be implemented as soon as Fall 2014, but when phase will be completed is unknown. S

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GOCA unpacks plastic foam for robot exhibit Alexander Nedd anedd@uccs.edu For many, a Styrofoam cup represents an easily disposable container. But that’s only seeing the cup half empty. For artist Michael Salter, the other half represents a new creative style of thinking and sculpting that saves the cup from becoming part of an endless landfill. The Gallery of Contemporary Art is featuring a new display of Salter’s work. The exhibit, which opened Jan. 24, lets students view his masterpiece: a robot made completely out of polystyrene packing foam. Titled “Nothing Comes from Nothing,” the installation embodies the nothingness, refuse and garbage

The Lowdown What:

Styrobot: Nothing Comes from Nothing

When:

Jan. 24-March 22 Wednesday-Saturday 12-5 p.m.

Where:

GOCA 1420

How much: Free

More information: uccs.edu/~goca

that plastic foam represents in our community. It also references the Buddhist notion that nothingness comes from a thoughtless state of mind. Why plastic foam? “I have a long history of using objects that I find.” Salter said. “To me it already looked like robots, it was just a matter of cutting it up and putting the pieces together.” Leading up to opening day, pieces of plastic foam lay around the room awaiting the hand and imagination of Salter to bring them to life. For Salter, this is his canvas. Already carved, a vast block of plastic foam took center stage, etched with detail. This was the body of the robot Salter was making, his specialty with plastic foam. “The installation is essentially a large Styrofoam robot sitting in a lotus position, a common meditative posture,” Salter said. “He’s surrounded by these graphics of iconography that exist in a continuous, circular, repetitive pattern, much like the breath or mantra that is used for meditation.” Salter’s work has been displayed not only nationally but globally, with exhibits showcased from London to Berlin. It has helped shape his world as an artist.

“I am an obsessive observer, meaning I am obsessed with the way the world looks,” Salter said. “I’m [also] an obsessive collector. I’ve always been that way.” The display allows for the plastic foam to be used once more before it is thrown away and broken down again. His work takes anywhere from seven to 10 days. During that time, his work is spontaneous. “The head never comes first, but it never goes last either,” he said about deciding what to build next. Salter receives his plastic foam from people in the communities where he works. For this project, Salter has been provided plastic foam for more than a year. “I’m making something that the community has brought in, and that’s awesome,” he said. Daisy McConnell, director of GOCA, encourages students to come look at the exhibit. “We bring artists here for students,” she said. “His work is gorgeous. It really makes you think about your consumption.” Salter expressed that he hopes UCCS students walk away with a greater understanding of the material’s life cycle. “I want people to understand their responsibility in the way that the world works.” S

Photo by Nick Burns Artist Michael Salter worked on his Styrofoam robot, which is on display at UCCS GOCA from Jan. 24 to March 22.

Theatre ‘d Art’s ‘The Trial’ succeeds with dystopian 1920s world Eleanor Skelton eskelton@uccs.edu Rating:

Josef K. walks out of his bedroom one morning – his birthday, to be precise – only to be accosted by two men telling him that he is being “arrested” but refuse to define his crime. Theatre ‘d Art takes the premise of Franz Kafka’s 1925 novel “The Trial,” giving it life and color on the stage. The production ran from Jan. 11 to 27 at the downtown theater. Most of the actors were either UCCS students or have been part of previous VAPA or Theatreworks performances. “The Trial” features Aaron Dewsnap, a UCCS alumnus, as Josef K., Brittani Janish, a current student, as Leni, as well as Erica Erickson, Erick Groskopf, Danine Schell, Joseph Forbeck, Laura Fuller, Mark Cannon and

Photo by Eleanor Skelton Many of the actors in “The Trial” are UCCS graduates. Thomas Condreas. Director Brian Mann creates a surreal sensation of almost a hyper-reality for the audience throughout the performance in ways appropriate to Kafka’s style. One dark red door on wheels is centered on stage at the beginning, and several similar doors are rolled

across as scenes change to create and remove rooms, defining the interior and exterior. The walls between rooms, also painted burgundy and black, are often manipulated between and during acts, sometimes supplemented by the sound of a clock ticking, lending a sense that time

and location are fluid and dreamlike. At the start of the play, these divisions seem mobile yet definable; though in later scenes, rain falls in indoor spaces, again making the audience question its concept of reality. Furthermore, the overarching idea of being controlled anonymously by a faceless psuedo-government is portrayed by the actor’s genuine confusion and emphasis of lines, such as “that’s not my job” or “this is my job” or “there’s nothing I can do if I want to keep my job.” 1920s-style fedoras, suits and horn-rimmed glasses, worn by much of the cast, remind one of an era with black-and-white film and demonstrate an awareness of the time “The Trial” was published. Multiple actors break the barrier between the cast and the audience before and during the hour and 45-minute drama. As audience members were still trickling into

their seats, three or four actors in business suits wandered across the stage, whispering among each other and glancing toward the audience. Occasionally, the muttering is distinguishable: “They’re suspicious.” Later, two female actresses took empty seats in the front row, asking questions to those seated next to them. During the trial scene, most of the cast assimilates into the audience, criticizing Josef K. Actions like these bring viewers directly into the production – making the audience feel that it is accusing Josef K. and helping bring about his downfall. Also, the disadvantaged and abused women characters’ role are portrayed by strong acting as the women resist K.’s attempts to rescue them and instead try to please him. The brief segment with a prostitute and a court clerk copulating in the midst of K.’s hearing as well as the revelation that the examin-

ing magistrate’s law books are simply pornography supports the devaluing of women in Kafka’s dystopian world. Having the same female actors say almost in unison, “Will they even take a girl like me seriously?” They chant “impossible” and are later displayed as little girls in pigtails singing, “Josef K., K.’s gonna die now, yes he is” further multiplies the tensions between gender relationships in the plot. Classical music such as “Für Elise” faded into other pieces like “Requiem for a Dream” between the climax and denouement, and then “Moonlight Sonata” in the final death scene, showing the story’s vision of order collapsing into chaos, tempered by irony. The next performance slated for Theater ‘d Art is Ken Kesey’s novel, “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” which contains numerous similar overtones to “The Trial.” S

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January 28, 2013

UCCS freshman releases ambitious debut album Sara Horton shorton@uccs.edu Rating:

Photo by Micaela Davidson of Reminder Photography Timmy Vilgiate released his first album, “Too Much Time On Their Heads,” on Jan. 1.

Freshman Timmy Vilgiate started the year with big plans in mind. Instead of taking New Year’s Day to recuperate from partying, he released his debut solo album. A history and music major, Vilgiate launched 2013 with “Too Much Time On Their Heads,” his first fulllength album release. The 13-track album is available for download on his website (timmyvilgiate. bandcamp.com) with a name-your-own-price option. While downloading the album for free is possible, Vilgiate’s efforts deserve a donation. A member of the indie Woodland Park band Cliff Letters, he is versed in the mandola, guitar, banjo, keyboard and bass. Oh, yeah – he can sing, too. Vilgiate’s voice varies in intensity and, at times, audibility from song to song. In the opening track, “Come Back,” he sounds crisp but wavers occasionally. If listeners are familiar with Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst, they may detect a similar tone and mellow

sound that, at times, borders on sinister. “There was this strange disconnect, as, for most of my life, I had been surrounded by people who I could always relate to based on some kind of common experience,” explained Vilgiate, a Woodland Park resident, in his bio. “[B]ut, to most of the people that I would meet, the experience that I had had was foreign, and, likewise, their experiences were foreign to me,” he wrote, referring to the Waldo Canyon Fire and losing a friend in a car accident. Vilgiate dubbed the album a “retrospective of 2012” for him, perhaps best evidenced by the subtle paranoia that builds early on in 30-second snippets. “Voices of Today” includes voices babbling over one another and reaching a frenzy, like bees swarming into the eardrums. And then there’s “An Excerpt from The Endless Machine (In One Of It’s [sic] Infinite Manifestations),” a creepy, unidentified scraping noise overpowering muted conversation. They lead up to the title track, “Too Much Time On Their Heads,” in which Vilgiate suddenly raises his voice to launch into a brilliant, echoing rant.

“You were longing for the summer, but now you’re longing for the fall / So the heat wave feels like winter, and it’s getting to it all,” he shouts. “Now it’s time to be delivered / Or are we already dead?” This is a sudden, unexpected departure from the previous track, “Five Summers,” which lulls with plucking strings and a repetitive chorus. If “Too Much Time On Their Heads” is the climax, then the tracks that follow are the falling action, which isn’t quite as memorable as the first half of the album. Over soft mandolin, Vilgiate narrates a woman freezing in the snow in “The Grave,” also taking on storytelling in “Tracing Powerlines” and “Helix.” His voice is almost lost in the instrumentals, but that doesn’t take away from “Too Much Time On Their Heads.” With a best album nomination from the Redheaded Zombie Show Awards, an outlet for local talent, and another album in the works with Cliff Letters, Vilgiate isn’t about to vanish, either. He asks us to wonder what sort of album he would create if he could share those common experiences that had supposedly been lacking. S

Altars band aims to create meaningful hardcore metal Cynthia Jeub cjeub@uccs.edu Besides a tattoo sleeve and a spiked-up hairdo, Mike Searle doesn’t have the appearance of a hardcore rock screamer. A sophomore at UCCS majoring in English literature, Searle almost seems too academic and grounded to be the bassist for Altars, his metallic hardcore band. “The goal of our band is not necessarily just to create art in music but to create art with message,” Searle said of the band’s purpose. “If we’re appealing to the youth, that’s extremely meaningful to me.” In 2011, Searle had to stop performing lead vocals because his voice was going out. Local performances weren’t a problem, but back-to-back performances on tour were. “Every day my throat would just hurt more, and I would have a hard time speaking after our shows,” he said. Searle joked about taking advantage of his poor

voice with the hardcore music, saying, “It still worked. At that time, all of our music was still screaming and yelling into the microphone, so I could still force out some grunting vocals.” Soon after a tour in Canada in late 2011, his voice was too weak to record the band’s second album. The backup vocalist and bass player at the time took over the lead vocals, but Searle couldn’t play the bass guitar and had to learn it in just a few weeks. Searle said encouragement from many sources has helped him remain loyal to the band. Once, he had the opportunity to study elsewhere for a semester with a work internship. “The internship would apply to what I want to do as a career later on, possibly if the band breaks up,” Searle explained. “Who knows, maybe we’ll make it big and make some money ... but I still want to pursue my career.” He went to his mother for advice. “If a parent tells

Photo courtesy of Altars’ Facebook page Altars, a metallic hardcore band, was signed to Strike First Records in 2011. their friends their son is in a touring band, they go, ‘Oh, one of those naïve musicians chasing their dreams,’ or something like that,” Searle said. “But if a parent tells their friends, ‘My son is doing an internship for this group, going to school over here,’ that lines up with what people find to be suc-

cessful.” His mom’s advice was somewhat unexpected. She said he was young enough to focus on the band and focus on internships later. “She told me that she thought that what Altars was doing was very important. And she’s seen the impact it’s had ... so she expressed to me that it would

be a possible mistake to throw something like this away.” “It really put things into perspective for me because – I mean, she was always very supportive – but originally if I had asked her that, there’s no way she would have said that.” Concerning the band’s audiences, Searle hopes

Altars has a positive impact. “I have two younger sisters, and it’s almost like a brotherly role that I feel for the band because we want to be there to encourage people.” To other bands hoping to make their big breaks, Searle advised, “Commitment is key because if you’re trying to tour, finding the right members is going to be really difficult. There’s a lot of stress in being that close to your best friends for that long.” Searle also said to make sure there’s good communication. “Constant selfcriticism and constant communication is what I think has kept us together.” His last bit of advice was attending local concerts in a specific genre, getting to know people and becoming known. He recently attended a performance of Autumn Creatures, a local band he recommends. Altars’ second fulllength album will come out early this summer, and the band’s music is available on iTunes and YouTube. S

Culture

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Study Abroad Fair to give students more summer, fall options cjeub@uccs.edu Traveling itself ranks low on the list of reasons to study abroad, according to the Office of International Affairs. Still, students are encouraged to explore their options abroad through the university. The Study Abroad Fair on Jan. 30 will give students an opportunity to speak with counselors and professors about the bene-

fits of studying abroad and traveling while in school. Michael Saenz, a Spanish-major graduate student running the fair, said there are a few myths to be dispelled for most students – like how trips need to last for an entire semester or that trips are unaffordable. Still, studying abroad is not all about the travel involved. “It’s not all about travel when you study abroad. Of course travel is another piece,” Saenz said, “but I

“

think it’s more what you want to gain from the experience of living in a different country, learning a different language, immersing yourself into the country and how you’re going to use this experience for your career and your future endeavors.” Six students from UCCS are studying abroad this semester, but the Office of International Affairs wants

It helps you grow as a person professionally, and it exposes you to things outside of your norm. - Michael Saenz

to increase that number. According to Saenz, who works in both the English department and the Office of International Affairs, they all have different stories. “Two of our students are going to Ireland, two to Italy and one to Panama. One got interest in studying abroad from a friend. One was really interested all her life, and her parents had studied abroad.” Saenz said that the office aims to promote inter-

The Lowdown What:

Study Abroad Fair

When:

Jan. 30, 3-6 p.m.

Where:

University Center 116 Photo by Robert Solis UCCS’ study abroad program can give students opportunities to see the world.

national education on campus. “It’s really an unforgettable, unbelievable experience that all students, in my professional and personal opinion, need to go through,” he said. “It helps you grow as a person professionally, and it exposes you to things outside of your norm, and it’s so special ... all of us in the office are passionate about international education, and we want to promote it.” Studying abroad can be an option for all students, whether or not foreign language is a focal point of study. The centralization of the international affairs office is allowing more colleges to make transfers for students. The Colorado passport agency will be at the fair to answer international travel questions, and several professors and departments will also be represented, including student advisors, Financial Aid and the Student Success Center. The cost of a studying abroad program will also be discussed at the fair.

“

Cynthia Jeub

How much: Free

Saenz said that there are resources and scholarships available to help students alleviate the cost. “When we have an exchange program, you pay home tuition, so housing or airfare might be excluded.” The International Affairs Office was centralized in April 2012 when it began developing studyabroad programs with universities around the world. As an exchange, students can study abroad, and students from other universities can study at UCCS. “I’m passionate about it because I love working with international students,” Saenz said. “Being able to see a student go from basic English to being really proficient in English over that time period – it’s interesting to see.” The office’s website gives step-by-step instructions for setting up a trip, but the fair is a chance to ask questions in person. The deadline to apply to study abroad for the summer or fall semesters is March 15. Saenz reiterated, “It is expensive, but it’s possible.” S

Spring Club Fair highlights extracurricular activities on campus April Wefler

awefler@uccs.edu Students vying for jobs or new friends might want to consider taking up some activities outside of class. An opportunity for UCCS clubs and organizations to meet and talk with students, the spring Club Fair held Jan. 24 on the University Center Upper Plaza demonstrated multiple opportunities. “Not only are they good for a social life, they also look good on a resume. In a way, they’re essential to getting a job,” said senior Jenny Ishida, chair of the Japanese Language Appreciation Club. Mercedes Allen, a senior and director of marketing for Young Americans for Liberty, said she originally transferred here and that the club fair helped her transition. “Coming into a whole new environment, you kind of need it, otherwise you’re lost,” she said. Allen noted that in both the fall and spring Club Fair, YAL had great turnouts, and members were able to talk with

interested students. The club meets Thursdays at 5 p.m. in University Center Room 126. “I am a feminist, and I like to advocate for women’s rights and minority rights, and this club is like a catalyst for me to make a difference,” Allen said. “I feel like if other people joined, they’d understand that this club is a stepping stone to doing great things.” This semester’s fair was slightly different because the clubs’ tables were grouped together by interest. Ishida said that she liked the closer setup. “I’m right next to APISU, which I’m closely associated with. We hang out a lot and I think we have a lot to share,” she said. Thomas Price, a freshman and founder of Totally Classic Movies, said the Club Fair encourages students to join a club they like or to start one that the campus doesn’t have. Price was involved in Totally Classic Movies during high school and decided to start one on campus.

“The purpose of the club is to introduce audiences to classic films that are 20 years [old] or older. We also like to show movies that are appealing to people of our generation,” said Price. Totally Classic Movies meets every Wednesday at 7 p.m. in University Center Room 302. Last semester it showed several movies, including “Animal House,” “Fantasia”

and “Breaking Away.” Price said his favorite movies are “Casablanca” and Disney’s “Hercules,” noting that “Hercules” had the biggest turnout last November, with 30 people attending. Tanner Parker and Connor Morgan, freshmen, attended the club fair last fall to see if there was a Magic club on campus. When they learned there wasn’t, they de-

cided to start their own: Plainswalkers Guild. Magic was the first trading card game, created by Richard Garfield and introduced in 1993. Parker and Morgan mentioned that Pokémon is heavily based on Magic. “My dad used to play; in fifth grade, I found out they played at the library,” said Morgan. “I was a big Yu-GiOh! player and a lot of

my friends started playing Magic. I was resistant at first, but got into it in my sophomore year of high school,” said Parker. “If they used to play, have seen it played, have cards somewhere or have any interest in doing something intellectually stimulating, they should join,” added Morgan. The club meets Tuesdays at 6 p.m. in Café 65 and hosts biweekly tournaments. S

Photo by Robert Solis The Club Fair allowed students to peruse the vast number of clubs available at UCCS.

Opinion

Page 8

January 28, 2013

Fiscal crisis still most important issue and impacts everyone Staff Editorial scribe@uccs.edu Speaking to a group of college students about the importance of having a budget and sticking to it is like convincing an Apply fanboy to buy the next iPhone or persuading a dairy farmer that cows are important. As college students, we don’t need a lecture to know the importance of prioritizing purchases, paying back our debts and making the best decisions for our future. What’s less obvious is why elected leaders in Washington, D.C., don’t feel the need to hold themselves to the same standards. Why they don’t act responsibly with our money and keep transferring the financial burden to the next generation – our generation. Instead of keeping a balanced budget, they opt for whatever is popular politically when it comes time to make reelection commercials. Sure, few understand tax and spending policies and even fewer care. Unless you’re Paul

the

Ryan doing a “Hey Girl” meme, debates over fiscal policy are far from sexy. But the money the government takes through taxes and the policies it spends them on impacts each and every American. Enter the “fiscal cliff,” a type of mini-climax for our fiscal crisis. New Year’s in Washington this year looked more like a perfect storm than a party: Bush-era tax cuts on middle-class families were set to expire, the budget sequestration with $500 billion in cuts to military spending over 10 years would take effect and the nation would hit the $16.4 trillion debt ceiling. After much gridlock over a specific bill, the 2001 Bush-era taxes – which helped ease the tax burden on middle-class families but also added to our deficit – were extended, while the debate on military cuts was delayed to March and the fight over the debt ceiling was pushed to May. As the Wall Street Journal put it, “The compromise dodges one cliff, but it sends Con-

gress barreling toward another.” Elected leaders say they must make “hard decisions.” Yet men and women in Washington continue to leave those decisions – and the resulting burdens – to others. Instead of leading, politicians dodge, punt and avoid the issues. They’re interested only in maintaining and expanding their party’s agenda and getting reelected instead of doing what’s in the best interest of the nation. The financial crisis is a crisis, for sure, yet few are acting like it or acting on it. The only way we begin to put our deficit on a downward slope is if we take a balanced and responsible approach by making serious spending cuts and raising revenue on all Americans, not just the “rich” – something both sides realize must be done but neither has the courage to do. The fiscal cliff deal reached between Congress and the president includes $620 billion in tax increases to $15 billion in spending cuts: a 40:1 ratio – hardly “bal-

cribe

Editor-in-Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sara Horton Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jesse Byrnes Copy Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Taylor Hargis News Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eleanor Skelton Culture Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cynthia Jeub Opinion/Life on the Bluffs Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aaron Collett Sports Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tyler Bodlak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jonathan Toman Photo Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alex Gradisher Business Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mike English Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emily Olson Designer and Photographer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert Solis Web Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Edwin Satre Ad Sales Representatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nikolas Roumell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jamie Burnett Junior Ad Sales Representative. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matthew Yersak Lead Photographer and Columnist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nicholas Burns Junior Photographers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tyler Anderson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joshua Camacho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . James Sibert Reporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April Wefler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peter Farrell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Samantha Morley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kyle Marino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sarah Palma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mikaila Ketcherside Junior Reporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alexander Nedd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nick Beadleston Junior Sports Reporter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seth Polich Junior Columnists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Taylor Eaton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shelby Shively Distributor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lisa Erickson Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laura Eurich

anced.” According to the Tax Policy Center, more than 75 percent of American households will see an increase from the taxes they paid last year. In fact, it is the largest tax increase in the last 20 years without any significant long-term spending cuts. Our national debt stands at more than $16.4 trillion, a staggering burden of $52,248 per citizen and $145,963 per taxpayer. And that’s if the government were to stop spending immediately. More and more college students realize that it’s money the government has already spent – but it’s a bill they’ll have to pick up. And with an aging Baby Boomer population requiring more medical expenses, the tax burden on young Americans will be suffocating. Going over a fiscal cliff would be disastrous for our economy, but consider this: We would have to go over 17 fiscal cliffs in order to pay off our current debt. For too many years,

the government has spent too much money on too many programs for too many people – and our current policies are only exacerbating the problem. We want to make investments in the future of our nation, but the means are nonexistent. Worse, they’re borrowed and are accruing interest by the second. It’s promising that Senate Democrats intend to pass a budget in the near future, the first time they’ve done so in four years. It’s also promising that House Republicans plan to introduce a proposal to put our deficit on a downward slope within 10 years. But it’s not enough. Newly re-inaugurated, President Obama and Senate Democrats will push for more gun control in Obama’s second term, while Republicans will take the lead on comprehensive immigration reform. This summer, the Supreme Court will take up the gay marriage debate, and many of the taxes under the Affordable Care

Act, or Obamacare, will begin to take effect. Yet, despite the plethora of issues that elected leaders and media cover, the underlying fiscal crisis remains the No. 1 issue that will impact all Americans. A frog being boiled in water doesn’t know that it’s in danger until it’s too late. Unfortunately, we know we’re in danger, yet politicians don’t have the heart to do anything substantive about it. That’s where college students get involved. It’s not enough to vote once every four years for new leaders or tweet every week about the inflating cost of tuition. Our future successes will be determined by the choices we make today. Our leaders, friends, family and classmates need to know how we feel about the fiscal crisis. We can’t continue making investments in the future of America if our fiscal policies are unsustainable. We’re the most educated, opinionated and connected generation ever – it’s time we start acting like it. S

Letters to the Editor The Scribe strongly encourages letters to the editor. Letters intended for publication must not exceed 350 words, must be legible and include the writer’s name and contact information. Letters must be submitted to The Scribe via email at scribe@uccs.edu.com by 5 p.m. on Wednesdays before publication. The Scribe reserves the right to reject letters to the editor that are libelous, obscene or anonymous and has the right to edit as necessary due to space limitations, spelling or other grammatical errors and AP style guidelines. Distribution Policy The following conducts are prohibited by The Scribe: Publication and news rack theft. A person commits the offense(s) of publication and/or news rack theft when he or she willfully or knowingly obtains or exerts unauthorized control over more than one copy of any edition of a publication distributed on or off campus (a “publication” is any periodical that is distributed on a complimentary basis). Any person who commits these offences is responsible for compensating The Scribe for any reasonable costs incurred, including, where appropriate, the refunding of advertising fees. Archives Additional copies of the current publication volume are available in The Scribe’s office. The Scribe keeps issues from the past five volumes for internal use only. The Office of University Archives will handle any request for additional issues from the past five years and before. Advertising If you, your club, organization or business wishes to advertise with The Scribe, please call (719) 255-3469 or email scribe2@uccs.edu.

Opinion

January 28, 2013

Page 9

Police officers: the overlooked heroes of our communities

Nick Burns nburns@uccs.edu Since the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, an estimated 3,400 U.S. citizens have died as heroes. These individuals died in the service of our nation and in the protection of our American way of life. Despite not being in a traditional combat role, they have fought to uphold the very ideals that our society stands to lose without their presence – the safety and security we take for granted daily. The sobering number of deaths does not represent members of our armed forces in active

combat zones like Iraq or Afghanistan but the men and women that have sacrificed their lives closer to home in the heart of our community: police officers. In a city where many of us know a friend or have a family member in the service, we may sometimes forget the impact of the sacrifice around us in our day-to-day lives. The battlegrounds may be different – the tactics surely are – but the price paid is the same regardless of their location and job title. Since 2001, more than 1,800 police officers have died in felonious deaths and in the line of duty. The other approximately 1,600 deaths since 2001 are suicides. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the true impacts of stress on police officers are only beginning to be studied with the same care as our combat veterans. PTSD is not restricted

to only the theater of war. Many strong men and women in blue suffer in silence from horrific experiences. The U.S. Army has a suicide rate of 20 out of 100,000 members, while nationwide law enforcement has a rate of 17 out of 100,000. If “combat is hell,” how should we compare the challenges faced by the law enforcement community? Police officers are taught and discuss the warrior mindset, the tactical considerations of situations, the mitigation of ambushes and even how to live through gunfights. Every call-for-service and traffic stop – yes, even the one he or she pulled you over for – puts that officer in danger. In fact, 50 percent of officers die as a result of “routine” traffic stops. Our police officers face the known and unknown dangers of normal people put into abnormal situa-

Photo by Nick Burns The price of protecting our freedoms not only affects our soldiers, but also the men and women in blue. tions. Police must conquer the worst of human nature by stepping into domestic violence situations. They must maintain mental, emotional and physical composure in the face of unspeakable acts. They deal with unpredictable people and potentially life-threatening

situations by walking directly into the fray… regardless of the risk to themselves. The horrible occurrences that can change your life forever – dealing with an attacker or sexual assault, shooting a home intruder, the loss from burglary, the pain of abuse, death of loved

ones – are part of a police officer’s daily responsibilities. A soldier can leave the combat zone and come home – police officers call the combat zone home. Regardless of job title, it is not the mark of their death but the power of their lives that make men and women heroes. S

Administration catering to ‘politics’ and hurting students

Aaron Collett acollett@uccs.edu Colleges separate their programs into different departments for good reason – after all, an English professor really shouldn’t be making decisions about what equipment the chemistry department orders.

However, at times, the decision to separate into two different departments not only doesn’t make sense, but it actively hurts students. I am a communication major with an emphasis in digital filmmaking. I’m a filmmaker. That’s what I go to school for, and no matter what job I actually have, I am a filmmaker. So you’d think that when I take classes that teach me how to make films, they would count for my major, right? Wrong. There’s another department that deals with film at UCCS: Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA). In

fact, there are some very good arguments for film falling under VAPA – film is undoubtedly a visual and performing art. The issue is that there are two departments vying for the chance to teach certain classes – and it’s a zero-sum game. If VAPA gets the class, the communication department doesn’t. As a general rule, VAPA tends to get theory and analysis classes, while communication tends to get production classes. That all sounds good in theory. But then you add in the actual students, like me. Students don’t get to choose “film” as a major

and pick the classes from both departments – they have to choose either communication or VAPA and then cut themselves off from the other department. When students take classes that should apply toward their degree that don’t, not only is it a waste of time, but it’s also a waste of money – and it’s the administration’s fault. The only answer I’ve gotten from anyone when I ask why the departments are set up this way is “interdepartmental politics” in hushed tones. When I press for details, I get a runaround

that essentially boils down to, “It’s none of your business, and you shouldn’t stick your nose where it doesn’t belong.” I don’t actually care what the details of this whole mess are – I just want a film department that makes sense, and splitting up the film classes between communication and VAPA makes no sense. “Interdepartmental politics” is a lame way to say that the administration of the college is not looking out for the best interests of the students. And that’s what really pisses me off about the entire situation. The whole

thing screams that the administration is catering to politics and ignoring the people hurt by this shoddy double-department policy. What the college needs is an actual film department, no more of this half-assed split between two departments. The administration needs to stop the politics and make a decision. Either all the film classes go in communication, or all the film classes go in VAPA – or the college creates a film department. Administrators need to learn that running a college is not about them – it’s about the students. S

Mayan apocalyptic interpretations fall short of expectations

Samantha Morley smorley2@uccs.edu It was cold, dark and crowded. I’d already been awake for four hours, and the sun hadn’t even peeked above the horizon. I stood

among thousands of NeoDruids, Neo-Pagans and others who garbed themselves in unusual clothing. Hundreds of us huddled against the magnificent stones that towered several feet over our heads. The sun would soon rise at Stonehenge. Dec. 21, 2012, was a day that many anticipated would catastrophically wipe out humanity. But mine started at Stonehenge, where I was surrounded by worshippers of all kinds. We grouped around the

stones with excitement and awed at the sun as it gradually overcame the horizon. There was no sudden inferno that engulfed screeching humans, or rapid bombardment of asteroids or an overwhelming flood that swept us all away. Instead, thousands of people were able to enjoy and appreciate the rising of the sun at a sacred monument as they welcomed the shortest day of the year. For those who kept up with the news, it has been

said since early 2012 that the Mayan calendar was not a predication of the end of the world. Instead, Dec. 21 marked the day that the 13th 144,000-day cycle of the Mayan Long Count Calendar ended. People like Rev. Harold Camping, who incorrectly predicted an apocalypse on May 21, 2011, and then joined the chorus of those expecting the end to come Dec. 21, threw many societies into tizzies. Mayan astronomy scholar Anthony Aveni of

Colgate University provided insight into the matter, stating that another Mayan calendar that dates back 1,200 years ago also exists. This calendar consists of 6,000 years. “Why would they go into those numbers if the world is going to come to an end this year?”Aveni asked in an interview with the Telegraph. World ending or not, I was able to enjoy the pleasant countryside of England on the shortest day of 2012

and appreciate the blissful, incoherent songs of the Neo-Pagans and NeoDruids. I even got to see a man who had legally changed his name to King Arthur Knight with a few other special Winter Solstice attendees. We’re alive and well. The world will continue, even when society encounters another apocalyptic theory that may pass by without any consequence. We will only know when we get there. S

Life on the Bluffs Campus Chatter Top Ten

January 28, 2013

Page 10

Shelby Shively, sshively@uccs.edu, photos by Nick Burns

There are more than 20 million students in America, and more than 10,000 of them are at UCCS. Their opinions matter.

Real reasons you skipped class by Aaron Collett, acollett@uccs.edu

Brooke Spriggs, senior, molecular biology

Austin Jones-Madix, junior, business

What are your thoughts on gun control?

I think the laws they’re coming up with right now are really stupid. A lot of the things they’re thinking about banning are cosmetic and not related to how the gun operates. Most mass murders are committed by people with mental health issues, so I really think they need to focus more on that.

You should be allowed to have guns. There will always be a black market for things like that, so the people not allowed to buy guns will become the victims. A robber will be more afraid of someone who possibly has a gun than of the law. There should definitely be better background checks.

How do you feel about an assault weapons ban?

I think it’s kind of pointless. It won’t stop the people who are actually buying them.

I’d agree with that. I mean, those are created for war.

Julie Ludlam, sophomore, business administration Do you think veterans should be school security guards? They would be good options because they know what to do in certain situations. Do you think teachers should be allowed to carry guns in schools? No, that’s completely overboard. I would never allow my kids to go to a school where teachers are allowed to carry guns. Security officers, sure, but not teachers.

Dog House Diaries

Erik Rodriguez, junior, political science Do you think veterans should be school security guards? Any parent who wants to protect kids can volunteer to be a school security guard, as well as any type of veteran who does not affiliate themselves with their organization because that can lead to legal issues. Do you think teachers should be able to carry guns in schools? Only if they are certified in concealed carry and if they have taken a defense tactics course offered through local police. S

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Sudoku

What you were actually doing

What you told your teacher

Didn’t want to get out of bed

“I found out I’m narcoleptic.”

Totally hung-over

“A whale carcass fell on my car.”

Making amore

“I blew a tire on my way in.”

Foot got caught in a bear trap

“I caught my foot in a bear trap.”

Went to a gun show

“I broke up a gun-running ring in the Springs.”

Favorite soap opera wasn’t over

“I had a family emergency.”

Still drinking

“I was volunteering at an orphanage.”

Out shopping for skinny jeans

“My grandma died.”

Dying your hair pink

“I was sick. In the head.”

Suffered an injury

“My liver! My kidneys! My legs! It hurts to move!”

Bring your completed sudoku to The Scribe Office (UC 106) for a prize! Last week’s sudoku answers can be found at uccsscribe.com.

Comic courtesy of thedoghousediaries.com

This week at

UCCS

Tuesday, Jan. 29 Wednesday, Jan. 30 Free Pancakes University Center 7:30 a.m. Taco Tuesday Trivia Night Clyde’s 6 p.m.

Michael Salter: Solo Exhibition GOCA 1420 Noon

Education Abroad 101 University Center 126 12:30 p.m. Spring 2013 Education (Study Abroad) Fair University Center 116 3 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 31

Friday, Feb. 1

Workshop: Five Ways to Improve Your Grades University Center 307 12:15 p.m.

Women’s Basketball vs. Western New Mexico Gallogly Events Center 5:30 p.m.

Chinese Food Night The Lodge 5 p.m.

Men’s Basketball vs. Western New Mexico Gallogly Events Center 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 2

Monday, Feb. 4

Women’s Basketball vs. New Mexico Highlands Gallogly Events Center 5:30 p.m.

Office of Student Activities Table University Center Atrium Noon

Men’s Basketball vs. New Mexico Highlands Gallogly Events Center 7:30 p.m. “Red” Dusty Loo Bon Vivant Theater 7:30 p.m.

Greek Orientation University Center 124 3 p.m.

Sports

January 28, 2013

Page 11

Mountain Lion women look to continue early success Kyle Marino kmarino@uccs.edu The UCCS women’s basketball team (11-4, 8-3) has roared to its best start in team history. After a tough one-point loss to No. 8 ranked Colorado Mesa, the Lady Lions pulled off two impressive road conference wins against Colorado School of Mines and Colorado Christian. Beating Mines and Colorado Christian was a huge swing in the season for the Lady Lions. “We got up for the game against Mines, and going 2-0 was a priority and really big for our team,” Head Coach Corey Laster said. The Lady Lions know in order to continue their success that they must keep up their balanced scoring attack, continue to get better on the boards, get up for big games and keep their focus throughout the rest of the season. “We got out-rebound-

Photo by James Sibert Lauren Wolfinger, left, and Abby Kirchoff, right, on their way back to the locker room after a win at Colorado School of Mines. ed on the offensive end against Mines,” Laster said. “Our defensive rebounding was good in the game, but overall our rebounding is something

that we can focus on more and improve in that category.” An injury to a team’s starting center could affect any team regardless of

experience, but younger teams are more prone to losing focus after an injury to a key player. When Sam Patterson went down with a torn

ACL/MCL, it hurt the team. But the young squad was able to keep its focus and went with a next-manup approach. “We are trying to re-

place Sam in the lineup by committee. It all depends on the matchup and flow of the game,” Laster said. “Hannah Knight has stepped into a role for us along with Jessika Kienitz, Kai Brown and Carrie Christopher, but we will continue to go by committee.” Perhaps one of the most instrumental players who has kept the team up and carried them on her back is sophomore guard Abby Kirchoff, who leads the team in scoring average with 13.9 points per game and in rebounding at 5.3 rebounds per game. “Abby was our leading scorer as a freshman; she is a tough matchup,” Laster said. “She’s crafty, heady, smart, aggressive; can take you off the dribble and hit jumpers.” The Lady Lions hope to continue their balanced attack and become a dangerous force come playoffs and in RMAC and national tournaments. S

UCCS men’s basketball looks for turnaround going forward Kyle Marino

kmarino@uccs.edu The 2012-2013 campaign for the UCCS men’s Mountain Lion basketball team (2-13, 2-9) has gotten off to a slow start. Even so, the team looks to rebound down the stretch, continue improving and hopefully stack up some wins. “You know, we are off to a slow start, but we are young team and are starting to play better basketball and will continue to keep taking a one-dayat-a-time approach,” said Head Coach Jeff Culver. One key to improving could lie in the hands of freshman guard Derrick White and sophomore guard Darius Pardner. Both have performed well this year and have formed one of the most dynamic duos in the backcourt of the RMAC Conference.

White, originally from Parker, Colo., has been impressive for a freshman, leading the team in scoring average with 16.7 points per game, good enough to rank fourth in the conference. “Derrick is a true freshman; he is doing a great job at stepping up,” Culver said. “We’ve moved him around a little, but he is doing a great job of getting acclimated to our team and league and adjusting to the physicality and speed of the game.” Pardner, a sophomore from Aurora, Colo., has been the other stalwart in the backcourt, averaging 10.7 points per game while being a team leader both on and off the court. “You know, I just wanted to try and step up as a leader this year,” Pardner said. “I’m more comfortable than I was last year and feel I can be a leader for this team.”

Another key could be getting some more consistency out of the frontcourt to complement the onetwo punch of Pardner and White. According to Coach Culver, “We need more consistency out of the frontcourt. We have some guys doing some good things in spurts, but it is a work in progress and will improve slowly but surely.” Alex Welsh, a freshman from Westminster, Colo., has been one of the better frontcourt players averaging 10.2 points per game and 5.9 rebounds per game while starting all 15 games. If the play of Pardner and White keeps up and the frontcourt can continue improving, the Mountain Lions may be a formidable foe to an unsuspecting playoff team. UCCS fans just hope the Ws come sooner than later. S

Photo by James Sibert Derrick White, right, charged around his opponent at Colorado School of Mines.

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Sports

Page 12

January 28, 2013

Women’s volleyball team welcomes new head coach Mikaila Ketcherside mketcher@uccs.edu

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I obviously want to do well with statistics and winning. But I also want to accomplish helping the female athletes find their way in life, get a great education and build from there.

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While students can look forward to another women’s volleyball season, team members can look forward to having a new head coach. Replacing Keith Barnett, Chrissy Elder will be joining the UCCS women’s volleyball team on Feb. 1. Elder is an experienced NCAA Division II coach, transferring to UCCS from the University of Central Missouri. Before coaching, Elder was a Division II player. Elder began her career as an assistant coach in Pittsburgh before becoming a graduate assistant coach in Kansas City, Mo. She became the primary assistant coach there and stepped in as the interim coach when the head coach left the position open, coaching at Central Missouri for six years before taking the position at UCCS. “I’m most looking forward to meeting the players,” Elder said. “I want to get to know them and

- Chrissy Elder

Photo courtesy of the University of Central Missouri Chrissy Elder, left, will begin coaching the women’s volleyball team on Feb. 1. put in time and practice. I look forward to building a family at UCCS.” Elder said she feels comfortable with the staff and athletic department, which is a reason she chose to relocate to

UCCS. She fell in love with Colorado when she saw the mountains and the UCCS campus. The UCCS athletic program recently received a presidential award for academic success. Ath-

letic Director Stephen Kirkham believes Elder will maintain this high standard of achievement. “We should have a championship volleyball program on a yearly basis. Other schools have

strong teams. Chrissy will bring that to UCCS,” Kirkham said. Elder’s status as a Division II coach identifies a different level of talent. Her winning record from Missouri placed her

above other candidates for the coaching position. She has already met some of the volleyball players and has a good relationship with the prospective 2013 team. Community involvement is important to athletic teams, and Elder intends to involve as many people as she can with the volleyball team. “I’m hoping to create a family-oriented atmosphere where we can involve the community,” she said. “I’m a people person, so I want to get involved with everyone.” Elder has a background in involving communities, high schools, middle schools and grade schools in her athletic programs. UCCS sports teams often are involved with community service, and Elder has every intention of continuing to do so. “I obviously want to do well with statistics and winning. But I also want to accomplish helping the female athletes find their way in life, get a great education and build from there,” she said. S

UCCS cross country teams strive to improve on and off the field Peter Farrell pfarrell@uccs.edu

Photo by Nick Burns Steve Kirkham, UCCS Athletic Director, was interviewed about a recent incident involving the cross country team.

As the new semester begins, the UCCS men’s and women’s cross country teams are preparing to maintain their high national places, both ranking in or near the top 10 last year. Despite a discouraging close to the end of last semester, the athletic department is pressing to maintain good character development. Last semester, the men’s and women’s team ended on a sour note in Joplin, Mo. due to poor judgment on behalf of a team member. Since then, Mark Misch and David Harmer, the men’s and women’s team coaches, respectively, have been working with their athletes to prepare the teams for upcoming National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II competitions. UCCS athletes are required to maintain good grades with the ultimate goal of obtaining a degree. While they are in school, they are also required to realize they represent the institution and are part of something bigger than

themselves. Stephen Kirkham, UCCS athletic director, is intent on improving the athletes under his watch by the time that they finish their college careers. “I’m all about second chances,” said Kirkham, “But at the same time, it’s about growing, learning, understanding what your role is at the university and what your role is eventually going to be as alumni.” Last November, the UCCS men’s and women’s Division II teams respectively took 11th and 10th in the national meet, competing against 32 other teams. The women’s team ranked third against 24 teams in the South Central Region Championships in October, with their male counterparts coming in fourth out of 22. Men’s head coach Mark Misch shares Kirkham’s sentiments about personal growth and maintaining a high standard for his athletes. “We either succeed together, or we fall together,” Misch said. Outside of athletic quality, Kirkham has seen that athletes who pursue excellence in character and

learn from their mistakes also see improvements in other areas of their lives. “You always learn more from losing than you do from winning,” said Kirkham. Peer pressure also plays a crucial role in the development of athletes. Although many athletes perform confidently when competing, the dangers of caving to peer pressure are quite real off the field. “Coaches’ pressure is nothing compared to peer pressure,” explained Kirkham. The story of David Mueller, a UCCS track athlete who died in 2009 while riding with a friend driving under the influence, is a reminder to the athletic department and sports community about the consequences of seemingly small lapses in judgment. Misch described all decisions as having a “ripple effect,” emphasizing that they can easily build from one event to the next as they continue. Still, Kirkham said that he has high hopes for the cross country teams next year. “It’s been really fun watching them be as competitive as they are,” he said. S