The Catalyst Vol. 49 No. 15 February 8, 2019

THE CATALYST The Independent Student Newspaper of Colorado College

Vol. 49, No. 15

February 8, 2019

CC’s New Hockey Arena: It’s Time for Student Input

By ELIZA GUION Reports that construction for the Robson Arena would break ground during the 2018– 19 school year have students wondering why they haven’t seen any wrecking balls taken to the hallowed halls of the Colorado College Inn yet.

It turns out the project is still in the planning and design phase, with a series of upcoming community meetings scheduled to help guide the process. Do you count yourself among those with questions or concerns about CC’s latest multi-million dollar building endeavor? Now is the time to make your voice heard.

Initially proposed as an on-

campus practice rink after alumnus Ed Robson ’54’s $8 million donation in 2016, the arena is now slated to be a 3,000-seat venue, replacing the Broadmoor World Arena as Tiger hockey’s permanent home. A partnership with Colorado Springs’ City for Champions initiative has enabled this more expansive plan, which will cost an estimated $39 million.

Groundbreaking is projected for late 2019, with the arena set to open sometime in 2021.

The school recently announced that it has contracted N.E.S. Inc, a Springs-based landscape architecture and urban design firm, to spearhead planning and design moving forward. Colorado College’s Director of Sus-

Illustration by Annabel Driussi Map Courtesy of Colorado College

pus.” They articulated apprehension about the proposed benefits of having a rink on campus; “We feel the project might recentralize hockey culture and negatively impact our community,” they said.

After voicing these concerns to school administration, this student felt disheartened. “I would do more, but after all the steps I’ve gone through, the school is really not interested in Continued on pg. 6

The Search for a History Professor: Honoring the College’s Commitment Toward an Anti-Racist Reality

By ERICA WILLIAMS The search for a new contemporary European history professor is coming to a close.

After thoroughly examining each candidate for their strengths and weaknesses, a decision will be made on who could enrich the Colorado College community best.

According to the history department’s Academic Administrative Asssitant Joanna Popiel, the search for the candidates began last semester and has involved the History Council in its decision. “Sandi Wong, Alan Townsend, and Paul Buckley interviewed the three selected candidates in January,” said Popiel. “From there, all three gave job talks, teaching demos, and visited history classes.

This week, each candidate will conclude the process with a formal dinner with the department.”

Professor Tip Ragan was able to get many students from his Block 5 course to attend the talks and give feedback on the candidates.

tainability Ian Johnson said it was too early in the process to comment on the potential effects of the arena on CC’s proclaimed sustainability goals.

At this nascent stage of design, there’s still space for student voices and opinions to hold real weight. Already, students have shed light on serious concerns with the project. One student, who wished to remain anonymous, said they became involved when they realized that plans for the arena had “skirted the design review board and were put directly into the hands of the Board of Trustees.”

“I realized that students had no information, and tried to advocate for student interests,” they said. At the forefront of their mind were issues of accessibility and inclusivity: “Our biggest concern was how it would affect already marginalized students on this cam-

Within the wake of the anti-racism review on campus, the search has caused a little controversy. “Hiring a European candidate can be seriously tricky, especially in a time where students are serious about considering the negative influence of the West on mainstream culture [hence the removal of the West In Time as an all college requirement],” said Eric Dallesasse ’20, who is also a member of the history council. “But I think there’s value in knowing about Europe and its influences on the changing world.”

“I don’t believe studying Europe or making sure there’s constantly a European historian is inherently bad or racist,” said Dallesasse.

“It’s when we learn specifically that Europe is the epicenter of all of history that it becomes problematic. It’s going to be interesting to take a class with whoever the history department hires because I wonder how they will confront conflicts of race, culture, and

Illustration by Lo Wall

What Can Kavanaugh Really Do?

By JOSIE KRITTER The appointment of Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court has upset many and created fear in the female-identifying population. Colorado College hosted three professionals of the Colorado Springs area on Feb. 1 to discuss the reproductive health and sexual justice implications that are associated with the current administration.

The three panel speakers included Nico Wilkinson, the local organizer for Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains; Dr. Marlesa Moore, an obstetrician at Pike’s Peak UCHealth Women’s Care Clinic; and Dr. Ted Maynard, the vice president of the Colorado Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The panel focused on bipartisanship, reproductive health, and sexual rights.

The first question asked was on the ways in which new policies would affect their jobs.

Currently, over 10 million women rely on Title X for things like affordable birth control and general healthcare. The Donald Trump administration’s new “gag-rule” prohibits healthcare providers from disclosing full information and the various options available to their patients. This not only undermines fundamental tenets of informed consent, but spreads the views of the pro-life sect, regardless of the patient’s personal views. It also violates medical ethics by restricting the knowledge and speed with which patients

can receive care. This would disproportionately affect lower-income communities, particularly people of color, that rely on places such as Planned Parenthood as their main care provider.

Additionally, restricting Title X would inhibit the ability to acquire affordable birth control, on which nine out of 10 women will rely in their lifetime. According to Maynard, studies have shown that the only true way to reduce the abortion rates is not to increase the difficulty of getting them, but instead to provide more opportunities to attain birth control. “Nobody’s choosing third-trimester abortions for personal reasons,” Maynard said. With the added threat of Roe v. Wade being overturned, the right to privacy and choice guaranteed by the Supreme Court could be taken from those who need it most.

Moore explained how much of the debate over abortion comes from the rhetoric used in the argument. By declaring one side as “pro-life” and the other as “pro-choice”, it muddles the more important aspects of the conversation. “It’s not as simple of a choice as it’s made out to be,” Moore said. “It’s not really about pro-life,” as the emphasis has been often placed on the unborn fetus instead of the mental, emotional, and physical health of the mother. She suggests that when moving forward in legislation, we should “try

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News

Opinion

Sports & Active Life

Life

10 Questions

A Look Behind Closed Doors

The Unlearned Lessons of History Colin Suszynski ’21 on why the U.S. shouldn’t meddle in Venezuela’s current political crisis. Page 14

Basketball Teams Host Senior Night Men’s and women’s teams honor dedicated seniors with pregame ceremonies. Page 7

Duty to Care Heather Rolph ’21 explains why “Contractions” is both brilliant and terrifying. Page 11

The Catalyst sits down with CC economics major and environmental issues minor Cole Simon ’20, to discuss his experiences and superb party-planning skills. Page 5

Tough Love, Colorado Style Nick Penzel ’21 on how loving Colorado means being honest about the damage done by population growth and outdoor recreation. Page 15

Free Yoga Join the Active Life team for a free Buti Yoga class this Saturday at 11:30 a.m. in the gym’s multipurpose room.

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Setting the Stage Noelle Edwards ’19 previews three of Sundance’s most promising films. Page 12

The Wellness Resource Center explores the question, how much sex are your peers really having? Page 2 Fact Check The ups and downs of the longawaited State of the Union. Page 4

Find us online at: catalystnewspaper.com Facebook: /CatalystNews Twitter: /CatalystNews

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Diving Into Wellness A recurring column exploring various statistics related to sexual wellness, mental health, and substance use at Colorado College, brought to you in collaboration with the Wellness Resource Center.

By SUSANNA PENFIELD

22% This is the percentage of Colorado College students who have had four or more sexual partners in the last month.

Twenty-two is also the percentage of CC students who have had zero partners.

It is often said that, as college students, we exist in a “hookup culture.” This phrase is usually accompanied by shaking heads and small sighs of resignation, representative of the lack of control we perceive ourselves to have over this phenomenon.

Whether used to dismiss regrettable interaction, or to express excitement over the night’s brimming potential, “hook-up culture” has quickly become a cliché. It serves as an excuse for miscommunication, confusion, heartbreak, and erasure of experiences that don’t align with the overall narrative of frequent, detached sexual encounters.

The danger in hookup culture is not casual sex itself — so long as it’s consensual — but the expectations created by commonplace stories of public make outs, “walks of shame,” and irrepressible desires, especially as these expectations are so often grounded in incorrect information and assumptions.

So, while 22 percent of CC students had four or more partners in the last month, 22 percent didn’t have any, and 31 percent had one. For greater context, 11 percent of students nationwide had four or more partners in the last 12 months; 31 percent had none; and 43 percent had one. This is to say that our campus and campuses across the country represent a diverse range of experiences. Each is statistically significant and therefore prove that, regardless of how often you are having sex, there are many others engaging in — or abstaining from — sex in a similar way.

Students form unreal expectations in response to both peer- and media-circulated stories about what hook-up culture can look like on a campus. When we perceive everyone around us to be having sex, it is almost impossible not to compare one’s own experience with others. What we forget is that only the loudest voices are the ones heard. This makes it all the more important to dispel myths surrounding the nature and frequency of hook-ups, instead working to ground personal thoughts or conversation in accurate information.

However, beyond shaming individuals who “aren’t getting any,” the expectations associated with hookup culture can often manifest in harmful behavior, both to oneself and one’s partner(s). That is to say, while hookup and rape culture are not the same, there is significant overlap, as one often facilitates the other.

A study conducted from Harvard Business School found that 45 percent of men say they expect vaginal sex if they go home with a woman after a party. Thirty-one percent of women say the same. Not only does this research speak to the overly presumptive character of college social interactions writ large, but it also highlights the gendered gap between such presumptions, a gap that could lead to non-consensual sex. It is important to note that this study focuses only on heterosexual encounters.

Expectations can trap us. Thinking critically about whether norms are driving our actions will not only work to eradicate rape culture, but will also make us more comfortable expressing personal desire and happier with our individual sex lives overall.

Photo By Kochi Nakajima

A Little Visit to China Inside the public sphere of journalism

By ANUSHA KHANAL As students existing in an educational institution in the 21st Century, open discussions are something that we perhaps take for granted. However, this privilege is not shared by all.

On February 4, Timothy Cheek, a renowned historian and professor at the University of British Columbia, Canada spoke on the ‘Origins and Rejuvenation of China’s Directed Public Sphere.’

Cheek was a professor in the Colorado College History Department from 1988–2001 before his career at the UBC. As assistant professor of CC’s Department of Political Science Christian Sorace put it, Cheek was “instrumental in founding the Asian Studies department on campus.” He specializes in the study of intellectuals and is the author of many renowned books on China and Chinese history.

The talk focused on the historical development of different public spheres in China, which Cheek claimed was different from our general understanding of “public sphere.” A term coined by Jürgen Habermas, public sphere is understood as a platform, free from the state, where people come together to discuss societal issues.

So, what sets China apart?

China’s ‘directed’ public sphere in the 20th Century has operated in three forms: print capitalism, for example, newspapers and magazines, the propaganda state, and the directed public sphere. The talk focused on the directed public sphere in particular, especially under China’s current leadership: Xi Jinping.

Historically, China’s public sphere has been guided and managed toward establishing a pedagogical state where journalism has been more educational than informational. The members of the public sphere included Chinese intellectuals who wanted to show others how to be ‘good.’ The public sphere’s communication has been managed for social stability and still remains under the Chinese Communist Party’s

(CCP) close attention.

In the present context, China has joined global orders like the World Trade Organization and allowed in market forces.

Thus, Cheek claims that China may have ‘globalized’ but not ‘liberalized.’ With intellectuals from all over the world working for them, the CCP has managed to make market choices that serve the goals of directed culture, “making it hard to find the things they don’t want you to find and making it easy to find the stuff that would be good for you.” If one persistently chooses to do things like criticize the government, it will come down on that person.

This is not too difficult for the CCP, considering how the general population accepts and expects that the government will teach them how to “be good”. The people have learned through societal structures how to censor each other and to censor themselves.

However, as Cheek put it, China is not uniform; there are political dissidents in every sector and the power of the internet has undoubtedly changed our societies. China has not remained immune. Even behind the Great Firewall of China, Cheek asserts that these technological advancements have fundamentally changed the cultural horizons of the Chinese population, and have made it harder for the government to have complete control over its people. Therefore, Xi Jinping has now switched to directing the public sphere towards “positive propaganda,” trying to win over people’s hearts and minds.

Why should any of this matter to us, since we seem to have all the freedom to question and criticize? With the growing popularity of tabloid journalism and fake news, China’s directed public sphere provides an alternative model for communication.

Cheek leaves us with the thought, “Why not have smart people guide public opinion?”

The Search for a History Professor: Honoring the Commitment Toward an Anti-Racist Reality Continued from the front page

Illustration Courtesy of The Wellness resource Center

depicting historical ‘truth’.”

“The history department just hired its first African history specialist in a while, so it’s also going to be interesting how those two truths will conflict and possibly be incongruous in some areas,” Dallesasse concluded.

According to insiderhired.com, the amount of job opportunities for historians with doctorates are on the decline.

However, so are the number of people who have history doctorates. “The growth in job opportunities outside academe suggests that the [American Historical Association’s] continuing efforts to prepare historians for a diverse range of careers is seeing some success,” according to the website, providing an optimistic view of the opportunities available in the field of study.

The decision will be finalized on Feb. 8.

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February 8, 2019

Women in Sports Day Celebrated at CC

By ELLEN LOUCKS Historically, men have dominated the athletic field.

However, many people are taking the initiative to increase female representation in sports. One such effort is the recent celebration of Women in Sports Day at Colorado College.

On Saturday, Feb. 2, CC celebrated Women in Sports Day at the El Pomar Sports Center in conjunction with the CC women’s basketball game against Texas Lutheran University. Throughout the afternoon, CC female student athletes and local athletic organizations offered interactive clinics with children from the local community.

Represented at the clinic were team members from CC’s women’s varsity sports teams and the Cutthroat Rugby Team. USA Volleyball, USA Weightlifting, USA Ultimate, and the YMCA were also present.

The purpose of Women in Sports Day was to break the historical narrative that men are more athletic than women. Women in Sports Day aimed to show young women that they can also succeed in athletics, and to remind them that women should not be left out of sports.

According to olympic.org, gender inequality still remains prevalent in athletics. In many countries around the world, talented female athletes are either denied access to sports or socially stigmatized when they do excel in a sport.

Currently, the International Olympic Committee Women in Sport Commission is pushing for increased gender equality in athletics across five realms: governance, sport, funding, portrayal, and human resources. The IOC Women in Sport Commission hopes to see a greater percentage of female athlete representation at the Olympic level.

Even so, while there are still sports that are exclusively male, such as football, some historically male sports are now establishing female equivalent teams; Rugby is one of these sports.

Bridget Galaty ’21, a rugby player on CC’s Cutthroat team, recounted her interactions with children at the event. Despite being able to interact with each child for only about five to ten minutes, Galaty described the children’s excitement at simply touching or throwing a rugby ball for the first time.

“Like any other athlete, [female athletes] learn how to be part of a team,” said Galaty. “They learn resiliency, they learn to think on their feet. [Being an athlete] teaches you how to share community.”

Galaty hopes that these children will begin to seek opportunities to get more involved with athletics — whether through local community teams or school-organized teams. “[Women in Sports Day] gives [children] an opportunity to try out new sports that they might not be able to experience on their own,” said CC Director of Athletics Marketing Jessica Bennett. “And hopefully provide some role models to the next set of athletes as they grow up.”

Colorado College’s female athletes are eager to continue influencing the children of Colorado Springs through many more Women in Sports Days to come.

Photos BY Daniel Sarché

THE CATALYST

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PRESENTATION & DESIGN

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February 8, 2019

The Good, the Bad, and the Orange: A Recap of the State of the Union

By EMILY KRESSLEY After a 35-day federal government shutdown, temporarily remedied by a three-week reopening, President Donald Trump was finally able to deliver the annual State of the Union Address in the hallowed, historic halls of the House of Representatives Chamber. Trump opened the address, delivered on Feb. 5, by stating, “The agenda I will lay out this evening is not a Republican agenda or a Democrat agenda. It is the agenda of the American people.”

While he embarked on a speech preaching unity, childish rhetoric preceding the speech and stretched facts took away from this impact, while again flaring partisan tensions.

It was an encouraging beginning, with Trump stating that "There is a new opportunity in American politics, if only we have the courage to seize it,” and later that "Victory is not winning for our party. Victory is winning for our country.” Trump quickly digressed, condemning Democrats for their stance on hot topic issues, such as the border wall and abortion, as reported by CNN. Typically, SOTUs include a budget message, an economic report on the nation, legislative agendas, and national priorities. Trump boasted inflated numbers of success, which didn’t sound so outlandish that one would feel the overwhelming urge to fact-check. Figures to check, as reported by The Washington Post, include how many jobs were created, wage raises, the number of Americans lifted off of food stamps, the GDP growth over time, the fall in unemployment rates of African, Hispanic, and Asian American peoples, the amount of people working, the success of small businesses in the face of the “death” tax, U.S. success in oil and gas production, and net exportation of energy.

The border is still on the forefront of many people’s minds, especially the furloughed federal workers who have another shutdown to fear on Feb. 15. While previous statements in the SOTU were meant to be uplifting and encouraging, the situation at the border was described as

a world away from Trump’s America.

Trump continued to stress the emergency situation, calling it lawless. “Meanwhile, working class Americans are left to pay the price for mass illegal migration — reduced jobs, lower wages, overburdened schools, hospitals so crowded you can’t get in, increased crime, and a depleted social safety net,” he said.

In reality, the majority of research proves both illegal and legal immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than American-born citizens. Cries of violence, drug trafficking, gangs, and arrests were not only exaggerated, but claimed to be solved by the administration’s new proposal. A closer look at the "crisis ending" proposal shows that there is no humanitarian assistance to be provided.

Rather, its tactics dissuade people from making the journey at all. War, nuclear weapons pacts, and trade deals were included in his other foreign policy statements.

While Trump boasted incorrectly that the number of women in the workforce is higher than ever, a tricky figure that must account for the actual value — not simply a larger proportion, at this particular moment — was one that “all Americans can be proud of.” At this point, reported by the New York Times, the many democratic women, clothed in white, stood up and cheered. Their outfit choice was a deliberate nod to the suffragist movement. While Trump’s statistics weren’t entirely correct, the energy was there in the form of roaring applause.

Trump responded with a smile, “You weren’t supposed to do that.”

In a worrying conclusion, Trump took the stance that investigation was an impediment to legislation, an allusion to the ongoing legal allegations against him. In an era of readily accessible information, divided media, misinformation, and fake news, make sure to check and vet your sources. Do your research, find truth. And in the words of wise Abe Lincoln, “Don’t believe everything you read on the internet.”

ATTENTION: JUNIORS

THE 2019 CC GRANTS IN WRITING $15,000 for Block and Summer Projects 2018 Winners Sara Fleming • Tara Labovich • Maggie O’Brien • Naomi Tseng

Applications Available in the English Department Armstrong 245 or on the English Department Website

Weekly Rundown

By Emily Kressley

ON CAMPUS • Penrose Blood Drive took place in Worner on Feb. 6 to help combat donor shortages due to winter weather. (CC Communications) • The Big Idea Final Pitch Competition took place on Feb. 7 in Cornerstone Art Center’s Celeste Theater.

(CC Communications)

C-SPRINGS • The Pikes Peak Cog Railway is getting a $100 million makeover, with city officials floating ideas of making museums or food trucks being made from the old cars, as well as wondering where to put them. Manitou Springs has first rights, but parties all over Colorado are following the plans closely. (Gazette) • There are 11 days left to vote on the Best of the Springs competition, with categories for arts and entertainment, dining, city life, family, shopping, and sports and recreation. Colorado College associated programs appear several times. (Best of the Springs)

COLORADO • A trail runner in Fort Collins killed a mountain lion with his bare hands in self defense after the young cat attacked. (Gazette) • The Colorado House unanimously passed a bill 63–0 allowing medical marijuana use for autism spectrum disorders. The bill is expected to have similar success in the Senate and with Gov. Jared Polis in stark contrast to a veto from previous Gov. John Hickenlooper. (Fox 31) • Beginning in the 2019–2020 season, Epic Pass holders will have access to 67 resorts, including Idaho’s Sun Valley and Utah’s Snowbasin. The Alterra Mountain Company has been a recent challenger of Vail’s monopoly with their Ikon pass. (Gazette)

USA • Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren is under fire for cultural appropriation after she listed her race on the bar registration card as Native American when her actual ethnic percentage is quite negligible. (Washington Post) • More than 50 new emojis will be released in March by the Unicode Consortium, including cute creatures like sloths and otters, detailed juice boxes and waffles, in effort to be more inclusive of people with disabilities. (CNN) • The list of high-ranking politicians who admitted to having doned blackface as costumes in their college days grows. In the spotlight now are Virginian Democrats, a turn of events which has thrown the state leadership into turmoil. (BBC) • A measles outbreak in Washington state is anticipated to spread like wildfire, especially within communities where being an anti-vaxxer is as acceptable as being vegan or gluten free. (Washington Post)

WORLD

INFORMATION MEETING Wednesday, February 20, 3:30 pm English Department Lounge (AH245A) 2018 winners will be at this meeting to answer your questions.

Application Deadline: Monday, March 11, 2:00 pm For further information, contact Professor Barry Sarchett, Chair of the Selection Committee

• The Cuban Taíno people were thought to have been killed off by the Spanish conquest, but in a fortunate twist of fate, the indigenous bloodlines, identities, and customs were able to survive in pockets of the lush wilderness of the island. (BBC) • Lawmakers in Hawaii proposed a bill that would require a $20 one-time fee for users trying to access online porn in order to establish a fund to fight against human trafficking and child exploitation. (CNN) • 2018 was the fourth hottest year since 1880 recorded by NOAA and NASA; eighteen of the hottest 19 years have been since 2001. Last year also saw melt of some of the oldest Arctic ice. (CNN) • U.S. Special Forces were forced surrender from the final ISIS village in Syria bringing out a stream of hungry or injured families and fighters. The speck of land was all that remained from a once controlled area the size of Great Britain. (NYT) • French foreign minister warned Italian deputy prime minister to “back off ” after he met with antiFrench government leaders in charge of the Yellow Vest Protests. The Gilet Jaunes are vying for European Parliament seats in May. (BBC)

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Cole Simon

“I hope to pursue my passions that I have now, find new passions and really pursue them fully.”

Cole Simon is a junior economics major and environmental issues minor at Colorado College. He has worked with his parent’s businesses and now works for admissions.

This week, the Catalyst sat down with Simon to discuss his experiences and worldly insights.

Interview by REMI SHORE & Photo by Daniel Sarché

she didn’t speak any English and I, of course, didn’t speak any Italian. And so I start getting these bumps all over my body for the fi rst couple of weeks I’m there. Everyone’s worried about it and I’m like kind of itchy and just super bumpy. And I realized I had bedbugs and I couldn’t tell anybody about it because I didn’t know how to speak Italian. So I just kind of made these big scratching gestures for the fi rst couple of weeks and she just thought I was sick. And the situation remedied itself eventually; we just washed the sheets and we washed everything and it was all good.

TC: How do you throw a good party?

The Catalyst: Where did you grow up and how has that impacted your life?

Cole Simon: I grew up in the suburbs in Baltimore, Maryland. I really liked where I grew up, but it was kind of suburb-y. I went to school in the city, had a bunch of friends in the city, so it was nice to have that close by. I love Baltimore and there are a lot of fun artsy areas, and it’s a nice city. It was nice to have my little space, but I couldn’t really do much until I could start to drive.

TC: As an economics major, what do you like about the econ department?

CS: I’ve had some amazing professors in the econ department. I think a lot of the faculty is really open minded about economics, and about critiques, and challenging classical approaches. I’ve also been able to study abroad with the econ department; with Mark Smith, I went to the U.N. Climate Change Conference last year. And that was just an amazing experience and really changed my study of economics. I picked up an environmental issues minor, too.

TC: What is your worst memory from your time abroad?

CS: I had bedbugs for like a month. At the beginning of the semester I was staying with a host family in Florence with this wonderful woman who I called Nonna, which means grandmother in Italian. And she was amazing, but

CS: I’m really into themes, strong themes. I think it’s always good if you help people dress up — if you have some masks or necklaces at your party so people feel included in the theme. Rhyming themes are good, too; culturally relevant themes, consent-oriented, inclusive.

TC: What’s a wild experience you’ve had as an Admissions Ambassador?

CS: Ooh I’ve had some pretty wild tours and really odd questions. But one of my favorites is when I took a tour group to the top of Shove Chapel. I thought it’d be a fun thing to do, a little bird’s eye tour; I was new to the job.

Mid-tour, the woman who worked in Shove Chapel called my boss to report me and I almost got fi red. But it was a beautiful experience. And we got to the top of Shove Chapel after climbing all the stairs, we realized we didn’t have the keys. We had to go all the way back down — the whole tour group. It was a rough day.

TC: What bizarre talents do you have?

CS: I can identify like 100 types of dogs. It used to be more; I’ve lost a couple. My family owns a pet lodge — just like a hotel for dogs and cats — in Maryland, so I had that knowledge.

TC: Can you tell me about your hairstyle history?

CS: Oh geez. I’ve cut some hair a couple times. I thought

it went better than the person whose hair I cut have. But I’ve had some bloody haircuts. I used to do technical interviews; when someone was applying to be a hairstylist, they’d cut someone’s hair to prove they could cut hair.

And so, there I was, getting my ear chopped and these awful bowl cuts. And I’ve also done hair shows, like for hair conventions, where I, like, walked the runway with a haircut. I used to, like, kind of have a rat tail. It was kind of unintentional, but I thought it looked cool. It was, like, the bowl cut in the front, the rat tail in the back.

TC: In 10 years, how would you hope that your friends describe you?

CS: I like to think I’m unpredictable and I hope in 10 years I’m still kind of unpredictable and really going for things that I’m passionate about and not being afraid to just do them. Yeah, I guess passion is really important because if someone is passionate about something and is able to really pursue that passion, put other things aside, that’s a really admirable quality. And I hope to pursue my passions that I have now, fi nd new passions and really pursue them fully.

TC: Why are you passionate about environmental issues?

CS: Before I came to CC, I was kind of unwoke about the whole environmentalism thing. But really, going to the U.N. Climate Change Conference was kind of a pivotal moment. I became vegetarian for like six months, declared a minor. And really for me it was just about the people. Because that conference hosted by Fiji, it was kind of focusing on indigenous peoples and communities vulnerable to climate change. And so when it became more of an eco-justice issue, I realized that I had to care about it, it’s my responsibility, not just that it was good to care about.

TC: What is something that not many people know about you?

CS: I can put my feet behind my head. Th at’s a fun party trick that usually I don’t like to do at parties. I can also turn my feet backwards.

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February 8, 2019

The Role of the Media Incarcerated Writers Series This series features writing from inmates at the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center. The articles stem from weekly programming facilitated by the Colorado College Prison Project. Through contact between the CC community and Colorado Springs, this series aims to simultaneously broaden CC’s perception of incarceration issues and provide a platform for incarcerated writers. The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office requires approval of written material prior to publication and the removal of authors’ last names. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the EPCSO or the Prison Project.

By ERIC What is the purpose or role of media or journalism? First and foremost, the purpose of media is to provide the opportunity for free speech. Newspapers, magazines, news, and social media all provide outlets for expression of ideas, thoughts, opinions, and facts.

Many rely on written media for information, both local and worldwide. Many rely

on all media to find out what is happening, what people are thinking and talk about, along with more mundane information, like weather and sports. Many news outlets only cover a short list of topics individually; however, by looking into a variety of outlets, one can find out much more information.

Many major outlets provide a specific and guided focus for their subject matter.

This focus can be guided by politics, current events, or even public opinion. Sometimes this focus serves a purpose beyond simply

distributing information. Many times, it can even control, or at least influence, the thoughts of the subject audience. Often, by spreading the lessons learned by one person to many, it is a positive influence.

Sometimes it provides a negative influence by spreading pre-conceived notions, whether correct or not. Mostly the type of influence is determined by the individuals and/or the company responsible for actually writing the articles.

The tone of any article or story can be set

by multiple factors such as subject matter, verbiage, and context. It provides those in the industry with quite a lot of power within our society, and yet many journalists do not take advantage of that power. It shows in the high standards to which we hold our reporters and newspeople. If more journalists were to take the positive aspect on their stories, then I believe that we would see a significant change in the overall attitude of all those influenced by the media systems.

CC’s New Hockey Arena: It’s Time for Student Input Continued from the front page what I have to say,” they explained. “At least we got our point across.”

They were hopeful, however, that fellow students might continue the work. “Maybe other people will pick it up,” they said, explaining that some peers had reached out showing interest and support after hearing about their concerns.

Deksyos Damtew ’22, one of the students on the newly-formed Robson Arena Campus Committee, was more positive about the ability for students to influence planning and design. He described committee meetings as “super accessible.” He said, “No one is really shutting down students’ opinions. It’s an open space and comments are freely shared.”

When asked if he had any worries moving forward, Damtew replied, “One of the concerns is obviously going to be making sure that the community is okay with having it.

And then also just usage of the arena outside of just hockey,” alluding to problems surrounding accessibility and inclusivity.

He called for student input on making the arena a multi-use space: “That’s something that we will be moving forward with and getting more students’ opinions on — what they want to do with the ice arena, and what activities we can have,” Damtew said. “President Tiefenthaler has actually talked about the idea that we could use it for a wide variety of things, and if we could get some student input on that, that would be great.”

Damtew outlined a couple ways for students to make their opinions heard. “Just contacting me or CCSGA,” he said. “Zac [Schulman] is also a great resource. I plan on holding an information session, where students can come out and voice their concerns, or get out there and say what they want to see happen with the arena.”

“Another good way is showing up to those community meetings,” said Damtew.

“It would be interesting to have students there, to hear what their perspectives are, and for them to also understand what the community concerns are.”

Map Courtesy of Colorado College

The next community meeting is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 16, falling over Block Break, when many students are off campus. The first community meeting was also held at an inopportune time for student input, occurring in early January over the school’s winter break.

These scheduling issues prompted a critique from our anonymous whistle-blower.

“The fact that the public meetings are all

over breaks is just really dumb,” They said.

“They obviously have an agenda. But I’m hoping the people on this board will do outreach and figure out how it can benefit marginalized students on this campus and figure out ways it can be multipurpose. I want to see specific goals from them.”

Following the release of the initial results of the External Review of Racism at CC and the recent presentation by Dr. Roger L.

Worthington, the new hockey arena provides an interesting test case to see how the school will respond to critiques about inclusion and accessibility.

The next community workshop will be held during Block 6 on Mar. 2, when more students will be on campus. It is from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Tutt Library, so if you’re keen on influencing CC’s latest big-budget building plans, the time is now.

What Can Kavanaugh Really Do? Continued from the front page as much as we can to base legislation on neutral scientific evidence.”

Maynard reiterated this sentiment, and he sees an opportunity in finding common ground in the hyper-partisan environment by providing resources to prevent unintended pregnancies to begin with.

One of the big issues that healthcare providers are facing is the lack of science-based evidence in the current administration. Maynard commented that “conservatives think there should be less government control — except in the bedroom or doctor’s office.”

This attitude is being propagated through intentional misinformation. As Wilkinson

said, “someone somewhere in the chain has to know what the lie is.” For example, the undercover video from 2015 that claimed Planned Parenthood was illegally selling parts of aborted children created fear and hysteriathat ultimately led to a mass shooting at a local Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood, leaving three dead and nine injured. In reality, these “baby parts” were being legally donated, with consent from the mothers, for scientific research. Upon further investigation, lawmakers declared that no wrongdoing was committed by Planned Parenthood. This deliberate act of false accusation only further increase the cycle of stigmatization that Planned Parenthood faces, particularly in the category of abortion.

Another issue that Wilkinson brought up was the behind-closed-doors approach many take to reproductive health and how “there’s been a minimizing of the importance of abortion.” This applies even to Planned Parenthood’s advertisement that abortion is only three percent of what they provide. Wilkinson believes that there need to be steps toward destigmatization. As a matter of fact, one in four women will have an abortion in their lifetime. It’s almost guaranteed that both sides of the aisle love someone who has had this procedure, but the stigmatization of talking about it has turned it into a societal taboo.

The panelists explained that the most productive way to have conversations on this topic is to be straighforward, honest, and

direct. Mayner pointed out how Colorado Spring’s religious community, while seen as the main opponent of abortion, can actually be an asset, as they deeply care about those around them and their community as a whole. Being up front on both sides of the political spectrum normalizes the conversation, which is much more productive.

One of the biggest takeaways from the panel could be summed up by Wilkinson, “People that are pro-abortion can still stigmatize it,” they said. “This is not just a women’s issue.” It’s important to not get comfortable with the status quo, to always be learning, to always be improving. Activism is scary, but without it, those without voices will be silenced even more than before.

February 8. 2019

Sports

7 The Catalyst

A Stern Talking-To: Q&A With American Badass Alena Stern

By Arielle Gordon Alena Stern is a sophomore goalie on the women’s lacrosse team and an avid Jiu Jitsuka. Last season, the California native started 16 out of 20 games for the Tigers, and led the team in goals-against average and save percentage. The Tigers begin their 2019 campaign against Chapman University on March 8, and have their home opener on March 15 against Illinois Wesleyan University.

Ben Hall: Hi Alena, thank you for taking some time out to sit down and chat even though you’re sick.

Alena Stern: Gotta do it for the fans.

BH: What is the verb form of Jiu Jitsu?

AS: People usually call it rolling, like, “Do you wanna go roll?” but my parents call it Jiu Jitsing.

BH: How long have you been Jiu Jitsing?

bad it hurts yet when you get hit by a ball, so you’re fearless when you’re starting out.

year on Thanksgiving morning, and to brighten the mood he brought oatmeal and an inflatable turkey.

BH: What are the transferable skills between Jiu Jitsu and being a lax goalie?

BH: You have quite a few Pinterest followers. What’s your secret to cultivating a solid board?

AS: There are absolutely none; maybe just overall fitness and cardio. I’d say in terms of goalies, I’m on the faster end.

Maybe aggression, but I think that’s more innate.

AS: Be yourself in seventh grade. Don’t do homework, look at really ugly outfits, repost them, and then forget you had a pinterest until someone who’s interviewing you asks about it.

BH: How long would it take you to tap me, and what would your go-to move be to immediately hurt me?

AS: Are we starting sitting or standing?

BH: Let’s say we’re sitting as we are now.

AS: Probably a minute or two? How mobile are you feeling right now?

BH: What meant more to you: Being named West Bay Athletic League Goalie of the Year as a freshman in high school, or the first time you choked out Jake Golbus?

AS: First time I choked out Jake Golbus.

BH: Why is that?

AS: He needed to be choked out.

AS: Four years. I don’t know, I train significantly less when I’m at school. When I’m at home, I train like six days a week usually, so I really like going home for that.

BH: How does one get into that world?

AS: A lot of guys that wrestle get into it, and people who listen to Joe Rogan. For me, the couple who lived next door would help drive us to school and stuff sometimes, and the husband was an MMA and Jiu jitsu fighter, and started teaching us.

BH: How long have you been laxing?

AS: I started freshman year of high school.

BH: You’re telling me that the first year you ever played lacrosse, you were the West Bay Athletic League Goalie of the Year?

AS: I attribute that to — I’m a goalie — you don’t know how

BH: I’m not feeling very mobile, I just got dry needled.

AS: I’d go rear naked choke. If you struggle I’d probably use your struggle against you, put you on the floor and arm bar. Probably two minutes, I’m not feeling very energetic. Side note, if we did that in the Mathias lobby, campo would probably write us up because they do not like fighting on campus.

BH: Tell me about the inflatable turkey you took to Alcatraz.

AS: My dad is a big proponent of waking my brothers and me up at 4 a.m. and taking us kayaking in San Francisco bay. He did that one

Photos by Alli Moon

Men’s Basketball Commemorates Seniors for Leadership and Dedication

By Anna Marcus matter because we were playing for our seniors, Edmund Pendleton and Antonio Soto,” Aaron Acosta ’22 said. “After the game, the dynamic in the locker room was very sad but inspiring at the same time. It was sad to think about losing [Pendleton], but we are all motivated and inspired by the culture of consistency that he has introduced to us. “

Pendleton embodies not only what it means to be a leader but also what it means to be competitive, driven, and committed throughout

Photos by Alli Moon Aaron Acosta ‘22 and CooXooEii Black ‘20 scored 18 points apiece, but Colorado College was unable to match Texas Lutheran University's three-point shooting in a 71 – 57 loss to the Bulldogs on Feb. 2.

Despite the loss, their fierce battle at home against TLU was senior night for the men’s basketball team.

To honor the seniors in their final home game, the team held a ceremony on their home court before the game. All of the basketball players lined up on the baseline and Head Coach Andy Partee read introductions for captain Edmund Pendleton ‘19 and Antonio Soto ‘19. After their introductions, the seniors stood at center court and were applauded

by the crowd.

CooXooEii Black ‘20, the team’s lead scorer and Pendleton’s co-captain, commented on the team dynamic and the atmosphere of Senior Night. “We met with the sports psychologist before the game,” Black said. “She really emphasized maintaining energy and focus on offense and defense.

It worked. We really had great moments on both sides of the court.”

Pendleton embodiesnot only what it means to be a leader but also what it means to be competitive, driven, and committed throughout an entire season.

“On Saturday, we came up a bit short but it didn’t really

Both seniors have had significant impacts on the team.

Edmund Pendleton, team captain, boasts impressive season highs. He averaged 39 minutes per game, 15 points, and 12 rebounds. In his final appearance at Reid Arena, Pendleton grabbed six rebounds, dished out four assists, and scored two points.

Antonio Soto averaged two points and three minutes per game this season. “Soto brings energy and focus to everything he does," said Black '20. "To have his leadership and his energetic presence on the team is really special.”

Colorado College will play its final three games of the regular season on the road, beginning on Feb. 8, at Centenary College of Louisiana in Shreveport. Good luck to the team and especially the seniors!

8

The Catalyst

Colorado College Hockey Splits Series With UMD

By Mikey Wright Colorado College Hockey hosted No. 3 University of Minnesota Duluth last weekend, resulting in a split series. The Tigers came out swinging against the Bulldogs on Feb. 1, with dominant performances from key Tigers players to earn a definitive 4 – 1 victory. Goalie Alec Leclerc ’20 proved to be nearly unbreakable, recording 40 saves that night.

The teams were evenly matched throughout the majority of the first period, with scoring chances from forwards Trevor Gooch ’19 and Alex Berardinelli ’20, were thwarted by the Bulldogs goalie. It was forward Trey Bradley ’19 who broke through for the Tigers with only a few minutes remaining in the first period, netting the game’s first goal by slotting the puck in between the keeper’s legs. The Tigers took firm con-

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Sports

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February 8, 2019

trol during the second period thanks to two clutch goals from forward Troy Conzo ’21, putting the Tigers up to a 3 –1 heading into the third period.

Conzo has been on a tear since the New Year, recording four goals and five assists in his last eight games. The Tigers closed out the Bulldogs when a shot from redshirt junior Chris Wilkie ’20 bounced right to the stick of forward Grant Cruickshank ’22, for the easy rebound finish, capping off a dominant 4 – 1 performance against one of the strongest teams in the country.

The second game against the Bulldogs proved to be a challenge, as the Tigers struggled to gain momentum, resulting in a brutal 6 – 0 loss against the defending national champions.

Both teams came out strong during the first period, the Tigers poised and fresh off the upset from the night prior. Despite outshooting the Bulldogs throughout the first period, the Tigers struggled to find the back of the net, even after a few power play opportunities.

It was the Bulldogs who broke through in the second period off a power play, resulting in their first of six goals. Duluth quickly capitalized, netting two more goals in an abrupt three-minute span. It was the power plays that really hurt the Tigers during game two; the Bulldogs managed to score on three out of their five opportunities, while the Tigers failed to

capitalize off two power plays. The story was the same during the third period. The Bulldogs scored a fourth goal early, then scored twice in the last two minutes of the game, after Grant Cruickshank received a five-minute major penalty.

It was a crushing loss for the Tigers after such a dominant performance the night prior, but their confidence is still high knowing that they’re talented enough to hang with one of the nation’s best squads. The Tigers head to St. Cloud State University next week to battle against the No. 1 team in the country. Let’s go Tigers!

Photo by Alli Moon

Women’s Basketball Celebrates Senior Night, Starting on the Road to End the Season

By Arielle Gordon At the beginning of their season, the Colorado College women’s basketball team set a team goal to become Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference champions. With only three games left in the regular season, the Tigers have their work cut out for them before they begin the playoffs.

The Tigers wrapped up their home season last weekend, with a 77 – 67 win against Southwestern University on Feb. 1, but lost 75 – 39 to Texas Lutheran University on Sat., Feb. 2.

They celebrated Senior Night before Saturday’s game, with a ceremony honoring guard Casey Torbert ‘19 and guard Payton Katich ‘19.

“We love our seniors,” guard Jordan Meltzer ‘20 said. “We are just so thankful and grateful for everything they have done for us.”

Torbert and Katich have helped lead the team from a 4 – 21 record during their freshman season to a 10 – 11 record as of Feb. 3 this season.

Torbert scored 22 points and had 10 assists against Southwestern University to give her first career double-double and she also recorded her 306th assist, making her the third player to have over 300 assists in her CC career. Torbert also passed 1,000 career points in January to become the 13th women’s basketball player to record the feat.

Katich has played 82 games during her time at CC, and has scored over 300 points. Her career high was 182 in 25 games during her sophomore season. She scored seven points in her final home game against Texas Lutheran University on Saturday.

“They both work extremely hard during practice, and make each one of us better,” Meltzer said. “We play for them, we always play for them and we couldn’t do what we do without both of them.”

Meltzer describes Torbert as “a leader, and someone who finds positivity in anything.” Meltzer looks up to Torbert as someone who leads by example, which she credits Katich with “always having a smile on her face,” and being a supportive teammate.

Even though the team lost on Senior Night, their season is far from over, and the Tigers are looking ahead to their upcoming road games.

The Tigers are standing at No. 5 in the SCAC as of Feb. 3, and will travel to Louisiana and Texas this weekend to take on Centenary College and Austin College. They will wrap up their regular season in Denver against Johnson & Wales University on Feb. 16. All three games are against SCAC opponents, and Austin College is 2nd in the SCAC as of Feb. 5. The

SCAC playoffs begin the next weekend, on Feb. 22 in Texas.

“We are definitely looking to rematch Texas Lutheran University and Trinity University,” Meltzer said. “If we come across either of them, we know we are more than capable of winning.

We just have to be more disciplined and stay focused for all four quarters. That is the match-up we want.”

Photo by Alli Moon

Upcoming Events Friday, Feb. 8

Sunday, Feb. 10

Men’s Ice Hockey 6 p.m. St. Cloud State University

Men’s & Women’s Track & Fielld All Day. USATG Masters Open

Women’s Basketball 5:30 p.m. Centenary College Men’s Basketball 7:30 p.m. Centenary College

Saturday, Feb. 9 Men’s Ice Hockey 6 p.m. St. Cloud State University Men’s & Women’s Track & Field All Day. Colorado Running Company Men’s Lacrosse 1 p.m. Colorado State University

Wednesday, Feb. 13 Men’s & Women’s Swim & Dive 5 p.m. SCAC Championships

Thursday, Feb. 14 Men’s & Women’s Swim & Dive 5 p.m. SCAC Championships

Friday, Feb. 15 Men’s & Women’s Swim & Dive 5 p.m. SCAC Championships Men’s Lacrosse 1 p.m. Christopher Newport Univeristy

Women’s Basketball 5:30 p.m. Austin College

Saturday, Feb. 16

Men’s Basketball 7:30 p.m. Austin College

Men’s & Women’s Swim & Dive 5 p.m. SCAC Championships

Men’s & Women’s Track & Fielld All Day. Air Force Academy Open Women’s Basketball 1 p.m. Johnson & Wales Univeristy Men’s Basketball 3 p.m. Johnson& Wales University

Sunday, Feb. 17 Men’s Lacrosse 11:30 a.m. Stevens Institute of Technology

Friday, Feb. 22 Men’s Ice Hockey vs. Western Michigan Univeristy 7:30 p.m.

Women’s Basketball TBD. First Round Southern Collegiate Conference Championship, Seguin, Texas Men’s Basketball TBD. First Round Southern Collegiate Conference Championship, Seguin, Texas

February 8, 2019

Active Life

9 The Catalyst

Carbon Capture and Sequestration: The Answer to Climate Change?

By Brandon Ewert the question of whether that money should be spent to retro- instead see it as an exciting technology that is still in its infancy and requires additional research and development.

Carbon capture and sequestration technology can be to renewable energy.

Scrubbing CO2 from point sources like smokestacks is used to both help and hurt the environment. It turns out one thing, but how do we sequester the immense amounts that injecting carbon dioxide into oil fields can release adof CO2 that have already been emitted into our atmo- ditional crude oil that would otherwise be nearly impossisphere? Many biological processes and ecosystems natural- ble to extract. This strategy is called enhanced oil recovery, ly sequester and store CO2, including forests, wetlands, and and is used to recover an additional 10–15 percent of crude oceans. It should remain a priority to protect these natural oil yields in large-scale oil operations. As we decide how to CO2 stores, but clearly human activity has exceeded natu- develop and implement CCS technology in the future, it is important to consider the ways in which it can be used to ral bounds.

A more recent and controversial CCS technology, named help solve the climate crisis and also contribute to it.

Carbon capture and sequestration technology has the podirect air capture, has entered the conversation. This strategy aims to filter mass amounts of ambient air through a tential to contribute to the climate change solution, but not filter in order to remove CO2. While this technology seems in its current state. An immense amount of collaboration CCS is at point sources, such as power plants. By installing logical and exciting, it has been expensive in its current between researchers, engineers, and scientists is necessary CO2 scrubbers on smokestacks, much of the escaping CO2 is state. The sheer amount of air that must be filtered in order if CCS is to become a viable and cost-effective means of ad- to access the dilute amount of CO2 in our atmosphere is im- dressing the excess of CO2 in our atmosphere. Still, CCS ground where it can’t escape. A major advantage of this strat- mense, and requires an incredible energy input, often from marks an exciting time in which human ingenuity is mimfossil fuels. We should not regard direct air capture as an icking natural processes in order to address the largest and technology. However, CO2 scrubbers are expensive, raising answer to the excess of CO2 in our atmosphere; we should most looming problem facing the planet.

Humans are releasing dangerous amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and we are beginning to feel its effects. Weather is becoming more extreme, ice caps are melting, and oceans are acidifying. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change continues to release reports that warn of the disastrous future that lies ahead if we collectively fail to act on climate change. It has also become clear that there is no single fix to climate change, and that we must implement a multitude of strategies in order to get the world’s climate back on track for future generations.

One such strategy for mitigating our CO2 output is carbon capture and sequestration, or CCS. The goal of CCS is to capture CO2, either from point sources or from the ambient air, and store it where it cannot escape, essentially removing CO2

Carbon capture and sequestration technology can be used to both help and hurt the environment. It turns out that injecting carbon dioxide into oil fields can release additional crude oil that would otherwise be nearly impossible to extract.

Photo by Nick Penzel

The Catalyst

10

Call of Buti (Yoga)

Active Life

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Feburary 8, 2019

Sweat Level (Scale 1 to 5): 3 Difficulty: Medium Type of Exercise: Cardio, Lengthening, and Strengthening Targets: All Audiences

By Emily Ng

1,700 calories is the number assigned to the items I just ate: an ultimate cheesy garlic bread meatball marinara, washed down with a cup of black hazelnut coffee. The last time I worked out? Last year. The last time hit a Juul? Writing this sentence. I feel like a lump of lard if a lump of lard were sentient and could request extra toasting on a Subway sandwich.

It’s time for a change. I have to get back to a routine: mornings starting before 9 a.m. and working until I drop, but I can’t seem to get back into a rhythm.

I decided that an easy approach to getting back into a routine — fitness, academic, or otherwise — would be to start my days with a yoga class. A nice, mediumdifficulty, cardio-intensive yoga class. As I scan the yoga schedule at the Roots Center for Sacred Studies, located off 17th Street and Uintah Street, and prepare to drag my yoga mat up the hill to an offcampus studio, the term "Buti Yoga" catches my eye.

“Buti,” pronounced “booty,” yoga was created in 2008. A Google search of buti yoga defines the practice as primal movement and deep core engagement.

Buti Yoga focuses on intense cardio and rotations, and has a dedicated following of women in athleisure with perfectly curled hair— the kind of woman I aspire to be. So, I decided to register for a class the next day, and I was ready to become part of the Buti collective.

Stumbling out of bed at 10:32 a.m. for an 11 a.m. class allows little time for putting a flawless curl in my hair, and choosing the perfect athletic ensemble.

Yet, as I enter Roots, I am overwhelmed with a sense of comfort. The studio lies in a small business flat, its doors peeling with a stick-on stained-glass pane cover. Shelves of shoes to the left, a river-rock fountain to the right, the foyer opens into a cozy waiting room; inside and to the left, an entryway framed with glass bottles gives way to a warmly lit, wood-floored studio.

As I unroll my mat and throw my tangled hair into a messy bun, I survey the room — a grandmother and her granddaughter, the instructor, and me.

The instructor, April Stone, invites us to join her on

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our mats. Her hair, of course, is mildly curled, and her workout apparel screams modest yet modern.

Stone asks me if I’m familiar with Buti Yoga. The conversation goes something like this: she asks, “What is your background?” I say, “I have no idea. I thought the butt pun seemed funny. Who doesn’t want a little humor in their work out? I know I do.” Then I proceed to tell her about my casual Google search and my “light” understanding. She nods in acknowledgement, and then leads us through isolations for the remainder of our practice.

We “spiral,” isolating our hips and rib cage, tracing circles over our frames. We jostle our legs in a bent sprinter’s stance. These moves are essential to Buti practice. We begin a warm up, full of jumps, cardio, and Ke$ha mashups.

We speed through the workout, spiraling, jumping, and dancing. As the granddaughter and grandmother tap out from the isolations, Stone and I continue to spiral, sweat, and dance over our mats. Midway through our practice, Stone’s son, about seven years old, interrupts to peer up at his mother in contorted modifications of downward dog. He’s bored; his tablet is no longer entertaining him. Stone tells her son that she is working and continues to instruct while the little boy climbs over his mother, requesting kisses and cuddles.

As we conclude our session with intensive core work, cool down, and meditation, Stone invites us to welcome in the light and energy of the space, the class, and the people around us. Stone smiles and thanks us for our patience — her little boy reunited with his tablet in the other room.

My messy bun falls out, but I don’t care. As I strap on my Chacos and walk out the door, I think about the little boy, wrapped around his mother’s legs, gazing up at her with wide eyes and affection. I think about the idea of Buti I saw online, and the instructor who I met in the quaint, hometown studio. While Buti as a concept may portray beautiful women spiraling over yoga mats, head-to-toe in Lululemon, Stone provided a sense of warmth and familiarity to her practice, welcoming fitness enthusiasts and lard lumps alike.

Want to try Buti Yoga? Join the Active Life team in El Pomar’s multipurpose room this Saturday at 11:30 a.m. for a free class, instructed by April Stone!

Catalyzing Solutions: Benzyne as a Doorway to Understanding

By Katie Thompson Since the mid-20th century, scientists have been baffled and amazed by a compound known as benzyne. For those unfamiliar with the compound, benzyne derives from a cyclic aromatic ring that encompasses a triple comb, making it look strikingly like a honey comb. Due to the structure of benzyne, the triple bond within the compound creates a bond strain/stress that makes the molecule very reactive and unstable. This instability allows for benzyne to be a useful tool for synthetic organic chemists.

The Kisunzu lab at Colorado College is currently trying to see how benzynes behave with various dicarbonyl compounds.

A fairly recent discovery, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society by Dr. Sarpong’s research team at University of California Berkley (which includes Dr. Kisunzu of Colorado College’s Chemistry and Biochemistry department), provides insight into the total synthesis of Cossonidine. Cossonidine is a compound that belongs to a family of diterpenoid alkaloids, and can be easily isolated from a beautiful but deadly flower known as Monkshood. If Monkshood is ingested, the flower can affect the nervous, circulatory, and muscular systems due to the connections these biological conditions have to the sodium, calcium, and potassium voltage ion pumps. Because the Sarpong research team was able to suggest the total synthesis of Cossonidine, they allowed the scientific world to gain a closer understanding in treating patients with Alzheimer’s disease, chronic pain, and epilepsy.

In continuation of gaining a better understanding of benzyne’s nature, such as in biological and drug aspects, the Kisunzu lab at Colorado College is currently trying to see how benzynes behave with various dicarbonyl compounds. Eventually, the lab might be able to further help scientists through their knowledge on benzyne behavior in drugs and biological aspects.

Cooking Some Calm Into the Day

By Aidan Franko A professor of mine once said that college is a full-time job. On the Block Plan, it often functions as an even larger time commitment, and nutritious meals often end up getting pushed to the side. Students find themselves working on schoolwork and other obligations from the minute they wake up until their heads hit the pillow at night. They often skip meals, buy quick snacks on the go, or eat far later than they normally would. These food habits and lack of time for cooking can impact the physical and mental well-being of Colorado College students.

While physical health has clearly established connections with nutrition, only recently have the links between food and mental health begun to be established. The latest research shows that Americans tend to eat nutrient-poor, highly processed foods; they end up overfed and undernourished. These diets lack the recommended amount of brain-essential nutrients, such as B vitamins, zinc, and magnesium. Healthy diets, on the other hand, decrease prevalence and risk of depression and suicide. A study published in The Lancet Psychiatry Journal in 2015 stated, “Diet is a key modifiable intervention target for prevention of the initial incidence of common mental disorders.” So, when students lack the time to cook or buy nutritious meals for themselves, it’s not only impactful to their physical health, but to their mental well-being as well.

Alongside the positive mental benefits of eating nutritious food, new research has shown that even the act of cooking a meal is beneficial to mental health. In fact, culinary therapy is increasingly being utilized by mental health clinics and therapy offices. Taking the time to plan and cook a meal is

mentally beneficial for a variety of reasons, including having control over nutritional intake, promoting a sense of accomplishment, and recalling positive memories. Furthermore, mixed use of skills improves executive function, which successfully improves anxiety and depression. “Food defines culture, family history, and traditions. For many, cooking signifies basic worth, self-image, and role identity, " explained a study conducted by professors at Florida Gulf Coast University. "Food is also connected with feelings of love, pleasure and enjoyment, holidays, celebrations, family, and spirituality.” In other words, spending time cooking meals, especially with others, makes people happy.

At CC, not only does the structure of the Block Plan limit

Alongside the positive mental benefits from eating nutritious food, new research has shown that the act of cooking a meal is beneficial to mental health.

the amount of cooking students can do for themselves, but residential life is simply not set up to encourage cooking for most students. Since students are required to live on cam-

pus for three of their four years, often in the dorms, access to kitchen facilities and supplies is limited. On CC’s website, it is advertised that “The residential requirement is a critical part of the Colorado College experience.” However, this so-called critical aspect of the CC experience may harm students as much as it helps them. Allowing students to live off campus a year earlier would give students a greater opportunity to have their own kitchens and cook for themselves. But for the students that continue to live in dorms, the school could certainly look into improving kitchen facilities — expanding them as well as adding more tools and appliances.

In addition to making kitchen facilities more accessible, CC could use a number of other strategies to encourage students to cook for themselves. More meal plan options at the lower end of the spectrum would be one way to do this.

Students could be allowed to choose a lower cost meal plan so that they save money and supplement their on-campus dining with food that they buy and cook. Two additional options would be to provide weekend shuttles to the grocery store and to offer cooking classes where students could learn valuable skills and engage in positive social experiences.

Mental well-being is crucial, and has not received the attention needed from higher education institutions in the past. However, now colleges across the United States, CC included, are trying to change that trend. But if they really want to take care of their students to the best of their ability, it is important to notice the gaps that exist when it comes to access to cooking.

Life

February 8, 2019

11 The Catalyst

A Tension-Filled Evening in Taylor Theatre pany’s definition of the word “romantic.”

By Heather Rolph

The play is certainly humorous in a painful sort of way, but that humor quickly becomes darker as the play pro-

When the lights dimmed in Taylor Theatre, the 50 or

gresses.

“What the f***, this is wild,” someone in the back row whispered.

But the last scene of the show is the most terrifying.

“Come in, sit down. How are you?” the manager asks

so people sitting in rows of chairs lining the walls fell

"What we witness here is a form of torture, for all its

one last time. Emma, who has recently been sent to the

abruptly silent. There was no stage separating the per-

apparent civility," wrote Paul Taylor of The Independent

company’s psychiatrist due to her increasingly erratic

formers from the audience — only black paint and well-

in a 2008 review of the play.

behavior, is all smiles.

placed lights to direct the audience’s attention to the

Emma is called in repeatedly to the manager’s office,

“Everything is fine,” Emma says, and it’s clear that she’s

and it’s eventually revealed that Emma has entered into

become just like the manager — calm, collected, and ut-

“Come in, sit down. How are you?” said Jessie Berger

a relationship with one of her coworkers, Darren. As the

terly inhuman.

’21, playing the part of “the manager” in Mike Bartlett’s

manager grills Emma about the details, it becomes pain-

The play lasted only an hour, but when the lights came

two-person play “Contractions.”

fully clear she has already talked with him. When Emma

on again and the audience applauded, it felt a bit like

says she thinks the relationship will last a year, the man-

waking up from a nightmare of interminable length.

drama unfolding only feet away.

It’s a line repeated several times in an hour of increasingly tense encounters between “the manager” and

ager responds, “He said a few weeks.”

“[‘Contractions’] will chill to the marrow anyone who’s

Darren is sent away to prevent workplace favoritism,

ever had to fill out a W-2,” The Washington Post said of

and Emma learns she is pregnant. The corporation wants

the play in 2013. And the play is indeed a very effectual

From the first scene, it’s clear something is off. The

Darren back, however, and coerces Emma into breaking

deterrent to wanting to work in any sort of office space.

manager straightens her cuffs, polishes her glasses, and

up with him, threatening legal action if she doesn’t. Life

Ever.

straightens the matching pen set on her desk; Emma

continues to get worse for Emma, as she struggles to

walks in nervously and takes a seat on the yoga ball chair

raise her child alone.

“Emma,” played by Jolie Curran ‘22, a new employee at an unnamed corporation.

across from her.

Emma is a new employee, and her manager is just checking in on her — or so it seems. Questions on how

“Though this play is certainly absurd, it is only occasionally unrealistic,” first-time director Emily Gardner

At one of the meetings, it becomes clear that the child

’19 wrote in the play’s pamphlet. “Contractions” is a dark

has died. “Did you get the complimentary flowers?” the

satirization of corporate culture, employee power, priva-

manager asks, to a full-audience wince.

cy rights, contracts, and what having a “duty to care” re-

Emma’s getting along with her coworkers quickly prog-

In order to determine that the child is definitely dead,

ally means. Under the immaculately manicured control

ress to the manager’s asking Emma to read pages of her

the manager requires Emma to bring in his body. The

of the manager, the plot is unpredictable, and even the

contract aloud and warning her against having any ro-

manager pokes through the box Emma brings with one

most grotesque events seem plausible.

mantic encounters in the workplace.

of her color-coordinated pens, then vigorously rubs

“You have your own definition?” Emma asks incredulously when the manager gets up to read aloud the com-

hand sanitizer onto everything as Emma leaves.

“Oh my god,” one member in the audience moaned.

Produced by Theatre Workshop, the only student-run theatre group on campus, “Contractions” is utterly brilliant and absolutely terrifying.

Photo courtesy of Theo Merrill

12

The Catalyst

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Life

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February 8, 2019

Sundance Film Festival: A Promising Display of Female Directors’ Work

By Noelle Edwards This year, Sundance Film Festival hosted 235 films across Park City, Salt Lake City, and the Sundance Resort in Utah. This was the festival’s most diverse year to date; 38 percent of the feature film submissions were directed by one or more filmmakers of color, a significant increase from year’s past, according to IndieWire. In addition, women made up 46 percent of the festival’s short and feature film directors.

I was lucky enough to attend the second week of the festival and watch 10 of the films screened at Sundance. They varied from beautiful, dystopian worlds to documentaries about contemporary issues and events. Here are my favorite three films I watched at Sundance that were directed by women. Each provides a unique look at a niche aspect of our history and even our own experiences.

"Hail Satan?" Directed by Penny Lane

Photo by Angel Martinez

This riveting documentary about a Satanic Temple premiered at Sundance on Jan. 25. Penny Lane, who has directed two other feature-length films, invites viewers into the world of modern-day Satanists.

From the eyes of a few figureheads of the Satanic Temple, such as Lucien Graves and Jex Blackmore, we come to understand what it actually means to be a Satanist today. The answer will surprise you, and the radical antics of the Satanists will have you laughing, cringing, and questioning whether or not we are truly a secular nation. By the end of this documentary, Lane hopes that viewers will understand the journey she went through to make this film, as well as how Satanists are different than the stereotypes attached to their community.

"Sonja — The White Swan," Directed by Anne Sewitsky This feature-length, fiction film is based on the true story of Sonja Henie, a Norwegian figure skater and film star. In 1936, Sonja left her home in Norway to expand her figure skating career and move to Hollywood.

Ine Marie Wilmann plays the ethereal and charismatic Sonja and brings new life to the classic trope of a Hollywood star whose excessive partying and drinking ruin their career and relationships. The audience starts out rooting for Sonja, but there is a gradual shift where Sonja becomes more of a monster who knows no bounds in getting what she wants. Director Anne Sewitsky sheds a strong cinematic light on the true events of Sonja’s life and creates an exceptional biopic.

"Troop Zero," Directed by Bert and Bertie First-time feature-length co-directors, Bert and Bertie, gift audiences with a truly unique experience. In collaboration with writer Lucy Alibar, these women bring us into the world of Christmas Flint, a young girl who is isolated from her classmates and believes in aliens. Christmas lives with her dad, played

by Jim Gaffigan, and is sometimes cared for by his assistant, played by Viola Davis.

Christmas forms a Birdie Scout troop of misfit kids, led by Davis as the den mother.

What ensues is a feel-good tale with ups and downs that remind us how hard it is to be a kid. However, Bert and Bertie do not fall into the clichés of the usual kids’ movies, but instead fall into the category of unique films where the child actors outshine the adults, like in "Eighth Grade" and "Stand by Me." Sundance Film Festival took place from Jan. 24 to Feb. 3 and set the stage for female directors to shine in the film industry.

CC Reacts to Government Shutdown With Food Drive

By Abbey Russell Following the partial government shutdown that began in late December, supplies at food pantries across the nation began to run low. The depletion was the result of an increase in demand: millions of federal employees were forced to turn to food pantries after going weeks without a paycheck.

Charlotte Schwebel ’21, JohnMichael McCann ’21, and Elena Martinez-Vivot ’21 all took a special interest in how this national crisis was affecting the local community.

“Colorado Springs is a city very dependent on federal workers because of all the military installations in the city,” said Martinez-Vivot. This characteristic of the city locally augmented the severity of the situation and is what ultimately caught the attention of Martinez-Vivot.

Schwebel was also aware of the problem and was determined to help. She emailed President Jill Tiefenthaler over Half Block, asking if it would be possible to let local federal employees into Rastall’s to eat.

Unfortunately, because of campus safety regulations, this idea couldn't be implemented. Fortunatley, Tiefenthaler had another suggestion in mind. Care and Share, the biggest food pantry food distributor in Southern Colorado, reached out to Tiefenthaler to ask for assistance with the food shortage crisis.

Tiefenthaler passed this information

along, and Schwebel, along with McCann and Martinez-Vivot, set up the food drive.

They posted announcements in all the Facebook groups, hung fliers around campus, and set up seven conveniently located food drop-off stations. Just like that, the food drive was under way.

For Schwebel, McCann, and MartinezVivot, spreading awareness of this community issue was an important part of their efforts. Their goal is to reach 500 food items, ideally by the end of this week, but McCann admits that they will realistically have to extend it.

“We want to get 500 items to show that 1 in 4 CC students participated,” McCann said. “It shows mass participation and that CC students are aware of the community and [its] needs.”

“The biggest thing about CC is the fact that we are a campus that has a really high capacity to give,” Martinez-Vivot said.

McCann agreed, noting that “over 80 percent of freshman will ultimately have extra meal plan [money] at the end of the year.”

Laughing, McCann said, “You can do this now and donate to a good cause and still have money to take as much C-Store food as you want on the road to the airport.”

“It’s super easy for a student to just go to the C-Store and buy a couple cans to donate," Martinez-Vivot said, "I think that that’s a small ask from a student consider-

ing the situation."

Once the drive ends on Saturday, Feb. 9, the collected food will be brought to the Care and Share warehouse, and the experts there will determine where the highest levels of need are and will distribute the food as they see fit.

That being said, the work doesn’t have to stop there. Hunger is a problem nation-

wide, and the local community, even with a fully functioning government, is no exception. CC offers ways to stay involved in similar outreach through BreakOut, which visits the Marian House shelter weekly, and the Colorado Springs Food Rescue, a program founded by a CC alum that works to eliminate food waste and feed the hungry.

Photo by Daniel Sarché

The Catalyst

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Life

Piglatin Cocina: An Amusement Park for Your Taste Buds

By Becca Stine In Colorado Springs, if you aren’t downtown, you’re in the suburbs.

A short drive down I-25 brings you to a small strip mall parking lot. The glow of hanging lights on the inside of Piglatin Cocina immediately draws your attention away from the neighboring hairdresser, karate studio, and mediocre sports bar.

The restaurant itself is tiny, but it instantly transports you out of the strip mall and into a trendy city or downtown scene.

Despite only having five tables, the turnover at Piglatin is seamless, and we sat almost immediately after arriving.

Upon entering, the words “Food For The People,” posted in bold orange letters, jump out from behind the bar across the room, above an impressive selection of alcohol. Although the space behind the bar is painted black, bright graffiti covers the entire right wall.

One long wooden table fills the center of the room, and functions as a community table, where customers are encouraged to share their dining experiences.

The other tables form four corners; customers sit around the tables in 90-degree angles, squeezed comfortably on a wooden bench.

The menu at Piglatin Cocina is absolutely delightful. The restaurant is coowned by a couple, Andres and Tricia Velez, who each bring tastes from their country of origin, creating a beautiful blend of Korean and Caribbean cuisine.

The menu offers quesadillas with, for example, kimchi, a completely unique combination that tastes spicy, fresh, and cheesy all at the same time. Although the menu appears small, there are several options for dish combinations that encourage customers to explore the wide variety of tastes available.

For the high-quality flavor at Piglatin, the cost of a filling meal is outrageously fair. One combination option serves two

tacos and a side for $9.

The sides alone are each full of distinct flavors and textures; the options include sweet fried plantains, cheesy rice balls, fried pork belly, and Elote — Latin cornon-the-cob with a creamy cheese cilantro ancho chile sauce. The island taco — filled with pineapple-braised pork, jalapeñohabanero cilantro cream, cabbage, cotija, and lime — was one of the most flavorful tacos I have ever consumed.

The Piglatin website reads, “We’re looking for the rebels. People with a sense of originality. Those who come with an unruly food taste and a consistent appetite for sweet, salty, spicy, crafty libations.”

The restaurant weaves together tastes that one would never create independently; the dining experience feels like an amusement park for the taste buds.

The drink menu is almost equally as excitin.; Piglatin offers a variety of homedesigned cocktails, including a guava and tequila drink, and a solid selection of craft beer for a reasonable price.

Not only are the food and drinks delicious, but the service is also divine. Piglatin is the kind of restaurant where the wait staff and bartenders work to form friendly and authentic relationships with customers; both our server and the bartender came to the table to share drinks, and to tell the story of the restaurant and its food.

“It was a wonderful, accommodating experience with energetic waitresses and waiters who made us so comfortable,” said Adela Burak ’19. “The food was delicious, and the guava mama was a glass of goodness!”

Sitting at the wooden table at Piglatin makes you forget the short highway journey and the strip mall outside. It brings relationship and intimacy back to eating, and inspires exploration and open-mindedness to taste.

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February 8, 2019

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Story Time With Georgia

By Georgia Grellier Welcome to Story Time with Georgia, where I share weird bite-sized stories from members of the Colorado College community. I love hearing about both the trivial and the dramatic parts of people’s lives, so if you’ve had an awkward Tinder date, gotten in trouble, developed a food allergy at an inconvenient time, almost died (figuratively or literally), used Wikihow for something Wikihow probably shouldn’t be used for, or have any story you wish to tell me, email me at g_grellier@coloradocollege.edu.

Who: Anna Hill ’21 When: December 2018 What: Affair Accusations While Working at Dialogue Center While working at CC’s Dialogue Center in December, Anna Hill ’21 spoke on the phone to a man who was muttering to himself while listening to her and answering her questions. A little weirded out, she asked if he would rather have her call back another time, but he told her that he could talk, his date was just in the bathroom. Hill continued delivering her spiel until she heard a door slam in the background and a different man (Man #2) yell, “Honey, I’m home!” Man #2’s tone suddenly became angry, and Hill heard him ask Man #1 who he was and why he was in his house. Hill again offered to call back later since he seemed pretty occupied, but she said that Man #1 “kept trying to, like, insert himself back in our conversation” despite being actively involved in a trespassing accusation. In the background, Man #2 was yelling questions along the lines of, “Where is my wife?” and “Why are you on my computer?” Still on the phone with Hill, Man #1 “was trying to explain that they were coworkers,” while Man #2 got progressively angrier in the background. Hill then hung up — it was getting too weird, with maybe the weirdest part of the whole thing being Man #1’s dedication to her call. “It was crazy,” Hill said.

Takeaway: Being in the middle of getting caught trespassing and/or having an affair makes you too busy to talk on the phone.

Who: Leah Barazani ’21 When: Oct. 3, 2018 What: Forgot to Lock Bathroom Door (Featuring Menstrual Cup) It was a crisp fall morning when Leah Barazani ’21, environmentalist and menstruator, entered the Loomis gender-neutral bathroom to empty her Diva Cup — a reusable silicone cup that can be used in place of disposable menstrual care products like pads or tampons. Seated on the toilet, Barazani removed the cup to dump it out, first holding it up to the light because, in her words, “sometimes you just want to see how much is in there.” Just as she was examining it “pre-dump,” she heard the door swing open and made eye contact with a “handsome freshman boy” in front of her, who was encountering the sight of his eco-friendly neighbor holding a strange, incomplete-egg-shaped thing full of blood high in the air. After loudly and somewhat terrifiedly apologizing, he flung the door shut and presumably ran away, leaving Barazani alone again with her cup and her thoughts. She is a strong advocate of normalizing menstruation, so this moment was basically activism, but she looks back on it with a newfound gratitude for bathroom locks.

Takeaway: Barazani strongly recommends menstrual cups.

Cartoon by Lo Wall

Colorado College Events Sunday, Feb. 10

Wednesday, Feb. 13

Friday, Feb. 15

Pop-Up Yoga 9:30-11:45 a.m., Fine Arts Center

Break the Block 12-1 p.m., Butler Center

Trip to the Denver Art Museum 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Depart from Worner

SpeakEasy, “Forget Me: Not a Valentines Show” 6-7 p.m., Taylor Theater

Carlton Gamer, Professor Emeritus 90th Birthday Celebration Concert 7:30-9:30 p.m., Packard Performance Hall

Poetry 719 & PPAC Temp Presents: Letters To My Exes 6:30-9 p.m., Tim Gill Center for Public Media

Monday, Feb. 11

"Anna in the Tropics" 7-10 p.m., Fine Arts Center

TWIT Show 9 p.m., Taylor Theater

Thursday, Feb. 14

Tuesday, Feb. 12 Intermezzo Concert with Leila Josefowicz and John Novacek 7:30-9 p.m., Packard Performance Hall

Experience the Springs with Leadership Pikes Peak and the Collaborative for Community Engagement 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

Sense of Place Clay-Slab Workshop 1-4 p.m., Bemis School of Art

Saturday, Feb. 16 Whirlyball and Bowling 3:30-6:30 p.m., Depart from Worner

Sunday, Feb. 17 Public Skate 3-4:15 p.m., Honnen Ice Arena

Opinion

14 February 8, 2019

The Catalyst

Cut the Cookie-Cutter Conversations

By Sarah Laico

There are certain conversationstopics that tactful people generally avoid — politics at Thanksgiving dinner, your glitzy new job in front of your unemployed friend, the obvious weight your sibling gained at college. It’s a matter of not stirring the pot, keeping people at ease. As we get older, we tend to pick up on these taboo subjects and keep them to ourselves.

However, we simultaneously accrue some conversation topics that are so un-taboo that they’re not even worth discussing.

The first subject that practically everyone will talk about, ad nauseum, is how cute their dog or cat is. Let’s face it; we all think our pets are the most lovable, hilarious, sweet creatures that exist. No one else’s pet can be as good as our pet.

Even though we hold this view, we still continue to gab about that clumsy thing that Sparky the border collie did the other day, or the snuggling session we had with Raisin the dachshund. Lord knows I talk about my fluffy corgi, Chowder, on a daily basis. But the reality is, no amount of detail or number of pictures of our pets is going to impress anyone else—because they’re already obsessed with their own pet.

Another topic really not worth mentioning is the dream you had last night. You are not special for having some weird, mildly terrifying situation occur in your brain during the wee hours of the night —

it happens to everyone. The only exception to this rule is if you’re telling someone about a dream in which they play a part.

Otherwise, you’ll go into excruciating detail about how you were saving the world from spaghetti monsters while riding a tiger, and conclude, “Isn’t that crazy?” And nine times out of 10, your listener (if they listened at all) will respond with, “Mm.” Just keep your dreams to yourself.

One story that everyone has to tell is their “horrendous” airport/flight expe-

rience story. Once again, you are not unique if you’ve had to spend an exorbitant amount of time at the airport, nor if you’ve sat through truly terrifying turbulence. Almost as soon as someone brings up a crappy flying experience, someone chimes in with their own awful story, as if it’s a competition. It’s not; we will all suffer at the hands of United, or Delta, or some other airline at some point or another.

Which brings me to the final topic that

CC students in particular love to discuss: how much work they have. It’s another topic where as soon as someone complains about their reading, paper, or exam, someone immediately has to butt in and top it, as if having more work makes you somehow better, or smarter, or worthier of sympathy. The fact of the matter is, we all have lots of work to do; we go to a highly competitive liberal arts college. Just because your friend is sighing over staying in to prepare for a presentation does not mean that you must conjure up tears over getting not only a presentation, but a paper done, too, while juggling three extracurriculars and two work-study jobs. Really, the best we can do is stop complaining about our work and just do it.

I am all for being politically correct and avoiding touchy subjects when they may damage an already sensitive environment or conversation. Nevertheless, I don’t believe we should turn to subjects that are so relatable that they’re not even interesting. Talking about your dog, your dream, your flight, or your homework is too easy — no one will listen actively to those stories, because they too are living them. It’s time we dug deeper and got to the real stuff — like if your dad was a breakfast cereal, which one would he be?

Illustration by Cate Johnson

The United States’ Unhelpful and Hypocritical Stance on Venezuela

By Colin Suszynski On Wednesday, Jan. 23, Juan Guaidó declared himself interim President of Venezuela. Just hours later, the United States recognized him as such. Nicolás Maduro, the President of Venezuela, rejected Guaidó’s claim and denounced the United States for staging a coup, reiterating a claim he has made in the past — that U.S. imperialist aggression was attempting to destroy Venezuela.

In the following week, other Western countries backed Guaidó, including Canada, Brazil, Argentina, and Australia. Many European countries offered Maduro an ultimatum — hold free democratic elections or lose recognition. Maduro refused, and many announced support for Guaidó. China, Russia, and Cuba, among several other countries, have backed Maduro and have criticized U.S.

policy. President Donald Trump has made it clear that he is considering military action, further heightening tensions.

The U.S. decision to back Guaidó, and so quickly, was a bad foreign policy move that will hurt our ability to act diplomatically with our foreign adversaries. Furthermore, it is a gross intrusion into the political clashes of a sovereign nation, something U.S. politicians have been complaining about since 2016.

But first, what is happening? And why?

Venezuela has been mired in economic and political crisis since 2014, when the global price of oil dropped. Venezuela sits on one of the largest oil reserves in the world, and its economy relies on it. Prior to 2014, the price of oil had risen since 1999, roughly when the previous President, Hugo Chávez,

Illustration by Lee Odowd

took office.

During Chávez’s rule, the Venezuelan economy boomed and Chávez was popular, especially among the lower classes due to his progressive social programs. Chávez died in 2013, and in the following year, oil prices dropped. Maduro, Chávez’s Vice President, took office in 2013. In 2018, he was re-elected, in an election criticized by many as unfair. Since 2014, the Venezuelan economy has only gotten worse, and many Venezuelans blame Maduro. Protests began in 2017. Then, just last month, at a protest, Guaidó declared his presidency and the United States backed his claim.

Guiadó and his allies claim that Nicolás Maduro was never re-elected in 2018, because the elections were plagued with corruption and fraud. Guaidó’s constitutional claim to the Venezuelan presidency rests on this assertion. Guaidó is the President of the National Assembly and, according to Article 233 of the Venezuelan constitution, when Venezuela is devoid of a President, the President of the National Assembly should assume leadership until democratic elections are held.

But while Maduro might lack the foreign recognition that lends a leader legitimacy, he has the support of the military and political elites, as well as some Venezuelans. So long as Guaidó does not have those, or rather, so long as Maduro does, Guaidó’s presidency will have very little buying power.

The United States had already done its part in 2018, when Maduro was elected, by denouncing the results as illegitimate. The United States gave Guaidó all the ammunition he needed in 2018 — the rest should be

up to Venezuelans.

The United States made the right move by rejecting the results of the 2018 election.

It was the correct way to recognize and denounce injustices without imposing U.S. policy and invoking accusations of imperialism. However, on Wednesday, Jan. 23, when Juan Guaidó said he was ready to assume the Presidency, the U.S. made the wrong move.

Backing Guaidó hurts the United States’ ability to work diplomatically with foreign adversaries. Countries with whom the United States has strained relationships are closely watching U.S. behavior in Venezuela. Russia, Iran, and China have already denounced U.S. action. These countries are observing the United States support another regime change because the leader did not conform to the United States’ way of doing things. Why would these countries trust the United States in a diplomatic discussion when it might do the same to them? Why would they ever seek to alleviate tensions?

More importantly, Maduro still has support from a portion of the population. U.S. intrusion gives Maduro a good enemy to rally those people around. If we had never backed Guaidó, the protests still would have boiled over and some kind of solution would have arrived. It may have been reached through violence, but that is not for the United States to dictate. By imposing ourselves before Venezuelans worked through the crisis themselves, we have given those who still support Maduro a common enemy. Backing Guaidó, and threatening military action did not and will not help the United States spread democracy — it is more likely that we will create another nation resistant to it.

The Catalyst

Opinion

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February 8, 2019

What Does Your Water Bottle Say About You?

By Josie Kritter Sitting pretty at 6,035 feet, our location at Colorado College not only makes it a struggle to get up the stairs, but also to stay hydrated.

An accessory found on nearly every student to combat the scourge of dehydration is their water bottle. But water bottles are more than a cure for headaches — they’re a personal choice that define who you are as a person.

So, what does your water bottle say about you?

The Hydro Flask: Commonly known as “my hydro,” this choice signifies a certain level of high-maintenance needs. Personally, since switching to this bottle, I refuse to drink anything but nearly frozen water. Coming in 40-ounce containers, in the brightest colors imaginable, with a rather loud clink of ice on the interior metal, this is by far the most obnoxious option for water drinkers. On the bright side, weighing about 10 pounds when filled, this bottle can also double as an arm workout! It is, by far, the ideal bottle for the aspiring suburban mother.

The Nalgene: Wait, do you camp? Do you love the outdoors? Do you want to let everyone know just how #crunchy you are? Then this is the bottle for you! Even with the dangerous BPA these bottles used to have, they can be found in every corner of campus. Usually covered in stickers to show off that you ski and/or drink coffee, this bottle belongs to an individual who loves versatility and is very straightforward. It is also for literally anyone who is just thirsty and can’t find anything better.

The CamelBak: Their slogan literally used to be “Hydrate or Die,” so I think they mean business. The individual who chooses this bottle probably makes a great romantic partner, because it takes serious commit-

ment to prevent the rubber nipple from getting moldy. On the other hand, according to Freud, they probably have an oral fixation, so keep that in mind. With their mighty straw, however, CamelBak users are likely the most hydrated of all water drinkers.

The Gatorade Bottle: The most interesting thing I’ve found in these individuals is that they are rarely athletes. Why do they need to hold their bottle six inches from their face and squirt it into their mouth in class? Why do they refuse to unscrew the lid when they are sitting motionless for three hours at a time? These individuals might be a little lazy, but they at least always have a hand free to Snapchat themselves blowing Juul smoke.

The Mug: These individuals who choose to get their 64 daily ounces from small mugs are immortal; they cannot be beat. It is equivalent to the final boss in a video game one must face in order to achieve maximum hydration. I don’t know how they do it, but when the apocalypse happens, they will be the last ones standing, still calmly sipping with their magical gyroscopic arms that somehow don’t spill a drop.

So, with this in mind, as the great Albus Dumbledore once said, “It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” Choose your hydration vessel wisely.

The S’well: Probably the most notoriously known “basic” water bottle. These individuals are frauds when it comes to waterdrinking, since if they were more committed, they would have invested in a much larger capacity bottle. They are drawn more to the aesthetic colors these bottles come in rather than the actual hydration factor. Definitely the most “Instagrammable,” these people are most likely influencers and involved in some sort of pyramid scheme selling Fit Teas.

The bag: You know those bottles that come in those weird plastic bags that you can fold up when you’re done? The individual who chooses this is reckless and enjoys living life on the edge. So what if all of your electronic valuables are in your backpack with your flimsy water bottle? Who cares! My warning to these people is to move gently, or you will be heartbroken to find that all of your half-finished homework is soaking wet.

Illustration by Cate johnson

Illustration by Cate Johnson

Colorado is Being Loved to Death — Do You Love it Enough to Save it?

By Nick Penzel Colorado has a wealth of natural resources that have drawn people to the state for hundreds of years. In 1859, a decade after the California Gold Rush, an estimated 100,000 miners clambered to seek their fortunes in the Colorado Rockies. The miners, who were often quoted using the motto “Pikes Peak or Bust,” were part of the second largest mining rush in U.S. history, but they were not the last group of people drawn to Colorado for its natural resources and beauty.

Over the last century and a half, people have flocked to the state for its skiing and recreation. The population boom brought increased economic revenue to depressed mining towns like Aspen, and the state was soon recognized as a destination for people who wanted to live an active lifestyle and recreate in the mountains.

But today, Colorado is facing a serious problem. People have been pouring into the state, and this massive influx is detrimental to the things that we love about this place.

The state, specifically the Front Range, doesn’t have the infrastructure to support Colorado’s growth. All it takes to see this is being stuck in hours of traffic on I-70 on a Saturday morning. Once you make it through the traffic, if you are lucky enough to find parking, you are greeted by hours of lift lines at Breckenridge or Arapahoe Basin; being stuck waiting for hours doesn’t really fit the carefully cultivated image that Colorado has created as a mecca for adventure.

An even more troublesome example of this problem can be seen anytime you turn on your faucet. Colorado Springs has no good source of water nearby, so diversions bring water from as far as 200 miles away into the city. Tunnels and diversions, like those dug under the continental divide, pull water out of the Colorado River watershed, among others, and ship it to the Front Range. Because this water is moved under the divide, it is effectively removed

from the watershed and can’t flow toward lower basin states like California and Arizona, which face a whole host of their own water problems.

The situation is severe enough that some have proposed a 600 plus mile pipeline from the Missouri River. Less farfetched ideas, like pumping groundwater in the San Luis Valley, threaten Great Sand Dunes National Park and farmers who have been cultivating the land for four generations.

Suffice it to say, we have overstretched our means. The very streams that carved the mountains we love are being sucked dry by our thirsty mouths. With climate change and increased drought, the situation can only worsen.

If we really care about this state, we are going to have to work harder and faster than any generation before us to fundamentally change the way we interact with the environment.

In 2016, Colorado had a predicted growth rate of 1.85 percent, making it the second fastest growing state in the country, behind Texas. With the 2020 census looming, the jury is still out on exactly how much the state has grown

in the past 10 years. One thing seems certain though — as more people settle in the state, the ski areas will become more crowded, the roads more ridden with traffic, the rivers more tamed, and the wildness will slowly slip away.

There doesn’t seem to be an easy solution to this problem. Nativists like to put “local” or “native” bumper stickers on their cars and tell people to leave the state, but this mindset fails to realize that no one, with maybe the exception of tribes like the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapahoe, has more claim to this land than anyone else. Obviously, advocating for a zero population growth policy would help the situation, but that is just not feasible. Ultimately, we may have already overstepped the carrying capacity of sustainable living on the Front Range.

As is the case with climate change, we are living on borrowed time. We have a finite number of years to address the overpopulation and exploitation of natural resources in Colorado. If we really care about this state, we are going to have to work harder and faster than any generation before us to fundamentally change the way we interact with the environment.

We have to put the emphasis on conservation over our recreation. Our energy grid will need to be rapidly converted to run on renewable energy. We need to restructure how we live by choosing high-density urbanization over the endless sprawl. We have to drastically redefine how water is used in the West by rethinking our agriculture system and personal use. We have to push for public transportation and rethink our personal freedoms in favor of a collective and ecological mindset. It’s a big task, but not taking these actions means sitting by with paralyzing apathy as the state we love disappears.

A New Perspective, by Addie Knight ‘19 Want your photo featured on the back page of the paper? Submit to The Catalyst’s Photo of the Week!