Volume 126 Issue 8 by The DU Clarion

Top Stories N: Worldwide revolutions O: Trump shouldn’t handle confidential information S: Hockey continues undefeated A&L: Restaurant review

DU Clarion

November 6, 2019 Volume 126 Issue 8

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Cannabis and candidates: Where do they stand?

Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Photo courtesy Inside Higher Ed

Photo courtesy LA Sentinel

Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Photo courtesy the White House

Photo courtesy the City of South Bend

Grace Ganz | Arts & Life Editor

hether you’ve seen the news blasts for debates on CNN or the Denver Votes truck on campus, it’s easy to see that the 2020 presidential race already in full swing. In the midst of a presidential race, voters are tasked with researching candidates’ stances on many hot topic issues. Here in the Driscoll Green column, we’re here to offer you the run-down on marijuana: who supports legislation, who doesn’t, who is unclear?

Marijuana has not been heavily debated throughout the first four democratic debates, which has seen a significant decline in number already; The 26 original presidential candidates has now been narrowed down to 17, with the clear front runners being Elizabeth Warren, Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders. President Trump has also not been hugely vocal or comprehensive about cannabis policies. Currently, over 60 percent of Americans support federal marijuana legislation. In the past year, the government has been steadily mobilizing progessive marijuana laws, most notably with the recent landslide

House of Representatives passing of The Secure And Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act on Sept. 25. So how do the presidential candidates feel about marijuana? Read about the five Democratic frontrunners and President Trump’s views below.

with drug and marijuana legislation is the most controversial out of all the presidential candidates. For decades, Biden has asserted himself as a proponent of the war on drugs, often criticizing his conservative counterparts, notably President George Bush, for being too lenient on drug legislation. During the ‘80s and ‘90s, a Joe Biden: drug and crime crisis infiltrated the U.S., most notably in the Previous Vice President Joe crack cocaine epidemic. In efforts Biden does not support federal to crack down on crime and drug legislation and views marijuana use, the government passed as a dangerous gateway drug, a series of policies that have which sets him as the outlier notoriously furthered racial bias among all other presidential in the criminal justice system candidates. During the Sept. 12 and mass incarceration. In his Democratic debate, Biden stated previous position as head of the that marijuana crimes should Senate Judiciary Committee, be regarded as misdemeanors, Biden spearheaded a great deal of rather than resorting to prison these policies including the 1984 sentences. Though Biden now Comprehensive Control Act, The actively supports the decriminal- Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986, the ization of marijuana, his views Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 and are somewhat contradictory since the Violent Crime Control and misdemeanors can still result in Law Enforcement Act, each sumjail time. Biden has stated that marized here on Vox news. These he does not support prison time laws supported controversial polfor non-violent crimes; he has icies such as higher penalties and vouched for more funding into longer prison sentences for drug rehabilitation centers over pris- related crimes, as well as police ons, stating that “nobody should stops and seizures of someone’s be in jail for a drug problem.” property under suspicion of However, Joe Biden’s history

drug activity. Biden has since gone back on his hard-hitting and punitive policies in his 2008 support of the Second Chance Act and the 2010 support of the Fair Sentencing Act. In his presidential race, Biden published his criminal justice reform plan that shows him in support of marijuana decriminalization and decreased prison time for nonviolent crimes.

Elizabeth Warren: The heavy-hitting leader in the Democratic race supports federal legislation, proving to be one of the most passionate advocates of legalization. Warren supports medical and recreational marijuana and has endorsed several marijuana reform bills, notably the Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States (STATES) Act, “a bill that would allow states to make their own cannabis policies without fear of federal interference,” according to Medical Marijuana, Inc. news. Continued on p. 2

DU CLARION

| ARTS & LIFE

Cont. from cover

Bernie Sanders: Sanders, the popular far-left candidate, is the most passionate about federal legislation. Sanders has always been in active support for legalization throughout his entire political career. In the exact opposition to Biden’s stance in the war on drugs, Sanders has advocated for an end to punitive drug policies. In August of 2019, Sanders, in an interview on Joe Rogan’s podcast, “The Joe Rogan Experience,” stated that he would use an executive order to legalize marijuana. Sanders is also a co-sponsor of the Marijuana Justice Act, which would allow states to instate their own cannabis laws/legalization and declassify marijuana as an illegal substance.

Pete Buttigeg: The mayor of South Bend, Ind. also supports the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana. Though Buttigeg is not hugely outspoken about the issue,

he sees marijuana reform as necessary for social justice. In July, he introduced the Douglass Plan, which states, “We will, on the federal level, eliminate incarceration for drug possession, reduce sentences for other drug offenses and apply these reductions retroactively, legalize marijuana and expunge past convictions.”

NOVEMBER 6, 2019

marijuana. While running for the 2016 election, he expressed support of medical marijuana but not recreational, directly critiquing Colorado’s full legalization. Yet, the president has always been consistent in his view that state’s should be able

to make their own marijuana laws without federal government interference, reaffirming this stance in August.

Kamala Harris: Though the California senator now supports the legalization and is also a co-sponsor of the Marijuana Justice Act, Harris has not always been consistent in this view. As district attorney of San Francisco, she outwardly opposed legalization. However, after becoming a senator, she completely flipped her views and has since been blazing paths for both medical and recreational legalization. Harris is also open about her own marijuana usage.

Donald Trump: The current president and likely Republican candidate for 2020 still proves to be unclear in his policy desires regarding

ABOUT US

DU Clarion EDITORIAL STAFF

HANNAH BRANIT, Editor-in-Chief VICTORIA VALENZUELA, Executive Editor LAWSON MONTGOMERY, Sports Editor KIANA MARSAN, Opinions and News Editor The Clarion is the official student newspaper of the University of Denver, serving as the “Voice of the University of Denver.” Founded in 1899, it covers campus and local stories with the highest level of journalistic integrity possible. 300 copies are distributed each Wednesday afternoon (throughout the academic year) across the DU campus, and every article is also published at duclarion.com. The Clarion does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the faculty, staff and/or administration of DU, and the opinions expressed by columnists and contributing writers do not necessarily reflect those of the Clarion. Reproduction of the Clarion in whole or part in any form written, broadcast or electronic without written permission of the Clarion is prohibited. The Clarion reserves the right to reject advertising, stories, columns or letters to the editor that it deems graphic, obscene or that discriminate on the basis of race, culture, gender or sexual orientation. The Clarion welcomes letters to the editor. Those who submit letters must limit them to 500 words. Some letters may not be published because of space limitations, overly-libelous content or similarity to past submissions. Please submit letters to duclarioneditor@gmail.com.

HOW TO JOIN The Clarion is open to contributors of all years and majors at DU, including both undergraduate and graduate students. There’s no application necessary; all you have to do is show up to one of our weekly meetings, which are held every Monday at 6 p.m. (during the academic year) in the Hub. Can’t make it to a meeting? Send an email to duclarioneditor@gmail.com and we’ll do everything we can to get you published.

GRACE GANZ, Arts & Life Editor CLAUDIA PHILIPP, Photo/Video Editor SARA LOUGHRAN, Copy Editor JAKE GLOTH, Copy Editor, Assistant News Editor MEGAN COONEY, Business Manager ANDREW MATRANGA, Faculty Adviser Masthead graphic design: David Fain

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS HENRY HARGRAVE

CONOR CHAPMAN

RACHEL WRIGHT

OLIVIA FARRAR

HALEY PAEZ

PATRICK NAPHIN

DREW JOINER

CHRIS FAZZARI

DU CLARION

NOVEMBER 6, 2019

NEWS | 3

A third of the world has organized in mass protest

gypt, Lebanon, Ecuador, Chile, Haiti, Iraq, Ukraine, Spain, the UK, Indonesia, Algeria, Russia, Bolivia, Peru, Hong Kong and the United States—all of these are countries that have seen wide mass protests in the past month. Seventeen countries, containing 2,559,230,662 people, means that 32.3 percent of the world’s population lives in a country going through a period of unrest. Fifteen out of those seventeen countries have used tear gas against their own people over the course of these protests; only the United States and the United Kingdom have not. This is despite the fact that in the 1925 Geneva Protocol, the use of tear gas against enemy combatants was outlawed. Some countries’ governments such as Haiti and Iraq have used live ammunition against their own unarmed people. Most of the protesters cite political and/or economic corruption as a driving factor behind their national outrage. Many protests started after a seemingly small event that amplified larger feelings of disenfranchisement. In Lebanon, the protests started over a planned 20 percent tax on the first WhatsApp call a citizen made every day. In Chile, the protests started after a public transportation fare increase in the nation’s capital of Santiago. This was the breaking point for the 50 percent of Chileans that earn less than 550 USD a month. Other protests started after

Chris Fazzari | Clarion

large-scale events such as when Algeria’s president violated the country’s constitution by running for a fifth term. In Peru, the president tried to dissolve the legislature, and then the legislature tried to remove the president. These protests are quickly organized among vast numbers of people using the internet, taking a page out of the first large internet uprisings of the Arab Spring in 2011. For instance, many protests are being planned on WhatsApp groups to quickly disseminate information. Their fluid, decentralized manner is greatly summarized by Hong Kong protesters’ strategy to “Be Water.” To make apprehension more difficult, they want to be always moving and flowing in location and planning. As an attempt to counter this rapid and nearly-impossible-to-con-

trol method of organizing, many governments such as the one in Iraq have shut off some or all internet services. Director of the Inclusive Global Leadership Initiative at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, Dr. Marie E. Berry, explained that “these movements are diffuse and dynamic; they can nimbly adapt to changing political circumstances and can often change tactics and strategies as conditions evolve.” Berry stressed the importance of the protesters themselves and that “we should not credit social media alone with movement success—movements require discipline, organization, and strategy to succeed, and social media simply provides a tool.” Social media cannot take all the credit for the many local community

partnered up with MV Transportation to utilize the TripShot app that makes it easier for students to get around campus and surrounding areas. According to DU, the process for creating the contract for campus shuttle services was incredibly “competitive.” However, with the Driscoll Bridge being closed for the foreseeable future and congestion of traffic piling up, this campus shuttle service provides students with a safer, more time-efficient mode of transportation. The fact that the service is also free to students who sign up with their DU email addresses via the TripShot app is an extra bonus. When students download the TripShot app, all they have to do is register with their email. Then, when the campus shuttle approaches within a certain radius of the stop, all students have to do is select the route in which they’re taking on the map. Afterwards, they will get a boarding code and the cold, brisk walks will be a thing of the past. If students are curious when their shuttle will depart and arrive at certain stops, the app gives an ETA. As of now, this service is relatively new for not only the students, but also to the University as a whole. Therefore, there are two established and fixed routes as of now, that primarily go from the light rail station near DU with various

stops that go all the way to the Physics Building. However, DU does plan on having an “on-demand” shuttle for students who want to get to places that aren’t necessarily within the bounds of campus. Even though the webpage for transportation states that “the rider app is a powerful tool,” they admit they will “describe more its features

organizers driving the movements from behind the scenes. DU is undertaking a lot of research in this field through the Inclusive Global Leadership Initiative, their flagship project being the Micro-Mobilization (MicroMob) Research Project. Its goal is to “harness the power of participant photos from mass protest events to better analyze the gendered dynamics of the protests themselves.” These protests may continue to grow and spread as Berry concluded that, “I am inclined to hope that we are in a historical moment where the vast majority of people around the world are unwilling to sit idly by and watch as inequality gets more extreme.” Chris Fazzari | Contributing Writer

DU partners with TripShot for shuttle service

ith the cold weather finally kicking into full gear here in Denver, a lot of students have noticed the shift in not only temperature, but in the commuting conditions as well. Considering that a majority of students—especially underclassmen—walk to and from classes on the daily, the slick sidewalks and slushy snow on campus have made getting to classes all the more difficult. Not that waking up for an 8 a.m. was that easy to begin with. For students who drive or take the light rail to DU, road conditions are severe. As many students know, there was a snow day this past week on Oct. 29. According to the Office of the Provost, the decision to close down the entire DU campus was due in part to the “deteriorating road conditions.” Since around 52 percent of students live off campus, the chances that they are commuting are quite high. As the days get shorter and the sun sets quicker, it is important that all DU students, regardless of whether they live on-campus or off-campus, know all of their transportation options. One particularly new transportation mode that is offered here at DU is the campus shuttle. Unlike the standard campus shuttle service, DU has

Photo courtesy of tripshot.com

as we [DU] will progress.” For more information concerning the campus shuttle and other modes of transportation around campus, students can check out the webpage on the DU website.

Olivia Farrar | Contributing Writer

DU CLARION

NOVEMBER 6, 2019

| OPINIONS

President Trump can’t handle classified information

n late October, U.S. special forces raided the compound of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS. The top Democrats in Congress stated that they were not notified of the raid. According to sources of NBC, Trump told Senate Judiciary Chairman and Republican ally Lindsey Graham and Senate Intelligence Chairman and ally Richard Burr of the raid. However, he did not inform any Democrats, including those part of the “Gang of Eight,” who are a bipartisan group of ranking congressional members that are supposed to be briefed on sensitive information such as raids. The reason, according to the president, was to prevent leaks about the raid that could endanger the lives of the service members. There is no evidence that the Democrats have been leaking any information given to them. However, in the past, the President has tweeted information that was not supposed to be released yet and tweeted policy decisions that surprised officials who should have been informed earlier. For example, during the raid, the team canine, was injured. General Mark Milley, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, stated that the name and photos of the canine would not be released as the dog was still overseas and would most likely continue going on missions. Days later, though, Trump tweeted a picture of the canine, and on Halloween, released the name of the dog. He also shared parts of the mission that would normally come out at the discretion of the officials more involved in it. Another example is Trump, in August, tweeted an intelligence photo of a failed launch of an Iranian rocket. The photo was taken with such clarity that experts stated that it was beyond the capabilities of anything available to satellites utilized by public companies or organizations. It

showed that the United States is flying a satellite or drone over Iran. While this information is not surprising, it could lead to Iran being more careful with what they do in the open regarding testing in an effort to limit our surveillance of the country. Trump has also caused bewilderment by unexpectedly tweet-

with the policy know about the announcement before it is made. These officials are supposed to be informed so they can aid in making sure the policy is implemented properly and, in the case that the policy or military mission goes wrong, can aid in the aftermath. Informing them is not supposed to be a partisan decision. The

Photo courtesy of Associated Press

ing out policy decisions, such as when he tweeted in July 2017 that a transgender ban would be put into place for the military. Pentagon officials were caught off guard by the announcement of the policy, even though Trump stated publicly that he had consulted with his generals. Even though former Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders was correct when she said, “[Trump] gets to decide the policy and when he’s going to say it,” it is customary that those involved

president should not inform his closest allies while neglecting to do the same for the other party because of the impeachment inquiries going on. While the president can declassify information, there is no proof that he went through the process to declassify the two pictures mentioned and the name of the canine. If this habit continues, serious information could come out that puts national security at risk. In fact, Trump could have done this when he revealed

classified information to Russian officials in May of 2017. There is a reason that the information goes through the checks it goes through to ensure that information that could potentially be used to harm the nation is not leaked. The main reason Trump does what he wants with the presidency is simple: this is what he used to do when he ran his business. When he wanted something done, all he had to do was say what he wanted, and a person would attempt to get it done at the drop of a hat. He is not used to all the bureaucracy that surrounds the government, and he is not used to having to inform anyone else besides his friends, of his actions. Add in the issue of the Democrats investigating his actions through the inquiry, and Trump will not inform them of his actions for fear of being criticized. Because of what we’ve seen during his presidency, if the president truly wanted to keep the raid and its details a secret, he shouldn’t have had his advisors tell him about it. This way, the details would have not been leaked on Twitter.

Conor Chapman | Contributing Writer

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The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the Clarion or of the DU community.

DU CLARION

NOVEMBER 6, 2019

VOICES | 5

VOICES Question: How do you prepare for finals?

“I prepare a schedule. For this term, I planned it out beforehand in October, when I’m doing what and when office hours are. It’s a mindset I have that now is the time that I need to study and get work done, and I do it.”

“I don’t.” Julie Tran, Third Year

Ruchita Raghunandan, First Year

Left:

Right:

“I hope for a study guide, and I go over it. I sit in a comfortable place. You don’t want to leave it to the last second, and you should make it as fun as possible. You need to take pride in it.”

“I honestly go through all my notes, but I wait until the night before and cram because it works for me.”

Cole Puckett, First Year

Mariel Gorsuch, First Year

The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the Clarion or of the DU community.

| ARTS

DU CLARION

& LIFE

NOVEMBER 6, 2019

Homemade and locally grown is a staple at Sputino

putino is perfectly placed in the quiet upper end of Denver’s Highlands neighborhood. This sweet little red house is the manifestation of a couple obsessed with food and wine. While no beds or living rooms occupy this space, there’s a kitchen that is always running and crafting dishes all the way down to the pasta featured in their primi courses. Upon entering, your eye can get caught reading the chalkboard decorated with a list of their farm fresh purveyors that make each dish exemplary. The vision for this project is to be proud of Denver’s culinary artists and pay tribute to the ones that taught them their masterful skills in the kitchen. Sputino takes the works of locals and features them in a beloved Italian style feast. This quaint restaurant may not look like much on the outside, so much so that you might miss it without a GPS. Nevertheless, this bold red restaurant will transport you to the shores of the Italian coastline faster than Dorothy’s ruby red slippers can get her home. Owner and head chef Cindhura Reddygrew up eating South Indian food. It wasn’t until she and her husband traveled through wine country that she found a love for Italian fare, knowing it would be the foundation for her restaurant in Denver. Even though she is influenced by Italy, she refuses to surrender her Indian spice cabinet and makes sure to pay homage to her family. There’s an added pop of excitement with an extra spice or bold color in all of her dishes. Sputino is no different to the many other Denver restaurants that have adopted seasonal menus to showcase the

earth’s treasures at the peak of their ripeness.While the foundation of dishes don’t change with seasonality, the star of the dish is left up to mother nature to choose. Sputino’s menu guides you through a typical Italian meal. Antipasto boards are adorned with an assortment of cured meats sliced thinner than a sheet of paper and cheese ranging from sharp and firm to gooey and buttery. Their housemade bread comes to the table with the sour dough’s pungent scent perfum ng the table, causing smiles to emerge. The crust flakes apart while maintaining a crisp outside and soft and chewy inside. But, if you cannot get enough of a carb fix, then the focaccia is definitely another option to accompany your meal. It resembles a thick pizza crust, but here it’s dotted with rosemary plucked fresh from the garden. The bread is also drizzled with olive oil to add a hint of sweetness and flaked sea salt for the ideal flavor contrast and much needed crunch. Since Sputino wants to take you away from the Colorado mountains and out towards an endless Italian ocean, another board features a daily seafood special. It could be smoked fish or one canned in olive oil; regardless, it offers a much desired bite emulating the fresh scent of the sea. Next is always a primi, or, the pasta and risotto dishes. Sputino boasts about being most proud of this section because of the love and attention it always receives. Each pasta dish requires delicate hands to sweep the ingredients together on the table and form a bright yellow dough that gets its bright hue from the

egg yolks that swirl within it. Usually, the pasta is a vehicle for the unique sauces that enrobe it. In the case of Sputino, they begin to impart flavor with the dough. Their ravioli is striped green to accentuate the flavors of the garden with a peppery flavor profile from arugula. Inside these pockets are heirloom squash to give you the essence of fall without forcing you to have pumpkin again. The finishing sauce is a chimichurri, or a spicy pesto comprised of olive oil, with fresh herbs and a hint of red pepper flakes. Finally, sweet onions that are caramelized for hours until they are a deep mahogany decorate the plate as well as dollops of goat cheese that are whiter than snow. Even though the pasta is already bright in color, another dish adds turmeric exemplify the yellow hue, while also taking a detour to India. This yellow spice is saturated with the scents of ginger and orange. These profiles highlight the Indian theme of the dish featuring lamb and beef, the iconic duo in a classic gyro. Finally, the cavatelli pasta is incomplete without a green accent of kale grown locally in Golden that adds the bitterness to round off the dish. Another beloved filled-pasta dish is the baby raviolini that blends sweet and salty freshness into one delicate bite. Inside is a mixture of Robiola Bosina, the unique intertwining of milks from cows and sheep that create an earthy, creamy cheese. With dark figs to add sweetness, it resembles a perfect cheese plate. The dish is finished with peas, pistachios and a light wine sauce to fuse the salty sweet combination into an Italian crescendo. The crunch of the pistachios adds texture but a nuttiness that

works well with all cheeses and notes of honey figs. Then, pieces of prosciutto graze the plate to add a hint of pork flavor and make this dish emulate a charcuterie board even more. For the traditionalist, Sputino offers a long flat pappardelle pasta that gracefully picks up a rich tomato based sauce. Their bolognese is not what an Italian grandma stewed in her kitchen, but I bet she would’ve liked to. With access to fresh tomatoes, there is no hint of iron that comes from using tomatoes from a can. Instead, the whole tomatoes burst to create a thick sauce that gets amplified with floral and earthy aromas. In addition, no bolognese can be complete without an added richness from ground meat. Sputino goes more exotic than the Americanized ground beef version and gets a new flavor profile from goat. It resembles the mildness of lamb, a Coloradan staple, while still reminding us of Reddy’s Indian roots. Regardless of whether you decide on a dish that’s lived there since the restaurant’s inception like their elk tartar or the daily pasta (composed of the chef’s current imagination), the choice couldn’t possibly be wrong. The long communal table encourages you to stay a while and feel at home here. The exposed kitchen acts as a fireplace providing warmth to all the patrons. All there’s left to do is put on fuzzy socks and a movie because the microwave mac and cheese you usually eat on a cozy winter night just got replaced with a piece of Italian art.

Haley Paez | Contributing Writer

King Princess releases her new indie pop album “Cheap Queen”

ing Princess, the stage name for Brooklyn-native Mikaela Mullaney Straus, released her new album “Cheap Queen” on Oct. 25. It includes 13 songs about her relationship in life with the

this year. Before finding King Princess, many of the alternative songs I had been listening to were mostly appealing to me because of the instrumentals and the distinctive beats. The reason Straus’

includes her amazing vocals, but there is more of an emphasis on the instruments and beat. A majority of the songs on this album have a sad undertone.The tune is chill, and a beat drop is not even in the equation. This

includes several lyrics that provide a sense of feminism and the importance of self confidence in lyrics like, “I am a real Queen / I can make grown men cry.” Overall, I think King Princess released a successful new

Photo courtesy of Genius

notorious L word, “love.” Some of the songs include “Ain’t Together,” “Hit the Back” and “If you Think It’s Love.” I am not a die-hard fan of King Princess, but I can definitely appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of her music. Even though I categorize myself as more of an alternative music follower, I have been listening to her two famous singles “1950” and “Talia” for the entirety of

song “1950” struck me because of how beautiful her voice was. The song focuses completely on the charm of her voice. The instruments and background music are a second-hand factor in the song. One of the reasons she is so successful with her music is because of her iconic indie voice combined with her alternative lyrics and instrumentals. Of course, her new album

tone, although not very upbeat, is needed for the listener to get a sense of her pain. You can tell that she created songs to emphasize the depressing aspects of her struggle with love. However, a slightly higher-pitched tone and catchy recurring beats make the listener feel her empowerment through the struggle at the same time. For example, the title song of the album “Cheap Queen”

album. I think within the 13 songs, there is a wide variety. This diversity is key to drawing in listeners because it provides different emotions song to song. Some are empowering, but others are clearly meant to just be depressing.

Millie Winter | Contributing Writer

NOVEMBER 6, 2019

DU CLARION

ARTS & LIFE | 7

Sole Stories: Episode 5 - Complexcon

Drew Joiner | Clarion

ast weekend, I was able to experience the fourth annual Complexcon in Long Beach, Calif. For those who don’t know, Complexcon is a convention showcasing modern art, exclusive brand collaborated items and energetic musical performances. It was a sneaker head’s dream playground, and I loved every second of being there. In this episode of Sole Stories, I will talk a little bit about my experience at the convention as well as what I learned by going to the event. The two-day event started by waiting anxiously in line to get into the venue. We got in line two hours before the doors opened at 11a.m. because we knew there was going to be a lot of people; our first priority of the event was being able to acquire some of the limited merchandise and sneakers dropping. Something I really wanted to get were the Feature x Vans “Sinners Club” collaboration. These shoes are Vegas-themed vans that only released at Complexcon in limited quantities. I ended up acquiring both pairs just in time before they sold out in my size – it was exhilarating

to know they were mine. Other than getting the Vans, I was blown away by what was available to see and do at the event. I was able to listen to rapper LL Cool J talk about what it was like early on in his rap career. I also participated in Complexcon(versations), which included various topics and speakers who are well known figures in the ‘streetwear’ fashion industry. The best conversation from day one was “Sneaker Of The Year,” which was a list of 10 sneakers compiled by a team at Complex to recognize the best 10 sneaker releases of 2019. It was fun to see Sean Wotherspoon (Designer of the Air Max 1/97 ‘Sean Wotherspoon’), Joe La Puma and Eleali May argue over what sneakers should have been on the list and if the sneakers on the list were worthy to be considered a top release of 2019. The list makers at Complex crowned the Nike LD Waffle Sacai as the best sneaker to release in 2019 so far. I agree with the decision to put the LD Waffle Sacai at number one, but there was a mixed response from the crowd when the shoe came up

as first place on the list. Some people in the crowd booed while others cheered. Overall, it was fun being a part of that experience. The finale of day one was an electrifying concert that hosted rapper Kid Cudi. Kid Cudi brought the roof down with his powerful beats and help from a surprise appearance from Pusha T. Day one was full of really enjoyable moments and was something I will never forget. Day two had a lot of the same elements as the first but on day two I was able to meet and talk to Aleali May. Aleali May is the second woman ever to design and have creative control on her own Jordan sneaker silhouette (Jordan 1 Retro High Aleali May Shadow). She exudes coolness and is considered to be sneaker culture royalty in my eyes. When I asked Aleali about her experience at Complexcon in our brief conversation, she replied, “It was really good because now we are starting to see different spaces and creativity level in our subculture.” Meeting her reminded me once again of the power

of sneaker culture and how it brings people of similar interests together from all across the world. Day two I saw 21 Savage, Lil Yachty and Dwayne Wade walking around shopping and talking to fans while at the venue, which was pretty special. The end of day two was capped off by live performances from rappers A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie and Da Baby. These two rappers are both climbing in popularity, and I have started to pay more and more attention to them. Overall, Complexcon was nothing like I had ever been a part of. I saw so many incredible sneakers, walked around evaluating art and sculpture with celebrities, and talked clothing and sneaker designers up close and personal. It was beyond my imagination. If you are reading this and you love sneakers, fashion, or art, I recommend finding a way to attend this event next year. It is an event truly unlike any other, filled with learning and novelty unparalleled to anything I have experienced. Drew Joiner | Contributing Writer

DU CLARION

| CROSSWORD

NOVEMBER 6, 2019

The Clarion Crossword: Week 9 Need some help? Visit duclarion.com for the answer key.

Jake Gloth | Clarion

4 5

he Clarion Crossword Across EclipseCrossword.com was concieved by Chelsea

Fincher, and continued by Jake Gloth. The Crossword is based on stories printed in each week’s edition of the Clarion.

3. DU partners with _______ for new shuttle service. 6. DU women’s basketball grind out a win against Colorado ____. 7. DU sweeps ______ to stay undefeated in men’s hockey.

Down 1. The agreement or cooperation of two political parties that usually oppose each other’s policies. 2. The ___________ won the World Series. 4. This country’s president recently violated the country’s constitution by running for a fifth term. 5. The ______ convention prohibits the use of tear gas against enemy combatants.

Thanks for playing!