DU Clarion Volume 124 Issue 21

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VOLUME 124, ISSUE 21

5TH ANNUAL CRIMSON CLASSIC CELEBRATES PIONEER PRIDE

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CONSTRUCTION UPDATE: DU GRAND CHALLENGES

LTTE: HEY DU: SPELL CHECK, PLEASE

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KINGSMAN: A ROYAL 9 DISASTER pa g e

STOP KISS IS A TALE OF UNEXPECTED LOVE

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| NEWS

DU affirms support for DACA students

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n Sept.

5, The Trump Administration announced that it ordered the end of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, that was put in place under Obama. This program allows for undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children or infants to be protected from deportation for two years and obtain a work permit. Recipients can apply to renew their DACA status after it expires. There are many students at universities across the country who are DACA recipients and depend on this status to remain in school and in the country.

DU, along with over 600 other colleges and universities, has stated its support for DACA and the students who benefit from it.

“The University of Denver will do everything within its power to support all of our students. The University abides by all federal,

state and local laws, which offer many protections to our students,” said Chancellor Rebecca Chopp in a statement released Sept. 5.

“Specifically, the University does not and will not voluntarily share student information with immigration enforcement officials, nor will we voluntarily grant access to University property to such officials for the purposes of enforcement or investigation. Our admission and housing practices will remain consistent with our nondiscrimination policy,” the statement goes on to say.

“The Immigration Legal Resource Center has created a helpful advisory document that addresses the implications of the end of the DACA program. We recommend students read the document to understand their rights and legal responsibilities.”

The Korbel School of International Studies has released a publication on the DU website titled “What Are the Implications of the

ABOUT US

2016 Election for DACA, Deportation, and Immigration?” laying out specific recommendations for students with DACA about renewal, and recommendations for members of the university for ways of supporting undocumented students. This page also gives context to DACA as a whole, including the implications of the election, a specific Colorado context, insight into the wider conversation of immigration, and responses to a list of questions about the subject. It also supplies readers with a list of Colorado organizations and resources outside the university for addressing these issues.

DU offers up to $25,000 per year in merit-based financial aid to undocumented students, as well as other scholarships based on the arts and athletics, and encourages undocumented students to apply to DU. A nonprofit organization called the Mission Asset Fund is offering scholarships for up to 2,000 DACA

recipients to renew their status before it runs out in March of 2018.

Renewal costs an average of $495, and the nonprofit hopes to help those who struggle to acquire the funds.

In January of this year, Chancellor Chopp released a statement titled “DU’s principles of protection and support” that addresses worries following the election about the protections for undocumented and Muslim students. This statement also has a list of principles that DU promises to uphold, including not assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials in investigations and continuing to admit students in accordance with its nondiscrimination policy.

Stay up to date with university publications and statements in order to be aware of all the resources available and recommendations from the university regarding undocumented students.

Monica McFadden | Podcasts Editor

DU Clarion EDITORIAL STAFF

JOHN POE, Editor-in-Chief RYAN NINESLING, Executive Editor DANIELA SANTOS, News Editor NIKKY JOHNSON, Sports Editor ELIZABETH LOCHHEAD, Opinions Editor The Clarion is the official student newspaper of the University of Denver, serving as the “Voice of the Pioneers.”

Founded in 1899, it covers campus and local stories with the highest level of journalistic integrity possible. 1000 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 opinions expressed by columnists and contributing writers do not necessarily reflect those of The Clarion. Weather forecasts are of courtesy of the National Weather Service. 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 Driscoll Underground. 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.

ANNMARIE MARLOW, Arts & Life Editor KENDALL MORRIS, Arts & Life Editor CAITLAN GANNAM, Photo/Video Editor GRACE HOUSER, Photo/Video Editor MONICA MCFADDEN, Podcast Editor JUSTIN CYGAN, Copy Editor MAYA PINON, Copy Editor ANDREW MATRANGA, Faculty Adviser

CONTRIBUTING STAFF EMMA COHEN CLAUDIA GLENN DREW KORT DANIEL LORENZO ANNIE NAGEL KATE POWELL GEORGIA PEDEN

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DU CLARION

NEWS | 3

Construction Update 2017: What to expect

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n the Summer of 2016, the advisory group Urban Land Institute gave suggestions, after having visited the campus, on how to help DU, “become more welcoming to the Denver community, to increase mobility and alternative transportation use on campus and to improve its physical spaces to better recruit and serve students, faculty and staff.” The group had a long list of suggestions to accomplish this goal, many of which mirrored the university’s DU Impact 2025 proposal.

In a brief description of the plan, Chancellor Chopp outlines what students, staff and the Denver community could expect in the next upcoming years whilst reassuring that there will be a focus on areas like: housing, learning spaces, mobility, community spaces, sustainability and way finding. In the briefing, it is also announced that DU will be

Photo courtesy of.Connor W. Davis

partnering with architecture firm Ayers Saint Gross (ASG) who, the proposal notes, have worked with other universities including University of Virginia, Emory University and John Hopkins University.

The most detailed description of these upcoming projects can be found in a piece by the Denver Business Journal which coins the project to be, “Denver’s next Union Station.” The article reveals that the first three determined construction projects will amount to be a $143 million project.

Arguably, the most invasive project of the three is the $72.5 million community commons which will take the place of the current Driscoll Student Center (DSC)—a time-saving route for many students who need to cross Evans.

The new community commons is expected to include new dining options. “The concept we are looking at here for the new dining

facilities is sort of multiple smaller options,“ said DSC director John Nichols who also mentions the main goal for the commons as a place “to bring all the university community together.” Students can expect the new building to be a, “sort of like the counterpart of the academic commons,” said Nichols. Regarding the construction process, Nichols says that the plan is to demolish the north end of the bridge while maintaining the south end enabling space for the resources offered at the DSC to be rearranged which will be one of the main challenges during the transition process.

The other two projects in DU’s Impact 2025 slate includes a new first year residence hall which will amount to be about $55.5 million and a career achievement and global alumni center for $15 million. In a FAQ page about the progress of this construction plan, it says that the residence

hall will be paid for by room and board charges and the other 2 buildings, “will be paid for, in part, by philanthropy and partnerships of approximately $45 million.” When the construction is complete the FAQ states that, “all undergraduate and graduate students will pay a new fee of $6.50 per credit hour to support the Commons.”

Construction for the community commons is expected to begin during the summer of 2018, and the three projects are intended to be complete before fall 2020. Students and DU community members interested in updates on this project can RSVP to attend the Community Engagement & Service Learning (CCESL) Grand Challenge Launch Event where they will address the issues of living, working and participating at DU. Daniela Santos | News Editor

Korbel panel discuss Trump’s impact in global affairs

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U professors explored the ramifications of Donald Trump’s presidency in a panel event entitled “Trump and the Crisis of U.S. Democracy: Implications for Global Affairs,” held in the Korbel School of International Studies last Thursday, Sept. 21.

“We’re gathered here today… to make sense of the enormous political crisis that has enveloped this country,” said panel moderator Dr. Nader Hashemi in his opening statement.

The hour and a half panel was attended by a nearly-full crowd of professors, students and the general public. It served as the annual kick-off event put on by the Korbel School’s Center for Middle East Studies, of which Hashemi is the director.

The center’s kick-off events usually take the form of presentations on more niche topics to welcome students to Korbel.

However, as Hashemi explained, this year was forced to be held on an issue “more pressing than any regional concern, and its name is Donald J. Trump.”

As such, the event took on an urgent but thorough tone. Hashemi and the four Korbel faculty panelists sought not to “trash Trump,” as panelist Jack Donnelly said, but rather, through their various areas of expertise, paint a comprehensive picture of what his presidency means for the U.S. “We seek today to diagnose, interpret this crisis...and find an answer to what the roots of it are,” said Hashemi.

Dr. Jack Donnelly, a professor of International Relations

Theory, took to examining the problem of the Electoral College system, of which he claimed that Trump, as well as widely panned congressmen Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan, is “merely a symptom.” “[The Electoral College] is fundamentally American, but fundamentally non-democratic,” Donnelly said, expounding on the problems of voter disproportionality and widespread gerrymandering and calling for non-partisan reformation of the College.

Economics Professor Dr. Ilene Grabel criticized Trump’s welcoming of a depreciating dollar and misunderstanding of China’s currency policies.

Meanwhile, Human Rights professor Dr. Micheline Ishay explored the populist nature of Trump’s campaign. She examined Trump’s rise to power in terms of Machiavellian tactics and offered possible strategies to counter his nationalist ideology and “recast the debate.”

Later, Professor Aaron Schneider’s remarks focused on the administration’s policy of “maligned neglect” in Latin America that has allowed non-democratic leaders in the region to “play their political systems” and gain power. He mentioned his policy of selectively turning down speaking engagements in U.S. embassies in Latin American countries as a form of resistance.

The second half of the event, in which panelists answered questions from the audience and Hashemi, specified the discussion further and induced lively,

civil debate.

Ishay commented on the near futility of changing the Electoral College when an average of 40% of eligible Americans do not vote. A similarly grim proposition came when a question was posed about Trump’s relations with “strongmen” dictators around the world, such as the Philippines’ Rodrigo Duterte; Grabel posited that Trump’s acceptance of these leaders “normalizes his behavior.”

However, brighter perspectives were offered by both; Ishay brought up the promise of changing to a two-ballot system similar to France’s. Likewise, Grabel mentioned that a potential benefit of the rise of “strong-

men” was that it encouraged the unity of other leaders around the world, such as Canada’s Justin Trudeau, in issues such as climate change.

Despite the professional tone, the faculty did not shy away altogether from making occasional digs on the 43rd president.

Hashemi remarked that the event was intended to “explore the effects of Trump’s foreign policy… to the extent that he has a coherent foreign policy,” while various other jokes in the Q&A section were consistently met with chuckles from the audience.

Daniel Lorenzo | Contributing Writer

Daniel Lorenzo | Clarion

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| SPORTS

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Pioneer Volleyball defeats Fort Wayne in 5 sets, 3-2

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U Volleyball faced Fort Wayne in five sets last Sunday, claiming victory in a 3-2 set match-up.

The Pioneers started the match strong, as junior middle blocker Emma Willis (La Jolla, Calif.) recorded 5 kills, hitting .833. As a whole, DU hit .214, recording 10 kills. Willis put points on DU’s scoreboard on the first serve of the game, and added another kill, after a Fort Wayne kill error and service error to start a strong lead, 5-1 Denver.

Willis continued with her game domination as she served from the back row to continue the Denver lead 1-7. After a quick momentum change, DU gained possession of the serve with a kill from graduate student middle blocker, Teal Schnurr (Westminster, Colo.), resulting in a 3-8 score. Fort Wayne came back to attest for a 7-11 score with Pioneer kill and service errors, but senior outside hitter, Cassie Baird (Indianapolis, Ind.) ended their run with a kill, keeping the score at 7-11.

Freshman setter, Ellie Anderson (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) continued

the Denver lead with key serves that stretched the score to 11-19.

Kills from Willis and senior outside hitter, Becca Mau (Longmont, Colo.) brought the Pioneers within one point of a win for the set. An error from Fort Wayne sealed the Pioneer victory, 15-25.

The second game was one of many ties and comebacks. Senior setter, Piyusha Boteju (Euless, Texas) began the set serving, scoring 1-0 Denver. Fort Wayne came back with a kill, tying the game 1-1. But DU bounced back with a kill from senior right-side hitter, Kayla Principato (Rockville, N.Y.).

Willis added another kill to her stats, after a Fort Wayne attack, for a 2-3 Denver lead, but Fort Wayne answered to tie at three with a kill. Junior outside hitter, Becca Latham (Austin, Texas) added a kill after a Fort Wayne run to tie the set at 5-5. Anderson followed suit, and after another Fort Wayne point tied the game with a kill, 6-6.

With attack errors, DU fell behind 11-7. Principato ended a six kill run with her own kill from the right side, resulting in a score of 13-8.

Baird recorded an ace, and Princi-

pato added another kill, trying to comeback with the score at 13-10 in favor of Fort Wayne. Principato continued her comeback mentality with a double block assisted by Willis. A Fort Wayne error and a kill from Willis brought the score to 14-12. Freshman middle blocker, Tina Boe (Plymouth, Minn.) added two kills between a Fort Wayne point to bring the score to 16-14, which was followed by two Latham kills to bring the Pioneers to a tie at 16-16. Despite the Pioneer effort, Fort Wayne finished with a 25-21 final. Latham recorded four kills in the set.

In the third set, the Pioneers trailed for a comeback, finally tying the set at 17. And then again at 18..and 19..and 20. DU Volleyball finally gained the lead in the set with a kill from Latham 20-21.

They tied again at 21 with a Fort Wayne kill, but DU won the third set, 22-25.

Fort Wayne stole the fourth set 25-21, sending the Pioneers into a fifth game to 15.

Fort Wayne scored the first point of the set, but Principato answered back with a kill, tying

the set 1-1. Schnurr answered back after a Fort Wayne point, tying the game again at two. Then, Denver stole the lead, 3-2. Fort Wayne answered back with a kill, tying the final set again at three. Fort Wayne trailed DU, as the Pioneers set their eyes on a win. The opposition called two timeouts in the fifth set, first when DU led 11-7, and then again with a DU lead of 9-13. Latham ended the match with a kill, giving the Pioneers a 3-2 set win.

Principato and Willis both recorded 14 kills in the match, Principato hitting .355, and Willis hitting .303. Latham recorded 12, and performed at clutch moments to lead the Pioneers to the win.

Boteju lead the team with 33 assists. Boe recorded a team-high of four blocks. Senior libero, Cassidy Rooke (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.) led the Pioneers with 17 digs. Baird had a team-high of two aces, as well as recording four kills.

The DU Volleyball team heads to North Dakota this weekend to face North Dakota State.

Nikky Johnson | Sports Editor

Ashley Kneemueller | Clarion

Victoria Valenzuela | Clarion

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DU CLARION

SPORTS | 5

Men’s golf squad opens season at Ram Masters Invitational

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he Denver Men’s golf squad laced up their spikes for the first time this season up in Fort Collins at the Ram Masters Invitational hosted by Colorado State, earlier this week. The tournament was played at the Fort Collins Country Club, a par 70 design playing 7,218 yards. The two-day event required golfers to play two loops on Monday and a final loop on Tuesday.

The Crimson and Gold went with a mixed lineup that featured veteran leadership in seniors Chris Korte (Littleton, Colo.) and Jake Kelley (Littleton, Colo.) and a complementary group of talented youngsters in sophomores Isaac Petersilie (Colorado Spring, Colo.) and Eric Hagen (Aberdeen, Wash.) and freshman John Sand (Hoquiam, Wash.).

Senior Michael Boylan (Patterson, N.Y.) and Sophomore Roy Kang (North Vancouver, B.C.) competed as individuals at the event.

Korte, coming off a successful summer campaign where he was victorious at the 117th CGA Match Play Championship in June, led the Monday charge for the Pioneers.

The senior posted back to back rounds of 69, leaving him at two under par and in a tie for seventh on the individual leaderboard going into the final round.

Kelley (71-72) and Petersilie (7370) stayed within striking distance and both finished Monday at three over par and in a tie for 24th. Hagen (76-79) and Sand (82-74) finished their day at 15 over par and 16 over par respectively.

As a team, the Pios closed out the day in seventh position with an

aggregate score of 574 and 14 over par. Denver sat 26 strokes behind the host, Colorado State. The Rams held a comfortable lead on the field, shooting a record low 12 under par on the first day of play.

“Just keep battling,” Head Coach Erik Billinger said, when asked what message he would relay to his troops before Tuesday’s final round. “You can learn something from every round and every day. You’ve got to keep battling when you’re playing team golf.”

The team heeded Billinger’s advice and was able to grind out an aggregate score of 287 and seven over par on Tuesday. It was good enough to move them up to sixth position on the team leaderboard out of 19 competing schools.

Korte finished the competition with a two over par 72, and slipped

out of the top 10 into 11th position.

Kelley shot the team’s low round of the day, carding a one under par 69; he would finish in a tie for 18th.

A final round, three over par 73, for Petersilie put him in a tie for 28th, and he was matched by Hagen who finished in 85th. Sand shot a solid 4 over par 74 to finish out the tournament in a tie for 91st.

Kang ended up at 16 over par and in a tie for the 77th spot after rounds of 76-76-74 while Boylen closed out his play at 18 over par and in a tie for the 85th position after rounds of 79-76-73.

The team teed it up again in Albuquerque, New Mexico at the Tucker Invitational on Sept. 22-23. The Pioneers posted 10-over 298 to close in 10th place in the tournament.

Drew Kort | Contributing Writer

Photo courtesy of DU Athletics

DU Hockey polled as repeat Penrose Cup Champions

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n a National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) preseason poll, DU’s Hockey team was chosen as the repeat Julie and Spencer Penrose Cup Champions, awarded to the NCHC regular-season champions.

Returning the majority of last seasons national championship team, DU Hockey was unanimously chosen by the media as the favorite which was unveiled last Tuesday on Twitter.

Last season, DU Hockey carried a 33-7-4 record into the program’s eighth national championship.

DU returns 16 letterwinners from the national championship team, including four athletes who earned NCHC Preseason All-Conference team honors last week.

DU Hockey, who earned their first Penrose Cup last season, received all 30 first place votes on the media ballots for a total of 240 points. In second was St. Cloud State with 187 points, after placing fifth last year. Following in third is North Dakota with 172 points, which is one spot up from last season’s fourth place finish.

Minnesota Duluth, the 2017 NCHC Frozen Faceoff champions received 160 points, and was chosen fourth

in the poll. Following were Miami at fifth with 104 points, Western Michigan at sixth with 102 points, Omaha in seventh with 83 points and Colorado College in eighth with 32 points.

A total of 30 ballots were submitted for the poll from local media members from each school, as well as select national media. Points were awarded on a descending scale, with a first place vote worth eight points, a second place vote worth seven points, a third place vote worth six points and so on.

In the 2016-17 season, the Pioneers went 33-7-4 for all games, and their record for conferences was 18-3-3. The team averaged 3.5 goals per game and shot .102 for the season.

The NCHC drops the puck in the 2017-18 season with five exhibition games this weekend, Saturday, Sept. 30. The regular season begins Friday, Oct. 6.

On Oct. 1, the Pioneers face Lethbridge in their home Magness Arena at 5 p.m. The following week, they head to South Bend, Ind. to face Notre Dame.

Nikky Johnson | Sports Editor

Caitlin Gannam | Clarion

Photo Courtesy of the Denver Post

Clarion Staff

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| SPORTS

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Pioneers run for pride at DU’s annual Crimson Classic

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U Men’s Basketball, Thrive and a handful of Denver-local vendors joined the 870 runners who participated in the Crimson Classic 5k and 1.5 Mile Walk that took place Wednesday, Sept. 20.

The annual 5k and 1.5 Mile Walk aims to bring faculty, staff, students and locals together to celebrate wellness and show Pioneer pride. This year marked the fifth annual Crimson Classic 5k race, and is the largest outcome in the race history. Last year 800 runners crossed the finish line.

Driscoll Green was a sea of gold, as children, their parents, serious runners and a man dressed as a piece of broccoli supporting Thrive stretched together to start off the Crimson Classic festivities. As late registration came to an end, racers

full of anticipation warmed up with sprints in front of the Strum Law Building, families drank smoothies made by a blender powered by a bike and Thrive offered water bottles and cutting boards to anyone who could score in a cornhole match. Local athletic trainers rallied everyone together on Driscoll Green to lead the group of 870 in stretches for the race. At precisely 3 p.m., the community gathered at the start/ finish line outside of Sturm Hall, and when the blow horn sounded, raced off down Asbury.

The 5k route took runners on a tour of the north side of DU’s campus. The athletes ran from Driscoll Green, took a right on High Street, a right on Buchtel, continued the loop with a right on University and then ended with another right on Asbury to the finish line on

Driscoll Green. Runners enjoyed a much needed water station near DU’s Ritchie Center where DU Men’s Basketball supported the race by passing out water to the thirsty runners, as temperatures were in the high 70’s and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.

When the racers rounded the corner of Asbury to the last stretch to the finish line, they were welcomed by community members and the DU Men’s Basketball team head coach. Rodney Billups, his staff and his players offered water to the finishers of the 5k and 1.5 Mile Walk with enthusiasm. At the finish, racers enjoyed the post-race party with DJ West and local vendors on the Green.

The Crimson Classic is founded and supported by Wellness Works at DU, which states their mission:

“The Wellness Program provides programming and incentives to encourage employees to increase the knowledge of their health status and achieve health goals. This program is working towards shifting the University culture to create the conditions to allow employees to thrive physically, emotionally and spiritually.”

The organization offers everything from the 5k fun run, to employee flu shots, to guided meditation and yoga. This month’s wellness events include ‘Guided Meditation with Kara,’ ‘Iyengar Yoga with Jessica,’ ‘Vinyasa Yoga with Stephanie’ and last week’s Crimson Classic.

Flu shots will be offered through the month of October.

Nikky Johnson | Sports Editor

Nikky Johnson | Sports Editor

Nikky Johnson | Sports Editor

Nikky Johnson | Sports Editor

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DU CLARION

SPORTS | 7

DU Men’s Lacrosse hosts University of Tokyo in fall exhibition

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U Men’s Lacrosse hosted the University of Tokyo last Saturday in the Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium. Saturday’s game began the Men’s Lacrosse three-game fall slate for the Pioneers as they warm up for the regular season.

The game experimented with a 60 second shot clock as part of the NCAA’s fall experiment.

Admission was free, but the stands were filled sparingly with alumni, lacrosse fans and DU undergraduate students who dropped into the stadium in passing. Temperatures were in the low 50s, and the players and the crowd experienced light showers in the third quarter,

as DU dominated their Tokyo opponents, scoring close to 30 goals.

Key players in the fall match-up were returning stars, senior faceoff, Trevor Baptist (Denville, N.J.), senior midfielder, Jeremy Bosher (Kamloops, B.C.), senior midfielder, Connor Donahue (Gorton, Mass.), junior attack, Austin French (Danville, Calif.) senior midfielder, Nick Phillips (Denver, Colo.) and junior midfielder, Quinn McKone (Notavo, Calif.). Players who didn’t see a lot of 2016-17 minutes contributed greatly as well with, junior midfielder, David Funes (Seattle, Wash), sophomore faceoff, Sean Penna (Exeter, N.H.) and junior faceoff, Ryan Harnisch (Huntington Beach, Calif.)

contributing greatly in the PioneerTokyo matchup.

DU scored the first goal of the preseason exhibition, and held their offensive momentum for the rest of the game. The team played well together, amounting several stellar goals with a flow of passes and assists across the offensive side of the field. The Pioneers also seemed to dominate at faceoff. Head coach Bill Tierney switched the faceoff players regularly, starting with Baptists and as the game progressed, playing with Penna and Harnisch.

Coach Tierney had a similar pattern with all positions on the field. Like the faceoff, star goalie Alex Ready (Lancaster, Pa.) started the game

strong, but junior David Winsor (Bozeman, Mont.) and sophomore Josh Matte (Issaquah, Wash.) saw plenty of playing time as they defended their net.

On the defensive end, senior Chris Sullivan (Tuscon, Ariz.), senior Matt Jones (Denver, Colo.) and junior Dylan Johnson (Englewood, Colo.) helped lead the Pioneers to their victory.

To continue their fall exhibition games, the Pioneers will head to Washington D.C. on Oct. 15 to face Limestone, followed by an alumni game held at Peter Barton Stadium on Oct. 21.

Nikky Johnson | Sports Editor

Serena Jonas | Clarion

Serena Jonas | Clarion

Serena Jonas | Clarion

DU CLARION

8

| OPINIONS

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DU’s response to DACA P resident Trump announced on Sept. 5, 2017 that he planned to rescind DACA, a policy initiated by former President Obama in 2012, permitting many young immigrants to work in the United States without obtaining citizenship. The “deferred action” included in the name refers to the two-year guarantee that DACA recipients will not experience active deportation measures. As of Sept. 14, Trump has altered his statement and has declared that he plans to protect the DREAMers–minors with deferred deportation and the ability to get a work permit thanks to DACA–and increase border security.

However, Trump is not necessarily protecting DREAMers as he claims to be because new applications are no longer being accepted, as of Sept 5, 2017. Previously, once their two-year contract ran out, applicants were able to re-apply.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said, “Former recipients are able to retain their period of deferred action and employment authorization document until they expire, unless terminated or revoked.” Furthermore, if applicants’ DACA expires before March 5, 2018, they must file a renewal request before Oct. 5, 2017.

In response to this frightening piece of news, DU’s Center for Multicultural Excellence has created a Diversity Website with updates on

DACA, resources for members of the community and provided free events. One such event was in partnership with different organizations like the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition where attorneys were available to inform individuals of their rights in the face of threats to their lives in the U.S. Chancellor Chopp, in response, has issued a statement, renouncing Trump’s measures, claiming support for DACA and the DREAMers affected, which reads, “To reiterate, the University of Denver will do everything within its power to support all of our students. The University abides by all federal, state and local laws, which offer many protections to our students.”

However, not all students feel as if DU truly does support them as much as administrators endlessly assure. One such student, Fryda Faugier Ferreira, a senior studying Spanish, socio-legal studies and international studies from Mexico City, Mexico, cannot help but feel ignored and as if DU is not making the effort necessary to truly and entirely support DREAMers here on campus.

“Right now, we [the team working on gathering resources and funds] are working on setting up an emergency fund to help with the costs for schooling and emergency housing because, come March, if nothing is done by the president or Congress, then those under DACA

will lose the ability to work which, for most of us, means losing our ability to pay for school.”

Faugier Ferreira, similar to many like her, even those not as actively involved in combatting the restrictions, believes that the first step is to officially declare DU as a sanctuary campus, which, in a statement made by Chancellor Chopp on Jan.12, 2017, was denied.

Despite the lack of title, the Chancellor said, “DU Campus Safety never has and will not assist ICE, CBP, USCIS or Denver Police Department in efforts to identify and deport undocumented community members.”

Although DU will not be officially named a sanctuary campus, the Chancellor’s statement seems to claim that DU will act in a way that a sanctuary campus would without the official title.

Faugier Ferreira said, “It’s the significance behind the fact that DU, despite being a traditionally white institution, is living up to its word on being inclusive and that it wants student like me on this campus and that it’s committed to helping us.”

Sadly, many in opposition of DACA think that DREAMers are undeserving, but Faugier Ferreira said, “We’re not here to take anything from anyone. We are here to get educated, to have careers so that the sacrifice our parents made would be worth it. All we want is to live our dreams and be able to

have the lives our parents should have had but couldn’t.”

Although Trump has altered his statement on DACA, it must be noted that he initially was in favor of its rescindment. This unpredictability, understandably, worries many DREAMers because of the fear that he very well may change his mind yet again. It still seems entirely unreal that administrators of a university, individuals capable of making significant change, remain passive and seemingly indifferent to the fact that President Trump’s volatility is manipulative and a great source of fear for many DACA students.

DU administrators need to prove that they truly support all of DU’s students, especially those in such a vulnerable position against a fickle presidential administration.

It is not enough to promise to act as a safe space. The importance of the formal title of “sanctuary campus” lies within the realm of recognition and confirmation. The least DU administrators can do is recognize DREAMers’ struggles and validate their importance as students and cherished community members. DU ultimately needs to be a school where young students regardless of origin are completely safe, where they can be ensured sanctuary.

Maya Pinon | Copy Editor

Bridging the financial aid gap I

t’s no secret that the cost of secondary education has been steadily rising. Betterment through college is becoming more and more difficult for students who can no longer afford the endeavor.

This is especially true of private institutions, like our own DU, as these are funded primarily on tuition and donations.

The problem is, with the rising cost of tuition and other fees, there has not been an equal rise in financial aid. Tuition has risen 5.2% annually since the early 90s, but financial aid has remained consistent. In 2015 the average student graduated with $35,000 student debt, as opposed to $16,928 fifteen years earlier. Tuition continues to rise, yet the assistance available to students is clearly insufficient.

The promise once made that students who work hard can find a place at university is becoming more and more distant.

This past spring, after students received their acceptance letters, they were quoted the price of $62,345. This was the price from the year before, and while it was steep, they were able to make a workable financial plan for the next four years, and plan to attend.

The entire process was confusing, but became even more so when costs were set for fall quarter of this year. Cost of attendance had risen to $65,448, a difference of $3,103. This can also be thought of as a student’s entire earnings for nearly 4 months. If prices continue to raise at this rate, every DU student can expect to pay $12,412 more than originally estimated over the course of their educational career.

This would be fine if scholarships rose in proportion to this increase, but what was once $22,000 remained $22,000, what was once $3,000 remained $3,000, and so forth. DU offers seven levels of merit scholarships ranging from $15,000 $25,000 (with $3,000 of each of these going to housing) and various amounts of need-based aid where necessary.

Why is that? Working students didn’t receive raises, and their customers certainly didn’t tip any better. College savings didn’t begin multiplying faster since tuition had gone up. Needbased financial aid is designed to fill the gap between what the student can pay and what the institution requires to run. Not only did this gap widen, but it opened

Photo Courtesy of Connor W. Davis

underneath students who had already committed to attendance.

This is not to say all students would not have applied and selected this school had they known. Many people and their families are able to make it work.

Not every student can say that. Too many of them are left to look upon their exceptional transcripts and exceptionally high bill, and feel defeat.

While the price of college will continue to rise regardless, there is no reason why the price of assistance should not rise

to meet it. We should make a conscious effort to make our community accessible to anyone willing to earn their place here, and fulfill the promise of a greater future handed down from years before. Instead of widening the gap between those who can afford an education and those who need one to better their future, let us build a bridge and strengthen our community as we do so.

Kate Powell | Contributing Writer

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Letter to the Editor: Spell check, please I

am writing this letter to express my frustration as a DU student and as the Chair of the Internationalization Committee within USG regarding DU’s failure at holding to its motto of inclusive excellence.

Prior to the start of Discoveries Orientation, DU made several signs to welcome its students who come from several backgrounds. This sign included the word “welcome” in English and in several other languages. Seeing this sign made me really happy to finally have our campus slowly become more internationalized and inclusive towards its international students.

However, as I walked closer to the sign to try to read it, I found out that the Arabic word for “Welcome” was completely misspelled.

It was written backwards and had the letters de-attached, which was a complete butchering of the word and the language. (It turned out that three other languages were messed up as well).

After reporting this, all of the signs were taken down and the university took responsibility informally through the Vice Chancellor for Campus Life and Inclusive Excellence.

On the Friday of Welcome Week, I was walking across campus and I was shocked to find out that the same mistake was

made a second time by another “welcome” sign made by Sodexo.

This new sign not only used the wrong word for “welcome” in Arabic, but also misspelled it in the same way the old sign did. For the second time in a row, I saw part of my identity being misrepresented and treated carelessly by the DU. As a student, I demand a formal apology from the university on allowing these signs to be made and hung all over campus with no review process. The fact that this mistake happened twice, with no formal apology, is completely offensive and disappointing, not only to international students, but to the entire DU community. When mistakes are made, responsibility needs to be taken. This is what excellence is all about. As for the inclusivity part, DU certainly needs to #DUbetter and implement real strategies, not just pretty slogans.

There are so many instances like this one that happen and only a few people hear about them. I urge you as a DU student to keep your eyes and ears open, to listen, be informed and be supportive.

Awareness is important. If we want to stand together as a campus and enact change.

Photo Courtesy of Walid Hedidar

Sincerely, Walid Hedidar

Photo courtesy of Walid Hedidar

Gende r distrib ution in colleg e majors T

he gender composition of popular college majors varies depending on school and location, and statistics change each year, however, there are several specific trends when it comes to this subject. Biases about gender and chosen field of study abound, commonly associating men with fields like engineering and economics and women with humanities and education. The data that have been gathered on this topic do not always fit directly with these assumptions, but some insight into gender distribution does arise.

NPR’s Planet Money looked into this question of college majors and gender in 2014.

This study compiled data from 1970 to 2014 to map out the percentage of female undergraduates in the main fields of study. As of that year, business, math, and general science had a fairly even gender split while engineering and computer science had a greater proportion of men. Health, education, social work, art, communications, and languages had higher percentages of women. This may be in

line with assumptions as well as what many students see in their courses of study, but other trends are also at work. The number of females in engineering is on the rise, bringing averages closer to even. Additionally, although math and science have been fairly even in the past, the percentage of females is also rising here. It is important to note that at many schools, including DU, there is a greater percentage of women than men enrolled, and women are now more likely to earn degrees. It is possible that changing demographics of colleges as well as majors will reverse some of these proportions soon.

College Atlas also analyzed these trends (although these data are from 2012 so are also dated) and drew similar conclusions to the Planet Money study, placing more males in the engineering fields and more women in the social sciences and humanities. Business was popular among both. But these statistics have implications beyond gender biases and stereotype: college major and chosen field of study influence future pay, and there exists a striking pay

gap between men and women.

While differing across fields, women on average are making about 75 cents to every dollar made by men. In 2016, the Washington Post ranked college majors by highest median base salary, placing computer science and various engineering fields at the top of the list. Analysis done

by Mark Perry of the American Enterprise Institute showed that while men are earning fewer bachelor’s degrees than women, they are earning more degrees in the highest-paying categories. The wage gap does not exist only because of differences in jobs—in many situations, women are paid less for doing the same job—but these facts offer another point of analysis.

DU does not have easily accessible data on how majors split by gender, but most students have perceptions of this just based on going to class and becoming familiar with their programs. It is likely that these trends will continue to fluctuate, but for now, differences in demographics exist.

The make-up of majors will ultimately be decided by the passions and proclivities of the students

that choose them, and women and men should not feel like they must choose a major for the purpose of evening out statistics.

However, institutions like DU should ensure that support exists for all students in all fields of study and that stereotype does not affect the treatment these students receive. This does not only apply to women in programs like computer science or economics but also men in programs like education or communications. It is not difficult to argue that more gender balance across fields of study will benefit innovation and excellence all around, and although many variables determine future employment and salary, this balance could have effects on wage gaps and leadership roles as well. Students of all genders are studying in every field, and encouragement and guidance from professors, advisors, and peers will ensure that great minds of all sorts will continue to work on the world’s important problems and questions.

Elizabeth Lochhead | Opinions Editor

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PIONEER FUNNIES

Pioneer Ponderings: Financial literacy in college

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inancial literacy is never as cut and dry as the college pamphlets would make it seem. Planning all of your finances months in advance is extremely difficult and being able to adapt to any crazy financial emergency can seem impossible.

I started my freshman year thinking that I would be able to find a job right away and avoid becoming the stereotypical broke college student. It ended up being

far more difficult and I didn’t get hired until the end of October.

Sadly, because I had spent almost two months living off of my savings, I was already pinching pennies and struggling to pay bills.

The best thing to happen to my bank account was the start of winter break. I was able to work full time and start reinvesting in my savings. If you are able, work during your breaks.

Take on as many hours as possiPhoto courtesy of Connor W. Davis

ble and keep your expenses to a minimum. Allowing yourself to save money will help you when your engine cracks or you spill orange juice on your laptop. It will make it so you don’t have to choose between eating one day and paying your bills.

By the time I got back to DU in January, I had saved up enough to cover my first tuition payment of the winter quarter. This being said, I still struggled to make payments throughout the quarter.

While I have some scholarships, I still had to take out a hefty loan (on which I make monthly payments) to make sure I could attend DU. I made the mistake of paying above my minimum and by the end of the second quarter, I was once again dirt broke.

Make sure to keep a close eye on your bills. Track when they come in and when they are due. Try to pay these bills as soon as they come in so you aren’t tempted to spend the money somewhere else. Also, always make sure to keep money in your savings, and don’t spend more than your minimum if you can’t cover all of your bills for the next month without tapping into that account.

Finally right around March of last year, I finally found out one of the reasons I couldn’t make ends meet. It turns out I had filled out my financial aid paperwork incorrectly and it was costing me more than eight thousand dollars a year. I eventually got the issue fixed but it cost me a ton of worry and likely a lot more money than it should have.

My main point is that you should always have a firm grasp on what you are paying for, here at DU. What does your scholarship cover and what exactly are you still paying for? Make sure you understand where your financial aid is coming from and trust me when I say, make sure your financial aid is correct.

Financial planning is something that takes a great deal of practice and even more effort.

You will have to learn how to keep track of your expenses and your income, and you will need to be able to save even when you can’t seem to make ends meet. It is tough, but if you give some of these tips, and the tips in the DU pamphlets, a try, you should be able to manage.

Caitlan Gannam | Photo Editor

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Think smalle r: chang e a single life

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ioneers are set on changing the world. Be it international relations, social justice or climate science, it’s not hard to find exceedingly smart, aware and motivated DU students with an area in which they have strong opinions and a passion to make change. It is one of the things that makes this school great.

But, while we are still in college nursing our societal ambitions, how much good does each one of us actually do? As 18-22 year-olds, the sad answer is not very much, if we set our sights too high or wide.

Very few of us (even at this prestigious institution) will one day get to a station of life in which we can use our minds to affect drastic societal change for the greater good. Even among the most determined, many single-minded big-thinkers will fail; think of the 535 people who undoubtedly wanted to change the world and are currently hated by 79% of our country.

And for those of us that don’t choose majors designed to solve the world’s problems (international studies, social work, etc.), heightened understanding of them actually has the potential to immobilize us.

Thanks to a phenomenon called “Psychic Numbing” made famous by psychologist Paul Slovic, our empathy decreases when we are confronted with large-scale problems our brain can’t process. We see sobering statistics about the refugee crisis or hear presentations on climate change and, instead of getting inspired, we think “Well, that’s too big for me to put a dent in,” and move on.

If unchecked, this effect lures us into an intellectual cynicism

that is hard to shake. It make us hopeless and disdainful of the “woke,” and is responsible for the fruitless crusade against supposed “Social Justice Warriors.”

However, affecting change is possible for most of us. We just have to think smaller.

This summer, I interned with a non-profit in Denver called Christ in the City that seeks to address the city’s well-documented chronic homelessness crisis through a radical method. (Though it is a religious organization, it takes a largely non-religious approach to a secular problem.)

The long-term volunteers at CIC don’t attempt to do the jobs of case workers, organizers or sociologists. Instead, they go on the streets nearly every day for a year to simply befriend homeless people; they listen to their stories, offer comfort and build consistent relationships with them.

It seems impractical. It is. This barebones, almost anti-intellectual approach was maddening to wrap my head around at first. Having hour-long, incoherent conversations instead of giving any money or using my intellect frequently gave way to questions of “how is this really helping anyone?”

However, I quickly learned that many of the city’s chronically homeless - those who have spent over a year on the streets - have given up hope of a better life, and often don’t accept the readily available relief services offered to them.

These people were beyond the help of policies. They needed nothing but a humble, individual effort to understand a person and help them with their first step of recovery: rediscovering their humanity through genuine interaction.

As trite as it may seem, this approach works. In its short his-

Photo courtesy of Christ in the CIty

tory, this organization has helped numerous people break addictions and get into sustainable housing.

My experience encountering the homeless this summer refocused the way I see the notion of helping society. If we make an effort to do the good that we can in our current station of life, instead of being preoccupied with problems outside of it, we can make a tangible difference that will keep us empathetic and hopeful.

And this isn’t limited to homeless relief. Anyone can get connected with on- or off-campus volunteer organizations and help with a myriad of problems in the Denver community, instead of

problems that need to be solved on a congressional scale.

I don’t intend to discount the work of those students who are passionate about their large-scale causes; I have immense respect for those of you that are resilient and level-headed enough to undergo the advanced training required to tackle big issues.

But for the rest of us, let’s just be sure to get your boots on the ground - it’ll break the bonds of both idealism and cynicism and make more of a difference than you think.

Daniel Lorenzo | Contributing Writer

Hurricanes and climate change T

he severity of the hurricanes in the last few weeks, including most recent Hurricane Maria which may leave Puerto Rico without power for six months, is frightening in many ways, the most immediate being the extreme devastation of the communities in storm paths. With this, there are also longer-term types of concerns that come with the knowledge that weather events like these will happen again. Levels of controversy and consensus are very different nationally when it comes to the link between climate change and natural disaster, but the widely accepted conclusions that do exist guarantee that discussions of climate change will be a part of reacting to these events.

This past week, Dr. Erika N. Trigoso, Teaching Associate Professor at DU and specialist in Geographic Information Science, shed some light on hurri-

cane formation and connection to climate. For a hurricane to form, a disturbance in the atmosphere, such as wind, is needed, as well as warm ocean water over 81 degrees Fahrenheit. Dr. Trigoso explained that since global warming trends warm oceans, it is becoming easier for this threshold to be met or exceeded which means the conditions for hurricane formation are happening more often. Additionally, as water temperature increases, so does hurricane strength. A one degree Celsius increase in water temperature could mean a two to three percent increase in storm strength.

The large number of Americans living in coastal areas is a major concern when it comes to hurricanes. As Dr. Trigoso pointed out, we don’t usually call weather events natural disasters unless there is a human impact. Harvey, Irma and Maria all impacted huge numbers of

people, and this also has a clear connection to global warming.

Storm surge was a large factor in why these storms were so damaging, and rising sea levels means higher surges. To illustrate this, Dr. Trigoso used an analogy: raising the floor of a basketball court without raising the rims means there will be more slam dunks. Similarly, rise in sea level with no change in coastal populations will mean more flooding.

Already, the various records set by the recent hurricanes are being shared, but it will be until the end of the season before climate scientists can form conclusions on 2017 as a whole.

Some people will not discuss this as readily. Scott Pruitt of the Environmental Protection Agency called it “insensitive” to the people of Florida to be analyzing the role of climate change in the wake of the storm. But quotes from others, including

the Republican mayor of Miami and some hurricane victims themselves, say that now is a crucial time to talk about climate change. While it is important to be sensitive to and focused on those people recovering from major loss, examining climate change will be a way to better prepare for what is to come.

As Dr. Trigoso said, it does not take a rocket scientist to connect climate change and warming of the oceans with the kinds of hurricanes we are seeing. Many other climate scientists would likely agree that we are past the point of deliberating over the validity of climate change. Rather we must consider how to best understand the complexity of conditions that create natural disasters and the undeniable effects of climate change on our planet.

Elizabeth Lochhead | Opinions Editor

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& LIFE

The Grind : Amer ican Cultu res Photo courtesy of Westword

T

he rise of kombucha is taking Colorado by storm with more and more restaurants and breweries offering the fermented tea on tap. American Cultures lives in the heart of the Denver Highlands and is every kombucha lover’s dream. With 16 rotating flavors on tap the bucha bar features kombucha from nine local companies.

Walking into American Cultures, your eyes are immediately drawn to the aesthetically pleasing crisp, white chevron-pattern covering the bar, light blue chairs and modern, rustic atmosphere. Growlers line the walls, tempting you to take some of your favorite flavors home.

Originally born out of a mobile food truck, American Cultures is a family-owned establishment with finishing touches like fresh flowers on the tables to prove it.

The menu features a variety of options for your kombucha drinking preferences. You can order a glass for $6, a 32 oz growler for $13 and a 62 oz growler for $22. What I recommend if you plan on sticking around for a while is the flight for $7. Pick any four flavors and you’re ready to take off on your kombucha adventure.

I picked a variety of flavors for my flight. I got the Cherry Limeade

by Trubucha, Pineapple Turmeric

by Rowdy Mermaid, Ginger Peach

by Cliffhouse and Hibiscus Lemon Ginger by Happy Leaf. The Cherry Limeade was the flavor that made this trip for me. With a little bit of sweet and sour mixed into the bubbly, burning sensation that rolls down your throat, Trubucha clearly knows what kombucha fans are looking for.

Another tempting item on the menu is a kombucha float made

with organic ice cream. If you are someone who is health conscious but also has a sweet tooth the float is the solution for you.

The menu also offers nitro cold brewed coffee on tap and some tasty snacks. I tried the veggie breakfast burrito for $4. This healthy treat came out piping hot wrapped in aluminum foil making it easy to take on the go. They also offer a bacon burrito, pork or bean tamales and overnight oats.

If you are someone that likes to mix some shopping with your sipping, American Cultures has a wide variety of products for sale.

From candles to chapstick, the bar has a large selection of organic and health-conscious items from local vendors.

The staff was friendly and welcoming, and seemed really enthusiastic about sharing their kombucha

knowledge with anyone who asked.

People filtered in and out of the bar pretty frequently. Some took kombucha to go while others posted up with computers and slowly sipped their probiotic-rich drink.

American Cultures is somewhere to take friends old and new who want to try something healthy and fun. I recommend the flight for new kombucha drinkers who want to get a good idea of what different kombuchas can taste like. For seasoned drinkers I recommend the kombucha float. If you want a light snack the veggie burrito will do the trick. Overall American Cultures is definitely a good place to go when you need a health boost or just want a trendy place to do some work.

Annie Nagel | Contributing Writing

Conservation and Mexican Mastery: “The Virgin of Valvanera”

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he Denver Art Museum unveiled “The Virgin of Valvanera” this Sunday as a stand-alone piece documenting its process of restoration and conservation.

Painted by Cristóbal de Villalpando around 1710, this painting marks a shift from the traditional European style of painting to a unique “Mexican Style” that was pioneered by Villalpando himself.

He is believed to be the most gifted artist of the Mexican colonial period and changed the way that Mexican artists approach painting.

This oil painting tells the story about a statue of the Virgin in Roja, Spain, and themes of this legend can be found throughout. It was a commissioned work that was most likely in a church in Mexico City and was exposed to both heat and water damage.

The extent of the damages became evident to conservationists upon it’s entrance to the DAM’s collection in 2008, and it was clear that the piece had sustained extensive damage most notably on the inscription that can be seen in the bottom left corner.

Using a special X-ray machine borrowed from the Denver Zoo con-

servationists were able to pinpoint areas of weakness as well as learn about the techniques Villalpando used. They logged around 1500 hours of restoration and conservation work on the piece before it was decided that the piece could be put on display.

When looking at the piece it is obvious to the casual observer that it is a Mexican masterpiece.

Its palate mainly consisting of reds and oranges is starkly contrasted by beautiful gold detailing on the Virgin’s clothing.

The exhibition focused on the process of restoration and preservation as well as the history of “The Virgilnof Valvanera.” As a standalone piece of work, the painting was accompanied by a twelve-minute long video that detailed the conservation process from start to finish. The Denver Art Museum made sure that the history of the painting was told as well as its more recent journey after its entry into DAM’s collection.

This piece will be on view until February 18, 2018, on the second floor of the Hamilton Building. For more information visit the Denver Art Museum’s website.

Georgia Peden | Contributing Writer

Photo courtesy of The Denver Art Museum

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“American Vandal” a must-see mockumentary Photo courtesy of Netflix

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etflix has released what feels like countless original series, this past year. “American Vandal,” the newest Netflix original that premiered on Sept. 15, is not to be lost among the crowd.

With a combination of raunchy comedy and innovative film techniques, this satire takes dirty jokes to a new level.

The protagonist, Dylan Maxwell, is expelled after being accused of vandalizing 27 teachers’ cars with explicit drawings. Jimmy Tatro, best known for his Vine and YouTube comedy, brings a candid performance to this role of the prankster high school burnout archetype. Two characters, Peter Maldonado (Tyler Alvarez, “Orange is the New Black”) and Sam Ecklund (Griffin Gluck, “Just

Go With It”), create a controversial documentary in an effort to find the truth, a documentary fittingly titled “American Vandal.”

Dylan quickly becomes the antihero to root for, and the big question is “Who drew the dicks?” The series reveals many theories during the investigation. Just as we are captivated from the comfort of our homes (or dorms), the characters attending the fictional high school where the crime occurs become just as invested in the drama.

This parody of the popular true-crime style documentary combines the addictive nature of “Making a Murderer” with laughout-loud, immature jokes to the likes of “Beavis and Butthead.”

Full of twists and turns, this show will not only have you on the edge of your seat, it will have you falling

out of it, clutching your stomach with laughter. While the content is outright immature, and often times ridiculous, the spot-on acting and satirical nature allows this series to remain a respectable mockumentary on the same level as Fred Armisen, Bill Hader and Seth Meyers “Documentary Now!” With only eight 30-minute long episodes and an unconfirmed second season with no release date in sight, the real challenge is not finishing the entire series in one sitting. If you thought the average, true-crime documentaries were bingeable, you won’t believe what the addition of comedy and spot-on pop culture references can create.

By the season finale, the show becomes so much more than its silly premise. A darker side is revealed as it becomes a commentary on

the justice system, stereotypes and identity. Similarly, a poignant empathy is created around the characters, Dylan specifically, giving it the same fandom potential as many teen dramas of the past decade.

While this show is impressive in its script and film techniques, it is not for everyone. High school and college students will likely find it relatable and modern without feeling cheesy, but it is not necessarily something to watch in the same room as your grandmother or recommend to a younger sibling.

All in all, whatever you expect of “American Vandal,” you will likely be proven wrong, and maybe even pleasantly surprised. It is an opportunity to evaluate assumptions we make based on appearance or reputation, and laugh while we’re at it.

Claudia Glenn | Contributing Writer

DU Theatre’s Stop Kiss: a hilarious and heartfelt performance Photo Courtesy of DU Theatre

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n Friday night, the DU Department of Theatre presented a staged reading of the hilarious and heartfelt play “Stop Kiss” written

by Diana Son. Set in New York City, the play follows two young women, Callie and Sara, as they gradually realize their attraction for one another and must deal with the hazards and cruelties of the public eye.

Callie, played by Ray Reidenbaugh, is a snarky traffic reporter who finds little satisfaction in the way her life has panned out. Her listless days take a turn when she agrees to

take in a cat who belongs to Sara (Isabella Churn), a sweet tempered third-grade teacher who has moved to New York from St. Louis for a public school position in the Bronx.

The scenes switch sharply from amiable to tragic as they move back and forth between Callie’s wrecked apartment and a hospital room. It eventually becomes clear that Sara is in a coma after being assaulted by a man who saw the two girls kissing on a park bench.

Compared to the earnest moments in intensive care, the apartment scenes move at a dis-

proportionately sluggish pace for most of the first half of the play. It takes quite a while for Callie and Sara to become comfortable around each other and come to terms with their mutual affection. However, the dull scenes are often lightened by Callie’s cynicism or by the presence of her naive ex-boyfriend George (Mikah Conway).

Reidenbaugh stole the show, displaying a dizzying range of emotions that kept the drama on its feet. Even when the script felt a bit flat, it was saved by her sharp and animated delivery.

The talent of student-director

Tamarra Nelson was also apparent in the smart usage of space and the subtlety of gestures.

After watching their relationship culminate so slowly, the final scene was nothing short of anticlimactic. As the two girls approach the park bench where the tragedy will soon occur, Callie asks Sara whether she eats cornon-the-cob typewriter-style or around-the-world. Sara answers “typewriter-style.” They laugh.

They kiss. While it had the sweet innocence of the first-time, the moment was too light-hearted for such an emotional story.

AnnMarie Marlow | Arts & Life Editor

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“Kingsman: The Golden Circle” doubles down on the original’s stupidity Denver’s Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox

upcoming concerts

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hether you listen to mainstream genres such as pop or country, or less common genres like punk or folk, it isn’t hard to find a show you’d like in one of Denver’s many concert venues. Unless you just won the lottery or have no earthly responsibilities whatsoever, chances are you can only make to it one or two concerts now and then; so, choose wisely among these great upcoming shows in Denver. There are many options for all different types of music fans out there.

W

hen the original “Kingsman” film hit theaters in 2014, it was an unexpected hit that served up a thoroughly entertaining satire of classic Bond ridiculousness. While often indulgent and rife with confusing political opinions, it was nevertheless a great example of having unabashedly dumb fun at the movies. Unfortunately, the film’s sequel, “The Golden Circle,” cashes in on all of that negative aspects of its predecessor, resulting in a smug, overlong mess of a film that does little to justify its own existence.

Set a year after the previous film, “The Golden Circle” follows dashing but scrappy super spy Gary “Eggsy” Unwin (Taron Egerton, “Legend”) as he and tech specialist Merlin (Mark Strong, “Sherlock Holmes”) struggle to take down wacky drug queen Poppy (Julianne Moore, “The Big Lebowski”) after her cartel wipes the rest of the Kingsman operation off the map. Desperate for help, they turn to their organization’s “American cousins,” the Statesmen, a similar outfit composed of booze loving, tobacco spitting cowboys led

by agents Champagne (Jeff Bridges, “The Big Lebowski”), Tequila (Channing Tatum, “21 Jump Street”), Whiskey (Pedro Pascal, “Game of Thrones”) and Ginger Ale (Halle Berry, “X-Men”). They are also joined

by Eggsy’s sophisticated, thought to be dead mentor Harry (Colin Firth, “The King’s Speech”), a character whose death in the first film is neatly retconned here for really no reason at all.

The film’s plot is a loaded jumble of ideas, with Moore’s Poppy infecting all with the world’s recreational drugs with a deadly virus in an effort to convince world leaders to legalize them, offering a cure if they meet her demands. Therefore, her business can become famous as well as profitable. Such a plot inherently carries a lot of baggage about the politics of drugs, and the movie has absolutely no idea what its opinions on the issue are. It veers wildly from supporting drug users as simply normal people looking for a little fun, to painting them as maniacs deserving of the fate Poppy has prescribed to them. On the side of letting all the infected perish is the President of the United States (Bruce Greenwood, “Star Trek”), a

secondary villain and obvious Trump pastiche who also fails to offer any biting criticism of value.

This middling and muddled political merry-go-round exposes the film for what it really is: cheap.

Everything feels easy, from the middle-school level jokes to the CGI-ridden action sequences. While the original had a more focused and fun feel, “The Golden Circle” is so enamored with itself and the franchise’s success that it feels it can do whatever it wants. What results is an extremely overstuffed movie (clocking in at over two and a half hours long) with no concept of pacing, throwing in as many inane jokes and smarmy acts of cartoon violence as it possibly can. Despite some solid performances from Egerton, Pascal and Moore and the amusing addition of the Statesmen (though only Pascal has a major role, the rest are glorified cameos), the movie can’t escape feeling like a purposefully offensive and frankly childish affair that gets off on that fact that it exists. It’s a Comedy Central action flick with none of the laughs, none of the thrills and none of the brains.

Ryan Ninesling | Executive Editor

Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox

Pop: The Weeknd (with Gucci Mane), Sept. 29 at the Pepsi Center Bleachers, Oct. 6 at Ogden Theatre Imagine Dragons, Oct. 14 at the Pepsi Center Kesha, Oct. 24 at Fillmore Auditorium Halsey, Oct. 29 at the Pepsi Center Bruno Mars, Oct. 30 at the Pepsi Center Rap: Yelawolf, Oct. 18 at Ogden Theatre Lecrae, Oct. 30 at Ogden Theatre Jay Z, Nov. 5 at the Pepsi Center Tyler, The Creator, Nov. 8 at Ogden Theatre Kid Cudi, Nov. 10 at Fillmore Auditorium Rock: Matchbox Twenty (with Matt Nathanson), Oct. 4 at the Pepsi Center Red Hot Chili Peppers, Oct. 16 at the Pepsi Center Pixies, Oct. 18 at Fillmore Auditorium Arcade Fire, Oct. 25 at the Pepsi Center Bob Seger, Oct. 26 at the Pepsi Center Front Bottoms, Oct. 31 at Ogden Theatre Fall Out Boy, Nov. 10 at the Pepsi Center Punk: One-Eyed Doll, Sept. 30 at Lost Lake Lounge Ty Segall, Oct. 7 at Summit Music Hall Ministry (with Death Grips) Oct. 29 at Fillmore Auditorium Country: Florida Georgia Line, Nelly, Chris Lane, and Russell Dickerson, Sept.

30 at the Pepsi Center Robert Earl Keen, Oct. 13 at Grizzly Rose Luke Bryan and Brett Eldredge, Oct. 20th at the Pepsi Center Singer-Songwriter: Karla Bonoff, Oct. 14 at Daniels Hall Dar Williams, Nov. 6 at Tattered Cover Book Store Bluegrass/Acoustic: Campfire Caravan (The Lil’ Smokies, The Brothers Comatose, Mipso), Oct. 12 at Ogden Theatre The Infamous Stringdusters, Oct. 27-28 at Ogden Theatre Jerry Douglas, Nov. 4 at L2 Church Emma Cohen | Contributing Writer

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Sweet Cooie’s: a classic confectionery in Congress Park AnnMarie Marlow | Clarion

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ce cream shops and candy stores have always had the facility to bring wonder to it’s customers both through their taste buds and their eyes. Sweet Cooie’s, a newly opened confectionery in Congress Park, has taken this expectation to another realm, with an interior that is nearly as decadent as the frozen treats. Just in case you needed another reason to eat ice cream.

As you enter the shop, time reels and you’ll swear it’s the Eisenhower era. Behind the counter studded with petite boxes of chocolates and trays of iced doughnuts, employees are dressed in traditional milk-man uniforms(hats and bowties included).

On either side of the counter are shelves crowded with jars of sprinkles, jelly beans and gumballs. And if that isn’t enough to make your

inner-child dance with pleasure, the zippy music filling the store sounds right off the soundtrack of Tom & Jerry.

Perhaps the sweetest part of Sweet Cooie’s is it’s muse: owner Paul Tamburello’s late mother.

Written on the front of the door in large teal letters is: Elaine Tamburello (a.k.a. Sweet Cooie) was a woman with gumption. Beneath tells the story of how as a twenty-three year old woman, Elaine decided to move from Chicago to Colorado in quest of “adventure.”

Now, Sweet Cooie’s is dedicated to helping women of all ages around the world find their adventures. Along with the shop’s scoop for scoop program, they also donate a portion of everything they sell to support women’s education here and around the world.

As if the store’s heart isn’t

enough, they also serve some of the best desserts in the city. I had a scoop of the peanut butter magic in a scratch-made waffle cone. Scoops can be sandwiched between a toasted brioche bun (the “Gooey Cooie”), drizzled with hot fudge and caramel or blitzed into a shake. If you’re not in the mood for ice cream, they also serve artisan truffles and pastries.

Depending on what size malt or how many scoops, you’ll likely spend about ($5-$6) at Sweet Cooie’s which is very reasonable considering the quality of the ingredients. Whether you seek out businesses that support others or you simply want a really good hot fudge sundae, this idyllic little shop won’t disappoint.

AnnMarie Marlow | Clarion

AnnMarie Marlow | Arts & Life Editor

Keep it local with The Savage Blush: best surf-rock band in Denver

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he Savage Blush headlined a show at Larimer Lounge on Saturday the 23 with openers Prude Boys (Burger Records) and Dead Palms. The Blush more than deserved their slot. Their stage presence fills a room like heavy water. Their charismatic yet unphased demeanor commands attention to the music, and when they play, it is quickly known that they have tapped into a deep sonic reservoir not oft discovered.

The band has been expanding upon their lo/fi, surf garage sound since 2014, gaining momentum and fanbase by touring across the nation in their van and playing homegrown festivals. I first met them in 2015 right after they released their first full length album ‘Dust,’ and have been hot on their trail since, following their progression and maturation from playful surf rock in the vein of Shannon and the Clams into hightempo unabashedness akin to bands like Thee Oh Sees.

The title “Dust” is a perfect fit for the space The Savage Blush create in their tracks. One feels lost in the world of Spanish surrealist Salvador Dali. Dust runs off of a cold, wavering heat that melts clocks in an interminable desert of sound and psychedelia.

Their set at Larimer operated under the same feeling of their studio work but with more raw power, and

it’s evident from their performance the closeness that lives in a family band. Rebecca and Joshua Williams, brother and sister only two years apart in age are the heart and brains behind the project. Their roots have extended across the local scene into various side projects and gigs, only to continually return to their original and humble beginnings that started in their church band room when they were in elementary school.

Local projection company Cat Scanner provided a psychedelic light show. A small fold up table weighed with beakers, petri dishes and vials of oily colored liquids swirled on spinning plates above old school projectors. The whole scene felt like an avant-garde social experiment or performance and crafted a completely immersive environment.

Most of their songs were written more or less in the Colorado desert during weeks long van trips, and their live shows operate under the same desert temperature ranges. Rebecca’s vocals oscillate between hot and cold tonalities of night and day.

Spanish vocals sung like incantations, the tracks swell into the deeper and darker, drawing images of American desertscapes with sparseness and aridity. Their sets boil like a cauldron into chaotic turmoil then abruptly end like a pot of water pulled quickly from a burner.

Kendall Morris | Arts & Life Editor

Photo courtesy of YouTube

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“The Lego Ninjago Movie” is still silly but not nearly as clever Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

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The Lego Movie” and “The Lego Batman Movie” have created a distinct brand for their comedy films. Though primarily targeted at children, their clever, self-aware moments and satirical hot takes included in each story have made for some of the most refreshing and fun films moviegoers of all ages have encountered in while—especially in the animation realm.

With that amount of anticipation in place and following so soon after the release of the previous Lego installation, the new addition to the collection “The Lego Ninjago Movie” proves that when these distinct qualities from their previous films miss the target, the magic dissipates thus leaving the audience with

slapstick humor that few over 13-years-old will truly enjoy or remember.

Spawning from the TV series, “Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu” this story, for those unfamiliar with the show, comes across as an off-brand Power Rangers film of-sorts. It follows Lloyd (Dave Franco, “21 Jump Street”) who has lived his life under the shadow of his evil father Garmadon (Justin Theroux, “American Psycho”) who is always terrorizing his home city Ninjago. Consequently, Garmodon’s destruction makes Lloyd the most hated face in the city and turns to his group of friends, the ninjas, to keep the city safe from Garmodon’s shenanigans.

Although each member of the

ninja team has their trademark element and strength, no one in the team really stands out in the overall story. Despite the occasional one-liner, this misuse is especially sad given the hilarious cast voicing these characters including: Kumail Nanjiani (“Silicon Valley”), Fred Armisen (“Portlandia”), Abbi Jacobson (“Broad City”) and Jackie Chan as the wise Master Wu. The father-son story seems rehashed but still fun. It uses its premise to create these odd bonding moments which then become the funniest scenes in the film. A highlight is when Garmodon, who pronounces his son’s name as “Luh-Loyd,” is making up for lost time by teaching him how to throw but

is doing so in a town near a volcano inhabited by all the henchmen he has exiled and must then reattach Lloyd’s arm after the henchmen attack them.

Overall, “The Lego Ninjago Movie,” despite being the weakest of the three Lego films, is still a cohesive visual pleasure and understands that it has freedom to be as creative as it wants. The humor is not nearly as witty as it could be but it’s not entirely diminished of the occasional delightfully bizarre moment.

The cat terrorizing Ninjago ala Godzilla is definitely a highlight worth watching in its own right.

Daniela Santos | News Editor

Body Meat turns up the volume at the Globe Hall B ody Meat (Chris Taylor, Max Hipp and Luke Thinnes of DIY synth-pop solo project French Kettle Station) played a brilliant and strange fifteen minute set at Globe Hall this weekend. A local experimental no-wave project born out of the Rinoceropolis circle, Body Meat’s idiosyncrasy and oddity are the exact cause of their brilliancy.

Their albums consist of ‘The World’s Largest Drum’, and ‘Several Heads’. The artwork for both album covers are collages of found images: a sneaker, a kickdrum, the earth as seen from outer space, if that serves as an indicator of what you can expect from them. Their songs are eccentric and off kilter, avant garde and modular.

As untraceable their sound, information on the project is incredibly sparse. It’s limited to single email and information for their upcoming show on Oct. 8th at Boulder Theatre, and of course you’ll find me there.

Live, the three operate pedalboards, synthesizers, a hybridized drum-kit and guitars programed to play a wash of sounds, including flutes, voices, general garbage, all combining into a spherical cacophony that rests on an unvarying under two-minute track run.

Their riffs are constantly tele-

scoping into one another, rolling into drifting tempo shifts and mathrock signature changes. They play in fifths rather than thirds, and the result is a disjointed decollage that takes all your attention to decode, only to leave you in dire need of more confusion.

The thing about Body Meat is that they are not necessarily pleasant, nor do they try to be. They instead are unmoored, ranging in tonality and color, living both in and outside the world of standard experience.

Body Meat is incredibly aware of the world and the language it is working within, but it’s logic is as intuitive as jazz or improvisational electronic.

I recommend listening to their collaborative album with The Washboard Abs (Citrus City Records) titled REDUX- a good entry point for early listeners because it is more accessible, slightly more conventional, yet distinct and wonderfully weird as well.

Their lopsided melodies are in line with projects like Palm, the late electronic underground cellist Arthur Russell and Ty Segall and the Muggers if you’re further interested in the experimental underbelly of the good, the bad and the indie.

Kendall Morris | Arts & Life Editor

Photo courtesy of Clarke Sondermann