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VOLUME 123, ISSUE 25

#NoDAPL: WHAT’S GOING ON AND WHY YOU SHOULD CARE

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The recent events occuring in North Dakota are affecting members of DU’s community.

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BREAKING DOWN DU’S BUDGETS AND FUNDS

MEN’S SOCCER REMAINS UNDEFEATED

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10 FUN FACTS ABOUT THE SIE COMPLEX

DICAPRIO TALKS CLIMATE CHANGE

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DU CLARION

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| NEWS

A look inside the #NoDAPL protest

t’s no secret that the world of social media can be a center for protest and activism. Over the past week or so, Facebook has become one of the leading ways for those who oppose the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline to communicate their activism and dedication through the hashtag #noDAPL. NoDAPL is the protest movement against the Dakota Access Pipeline, a 1,172 mile oil pipeline stretching from the Bakken oil fields in North Dakota all the way to Illinois. The pipeline is meant to carry massive amounts of crude oil across the Midwest. The plan for the pipeline’s construction was approved by the United States Army Corps of Engineers and final building permits were granted in July. The argument is

that the pipeline will help wean the U.S. off of foreign oil and boost the economy. However, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe opposes the project, as it threatens sacred sites and could lead to the contamination and pollution of drinking water and other types of environmental harm, as well. In a show of support, more than one million people “checked in” at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation on Facebook, with the majority of those checking in not physically at the reservation. This virtual stand of support for the Standing Rock Sioux came about on the heels of a rumor spouting that local police forces were observing the Facebook page to track protesters. Where the rumor that police were using Facebook to track

protesters and that people should check in to the page to confuse police came from is not known. However, it had an immediate viral effect—checkins on the page increased exponentially. According to the Guardian, the number of check-ins on the Standing Rock page increased from 140,000 to 870,00 by Monday, Oct. 31. The number stands over 1.5 million as of Nov. 4. The Morton County Sheriff’s Department, which oversees the protest area, said in a statement on Facebook on Oct. 31 that the report was “absolutely false” and that they do not track Facebook check-ins at the protest camp or anywhere else. On Thursday, Nov. 3, protesters who had waded into the

Cantapeta Creek just north of the Standing Rock Reservation were faced with resistance in the form of rubber bullets and tear gas. According to NBC News, while most witnesses described the scene as peaceful, the Morton County Sheriff released a press release saying that they had used less than lethal force and crowd dispersal methods after bottles were thrown at them by protesters. While the Facebook checkins might not have any effect on confusing police operations as the rumor speculated, the outpouring of support followed days after riot-gear-laden police arrested more than 140 protesters and shows how the #noDAPL movement is spreading. Justin Cygan | Staff Writer

Photo courtesy of Cherri Foytlin

DU Clarion EDITORIAL STAFF

JILLIAN QUERI, Editor-in-Chief KELLSIE BRANNEN, Executive Editor JOHN POE, Business Manager SASHA KANDRACH, News Editor BRAIDEN ALBRECHT-REED, Sports Editor GRACE CARSON, Opinions Editor SYDNEY KAPP, Lifestyles Editor RYAN NINESLING, Entertainment Editor DUSTIN AMICK, Photo/Video Editor TARYN ALLEN, Copy Editor MADISON HELLER, Copy Editor OLIVIA HYDE, Social Media Director ANDREW MATRANGA, Faculty Adviser

CONTRIBUTING STAFF JUSTIN CYGAN GEORGA FEEK GRACE HOUSER ANNMARIE MARLOW JACOB MILTENBERG SARA LOUGHRAN CAITLAN GANNAM MAYA PIÑÓN

DU CLARION

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NEWS | 3

The reality of DU’s budgets and endowments L ike many universities nationwide, DU boasts a high price tag for tuition. With over 12,000 students and 1,281 faculty, it is no surprise that this institution is nothing short of an expensive enterprise. For the 2015 Fiscal Year (FY), DU raked in approximately $431,198,430. Currently, the financial statements for the 2016 FY have yet to be released. According to Linda Kosten, the Senior Associate Provost, the change in incoming revenue from the 2015 FY to 2016 is proportional to the recent increases in tuition. According to the 2015 FY financial report, DU obtained over $293 million from tuition and fees and over eight million in private gifts. DU also received $25 million from grants and $800,000 from endowment income. The University also amassed a total of over $68 million in revenue from other sources. With over $400 million in revenue, how exactly does the university spend all of its money? DU has a rather complicated budget that is broken down into instruction, research, public service, academic support, student services and institutional support. Overall, DU spends over $300 million per year, or $30,000 per student, according to the University’s Financial Statements and IPEDS 2014 Peer Analysis Report. According to The IPEDS 2016 Glossary, instructional expenses refer to all expenses related to “the colleges, schools, departments, and other instructional divisions of the institution and expenses for departmental research and public service that are not separately budgeted.” This includes “academic instruction, occupational and vocational instruction, community education, preparatory and adult

basic education and regular, special and extension sessions.” This category does not include expenses for academic faculty, whose main function is administrative in nature. According to the financial statements, DU spent $157,7433,455 on instructional expenses. This can be broken down further into all operation expenses, totalling $148,337,704, and maintenance expenses (otherwise known as Plant) of $148,377,704. This all equals about $14,380 per student at DU. Research expenses include expenses that will produce research results. This section includes research centers and research projects. In this category, DU spent $14,832,649. Like the instructional expenses, this expense category can be further split into total operation costs, which totaled $13,069,928, and maintenance costs of $1,762,721. This all equals approximately $1,500 a student. Next on the expense report are the public service expenses. This expenditure covers the costs of activities that serve non-instructional service to those outside the institution, which includes expenses related to conferences, institutes and advisory services offered to individuals or groups of the community. In this case, DU spent $5,918,610 or $398 per student. Similar to the other categories, public service can be split into operations, $5,839,706, and maintenance, $78,904. Academic support includes all expenses related to the services that help to support the educational processes here at DU. This includes maintenance of libraries and museums, the use of facilities that support the academic functions of the university and the support of education and academic administration. DU spent $64,899,658, or $5,986 per student. Under

operational costs, DU spent $63,637,025, and under maintenance, they spent $1,262,633. Student services costs cover the services which provide emotional, social and cultural support to students outside of the formal educational program. This category covers the costs of intramural athletics, student organizations, student activities and the expenses for admissions and the registrar’s office. DU has spent $50,542,480, or $4,375 per student, and paid out $47,046,757 in operations costs and $3,495,723 in maintenance costs. Finally, institutional support costs cover the day-to-day costs of running the university. This includes expenses for general administrative services, costs of long term planning, space management, legal and fiscal operations and logistical services. DU spent $52,049,808, or $4,310 per student. Operational costs were $50,493,404 and maintenance costs were $1,556,404. The basic outline of DU’s spending totals up to about $345,986,660 in educational and

general expenses. However, DU must also cover auxiliary enterprises, which are enterprises that are self-sufficient in that the school charges students the cost of running these enterprises. These auxiliary enterprises are residence halls, food services and student health services. DU brought in $34,110,542 and spent $36,110,064. When combining auxiliary costs and educational expenses, DU spent a total of $382,096,724 in the 2015 FY. The main expenditures are related to faculty costs and instructional resources. According to IPEDS 2014 Peer Analysis Report, DU pays less money per student ($30,949) than comparable private institutions such as Colorado College ($48,601) and American University ($34,869). Tuition and cost of attendance follow a similar pattern. According to Kosten, DU continues its efforts to meet all demonstrated need while fulfilling faculty competitive wages and offering an affordable education. Caitlan Gannam | Contributing Writer

Connor W. Davis | Clarion

HOW TO JOIN

ABOUT US

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.

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.

DU CLARION

| SPORTS

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Women’s soccer ends season vs. South Dakota St.

fter securing a share of the Summit League regular season title with a win against the University of Nebraska Omaha on Oct. 30, the DU women’s soccer team advanced to the Summit League Semifinals as the No. 2 seed, facing No. 3 seeded South Dakota State University (SDSU) Jackrabbits on Nov. 3 in Fargo, North Dakota. The team’s season ended with a shootout loss. Denver (8-9-2 overall, 5-2-1 in conference) found the back of the net first in the game, scoring in the

11th minute. Junior forward Angelica Pacheco (Taos, New Mexico) headed the ball in off a free kick for her second goal of the year. Sophomore forward Mary DeWalt (West Bend, Wisconsin) earned her third assist of the season on the play. SDSU was finally able to break through the DU defense in the 76th minute. The equalizing marker was barely chipped over freshman goalkeeper Brittany Wilson (Littleton, Colorado) to end her clean sheet on the night. Heading to extra time tied 1-1 with their season on the line,

Denver was unable to find a game-winning tally. Eventually, a 4-2 disadvantage in penalties dramatically ended the Pioneers’ 2016 season. It was a successful year for DU, who collected their second regular season title in their four years of participating in the Summit League. The night before their final game, several players took home awards for their performances this season at the 2016 Summit League Women’s Soccer Awards Banquet on Nov. 2.

Olivia Hyde | Clarion

Caitlan Gannam | Clarion

Olivia Hyde | Clarion

Junior outside back Makenzie Bothner (Park City, Utah) earned Defensive Player of the Year, freshman forward Hannah Adler (Oak Park, California) was named Freshman of the Year and Wilson took home the Goalkeeper of the Year award. All three of those players will be returning next season, while only two seniors are going to be departing the squad. The future looks promising for the Pioneers next season and into the future as they hope to build off their 2016 success.

Braiden Albrecht-Reed | Sports Editor

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DU CLARION

SPORTS | 5

Cubs defy history, win World Series in Game Seven battle

n Nov. 3 at Progressive Field, Cleveland Indians utility player Michael Martinez was all that stood between the Chicago Cubs and history. The Cubs, up eight to seven in extra innings of what was the most insane World Series game ever played, just needed the out. Martinez hit a grounder to the left of the mound and third baseman Kris Bryant came charging in to throw him out at first. As he made the play, Bryant couldn’t stop grinning. First baseman Anthony Rizzo’s hands were already in the air as he made the catch. After 108 years of torment, curses and missed chances, it was New Year’s Day for a club known as the “Loveable Losers” for as long as anyone could remember. “Next year” had finally arrived. The Chicago Cubs had won the World Series. Never before in the history of professional American sports had a championship drought been so prolific. No team, regardless of sport, had gone that long without winning it all. Despite the pressure of over a century of pain hanging over their heads, a team mostly comprised of young, scrappy players had fought to victory. At first, it seemed the Cubs would run away with it. Dexter

Photos courtesy of NBC Chicago

Fowler, slumping through the series, hit a no-doubt home run out of the park on the fourth pitch of the game. In a glorious top of the fourth performance, the Cubs notched hit after hit, driving in another two. Javier Baez, who before the game was swinging at anything offered to him, went yard with a furious home run in the fifth. Rizzo followed him up by driving in Bryant. The Cubs had solved the mystery of Indians pitcher Corey Kluber, and by the time the top of the fifth was over, the Cubs were up five to one. Fate seemed to be in their hands. Fitting for a ball game with stakes perhaps never before seen in the history of the sport, however, it wouldn’t be that easy. Cubs manager Joe Maddon, a genius and a madman, was worried Cleveland could come roaring back. While Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks had locked in, Maddon didn’t buy it. He had his own plans for the rest of the game. He pulled Hendricks after a questionable walk and handed the ball to his ace Jon Lester, partnered with his go to catcher David Ross. Lester allowed a hit that in turn made Ross make a throwing error. He followed it up with a wild pitch directly to Ross’s mask, a mistake that would allow two Indians to

cross the plate. Ross made up for by less than promising stats. Bryit with a home run off the normally ant’s smiling play followed, and unflappable Andrew Miller, becom- history was made. Not only for ing the oldest player in World the Chicago Cubs and baseball, Series history to do so, but more but for sports as a whole. terror was coming for the Cubs. What had transpired on that After getting two outs in the cool evening in Cleveland will eighth, it was time for Maddon’s likely never be topped. It’s diffifavorite weapon: Aroldis Chap- cult to imagine any game having man. Chapman, a legend of a the drama and history behind it, pitcher, haunts the dreams of the pure adrenaline associated most hitters. He has the fastest with overcoming all odds to end recorded fastball in history and the drought that defined a team. a filthy slider to back it up. But Cubs fans around the world even legends get worn out, and wept with pure joy, a feeling that Maddon had questionably used many could only describe as a Chapman several games in a row. feeling that anything was possiThe beast would be bested. ble. The world wept with them, Off of a visibly tired Chapman, despite a time where divides have the Indians would notch an RBI defined us. How can a feeling like double and a two run home-run that ever come again? How can to tie the game. When the inning anything in sports ever come close was finally over, Chapman walked to being that important? back to the dugout with tears The simple answer is that welling in his eyes. nothing will probably ever be as Things had gone south. But good as Game Seven of the 2016 the Cubs had fire left in their World Series. Nothing will ever souls. Chapman came back to unite people the way the ultimate finish the ninth and send it into underdog in sports did when they extra innings, where the Cubs leapt into each other’s arms on would follow up a short rain delay Progressive Field. Nothing will with two runs on clutch hits from even come close. Kyle Schwarber, Ben Zobrist and Someday, no more. The Cubs Miguel Montero. The Indians gave went all the way. And the world is it their all against the Cubs reliev- all the better for it. ers, driving in one more run, but Martinez was up to bat, backed Ryan Ninesling | Entertainment Editor

DU CLARION

| SPORTS

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Men’s soccer finishes regular season undefeated

or the second consecutive season, the DU’s men’s soccer team finished its regular season unbeaten after topping the University of Portland 2-1 in overtime on Thursday, Nov. 3 at CIBER Field. The victory closed Denver’s regular season record to 15-0-3, 5-0-1 in conference and extended the Pioneers’ regular season unbeaten streak to 37 matches. Sophomore forward Andre Shinyashiki (Sao Paulo, Brazil) netted Denver’s equalizer in the 45th minute and the golden goal in the 108th minute. Shinyashiki’s brace marked the first of his 2016-17 campaign, second of his career and third game-winning goal of the season.

Portland drew the first blood in the 37th minute. A deflected cross was sent outside to the top of the box where Gio Magana-Rivera drilled the ball into the back of the net. Down by one goal with less than 10 minutes in the first half, Denver maintained composure and drive. With 34 seconds remaining in the half, redshirt senior midfielder Karsten Hanlin (Centennial, Colorado) sent a loose ball to the back-post run of Shinyashiki. Shinyashiki headed the ball past Portland’s goalie to draw even (1-1) heading into the locker room. Denver outshot Portland 7-1 during the second half but couldn’t successfully find the

back of the net. Heading into an all-too-familiar 10-minute overtime, Shinyashiki danced around Portland’s defenders to secure the victory for the Pioneers. With two minutes remaining in extra time, junior midfielder Graham Smith (Highlands Ranch, Colorado) fed Shinyashiki out on the left flank. Shinyashiki shifted past two defenders before curving his shot near side, past the keeper. The Pioneers finished the game with a 16-3 shots on goal edge over Portland and took eight corner kicks. Furthermore, Denver is the first Division l team to complete two unbeaten regular seasons since Clemson University did so during the 1977-78 season.

Under coach Jamie Franks, the Pioneers have remained victorious (43-3-4) in 47 of 50 matches since Franks joined the program as an assistant coach in 2012. Denver moved up to No. 11 in the RPI and is currently ranked No. 3 by College Soccer News and No. 9 by Top Drawer Soccer. The Pioneers host their second-consecutive Summit League Finals Tournament on Nov. 10 and 12 at CIBER Field. Denver is guaranteed to obtain a top-two seed entering the tournament after earning a share of the Summit League regular season title following their tie with the University of Nebraska Omaha on Oct. 29.

Sasha Kandrach | News Editor

Olivia Hyde | Clarion

Volleyball win streak reaches seven games

enver volleyball extended their win streak to seven games over the past two weeks, chalking up wins over Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne on Oct. 28, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) on Oct. 29 and Oral Roberts University on Nov. 4. DU defeated Fort Wayne in four sets, 25-17, 25-17, 22-25 and 25-19. Junior right-side hitter Kayla Principato (Rockville Centre, New York) led the team in kills with 16. Senior middle Ruth Okoye (Aurora, Colorado) paced the team in hitting percentage at .417, while junior libero Cassidy Rooke (Rancho Santa Fe, California) led the team in digs with 16, though four players had double digit digs. IUPUI played an extremely competitive match with the Pioneers, but eventually DU pulled out the fifth and final set, 15-6. Denver also won the first and third sets.

Sophomore middle Emma Willis (La Jolla, California) posted an impressive 11 kills at a .389 clip. Senior setter Monique Domme (Colorado Springs, Colorado) led Denver with 25 assists and Rooke posted 22 digs, part of DU’s 70 on that night. In Denver’s sweep (25-18, 25-13 and 25-20) of Oral Roberts, senior outside hitter Nola Basey (Lyons, Colorado) recorded the 1,000th kill of her career, the 14th Pioneer to do so. She led the team with eight kills on the night and a .471 hitting percentage. After their recent hot-streak and improved play, the Pioneers have earned a 19-6 record overall and 11-2 in conference. They have taken first place in the Summit League standings with a .846 conference win percentage. Denver’s next game is on Nov. 8 against the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Braiden Albrecht-Reed | Sports Editor

Caitlan Gannam | Clarion

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DU CLARION

OPINIONS | 7

Why being a student ally is crucial

ith the evident racial tension accumulating on campus, many students may ask what their role is in the contemporary struggle for racial equality. Since DU has a predominantly white student body, the question of accurate representation arises frequently. As a freshman on campus, I was surprised when I noticed how homogeneous the student demographic is. I personally placed DU as one of my top choices of colleges because of the fact that the school claims diversity and inclusive excellence. I was quite puzzled when I walked around campus and saw such a disparity in what I was previously presented with and the reality of the standard student profile. It is difficult to address certain racial issues when such a small fraction of the student population is comprised of students of color. How can Black Lives Matter be addressed solely by a handful of black students? How can we, as a community, discuss the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) controversy when many students do not even know what a powwow is? Are DU students aware of the racial injustices on campus, and do they view them as topics that demand to be resolve immediately? I decided to ask around and see what white students believe they

can do to be supportive of students of color on campus, especially with the obvious racial tension arising as evidenced by the destruction of the Free Speech Wall. “I think it’s really important to recognize your social location and where your voice is needed and productive,” said Aubrey Polliard, a freshman international studies major from Denver and a member of the Black Student Alliance and the Social Justice LLC. When asked to define social location, Polliard responded, “It’s where you are positioned in society and history, so you could say, ‘I’m a white woman from a middle-class family.’ They’re simple, broad, personal identifiers.” As Polliard mentioned, it is vital to recognize one’s privilege and approach racial conflict with the knowledge that a white student simply cannot parallel their experiences with those of a student of color. However, it is also crucial to understand that skin color does not detract from the ability to learn and engage in compassionate dialogue. “I try to be conscientious of specific interactions and the impacts of my actions and words. It is also critical to not be afraid or hesitant because then you won’t learn. Also, it’s important to be respectful while not treating students of color as if

they’re foreign, but as you would anyone else, regardless of race,” said Abigail Leigh, a freshman socio-legal studies major from Seattle. I attended my first Black Student Alliance meeting this past Thursday, Nov. 3 and also received similar feedback from the group conversation. We discussed whether or not there is a stigma surrounding mental health in the black community, and what the discussion boiled down to was a matter of stereotypes. Many students alluded to the heightening violence towards black individuals during the conversation, explaining that because of the victimization, many people, even within the black community, assume that black individuals are always strong and do not experience mental illness. It is seen as a weakness. I approached the student officers as the meeting concluded and asked if they could give some insight as to how white students can support students of color on campus. “If someone is dedicated and interested in being an ally, then I encourage them not to be a bystander…In any situation, whether it be a social situation or a discussion in the classroom, it is not solely the responsibility of black students to address racism. Allies should make the effort to speak for, rather than speak over, students of color,” said

PIONEER FUNNIES

sophomore Tashan Montgomery, the Vice President of the Black Student Alliance on campus and international business major. Because I am Asian, I do not feel as if I am able to represent all students of color, especially because I do not feel as if I have experienced any racial attacks directed towards me personally. Some individuals do not even view Asians as people of color because presently, one could argue, Asian people do not experience oppression, at least definitely not to a comparable degree to members of the black or Native American communities. Despite the fact that I, as an Asian student, cannot personally speak to the subtle, or not so subtle, racism on campus, I believe that the ultimate goal is to approach situations of racial tension openly and empathetically. Although it is technically impossible to reach the same level of experience and understanding of such an intense racial climate as students of color, white students should not avoid activism for fear that they will offend or discredit students of color, but rather they should participate in a manner that demonstrates support and altruism, recognizing students of color above all as equals united by the human condition. Maya Piñón | Contributing Writer

DU CLARION

| OPINIONS

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#NoDAPL: Why you should care

Courtesy of DU Native Student Alliance

am writing this as a woman who identifies as indigenous, who claims her roots as Diné. I am writing this as a water drinker. I am writing this for my ancestors before me who fought for my existence. I am writing this for my relatives, who are so strong and resilient. I am writing this for those fighting for our right to clean water. I am writing this because little is more important. Water is life. No living thing exists without water. In fact, we are made of water. Up to 60 percent of the human body is water. Just as water works in the body to regulate the activity of fluids, tissue, cells, blood and more, water circulates the land, carrying away waste material and replenishing nutrients and

organic matter. Other than water being important for our existence, water is also a symbol for purity and devotion. It soothes the spirit, and its beauty inspires music and art. Water is important to many cultures. Access to clean water is a human right. It is no surprise that it is Natives’ water and land being threatened. After all, Native Americans have endured erasure since colonization of America first began. Even after enduring genocide, Native Americans are more likely to be killed by law enforcement than any other group. You will not find our history or culture in elementary school history books. You will not find representation of us in the media or on television. But

we have always been here, fighting for our right to exist, and now for our right to clean water. DU has owned up to their history in the violence against Native Americans, yet they are still participating in current-day violence by hosting the 2016 Pipeline Leadership Conference. How does DU expect forgiveness if they continue to participate in harm towards indigenous peoples? It is a disgrace to me, as a Native student here at DU, that my university would continue to work towards the erasure and oppression of my relatives. The Dakota Access Pipeline is a violation of both indigenous and human rights. This will not just affect the water on the reservation but all places the Mis-

souri River connects. It is going to take more than checking in to the Standing Rock Reservation on Facebook. If you can, donate items from the camp’s supply list, contribute to the legal defense fund or call the White House to tell President Obama to stop the pipeline from being built. If you want to show solidarity with Standing Rock, the DU Native Student Alliance and other DU student organizations are occupying the lawn outside of Anderson Academic Commons on Nov. 15 and 16 in response to the 2016 Pipeline Leadership Conference being held. They are asking for students to wear red. Grace Carson | Opinions Editor

Course registration: Hurts some, helps others

his past week, students registered for winter quarter and the reception has been mixed. While some had no trouble registering and received the courses they wanted, others have not been so lucky. For students who don’t have early registration and, thus, get assigned a random registration day and time, it’s really luck of the draw. Even though it is somewhat determined by year - seniors have priority over juniors and juniors over sophomores and so on - there are some discrepancies. For example, there are freshmen who had Monday registration and ones who had Friday registration, and there are some freshmen who get Monday registration while a sophomore has to wait until Thursday. It isn’t a case of not getting your first choice classes but also

not getting your second, third or fourth choices, either. I overheard one student expressing worry to her academic advisor because even though she was able to find courses to put together a schedule next quarter, none of them relate to her major or give her the credits she needs. She was stressed because DU costs so much money each quarter and she didn’t want to feel like she was wasting money on unneeded courses. I personally have early registration, which is available to Honors Program students, athletes and those who have a disability accommodation. Because of this, I was able to get all the classes I wanted. I was lucky though, as it seems if you don’t have early registration, it’s an extremely stressful week seeing if you can even get just one class you want.

The biggest problem seems to be a discrepancy in number of class sections. When I was registering for fall classes, I was planning on taking German, but there were only two sections of elementary German, and they were both full. I ended up taking elementary Italian, for which there were several sections (at least five). I enjoy Italian very much, but it seemed odd that there was such a difference in the number of available classes for these two languages. There also seems to be much more available classes for math, business and science majors, while classes for journalism, English, theatre and other arts and humanities majors seem few and far between. Statistically, business and science majors are the most popular at DU, but that doesn’t mean that all of the other majors should have to fall by the wayside.

Staggering registration days is understandable; if everyone registered at once, the servers would crash and prevent everyone from registering. But there has to be a more efficient way of registering that allows students to get at least one class they need. More classes in general, as well as more sections of existing classes, should be added. Perhaps there should also be a system where every student gets to place a hold on one class they really want or need, so they at least have one course per quarter guaranteed. There shouldn’t be students wondering whether or not to come back next quarter because they didn’t get any of their required classes, and they don’t want to waste their money. Sara Loughran | Contributing Writer

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DU CLARION

OPINIONS | 9

Does DU listen to students and alumni?

ike any university, DU is in no way perfect. There are issues regarding distribution of resources and tuition rates, but there is one issue that seems to have perforated the entire campus: racial inequality and bias at DU. This issue has gradually developed since the beginning of fall quarter. In late September, the message “Disrupt the Peace, White Silence = Violence, White People Do Something, #BlackLivesMatter,” was painted on the Free Speech Wall. By Sept. 27, an anonymous individual had crossed the words “black” and “white” out of the message, leaving the wall to say, “Disrupt the Peace, Silence = Violence, People Do Something, #LivesMatter.” On Oct. 6, a student painted the lyrics from “Guilty of Being White,” by Minor Threat on the Free Speech Wall. This led to a sit-in, march and meeting with Chancellor Chopp on Oct. 7. During the meeting on Oct. 7, the Black Student Alliance presented Chancellor Chopp with a list of demands that, once implemented, would create a more inclusive campus for minority students. This list included mandatory ‘Inclusive Excellence Training’ for all students, the hiring of new faculty and the support of existing faculty willing to implement and facilitate Race, Inequality & Social Change (RISC) curriculum and increased transparency from DU and its administration when it comes to diversity and inclusion.

Courtesy of University of Denver Admission

This list of demands aims to make DU more inclusive to all students of color and more racially and culturally aware. Since Oct. 7, there have been meetings regarding the Free Speech Wall, a “Black Out” and several more demonstrations of unity on campus. That being said, there have also been cases of blatant racism, such as the editing of the BSA list of demands on Oct. 21 and the disrespectful use of blackface at a halloween party on Oct. 30. So the real question, is has DU listened to its students? DU seems to appreciate student feedback more than many institutions. According to Brandon Buzbee, DU’s Associate Vice Chancellor, “The University welcomes feedback and encourages engagement with our students, faculty, staff, alumni and other members in our community. We recognize that everyone brings a unique perspective to conversations and those can help us as administrators to set priorities for the institution.” Because of DU’s philosophy regarding student feedback, the university is better at responding to student grievances in a timely and respectful manner than many other universities. In general, Chancellor Chopp and the Office of Equal Opportunity have done a decent job listening to DU students regarding matters of racial bias or discrimination. The Office of Equal Opportunity is tasked with listening and reacting

to students’ concerns involving bias, harassment through investigations into complaints and preventative education. This office’s presence on DU’s campus has been growing in the last year and has begun to thoroughly investigate student grievances in a way that it formerly did not. According to BSA’s President Makia Jones, DU has done a lot to acknowledge the concerns of its students. Jones mentioned that the Office of Equal Opportunity was once nearly unaccessible but, as of this school year, has become far more helpful in reacting to matters of bias. According to an email sent to students on Nov. 3 by Laura Maresca, Director of Equal Opportunity, and Don Enloe, Director of Campus Safety, there are 11 cases of racial bias being reviewed by the Office of Equal Opportunity. Though they are being reviewed there is very little information regarding the status of these cases and what their results may be. DU has been responding to grievances in one other way. Chancellor Chopp has met with the students of DU on several occasions to discuss the grievances of the student body. Though little change has come from these meetings thus far, there is a sense of accessibility and good intention that arises from these discussions. According to Jones, Monday, Nov. 7’s meeting was meant to discuss when demands from the BSA would be enacted.

It seems like DU is responding to its students in an almost commendable way. It should be mentioned that DU has a long road to travel before they have fully responded to the grievances of its students, but DU seems to be heading in the right direction. The fact that the chancellor is willing to address racial bias at all is rather refreshing, but Chancellor Chopp’s active role in addressing student grievances is a glowing example of what all chancellors should be doing. DU is in no way perfect. Thankfully, DU seems to realize this. DU and its administration seem to recognize that there are many faults within this university, one of which is its very serious racial bias problem. The fact that they recognise this issue seems to be what has allowed them to actively investigate and respond to these acts of racial injustice. In this sense, DU has done a fairly decent job listening to its students and actually trying to fix these issues. Rather than ignoring students and their grievances, this institution has created more accessibility to its Office of Equal Opportunity and to its Chancellor. No, DU is not perfect. It hasn’t fixed the racial injustice that can be seen on campus. It hasn’t enacted the Black Student Alliance’s list of demands. However, DU is listening, and I think that is a pretty good start. Caitlan Gannam | Contributing Writer

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| OPINIONS

PIONEER VOICES Question of the week:

How are you feeling about finals?

“I’m pretty content about finals. I’m not taking that hard of a course load because it’s my first year. And I just read this thing that said ‘Finals Week Stress Relief,’ and I’m definitely gonna go look at the dogs.” Jenna Garrity, Freshman

“I am feeling ready for finals and ready for them to be over.” Rachel Erhard, Junior

“I’m feeling great. I’m feeling prepared. I’m definitely ready to get them over with and start winter break.” Ian Estes, Junior

“I’m feeling pretty good about finals. My grades are in a good spot, so I should do pretty well.” Aliyah Price, Sophomore

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LIFESTYLES | 1 1 Photo courtesy of Joanne Napper

10 FACTS ABOUT THE SIE COMPLEX

U is a school comprised of many domestic students in addition to a large number of international students who hail from 30 different nations. Our university’s international studies program is ranked highly throughout the world, and the new Sie International Relations Complex, named after Anna and John Sie, has many interesting architectural quirks. Here are just a few of the little details that make the international studies building at DU both unique and beautiful: 1. On one of the exterior bricks of the building, there is an imprint of three polar bears. They symbolize the friendship of Chris Hill, David Houston and Mark Rodgers, who all worked on the Sie Complex project together.

Justin Cygan | Clarion

2. Inside the front door is a beautiful mosaic that is actually an ovular world map. One can follow the latitude and longitude lines and identify the continents. The three gold circles are Denver, Naples, Italy and Beijing, China. Respectively, these are the home cities of Anna and John Sie. 3. Originally, there were intricately carved wooden doors inside the international studies building, but they have since been removed, preserved and remade into conference tables. 4. There are two link spaces on the first and second floors that connect the old and new buildings of the Sie Complex. These links act as a literal and figurative connection between the importance of remembering

Photo courtesy of Joanne Napper

the past but looking towards the future.

ville (the first U.S. Ambassador to the African Union (2006-08)).

5. The school of international studies was founded by Josef Korbel, an immigrant, which is fitting, since the new school was made possible by two immigrants, Anna and John Sie.

8. The international studies school just added a public policy degree in July.

6. The international studies school is ranked No. 11 in the world by Foreign Policy Magazine.

9. Located on the fifth floor is an event space called Maglione, which is named for Anna (Maglione) Sie and the “Green Room” which is designed for eventual use as a media studio.

7. Noteworthy alumni of the 10. Beans Cafe is coming to Josef Korbel School of Interna- the Sie Complex. Students will tional Studies include Condo- be able to enjoy sweet treats and leezza Rice (the 66th United States delicious drinks starting winter Secretary of State), Mohammad quarter. Javad Zarif (Iranian Foreign Minister), General George W. Be sure to take yourself Casey, Jr. (36th Chief of Staff of over to the new Sie Complex and the United States Army), Her- check it out. aldo Muñoz (Minister of Foreign Affairs of Chile) and Cindy Cour- Georga Feek | Contributing Writer

Photo courtesy of Joanne Napper

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| LIFESTYLES

DU VIEW

(Clockwise from top left) 1. Carmen Leibrock 2. Madison Heller 3. Sydney Kapp 4. Grace Carson 5. Carmen Leibrock 6. Grace Carson 7. Paul Kapp

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LIFESTYLES | 1 3

How to host a Friendsgiving

hanksgiving isn’t just about celebrating with your family. Being thankful for your friends and appreciating them is another important part of this festive holiday. That’s why “Friendsgiving” is the perfect thing to do with friends as the end of the quarter is nearing. Grab some of your friends, cook up some food and be thankful for one another this holiday season. To have the perfect Friendsgiving, here’s what you’ll need:

Food

Don’t let the absence of your family keep you from making a pre-Thanksgiving meal this year. You don’t need a high tech stove and fancy pots and pans to make your Friendsgiving food delicious. At many grocery stores, you can buy pre-made, microwaveable food like mashed potatoes, rotisserie chicken, green beans, pumpkin pie and gravy. They might not be how your family makes it, but it’ll still make for a delicious meal. Each friend can also bring a

meal to make it a potluck so that the host doesn’t feel like they are doing too much work.

Decorations

I don’t know about you, but my family goes all out for Thanksgiving in terms of decorating. We always get the nice placemats out and each of us cuts out about 30 leaves. You might not be able to go as fancy as you’d like, but setting out nice individual plates and napkins, along with cutting out some leaves and having candles, can still make the meal

happy and homey.

Friends

Obviously, the most important part of Friendsgiving is friends. An important part of this season is appreciating and being thankful for the people you love, so make sure to do just that with your friends while you eat a delicious “home cooked” meal. Have a happy Friendsgiving. Sydney Kapp | Lifesetyles Editor

How to make the most out of winter break

he countdown has begun. Week 10 is looming ahead, but just beyond that is our month-anda-half-long winter break. Each year, students on the quarter system look forward to free time, food and Netflix. But before break actually arrives, there are things to do to ensure that your time off will be fun and relaxing. If you’re planning on going home, it might seem boring without your friends for the entire DU break, so rather than sitting around and watching all of those DVR recordings you’ve been saving up, take the time to visit your friends at local colleges. This is a fun and easy opportu-

nity to reconnect with your high school friends and to get to know their new college friends. You can catch up, bond over your fall experiences and get the feel for college life at a different school. Another great way to make use of your time off is to get a job. For the students that will be home for six weeks and have few plans, it might be wise to get a full or part time position. Whether you want to return to a great job you had before college or try something new, there are tons of companies that could use some extra help during the holiday season. For the students who have the itch to explore over break, you don’t have to wait until fall

quarter of junior year to travel. There are tons of adventures to be had throughout all four years of college, especially over the long winter break. One option is to take to the streets (or airways) and travel on your own, whether you want to visit family, friends or just a place you’ve never been to before. Another great option is to look into DU’s interterm courses. Interterm courses are a great way to get credit hours and to see a different part of the world. These courses are like a mini study abroad experience in a smaller, sometimes more manageable, chunk of time. Even for the students that

plan to be at home for all of break, you can still have fun in your hometown. There are always opportunities to explore and take advantage of an area. Whether there are shops, restaurants, parks or other places you never got around to exploring, now is the time to do so. Winter break is also a perfect time to spend with friends and family, and the six-week break perfectly carries through all of the holidays, whether that means decorating a tree with lights, opening presents or making an exquisite meal of 50 courses plus pie. Enjoy your break, Pios. Grace Houser | Contributing Writer

Grace Houser | Clarion

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“MOONLIGHT” A QUIETLY BEAUTIFUL MASTERWORK

very once in a while, a film comes along that is grand in its intimacy. Movies like this explore the deep and profound through the lens of close examination, a method that produces some of the most subdued, yet beautiful, moments cinema can offer. “Moonlight” is an embodiment of this sort of film, the kind that move one beyond words. The story of Chiron, a gay black man growing up in the projects of Miami, “Moonlight” follows this character through three distinct stages, all of which are phenomenal. Following Chiron as a meek young boy, tortured teenager and finally a hardened but emotionally lost man, the film takes this coming-of-age journey and uses it to examine what it means to be human in a world that can often seem set against you. The film is of course a character study, but it becomes something much more thanks to a powerful combination of committed acting and gorgeous work from director

Photo courtesy of A24

and writer Barry Jenkins (“Medicine for Melancholy”). Jenkins allows the three actors portraying Chiron (Alex R. Hibbert, Ashton Sanders and Trevante Rhodes), as well as the supporting cast, to put their skills to work unhindered in order to create something that is nuanced and hauntingly poetic. Naomie Harris (“28 Days Later”) and Mahershala Ali (“Luke Cage”), portraying Chiron’s drug-addicted mother and a complicated drug dealer who looks after him, respectively, set the tone for the power of the film. Both, like the film itself, transcend cultural stereotypes to create nuanced characters that expose complexity hiding underneath the lives we see so often portrayed in stories about black communities. Two scenes, one an argument between Harris and Ali’s characters and the other a conversation between Chiron and his new guardians about his sexuality, provide some of the most emotionally powerful messages about social constructions ever seen on film. These scenes would

not be possible without the complete dedication from Harris and Ali, whose dynamite acting makes these moments seem natural and raw. The frank honesty of the film is made possible through the work put in by these two fine actors, whose scenes make everything else we see all the more believable. Of the three actors portraying Chiron, Rhodes is easily the best. All are wonderful, but Rhodes’s role allows him to create a dichotomy in his character that marvelously ties together the themes of the film. With subtlety and grace, Rhodes places Chiron as a man in constant interrogation with his soul despite the belief he has figured out what kind of man he needs to be. Through every moment, his acting creates a feeling of uncertainty that echoes the constant flux and influence individuals of his background face every day in the real world. Without his performance, the answers “Moonlight” attempts to seek out would be lost in the waves. All of this fine acting, work and exploration of meaning in a socially

complex world would, again, not be possible without the steady hand of Jenkins, who probably puts in the finest work of the year at the director’s chair. Not only does he employ an acute sense for pace and feeling, allowing his actors to lay the foundations of the film, he is a fine visual artist as well. The style of the film is wonderful, bursting with darkly beautiful color and framing. All three sequences of the film feel distinctly different, thanks to Jenkins’s choices of film stock, which work to back up the prevalent emotions of these portions of the story. “Moonlight” is simply one of the best films of the year, a shining example of how fruitful patience can be when employed in filmmaking. By allowing the acting and imagery of the film to speak for itself, Jenkins and company create an artwork that is beautiful in its honesty and respect for the characters and communities it portrays. All that “Moonlight” leaves one wishing for is that more films had the bravery to be this compassionate.

Ryan Ninesling | Entertainment Editor

Photo courtesy of Summit Entertainment

“Hacksaw Ridge”: New war film worthy of an Oscar I magine yourself storming the beaches of Okinawa at the height of the second World War. You trudge against sand riddled with bodies of the dead, limbs that are amiss and fog that diminishes your view to about five feet. Explosions can be heard off in the distance and men can be heard screaming as they choke on their own words. You sit with your squad with nothing but your helmet, a bag full of medical supplies and the holy book. What’s missing? Your gun. Mel Gibson (“Mad Max”) immerses the audience in this world as he puts them into the depths of hell in the war-torn, bullet retched bio-pic “Hacksaw Ridge.” During World War II, each battlefield and soldier had a story to tell, and the many men who were deployed at the battle of Okinawa are no exception. One

unlikely hero stands at the heart of this story, and his name is Desmond Doss. Doss, the protagonist of the film, is played by Andrew Garfield (“The Amazing Spider Man”) and based off of one of the first unarmed soldiers in the war who served as a medic and saved the lives of 75 men in battle. “Hacksaw Ridge” displays a rare form of knowledge about warfare and its coinciding emotional impact, which makes the film a true masterpiece and must-see spectacle of the year. Mel Gibson does an unbelievable job of portraying war and its gritty details--not only its ill stricken horrors but its complexity and the significance of each soldier’s life. Heart pounding moments and high octane action scenes, along with precise and surreal cinematography, bring the film to life. It puts you in the heart of the battlefield, bearing

witness to the calamity with the yet-- ultimately Oscar nominasandy beaches of Okinawa. tion worthy. As for the acting, Garfield’s In the end, it’s not the bloody character takes center stage and bullet-retched scenes of mass the roll calls for an individual devastation, but rather the who is interesting and virtuous bright side of war that is often with every word. Garfield is the overlooked. Through the eyes right choice for the role of Doss. of an unlikely protagonist, we He convincingly portrays the see a hero like no other, who is soldier’s willingness to fight and portrayed with immense passion his empathy for other humans, and life. a simply mesmerizing perforDesmond Doss is cinema’s mance. Ultimately, though, most realistic portrayal of any hisit’s Vince Vaughn’s (Wedding toric figure in recent years, made Crashers) character, Sergeant even more detailed by his inner Howell, that really steals Gar- struggle and controversial argufield’s spotlight. ment of not fighting with weapons Vaughn is very determined in the war. With his miraculous and robust in a way unlike any behavior and courageous tactics, other role he has ever played. Doss helps win the battle and the He portrays Howell as an utmost hearts of the audience. It all adds neurotic and heavy willing power up to making “Hacksaw Ridge” one man, who is given grace and mere of the best written and performed charisma through the actions of war films, a powerhouse of a movie his squad. Vaughn’s portrayal of that is well worthy of an Oscar. Howell is his best performance Jacob Miltenberg | Contributing Writer

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ENTERTAINMENT | 1 5

“Before the Flood”: A new call for change

Photo courtesy of Khan Academy

n the early 1500s, artist Hieronymus Bosch produced a tryptic painting which he called “The Garden of Earthly Delights”. In the first panel, he depicted an untainted world—the Garden of Eden, in which sits God, Adam and Eve. Here, Earth and man live as one. In the second panel, the deadly sins are introduced. The scene teems with greed, lust, overpopulation and exploitation of the earth’s resources. This panel is called “man before the flood.” In the final panel, Bosch painted hell, a scorched, vindictive world in which life is being devoured by Earth. Leonardo Dicaprio’s documentary “Before the Flood” aired on National Geographic. In the introduction of the film, Dicaprio tells the audience that Bosch’s painting, “The Garden of Earthly Delights,” hung above his bed as a young boy. This could be seen as the beginning of his interest in the relationship between man and Earth, as his young eyes gazed at a timeline for the indulgent, a dire future for an earth that has been neglected.

“Before the Flood” follows Dicaprio as he travels the world discussing the issue of climate change, a topic that has overwhelming scientific evidence and yet is vastly denied. Today, 97 percent of climate scientists agree that the Earth is warming due to humanity’s addiction to fossil fuels. Dicaprio meets with leaders, such as President Obama, Elon Musk, astronaut Dr. Diers Sellers and Pope Francis, all of whom acknowledge that a great change must immediately take place in the world’s emissions if we do not wish to leave future generations to suffer as a result of our excess consumption. The documentary trails Dicaprio’s journey with breathtaking visuals, capturing the details of destruction and diminishing beauty found in places such as the melting Baffin Islands of the High Canadian Arctic and the scant land of the Leuser Ecosystem in Indonesia, “the last place on earth that still has elephant, rhino, orangutan and tiger together in the wild,” as a result of the clearcutting of forests for palm oil plantations. He speaks with natives of the Arctic Islands

who have seen their land transform from solid blue ice to “ice-cream,” a consistency that melts rapidly. He witnesses the aftermath of immense flooding in Abaiang, Kiribati that has poisoned the fresh water ponds where locals go to collect water for drinking. All of this is due to our reliance on coal and natural gas for electricity and crude oil for fueling our modes of transportation. In order to keep up with the rapid increase in demand for energy, many companies have recently capitalized on sources that reap even greater destruction, such as mountain top removal for coal, fracking for natural gas, offshore drilling for oil and tar sands. Although there have been fights to put limits on carbon emissions and protect areas from deforestation, the political system is swarming with men and women who are financed by high power fuel companies such as the Koch Brothers. Attempting to pass bills in the name of climate change is nearly impossible when the majority of congress is being paid to deny the issue’s existence. According to National Geo-

graphic explorer Dr. Enric Sala, “If the climate stays at the temperature it has been for the last decade, by 2040 you will be able to sail over the North Pole.” The burning of fossil fuels releases copious amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which then leads to the melting of ancient ice caps, drastic rises in sea level and devastating weather patterns. This process is occurring rapidly and with little attention from the common man. “Before the Flood” is a call to humanity to take responsibility for their actions. Earth’s atmosphere is fragile. We cannot continue to release toxins and not expect reverberations. Dicaprio concludes that there needs to be a massive switch from fossil fuels to solar and wind energy sources, explaining that we are past the point of encouraging individuals to combat global warming by switching to an eco-friendly light bulb. It is now up to the corporations, and in order for the corporations to make a change, there has to be a demand from the people. AnnMarie Marlow | Contributing Writer

Photo courtesy of National Geographic

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“Doctor Strange”: The best and worst of Marvel

f one word had to define what “Doctor Strange” is for Marvel Studios, it would be “gamble.” Marvel had to face a formidable army of challenges in betting on bringing the Sorcerer Supreme to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU): the introduction of trippy magic to a fantastical world still grounded in science, a character not well known to the masses and a comic series rife with a history of racial caricature. Admirably, the creative teams behind the film mostly run away with it, save for some glaring misfires. The positive aspects of “Doctor Strange,” the story of a prideful surgeon who learns to be a powerful sorcerer after a career-ending accident, lay in both its fine acting and highly impressive visuals. While seemingly not the most inspired choice for the role, Benedict Cumberbatch (“Sherlock”) makes for a fine Dr. Stephen Strange, bringing together the complex mix of arrogance and wacky intellectual heroics that define the character. Many will compare him to Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark character, but there is a deeper drive to Strange’s character that sets him apart from other Marvel characters. While many

heroes of the MCU operate on little motivation outside of what the plot needs them to do, Strange is presented as the imperfect example of a man driven to action, one whose personal desires complicate what the world needs him to be. This all makes for an interesting character, yet he still doesn’t stand as the star of show. That honor goes to another important role: The Ancient One. The biggest risk Marvel had to face when making this film was with the creation of the Ancient One, a character as divisive in the comic book world as one can get. The original character was a Tibetan man who, while a powerful character, was unfortunately structured around multitudes of stereotypes of Asian mysticism. To try and sidestep this cultural time bomb, prolific actress Tilda Swinton (“We Need to Talk About Kevin”) was cast as Strange’s master, a choice simultaneously inspired and problematic. Swinton is no doubt the best performer in the film here, creating a character that steals every scene she is in. It is no doubt refreshing to see a female character in a position so powerful, backed up by Swinton’s superb skill. However, it is still difficult to imagine why Marvel couldn’t have put in the time to erase the stereotypes

surrounding the character while still using an Asian actor. By using Swinton, the film gets a wonderfully solid performance but doesn’t end shaking things up like it should. The subversion of stereotypes surrounding Strange’s Asian sidekick Wong (Benedict Wong, “Marco Polo”) by transforming him from a highly offensive “manservant” into a master smarter than even Strange saves all of this a little bit, but not enough to give Marvel a pass for playing it safe. While Cumberbatch and Swinton carry the plot, the film as a whole lives and dies by its revolutionary visuals, which are nothing short of mind-blowing. The magical realms and powers of “Doctor Strange” are pretty much like nothing else seen before, melding the world-bending of “Inception” with “Harry Potter”-esque action. It all makes for a highly original and daring special effects ride that will be difficult for Marvel, or any studio for that matter, to top. Main roles and visuals aside, the film is otherwise disappointingly uninspired. The plot is the Marvel origin story you’ve seen 20 times over by now, saved only by the imagination of the special effects. Mads Mikkelsen (“Hannibal”), Rachel

McAdams (“True Detective”) and Chiwetel Ejiofor (“12 Years a Slave”), some of the finest actors working today, are absolutely wasted as the trappings of the origin trope give them almost nothing interesting to do. The humor, usually a small but strong aspect of Marvel films, is extremely hit or miss here. When it works it really works, but when it doesn’t, the audience is left awkwardly hanging in painful silence. This stands as a representation of “Doctor Strange” as a whole, a film where focus leads to glory and laziness leads to a lack of originality. As Marvel looks forward to its seemingly endless lineup of films, “Doctor Strange” serves as both a fine primer and a warning for things to come. It highlights everything marvelous and unfortunate about the studio’s films, a film whose committed acting and visuals save the film from its often messy script. When all’s said and done, this introduction of magic to the MCU complicates not just the realism of the films, but also Marvel’s willingness to be daring when making films. Hopefully, “Doctor Strange” will end up more healing than harmful to the Marvel franchise. Ryan Ninesling | Entertainment Editor

Photo courtesy of Marvel