DU Clarion Volume 125 Issue 14

APRIL 25, 2018

VOLUME 125, ISSUE 14

DU THEATRE CAPSTONES SHOWCASE SENIORS’ TALENTS

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CELEBRATE REAL NEWS DAY THIS FRIDAY

DU WOMEN’S LACROSSE FINISHES STRONG SEASON

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RACIAL STIGMA STILL 4 SURROUNDS MARIJUANA pa g e

KENDRICK LAMAR WINS PULITZER PRIZE

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APRIL 25, 2018

| NEWS

Real news to be celebrated at DU next week

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n April 27, the Estlow International Center for Journalism and New Media at DU, along with the Denver Press Club, will host events in honor of the newly founded Real News Day, a day dedicated to credible and professional journalism in a time when the industry has declined.

There will be events taking place throughout the whole day, with a morning event at the Capitol, a luncheon at the Cable Center and dinner at the Denver Press Club. The events will be open for registration to the DU community and will be relevant to those who care about the professional newsgathering and reporting and the role media plays in our society.

The morning event from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Colorado State Capitol will consist of an open panel talk with several DU scholars, government officials, media professionals and community members to discuss the significance of the #MeToo movement and the role social

media has played on the whole of media and in policy making.

The panelists include Speaker of the House Crisanta Duran, Kimberly Kindy of the Washington Post, Director of the Colorado Chapter of 9to5 Neha Mahajan, Dr. Lisa Ingarfield, Dr. Rachel Arnow-Richman, Dr. Christina Foust, Dr. Renée A. Botta and Dr. Lynn Schofield Clark of the Department of Media, Film and Journalism Studies and Director of the Estlow International Center.

“One of the points of the panel is to try to recognize that when we’re talking about legislation we need to have it for women of all different backgrounds and life experiences,” said Clark. She pointed out that the #MeToo movement was often recognized as a “white woman’s” movement, usually in elite and professional settings, when sexual assault is prevalent in many different environments. “This should be of interest to students because they’ll be able to hear conversations between people who

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make policy, and they will be able to participate in the conversations as well,” said Clark.

The panel will give students the opportunity to talk with legislators and have an influence on policy making.

The lunch event from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. at the Cable Center will give students and the DU community an opportunity to listen to Kimberly Kindy, an investigative reporter of The Washington Post, who will be awarded the Estlow Anvil of Freedom Award.

The lecture will reflect on the role journalism has played in our society—with issues like fake news and credible and verifiable reporting. “It will give students and opportunity to listen to someone who has been in the industry for a long time, and who is a role model for students,” said Clark, “but it also extends out to those who care about collecting credible information.”

At the dinner event, the Denver Press Club will honor Martin Baron, executive editor of The Washington Post who led

The Boston Globe team that won the prestigious Damon Runyon Award. The dinner is now sold out. However, the event will always be available for future students next year. Register for the morning and afternoon events on the Estlow International Center’s website. The morning and lunch events are available for registration on the Estlow International Center’s website. The events will also be live-streamed from this site. If you’re interested in helping with the livestream, contact Ethan Crawford at Ethan.Crawford@du.edu.

Another effort that will take place during Real News Day will be the digitization of the Clarion.

The Clarion has been reporting on DU events and perspectives since the late 1800s, and this project will seek to digitize every weekly issue. The Clarion has hosted a GoFundMe to “Digitize the Clarion.”

Claudio Neu-Ries | Contributing Writer

DU Clarion EDITORIAL STAFF

TARYN ALLEN, Editor-in-Chief GRACE CARSON, Executive Editor JOHN POE, Editor-in-Chief Emeritus RYAN NINESLING, Executive Editor Emeritus DANIELA SANTOS, News 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.

NIKKY JOHNSON, Sports Editor ELIZABETH LOCHHEAD, Opinions 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 HANNAH BRANIT CLAURIO NEU-RIES NINA PETROVIC

DU CLARION

APRIL 25, 2018

SPORTS | 3

Men’s Lacrosse defeats Providence 13-6

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he No. 3 ranked DU Men’s Lacrosse team used a dominant second half, along with five multi-goal scorers to pull ahead of Providence. The game is the fourteenth time since the start of the 2014 season in which the Pioneers have had five multi-goal scorers and the eighth double-digit win season for the program in its nine years under Head Coach Bill Tierney.

Denver started early in the first quarter with a goal from senior Joe Reid (Petaluma, Calif.) with an assist from junior Colton Jackson (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) at 14:07.

Jackson followed up his assist with a goal of his own at 12:55, assisted by junior attackman Austin French (Danville, Calif.). Although Prov-

idence scored once at 3:26, the Pioneers responded at 1:22 with a goal from senior Colton McCaffrey (Parker, Colo.), assisted by French.

In the second quarter, Denver began a five-goal run that would continue into the third quarter.

Jackson started the scoring for the Pioneers at 11:25, with an assist from French. Reid scored at 7:08, with an assist from sophomore attack Ethan Walker (Peterborough, Ontario) to bring the score to 5-2 at the end of the first half.

Walker continued Denver’s fivegoal run with two unassisted goals of his own in the third quarter at 13:33 and 11:41. Senior defensive midfielder Zach Runberg (Centennial, Colo.) scored an unassisted goal at 11:31 to put Denver up 8-2.

Although Providence scored twice to bring the score to 8-4, Denver answered with two more unassisted goals in the quarter by McCaffrey and freshman midfielder, Ted Sullivan (Tucson, Ariz.).

During the last quarter, Sullivan continued the Pioneers’ run from the previous quarter with an assist from McCaffrey at 13:42. Reid scored at 11:49 off an assist from Walker, making this his second consecutive game with a hat trick. Senior Connor Flynn (Charlotte, N.C.) was the final Pioneer scorer, scoring at 10:53 with an assist from junior Quinn McKone (Novato, Calif.). Providence scored twice more to bring the final score to 13-6.

Senior faceoff specialist Trevor Baptiste (Denville, N.J.) was selected

No. 1 overall in the Major League Lacrosse (MLL) Draft by the Boston Cannons. During the game, he was 17-of-22, his 45th career game with 15+ faceoff wins. Baptiste is 24 faceoff wins away from besting the NCAA record for career faceoff wins.

Senior Sean Mayle (San Carlos, Calif.) was selected No. 6 overall in the MLL Draft by the Chesapeake Bayhawks.

Denver will play its next game against Marquette at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium at 1 p.m. on April 28. Students are encouraged to attend and support their No. 3 ranked Pioneers in their last regular season game.

Hannah Branit | Contributing Writer Caitlin Gannam | Clarion

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| SPORTS

APRIL 25, 2018

Women’s Lacrosse falls 18-13 to Florida in final home game

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fter fighting back to take a 7-6 lead late in the first half, the Pioneers couldn’t keep the momentum going in the second half and fell to the No. 6 Florida Gators, 18-13 on April 21. It was the last regular season home game, a game to recognize the seniors and their careers as Pioneers. Denver dropped to a 10-5 record on the season with the loss.

The Gators got an early lead 50 seconds into the game, and then extended the lead to 6-0 before Denver was able to get on the board 16:16 into the game.The first goal by junior midfielder Elizabeth Behrins

(Basking Ridge, N.J.) was the catalyst for the Pioneers, as they rallied to score the next six goals in the contest. Denver took their first and only lead of the game at 7-6 with 2:14 remaining in the first half.

Denver was unable to keep the lead as Florida outscored Denver 11-6 in the half to take the victory.

The Gators outshot the Pioneers 32-28, while also having the edge in draw controls, 21-11. Denver topped Florida in caused turnovers 14-11, ground balls 12-11 and had fewer turnovers (15) than Florida (22). In addition, the Pioneers were more successful in clears (16-for-19), including going a per-

fect 9-for-9 in the first half.

Junior attack Julia Feiss (Baltimore, Md.), freshman attack Quintin Hoch-Bullen (Severn, Ontario) and freshman attack Eliza Radochonski (Englewood, Colo.) each contributed a hat trick to lead the Pioneers in scoring, while Feiss added a teamhigh three assists for a game-high of six points. Junior Maddie Baum (Piedmont, Calif.) led Denver with six draw controls on the afternoon, bringing her season total to 80, just one behind a tie for second all-time in draw controls in a single-season.

Behrins, junior defense Caroline Lewis (Baltimore, Md.), junior defense Audrey Schreck (Charlot-

tesville, Va.) and senior midfielder Riley Eggeman (Mission Viejo Calif.) each picked up two ground balls, while redshirt junior Kennedy Milburn (Whitby, Ontario) led in caused turnovers with three. Sophomore goalie Carson Gregg (Severna Park, Md.) recorded 10 saves in the game.

The Pioneers will travel to Nashville on April 28 to face the Vanderbilt Commodores in its final regular season game. The Pioneers are tied for third with a 5-3 record in the BIG EAST.

Nikky Johnson | Sports Editor

Hannah Branit | Clarion

Brown ties for ninth on bars in NCAA Gymnastics

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reshman Lynnzee Brown (Kansas City, Mo.) represented DU as an individual all-around competitor in the Semifinal I at the NCAA National Championships on April 20. Brown finished in the top ten on the bars, and finished at No. 15 overall in the all-around for Semifinal I. Brown began the meet on the floor, competing last in her rotation.

Despite an early step out, Brown finished strong and earned a 9.6625.

She competed next on the vault, competing a Yurchenko 1.5, and scoring a 9.7625. Following vault, Brown moved to bars. Her score of 9.875 was her highest score of the competition, and the fourth-highest bars score by a Denver gymnast at

the National Championships. Brown finished the competition on the beam, scoring a 9.800.

Brown’s overall score of 39.100 placed her in 15th for the all-around.

She placed 27th on beam, 35th on vault and 39th on the floor.

Denver’s gymnastics season concluded with this meet. The team will return nine members and lose seniors Nikole Addison (Fort Myers, Fla.), Claire Hammen (Loveland, Colo.) and Leah Lomonte (Katy, Texas).

Hannah Branit | Contributing Writer

Photo courtesy of DU Athletics

APRIL 25, 2018

DU CLARION

OPINIONS | 5

How DU public policy students can commit to the public good

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hen DU’s public policy program moved from the School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences to the Josef Korbel School of International Studies in July 2016, the move was seen, according to 2016 DU Newsroom coverage, as a way to “leverage the complementary nature” of the programs. Having more interaction between public policy students and the professors, students and events in Korbel has benefited the public policy program in numerous ways; however, the new direction of the program has also meant a major missed opportunity—not enough policy students at DU are studying local policy issues.

DU’s vision is to be a private university for the public good, and yet policy students are rarely tasked with the public good of our own city.

For students studying policy analysis, Denver is a real and living example of how complex policy issues intersect, how politics affect this and how available data can be used in finding solutions. Transportation, housing, affordability and the actions of the state legislature located downtown are all policy issues that affect the daily lives of people here. For all of the things that make Denver a great place to live and work, our problems, like the ones mentioned above, are numerous and challenging.

Public policy students at DU study how to craft problem definitions, how to avoid data bias, how to use historical actions as context for current policy and how to come up with solutions that will be the most productive.

These are skills that are widely useful, but in undergraduate classes, the real-world examples used are often at the national or international scale. Conversations about problem definitions point to examples of expansive issues such as gun control in the U.S., data bias is discussed in the context of American mainstream media and historical examples often come from international relations and federal decisions. These issues are indeed important to understand for students who want to do policy analysis, but using only these examples ignores issues not taking place at the national or international level.

Each public policy student has a different reason for why they chose to major in policy rather than international studies (some choose to do both), but the desire to understand and find solutions for local and regional policy issues is one of those reasons. Policy at the level of a city or region is massively important. As ideological differences in cities persist, driven by income disparities and problems with housing access (an issue The New York Times recently described in depth), we are

Taryn Allen | DU Clarion

going to need local solutions that account for the specific characteristics and needs of that locality. Public policy students at DU could be a huge asset to Denver by studying and researching real local issues, both in classes and in research and thesis projects.

The benefits policy students have gained from the move to Korbel should not be discounted, though—Korbel was ranked #11 in Foreign Policy magazine’s list of best master’s programs for international relations, and being in the same school allows policy students to interact with Korbel professors and students as well as attend events. However, the policy program can maintain these ties while also differentiating itself from international studies by including some class topics and projects related to Denver. This would be similar to some of the offerings of policy undergraduate programs at schools like Stanford, where a concentration within the major offers classes

related to California issues, and University of Chicago, where urban studies is a concentration within the policy major. DU’s program is small, so offering various concentrations may not be realistic, but the program could also incorporate local internship experience into the curriculum—University of Chicago and Duke University are examples of schools that include an internship elective in their policy curriculum.

The public policy program should not stop teaching about national and international policy. It should, in addition to these topics, include regional issues, as well. DU students live and study in Denver, and policy issues are visible all around us. More DU students applying their policy knowledge to the problems the city faces would be an even greater commitment to local public good.

Elizabeth Lochhead | Opinions Editor

Racial discrimination persists when it comes to marijuana T he list of states where marijuana has been legalized either for recreational or medical purposes has continued to grow since Colorado’s legalization vote in 2014, with thirty states and D.C. having some form of legalization. Already with the celebratory mood of 4/20 last week, Coloradans often mention the positives that have come from legalization—the industry is booming, bringing millions of dollars in tax revenue to the state. But this celebration sours with a little more information—possession arrests in Colorado have risen for Hispanic and black youths even as they have fallen for white youths, and a recent New York Times opinion mentions the high numbers of black men still serving long prison sentences for possession charges. As the legal marijuana industry changes, these facts need to change, too.

Though usage rates are about the same among black people and white people, black people are almost four times as likely to be arrested for marijuana possession, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). In Colorado, an NPR report found that most possession cases are called into the police as a complaint. These trends indicate a clear pattern of racial discrimination when it

comes to reporting and arrests for possessing marijuana, arrests that have significant impacts on the lives of these young people (since marijuana possession is still illegal for those under 21, it

fits of the success of the industry and the disproportionately black and Hispanic people who are facing arrest and imprisonment.

One of the first concrete steps in addressing this disparity is Photo courtesy of Flickr

is those under the legal age who are arrested).

What is more, there are still people serving prison sentences for marijuana possession even in states where it has since been legalized. There is a growing and striking difference between the mostly white owners of pot shops who are reaping the bene-

reevaluating the prison terms of those imprisoned in Colorado for possession. This is already a consideration of Governor Hickenlooper, who in February proposed the idea of releasing about 40 inmates in prison for nonviolent marijuana crimes.

This should be an obvious step to take—adults serving time only

for possession of a substance that is now legal across the state should not remain imprisoned.

Legalization has also been in the news at the national level, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announcing legislation last week for federal-level decriminalization. Part of Schumer’s plan is also to provide funding for marijuana businesses owned by women and minorities. Legalization on the federal level would hopefully cut back on marijuana-related arrests and could help change the way people perceive the use of the drug.

But while each of these policy goals are legitimate, the discrepancies in reports and arrests based on race is an issue that does not have a quick policy fix. Racial discrimination has led to more youths from minority groups being arrested and more adults from minority groups remaining in prison.

Overall decriminalization and the release of prisoners with nonviolent marijuana charges are first steps, but perceptions of marijuana use also need to change. Colorado and the U.S. cannot claim success of the marijuana industry until discrimination within it is addressed.

Elizabeth Lochhead | Opinions Editor

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PIONEER FUNNIES

APRIL 25, 2018

APRIL 25, 2018

DU CLARION

ARTS & LIFE | 7

“Family Album”: Connecting photography and life Photo courtesy of HBO

Photo courtesy of Headliners Music Hall

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rtists have used various types of mediums to express their thoughts and emotions. Musicians write lyrics and set a tempo to vocalize their feelings. Painters use colors, figures and shadows to paint a picture of their thoughts.

Dancers incorporate movement and coordination to tell a story.

For DU professor Roddy MacInnes, it is through photog-

Nina Petrovic | Clarion

raphy that he showcases his life and emotions.

Professor MacInnes recently published his first book, “Family Album,” an autobiography depicting his life through photos as well as showing how his life and those around him are connected through photography.

From a young age, professor MacInnes knew he would use photography to paint a picture

of his life and the adventures he would embark on.

“My very first photograph is kind of an important photo for me,” said professor MacInnes.

“That’s when I felt the magic of photography, and I knew from that moment on I would use photography for the rest of my life. I remember thinking that, I remember thinking that quite often.”

Professor MacInnes also conveyed a powerful statement in one photo depicting the man who had sexually molested him when he was 16-years-old. Professor MacInnes wanted to show how a memory of his life had impacted him in both a negative and positive way. The photo was also a contribution to men who had been sexually assaulted, encouraging them to be open about their experience and being able to support those who had gone through the same experience.

“Because of that incident, I suffered from depression, anxiety attacks and insecurity,” said Professor MacInnes. “But now if someone comes into my office and says they’ve been sexually molested or they’re suffering from depression, I know what to say now, whereas I don’t think I would have before.”

Through “Family Album,” Professor MacInnes relates the connections people have with each other

and the universe. Professor MacInnes uses the photos of a woman named Nina, who lived in North Dakota in 1917, to show the connection between his life and hers. The photos of Nina pushed Professor MacInnes to examine how memories are constructed and reinforced through photography. He considers his photographs and hers to be a collaboration, as both sets of photos carry the same general themes of family. Although they have never met, he feels they will always be connected through photography.

The overall theme of the book is to celebrate what one is passionate about, redefining the meaning of “family” and being an individual who is also part of a bigger picture of the universe.

“What I hope people get out of the book is to celebrate what you’re passionate about in life, finding a medium and seeing life through that,” said Professor MacInnes. “The book for me was celebrating about being connected with everyone in the universe and redefining what family means. It doesn’t always have to be your blood relatives.”

Those interested in reading about Roddy MacInnes’s life in photography can find the book on Amazon.

Nina Petrovic | Contrtibuting Writer

Kendrick’s Pulitzer is a win for hip-hop

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n Monday, Kendrick Lamar, the 30-year-old rapper hailing from the streets of Compton, won the Pulitzer prize for music.

Entering into the annals of history, Lamar is the first artist to win the prize who operates outside of jazz or classical genres. The awarding of the prize to Lamar, a black artist whose music tackles poignant and timely topics that range from police brutality and current politics to the darkest depths of the human condition, is a testament not only to strength of his work but more importantly, to the artistic capacity of hip-hop and rap.

The award is more about hip-hop and rap than it is about Lamar himself. While some could see the award going to an album so far outside the typical candidate stream, one deeply embedded in pop culture, as a desperate attempt by the committee to find or feign relevance, it seems far moreso an honest breaking down of what we constitute as “high” and “low” art.

By placing Lamar, his unapologetic blackness and the subversive, popular and frequently profane genre he represents among the canon of great American music, the committee gave a nod not only to the artistic and cultural merit of Lamar, but to rap music itself. By awarding the prize to “DAMN.,” an album

Photo courtesy of Pitchfork

that places deeply introspective lyrics with the fast rattle of trap beats, the committee made it clear that hip-hop music, which in 2017 became the most popular genre in the U.S., produces just as much genius as any of the typically recognized forms. In addition, the committee recognized the genre, which has for its entire history been honest in its subversiveness to the mainstream American consciousness, at the height of its power and influence.

Most genres that come about as subversive, disruptive branches to the narrative mainstream receive their recognition years, if not decades, later (think jazz’s roots, or the rebellious punk of the 1970s). The committee deci-

sion shows recognition for one of the genre’s own innovators at the height of both his and hip-hop’s pervasive appeal.

Though some (including myself), might argue that Lamar’s 2015 critically acclaimed tourde-force “To Pimp a Butterfly” deserved the award more, “DAMN.” was more popular as an album, showing that the artist could provide instantly replayable, popular tracks that took inspiration from hip-hop’s current obsession with trap beats, but still with the poetic lyrics and themes his audience had come to expect.

Its sonic landscape was as well more explorative and different to the typical award winners than “To Pimp a Butterfly.”

While Lamar has already received an immense amount of critical and commercial praise for his work, the Pulitzer seems aimed to show that Lamar’s contribution to music and popular culture is far more important and extensive than what might be inferred at first glance. The Pulitzer places Lamar as a marker of legacy, a pin in the timeline of American music. It shows that Lamar’s music is so reflective of the experience of Americans— especially black Americans—in our time that it is to be recognized for all history as the essential musical portrait of 2017.

Justin Cygan | Copy Editor

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& LIFE

APRIL 25, 2018

Play festival features imaginative student directors

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his past weekend, from April 19-22, the DU Department of Theatre featured the directorial work of six senior theatre majors in the first cycle of the Senior Short Play Festival. Each senior directed a short one-act play with a cast and crew of theatre department underclassmen.

The cycle opened with “4:00 A.M. (Open All Night),” directed

by Joseph Morrison. Set in a diner in the wee hours of the morning, this play followed the desperate attempts of diner employee Jim (Mikah Conway), later joined by Doc (Drew Harrilchak), to get a dejected man to give a new relationship with yet another diner customer (Tess Neel) a shot. Comedic, but ending on a sad note, the play explores the internal struggle of relationships.

Continuing on the theme of relationships, “90 Days,” directed

by Rachel Reidenbaugh, took place entirely through a phone call between two people, Elliot (Kevin Douglas) and Abby (Evan Monteith), as Elliot is in rehab for drug addiction. The phone call saw a slew of lies and miscommunication on both sides, wandering from funny moments to intense ones, but the actors expressed the love the two characters had for each other through the frustration with their situation.

Next came “Double Take,” a beautiful, introspective snapshot of an awkward aftermath of a hookup between two women.

Directed by Isaiah Adams, this play’s unusual casting represents each woman with two actors, an Inner Di (Lois Shih) and Outer Di (Rhianna DeVries), and an Inner Eve (Grady Hicks) and Outer Eve (Annaleisa Friednash). The audience sees the internal monologues of the characters played out on

Photo courtesy of DU Theatre

stage, with the inner characters berating their outer selves for making poor decisions or saying the wrong thing. The four actors’ genuine performances left the audience heart-wrenched at the end, when the inner thoughts and connection of the two women never quite make it to the surface. “(Inside) The Imaginary Invalid,” directed by Isis Usborne, was the cycle’s only musical piece and featured the largest cast. A somewhat strange and funny look inside the body, the work sang and danced its way through a bodily imbalance between the Heart (Dana Good), Brain (Katie Goodwin) and Liver (Mary Grace Roach), and the Four Humours—Blood/Sanguine (Alek Seballes), Phlegm (Paula Aguayo), Yellow Bile/ Choleric (Loryn Fujinami) and Black Bile/Melancholy (Cedar Haugen). Coming to save the day

and restore balance at the end was The Purge (Grace Hayes).

Directed by Tristan Andersen, the penultimate play was Samuel Beckett’s “Ohio Impromptu,” featuring a typical Beckettian pair, this time Listener (Jose Serrano) and Reader (Marcos Descalzi). The two were dressed as two sides of the same coin, both with long, white hair and white painted faces, looking old and tired. Reader stared down at a large book, reading pieces of the work in a commanding tone, occasionally stopped and restarted with knocks on the table

by Listener. The play was laced with ideas often seen in Beckett’s works, such as nostalgia, the role of strange sounds and the ghostly haunting of memory.

Finally was “Drive,” directed

by Anthony Adu. The play follows a disturbing and strange car ride of the couple Maddie (Alana Silver)

and Michael (Aristotle Johns).

Michael and Maddie argue and slowly unravel throughout the ride, Michael increasingly revealed to be racist, violent and unhinged. The radio in the car foreshadows clips of the suicidal murder of Maddie by Michael at the end of the play, creating an atmosphere of impending violence. The play was bookended by carefully crafted sound design, featuring bits of speeches about black people, racism and rap songs, framing the play with a critical eye toward contemporary racism.

Upcoming Department of Theatre events include “12 Angry Jurors,” a staged reading, on April 27 at 7:30 p.m. in the Byron Theatre. The second cycle of the Senior Short Play Festival will be May 24-27. Tickets are available through their website.

Monica McFadden | Arts & Life Editor Photo courtesy of DU Theatre