M AY 2 3 , 2 0 1 8
VOLUME 125, ISSUE 18
FROM MADRID TO DENVER, HINDS OWNS THE STAGE
12 pa g e
2 pa g e
SETTLEMENT ENDS 6-YEAR GENDER PAY GAP LAWSUIT
DU ATHLETES HONORED FOR ACADEMIC STRENGTH
8 pa g e
LETTERS FROM EDITORS: 4 HELLOS AND GOODBYES pa g e
SPREAD THE STOKE EVENT UNITES OUTDOORS CLUBS
12 pa g e
DU CLARION
2
M AY 2 3 , 2 0 1 8
| NEWS
DU law school settles for $2.6 million in equal pay lawsuit
O
n Thursday, May 17, the lawsuit between seven female law professors and DU’s Sturm College of Law reached a $2.6 million legal settlement. The lawsuit began in 2013 when Lucy Marsh filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commision (EEOC) that she was being paid thousands of dollars less than her male colleagues. The commission found in favor of Marsh, stating that in October 2013, the average salary for female full-time law professors at DU was $139,940, while men earned an average $159,721. They found this difference of almost $20,000 a “statistically significant amount.” Under the agreement, DU must also hire an outside professional economist to study DU’s pay to faculty, as well as discrimination training for employees. To increase transparency, the law school must release Sturm College of Law faculty information, including salary and demographic details.
DU’s statement sent to students through email said, “One of our cornerstone commitments as a university is to be an academic community based on fairness, equity and merit.” The statement continued, “DU undertook the settlement process with great seriousness, deliberation and care for all involved. While confident in our legal position, we made this decision because of a strong desire to heal our community and move forward
ABOUT US
together. We believe this settlement will allow us to collectively focus on a present and a future in which the law school—and the DU community as a whole— can unite under our common values of equity, integrity and opportunity.” This statement is a turn from DU’s previous news release that Marsh was being paid less because of “her sub-standard performance in scholarship, teaching and service.” Even
Chancellor Rebecca Chopp supported this report in saying, “We stand by our historical system of evaluation and merit pay.” Still, the plaintiffs hope that this settlement will lead to change in higher education. Marsh told Denver7, “Hopefully, this will spread. Other law schools will say ‘Yeah, we better straighten up.’ Universities now know that indeed they’re subject to the law like everybody else.” Grace Carson | Executive Editor
Photo courtesy of Ashley Kneemueller
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 NINA PETROVIC HANNAH BRANIT SARA LOUGHRAN JACOB MILTENBERG
COVER PHOTO: TARYN ALLEN | CLARION
M AY 2 3 , 2 0 1 8
DU CLARION
NEWS | 3
Summary of the 2018 Legislative Session
T
he 120-day Colorado legislative session ended Wednesday, May 9. In the final hours, the General Assembly decided on various topics that each influence the state greatly. Here is a quick summary of the decisions made during the session. Transportations For public transportation, the General Assembly increased its budget. $645 million was allocated to fund transportation for the next two years. The years following will see an allotted $122.6 million a year for roads, bridges and the budget. What’s notable to mention is that the money after the first two years will not go to towns or counties. As reported in coloradopolitics.com, this funding is still short of the $20 billion that the state is expected to need in the coming years. Colorado’s Public Employees’ Retirement Association Taryn Allen l Clarion
DU announces loss of student
E
arly on May 21, the dean of the Department of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) sent out an email announcing the death of DU student Mackenzie Foster from the departments of psychology and emergent digital practices. She passed away on Wednesday, May 16; no cause of death was included in the announcement, only deepest sympathies and a list of support resources, such as the Health and Counseling Center, Employee Assistance Program and the like. There have been no further updates from AHSS nor from the university as a whole. This is an ongoing situation, and our coverage will be updated if any further information becomes available. Taryn Allen | Editor-in-Chief
(PERA) The pension plan that is meant to be an alternative to Social Security for public employees, such as employees of the state government and public school teachers, currently is underfunded by about $32 billion, which may not be paid over the next three decades. This legislative session sought to fix the flaws in the pension plan that affect over 585,000 current and former state employees. Decisions were made to tap $225 million in taxes, lose cost-of-living raises for two years (and afterwards decrease the annual raises from 2 percent to 1.5 percent), increasing the retirement age from 58 to 64 and requiring employees to partake in higher contributions by two percent. This provision also gives future public workers the option to opt out of PERA and join a contribution play similar to a 401(k). This, reports The Denver Post, would not be extended to school
district workers. The new Civil Rights Commission The seven-member, bipartisan board dedicated to “develop policy and hear appeals in discrimination cases” and “advise the Governor and General Assembly regarding policies and legislation that addresses illegal discrimination” had new adjustments assigned to it during the session. The commission will be comprised of three Democrats, three Republicans and one unaffiliated member. Three of the members need to represent business interests. The most notable change is that if the senate rejects one of the Governor’s appointees, he would not be allowed to reappoint them within two years. Full-strength beer more easily accessible According to the new SB-243, beginning Jan. 1, the limitation on the maximum alcohol content of “3.2% beer,” is eliminated. The
Denver Post also reports that new stores will be prohibited from selling full-strength beer within 500 feet of liquor stores and “limit delivery to employees in company-owned or leased vehicles, rather than outside contractors.” Access to Transition Specialists The House also voted to send a bill that would require Colorado to provide a transition specialist to help patients released after 72 hours to rehabilitate. This would involve providing assistance to various tasks such as placing them in a treatment program or finding housing. Colorado’s first regular session of the 72nd Generally Assembly will convene on Jan. 4, 2019.
Daniela Santos | News Editor
DU CLARION
4
| SPORTS
M AY 2 3 , 2 0 1 8
Denver Men’s Lacrosse falls to Albany in quarterfinals
T
he Pioneers fell to No. 2 Albany 15-13 in the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Quarterfinals, ending their 2018 season 13-4. This loss marks the end of Denver’s seventh quarterfinal appearance in the past eight years, reaching Championship weekend five times in the last seven years. Although Albany reached an early lead, sophomore attackman Ethan Walker (Peterborough, Ontario) was the first scorer for Denver, scoring an unassisted goal at 4:32. He was followed by senior Colton McCaffrey (Parker, Colo.), assisted by senior Zach Runberg (Centennial, Colo.) at 1:59. The score at the end of the first quarter was 4-2. In the second quarter, Denver started scoring early and went on a 3-0 run, taking the lead in the game for the first and only time. Freshman
Ted Sullivan (Tucson, Ariz.) scored at 12:22 off an assist from Runberg to get things started for the Pioneers. He was followed by senior Joe Reid (Petaluma, Calif.), who scored an unassisted goal at 10:38. Junior Colton Jackson (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) scored at 9:37 with an assist from Sullivan to give Denver its first and only lead of the game. Albany scored three times in the second quarter to bring the score to 7-5 at the end of the first half. In the third quarter, Albany scored first, but the Pioneers responded with a goal from senior face-off specialist Trevor Baptiste (Denville, N.J.), assisted by Runberg. Jackson scored at 11:01, assisted by senior Connor Donahue (Groton, Mass.). Although Albany scored again to make the score 9-7, Denver responded with two more goals to tie the game. Reid and junior Nate Marano (Tustin, Calif.)
both scored unassisted goals at 5:51 and 3:55 respectively to tie the game at 9-9. However, Albany scored twice before the end of the quarter to bring the score to 11-9. In the last quarter, Denver continued to try to even the score. At 11:42, Jackson scored with an assist from Marano. The duo combined at 8:46 to bring the score to 11-2. Albany responded with two goals, bringing the score to 14-11. At 0:51, Reid had an unassisted goal, followed by a goal from McCaffery at 0:38, assisted by sophomore Danny Logan (Upper Arlington, Ohio). The rally came too late, and the final score was 15-13. Jackson tied his career-high goals for the third time in three years, scoring four goals throughout the game. Baptiste, and Albany face-off specialist TD Ierlan came into the game as the top-two face-off specialists in the nation, splitting up
the face-offs 15-15. Reid scored his third career hat trick. This game was the last career game for the seniors—Donahue, Grant Gravitt (Las Vegas, Nev.), Reid, Nick Phillips (Denver, Colo.), Matt Jones (Denver, Colo.), Runberg, McCaffrey, Jeremy Bosher (Kamloops, B.C.), Sean Mayle (San Carlos, Calif.), Baptiste and redshirt senior Connor Flynn (Charlotte, N.C.)—who were members of the 2015 NCAA Lacrosse Championship team. Baptiste and Mayle were both selected in the Major League Lacrosse Draft. Baptiste was the first face-off specialist selected as the first pick, heading to the Boston Cannons. Mayle is headed to the Chesapeake Bayhawks.
Hannah Branit | Contributing Writer
Caitlin Gannam | Clarion
Four Pioneer teams awarded for academic excellence
A
ccording to the NCAA in a release, four DU athletics teams are ranked among the top 10 percent with their sports for multi-year Academic Progress Rates (APR). The APR measures eligibility, graduation and retention each semester or academic term and provides a clear picture of the academic performance for each team in every sport. All teams must meet an academic threshold of 930 to qualify for the postseason and can face penalties for continued low academic performance. DU Men’s Golf, DU Men’s Skiing,
DU Men’s Swimming and Diving and DU Women’s Gymnastics programs all received APR Public Recognition Awards. A total of 306 schools across the country had sports teams recognized with Public Recognition Awards. This marks the second straight year that DU Gymnastics has received the award. DU Men’s Golf won the award for the first time since the 2011-12 academic year. Both DU Men’s Skiing and DU Men’s Swimming and Diving are receiving the award for the first time in program history. Across the country this year
1,203 teams are being recognized for academic performance: 746 women’s teams and 457 men’s teams or co-ed teams. The total number of teams being recognized increased by 132 from a year ago. Though the academic year is still ongoing and many NCAA championships have yet to take place, seven national champions are already included in this year’s award list: California men’s water polo, Notre Dame fencing, Oklahoma women’s gymnastics, Penn State wrestling, South Carolina women’s basketball, Stanford women’s volleyball and West Virginia rifle.
“NCAA student-athletes and schools continue to achieve unprecedented levels of academic success,” said Mark Emmert, NCAA president. “We commend these programs for their commitment to academic excellence and dedication to preparing student-athletes for life after college.” DU hopes to keep this prestigious performance going in the next academic year as Pioneer athletes begin their seasons in the fall.
Nikky Johnson | Sports Editor
M AY 2 3 , 2 0 1 8
DU CLARION
OPINIONS | 5
In the higher ed debate, college access is still a problem A s the school year wraps up, it is always good to do some reflecting and to be thankful for what we’re getting out of this experience. It is also good to remind ourselves of the people who are not in college currently who would like to be and ask what can be done to help them get here. But even as we focus on college accessibility, concerning new evidence from economic analysis reported by The New York Times with the headline “College May Not Be Worth It Anymore” shows that future earnings often have more to do with past socioeconomic circumstances than with level of education, pointing to problematic, overarching issues when it comes to higher education and employment. But gaining access to and being able to afford college are still huge challenges for many hopeful students. Debates over whether college is worth it still need to be taking place in a context in which anyone who wants to go to college is able to. The study cited in The New York Times comes from economists Tim Bartik and Brad Hershbein and examines for whom a
bachelor’s degree leads to higher future earnings. The study found that for people from middle class families, getting a college degree does often lead to higher earnings than for those who did not. But the same was not found for middle-aged males raised in low-income families—from this group, those with a bachelor’s degree earn less on average than middle class people with no degree. These findings point to more ingrained socioeconomic issues that contribute to who is able to go to college and what their employment opportunities will be. Making college “worth it” from an earnings perspective will take continuous effort to address these more pervasive biases. But even if the effect on earnings by a college degree is uncertain, there are still many reasons that people want to attend college, such as personal growth, social connections and the chance for job opportunities. College can be fulfilling for all sorts of reasons, and each individual is uniquely motivated when it comes to why he or she wants to be here. There are plenty of barriers that some students still face when it comes
to attending, though. Their high schools may not have had as many clubs, sports or advanced classes, they may have needed to work during the school year, they may have less information about colleges available and the cost may be prohibitive. No matter what reason these students have for wanting to attend college, these barriers need to be lower. At multiple times, including in this New York Times report, the argument has been raised that the U.S. places too strong an emphasis on higher education while ignoring the value of professional schools. Many jobs that don’t require a college degree are asking for them anyway due to the large portion of the workforce that does hold one. There are certainly valid points within such arguments, but, just like in the discussion of childhood socioeconomic status and future employment, we need to first ensure that college is as viable an option for each individual as it can be— both higher education and the trades need to be open to young people regardless of family income level. Colleges themselves can keep prioritizing scholarship offerings
to keep promoting accessibility. They can also continue outreach to lower-income communities and provide support for first generation students to affirm that everyone can belong on campus. Tuition lock-ins should also be considered to ensure that a student pays the same tuition for all four years rather than seeing rising rates. State programs aimed at reduced or tuition-free college, which already exist in a number of states, can help confront the issue of massive student loan debt. Whether or not college is worth it is an individual decision based on factors often beyond just future earnings, but it should be an option for anyone who does wish to attend. Making college more accessible will not fully solve the deeper issues that caused Bartik and Hershbein to get the results they did, but it will help address some of the barriers facing prospective students in the first place and give us a better starting point from which to start conversations of how higher education should evolve in the future. Elizabeth Lochhead | Opinions Editor
Mental health resource outreach at DU falls short
T
his past week, May 14 - May 20, was Mental Health Awareness Week in the United Kingdom. Mental illness has carried a huge stigma for quite some time, and depression rates in young people have risen by 33 percent from 2013 to 2016 here in the U.S. However, this is positive and negative: negative because of the high number of depressed young people, but positive because it means more people are getting diagnosed and seeking help for their illnesses. With these statistics in mind, it’s important to look at what DU is doing to help students with mental illness. One of the biggest problems for young people is getting a diagnosis for their illness, and while the rate has risen, it’s still not completely destigmatized. If someone suspects they may have a mental illness when they are a teenager, it’s hit or miss whether they will get diagnosed or not. It can be due to lack of money, parents not believing their child or the teen being too afraid and/or depressed to ask for help. So if you aren’t
diagnosed as a teen, it’s very difficult to get diagnosed as a college student and as an adult until you have enough money, which can be difficult when struggling with a mental illness. Depression and anxiety can be diagnosed more easily nowadays simply by visiting a primary care physician, but learning and developmental disorders, as well as other psychiatric disorders such as OCD, PTSD, bipolar disorder, etc., require deeper and more thorough testing that often costs a lot of money and requires a long-term evaluation of the person’s life and history of the disorder, usually with the testimonies of family and close friends. And that is just getting diagnosed; it doesn’t even cover treatment and the difficulties surrounding that. Something that can be noticed on DU’s campus is the conversation surrounding mental health. When students talk about their experience with mental illness, they are either met with awkward tension or people attempting to congratulate the person for their
experiences and hailing them as inspiring. This is not exclusive to DU by any means, but it makes mentally ill students feel like they don’t belong or that they can’t talk about an important part of their lives because they’ll either be ostracized or treated as an object used for the personal inspiration of others. It’s dehumanizing and one of the barriers keeping young people from getting diagnosed, because they can’t feel like they can talk to anyone about their feelings or struggles. DU has some resources like the counseling services at the Health and Counseling Center and a Mental Health task force. However, the latter is not as well advertised, and the events listed on their page, such as Campus Connect Training, for educating DU students, faculty and staff on suicide awareness and training, and a Mental Health Festival in April with the dates and times listed as TBD, are ones that have had little promotion in the form of posters, flyers, announcements and/or emails. It is a good start, but clearly these things
are not reaching the amount of students that they should. Mental health is extremely important, and young people should be able to access resources if they need guidance or assistance. While DU is making an effort to be aware of mental illness on campus, they could be doing more to make students aware of the resources they offer and attempt to involve them in attempts to create a better discourse around mental health on campus. Many students would benefit from having a campus that actively discusses mental health and tries to encourage treatment for those suffering from mental illness, but right now, they are not getting that. Approximately one in five adults experiences some form of mental illness each year, so it is clearly something that isn’t going away any time soon. DU needs to make more effort to address it and work with students who are looking for help.
Sara Loughran | Contributing Writer
DU CLARION
6
| OPINIONS
PIONEER FUNNIES
M AY 2 3 , 2 0 1 8
Letter from the editor: Grace Houser signs off
B
eing a part of the Clarion over the past two years has been an incredible experience. My first year on the paper was centered on the Lifestyles section, which gave me the motivation to explore more in the Denver area, and for that I am very grateful. This year I was able to work as a member of the team as a photo editor. This gave me the opportunity to be a real part of campus through Pio Voices and attending different events. The chance to go up to strangers and ask them if they will participate was wildly rewarding, albeit terrifying and discouraging at times. As photo editors, Caitlan
and I were able to get to know students we would perhaps otherwise never meet and represent them through this paper. We learned people’s favorite hiking spots, restaurants and ways they would spend time. There aren’t a lot of other opportunities to get to know strangers so personally. Going in every Monday evening to work was a highlight to get to know the editorial team and talented student photographers, too. Through the time we spent at our production nights, I became close to some of my favorite people and good friends. It made it much more inviting to go into work knowing that I would be able to see the friendly
faces of my fellow editors, whom I love to listen to discuss matters of everything from pop culture to politics to things happening on campus. And now I pass the baton on to my Co-Photo Editor. Caitlan: I have no preoccupations of your ability to do incredible work, both with your expertise and talent, but also your ability to encourage and improve our staff photographers. It has been a pleasure to work with you, get absolutely stuck on what question to ask each week and overall laugh our way through our jobs. I hope you have an amazing upcoming year on the Clarion and can’t wait to see all of your
photos and great answers to Pio Voices in the paper. I’d also like to thank John and Ryan so much for this opportunity and facilitating an inviting and friendly work atmosphere in the Clarion office. There are many ways a newspaper can be run, and this was definitely a rewarding and successful way to run it! And with that, I use my one and only allotted exclamation mark in my Clarion career, quite fitting. Grace Houser Photo/Video Editor
DU CLARION
M AY 2 3 , 2 0 1 8
OPINIONS | 7
PIONEER VOICES Question of the week:
What are your summer plans?
“Well I’m graduating so I start my job in finance. Hopefully I get a break. So I guess just finding an apartment and living in Denver and working here.”
“I’m going back home to Kansas, and I’m nannying for a family that I used to babysit a lot for in high school.”
Amanda Roesser, Fourth Year
Melia Ortiz, Second Year
“I’m going home to Lake Tahoe and I’m going to work at a sushi restaurant and hang out by the lake.”
“I’m looking forward to staying in Denver to hang out with my friends, maybe go on some walks and chill at the park.”
Mia Winans, First Year
Pupper, K9
DU CLARION
8
| OPINIONS
M AY 2 3 , 2 0 1 8
Letter from the editor: Editor-in-Chief John Poe signs off
F
our years ago, I cautiously walked into a Clarion meeting hoping to find an organization where I could satisfy my desire to work on a publication. Four years ago, I would have never imagined I would one day be the Editor-in-Chief of the Clarion. Four years ago, I would have never known that I would find my second family and form some of my closest friendships at the Clarion. Today, I sign off as your Editor-in-Chief. I am so grateful for the amazing opportunity to be a part of this organization. Working for the Clarion has taught me so much and has truly been an unforgettable experience. Of course, none of this would have been possible without all of you. To our dedicated readers: Thank you so much for your continued support. Your readership shows your dedication to not only the Clarion, but to the University. Thank you for inspiring us to continue working hard to produce top notch con-
tent for this publication. To the Clarion staff: I am so lucky to have worked with such a talented group of people. You are all incredibly wonderful people to work with and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I am so excited to see what is in store for the future of this publication. I have no doubt that you will all crush it. I wish you all the best of luck in the rest of your time at DU and beyond. Remember, we’re a big family and will always have your back. To Andrew Matranga, the Clarion’s Faculty Adviser: Thank you for the countless ideas to keep this publication thinking outside the box. Your energy and vast media experience are so beneficial to keep the Clarion modernized. You have taught me so much and shaped me into the strong leader I am today. I will cherish the time we had working together. To Jillian Queri, Kellsie Brannen, Connor W. Davis and Meg McIntyre, my inspirational predecessors: Thank you for everything
that you have taught me. All four of you did such a wonderful job, and I am truly grateful to have taken the reigns with the publication in such great shape. You are all amazing leaders and inspired me to push my limits and grow my leadership skills. To Ryan Ninesling, my lovely Executive Editor and very close friend: I can honestly say I could not have done this without you. I am so lucky to have had you by my side all year, and I am eternally thankful for your hard work. Thank you for the countless memories and laughs. You are such a phenomenal person, Ryan. You are going to do amazing things in life and I am so excited to see that. To Taryn Allen and Grace Carson, my talented successors: You both have done an amazing job thus far and I am so excited to see where you will go. It will get tough at times, but I promise you it is worth it. What you are doing has such a profound impact on this world. There will be a ton of little things that pop
up, I guarantee it. Don’t lose sight of the big picture, though. You are incredible leaders and I am so proud of you both. Thank you all for the love, laughter and memories. Thank you all for making my time at the Clarion a truly unforgettable experience! John Poe Editor-in-Chief Emeritus
Letter from the editor: Executive Editor Ryan Ninesling signs off
W
hen I walked into my first Clarion meeting, I was a lost writer in search of somewhere I could express and push myself regularly, somewhere where I could feel welcomed and encouraged to pursue my interests and share them with an audience willing to engage with them. I found that at the Clarion, but more importantly, I found people. People who I would grow to love and admire, people who would push me up in my lowest moments, people who would become more than just colleagues. They would become my family. To me, the Clarion embodies what DU should be: a place where people can gather to share ideas and see the importance of one another, a place where people strive to use their passions to uphold the very foundations of
what we hold dear as students. The DU Clarion is a college newspaper, yes, but it represents something much greater. In a time where a generation is often encouraged to be silent, we can have a voice. We can use that voice to empower and to question, to shine a light where others think not to. Whether that light is on our country or even our own campus, it is vital we do not let it die out. The Clarion, I hope, will continue that mission as it has done since 1899, and I hope readers will continue to realize its importance. To John: I could not have asked for a better partner through this insane journey we have been on together. You are an incredibly passionate, driven individual who will without a doubt accomplish great things. It is an honor not only to be your
Writer and Opinions Editor for the Clarion since her freshman year, and she is honored to call herself the Executive Editor of the Clarion. Her passions include ranting about social justice issues, reading social and political theory, helping her community, the art of storytelling and being a coffee-snob. We are both so passionate about the Clarion; we have countless ideas for how to make the paper even better, and we cannot wait to implement them next fall. The incredible work that our predecessors—John and Ryan and those before them— have done will serve as a foundation for our plans, and hopefully by this time next year, we will have accomplished those plans and built a legacy for ourselves within the long and proud history of the Clarion. Our main focuses for the upcoming school year involve building name and brand recognition and building a larger and more diversi-
fied staff. We want the Clarion to be a household name in the DU community and beyond, and that begins with student engagement. Hopefully, we can work toward creating a Clarion that represents and reaches everyone at DU, constructing a connected and informed community of which we can all be proud. To our staff, old and new: Thank you for the years of memories inside the office and out, and we can’t wait to see what you all will continue to accomplish. We have so appreciated your patience and support during the crazy transition time this quarter; thank you for welcoming us with open arms. John and Ryan, you two specifically have had great impacts on our lives and Clarion careers, and we owe you immensely. Please—and this is particularly aimed at you, John—never doubt the impact that you have had on this newspaper during your time here. You’ve transformed it into a publication that we
Executive Editor, but to be your close friend. This publication will forever owe you a immense debt. You, however, owe me an immense debt for the medical bills I have racked up listening to your musicals for over a year. To Taryn & Grace: I could not be prouder of the pair of you. You are incredibly brave, intelligent, kick-ass women who I know will continue to set an example for everyone around you. We have placed our printed child into more than capable hands. You will rock this. Make us look like amateurs. To readers: Read this paper, watch more movies, call your mom. Be kind. Dream. Ryan Ninesling Executive Editor Emeritus
Letter from the editors: Taryn Allen and Grace Carson
H
i, our names are Taryn Allen and Grace Carson, and we will be working to represent the Clarion as Editor-in-Chief and Executive Editor, respectively, for the 20182019 school year. Here’s a bit of an introduction to each of us: Taryn is a third year media studies and English double major from the small town of Canandaigua, N.Y. She began writing for the Clarion on the first day of her freshman year, and she has since held positions as a Staff Writer and Photographer, Copy Editor and Arts & Life Editor, and she is thrilled to be transitioning in as Editor-inChief. Outside the Clarion, Taryn also enjoys music, theatre, traveling, film, cooking and spending time with friends and family. Grace is also a third year from Choctaw, Okla. who is double majoring in journalism and political science. She has served as a Staff
are honored to inherit. We wish everyone a happy end of the school year and a fantastic summer ahead. We cannot wait to be back next fall, hopefully better than ever. Taryn Allen, Editor-in-Chief Grace Carson, Executive Editor
M AY 2 3 , 2 0 1 8
DU CLARION
ARTS & LIFE | 9
Florence + the Machine has a “Hunger” for life
Y
Photo Courtesy of Total Management
Photo courtesy of Denver Eater
outh has been the subject of numerous songs by many artists. Khalid describes the mistakes he made at “8Teen.”Lana del Rey recalls her willingness to fall in love and party all night in “This is What Makes Us Girls.” Marina and the Diamonds pines for popularity and adhering to society’s standards of teenage girls in “Teen Idle.” In their new single, “Hunger,” Florence + the Machine represents those who are in their youth striving for something greater with vices that may destroy them. The song begins with lead singer Florence Welch describing using a destructive method to bring some type of fulfillment in her life (“At seventeen I started to
starve myself, I thought that love was a kind of emptiness”). Welch then goes on to sing that perhaps starving herself was to fulfill her desire to be someone else, and she decides this wish is a type of companion (“And at least I understood the hunger I felt, and I didn’t have to call it loneliness”). The core of the song comes in a simple statement that repeats itself four times. “We all have a hunger” describes how people are empty and wishes to give their lives meaning, thus satisfying their “hunger” for life. It is the acknowledgement that many are not fulfilled with their current situation in life and must find a solution for this. Florence + the Machine then describes how today’s youth have
ASA’s eXpressions a joyful showcase of local talent O n Friday, May 18, the DU Asian Student Alliance (ASA) hosted their 11th annual eXpressions and Taste of Asia event, which consisted of a variety of Asian cuisine from local vendors followed by the eXpressions show featuring both local and student performers. Taste of Asia featured a wide range of Asian food, including Indian, Chinese and Thai, and it was a popular event, with all the food gone before the two hours was up. ASA Vice President Steven Kim was the energetic emcee for eXpressions, cracking jokes and keeping the audience engaged throughout the show. Local groups such as Tai Kung Ha, BLOCK 1750, Denver Taiko, Tricks & Blows and Machinez Remainz performed everything from hip hop dance to traditional Japanese drumming. Student performances were just as diverse. Highlights included masterful Lamont School of Music students William Cálix on the piano and Kevin Miranda playing classical guitar,
as well as powerful spoken word poetry from Isaac Vargas and a mesmerising Hawaiian dance by Pualani Tupper. A few student groups performed together, such as DU’s South Asian Student Association, who put on a medley of Bollywood dances, and the Eritrea Ethiopia Group, doing a medley of Ethiopian dances. Other students sang covers and mashups of songs, anything from traditional Vietnamese tunes to Broadway numbers. Throughout all the performances, the students in the audience cheered, laughed and hyped up the performers—the atmosphere was pure and supportive, genuinely excited and looking to recognize the talent the community had to offer. The event truly encapsulated the diversity of DU and Denver’s Asian-American community, as well as the sheer joy and fun of sharing the arts in a carefree environment. Keep up to date with future ASA events through their Facebook page. Monica McFadden | Arts & Life Editor
bravery to seek the change they are looking for (“But you and all your vibrant youth, how can anything bad ever happen to you?”). Florence Welch is captivated by the youth’s energy and does not think that anything bad could ever happen to them if they have the enthusiasm to change the world they live in. However, Welch then provides a contrast to this enthusiasm in today’s youth. She describes that some people may try to find change in the drugs or people they seek that may actually leave them even more empty. She states that the hunger in people may lead them to “give themselves to strangers and try to find a home with people,” leaving them more
alone. Those who believe that substances are the answer may be left even more empty (“I thought that love was in the drugs, but the more I took, the more it took away”). The verse of this song is a warning to be cautious in a youth’s journey for fulfillment and to consider the choices that may impact his or herfuture. While Welch encourages the path to look for meaning, she also warns of its negative consequences. Florence + the Machine will be releasing their upcoming album “High as Hope” on June 29. They will be performing at Grandoozy on September 14. Tickets can be found on the Grandoozy website. Nina Petrovic | Contributing Writer
DU CLARION
10
| ARTS
M AY 2 3 , 2 0 1 8
& LIFE
Lula Rose General Store blossoms on Colfax
O
n East Colfax, appearance is everything. The bustling street is well-loved for its eclectic signage and architecture. Spots like Tom’s Diner, the Squire Lounge, the Bluebird Theater and the longstanding Pete’s Kitchen all are markers of a time long past of interesting and arresting constructions in Denver. Lula Rose General Store, located at Colfax and Madison, has always piqued my interest. Driving or walking by, one immediately notices its nostalgic, old-school diner-like construction. In combination with its beautiful look and massive street-
Justin Cygan | DU Clarion
side windows, the other creative feature is the giant and classic “Coffee Shop” billboard that hangs over its roof. It’s—to say the least—a very inviting physical space. Founded in 2015 by then-24year-old Oliver Miller-Finkel, the cozy general store is marked by its devout authenticity and character, and its interior is a beautiful appeal to classic coffee shop aesthetics. Inside, the space is small and limited; there’s no wifi and it can be inferred that simple coffee and conversation is the goal of the store. Repurposed wood is used throughout the shop which doubles as a florist, meaning
the entire interior is marked by an array of beautiful plants and pottery. The centerpiece of the store, though, is its gorgeous, peak-aesthetic, pale pink La Marzocco espresso machine. The shop rotates different coffees, most from the Denver area. On the day I was there, they were serving Middle State and Sweet Bloom beans. For coffee options, the shop offers a pretty straightforward and classic menu. Americanos for $3, cappuccinos for $3.75 and the highly recommended cold brew for $3.50. Pastries are provided by Denver’s Thump roasters, and almond, oat and cashew milk are made in house.
Fulfilling the General Store name, the shop offers a collection of non-coffee items depending on whatever the owner is interested in selling that day. Miller-Finkel named the store after his 92-year-old great-aunt, a former florist in Alabama. Her legacy carries on at both the general store and his new venture, Little Lula Rose, a combination florist and coffee shop. If the general store is more so a coffee shop that sells some flowers, Little Lula is a floral shop that sells a little coffee. The quaint shop opened after demand for plants and flowers was restricted by the space of the general store. Little Lula offers full floral options while providing a stripped down yet still excellent coffee experience à la its big sister. The Lula Rose atmosphere is a classic and authentic one. Both spaces hark back to simpler times where communities revolved around institutions such as floral shops, general stores and unpretentious cafes. The fact that the deeply wellcrafted stores are the product of a such a young entrepreneur shows the unique quality of the spaces. The two outposts of Miller-Frinkel’s charming empire are equally deserving of a visit and are lovely markers of Denver’s evolving indie coffee landscape. Justin Cygan | Copy Editor
HBO’s “Fahrenheit 451” cast dazzles in dystopia
B
ooks, writing, sentences, words, syllables; what you are reading now is a privilege. The ability to learn, to engage with the writings on a page, is a freedom that we often take for granted. What if you lived in a world where all these freedoms were eradicated? What kind of world would you have left? In the HBO film adaptation of one of society’s most privileged pieces of literature, the pages are turned into a desolate future where the very way of life is burned. There are not enough words to describe “Fahrenheit 451,” as its all-star cast and stellar interpretation are a spark that ignites meaning into a world full of rage, chaos and a glimmer of hope that will frustrate some fans but will otherwise elicit enough of a blaze to truly fire up moviegoers everywhere. However, viewers should proceed with caution, as it suffers from a plot structure that inflames what could be a masterful film. “Fahrenheit 451” stars Michael B. Jordan ( “Black Panther”) as Montag and Michael Shannon (“The Shape of Water”) as Beatty in a not-so-distant future where books are not only illegal but are burned, and anyone in possession of books is imprisoned. Imprisoned is a good word to describe the structure for the film, as it falls extremely flat in developing any real sense of tension until the final twenty minutes. The film plays up its futuristic atmosphere much more than it should. The first half of the movie seems like a
drag; after a while, the audience has seen about everything in this dystopian world and instead the film focuses on the shiny drones and cars, which is a mistake, since it would have very much benefited from adding more of a backstory to the main characters and giving more screen time to Michael Shannon’s character. It is trying so hard to figure what the film wants to be that it loses itself in the classic Hollywood dilemma: how to adapt a novel onto the screen without losing some of the book’s own magic. The most amazing part of the film lies in its casting, which sees Michael B. Jordan at his most intense and mesmerizing character performance since “Fruitvale Station.” We come to see Montag as he struggles to realize what
is going on around him and his | DU Clarion understanding Taryn of Allen what books really provide for humans—escapism. We see how the ever present forms of technology and his past start to ruin his life, and as he begins to read, he understands what the past really was. He is emotionally lost, almost inhuman, and it is truly riveting to watch as he brings so much passion into his character. The same amount of grit can be said for Michael Shannon’s character, who through the length of the film becomes an embodiment of evil. His character can only be described as a racist, psychotic abuser. At the end, “Fahrenheit 451” is a decent adaptation of the book by Ray Bradbury, though it struggles in its structure and doesn’t get you hooked until the very end
which holds it back from being a truly amazing film. The performances by Michael B. Jordan and Michael Shannon are a true chef d’oeuvre—riveting and a duo that play off each other with amazing chemistry. The atmosphere of the film is really scary and realistic and adds to the tension of the film, but at times, it seems to be too much. Overall, “Fahrenheit 451” does a great job in being a true form of escapism, just like what a book is supposed to do, though at times it struggles from the occasional bumps in its structure of plot and atmosphere. Rating: 3.5/5
Jacob Miltenberg | Contributing Writer
Photo Courtesy of HBO
M AY 2
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
3Commencement18_ClarionAd_OLFA.pdf , 2018
DU CLARION 1
5/21/18
11:34 AM
|11
DU CLARION
12
| ARTS
M AY 2 3 , 2 0 1 8
& LIFE
Hinds came here to rock and didn’t disappoint Taryn Allen | DU Clarion
Photo Courtesy of DIY Mag
A
banner on the stage of the Globe Hall read, “Hi we’re Hinds and we came here to rock,” which is a fitting greeting from the all-girl garage pop band hailing from Madrid. The band is made up of Ana Perrote (vocals and guitar), Ade Martin (bass and back vocals), Amber Grimbergen (drums) and Carlotta Cosials (vocals and guitar). The four musicians came to Denver on Friday, May 18, joined by openers
The Corner Girls and Goodbye Honolulu, to promote their new album, “I Don’t Run,” with a night of sunny, dancy jams. Don’t be fooled by the sweet vocals on their tracks—these girls know how to party and put on a rock concert. Hinds has crowd-surfed and moshed their way across America on their tour, lacing their beachy tunes with a frenzied, grungy edge. The sing-song Spanish accents and genuine joy of the musicians give
a live Hinds show a pure sense of fun that is hard to find. “Thank you for coming tonight, because if you don’t know it, we realize it’s a Friday night, and we really appreciate that you chose us as your plan tonight,” said Cosials as she opened the set before breaking into “The Club,” a single from their new album. It was unusual that there were more women than men in the room, said Cosials during the show—”We
have a lot to say!” she proclaimed, which prompted screams and cheering from the crowd. The set was a mix of songs from their old and new albums, even plucking lesser-known singles from a few years back. Perrote, Martin and Cosials put on a little synchronized dance at the beginning of single “Caribbean Moon,” an example of the kind of quirky moments that filled out the night. Near the end of the show, members of the openers joined Hinds on stage to perform the fittingly western-themed number “Davey Crockett.” The energy of the crowd peaked when the stage was packed with performers, with Cosials and Perrote coming to the edge of the stage, dancing without reservations. The small venue also allowed for cute, intimate moments from the band members. “It feels like we kind of know the city because of you guys,” Cosials said of Denver as the show neared its close. Hinds is at its best when they manage to stunningly charm the audience with sweetness and, in the next breath, let loose screaming into the mic. Their energy is truly infectious. Be sure to check out Hinds’s new album for a perfect record of summer jams, and don’t miss their next show in Denver, if only for a night of feel-good dancing and effervescent stage presence. Monica McFadden | Arts & Life Editor
DU outdoors clubs spread the stoke
I
n a fun display of unity and celebration of the outdoors, a group of DU’s many outdoors-oriented clubs threw an event on May 17 called Spread the Stoke. On the hot, sunny Thursday afternoon from 2-5 p.m., Alpine Club, Backpacking Club, Fly Fishing Club, Kayaking Club, Freeride Club, Club Climbing and Backcountry Squatters took over Driscoll Green. The Green was filled with students, some representing their clubs, some just passing through to check out the event, which featured tables of free food, lawn games, gear giveaways, music and a climbing wall. There were even demonstrations put on by DU’s own student experts about skills like fishing, camp cooking, first aid and the like. The event was made successful through huge group effort, but the team leader was Alpine Club President Caroline Painter, a third year studying psychology and communication. “All the outdoor leaders can agree that the outdoor community on campus is very cliquey and very exclusive, and so … by having this event and kind of coming together and supporting each other, we’re hoping to bring the community together,” said Painter on the purpose of Spread
the Stoke. “Ultimately, the outdoors are a place where you make friends and you have good times and learn cool new things, so we’re hoping that this is like the start of a community-building on campus.” Painter also discussed how the outdoors clubs are seeking unity, but beyond just DU’s white majority community. “The outdoor community in general is just very white. I think a big interest that we have in the next few years is trying to get more students who maybe can’t financially afford to go on trips or students of color, because on a lot of the trips that we lead, it’s a lot of the same faces, and a lot of white faces, so I think making this a really inclusive community is something we’re striving for.” Spread the Stoke was a huge success, celebrating passion for the outdoors, the summer weather, collaboration of student clubs and overall unification of the DU community. Painter and the others were incredibly excited about the event and the momentum it will certainly provide in the growing success of DU’s outdoors clubs in the future.
Taryn Allen | Editor-in-Chief
Taryn Allen | DU Clarion