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DU CLARION
| NEWS
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Governor Deep Dive: Jared Polis
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he biggest decision in the state of Colorado this year is the gubernatorial election since incumbent John Hickenlooper’s term is coming to an end. The major party candidates are Republican Walker Stapleton and Democrat Jared Polis. This article will be focused on Jared Polis, there is another article here in the Clarion focusing on Walker Stapleton. Who is Jared Polis? Jared Polis is the current representative for Colorado’s 2nd congressional district which includes Broomfield, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Grand, Larimer and Summit counties, as well as portions of Boulder, Eagle, Jefferson, Park and Weld counties. Polis is currently a member of the Committee on Rules, the Committee on Education and the Workforce, the Committee on Ethics and the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee and is a pioneer for public education both in state and nationally. Education Education is one of his policy
priorities. According to Polis’s website, he believes that “postsecondary education—whether at a four-year institution... or at a community college... —must be within reach for all, regardless of background or circumstances.” He proposed the Affordable College Textbooks Act in order to greatly reduce or terminate the immense cost of college textbooks for students, professors, researchers and even the general public. Polis also introduced countless bills to reform the student loan process in order to make it easier for graduates to pay back their loans. This includes reforming Free Education for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to make the application process easier to use. The Economy Another one of Polis’s main concerns is about the economy in terms of finding alternatives for the coal and natural gas industries and their workers in the state of Colorado. He acknowledges that because of the changing economy that many people working in mining and factories would be out of a job, and he plans to “help rural and coal
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communities find meaningful work policies is to increase funding for Colin their field retrain for a new career orado Parks and Wildlife by “assemif they choose...by bringing jobs in bl[ing] a Commission of outdoor recmanufacturing, forestry, agriculture reation representatives, sportsmen, and renewable energy development sportswomen and environmental to rural Colorado in a way that takes experts to develop a sustainable, fair advantage of the skills our workers and sufficient plan to fund CPW.” To already have.” preserve the Colorado outdoor expeWith the economic growth that rience, Polis opposes selling Colorado is occurring in Colorado, the cost of public land to bidders. He states that living has steadily increased over the “nearly a third of our state is made past couple of years, but income has up of public lands, and these lands remained the same. In order to make belong to all Coloradans, no matter living more affordable for families, their background, zip code, race or he plans to provide free and full-day income. Our public lands, clean air preschool. He also plans to pass the and rivers are critical to protecting aforementioned Affordable College our fish and wildlife habitat, providTextbooks Act to save families more ing the public with places to hunt and money. Finally, he plans on giving fish, ski, climb, bike, raft and enjoy all workers the right to be a part of a the Colorado outdoor experience.” union without fear of retaliation. One Election day is Nov. 6 nationwide. of his biggest promises is providing The Clarion has an article for stupaid sick, medical and family leave dents who have any questions about for all Coloradans. He also plans to registering to vote while here at DU. “address pay-equity gaps for women and people of color in our state.” Wildlife As a representative from northern Colorado, he is a believer in preserving the state’s wildlife. One of his Valeria Moncada | Contributing Writer
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TARYN ALLEN, Editor-in-Chief GRACE CARSON, Executive Editor DANIELA SANTOS, News Editor HANNAH BRANIT, Sports 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. 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.
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The Clarion is open to contributors of all years and majors at DU, including both undergraduate and graduate students. There’s no application necessary; all you have to do is show up to one of our weekly meetings, which are held every Monday at 6 p.m. (during the academic year) in the Hub. Can’t make it to a meeting? Send an email to duclarioneditor@gmail.com and we’ll do everything we can to get you published.
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DU CLARION
NEWS | 3
Governor Deep Dive: Walker Stapleton
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ith four generations of Colorado-born family history and eight years as State Treasurer, Walker Stapleton is hoping to become Colorado’s next Republican Governor. After a slightly tumultuous primary season, Stapleton won the Republican primaries with 49.35 percent of the vote and the potential to become the second Republican governor Colorado has had in the last 45 years. On his official campaign website, Stapleton highlights nine different issues, that are of top priority to him. Health care: Stapleton has three primary goals for health care that he wants to execute as governor: emphasize preventive and primary care with a focus on mental health integration, emphasize outcomes-based care with a more efficient administrative process and give Coloradans a wider variety of coverage options. Walker aims to “implement a more comprehensive approach to mental health services and advocate incorporating these services in employee-sponsored and exchange plans.” Additionally, he plans to build on the Colorado State Innovation Model for Medicaid System started by Governor John Hickenlooper’s administration. This program allows Coloradans to access “behavioral and physical health in primary care settings” with alternative payment models, such as Medicaid, of which 16 percent of the Colorado population relies on. Due to the importance of Medicaid for Colorado families, Stapleton’s second goal is directed toward a more efficient use of Medicaid. Citing a Medicaid fraud prevention initiative enacted in Illinois, Stapleton wants to conduct a more comprehensive method of monitoring the administration of Medicaid programs to reduce waste, abuse and fraud in Colorado. Lastly, Stapleton intends to seek a 1332 Waiver that, permits a state to “pursue innovative strategies for providing their residents with access to high quality, affordable health insurance.” Sanctuary cities: Stapleton states that sanctuary cities, are “a direct threat to public safety and rule of law.” As governor, Stapleton would reverse actions
taken by the city of Denver to prevent aiding immigration enforcement, such as the (currently) forbidden practice of sharing personal information for the purposes of immigration enforcement or asking any person about their citizenship status. Retirement: Addressing the Public Employee’s Retirement Association (PERA) reform that he has led as Treasurer, Stapleton intends to fight for fiscal restraint, protecting the taxpayer’s interests and making the program more efficient. Education: Stapleton states, “We must allow the money to follow the students, not the other way around.” His primary initiatives for education include moving money away from the administration and toward the classroom and teachers, instilling a “back to school shopping” tax holiday, allowing parents to open a tax-free education savings account and expanding school choice by supporting more charter schools. Energy and land: The oil and gas industry in Colorado contributes over $31 billion dollars to the Colorado economy. Stapleton supports the deregulation of Colorado’s oil and gas industry, claiming, “Under my leadership, businesses can be certain that they will not be hit with agenda-driven, burdensome, job-killing regulations.” Instead of imposing regulations, Stapleton wants to work with the energy industry to find and support innovations in energy to ensure a low-cost energy supply to Colorado citizens. Additionally, Stapleton supports moving the Department of the Interior to Colorado, as he wants bureaucrats in Washington to better understand the impact and consequences of their mandates in the West, where the federal government owns just under half the land. Transportation: Citing “numerous studies” that show deficiencies in Colorado’s infrastructure cost, Stapleton reflects on the importance of improving Colorado’s infrastructure to save Colorado taxpayers money. In Governor Hickenlooper’s “State of the State” address on Jan. 12, 2017, Hickenlooper said, “Over the next decade, Colorado has nine billion dollars of unmet transportation needs, and that need will only grow.” Stapleton plans to fix this
issue by re-bonding a portion of Colorado’s gas tax revenue and making the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) find the money in their existing budget to solve ongoing road maintenance issues. Second amendment: Not only does Stapleton support the second amendment, he believes that “it is deeply embedded in the American ideals of self-reliance and independence.” Following this belief, he supports the repeal of 2013 gun control laws “that limit Second Amendment freedoms and caused job creators like Magpul to flee our state.” Stapleton is referring to House Bill 13-1224 that prohibits the sale, transfer or possession of large-capacity ammunition magazines. Stapleton supports legislation that gives “local communities the ability to empower teachers to voluntarily carry firearms.” Jobs: While acknowledging Colorado’s historically low employment rate, which dipped below three percent this year, Stapleton wants to place more focus on rural Colorado and the Western Slope, where there is less focus on job creation. Stapleton supports small businesses, calling them the driving force behind Colorado’s economy and believes that “creating a positive business environment that does not pick winners and losers, and works for businesses big and small, will be essential to restoring equitable growth that extend to all corners of our state.” Water: Stapleton believes that Colorado’s future depends on water. He supports the building of new infrastructure and advancing conservation efforts to protect Colorado’s municipal, agricultural and industrial water users. In a recent speech to the Colorado Water Congress, Stapleton said, “We need more dollars for water, not less. At a minimum, I would like to see the growth of water spending remain in line with the growth of the state budget.” Colorado citizens must be registered to vote by election day on Tuesday, Nov. 6 and mail-in ballot requests are due by Monday, Oct. 29. Midterm election polls will be open until 7 p.m. on election day. Serena Bettis | Contributing Writer
Denver marches for black women
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he culmination of Kinyata Jackson’s March for Black Women came to fruition this last Saturday, Sept. 29. Black women came together on the steps of the Colorado State Capitol to celebrate the black experience and mobilize against oppression facing the black community. Jackson is a local organizer, small business owner and activist who planned the last March for Black Women in 2017. This year’s agenda focused on expanding conversations about injustice that black women face, and in particular, sexual abuse, youth violence and deportation of black and brown women. Jackson wanted to emphasize the importance of giving everyone a chance to be heard, especially those whose voices might have been drowned out
in other marches. She stated that “The voice of those most impacted by the issues that are being fought for get suppressed by the voice of the majority.” She went on to say that the March for Black Women was “able to specifically lift up the voices that are often underheard or overlooked.” However, this year, Jackson made a special emphasis on the fact that the issues do not affect just one demographic of women, but all women. She fervently declared that all women of color needed to join in one voice to ensure that they were heard. Furthermore, white allies were encouraged to champion the issues that were affecting them, their neighbors, their friends and their fellow people. Jeanette Vizguerra—activist, immigrant and one of Time’s 100 most influential people in the
world—spoke on Saturday morning along with poet Kerrie Joy, organizer Lisa Caldon and many others. The event emphasized community and encouraged people to act against all injustice, demanding that no one stay silent when they see or experience oppression. Tish Beauford, the host and organizer, summed up the event with words that resonated with the audience: “Power is only a liability if you don’t use it.” She asked for everyone to embolden each other, thanked them for their presence and ended the event as marchers cheered and applauded the march. You can find out more the March for Black Women on their event page on Facebook. Isaiah Jakab | Contributing Writer
USG to now fund Senate and Presidential campaigns This 2018-2019 school year, Senate and Presidential candidates for the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) will have the chance to have their campaign finances reimbursed. Resolution #08, otherwise known as the Election Reform Package, adjusts specifics about elections such as: lowering campaign budget limits, permitting the use of USG purchased or donated supplies for a campaign and covering the cost of Presidential and Senate campaigns after auditing their receipts. The greatest changes from the resolution effect Article V, Section 3.v of the USG Bylaws which its newly updated version now states: “Candidates and campaigns may spend money to procure campaign materials. Candidates for Senate may not exceed forty dollars ($40) spent on their campaign. Presidential tickets may not exceed two hundred dollars ($200) spend on their campaign. All candidates and campaigns must present a copy of all receipts to the Elections Commission before polls close. The Undergraduate Student Government shall cover the cost of Presidential campaigns via reimbursement upon auditing of receipts. The Undergraduate Student Government shall provide the same service to Senate campaigns upon request. Reimbursements will only cover the actual expenses of a campaign if the campaign used less than the allotted limitation. Any violation of Subsection v. Campaign Finance Regulations will be considered an elections violation.” Matthew Walter, USG Pro-Tempore and third year political science and public policy double-major, created this election reform package to remove the financial obstacles potential candidates may face while campaigning. “This package was specifically in response to some concerns I had heard from friends, students who want to get involved but feel very daunted by the price,” he said. According to Walter, part of the issue was the misinterpretation students had about the maximum sum candidates can spend on a campaign—some thinking it’s a set, required amount. “It’s actually pretty common for senators to use far less,” Walter explains, “in order to assuage those fears, one step was we reduce the caps.” Before the resolution, the maximum amount candidates could spend in a Senate campaign was $60. In Presidential campaigns, the maximum amount used to be $300. Candidates running for Senate are applicable to receive a reimbursement upon request and will be approved after auditing the campaign’s receipts. Candidates campaigning to be President are required to use USG funds to run. “This comes off of a desire to have closer auditing of campaign finances,” said Walter who described previous issues with not being able to collect accurate receipts of exactly how much Presidential candidates were spending in a campaign. “[This] also arises from concerns from dark money come through college campuses,” said Walter. With the new reform, USG will have full rights to audit what’s being purchased. Daniela Santos | News Editor
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Avalanche alumnus helps Pioneers prepare for season
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hen many professional athletes contemplate retirement, the thought is often accompanied by a pall of uncertainty surrounding one’s next chapter in life. For newly-minted DU Men’s Hockey Assistant Coach Steven Reinprecht, such a concern never materialized. Reinprecht retired in April following an 18-year professional career and joined the Pioneer’s staff in June. For the 42-year-old, coaching at DU is simply the culmination of a long-held desire to coach collegiate hockey. Before turning pro, Reinprecht honed his game at the University of Wisconsin, where he captained the Badgers for two years and led the team in points three times. He was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014 and credits the team’s coaching staff with helping him make the leap from an undrafted junior player to a two-way contributor at the game’s highest level. He was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014 and credits the team’s coaching staff with helping him make the leap from an undrafted junior player to a two-way contributor at the game’s highest level. “For me, college was the per-
fect way because it allowed me to develop physically,” said Reinprecht. “I was kind of a slower body and I was always a little smaller, and that extra four years from 19 to 23 being still in college helped me grow physically and get stronger.” At Wisconsin, Reinprecht played under Head Coach Jeff Sauer from 1996 to 2000, whose staff included longtime assistants Mark Johnson and Pat Ford. Reinprecht now acknowledges that the relationships forged with the Badger coaching staff during this time influenced him to pursue an NCAA coaching career of his own. “I really learned a lot there about hockey and about becoming a man, growing up,” said Reinprecht. “I wanted to be in that kind of position to help student-athletes become better hockey players and better people, and I think having that experience at Wisconsin sparked that idea that I wanted to coach in college hockey.” Though many NHL players make the transition to the professional ranks after the culmination of their junior careers, college hockey is becoming an increasingly fertile pipeline for NHL talent. College Hockey Inc., a nonprofit that promotes NCAA Division I hockey to prospective players and fans, found that players
with collegiate experience com- then you might be able to sign prised 32 percent of the NHL in with the team who has the best 2017, the highest recorded figure opportunity for you to make the in the site’s history. NHL roster.” “College is great; it teaches you Though Reinprecht said he responsibility, gives you a solid would make himself available to workout regimen and its great any player that sought guidance hockey,” said Reinprecht. regarding the different facets of a The Pioneers, who return 15 professional career, he also focuses players from last year’s NCHC tour- on the day-to-day aspects of nament-winning squad, will feature coaching. Known as a two-way ace six NHL draft picks this season – throughout his career, Reinprecht five of whom are freshman. But as has been helping the Pioneers the undrafted Reinprecht is quick with face-offs, skill development, to point out, the NHL draft is just and learning first-year head coach one path to the League. Dave Carle’s system. “It shows more and more that Praising this year’s freshman you don’t need to be drafted to class, Reinprecht is excited to see make the NHL,” said Reinprecht. new and returning Pioneers in “Whether you’re drafted or not, expanded roles with the team. if you work hard, play well, you “I think there should be some never know what could happen.” excitement not just around the Reinprecht even noted that freshman class, but around the there are certain advantages to whole team,” said Reinprecht. “The not being drafted, such as retain- Pioneers lost quite a few players ing the ability to choose what over the summer, but it gives a lot team to sign with. of people chances and important “If you’re a draft pick you’re minutes and I think the freshman limited in the sense that you’re will be included in that group.” with that team,” said Reinprecht. The Pioneers will open their “And maybe they’re full in your season on Oct. 6 with an exhibiposition or they’re coming off a tion game against the University of Stanley Cup win when they don’t Alberta at Magness Arena. Their first have any opportunity for a player NCAA contest will take place at Air coming out of college.” Force on Oct. 12 at 7:00 p.m MST. “If you’re a free agent and you have a few teams interested in you Ryan Dunn | Contributing Writer
Photo courtesy of DU Athletics
Women’s soccer crush Omaha
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his Sunday the Denver Women’s Soccer team captured another victory in the Summit League over Omaha in a 3-1 blowout. The Pios had points on the board within twelve minutes thanks to a cross whipped in from sophomore Alex Nillen (Lakewood, Colo.) which junior Hannah Adler (Oak Park, Calif.) snuck past the feet of Omaha defenders for sophomore Meg Halvorson (Englewood, Colo.) to tap in, bringing the score to 1-0. In the 35th minute, however, Omaha put the pressure back on with a free kick from Cydney Skinner that bounced off the crossbar into the leg of Bailey Cascio who brought it to level at 1-1 for the half.
The Pioneers held strong, though, and in the 59th minute, freshman forward Samantha Feller (Grand Junction, Colo.) found the back of the net off a cross from Natalie Beckman (Denver) that slipped through the hands of the Omaha keeper. Then within less than two minutes, Beckman and Feller connected again for a header by Feller to push the score up 3-1, at which the pioneers would sit comfortably with only a few minor scares for the rest of the match. This brings Denver up to 2-0 in conference play, and they are set to embark on a three-match road-trip Thursday beginning in Fargo that night at 6 p.m. MST. Jon Staffel | Contributing Writer
Benjamin Dossett | DU Clarion
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DU CLARION
SPORTS | 5
Denver beats Tulsa 2-1 in second over-time
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n a Monday night clash between No. 4 Denver Pioneers and the unranked Tulsa Golden Hurricanes, senior Andre Shinyashiki (Sao Paulo, Brazil) scores the game-winner in 2OT to push the Pioneers to 8-0-1 on the season and continue their undefeated streak. The first half slightly favored the Pioneers in terms of shots and corners as the two teams became acquainted with one another. It was a very unproductive half for both teams as Tulsa tried to place pressure onto the Pioneers early. In the 41st minute, Tulsa was able to capitalize on this pressure and score to take the lead going into the half. Frustrated to allow a goal right
before the half, Denver came out into the second half ready to show the Golden Hurricanes why they are one of the best teams in the nation. The Pioneers controlled all aspects of the second half, placing an exorbitant amount of pressure onto the Tulsa backline. From the center of the pitch, sophomore Jacob Stensson (Stockholm, Sweden) sent a ball out to senior Kenny Akamatsu (Niigata, Japan) waiting on the left side. Akamatsu ran at the Golden Hurricane backline and drew a defender to leave Shinyashiki wide open to guide the ball into the right corner of the goal to equalize the game in the 62nd minute. The second half would end level with both teams having opportunities to win the match.
In an underwhelming first extra-time, the Pioneers were able to get three shots on goal requiring saves for each by the Tulsa goalkeeper. The second extra-time had fans sitting at the edge of their seats as Denver continued to get shots on goal with none reaching the back of the net. In the 107th minute, the Golden Hurricanes had an opportunity to spoil the Pioneers’ night with the ball falling into the goal; however, it was called back for offsides. Two minutes later, freshman Callum Stretch (Encino, Calif.) sent a switching ball to freshman Liam Johnson (Golden, Colo.), who played a give and go with freshman Stefan Deleone (Fort Collins, Colo.). Johnson redirected
the ball to the top of the six-yard box where Shinyashiki composed himself and placed the ball into left side of the goal winning the match for the Pioneers. Shinyashiki continues to have an unbelievable senior year campaign with the Pioneers. Currently leading the nation with 19 goals on the season, Shinyashiki has scored more goals than 193 of 205 teams in Division I excluding Denver. Secondly, he scored his 7th game winner, breaking Denver’s Division I’s single-season record. Denver plays again on Oct. 5, at 7 p.m. MST against Purdue Fort Wayne. Admission is free for all students. Lawson Montgomery | Contributing Writer
Sideline Scorebox Women’s Club Ice Hockey DU 8 - 5 CSU
Scorers: Marissa Lambert: 4 G Shelbi Cornelison: 2 G Brighid Martin: 1 G, 1 A Sarah Mcdonald: 1 G, 1 A Assists: Claire Knowland: 1 A Kristen Knight: 1 A Saves Sophia Sterling: 46 saves
Victoria Valenzuela | Clarion
The Clarion Crossword
Chelsea Fincher | Clarion
Down: 1. Moose’s relation 2. Dawn’s moisture 4. All DJ Khaled does, evidently 6. Personal history, in short 7. C’est la ___ 9. World’s fastest shark 11. Underwater weapon 13. Unexpected plot development 14. Austin’s power 15. Magness Arena game 20. Benefit of a job 21. Utmost, briefly 22. Shish dish 25. Of a city or town 26. Sob noisily 29. Resistance is futile. 30. Fat-free milk 33. Inset life stage 35. It’s all the same to me 38. Porous lava 39. Denver breakfast joint; a nap 40. Broad cove 42. West coast hours 43. Average ____ Across 3. Jurist’s study 5. Set out on a venture 7. Caesar’s voice 8. Downcast 10. Not a blvd. or a st. 12. Light joke, quip 16. V as a numeral 17. Oft-misused pronoun 18. Beat with cunning 19. Fruit grounded down under 21. Mild-mannered 23. Turkish headwear 24. Spot-on 27. Curse 28. Frenzied way to run 30. Shrewd, knowledgeable 31. Finger poke 32. In the know 34. Dot on display 36. Bran or blueberry 37. Exaggerated and theatrical 39. Small group or team 41. Off-the-cuff skits 43. Blue bird, at times 44: Connect, as picture with sound 45. Second story
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DU CLARION
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Get the most out of your financial aid
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t is no secret to the students at DU that college is expensive and increasingly difficult to pay for, especially with high tuition costs. After completing a quick Google search on the cost of attendance at DU, the overwhelming number of $65 thousand dollars pops up in bold at the top of the screen. This number, though frequently offset by merit scholarships, is unmanageably large for just about anyone, let alone a prospective DU student or current first year who is multiplying that number by four to see how much debt they may walk away with after securing their undergraduate degree. There are, however, multiple ways for both prospective and current students, first year students and upperclassmen alike, to save money on tuition, housing, books and outside expenses. DU offers four main types of financial aid: grants and scholarships, work-study awards, student loans and summer aid. In-state and out-of-state students can qualify for the Federal Pell Grant, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) or the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant. Students who graduated from a Colorado high school are additionally eligible for the Colorado Student Grant and the Colorado Opportunity Fund. The first three grants are awarded based on need determined by the Expected Family Contribution scale created by the federal government. To apply for these grants, students and their parents must complete the Free Application
for Student Aid (FAFSA), which started accepting applications for the 2019-2020 aid year on Monday, Oct. 1. More information about federal aid grants can be found under the “Financial Aid and Scholarships” section of the DU website or on the federal government’s official FAFSA website, which also includes Colorado-specific aid information. The FAFSA also determines a student’s eligibility for a work-study award, which provides funds for students to hold an on-campus job, earning a wage that can be used for school-related expenses. Also offered at DU are merit scholarships, automatically awarded to every student who applies to DU based on academic excellence in high school. Students receive a fixed amount that reoccurs for 12 quarters as long as they maintain good academic standing. Merit-based scholarship money does not, however, cover tuition costs for summer courses. This is where summer aid comes in, though the process for applying does not start until the Spring Quarter. Applications usually open in April, and undergraduate students are notified by email of their eligibility in March. Students looking for more scholarship opportunities as they prepare for their second, third or final year at DU should contact the academic department their major is housed in for more information on gift and endowed scholarships. Students can only do this once they have taken classes in their chosen major and they must submit the Departmental Scholarship
Photo courtesy of Connor W. Davis
Application, which opens in February of each year and is accessible on PioneerWeb. Private scholarships are another great way to cut down on costs, and a list of safe and reliable scholarship search websites can be found on DU’s website. After receiving a private scholarship, students must report it to DU, as it may affect the financial aid given out by the university. Loans, while often seen as a last resort, are also widely available to college students. All students who complete the FAFSA will be eligible to receive a federal student loan, though these loans typically cap out around $5.5 thousand dollars.
To cover leftover costs, parents of college students can take out a loan with the federal government as well, called the Parent PLUS loan. DU offers drop-in advising at the Financial Aid office Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Any questions can be emailed or answered in a phone call to the office, as well. Students should take the initiative to learn more about financial aid and stay on top of this process to make their college education continuously affordable during their time at DU. Serena Bettis | Contributing Writer
The battle for the free internet has only begun
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he repeal of net neutrality will destroy the internet. Last year, net neutrality was repealed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pait. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) like Pait’s former employer, Verizon, are now able to limit and restrict access to websites across the internet. Consumers will take the brunt of this due to the partitioning of websites into cable-like packages. Businesses will face reduced speeds and load times to their websites based off their affiliations with certain ISPs. Those who oppose net neutrality claim that it is good for innovation, but they ignore the real effect it actually has on businesses. The debate on net neutrality is one of fairness versus corporate greed. Consumer wallets will face the largest impact due to the corporate greed. Internet bills will skyrocket, and websites will be separated into bundles. This process has already begun in Portugal. ISPs have begun placing websites into packages. One of such packages is the social package, which for $4.99 a
month the consumer can access social media sites like Snapchat and Instagram. Consumers will have to pay even more for subscription services like Netflix and Hulu just so they can load the webpage. This also means consumers will have limited access to news and media, which could have a negative impact on their ability to understand different opinions. The dystopian internet is real, and it will soon reach the U.S. U.S. businesses will also face the woes of net neutrality. Larger businesses will face limits and restrictions on access to their website due to company competition. For example, users with AT&T internet who are trying to access The Huffington Post may face lower load times or even a flat out restriction due to the Post’s relationship with Verizon. If you think that ISPs wouldn’t do something like that, all you have to do is look at T-Mobile. In 2010, T-Mobile released a very poorly named payment app called ISIS. This app was in direct competition with Google Pay, so T-Mobile simply removed Google Pay from their devices to force consumers
to use ISIS. Small businesses will also be harmed in the form extra expenses to keep their website available to the general public. Simple mom-and-pop stores would have to pay large amounts to all the different ISPs just so consumers could reach their webpage. Those who support Chairman Pait’s destruction of net neutrality ignore the real effects that it has on the economy. They claim that net neutrality inhibits innovation, but in reality it has the complete opposite effect. Net neutrality encourages free thinking and entrepreneurship. The free internet would fall apart without it. Pait’s supporters will also cite the lack of effect on the internet so far. They would be correct thus far. ISPs have chosen to slowly integrate the new restricted internet so that consumers are not clamoring for their free internet. This slow adjustment process, however, does not mean that ISPs are not taking advantage of the new rules. In June, Verizon’s throttled a California fire department’s internet speeds during “the largest wildfire ever in California,” which covered
more than 400,000 acres. Fairness is clearly more important than greed when it comes to the internet, especially when it places lives and homes in danger. Consumers will soon be forced to pick and choose what websites they want to pay for. Businesses will soon be forced to pay exorbitant fees to be easily located by consumers. ISPs will push their competition to limits by blocking rival websites. All these horrible things, however, may be prevented from occuring. California lawmakers have drafted their own net neutrality law. This could push other states to pass similar laws that protect the people like the FCC is supposed to do. The law, however, is in a dire situation. Congress is being lobbied heavily by AT&T and Verizon to create a online privacy law that would prevent states from creating strong net neutrality laws like California’s. So, what do we do? Well, you could call your congressman, or you could wait for the free internet to collapse.
Jake Gloth | Contributing Writer
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OPINIONS | 7
PIONEER VOICES Question of the week:
What do you do to unwind after class?
“I like to watch ski videos.”
“I hang out with my friends, go hiking and I watch ‘Game of Thrones.’”
Ethan Lefebvre, first year
Cassandra Maxim, first year
“Exercise, like jogging or dancing.”
“To unwind, I go to the library and get some coffee or I go eat.”
Kathie Lou, alumna
Nicole Lee, first year
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Dr. Blasey Ford’s inspiring testimony
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he #MeToo movement brought forward many allegations of sexual assault against powerful men, and Dr. Ford’s allegation against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh is under the microscope because of the governmental consequences it holds. Her testimony on Sept. 27 is a pinnacle of the feminist movement, whether or not she meant it to be, because of the certainty and dedication in her actions. Dr. Ford has risen above her fears and done an unbelievably selfless
Photo courtesy of BBC.com
act in telling the truth. In the introduction of her testimony, Dr. Ford speaks to being terrified of speaking up because of the effects it may have on her family. Yet, her civic duty and honorable ethical position lead her to make the decision to tell an experience the country needed to hear. She cannot, nor should she, tell the Senate whom to vote for or against; she simply wants the Senate to be able to understand who they are about to appoint to the Supreme Court for the term of life. Dr. Ford’s prowess and
courage to do what she thought was right, despite the result of being shamed by hundreds, is an admirable feat. It hurts even more that her fears were well grounded; since coming out, she has had to move from her house and be constantly under security because hordes of uncompassionate and cruel disbelievers are committing secondary victimization. America currently has an epidemic of bullying, and President Trump is the ring leader fertilizing the foundation of this sickness, normalizing it. Nonetheless, Dr. Ford’s
credibility is being questioned because she is a woman. Somehow, all that matters to certain Congressmen, specifically Senator Orrin Hatch, is the “attractive” or “pleasing” qualities of Dr. Ford. The exact societal norms Dr. Ford is fighting against are being used to demean her position as an informant of Kavanaugh’s nomination. Dr. Ford is an extremely educated member of society, reflected by her position as Professor of Psychology at Palo Alto University and Research Psychologist at Stanford University School of Medicine, yet she is still reduced to her outward appearance and judged. The testimony was magnificent. Dr. Ford spoke the truth, and she did it exquisitely. Her pain shines through from the first mic struggles, to asking for caffeine, to struggling through retelling her sexual assault experience to the world. This experience must be shattering —telling her deepest, darkest secret to every single person with access to the internet. And yet, she sits up straight and moves on with it, not for herself, but for the good of her country. Dr. Ford is a patriot and a believer in the founding ideals of the United States of America. Compared to Judge Kavanaugh’s response— and his endless repetition of the phrase, “We drank beer”—Dr. Ford exemplified dignity and civility. She is a woman—hear her roar. Alessandra Brunton | Contributing Writer
The case for out-of-state voting
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ith the 2018 midterm elections coming up, you’ve probably seen the tables around campus about registering to vote, or you’ve been approached by someone asking you if you’ve registered to vote in Colorado yet. However, if you’re an out-of-state student like me, you might be conflicted about whether to register to vote in Colorado or to vote in your home state via absentee ballot. When I answered one of the people trying to get students to register to vote that I was from out of state, I was told that wasn’t a problem and was urged to register to vote in Colorado anyway. However, students shouldn’t feel obligated to vote in Colorado if they are from out of state. They should choose to vote in whichever state they feel most aligned with, whether that be their home state or Colorado. When you are an out-of-state student at DU, it’s easy to get pressured into almost forgetting everything to do with your home state and conforming to the culture of Denver and Colorado. But many out-of-state students will not end up living in Colorado after they graduate; a large number will return home after college. Which begs the
question—should you choose to cast your ballot in a state where ultimately the decisions made through voting will not affect you in the long run? However, if you are from a state where you are almost certain your vote will not matter in the outcome of the election, deciding to register to vote in Colorado is a very valid choice. Many southern and midwestern states are almost guaranteed to go red, and there is very little that can be done about it unless voter turnout suddenly reaches near 100 percent. So any student should definitely consider the pros and cons of voting in Colorado or via absentee ballot in their home state, but they shouldn’t feel obligated to pick one over the other. I am personally a strong proponent of absentee ballots. I am from Texas originally, and even though I am not sure I will live there after college, I feel like it is more pertinent to vote there than in Colorado. Colorado is a swing state, while Texas goes red a lot of the time—though the large cities almost always go blue. But Texas has had many close races in the past few years, and with the opportunity to vote Ted Cruz out of office, I believe my vote is more valuable there
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
than in Colorado, where there is a higher percentage that usually vote Democratic than in Texas. While polls are not a guaranteed measure of what the outcome of an election will be, the polls in Texas are very close. If there is a chance my vote could help push that race over the edge, I want to take it. If you do not know how to register for an absentee ballot, you can go to www.vote.org/ absentee-ballot/ or visit the website of your county clerk and put in your information, and they will send you a physical form to fill out, which you can then send off and they will
send you your absentee ballot once your form is processed. It’s a very easy process, and there should be more guides available at DU to students who want to vote this way. The 2018 midterms are a very important election, and it’s more pertinent than ever that we as young people get to have a voice in what we want for our country. But because laws and representatives in the US vary from state to state, it’s important to think about where you want your vote to count. Sara Loughran | Copy Editor
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Why we’re so obsessed with podcasts
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One courthouse, told week by week,” Sarah Koenig, journalist and narrator for the number one charting iTunes podcast “Serial,” leaves the listener with in the trailer for their third-running season, continuing, “You’ll see what we saw—from the inside.” A homage to the true-crime documentary genre, the podcast is credited as one of several players that launched the medium into one of growing profitability in the entertainment industry. The audience podcasts attract has nearly doubled since 2014, boasting over 68 million listeners monthly and 220 million dollars in revenue in 2017. While “Serial” has skyrocketed with over five million downloads recorded since its debut, there are thousands that saturate the market. Some, such as “This American Life” and “Radiolab,” similarly tackle the “based-on-a-true-story” genre where listeners follow an investigative journalist. Others, the likes of which include “Stuff You Should Know” and “Pod Save America,” seek to provide an educational experience that is intellectually compelling. In a countless number of cases, though, many are
attempting to deconstruct and evolve the celebrity interview format. “Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard” is acclaimed as a podcast “that celebrates the messiness of being human,” and “Death, Sex and Money” defines itself as purposely discussing “the big questions and hard choices that are often left out of polite conversation.” Despite its recent boom in popularity within the last decade, though, there are few answers to a question rooted in both our behavior as consumers and as storytellers: Why? “There are three reasons people listen to a podcast,” Sidney Pierucci posed in Medium’s “The Rise of Podcast and Why ‘YOU’ Should Start One.” “An unusual sense of intimacy, the ability to productively multitask while driving or working out and great stories–the power of narrative.” In research conducted by the National Training Laboratory, it was found that the retention rate of auditory learning is twice that of reading and four times that of attending a lecture; even the most tedious of podcasts are produced to be easily consumable for the average listener. In podcasts driven by story, there
are seldom long and winded tangents and monologues that require intense focus. Listeners can tune in and tune out at their leisure and still feel engaged with the material as the narration switches quickly from person to person. Their stories are driven by character, and there is an poignant immediacy in being able to ground those characters back to tangible voices. We can hear ourselves in their stories and perspectives, in the implied tones of how they tell them, and there is a rich, holistic quality to podcasts that other forms of storytelling cannot offer because they demand active and critical consumption in order to connect. “Podcasts embody what is arguably the essential promise of the Internet: a means for surprising, revealing and above all ennobling encounters with people, things and ideas we didn’t know before,” Jonah Weiner, writer for Slate, argues in “What Makes Podcasts So Addictive and Pleasure.” He continues, “In an antidotal and almost paradoxical way, podcasts are the Internet freed from pixels.” In a culture where the media
is constantly reinforcing that only “workaholics” are the vision of success, podcasts provide the working person with opportunities to connect with others in a compactable and bite-size form that still allows them to continue the grind. Podcasts accord with our priorities and values as a society, and as a testament to this, our obsession with them is predicted to only continue to grow. When looking and assessing at how they have exploded recently, though, we’re also looking at a quiet undercurrent that defines us as people. In them, there is proof of our love for learning and stimulation, our craving to understand one another and our growing need for the world and the stories we tell of it to be packaged into convenient and accessible materials. Jad Abumrad, host of “Radiolab,” described the essence of the form as this: “In a sense, I’m painting something, but I’m not holding the paintbrush. You are. It’s this deep act of co-authorship, and in that is some potential for empathy.” Kiana Marsan | Contributing Writer
Photo courtesy of Connor W. Davis
The celebrity of positive research findings
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n our quest to be taken seriously, college kids are big fans of talking about what “a study said” or what “research showed.” We’re like anyone in that we are drawn to surprising or groundbreaking results in academic research, and many of us also hope to contribute to findings in academia in our futures as well. But every now and again, we are reminded of the ways research findings can be misrepresented or biased (this month, it was through a New York Times report on biases that come with favoring publication of positive results only). Problems with replication studies and incentives for positive results are things that researchers in academia confront all the time, and undergraduates—who are in many cases researchers-in-training— can practice understanding what to do about it. Concerns have been raised plenty of times in the past about the infrequency of replication studies of major findings, or
of studies that are unable to reproduce the same results of previous work. Biotech companies like Amgen that have done major replication studies only find the same results a fraction of the time, and widely-published psychology studies (like the one that claimed children who could resist eating a marshmallow for a bigger reward later scored higher on the SAT when they were older) have been found less statistically significant when reproduced. The expectation for researchers to churn out positive results and significant findings is a major part of the problem—“outcome reporting bias” leads positive results to be published at a higher rate than negative ones (you don’t often see the results of a study that found nothing, even if that finding can be meaningful), and “citation bias” leads these positive results to be more widely cited and shared. Researchers needing to keep their careers afloat thus face a steep incentive to find these
positive results. This can lead dangerously to “p-hacking,” in which data are selected or manipulated to ensure that results are statistically significant. Our interest in and spreading of flashy study findings plays into this—the average person wants to read about surprising new results rather than hearing that a study went nowhere (which, again, can actually be just as interesting). The general public showing more interest in negative results or studies that shows minimal correlation of data could help sway academic pressure away from positive results. The Wall Street Journal has also covered the idea of undergraduates helping with replication studies, a promising—if limited—approach to the problem. Specifically in the field of psychology, undergraduates could try out those replication studies that are financially and practically feasible in research methods classes. This could help confirm or cast down on find-
ings in the field and would also include replication as a necessary part of methods education. Most published studies will not be realistic for undergraduates to try to reproduce, but that does not mean there’s nothing to be done at this level of education. Using studies with negative results as class examples and teaching proper statistical analysis (why you shouldn’t p-hack 101) will help this next generation of researchers. Our fundamental understanding of many topics comes from the findings of academics, and we get into dangerous territory when those findings can’t be reproduced or when positive results are given much more attention. We each play a role in perpetuating bias when we over-sensationalize major findings, but if universities are thorough in their research methods teaching and if the general population is more open to negative results, we can start to overcome it.
Elizabeth Lochhead | Opinions Editor
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A dismal future for Ofo? O nly four months ago, Ofo, the dockless bike sharing company founded in China, was granted permission to begin a one-year pilot program on DU’s campus. While the program has been widely accepted and used at DU, the question as to whether or not the company will remain on campus for years to come remains, and it grows increasingly doubtful as time goes on. Ofo as a whole has been withdrawing from most U.S. markets, including local markets like Aurora (a city that was also on a very similar one year program) and the longevity of the company’s presence will likely diminish. Despite good reception from students and staff around DU, observed mostly from widespread use, Ofo as a whole has been losing market share within the U.S. as a whole, and the macro ramifications could affect the company’s presence on campus. Within the U.S., Ofo has reduced its staff size by 70 percent and will reportedly only continue operations in Seattle,
San Diego, and New York. Ofo blames its retreat from U.S. markets on regulations within U.S. cities. Moreover, the company has already drawn out, or will draw out, of several other
vate (a New York based bike sharing company), which who was recently acquired by Lyft, and Jump (a Washington D.C.based bike sharing company), which who was recently acquired
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
developed markets, including Germany, Australia, and Israel, in tandem with its operational cuts in both the U.K. and India. Adding to the dilemma, Ofo is slowly but surely being edged out of the bike-sharing market by larger rival companies Moti-
by Uber. The titans of the “share economy” are putting pressure on the China-based company as they acquire more and more mobility services within the U.S. and abroad. Additionally, the recent growth of the e-scooter market is causing increased com-
petition for consumer attention among ride-sharing services (whether on four wheels or two). But what does all of this doomsaying spell for DU? Fundamentally, if Ofo cannot survive in the U.S., or simply just survive, then it will not be able to maintain a presence on campus. In all likelihood, the one year pilot program will be the extent of Ofo’s presence in Denver; even then, the one year pilot could be abruptly stopped like it was in Aurora. Should Ofo die out, the student body need not worry. There is a plethora of other dockless bike sharing services that DU would be able to leverage from, should we decide that it is a service we would want to continue. Aside from the occasionally misplaced bike on campus or broken part, the service has been successful. Only time will be able to determine the longevity of Ofo, but the status quo does not bode well for the company’s future here in Denver. Robert Corl | Contributing Writer
Photo courtesy of Connor W. Davis
The importance of “Intervene: DU” and mandatory first-year activities
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fter completing the mandatory alcohol and substance abuse, mental health, consent and healthy relationships Discover DU modules before Orientation Week, I was frustrated to learn that I would have to complete an in-person training. I had already spent an hour and a half understanding consent through interactive lessons and informed videos; what more was there for me to know? Around the second week of being on campus, I received an email encouraging me to complete the on-campus training as soon as possible. For those unaware of this requirement, the Intervene: DU course is part of a resolution passed by the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) to educate students on how to intervene in different situations that they may encounter on campus including racial and sex discrimination, hazing and substance abuse. Reluctantly, I signed up for the mandatory Intervene: DU bystander train-
ing, and I chose the earliest open slot available, so I could get it over and done with. After racing to get to the 6:30 p.m. meeting, I plopped down in an open seat right in the front. The session started with a variety of situational videos that involved racial bias, sexual assault, hazing, mental health, sexism, alcohol abuse and emotionally abusive relationships. Once the videos finished, we discussed what we found shocking, what we related to and what we were upset by. These open discussions started a conversation and caused students to perform a self-evaluation of what they would do in the given scenarios. Attending this training caused me to ask a question: Are Intervene: DU and other mandatory first-year activities effective? In 2017, The Clarion’s Elizabeth Lochhead wrote an article detailing the power of the #MeToo movement and the significance of sexual assault education. “DU should consider hosting mandatory, student-run events about
sexual assault statistics and prevention,” wrote Lochhead. Although Intervene: DU is not focused primarily on teaching consent or providing statistics, it does cover sexual assault and how bystanders can intervene in potential assault situations. “[Intervene: DU] isn’t just spreading awareness; it’s normalizing consent so that people understand and agree with it and want to call out a lack of consent,” said Lillian Stone, a first-year English major from Arvada, Colo. I wanted to see how much other Colorado colleges were doing for assault and consent education, so I spoke to a student from the University of Colorado Denver (UCD) and another from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS). The UCD student explained that their sexual assault and consent education was included in their one-day orientation, and it only consisted of a short video. The UCCS student watched the same video, but their two-hour class included the definition of
consent and sexual assault, how to intervene and a clear explanation of how allegations would be investigated. Compared to the amount of and depth of consent education other Colorado schools receive, DU’s mandatory Canvas module, Theatre Delta performance and Intervene: DU training seems like a lot, some might even say redundant or excessive. However, after my experience with the intervention course, I can confidently say that DU is trying to do more than just provide students with materials to use after an incident or assault. They are encouraging students, specifically first-years, to take initiative, to look out for each other and to know what they can do as bystanders. Therefore, I encourage all students who must complete the Intervene: DU training to go in with an open mind; you never know what you might learn about the importance of being a bystander. Madalyne Heiken | Contributing Writer
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Is Denver stuck in the middle of the opioid crisis? Shockingly, yes.
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was shocked to hear that Colorado, the 4/20 friendly state, received reports indicating higher death tolls for opioid use, more than any other illegal substance. Colorado researchers and investigators have become interested in the trend of the opioid crisis growing in the Mile High City. Currently, opioid deaths in Colorado are higher than those killed by car crashes. This is the highest number in Colorado’s history of deaths related to drug poisoning: 956 as of 2017 compared to under 400 in the year 2000. Colorado is only one of many states struggling to keep their numbers low
as opioid related deaths increased in 36 states from last year. With an increase in deaths that could have been prevented, we should attempt to focus more attention on our health as a community. Colorado, being on the healthiest states in the nation, strives to prevent the crisis on a corporate level. Earlier this month, the state declared a case suing Purdue Pharma L.P. (the parent company of the painkiller Oxycontin). Colorado’s Attorney General Cynthia Coffman claims that companies like Purdue Pharma “sought to flood Colorado with prescription opioids.” Coffman aims to receive support
to fund for community treatment services for those affected. DU has become aware of this issue as well as the student body. In Fall 2017, within orientation week one, one freshman student was killed related to drug poisoning. One year later, DU opened their own Collegiate Recovery Center (CRC). Each week, the center holds three meetings for affected communities including: Monday All Recovery Meetings for those in all phases of recovery, Wednesday CRC Meetings to make plans for disorders/ and or recovery, and Friday’s Breakfast Club with a friendly way to discuss your healthy
plans for the weekend. The CRC center is located at 1931 S. York Street in a small white building that can also serve as a place to study and socialize. All services for DU students are free. It’s a small and necessary start for DU taking initiative in helping and preventing more deaths within our campus as well as the Denver area. As a recent learner of the epidemic myself, we should pay more attention to the prescriptions issued to our peers just as often as we would check our blind spot when merging to a different lane. Tahlia Lucero | Contributing Writer
Colorado’s Democracy for the People Initiative gains attention
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olorado’s Democracy for the People Initiative is in full swing as the midterm elections are quickly nearing. This citizen-initiated proposed ordinance is trekking into fiery terrain by advocating for increased government transparency, prohibition of corporate contributions, decreased contribution limits and a small donor matching program. This group strives for government transparency on a city level so that “outside funds” will be disclosed. At the core of this argument is the belief that the people have a right to know who is funding the candidates. A concept such as this one will mainly serve to keep the candidate on his or her toes. It’s a stretch to see government transparency—on this level—have much of an impact on who voters vote for. Transparency will become irrelevant if we prohibit corporate contributions, decrease contribution limits and use a small donor matching program. It can be argued that transparency is present to keep an eye on politicians and watch out for corruption, but the three other changes will make it virtually impossible for any “side business” to happen, so it wouldn’t be necessary for citizens to see the contributions if the maximum contribution can only be $50. The Democracy for the People
Act would prohibit direct corporate contributions for city elections. Numerous studies have been conducted, primarily on the federal level, to discover the connection between corporate campaign funds and its influence on the candidates decisions. A paper by Roosevelt Institute, titled “Fifty Shades of Green: High Finance, Political Money, and the U.S. Congress,” studied a 2006 vote on net neutrality in the telecommunications industry. Roosevelt Institute found that every $1000 in contributions from an anti-net-neutrality firm equated to a 2.6 percent increased probability that they’ll vote in favor of the firm. Clearly, there’s a connection. This leads us to the next idea: decreased contribution limits. If contributions are limited to minute numbers, there wouldn’t be much room for influence. It begs the question, is transparency that necessary so people can know that X from Leadville, Colo. donated $50? Perhaps the most controversial of all changes is the small donor matching program. Qualified candidates can choose to opt in for the donor matching program. If they choose to participate in it, they can no longer accept special interest funds. The bulk of the campaign money will come from Colorado’s residents. In a 9:1 ratio, Denver will match the contributions of the residents. There will be a contri-
Photo courtesy of Connor W. Davis
bution limit of $50 per resident. So, that $50 will actually be $500. The small donor program wouldn’t raise taxes; it would require 0.02 percent of Denver’s annual budget, which translates to $3 per resident, yearly. All of this is done in an attempt to put the power back into the hands of the people. Idealistically, this may appear like a smart way to go about campaigning, but there are a
few hurdles that cannot easily be bypassed. Let’s not forget about the Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad Co. Supreme Court case, and many others, reiterating that corporations are viewed as individuals. It’s also relevant to note that the CO Democracy for the People is redundant in its claims. By
acquiring a small donor matching program, it will inadvertently cause decreased contribution limits (since the maximum is $50), and it would therefore prohibit corporate contributions because they couldn’t contribute with a small donor matching program, and the government would be more transparent because we’d know that it’s just the residents contributing the $50 to the candidate. Anything pertaining to politics tends to become overly complicated and multifaceted. For groups such as Democracy for the People, they’re shooting for the stars, but first they need to get out of the clouds. Megan Cooney | Contributing Writer
Cutting refugee numbers, again. Should we be surprised?
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n average, the U.S. holds about 95,000 refugees in safety each year. During Obama’s final year, the cap was at 110,000 refugees. Under our current administration, that cap was dropped to 54,000 in January 2017 and is now planned to reduce to just under 45,000 as of October 2018. This impacts three different refugee agencies within Colorado as each needs funds to provide housing, jobs, language-skill sessions and whatever else they may need. With the Department of State cutting the budget for the Refugee Admissions program from $583.9 million to a reduced
$390 million by January 2019, our nation and state will struggle without the fiscal resources to commit to those in need.
Colorado was prepared to offer aid for over 1,370 refugees for the 2018 year, but as of mid September only 600 have arrived. The Lutheran Family Services, International Rescue Committee and the African Community Center of Denver are all nonprofits specializing in contracts connected with the state’s Refugee Services Program will have to reduce their intake after this decision. Jennifer Gueddiche, the director of the African Community
Center, knows that they will only be able to support 150 individuals compared to the 650 they helped in 2016. As for our community, an excess of cuts towards refugees has increased with the continued negative statements made about Muslims and Latinx populations by Donald Trump. With over 1 million Latinx residents in Colorado and about 20,000 Muslim residents of Colorado’s five million and growing population representing about 20% the state’s population, we must support our current and future Coloradans seeking safety within the nets
of America. They help generate our economy with each dollar spent on each refugee adds $1.23 to our state and local government. In a time full of hate, we should seek refuge within the support of each other to start having conversations about how to grow and work together as a better nation to once again proudly hold the title of being the best country in the world. Until then, we shouldn’t be surprised with policies reflecting the harmful isolation of marginalized populations. Tahlia Lucero | Contributing Writer
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FSL welcomes new members on Bid Day
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he Panhellenic community at DU welcomed home a robust group of students on Monday, Sept. 24. If you were in class on Monday around 5 p.m. and wanted to know what all the screaming was, it was each sorority welcoming home their 2018 Fall Pledge Class. After a long weekend filled with different activities, the potential new members received their bids early Monday evening in Davis Auditorium and raced out to Driscoll Green to meet their new sisters. The Panhellenic community members were very excited to receive their newest sisters. On Thursday, Sept. 27, the
newest members of the Interfraternity Council received their bids for membership following an equally long weekend and week of different activities. The recruitment process for fraternities and sororities is different, with the fraternity recruitment process lasting a little longer than the sorority recruitment process. Pledge classes for the fraternities receive an email notifying them of their bid and they have 24 hours to accept the invitation. The Fraternity and Sorority Life at DU welcome their newest brothers and sisters. Hannah Branit | Sports Editor
Lauryn Butler | Clarion
Lauryn Butler | Clarion
“The Nun” overwhelms viewers with color
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efore there was Bathsheba and Annabelle, there was “Valak” or the nun. The nun, who was first introduced in “The Conjuring 2,” propels us into “The Conjuring” universe with this prequel.
This is the eighth installment in “The Conjuring” universe but the first in the timeline. The universe also contains “The Conjuring,” “The Conjuring 2,” “Annabelle,” “Annabelle: Creation” and three short films. Unfortunately, “The Nun” did not do as well as anticipated. The reviews are mixed with a low score of 4.5 on Rotten Tomatoes and a slightly higher score of 5.7 on IMDb. Critics were grateful for the performances and atmosphere but thought that the storyline was downright unholy.
This could be because “The Nun” is not based on any real cases of the Warrens’ or paranormal events like the other movies are. The statement, “based on a true story,” weighs on our thoughts and perceptions. Although the storyline is important, I believe the cinematography makes up for it. Maxime Alexandre, “The Nun’s” director of photography, transports the audience into this microcosm of darkness and light. His process is essentially inverted. He begins with darkness and then adds light, when and if it is needed, through the addition of a white light from above or a flame from lanterns and candles. It was his intention for the audience to
witness the power of the entity through the lighting and framing which really translates to the screen. In addition to the cinematography, the use of colors and symbols was somewhat overwhelming, but in a good way. Orange, red, blue and white were prevalent throughout the film. The juxtaposition of orange’s warmth and blue’s coolness paired beautifully with Alexandre’s lighting and framing. It seemed as though the two colors symbolize opposites like the sun and the moon, but in this case good and evil. Red and white were used sparingly which gave the two colors greater significance. Red served as a warning of the danger to come
or a hint to what is needed to defeat the evil. White is also used as a signal of an answer, truth or discovery. The symbols may be in excess, but that was a distinct choice made. The crosses not only fueled the demon, but inspired them to use sensory overload as a form of torment. Personally, I rate the film a 7 out of 10 because I believe it was a solid addition to the universe but still not as good as the original. Overall, “The Nun” is still worth the watch. There was talk in 2017 that “The Nun” could have a sequel so cross your fingers or gouge out your eyes because “The Nun 2” may be in a theater near you. Victoria Valenzuela | Photo/Video Editor
Photo Courtesy of PopSugar
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Red Rocks gets “rowdy” with Big Gigantic
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n array of bright lights, 3D visuals and the sound of funk and electronic music filled the beloved Red Rocks venue on Sept. 28 as part of the 7th annual music festival, Rowdytown, headlined by Big Gigantic. Opening for Big Gigantic were DROELOE, best known for their heavy percussion infused with light melodies and soft vocals. Also performing were Boogie T, a live funk and blues band, taking a break from heavy electronic music, giving a soulful performance about moving on from a toxic relationship to falling in love all over again. The most impressive opener of the night was San Holo, accompanying his music with an electric guitar and bouncing around the stage, whether it was on top of the table where his equipment was set up or the rails near the front row. The audience jumped up and down, dancing to remixes of Snoop Dogg and Holo’s original hits such as “Light” and “We Rise.” Big Gigantic’s love for performing at Red Rocks stems from being able to perform in their home state, and this year was no different. The duo came onstage with a visual of Red Rocks with the Colorado flag painted over it, playing an entire song dedicated to the beauty of the Mile High State. Big Gigantic also brought out special guests, from Pell to Louis the Child, announcing that an upcoming release would be
featuring the latter. What made the concert innovative was its first-time use of 3D visuals. Before the show, each member of the audience received 3D glasses and were told to wait until Big Gigantic announced for the audience to put them on. When it was time for these visuals to come on, everyone put on their glasses and were treated to different animations almost reaching out to them, from a digital solar system to dancing astronauts. The grand finale of the show ended with a three dimensional fight between an astronaut and a saxophone, the duo’s signature instrument in their music. Original hits from the duo’s 2016 release, “Brighter Future,” were played with a live horn band, ranging from trumpets to trombones. A special segment of the show was dedicated to a saxophone solo played by Dominic Lalli, one half of Big Gigantic. It was easy to notice the duo’s love of fusing electronic music with an old-school funk twist. Rowdytown has been a Red Rocks tradition since 2012, and this year, Big Gigantic delivered another exciting, vibrant show. At the end of the show, Big G promises that next year will be even better than the last, persuading fans to wait until 2019 to see what is in store next. Nina Petrovic | Clarion
Nina Petrovic | Arts & Life Editor
Is Hispanic Heritage Month offending people?
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he celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month started Sept. 15, but in changing times, many find the use of the government created word “Hispanic” in the month’s tole to be dated and exclusive. The term “Hispanic” was first popularized by the U.S. government in 1997. The term comes from the Spanish word “Hispanola” meaning to have an connection to Hispania, modern day Spain, Portugal, Andorra and Gibraltar. The U.S. census Bureau defines the Hispanic and Latino to refer to “a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race.” The problem many have with this word is that while its intended use is to include any one of Latin descent, it only accurately includes those of Spanish descent. In order to include all people of Latin descent and not just those of Spanish descent, the term Latinx is Julia Porras Schultz | Clarion
being widely used across pop culture and academia. The term stems from Latin but uses an x instead of an o or an a in order to represent intersectionality. This term strives to include all men, women and non gender conforming people of Latin descent. Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, thus including Mexican Independence day. That being said, many find it unlikely that the holiday is actually intended only for people of Spanish descent. Gracie Gallego, former board member of the Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, identifies as a proud Mexican and Chicana. Gallego values the holiday but admits there are some issues that lie within the name. “I appreciate the recognition, celebrations and attention to my beautiful culture during Hispanic Heritage Month, “she says. “Unfortunately, the word Hispanic does not convey or
encompass all the people or cultures that are being celebrated.” While many love the celebration, they often lack an understanding of why holidays are celebrated on specific dates. Gallego is one of the more educated people when it comes to understanding the holidays and the history behind them. “I grew up celebrating Septiembre 16, which is Mexico’s Independence day from Spain. To me, the term Hispanic means one who descends from Spain, which is counter to recognizing Mexico’s victory over Spanish rule,” she says. Given the popularity of the term Latinx in academia, author, social ethnographer and Spanish professor at DU , Francisco Laguna-Correa, is very familiar with the term. Having been born in Mexico City and raised in the U.S., he considers himself a Chicano. He is also a self-proclaimed “border crosser” given he has lived in
various places around the world. Correa brings up the same point as Gallego, noting that Hispanic Heritage Month is really centered around Mexican culture and Mexican Independence day, thus failing to include all people of the Latinx community. “Me gustaría ver un cambio,” he says. I would like to see a change. He would value a switch from Hispanic Heritage Month to Latinx Heritage Month in order to include more people and make everyone feel their culture being celebrated. “Ultimately, I want us to understand that not all Spanish speaking people are the same,” she says. “I hope we can celebrate this month to recognize all the people—Latina, Mexican, Hispanic, Chicana and more—who have and continue to contribute to this nation.” Julia Porras Schultz | Contributing Writer
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VISIT JIMMYJOHNS.COM TO FIND A LOCATION NEAR YOU Rembrandt van Rijn—artist or magician? You don’t need to know anything about art to have an overwhelming appreciation for Rembrandt van Rijn’s masterpieces. The Dutch draughtsman, painter and printmaker’s finest works will be on display at the Denver Art Museum until Jan. 6, 2019, giving visitors the opportunity to find out why Rembrandt was called “magician” by Vincent Van Gogh. Rembrandt’s experimental approach to printmaking combined the methods of etching, drypoint and engraving and led to his creation of some of the most stunning pieces of art that have ever been created. Etching, the process of using acid to cut through a metal’s surface to create an image, allowed Rembrandt to create some of his finest works, including several self-portraits as well as depictions of Jan Cornelis Sylvius, a preacher. Drypoint, another of Rembrandt’s preferred methods of creating art, was the process of using a needle or stylus to scratch lines into metal. Walking through the gallery, the light teal walls lined with nearly a hundred impossibly beautiful prints, a visitor catches glimpses of the world through Rembrandt’s own eyes. Highlighting biblical, portrait, allegory, still life, landscape and genre themes, the combination of paintings
and prints tell stories within themselves, with the Denver Art Museum going a step further by educating the visitors about Rembrandt’s use of storytelling to make a living. His works eventually found their way to illustrations for tales of religion and mythology. The drama of each of these scenes is magnified through his ability to manipulate light and shadow by varying width, closeness and the depth of his lines. Moreover,Rembrandt’s ability to capture the elements, details and emotion of many people within his prints made him a talent in regard to drawing crowd scenes. Visitors can be entranced by the genius of his crowd piece “The Triumph of Mordecai” and “The Three Crosses,” or take pleasure in the simplicity of “The Hog” and “Peasant Family on the Tramp.” Between playing with shading and the apparent movement of his pieces, it’s not difficult to see why Rembrandt is considered one of the greatest European painters in history, and it would be wise for anyone in the area to stop by the Denver Art Museum to take a look at Rembrandt’s incredible work. Ava Tusek | Contributing Writer
Photo courtesy of Bibliothèque nationale de France, Department of Prints and Photography.
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Driscoll Green: The Clarion’s new cannabis column
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n New Year’s Day of 2014, the first stores in Colorado opened to sell legal adult-use recreational cannabis. It was the result of a historical decision—to legalize the use and sale of recreational cannabis —made two years prior. Legal cannabis has changed our state, it has changed the perception of a once demonized substance, it has saved lives and as with anything, has brought forth a myriad of new issues and puzzles, on both the legal and social landscapes. Nine states, and the District of Columbia, now allow the purchase of recreational cannabis, and 30 states in total allow medicinal cannabis. Colorado is at the core of a new industry, one that pulled in $1.5 billion in state sales in 2017. The fact of the matter being, legal cannabis is a new normal and an industry with exponential growth and wealth that affects all who live within its shadow. This year, the Clarion is set
to start its own adventure in cannabis, by forming a collegiate weekly newspaper column focused entirely on the legal cannabis industry and all of its intricacies and complexities. We seek to bring to light the issues and stories of this new industry, with a distinct focus on stories that directly affect and pertain to the student body of DU. Cannabis is part of life in Colorado, and increasingly throughout the United States. It is as well a part of DU, and one that should not be shrouded in taboo. Our goal is to responsibly cover the issues that we already know and report on new issues as this industry continues to grow. If you wish to contribute to this column, please email duclarioneditor@gmail.com. Submissions can run without a byline. Clarion Staff
Justin Cygan | Clarion
Want to see your cannabis ad here? Be a part of our new column. Contact the Clarion for advertising rates and opportunities.
CBD: The ultimate hangover cure
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hile most people have heard of THC, tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, the popular compound has a lesser-known extract that’s taking cannabis-infused foodie worlds by storm: cannabidiol. More commonly known as CBD, this non-psychoactive ingredient (meaning it won’t make you high) is most often derived from hemp, which like marijuana, comes from the cannabis plant. CBD has been used for years in homeopathy and other therapeutic methods to treat pain, anxiety and headaches, and the FDA recently approved the use of CBD oil to treat very rare forms of seizures, according to Project CBD, a nonprofit designed to educate and foster support for the uses of cannabidiol. Some research even claims that the compound may be useful in treating smoking and other addiction withdrawal symptoms, though this is yet to be proven. So how can this so-called “miracle product” remedy those pesky hangovers? In coffee, of course. Denver’s own Strava Craft Coffee is revolutionizing your favorite cup of joe by infusing it with CBD. No, your morning beverage won’t get you high, and no, it won’t show up on your drug
tests either (assuming you don’t drink thousands of cups—Kevin Crowley, co-founder of Strava, doesn’t suggest this). But the spiked drink can help alleviate the inevitable headaches and nausea on the morning after that big rager, as well as provide you with a boost of energy and focus. Strava is currently the only company in the state brewing such cutting edge coffee, but you can buy their products at cafés like Blue Sparrow Coffee in the River North Arts District, Carbon Café and Bar on Platte St., SloHi Coffee and Bike on West 29th Ave. and Drip Denver on Lincoln St. Carbon also offers unique CBD oil coconut cubes to drop into your latte, coffee or tea to give it-and your day--a little extra kick. CBD has previously been used in natural oil form, topicals or salves (you can even purchase CBD shampoos), but the recent craze to add it to food and drinks sees no end in sight. Restaurants across the country have been concocting menu items as crazy as cannabidiol ice cream sundaes, baked desserts, acai bowls and even salad dressings. CBD oil can also be added to your beer and cocktails at places like Denver’s own Carbon Café and Bar, and Althea’s Cheese by Design (close to campus on South University
Drive) offers a new CBD pizza to kill your cheese cravings and anxiety in one fell swoop. So next time you wake up feeling a little less than par, don’t just reach for coffee—reach for
Nina Petrovic | Clarion
that CBD coffee and feel better by the time you reach the bottom of your favorite mug. Grace Gonzalez | Contributing Writer
Illustration courtesy of Chelsie Fincher