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DU HOCKEY SWEEPS ALABAMA 6-0
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DU celebrates 2018 Homecoming
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omecoming and Family Weekend at DU brought a lot of excitement to campus last week. There were plenty of activities for students and their families throughout the week and subsequent weekend, and DU students had a lot of fun with fall and family activities. The week leading up to Homecoming Weekend was initiated with an Instagram scavenger hunt. Students were encouraged to Instagram their DU Spirit for a chance to win a prize for most spirited post. Hints were posted on the Student Engagement Instagram, and students who took photos depicting the correct clue could submit them to be entered into a daily drawing. Also throughout the week, students could swap out non-DU college/university shirts for an official DU shirt at the Hub. Homecoming Weekend
itself was kicked off with a pep rally Thursday night. The excitement was amped up with t-shirt giveaways, a rendition of the DU fight song and speeches from DU athletes and student leaders. DU swag was given out, including a t-shirt gun, and DU Dining offered break-
fast for dinner. On Friday, the Fall Fest was held on Driscoll Green, where there was a pie eating contest, pumpkin decorating, caramel apple-making and a variety of food trucks available to students and their families. Saturday kicked off the real festivities with the
Homecoming hockey game against the University of Alabama Huntsville, which Denver won 6-0, giving students and families something to celebrate as Homecoming Weekend came to a close. Mia Prahlad | Contributing Writer
Photo courtesy of homecoming.du.edu
ABOUT US
DU Clarion EDITORIAL STAFF
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.
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 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.
ELIZABETH LOCHHEAD, Opinions Editor JUSTIN CYGAN, Arts & Life Editor NINA PETROVIC, Arts & Life Editor CAITLAN GANNAM, Photo/Video Editor VICTORIA VALENZUELA, Photo/Video Editor SARA LOUGHRAN, Copy Editor MAYA PINON, Copy Editor CHELSIE FINCHER, Illustrator LAWSON MONTGOMERY, Paper Delivery Person HALEY BIRT, Paper Delivery Person ANDREW MATRANGA, Faculty Adviser Cover photo by Caitlan Gannam
CONTRIBUTING STAFF MEGAN COONEY
AVA TUSEK
NATALIE NILES
CAMERON ELDER
ASHLEY NEAL
JON STAFFEL
MADALYNE HEIKEN
JAMAL ABDULLAHI
LAWSON MONTGOMERY
HALEY BIRT
SERENA BETTIS
REBECCA SHAGRIN
MIA PRAHLAD
ELYSE COMPTON
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NEWS | 3
“Cake case” participants share their story
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fter traveling to the Supreme Court on Dec. 5, 2017, Dave Mullins, DU Class of 2005, and husband Charlie Craig presented the story of their civil rights battle to a crowd in Lindsey Auditorium on Tuesday, Oct. 9. Mullins and Craig just finished a six-year long process in the courts after experiencing public discrimination on the basis of their sexuality. DU’s College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS) hosted the event, excited to bring back an alumnus of the college and connect students to a significant current event. Mullins said, “I’ve been so honored to be back on campus today speaking to people. My time at DU is one of the most cherished times of my life, and it’s really special to get to come back here and speak.” Mullins and Craig shared with the audience what it was like to be at the center of media attention, act as advocates for their community and appear at the Supreme Court. Along with simply telling the story of what it was like to go into the Supreme Court and interview on famous morning talk shows, Mullins and Craig answered audience questions and offered advice on how to fight for something one cares about. Although they lost their case in a 7-2 decision, ruled on June 4, 2018, Mullins and Craig still felt empowered from their experience and more connected to the LGBTQ community than ever before. “We were hearing all these stories. We were hearing this support in these stories and we were like, ‘We have the voice and we have this platform, so we have to do it for the movement.’ Neither of us were ready and neither
Photo courtesy of Tom Brenner, The New York Times
of us knew what was going to happen,” said Craig. The triggering event for their case, referred to as Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, occurred in July of 2012 when Mullins and Craig walked into Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colo. to inquire about a wedding cake. After talking with the baker, Jack Phillips, it was revealed that Phillips would not make a cake for a samesex wedding, as it went against his Christian faith. Later that night, Mullins composed a Facebook post. Craig explained, “Every time [Dave] gets really frustrated about something he’s like, ‘I’m going to write a strongly worded letter.’ He never did until this moment, though it just turned out to be a Facebook post.” Soon enough, Mullins’s Facebook post went viral, and Mullins and Craig were bombarded with messages of support from all across the world. Serena Bettis l Clarion
Within a few days they were contacted by a lawyer from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), who asked if they wanted help filing a complaint, as it sounded like the interaction violated Colorado’s anti-discrimination act. This complaint turned into the lawsuit Craig v. Masterpiece Cakeshop, in which the Colorado Civil Rights Commission ruled in favor of Mullins and Craig, declaring that Phillips’s actions violated Colorado law. Phillips appealed this decision to the Colorado Court of Appeals, backed by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF). Mullins and Craig received continued support from the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and started to work with the national chapter of the ACLU as well. The Court of Appeals once again ruled in favor of Mullins and Craig. The Colorado Supreme Court did not accept the
case, though Phillips then appealed to the United State Supreme Court, which did—about 11 months after Phillips’s request. Eventually, the Supreme Court ruled that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission used language in their arguments and prior rulings that violated Phillips’s freedom of expression. Mullins and Craig did not anticipate the extent in which their case would go on, but they discussed the honor and pride they felt with having the chance to represent the LGBTQ community. Mullins said, “People don’t see you as an individual; they see you as an omni-representative of your [minority] group. You really have to hold yourself to a certain standard. It’s a lot to deal with, a lot of pressure, because you realize that it’s not about you. It’s not about whether it’s fair or not, it’s about how you can reach people.” Despite a loss at the Supreme Court, the final decision came with language declaring gay rights as civil rights, which has never been documented beforehand. Additionally, it inspired artwork such as Lonnie Hanzon’s “Equal Threshold” installation that was featured at Denver Pride, which included positive messages on the outside and chalk on the inside for people to spread joy. All documents from the first two hearings are on the ACLU’s website, and the oral arguments from the case and all written decisions from the Supreme Court Justices are available online.
Serena Bettis | Contributing Writer
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Denver demolishes Alabama behind Finlay hat-trick
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he final score of a game doesn’t always tell you what the game looked like. Sometimes 6-0 means that one team just made the most of their opportunities while another just couldn’t convert on theirs. This, however, was not one of those times. Yes, this time it was 6-0, and it was a telling 6-0. Denver controlled the game for the full sixty minutes. While the Chargers managed to put up 16 shots, the Pioneers pounded them the whole game, finishing with a
staggering 49 total. Junior forward Liam Finlay (Kelowna, B.C.) looked especially on point Saturday night as he completed his own hat trick and assisted freshman Brett Stapley (Campbell River, B.C.) for a total of 4 points. In the defensive half, sophomore goaltender Devin Cooley (Los Gatos, Calif.) completely shut out the opposition, saving all 16 of Huntsville’s shots. Two goals, in particular, reflect the overall nature of this game. The first: within 25 sec-
onds of the drop, senior Les Lancaster (Ypsilanti, Mich.) on the first shot of the game ripped one in for an early lead. The last: up 5-0 and with less than two minutes to play, Finlay stole the puck in Chargers’ territory, squared up against the goalie and slung one past his head into the back of the net, rounding out the 6-0 scoreline. And in between was just more domination of Huntsville. Senior Jarid Lukosevicius brought it to 2-0 thanks to an assist from Freshman Emilio Petterson.
Finlay took it to 3-0 with his first of three goals in the night. Stapley made it a cool 4-0 on a power play at 16:47 of the second period. Finlay once again found the back of the net, netting him his second of the three and running up the score to 5-0. The Pioneers controlled the entire game and truly earned the 6-0 sweep. Denver now sits at 2-0 and will play again Friday at Magness against Alaska-Fairbanks at 7:07 p.m. MST. Jon Staffel | Contributing Writer
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SPORTS | 5 Caitlin Gannam l Clarion
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Pio Personality: Andre Shinyashiki
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his week’s Pioneer Personality is forward Andre Shinyashiki, a senior co-captain on the Men’s Soccer team from São Paulo, Brazil. Shinyashiki’s passion for soccer began as a child in Brazil as it was standard for everybody to play and as one becomes a better player, they just continue with the sport. He chose DU due to the recruiting of former Assistant Coach Ryan Hopkins, now an assistant coach at the University of Virginia, where Shinyashiki fell in love with the staff and DU’s honesty. He also saw the potential to take the program to the next level. The team in the past four years of Shinyashiki presence on the team has seen DU go a combined 56-9-10 and capture two Summit League titles and a trip to the NCAA Final Four in 2016. His two favorite memories in his entire soccer career were winning the National High School Tournament with Montverde Academy and capturing the Summit League title his sophomore year. On a normal day, Shinyashiki will wake up early to head to the Ritchie Center for treatment for any bumps and bruises still remaining. Their practice starts around 8:30 a.m. where the team will work on the pitch and finish in the weight room. After classes, you might find him eating at his favorite restaurant, Tokyo Bowl, or headed back home to finish homework and watch his favorite show, “Shark Tank,” before the next day. To prepare for games, Shinyashiki watches soccer videos to help get him focused on the game ahead. Shinyashiki’s favorite profes-
sional soccer team is S.C. Corinthians Paulista, which is the local team in São Paulo, Brazil. The Brazilian legend Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima is Shinyashiki favorite player and whom he says is the greatest forward he has ever seen. If given the opportunity to have an all-expense paid trip anywhere in the world, Shinyashiki would choose to go back home to São Paulo because “You can do a couple of fun stuff there and it is always cool.” When not on the pitch, Shinyashiki is majoring in marketing at DU. He has taken many interesting classes while at DU, but International Marketing with Dr. Pallab Paul was his favorite. He stated, “It was a really good class where I really thought the professor really excelled.” Outside of soccer, Shinyashiki, along with the entire Men’s soccer program, go out to serve the greater Denver area any way they can. Through this community service, especially at the Children’s Hospital, he has experienced some of his most meaningful experiences outside of soccer at DU. He explained, “The visits are really fulfilling because you really get to help people that need help and appreciate you.” When asked what advice he might have for the next generation of soccer players, he emphasized, “To just work super hard and work harder than everyone else because when you think you are working hard, there is someone on the other side of the world working harder than you. You want to put in as much effort as you can.” Through the hard work he preaches, Shinyashiki strives to play professional soccer. Shinyashiki has scored 21 goals on the season, broken mul-
tiple records at DU and has more goals than many other D1 programs. When questioned on how he felt about all of this, he stated, “It feels good and it is great that people recognize the success and hard work that you put in, but I know as a team and as a player, we have not accomplished anything yet. There is still games to be won and goals to be scored. It feels good but definitely not satisfied yet until we get that Summit League trophy.” Shinyashiki looks forward to finishing the season with his teammates and chasing down every last ball with his unprecedented work ethic. Lawson Montgomery | Contributing Writer
Photo courtesy of DU Athletics
Lynsey Gagner | Clarion
Women’s Swim and Dive defeats CSU on Homecoming Weekend
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n Homecoming Weekend, the Women’s Swim and Dive team defeated Colorado State University by a score of 168 to 132. The Men’s Swim and Dive team held an intersquad meet where the Gold team beat the Crimson team 113.5 to 71.5. Senior Heidi Bradley (Victoria, B.C.) swept all of the backstroke events and assisted the 200 yd free and 200 yd medley relay teams to victory. The 200 yd freestyle team consisted of Bradley, freshman Brandi Vu (Longmont, Colo.), junior Josie Valette (Boulder, Colo.) and senior Lauren Moden (Parker,
Colo) and won with a time of 1:42.91. Moden, Lingen, Bradley and Valette were a part of the winning 200 yd medley relay with a time of 1:35.35. In the 100 yd and 200 yd free, sophomore Aysia Leckie (Georgetown, Ontario) grabbed first place in both events with times of 53.12 and 1:53.74. Behind Leckie in the 200 yd free, senior Annelyse Tullier (Dallas, Texas), senior Avery Niemann (Oklahoma City, Okla.) and junior Molly Kuettel (Lake Jackson, Texas) rounded out the top-4 to help give the Pioneers 14 of the 19 points available. In the 100 yd free, junior Sarah
Lingen (Maple Grove, Minn.) and Kuttel grabbed second place and fourth place respectively. Junior Kylie Cronin (Marblehead, Mass.) took first place in the 100 yd fly for the second time in her career with a time of 56.20. Followed closely behind Cronin was Valette in the 100 yd fly with a time of 56.70. Earlier in the day, the pair of juniors also took the first and second in the 200 yd fly with Cronin swimming a 2:05.98 and Valette swimming a 2:07.62. In diving pool, sophomore Zora Opalka (Bainbridge Island, Wash.) earned her first ever career win with a score
of 272.55 in the three-meter competition. Other top place finishes for the Pioneers consisted of Vu capturing the 100 yd breaststroke and Moden winning the 50 yd free. It was a great showing for the women against CSU and a valuable practice for the men. The women will head to DUALA-POOL-OOZA on Oct. 19 and 20, where they will take on Florida International University, Rice University and Tulane University. The men will travel to the U.S. Air Force Academy on Oct 25 at 7 p.m. MST. Lawson Montgomery | Contributing Writer
Denver Women’s Soccer pushes back to the top of Summit League
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he DU Women’s Soccer team now sits at the top of the Summit League table after a decisive 1-0 victory over North Dakota this Sunday, October 14th at home. The win came off the foot of junior Hannah Adler (Oak Park, Calif.), who capitalized on assists from junior Heather Turcios (Azusa, Calif.) and fresh-
man Esther Malers (Fort Collins, Colo.) in the 39th minute to secure the lead at the half. “I thought that we were unbelievable in the first five or 10 minutes, getting crosses and chances in the box. I was really proud that we kept with what we were doing, because we could have got frustrated, but we pushed on and got our goal.
In the second half we still created some good chances, and we handled them throwing numbers forward at the end well. Have to be really happy with the home win,” said Head Coach Jeff Hooker. This was Adler’s eighth game-winning goal in her career, and junior goalkeeper Brittany Wilson (Littleton, Colo.) put up
her sixth shutout of the season with four saves. The win puts Denver at the top of the Summit League table with 15 points, with NDSU and SDSU trailing close behind. DU will play again on Sunday against Western Illinois in Macomb at 11 a.m. MST. Jon Staffel | Contributing Writer
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SPORTS | 7
Volleyball stays perfect
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ver Homecoming Weekend, DU Volleyball swept both Western Illinois and Purdue-Fort Wayne. The Pioneers improved to a record of 18-1 overall and 7-0 in Summit League play. They remain one of only two undefeated teams in the Summit League and extended their win streak to 16 games. On Oct. 12, Denver defeated Purdue-Fort Wayne with scores of 25-19, 25-19 and 25-19. It was clear throughout the match that Denver had the upper hand. They accumulated 13 blocks against Purdue-Fort Wayne. Senior Emma Willis (La Jolla, Calif.) lead the team with six blocks. Sophomore Tina Boe (Plymouth, Minn.) was close behind with six followed by redshirt-junior Taylor Joachim (Baroda, Mich.)
with four blocks. Junior Katrina Marinkovic (Belgrade, Serbia) and Boe lead the team with eight kills. Sophomore Ellie Anderson (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) had a total of 21 assists. On Oct. 14, Denver finished out Homecoming Weekend by easily defeating 25-12, 25-13, and 25-22. Boe was the team leader with eight kills, six aces and four blocks. Furthermore, the team totaled 11 aces and now are eight aces away from breaking into Denver’s top-10 all-time aces in a single season. The Pioneers will travel to Omaha on Oct. 16 for a match-up between the Summit League’s two undefeated games. The match starts at 6 p.m., MST. Victoria Valenzuela | DU Clarion
Hannah Branit | Sports Editor
The Clarion Crossword: Week 6 Need some help? Visit duclarion.com for the answer key. Chelsea Fincher | Clarion
Down: 1. You can’t escape it 2. Discouraging responses 3. Car to cross a river in 6. Dubble bubble, for one 7. On a wall, as art 9. First-class 10. Spotify offering 11. Saucer-mate 12. The color of Mr. Jackman 16. Mountain summit 18. Person without influence 19. Time of relaxation 21. Whites on a washday, e.g. 24. Tardy, departed
26. Circuit of a track 29. Follow commands 31. Alehouse 34. Water, earth, fire, or air? 35. Young’uns, collectively 39. Chromosome content 41. Element of uncertainty 43. Verdict-delivering group 44. Wet floor cleaner 47. Restaurant bill
Across 1. Fishy appendage 4. Big tub 5. Some do it “___ ‘til they drop” 8. Imagine while asleep 10. Therefore, consequently 13. Invited performer or speaker 14. More than is required 15. PVC or corncob 17. Plead like a hungry dog 20. A helping hand 21. Not right 22. Deliver from harm 23. Large mass 25. Highway payment 27. Blu-ray storage unit
29. Sheriff’s helper 30. Perkiness 32. Low-lit 33. Gratifying reception 35. Card in a mobile phone 36. Turning back of the tide 37. “Lady” of New York harbor 40. Dryly comical 42. “Stop, or ___!” 43. Copy machine mishap 45. Regret, bemoan 46. Prefer, elect 48. Favoring neither side 49. Detect audibly 50. Portion of land
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PIONEER VOICES Question of the week:
What do you do to celebrate the end of midterms?
“I don’t really think I celebrate the end of midterms because there still are four more weeks after, until finals.”
“I guess I just relax and watch a lot of Netflix.”
Phillip Portillos, first year
Calla Solomon, first year
“When I was an undergrad, I would play a lot of Madden and hang out with friends.”
“I like to go camping or on a climbing trip and just go out in nature for a little bit and reconnect.”
Todd Stebbins, graduate student
John Kurtz, fourth year
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OPINIONS | 9
Young people need to vote
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ccording to the non partisan Pew Research center, in the 2016 presidential election voter turnout peaked at 56 percent participation from all eligible citizens. This number may not seem low, however, Pew found that the U.S. ranks 26th out of 32 in a list of developed democratic nations comparing how many citizens vote. Countries with higher voter turnouts included Mexico, Germany and South Korea, with Belgium taking the lead at almost 90 percent. It quickly becomes clear that the United States is lagging behind, a concerning fact considering the democratic values our country was founded upon. Why should the average college student care? Why bother voting? Historically, minority groups and women had to fight to receive the right to vote, a right that is now taken for granted by our generation. For a college student it may seem like voting is unimportant or that politics does not affect them. This is simply untrue; our generation is inheriting an earth that may be on the verge of irreversible destruction. While
this seems dramatic, recall that just this week United Nations scientists predicted little more than a decade before the problems caused by global warming become inevitable. For older voters, this is hardly their concern, as they will eventually pass and leave us to inherit the mess. Thus it becomes our responsibility to vote. Another issue for our generation, albeit a controversial one, is gun control. School shootings have seen a rise in the last two years. While the older generation can offer us sympathies, it is the students who are now eligible to vote who will cause change. It is important to remember that the older generation can vote on issues that will affect our lives directly. Issues such as LGBTQ rights, income inequality or foreign policy will be defined by who we elect. I would rather vote than allow someone else who will not have to deal with the consequences make these decisions for me. So don’t take your right to vote for granted, participate and perhaps we can inherit a better world. Ashley Neal | Contributing Writer
Photo courtesy of Connor W. Davis
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Are leaders born or made?
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Photo courtesy of Jonathan Clark
hile sitting on top of a twenty-foot log, I felt the cold mountain wind graze the sides of my face. My body slowly shifted its weight on the surface area of the log as my heartbeat quickened. I peered down at the belay teams below me; one team held a blue rope while the other held a purple one. The two ropes were connected to the harness
that hugged my hips and chest which kept me from falling. After a moment of panic and self-assessment, I jumped off and was safely lowered to the ground by the belay teams. You’re probably wondering why I’m telling you this: What’s the importance of me detailing this experience on a log? For some it may not seem important; however, for the first-year
students in the Pioneer Leadership Program (PLP), this activity meant a lot to their leadership development and self-discovery. During the first weekend of October, the 88 first-year PLP students traveled to The Nature Place in Florissant, Colorado for a two-day retreat. The retreat consisted of high-rise and low-rise rope courses, lessons for personal reflection and activities planned by PLP staff and second-year students. The retreat served as a way for students to push their boundaries, to connect with students they wouldn’t normally talk to and to grow individually as leaders. Before leaving for the trip, we were posed with a question: Are leaders born or made? There are thousands of YouTube videos on how to be a more effective leader, hundreds of books on being a better communicator and several different collegiate programs teaching development skills as part of leadership minors. Therefore, it’s suggested through media and our education system that leaders can be made. However, it can also be believed that leaders are a mixture of predetermined characteristics and education. “Everyone is born with talents, and so I think leaders are born. But if you don’t work on your leadership skills, if you don’t work to develop yourself as a leader, you won’t be successful,” commented Marshall
Marrs, a first-year student from Arvada, Colo., majoring in public policy and political science. Marrs has a rich history in leadership-oriented establishments. He served on the Student Government at his high school, and he was the co-chair for their Make-A-Wish committee. His passion for public service encouraged him to run in the election for freshman senator for the Undergraduate Student Government. I wholeheartedly agree with Marrs’s claim. Upon entering high school, I was honest, committed and optimistic; however, I had to hone those skills to become a better leader. Through theatre, yearbook and Student Leadership, I gained a better understanding of how I work with others, what I can do for my community and who I am as a leader. As I enter college, I still carry those characteristics, but I am continuing to expand my horizons. Classes such as Inclusive Leadership and personality tests are encouraging students like myself to explore their leadership personalities to understand how they can contribute more to the communities they serve. Therefore, I don’t think leadership is born or taught, I think it’s an even mixture of the two.
Madalyne Heiken | Contributing Writer
First impressions of the PLP program
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joined the Pioneer Leadership Program (PLP) mostly because of my biggest fear coming into college: navigating the process of forming close friendships. Before applying to the program, I spoke to quite a few people who were a year or two in, and I was able to understand their perspectives on the program. The overwhelming majority of people claimed that joining PLP was one of the best choices they had made during their time at college and that through this program, they had met the people they were still closest with to that day. This sounded pretty great to me, and I wanted to be able to form deep bonds with my peers. From the beginning of this year, living with the other students in the program, I found this to be true. PLP introduced me to the most amazing people with whom I have already been able to establish lasting bonds. I am sure I would have been able to find friends in other capacities if this program was not a part of my life, but there is something right about the relationships we have formed so far. Living in a residence hall with others in the program allowed me to have access to individuals who were all so different than I am, but who still shared many fundamental values. Having
the ability to have access at all times to these individuals also allowed us to spend time together, even just studying or listening to music. PLP is a program centered on leadership, both developing your personal leadership style and demonstrating your love for service in the community.
viduals as well, know so much more about who I am at my core than a lot of people I have known for years. This makes us all incredibly comfortable with each other and strengthens the friendships we have only begun to develop. The negative aspect of this, though, is that many nights, we have found ourselves
In exploring these aspects of ourselves and learning ways to effect positive change more effectively, we get deep with each other, and fairly fast. Not even just those I am closest to in this program, but other indi-
up at 3 a.m. talking and losing sleep because we have lost track of time in the conversation. The community and friendship aspect of PLP that I have raved about thus far has been so helpful for me in making an easy
transition into college. Beyond this though, the program has definitely pushed me and can be overwhelming. I am the kind of individual who needs to have some time alone to recharge and a person who can be very anxious speaking up in group settings. As a member of PLP, I do feel a pressure to always be on and interacting with my peers, which is very out of my comfort zone. Classes also push verbal participation, so it takes a lot to show my engagement in the material. Even though these things are difficult for me, I am glad that I can have something to push me out of my shell and help me grow in the areas I find challenging. In the word cloud are other first impressions of PLP, as first year students contributed one word answers to what the program was like so far. I am so blessed to have found this welcoming community that I can be a part of over the next four years. It has been helpful for me to have the opportunity to grow in and fully get to know myself during this transitional period of life. Although not everything will go smoothly as a part of a group, PLP is one that fosters a family of people ready to have each other’s backs when there is a bump in the road. Cameron Elder | Contributing Writer
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OPINIONS | 1 1
Your Title IX rights are quietly being taken away
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n Aug. 31 of this year, the DU administration quietly changed its Title IX policy. The administration did not make a single announcement about these changes. They did not notify the The Health and Counseling Center (HCC, or The Center for Advocacy, Prevention and Empowerment (CAPE). On college campuses, Title IX plays a large role in the way cases of assault are reported, so as a student, understanding this law means understanding your gender rights on campus. Title IX is a federal law that protects students from gender discrimination. The law states that “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal
financial assistance.” Sexual assault falls under the category of gender discrimination under Title IX, so this law mandates how cases of sexual assault are to be handled on campus. Title IX requires that, when a student has experienced a hostile environment such sexual assault or severe, pervasive and objectively offensive sexual harassment, schools must stop the discrimination, prevent its recurrence and address its effects. There are two main changes that have been made to DU’s Title IX policy. The administration got rid of the 60-day timeline that previously existed for reported cases of assault. This timeline previously ensured that by 60 days after making a report, there had to be a resolution to the case. Now a case can be dragged out indefinitely, allowing any alleged attacker to
graduate with no repercussions while a case is still being processed. The other main change is a new mediation policy. Now, the administration can determine case by case whether or not mediation is necessary. If deemed necessary, the survivor and their attacker will be required to sit down with a third party in a mediation session and talk out the issues of the incident in question. We as a community stand to protect and help survivors. Pushing their cases to the back burner and forcing them into potentially traumatic reencounters with their attackers is simply unacceptable. These policy changes will obviously deter students from reporting assaults and pressing charges, and they do no foreseeable good for survivors. Why would DU want to alienate survivors like
this, and prevent them from reporting assaults and pressing charges? Undergraduate Student Government (USG) is currently in the process of communicating with the administration to figure this out, but from a statistical standpoint, a school is far more likely to be sued by an alleged attacker than by a survivor in cases of sexual assault. Less reported assaults mean less potential law cases for the school. These changes do not support survivors and do not reflect the values of Title IX, and it’s up to us as a student body to communicate with the administration to let them know how we feel about these changes. Call 303-871-2000 Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to talk to an administrative member about these issues. Natalie Niles | Contributing Writer
Photo courtesy of Connor W. Davis
Is Bitcoin the future?
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ive years ago, you could have invested in the cryptocurrency Bitcoin for six cents per coin. Today’s average price is over $6,000 per Bitcoin, a fine profit for early investors. However, the current price is a far shift from just last year when the price spiked to over $15,000 a coin, causing potential investors to push as much cash as they
Photo courtesy of Forbes
could into buying Bitcoin. Those investors who bought high are currently suffering from the major price drop and hoping to see positive market trends in the future. However, will this happen? Is Bitcoin a gold mine or a failed experiment? A potential investor in Bitcoin needs to be aware of the technology and history that created cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin
was started by an anonymous entrepreneur who uses the name Satoshi Nakamoto. The idea of Bitcoin was to create currency that was in the control of the people; essentially the government would have no control over the creation and regulation of the currency. This idea seemingly backfired on potential investors who have come to realize that a single man is in charge of an entire currency. To become involved in trading and using Bitcoin, investors have to download a specific software which is not user friendly to most computer users. The software is hard to manage and is slow, which is due to Bitcoin’s reliance on something called a blockchain. Blockchains are databases managed by a group of anonymous users called miners. The job of a miner is to track each and every Bitcoin transaction in existence. Every-time an owner of Bitcoin wishes to trade they use the downloaded software to announce the trade to miners who then track the transaction on the blockchain. While this sounds complex, the underlying reasons are to ensure no Bitcoin can be used twice. An analogy for this mechanic is to consider a U.S. dollar. If someone who owns a particular dollar hands
the dollar to another person, they no longer own that dollar. However, with a cryptocurrency which can be easily hacked and therefore duplicated, miners must track every purchase made to ensure no duplicates are found in the market. This idea is great in theory, however, Bitcoin has been proven to be unstable at best. It is estimated that 14 percent of Bitcoin has been stolen or hacked from its users. I would caution any potential investor to seriously reconsider purchasing Bitcoin. The complex technology of Bitcoin still suffers from multiple “glitches.” Something as simple as a lost USB drive could also cause an investor to lose their entire stock of Bitcoin. There are so many factors that have to be accounted for when examining whether or not Bitcoin will be profitable, and with such complex technology, I think that much of Bitcoin is still hard to conceptualize. The risks involved in Bitcoin are too high when compared with potential profit, and for a new investor (as most college students are), playing such a market might be better left to experienced risk takers. Ashley Neal | Contributing Writer
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Top five dispensaries near campus The Clarion does not encourage illegal use of any cannabis products. All dispensaries mentioned in this list are intended for individuals 21+ years of age or for Colorado residents with a legal medical marijuana card. Please use responsibly.
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he number of dispensaries that exists in Colorado is larger than the number of McDonald’s and Starbucks combined. No matter what you are looking for out of your cannabis experience, these 5 dispensaries that are located near campus will help you explore the fastest growing industry in the United States. 5. Frosted Leaf This dispensary is known for its loyal customers who are enthusiastic about the ease and knowledge that Frosted Leaf’s employees consistently provide. Frosted Leaf is open until 10pm every day of the week and offers featured strains available with special deals each day. With one of the largest selections of concentrates in the area, shoppers are confident with the reasonable prices and all-encompassing selection of cannabis products available at Frosted Leaf. Head over to Harrison Street to see today’s featured strain. 4. Live Green Being one of the first dispensaries in Colorado, Live Green really knows what they are doing. They put a large empha-
sis on using cannabis to enhance one’s health and to explore the variety of products they have at the store. The staff is passionate about giving their customers the best personal cannabis experience possible, both medical and recreational. Located on Broadway Street, Live Green offers its shoppers top of the line products to make you feel your best. Give Live Green a try and enhance your life. 3. Back to the Garden Although they do not have the widest selection of cannabis in the area, all customers rave over the low prices offered by Back to the Garden. This low-profile store is also located on Broadway Street and is one of the smallest recreational and medical marijuana stores in town. Back to the Garden hopped on the cannabis train before recreational use was even legal, so the staff at this dispensary is very well-educated and eager to share their extensive wisdom of all things cannabis related. Check out this store for the cheapest prices near campus. 2. Good Chemistry Amplify, relax, relieve and sleep are Good Chemistry’s four components used to make life better for its customers through the use of cannabis products. The modern design of this store along with the emphasis on the health and safety of cannabis products further assures shoppers that they will be more
Chelsie Fincher | Clarion
than satisfied with their trip to Good Chemistry. Also located on Broadway Street, this dispensary provides customers with the ability to order ahead online and pick up their order in store to ensure an efficient and fulfilling purchase. Run by to see what Good Chemistry has to offer, and if you’re in a hurry, visit their website to place an order. 1. Starbuds Everyone in the area knows and loves the convenient location (directly next-door to the first Chipotle ever) and consistent high-quality products of this cannabis store. Set just a few blocks away from campus, the relaxed and casual environment of this store encourages buyers to learn about the products, ensuring a positive shopping experience each visit.
Starbuds won an award for Best Sativa in Colorado at the Cannabis Cup in 2015, which is no surprise coming from a dispensary that strives to educate customers about their carefully curated selection of cannabis products. Every time you make a purchase at Starbuds, you gain points towards the best rewards program in the industry. Stop in to earn 60 points just for signing up.
Rebecca Shagrin | Contributing Writer
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Delta Zeta and Zeta Beta Tau enjoy a night of mini golf Hannah Branit | Clarion
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nder the neon lights of Monster Mini Golf in Centennial, Colo., a group of college students came to play. Students from two Greek chapters at DU, Delta Zeta (DZ) and Zeta Beta Tau (ZBT), attended a social exchange with two goals in mind—first, to win. Second, to make friends. The social exchange, planned by DZ member Addie Clay, was a night full of ringing laughter as fraternity and sorority members played competitive rounds of mini golf or brightly-colored arcade games. They were all decked
in neon clothing, glittering along with the games as they played. “It’s really fun to get everyone together and play golf and do arcade games and just hang out,” Clay said. She and her partner from ZBT, Duncan Fuller, worked tirelessly to plan the event, and both said that they were beyond pleased with the turnout from both DZ and ZBT. The exchange acted as a way for sorority women and fraternity men to get to meet and know each other away from the confines of DU, as Devon Fitzgibbons, a senior in DZ, pointed out. “It’s just fun to have oppor-
tunities to meet people from different organizations across campus,” she said. Though the evening allowed sorority and fraternity life to intersect off-campus, it also meant that new members to DZ and ZBT got to spend time in their new homes. Zoe Woods, a first year DZ, said, “What I gained from this was just some more bonding time with my new sisters.” Meanwhile Ben Shackleford, a freshman and new member of ZBT, said that he enjoys events like these because it means that he can get to know the men in his
Mac n Phis served on a cold, snowy day
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ct. 10 was a cold day, as DU saw its first snow of the year. Students walked to class in winter jackets and boots, trying to survive the cold as much as possible. This made it the perfect day for picking up some macaroni and cheese at the Alpha Phi event, Mac n Phis. Mac n Phis has been an Alpha Phi tradition for years and is an important fundraiser to support women’s heart health. A portion of the proceeds goes directly into the sorority’s philanthropy, The Alpha Phi Foundation, which raises money for research and education for women’s heart health. “Women’s heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States,” said Caroline Bulf, president of Alpha Phi. “It impacts all of us, and some members of the sorority have been affected personally by this.” Mac n Phis first featured homemade macaroni and cheese by the sorority. However, the sorority decided to have a vendor serve macaroni and cheese on campus so more DU students would attend the event. Macaroni and cheese was served by the Mac n Noodles food truck catering three options of Four Cheese, macaroni and cheese with bacon and the
“Bronco,” a spicier macaroni and cheese served with jalapenos. Students could grab a bowl with a bottle of water for the cheap price of $10. Alpha Phi accommodated for the cold weather by setting up tents for students to stand under, putting tables for students to stand and eat while chatting with their friends. Students enjoyed their warm bowls of macaroni and cheese on the first day of snow. Mac n Phis was served at a perfect time, as it was a chance to cater comfort food on a cold day and during midterms, providing a much needed break from the stress of school. And even more important, the event was put together for a good cause, raising awareness for women’s heart health and promoting the importance of research and prevention of the number one killer of women in the United States.
Nina Petrovic | Arts & Life Editor
Photo Courtesy of Alpha Phi
fraternity a little better, as well as get to know the sorority women on campus. The happiness was palpable on every person’s face, as students laughed and chattered with new friends and family and played mini golf to their heart’s content on what many considered a great start to a great year at DU.
Elyse Compton | Contributing Writer
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Reduxer: Alt-J pays homage to hip-hop
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ritain’s whitest band wades into hip-hop with their newest release, Reduxer. A reworking of their successful 2017 release “Relaxer,” alt-J’s new album has some memorable moments and some moments you’ll hope to forget. In their fourth full length album, the band explores their more subtle influence—hip hop— but stays true to their signature experimental, alternative style. The album is loosely platformed on the idea of a “global hip-hop”— featuring artists from around the world and, rhythmically, including beats consistent with everything from American rock to reggetan. In some moments, alt-J’s risks pay off, yielding intricate sculptures of sound; but, more often than not, moments of brilliance were eclipsed by the band trying too hard to fit pieces together, resulting in a disjointed listening experience. They set the bar low with their opening track, “3WW,” featuring Little Simz. The artists lay elementary poetry on an underwhelming beat, leaving the listener wondering if they missed the point or if alt-J missed the mark. Little Simz tries to hide the simplicity of her rap in convoluted allusions, saying she’s “Feeling stranger things / I’ll be Snow White with my seven dwarves, can’t lie.” Alt-J intermittently interjects with muted verses from the original make of the song, but their sample choices are irrelevant to Little Simz’s lyrics. The bar stays low with the remix of the remake “House of the Rising Sun,” featuring Australian rapper Tuka. Sound confusing? It is. It takes confidence to cover a classic. It takes audacity to sample your cover in a remix and give it the same name as the classic. This is exactly what alt-J did. The question remains, did they do it well? The answer: no and
yes. Taken at face value, this song is a mish mash of sounds that don’t work together. The song feels bumpy and a disservice to The Animals. Lyricism is a different story. The song is vulnerable, talking about the struggles of growing up in a broken home, the inconsistency of life and the risk of grace. By sampling “House of the Rising Sun,” the song takes on a deeper tone, exemplifying the intentionality of the band. The song is worth contemplation, but it’s one of many to fall short. But, fear not die-hards, there are a few moments of redemption. Jimi Charles Moody is the first saving grace as he turns “Hit Me Like That Snare” into the sultry melody its lyrics begged for on the first album. Danny Brown and the Alchemist continue by turning vinyl to gold in a rendition of “Deadcrush.” Pusha-T and Twin Shadow leave their mark on “In Cold Blood,” completely reassembling the backbeat by pulling elements of funk, rock, electronica and, of course, hip-hop, to take alt-J’s third most popular song to a whole new level. These songs are a comforting reassurance that the band still possesses the brilliance and musical adeptness that captivated the attention of many. All in all, you have to applaud the confidence of alt-J in their endeavor. They take risks, make statements and ultimately beg consideration of the conscious structuring of every song. Unfortunately, not all risks paid off and not all structures stuck the landing. To compensate for their noncohesive sampling, they relied too heavily on the namesake of the hip hop genre. Overall, the erratic nature of the album diluted the brilliance of the few successful tracks.
Photo Courtesy of Wimeo
Haley Birt | Contributing Writer
Five most spooktacular October events
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ctober is in full swing folks, and that means Halloween is right around the corner. A lot of things to do are kind of expensive, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t join in all of the fun. Here are some free and affordable things to do this month leading up to the festive day of Hallow’s Eve: BOONION STATION There’s a Halloween parade at the Denver Union Station on Oct. 25. This is a great chance to dress up pre-Halloween. All the shops will be set up for trick-ortreating for all ages, and there will be a contest to judge the best costume. There will be spooky drink discounts too, for those both under and over the age of 21. Boonion Station is the perfect place to celebrate Halloween. SPOOKY SPEAKEASY On Oct. 26, the Terminal Bar is having a “Spooky Speakeasy” haunted outing. It features a costume contest, themed cocktails
and a live DJ. The award for the costume contest is a night at the Crawford Hotel and a $100 gift card for Union Station. ENCHANTED HOLLOWS AT DENVER ZOO Every Friday and Saturday night, the Denver Zoo is holding an event called Enchanted Hollows. There will be an immersive night walk, Jack-oLantern sculptures and Trick or Treat stations. Explore what the spooky Denver Zoo has to offer. GLOW AT THE GARDENS On Oct. 17, 18, 23 and 25, The Denver Botanical Gardens is hosting different pumpkin artists. These artists push the boundaries of pumpkin carving by creating large scale pumpkin sculptures. The Denver Botanical Gardens will also have a host of different activities, as well, such as glow in the dark cornhole, a scavenger hunt, trick-ortreating and a live magic show. DISNEY IN CONCERT:
TIM BURTON’S “THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS” Also in Halloween spirit, Tim Burton’s “A Nightmare Before Christmas” will be shown at the Boettcher Concert Hall with a live symphony from our Colorado Symphony. With all of these options for the Halloween season, the festivities will never end. So bring your friends, family and loved ones for a spooktacular time. There’s no rhyme or reason to miss out.
Jamal Abdullahi | Contributing Writer
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Twenty One Pilots’ “Trench” surpasses previous album
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wenty One Pilots is a band that surpasses the trends that, arguably, should not be in their favor. The late 2010s can be defined by waves of alternative R&B, EDM and Rap overtaking everything it touches. Alt-Rock acts are not nearly as big as they were in previous decades. Despite this, acts of this type are still around—most notably, Imagine Dragons and Twenty One Pilots. But an important distinction between the two is that Twenty One Pilots shows variety and experimentation in their songs. Unless if one’s a part of their dedicated fanbase, the band’s 2015 sophomore album, “Blurryface,” is probably the general public’s introduction to them. It displayed infectious tunes that were easy to sing along to whilst including lyrics that were thoughtful and relatable. The sounds were a mesh of rap, alt-rock, pop, electronic and reggae-infused sounds. The album even added a creative level of thematic imagery, with its fictional character Blurryface serving as a focal point for the album and as a representation of, lead singer, Tyler Joseph’s fears and insecurities. Although it was extremely successful, the album could still be dwindled down to inoffensive pop-rock that failed to differ from what it was critiquing.
Three years later, the duo, composed of Joseph and Josh Dun, has returned with their new album “Trench,” an immense upgrade from their previous record. Joseph’s songwriting continues to be his strong suit, but it is now properly accompanied with a production value that is just as brilliant due to its focus and complexity. The album opener, “Jumpsuit,” immediately captures the listener with its emotional build up which was properly executed through Dun’s drums and the infectious guitar riff. It quickly sets the darker tone and, for loyal fans, provides some pay off from the cryptic Easter eggs the band was providing prior to the album’s release. Overall, the lore the band provides for “Trench” is that of a fictional character, Clansy, and his disillusionment with the world Dema which he appears to feel trapped in. This backdrop can help put tracks like the opener, “Nico and the Niners” and “Bandito” into context, but it’s not going to tarnish the listener’s experience if they don’t know the details behind this fictional tale. Tracks like “Levitate,” “My Blood” and “Neon Gravestone” show a heightened level of awareness and vulnerability in Joseph’s psyche that are commendable. “Levitate” provides a great beat and rap in which Joseph disses the music industry and the pressures he fac-
es from outside forces to succumb to those structures. “My Blood” is a heartfelt ode to his loved ones, perhaps his brothers, which is accompanied by an insanely catchy bassline and disco-inspired hook. Finally, on “Neon Gravestone”—through a lovely piano and subtle drums— the song touches on the sensitive subject of suicide by looking into the risks that come from society’s habit of glorifying the event and romanticizing the person’s life. He even provides a grim prediction of how his hypothetical suicide could positively affect his music career. “Pet Cheetah” is perhaps the highlight of this versatile al-
bum. It’s the band’s most experimental track in their discography; the lyrics are objectively odd but open to interpretation by the listener. The instrumentation is filled with build ups and fuzzy electronic beats that may require multiple listens to fully grasp. “Trench” refuses to let “Blurryface” be the peak of their career. It serves as proof of their ability to provide consistently introspective and detailed lyrics while managing to step into new musical arrangements. “Trench” is great for Twenty One Pilots fans and for non-fans to give a try. Daniela Santos | News Editor
Photo courtesy of Twenty One Pilots
Upcoming book titles to keep an eye on
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hanging leaves and clothes aren’t the only things to look forward to in the fall: book nerds can start marking their calendars for some of the most anticipated releases of 2018, all of which are soon to hit shelves. By far one of the biggest names in the Young Adult industry is “Kingdom of Ash,” the final book in the Throne of Glass series. Penned by Sarah J. Maas, the series follows a young assassin on her journey to fight for her life and her kingdom and has received numerous awards in addition to becoming one of the most popular young adult series of all time. Fans have followed Celaena Sardothien since she first hit the
shelves in 2012 with “Throne of Glass” and will no doubt be lining up outside of bookstores to snag their copies as soon as they appear on Oct. 23. Another fantasy icon whose name will forever be famous is George R.R. Martin, responsible for the immensely popular “A Song of Ice and Fire” series, more commonly recognized as Game of Thrones. While fans are going to have to wait a bit longer for the next book in the series, titled “The Winds of Winter,” dedicated Thronies will have the chance to catch up on the complex and intriguing world of House Targaryen with “Fire & Blood.” Hitting shelves on Nov. 20, “Fire &
Blood” outlines the bloody history of the Targaryen family, their conquering of Westeros and their subsequent downfall. While some are disappointed by the lack of so much as a release date for the eagerly awaited “The Winds of Winter,” there’s no doubt that Martin’s intricate storylines will make reading “Fire & Blood” a must for understanding the rest of the series. And who in their right mind wouldn’t want to read a 736-page book about dragons? In the wake of recent political events, some people may be encouraged to seek comfort from familiar, friendly faces. Former First Lady Michelle Obama will be releasing a memoir on Nov.
13, detailing her rise from a Chicago-raised kid to an executive, mother and wife. “Becoming” will describe Obama’s triumphs and pitfalls, demonstrating her wit, humor and the victories she found as one of the most prominent advocates for women’s and children’s rights. In a world where political officials are often raised to impossibly-high statuses, “Becoming” offers readers the chance to remember that members of the White House are, in fact, human. And it’s not always a bad thing.
Ava Tusek | Contributing Writer
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Banksy subverts himself only
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hen Banksy’s “Girl With Balloon” self destructed on the wall of Sotheby’s in London on Oct. 6, after fetching $1.4 million to an anonymous buyer, the secret British street artist either subverted the entire art auction society—or contributed greatly to its haughty nature. The shredding of “Girl With Balloon” in front of a confused, awestruck auction-house crowd is the most recent act by Banksy, who has built a reputation for his subversive street art, as well as for the steadfast commercialization and sale of his work. Being the figurehead of a once-underground and mostly taboo medium has made Banksy a household name, but it has also corroded an ideal of authenticity that runs the street art scene (and to be honest, most art scenes). With fame and commercialization, Banksy has lost the once powerful subversion he used to hold, and now, in the view of many, is part of a larger system of capitalist exploitation and inequality. When Banksy’s spray paint on canvas piece started automatically shredding after the gavel fell on its sale, it immediately became art history. The destruction of a piece remotely—and during an auction—had never happened before. Of course, while at face value Banksy’s act seems to be a middle finger to the crowd and patrons of art auc-
tions (and the inequalities of the business as a whole), one can’t help but feel, even if Banksy was not aiming to do as such, that the act was just a continuation of the industry norms. Banksy posted a video on Instagram apparently showing him creating the hidden shredding frame. He captioned the video with “the urge to destroy is also
but the act itself along with the painting still being relatively put together possibly only upped the value of the piece for the buyer, as it now has an aura of spectacle and history around it. If Banksy’s aim was to embarrass, or make a statement against the art world, committing an act that only increases the already tremendous value of a piece
Photo courtesy of Spin
a creative urge,” a quote often attributed to Picasso. Banksy’s act at Sotheby’s wasn’t really destruction, though. While the painting was obviously changed from its initial state, the clean, perfectly even shredding of the piece meant that not only could it be reinstalled within a frame,
for auction seems to do little to subvert or otherwise antagonize the art establishment. In fact, it’s hard to see it as anything other than a stunt that only reinforces a loss of authenticity that plagues the artist. Banksy’s subversion cannot really be called as such if the
auction house was in on the event. According to The New York Times, the frame for the piece would have been rather large and heavy for a painting the size of Banksy’s. Somebody, especially those as experienced and renowned as the art handlers at Sotheby’s, would have possibly noticed the unwieldy frame. As well, the art was hung on the wall, unusual for its size, instead of put up on a podium or other presentation. And maybe most revealing, the art was the last offer of the day, as if it was known that the piece would cause considerable commotion among the ranks of the auction house and disrupt other sales. The art world is a convoluted, inflated place. It is no stranger to spectacle or conspiracy. As auction prices continue to climb into numbers never before thought possible, and streetart—once seen as a vestige of artistic authenticity—becomes a product of upper-class commercialization, it is easy to see where the line between artist and art market blurs. Banksy’s stunt at Sotheby’s is maybe a clever act of subversion, but it seems more that it is—maybe not a celebration of—but a piece of the puzzle that is the art market and its absurd wealth, a fraternization with the powers at be, the powers that stand in direct defiance of what artists like Banksy stand for. Justin Cygan | Arts & Life Editor
Exploring the unsurprising failure of Google Plus
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he search engine giant that dominates the internet has stumbled over its most recent failure: the social media platform Google Plus. As Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent company, decided to shut down Google
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Plus by August 2019, they soon faced criticism. Odds are, most people aren’t fazed by its shutdown. When Google Plus originated in 2010, it was intended to contend with Facebook as a social media platform. At its core,
according to the website Raka, Google Plus had three advantages: it optimized business listings, it was another way to rank websites (so when people search, there’s a better chance your site will appear sooner than others) and it was another way to connect—either personally or professionally. Evidently, something went wrong. As of 2016, 91 percent of Google Plus accounts were empty. That implies they were either spam or never active. If that’s not depressing enough, the platform had approximately 34 million monthly visitors and 395 million active accounts. Facebook has two billion monthly users. When looking at the numbers, it’s no surprise Google decided to call it quits. It’s difficult to pinpoint what exactly lead to its downfall. Motivation of competition and the desire to beat Facebook at their own game certainly played into it. They were late to the market and trying to catch up. Beyond that, it isn’t very user friendly. Once on Google Plus, it’s difficult to understand what exactly the main function of the platform is. Viewing it as a surrender, Google begrudgingly sat out of the social media starting lineup. In accordance with
Google Plus’s descent, it was also uncovered that Google had exposed the data of over 500,000 users this past spring and decided to keep the information private. According to the Wall Street Journal, they didn’t disclose it because they feared it would damage their reputation. Clearly Google forgets how strong their platform is. This software glitch gave outside developers potential access to private Google Plus data. From 2015 to March of 2018, this went unpublicized. Alphabet claims that none of the data was misused, yet they failed to look into the bug until 2018. This lack of knowledge and blindfolding of its users is what ultimately hindered Google’s reputation. In keeping quiet, it formed distrust amongst people and had the potential to set Google back as far as Facebook’s bug did. Let this be a wakeup call to all businesses: not only is it a terrible idea to hide certain information from the consumers, but it’s probably not the best idea to compete against companies with well established social media platforms—particularly if the idea is more or less the same. Megan Cooney | Contributing Writer