DU Clarion Volume 122 Issue 20

Voice of the University of Denver Pioneers since 1899 VOL. 122, ISSUE 20

duclarion.com

OCTOBER 14, 2015

PIOS GET REVENGE AT FIRST HOME GAME Victory in the second half of a two-game series

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SEE EXCLUSIVE ONLINE CONTENT AT DUCLARION.COM BED BUGS NEED AMERICAN HORROR BETTER RESPONSE STORY RETURNS 7 pa g e

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HOMECOMING WEEK EVENTS

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SIX PRODUCTIVITY APPS YOU NEED

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OCTOBER 14,2015

Homecoming weekend schedule released MEG MCINTYRE

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EXECUTIVE EDITOR

he weekend of Oct. 16 and 17 marks the 2015 Homecoming and Family Weekend, which includes a full schedule of events for DU students, parents and alumni.

A number of other on-campus events, which began Oct. 12, are also scheduled for students to attend during the preceding week.

On Oct. 12, the homecoming events began with free duffey rolls and coffee from the alumni-owned Duffey Roll Café food truck. That evening, student organizations were invited to paint banners advertising their groups, which will be hung on Driscoll Bridge for the entire homecoming week.

Tuesday was Pioneer Pride Day, which encouraged DU students, staff and faculty to wear their DU clothing. That night students attended the Pioneer Pep Rally on Driscoll Green to enjoy performances from the Pioneer Pep Band, dance team and cheerleaders and hear speeches about DU’s upcoming athletic seasons.

On the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 14, free waffles, bacon, sausage and grits were available at the Leo Block Alumni House from 9:30 to 12:30 p.m. At 6 p.m., DU’s men’s and women’s basketball teams hosted the annual Basketball Fan Jam to introduce the players to the student body. The event included free food, contests and prizes.

Thursday, Oct. 15 features the Study Break Under the Stars event, sponsored by DU Young

Alumni, an alumni group for DU’s most recent alumni. The event will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Driscoll Green. Students can enjoy free food and fall drinks while listening to performances from student bands and a cappella groups. Attendees will also have the chance to win fall-themed prizes at the event.

For each of these events, students are encouraged to pick up a Homecoming Passport from the Pioneer Ambassadors, who will be available to hand out passports at each homecoming event throughout the week. The first 150 students to mark off four events in their passports will win free tickets to the Taste of DU event on Saturday.

On Friday, Oct. 16, the events catered toward parents and alumni begin with a parent’s lecture entitled “DU’s History in Pictures” at 10 a.m. Several other parent lectures will take place on Friday, including “Magnetic Networking: Teaching Your Student to Build a Professional Community” at 11 a.m., “Starting a Business After DU” at 1 p.m. and “Studying Abroad and the Cherrington Global Scholars Initiative” at 2 p.m.

Campus tours will be given at various times throughout the weekend, the first of which beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday.

Attendees can choose from three different tours: a historical tour guided by DU’s historian, Steve Fisher, a student-guided tour featuring art on campus or a tour about the physical changes to campus in the past 20 years.

Specific tour times can be found on the homecoming website.

Throughout the afternoon, there will be several “book chats” featuring local Denver and DU authors, including Bin Ramke and Clark Davis. Book chats will also be given on Saturday by Sandra Dallas and Kristen Iverson.

Other activities on Friday afternoon include the Career Services Open House, the Gymnastics Open House, the Living and Learning Communities Reception and the All-Alumni BBQ ($15 for general admission, $10 for young alumni, senior and graduate students). That evening participants are invited to attend the DU Ski Ball dinner ($60 per person) at 5 p.m., the Pioneer volleyball game against Oral Roberts University ($7) at 7 p.m. and the Pioneer hockey game against Michigan State University ($24 or $29) at 7:30 p.m. Students can still purchase $5 student tickets for each hockey game, but if they want to sit with their parents, they must purchase one of the more expensive tickets.

Saturday morning begins with a presentation by Chancellor Chopp entitled “Chopp Talk: Denver” at 8 a.m. at the Cable Center. Chancellor Chopp will take questions from attendees and discuss her vision for the future of DU. At 11 a.m., the Colorado Women’s College at DU presents the Half the Sky* Fair, which will feature refreshments, entertainment and an international market of goods sold by artisans and businesswomen from around the world. Also at 11 a.m. is the Hillel Center for Jewish Life Coffee and Brunch.

The afternoon will feature Pio-Palooza and Taste of DU from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m., an outdoor carnival featuring lawn games, face painting, live entertainment and food from more than a dozen local restaurants and businesses. The event is free to attend, but sampling tickets are $25 for 20 tickets or $100 for a family ticket package.

At 3:30 p.m., the Center for Multicultural Excellence presents the Homecoming Out Reception, during which they invite LGBTQIA Pioneers and allies to enjoy food and conversation.

There are several athletic events to attend on Saturday, including the women’s swimming and diving meet at 12 p.m., the men’s soccer match against University of Nebraska-Omaha at 7 p.m. and the men’s hockey game against Michigan State University at 7 p.m. ($24 or $29).

Though it is not necessary to register for events on Monday through Thursday, registration is suggested for all weekend events.

Tickets can be bought a la carte for each event with a cost, or an all-access pass is available for $99, which includes tickets to the hockey games on both Friday and Saturday, a ticket to the AllAlumni BBQ, a 20-ticket Taste of DU package, a 10-punch card for Coors Fitness Center and a Homecoming and Family Weekend t-shirt.

A full schedule of the week’s events can be found on DU’s homecoming website. To register for weekend events or purchase event tickets, please visit alumni. du.edu.

Business Staff

Editorial Staff

Contributors

JOHN POE

CONNOR W. DAVIS

ABBIE RANDALL

ANDREW MATRANGA

MEG MCINTYRE

CAROLYN ANGIOLLO

SOPHIA HANCOCK

JOHN POE

KATE ROGERS

JILLIAN QUERI

JOCELYN ROCKHOLD

B U S IN E S S M AN AG E R F AC U LTY A D VIS O R

A D VE RTIS IN G R E PRE S E N TATIVE

Digital Staff

E D ITO R - IN -C HIE F

E X E C U TIVE E D ITO R N E WS E D ITO R

S PO RTS E D ITO R

S TAF F W RITE R S TAF F W RITE R S TAF F W RITE R S TAF F W RITE R

GUSTO KUBIAK

ADRIAN BOGART

RUTH HOLLENBACK

O PIN IO N S E D ITO R

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SETH HARRIS

COURTNEY LUSTER

ISABEL DUFFORD

L IF E S TY LE S E D ITO R

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S O C IAL M E D IA D IRE C TO R

CAROLINE FIELD C O N TRIBU TIN G W RITE R

TARYN ALLEN

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PAUL HEINEN

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A S S IS TAN T L IF E S TY LE S E D ITO R

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CARISSA CHERPES

MADELINE ZANN

TAMARRA NELSON

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RACHEL REIDENBAUGH

MAX PIVONKA

SASHA KANDRACH

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MONICA MCFADDEN

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Cartoonists

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JACK FOERSTERLING

ANDREW SMALLEY

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DU CLARION

OCTOBER 14,2015

NEWS | 3

HCC offers new drop-in counseling ANDREW SMALLEY

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CONTRIBUTING WRITER

he Health and Counseling Center has launched a new program for students to have brief counseling consultations with a medical provider. The program is called Let’s Talk and provides free, anonymous walk-in hours at the HCC satellite office in Driscoll South, downstairs by the Pioneer ID card office.

“We feel that this is an important step toward increasing access to and knowledge of mental health services on campus,” said HCC Staff Psychologist and Group Outreach Coordinator Anand Desai. “Additionally, we hope that historically underrepresented groups particularly students from marginalized groups who have a healthy skepticism of mental health services may utilize this service initially as there isn’t any commitment, nor are there records kept.”

According to Desai, the only limits to the program’s confidentiality involve a case in which a student identifies a serious risk of harming themselves or someone else. Additionally, the HCC website stresses that Let’s Talk is not meant to be substitute for ongoing, weekly counseling sessions.

Let’s Talk sessions are currently being held on Mondays from 10-11 a.m., Tuesdays from 1-2 p.m. and Wednesday from 3:30- 4:30 p.m.

Desai added that if the program is well-utilized, additional hours might be added.

The Let’s Talk program was started at Cornell University, designed to help prevent suicides and violence from students who don’t usually reach out for help on mental health issues according to the University’s website.

A 2006 study by the Teagle Foundation found that the Let’s Talk program saw great improvements in minority participation in mental health consultations.

Let’s Talk has spread to dozens of college campuses across the nation over the past several years, especially as schools face increased pressures to address student’s mental health in the wake of recent shootings.

“The HCC also offers comprehensive mental health services including group counseling, medication management, couples counseling, and individual counseling,” Desai said. “We know that talking about difficulties helps people progusto kubiak | clarion cess and manage the impact that The Let’s Talk program provides free, anonymous walk-in hours at the HCC’s they may have on their day-to-day satellite office in Driscoll South. functioning.”

ParkMobile app comes to DU campus MAX PIVONKA

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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he days of searching for quarters or waiting in lines at parking payment machines are over—now you can simply park, pull out your phone, and pay. This new convenience is thanks to the app ParkMobile, with whom DU recently partnered with to provide this service in all of campus’ hourly guest parking lots. The app went live at the end of week three.

The app is free to download for iOS, Android, Windows and Blackberry, and creating an account is also free and simple to do. To sign up you just enter your

phone number and email, create a password, enter your vehicle’s license plate and state and payment method; either PayPal or a credit card. When creating an account more than one vehicle can be registered on the app and just choose the plate of the one you’re driving. Additionally, the same vehicle can be registered on multiple accounts, because enforcement is only based on the license plate number.

“It’s really [about] ease of use for the customer,” said Melissa Yates, the director of Parking Services at DU. “If someone’s using the app, they’re not running to the car to put another quarter in. For instance, they’re saying I’m going to pay for the additional 15 minutes.” Since people

ABOUT US

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 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.

are making sure their parking is paid at all times, enforcement becomes easier because parking enforcement isn’t having to stop as frequently to issue citations, saving time.

With this method of parking the time parked is the time payed down to five minute increments, and the app can be set up to send a notification when there’s 15 minutes left on the meter. If more time needs to be added, just pull out your phone and add time.

It’s important to note that there may be a transaction fee automatically applied. At DU, this fee is $0.35 per transaction with basic membership. These fees vary based on parking provider and parking location and are charged per parking transac-

tion and per parking extension, but not all parking providers charge this fee.

Additional information including a demonstration video and registration information is available at www.parking.du.edu.

connor w. davis | clarion The Parkmobile app is available for free on iOS and Android phones.

HOW TO JOIN

The Clarion is open to contributors of all years and majors at DU, including both undergraduate and graduate students. There’s no application necessary; all you have to do is show up to one of our weekly meetings, which are held every Monday at 6 p.m. (during the academic year) in the Driscoll Underground. Can’t make it to a meeting? Send an email to duclarioneditor@gmail.com and we’ll do everything we can to get you published.

SPORTS DU CLARION

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OCTOBER 14,2015

Women’s soccer falls to the Dakotas in home games JILLIAN QUERI

Three different players earned points for Denver against North Dakota State on Oct. 9 in Note: This article was finalized the highest scoring game of 2015 on Monday, Oct. 12 and does for the Pioneers. not take into account any events Sophomore Riley Welch (Litthat have transpired since then. tleton, Colorado) scored the point to tie the game 1-1, which not only enver women’s soccer gave Denver momentum, but also fell in two home game provided Welch with her first goal this past weekend at as a Pioneer.

CIBER Field, featuring Redshirt junior Karina Fredette matchups against North Dakota (Gatineau, Quebec) gave Denver State University on Oct. 9 and their 2-1 lead in the 36th minute of South Dakota State University on play, followed by a goal from senior Oct. 11.

Taylor Ivens (West Haven, Utah).

The Pioneers were looking With time running low in the for the home field advantage and match, Pioneer freshman Mary added spirit that the Denver crowd Dewalt (West Bend, Wisconsin) brings, but the team unfortunately got lucky when a pass was deflected fell short in both matches. into the North Dakota State goal by “More than anything else, it’s one of North Dakota’s own players. nice to be at home. To play in front The game was tied, leading to overof your family, friends and the stu- time play. dents gives the girls a lot of motivaNorth Dakota State was able tion,” said head coach, Jeff Hooker. to walk away from the match vicDenver women’s soccer lost 4-3 torious, scoring the seventh goal in a heartbreaking loss to Summit of the match over the Pioneers in League opponent, North Dakota overtime play.

State University, on Oct. 9.

Denver faced the reigning SPORTS EDITOR

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Summit League Champions on Oct. 11, South Dakota State University.

The Pioneers faced overtime for the fifth time this season, but were not able to walk away from CIBER Field with a win. The final score of the game was 1-0 in South Dakota’s favor.

Junior goalkeeper Cassidy Rey (Arcadia, California) made three saves in regulation time, which allowed Denver to hold their own against the visiting Jackrabbits.

A heated matchup, Denver outshot South Dakota 10-7 in regular play, but were not able to come up with a goal.

The Pioneers boast a younger squad this season with six new freshman players. After graduating a large senior class last year, the team has taken this season to adjust to the changes and to develop a new team dynamic.

“We are very young [the team],” said Hooker. “Right now, we have one senior who’s starting out of the eleven. Most teams around the country have five, six or seven [seniors] and it’s just kind of the

makeup of our team now. [Seniors] Taylor Ivins and Tina Vargas (Issaquah, Washington) are both coming back off of injuries, so it’s a combination of us early on replacing players that have graduated and then having some injuries that didn’t really help us develop players. We had to patch holes, but people are now getting healthy and it’s a totally different look than it was at the beginning of the season.”

With six games remaining, Denver women’s soccer has yet to earn a victory, but there is still plenty of time.

“Our biggest goal is winning games and having the team continue to improve every week,” Hooker said.

After the second Summit League match for the Pioneers of the season, their current record now stands at 0-2-0 for conference play.

Denver travels to Indiana University- Purdue University Fort Wayne on Oct. 16 for their fourth Summit League match of the 2015-16 season.

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Freshman forward Leah Swander (Grand Junction, Colorado) makes a fast break past two North Dakota State Bison defenders on Oct. 9 at CIBER Field.

Volleyball leads the Summit League after defeating Nebraska-Omaha MADELINE ZANN ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

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U women’s volleyball upped their winning streak to four with a win on the road against Summit League opponent Western Illinois University (WIU) on Oct. 9.

The Pioneers won in three straight games (25-18, 25-20, 25-14), coming from behind to win the first two. The match brought DU to a 17-4 overall record and a 5-1 record in the Summit League, leaving them in second place going into their game on Oct. 11 against then-Summit League leaders University of Nebraska-Omaha.

The first two matches against

Omaha were close, but Denver won the battle for both of them before breaking away in the third game to sweep Omaha 25-21, 29-27, 25-14.

Due to Piyusha Boteju’s (Euless, Texas) injury, Monique Domme (Colorado Springs, Colorado) was the only setter, recording 31 assists.

Moni Currujedo (El Paso, Texas) and Sarah Schmid (Highlands Ranch, Colorado) led Denver with seven kills each.

The win against Omaha means that Denver now leads the Summit League with a 6-1 league record and an 18-4 overall record. The Pioneers also now have a five game winning streak.

The Pioneers’ next game is versus Oral Roberts University at guSto kubiak | clarioN the Hamilton Gymnasium at 2 p.m.

Junior Ruth Okoye and sophomore Kayla Principato jump for the ball in Hamilton Gym. on Oct. 16.

DU CLARION

OCTOBER 14,2015

SPORTS | 5

Men’s and women’s golf swing through fall matches

julie gunderson

| clarion

Pioneer golfers practice on the driving range at home course, Highlands Ranch Golf Club. Denver men’s golf is currently playing in the Bayou City Collegiate Classic in Pearland, Texas.

have captured this tournament’s victory in six years.

Denver defeated runner-up SPORTS EDITOR University of San Francisco by five strokes. Freshman Katharina Note: This article was finalized Baratta (Klosterneuburg, Austria) on Monday, Oct. 12 and does led the Pioneers, tying for fifth. not take into account any events This was her season best. that have transpired since then.

In September, Baratta was named the Summit League he Pioneers’ golf pro- Player of the Month, a prestigrams are off to a strong gious award. Baratta’s freshshowing this season, with man campaign has been off to women’s golf recently a strong start. She recorded her placing first in the Ron Moore’s first top-10 finish in the GolfIntercollegiate Tournament in week Conference Challenge in Littleton, Colorado on Oct. 11. Wolcott, Colorado on Sept. 23 This victory was monumental for where she tied for eighth, scoring the Pioneers, making this victory 73-74-73 respectively over the the first no. 1 title for Denver this three-day tournament. season and the first time they According to rankings pub-

JILLIAN QUERI

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lished by Golfweek on Oct. 8, the Lady Pios are ranked no. 63 in the nation, followed by the men who come in at no. 212.

Men’s golf has completed two tournaments so far this year: the Colorado State University (CSU) Invitational and the University of New Mexico Tucker Invitational.

Denver tied for ninth the first round of the CSU Invitational on Sept. 21, then finished the tournament in eighth place on Sept.

22 with a total of 890. In New Mexico, the Pioneers took home a 16th place finish after round three on Sept. 26.

Senior Adam Ruben (Lake Oswego, Oregon) led the Pioneers in New Mexico, placing 21st in the field of 100 players.

Ruben scored 73, 72 and 74 respectively during the three-day tournament. He also recorded an impressive finish at the CSU Invitational, where he finished in the top of 20, placing 19th.

Sophomore Chris Korte (Littleton, Colorado) also made an impressive showing for Denver during the CSU Invitational.

Korte placed the best of the Pioneers and earned a 12th place finish out of the 88 players in attendance at the event.

Denver began play in their third tournament of the season in Texas for the Bayou City Collegiate Classic on Oct. 11. Hosted by the University of Houston, 14 collegiate teams are making their showing at this event.

PIO BIO: Adam Ruben

SPORT: Golf GRADE: Senior

MAJOR: History HOME STATE: Oregon

CAROLYN ANGIOLLO

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STAFF WRITER

his week, The Clarion sat down with golfer Adam Ruben.

Q: When did you begin playing golf?

A: My freshman year of high school is when I first started playing competitively. I first got onto the course at 14-15. I played baseball growing up, mostly.

Q: When you started playing golf in high school, what made you decide to pursue golf at a collegiate level?

A: I love the game and I want to pursue playing pro. I figured college was a good stepping stone for that.

photo courtesy of denver athletics

Q: How were you recruited?

A: I played at the Junior Worlds when I was a junior in high school. DU’s old head coach was there and he followed me for 18 holes and then emailed me the next day. He asked if I wanted to come visit and I said sure. I picked Denver for the school size.

I knew it was a place I could play

and play against the top people at the top schools.

Q: During this season, has there been one meet or tournament where you have done exceptionally well?

A: In the last two tournaments, I’ve taken top 20. Those are the best two finishes so far for me in college.

Q: Is there a specific tournament ahead that you are looking forward to?

A: I’m looking forward to Bandon Dunes, which is four hours from my home in Oregon.

We just got into that tournament this year. I know my parents and family will be there. I’ve played the course six times.

Q: Since golf is more of an individual sport, how do the goals you have for yourself compare to the success of the team?

A: I’m trying to do the best I can, win tournaments and work on my weaknesses. For me and the team, that’s our main goal.

Also, just having fun. If you’re having fun, you’re winning in my mind.

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DU CLARION

OCTOBER 14,2015

DENVER DEFEATS AIR FORCE IN HOME OPENER SASHA KANDRACH CONTRIBUTING WRITER

simon chen

| clarion

TOP: The team gathers in a huddle after defeating the Falcons. LEFT: Junior Matt VanVoorhis skates down the center of the ice. RIGHT: Freshman Logan O’Connor fends off the Falcons. BOTTOM: Pios line the ice.

Note: This article was finalized on Monday, Oct. 12 and does not take into account any events that have transpired since then.

home with the incredible fan and student support at Magness.”

Following the loss to Air Force, “[We] wanted to be a lot harder of a team to beat,” as enver hockey took the stated by junior forward, Matt ice at Magness Arena Marcinew (Calgary, Alberta) who on Saturday Oct. 10 in a contributed greatly to the Pio’s rematch against offense on Saturday night. the Air Force Falcons for the Marcinew netted a wrist-shot 2015-16 season home opener. goal outside of the right face-off The Pioneers received their first circle in the 13th minute of the win of the season after losing 5-4 first period to equalize Denver in overtime on Friday Oct. 9 at 1-1, followed by an assist in the Air Force’s Cadet Ice Arena. third period.

Denver’s energy picked up Friday’s outcome was a “disappointing loss [for Denver]” during the second period as the according to senior forward, Pios advanced 2-1. Senior defenQuentin Shore (Denver, Colo- seman, Nolan Zajac’s (Winnipeg, rado) who was “excited to return Manitoba) first shot was blocked

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by the Falcon’s goaltender, Billy Christopoulos (Raleigh, North Carolina) and was picked up by forward Pioneer freshman Logan O’Connor (Calgary, Alberta) then redistributed back to Zajac for a conversion at the goal-line crease. “[I] thought the third period looked like the best period [I’ve] seen us look like a team that’s starting to grow and come together,” said Denver Head Coach, Jim Montgomery.

Denver stretched their lead 3-1 from a powerful slap shot taken by junior defenseman Nick Neville (Bloomfield Hills, Michigan) in the 12th minute of the third period.

While Denver secured the victory, Air Force outshot Denver 27-25, but was denied due to the outstanding performance by the NHL Florida Panthers’ prospect, Pioneer and Mike Ritcher Award Watch List recipient, Evan Cowley (Evergreen, Colorado.)

“It’s really fun to play in DU’s atmosphere with home-ice advantage and it was important to bounce back, [going forward] we just need to take each game one at a time,” said Cowley.

Denver’s next game is during Homecoming Weekend on Friday Oct. 16. Puck drop is scheduled at 7:36 p.m. in Magness Arena against the Michigan State University Spartans.

OCTOBER 14,2015

OPINIONS DU CLARION

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Bed bugs cause itch between students and DU ALEX BLISS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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very year, colleges across the country are stricken by those tiny, biting and annoying critters that hide in sheets, mattresses and corners: bedbugs.

We’re just a couple weeks into the academic year and the bugs have already gone on the offensive. Although far from approaching epidemic levels, DU has already seen a minor outbreak of bedbugs this year, notably in Johnson-McFarlane Hall.

Actions taken by the university have also netted a similar mixed bag of responses.

Although the university was quick on their initial response to the situation, some students have said that many emails and phone calls were unanswered.

On the other side, the Housing Department reported that students were kept in constant contact. Considering there are conflicting accounts of what happened and breakdown in communication occured, it is clear that the university’s actions throughout the inspection process are certainly worthy of some major changes.

“We were scolded for something that wasn’t our fault,” said Henry Rozenman, a freshman

English major from Columbus, Ohio. “The inspection process made us feel like juveniles.”

Other residents afflicted by the bugs made mention of the inspectors not responding to student questions, making jokes, neglecting to examine all areas of the room giving a vibe that made them feel like they were responsible for the situation.

Su Pal, the assistant director of housing operations for the Department of Housing and Residential Education, said that she had communicated with the outside vendor that performed the inspections about multiple residents saying that the process was shoddy and rude. If these accounts are true, then the University should immediately cease all associations with this treatment company and find another that will treat students with the respect they deserve.

According to Pal, the last widespread outbreak of bedbugs at DU took place in 2011. One of the changes resulting from that was a policy that encourages students not to sleep in other dorm rooms. This is an unrealistic recommendation—many students have said they feel very uncomfortable about sleeping in their own room, and considering the other option is to camp out in the common areas of dorms, it is time the university revises its policy

let’s make it a community goal towards one based on caution, to talk, to educate and to spread but allowance.

The highest priority for the awareness. When we couple that university and its student body with simple improvements to regarding this issue should be the current policy regarding the a focus on improving awareinspection and communication ness and education on bedbugs process, the end result will be a in dorms. Incoming freshmen more positive and less stressed during Orientation Week are faculty and student body. treated with seminars on, for example, financial aid and alcohol and drugs, which are both critically important, but including information on how to prevent bedbugs and what to do if they are spotted could make these situations less stressful for all.

That being said, there is a problem that reaches far beyond DU when it comes to bedbugs. The harassment and the jokes towards students in this situation needs to stop. This should not be a taboo issue—so instead tony borek | clarion of sweeping it Johnson-McFarlane Hall has experienced a bed bug infestation under the bed, this fall.

Fridays fully booked with frivolous classes ABBIE RANDALL

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STAFF WRITER

ast spring, administration at DU decided to implement the change of requiring all departments to schedule classes for students on Fridays. In previous years, Friday classes were more an anomaly than the norm; however, this mandate is coercing students into class, a change that isn’t beneficial for a student population that values the freedom of Friday for activities that range from skiing to internships.

This alteration was officially announced in a university letter this past May, citing concern for student well-being and campus image as the main reasons for the change. It is thought that classes on Friday, especially morning classes, will help to decrease the amount of student alcohol abuse that occurs on Thursday nights, as well as decrease incidents of sexual assault. On a related note, classes on Friday would help prepare students for a five-day work week in the ‘real world’ after graduation. It is also reasoned that Friday classes would improve the image of DU as an academic community with more students

and professors visible on campus for five days of the week instead of four.

While the intentions of having classes on Friday are logical and thought to be in students’ best interest, the reality of the change isn’t as positive as administration envisioned. According to a petition on change.org, 1,500 students oppose having class on Friday, with good reason.

For prospective students looking at DU, the quarter system and its alternate scheduling pattern is a major selling point.

DU’s academic culture is more intense because of the 10-week system combined with lengthy classes (which last for nearly two hours) that typically meet twice per week. Students are attracted to DU because of this rigorous environment, along with the reassurance that classes aren’t typically held on Friday, allowing for an extra day to balance the heavy workload from earlier in the week. Most classes meet on either Monday and Wednesday, or Tuesday and Thursday; throwing a class on Friday into the mix further skews the week’s balance.

In addition, holding classes on Friday takes away opportunities for students to participate outside of the classroom in DU

events and the beauty of Colorado. Friday is often counted on as a full ski day during the winter, allowing students to experience new adventures.

Easy access to the mountains is a large attraction for DU students, and a lack of Friday classes provides the opportunity to capitalize on Colorado itself without the hassle and madness that comes with the rush of people on the weekends.

Experiencing all that Colorado has to offer is a part of DU’s student culture, plus, 3-day weekends allow time for students to explore beyond Colorado borders in Utah and Wyoming, or to even travel home for a quick hello to family. Though this isn’t part of DU’s academic image, it is still a highly important factor for many students. Plus, the freedom of not having classes on Fridays provides students with the opportunity to seek out internships and jobs that may not be available on weekend days.

Despite the positive intentions for this change, Friday classes are not beneficial for the student population. Though the implementation has been finalized for the coming quarter, many students will try their best to avoid Friday classes, even if that means skip-

ping class in favor of other activities whether it be skiing, internships or partying on Thursday night. Maybe the future will hold opportunity for a compromise between DU and the students, restricting Friday classes to being held solely in the morning or something along those lines. Until then, don’t expect students to be overly enthusiastic when they enter the classroom on Fridays.

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OCTOBER 14,2015

Pioneer Voices

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: do you think friday classes are a good idea?

“Yes, it gives students an extra day for classes, so they have a less packed schedule during the week.”

— suraj renganathan

“Friday classes take away a good day to enjoy Colorado and head outdoors.”

— austin jackson Sophomore California

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“Friday classes are a waste of time, because my TA only shows up to class, not my professor.”

— erin everett Freshman Colorado

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DU fails to speak about the need for Arabic SARAH CAREY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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ere are the facts: According to BBC, Arabic is the official language of 22 countries with over 467 million speakers and is the 4th most spoken language in the world.

This makes it an important language that DU students should get the chance to study and use in their futures. Arabic is the fastest growing language in the United States, says Professor Maha Foster, the Arabic lecturer here at DU. Currently over 5 million people speak Arabic in the U.S., she estimates, and yet DU does not offer a major or minor in the studies of Arabic.

The Washington Post estimates that Arabic has around 100 million more speakers than Spanish and is the root of about 4,000 words in the Spanish language.

DU offers nine of the world’s top languages including Russian and Hebrew and currently offers a two-year program in Arabic, but no minor curriculum. It is worthy to note that Arabic is the language of the Qu’ran and its study is imperative to understanding that holy book, just as it is important to study Hebrew to understand the Christian Bible.

Arabic is classified as a critical language by the government, and they pay students to study it through the Critical Language Scholarship Program (CLS).

CLS wants to train Americans in Arabic so they can build relations with foreign countries and improve diplomacy.

Arabic is not only crucial to foreign relations, but to foreign business as well. The Middle East is a powerhouse of oil production; Gulf Business says that Saudi Arabia, an Arabic speaking nation, is the largest exporter of oil, producing over 11,000 barrels a day and housing 20 percent of the entire world’s proven oil reserves.

Demands for English-Arabic speakers are rising in conjunction with the United States’ rising demand for oil.

This is business that DU graduates are missing out on as well as business related to intelligence, engineering and international development. Foster says that not many people are proficient enough with Arabic to be able to use it effectively. This is why we need to start offering at least a minor in Arabic, as a two-year program is not enough to become proficient. It is essential that our students have the opportunity to become more educated in this language. It will put them ahead in job markets as the demand for Arabic translation is only growing.

The problem is the numbers. It is a “vicious cycle” as Professor Foster puts it: not enough students are registering for Arabic so DU doesn’t see the need for a degree program, but students aren’t signing up because there is no degree program. Students at DU have asked for a minor, she says, but dropped out of the program after they thought they had gotten as far as they could without access

to a minor curriculum. Her advice? Students should request a minor program from administrators and a minor program should be developed, then see if the numbers follow after. It will break the cycle and more students will become aware of the need for Arabic speakers. If DU wants to be remain a leader in areas related to international studies then it should at least start offering a minor in Arabic.

Currently, DU does not have a minor or major for Arabic studies.

adrian bogart | clarion

DU CLARION

LIFEST YLES

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OCTOBER 14,2015

Five spooky Denver Halloween events JUSTIN CYGAN

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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ith the temperature dropping and the leaves starting to fall, it can only mean one thing; Halloween is just around the corner. But there is more to the holiday than the drunken stupor that usually accompanies it. If you’re feeling the urge to be spooked, Denver supplies a heap of options for fright and fun. Here are five events worth checking out this Halloween: Fright Fest at Elitch Gardens During the day, Elitch Gardens theme park doesn’t disappoint by any margin, but during the night, things get even better and scarier. All employees dress up to impress (and sometimes terrify), and guests are encouraged to as well. While all the non-water rides remain open, the big attractions of Fright Fest are the haunted house operated by the park. There’s no better way to get your adrenaline rush on than with a combination of thrill rides and killer clowns. General admission ($35.99) will get you into the festivities, but keep in mind that

it will cost you $15 extra for the two haunted houses. Fright Fest is open till Nov. 1, Friday 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.

is $20, but for $40 you get access to both the paintball and the Haunted field of Screams.

Haunted Field of Screams

Considered one of the scariest Haunted Houses in the United States, this attraction is not at all for the faint of heart. The haunted house is huge, the largest in Denver, and you navigate multiple themed and terrifying floors. The result of all this spookiness is that the house is incredibly popular, so be prepared to wait in line. If you want to be scared Photo courtESy of thE dENvEr ZombiE craWl to a pants-wetting extreme though, the 13th Floor is for you. Open week- Denverites get spooky at the Zombie Crawl. days ($25.99) 7:30 p.m.- 10:30 p.m.

Fridays and Saturdays ($27.99) 7 p.m.- 12 p.m.

A long time running attraction located just outside Denver in Thornton, the Haunted Field of Screams has been terrifying people for 14 years. This haunted corn maze takes those who dare through a journey of terror as one navigates around 16-foot cornstalks. Differently themed scenes and speciality rooms greet you, as well as a cornucopia of disgusting and scary souls including clowns, zombies, asylum patients, chainsaw wielders and more. Open Thursday and Sunday till 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday till 12 a.m. Cost is $24.

Zombie Paintball Massacre Located at and run by the same group who organizes the Haunted Field of Screams, this attraction allows you and a group of 19 others to share a hayride straight through hell. As you move along, zombies attack your convoy, but you’re prepared, with a high powered paintball gun which can be used to hold off the undead. Cost

13th Floor Haunted House

Denver Zombie Crawl Taking place mainly on the 16th Street Mall, this free event allows one to either go all out in costume and makeup as a member of the undead, or to simply wander around in the company of thousands of decomposing performers and patrons. Known for both the incredible costume work as well as the hard-hitting after-parties, this event guarantees a great and cheap time. The event takes place all day on Saturday, Oct. 17th. The main crawl starts at 4 p.m.

Photo courtESy of thE dENvEr ZombiE craWl One of the festive Halloween events. at Skyline Park downtown.

Six free productivity apps to make life easier COURTNEY LUSTER LIFESTYLES EDITOR

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e all know the overwhelmed feeling inevitable to college life, especially on the quarter system. Particularly toward the middle of the quarter, the assignments, meetings, tests and group projects tend to pile up, and that’s not to mention the other obligations we all face like work and family commitments.

Keeping everything together when it becomes overwhelming can feel like too much to handle without a little bit of help. This is when we are lucky to be able to pull out our phones and get reminders or make lists. Here are six of the best productivity apps, specifically tailored to the busy DU student.

Best for DU students: Canvas Available for: iPhone, Android Guys, there is a Canvas app.

Never again can you play the “I didn’t see the assignment” card because you can sign up for notifications right from your phone.

The Canvas app will give you to-do lists of upcoming assignments and let you know when something is coming up. Another great feature of this app is that you can post on blogs if your class is heavy on that.

The app makes it really easy to keep up on class discussions and participation all the time, even when you’re not near a computer.

Best for keeping up with school: The Google collection—GoogleDrive Available for: iPhone, Android It might seem like a no-brainer, but downloading the Google collection can increase your productivity by miles. If you have multiple Gmail accounts for different classes or work, you can keep them all in one place. You can edit Google Docs from anywhere and if you are in a language class, you can skip the hassle of looking up words in your book by just typing them into your phone.

Best for taking notes: Evernote Available for: iPhone, Android Evernote is great because you can take notes on any device and, as long as you sign in to your account, the information will transfer over. If you forget your computer in class, you can take notes on your phone and they will be there waiting for you next class.

Evernote has the capability of creating different notebooks so you can move past the dinosaur age of keeping different notebooks for every class and have them easily organized on all of your devices.

Best for keeping all your files together: DropBox Available for: iPhone, Android Dropbox makes it super simple to exchange pictures, videos and other documents between devices and give them extra backup. As

soon as you download the app, it immediately downloads all the existing pictures on your phone and sorts them according to date. As soon as you open your Dropbox account on your computer, they are all there. It is also great for larger files that are difficult to send over email; Gmail has a 25 megabyte limit but much bigger files can be sent over Dropbox.

Best calendar: Sunrise Available for: iPhone, Android

Sunrise is a calendar app that syncs with all your devices.

One great feature about it is that it links up with your other apps like Facebook, Twitter and Gmail to access the events you have everywhere and condense them into one universal calendar you can take anywhere. You can tell it the location of events and it even tells you what the weather will be like in your area.

Best for making lists: Wunderlist Available for: iPhone Wunderlist allows you to make an account and create custom, editable lists that you can check items off of as you complete them. It also has the capability of making simple to-do items. It has an easy to use interface and you can manage it across multiple courtNEy luStEr | clarioN devices, as well as set remindYour phone offers a lot of ways to make life easier. ers for anything you want.

DU CLARION

JULY 23, O CTO B E2015 R 14,2015

THE GRIND

lifEStylES | 1 1

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Reviewing Denver’s many restaurants, bars, breweries, food trucks, coffeeshops and everything in between

Pasquini’s: 4.5 / 5.0 stars

A weekly examination of Denver’s art scene

Histories Beyond Homeland: Melanie Yazzie KATE ROGERS STAFF WRITER

Where: Museum of Anthropology, Sturm Hall When: Now - Nov. 24 Cost: Free

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guSto kubiak | clarioN Pasquini’s has a plethora of authentic Italian food choices served just around the corner.

COURTNEY LUSTER

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LIFESTYLES EDITOR

idden in plain sight on South Broadway, nestled next to Maria Empanada, is a Denver culinary gem.

Pasquini’s is an Italian restaurant with the look and feel of a family joint that is reflected in the quality of food. As soon as you enter the restaurant and pick up on its homey vibe, you just know the food is going to be truly authentic.

The tile-plated tables, comfy-looking booths, hardwood floors and handwritten chalkboard signs of the daily specials emphasize the warm feeling. One whole wall is made of a glass garage door that opens up to the patio when the weather is pleasant.

We sit down and start with a glass of red wine for me and a specialty cocktail for him. Our drinks come out right away, along with a (complimentary) plate of warm, aromatic, dripping-withbutter-and-cheese breadsticks. My date is starving and he quickly scarfs down two out of the four of them. I, however, want to save room for the main event.

I order a Rustica salad, which is $8 for a small and $10 for a large. The waiter tells me that the small is great for an appetizer and large is definitely enough for a main course. Don’t skimp; order the large. My date orders the portabella pizza,

guSto kubiak

The rustic environment of Pasquini’s.

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going for the medium which the server tells us will yield a couple extra pieces for lunch tomorrow ($18). Pasquini’s offers personal pizzas for $10 through $19 depending on size and type.

The menu is so extensive that these choices were very difficult; the restaurant offers a plethora of traditional Italian appetizers ($4 - $10) , salads, pasta, pizza and calzones ($6 - $23), not to mention desserts from chocolate cake to tiramisu ($6 - $7).

Our food comes out shortly; my salad is loaded with arugula, roasted red peppers, portabellas, tomatoes, pine nuts and mozzarella cheese. The arugula and roasted red peppers give the salad a special spice, with some creaminess from the mozzarella and the perfect amount of toasted crunch from the pine nuts. His pizza is served in the “Bianca style,” meaning it does not have sauce, instead being topped with simply with mozzarella and parmesan cheese. It features portabella mushrooms and fresh basil and tastes delicious.

We linger for over an hour, enjoying the atmosphere and several rounds of drinks. This is the type of place you could spend hours at, and although we did not order dessert, all of the choices were displayed and looked amazing. The entire experience at Pasquini’s was impeccable and I will absolutely be frequenting theis restaurant.

guSto kubiak

Pasquini’s offers an inviting patio.

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rom Oct. 7-13, DU hosted the 12th annual Indigenous Film and Arts Festival, in which 20 free films were shown over the seven days.

Although the festival has passed, an exhibit featuring Melanie A. Yazzie, printmaker, painter and sculptor, is still on display at the Museum of Anthropology in Sturm Hall, room 102. The exhibit, also free, is accessible until Nov. 24.

Yazzie’s solo show, “Histories Beyond Homeland,” accompanied the festival and therefore coincides with it’s theme: “People and Place”.

At the opening on Oct. 8, Yazzie explained how the series, which she curated specifically for this special occasion, is based on her past travels, specifically with the views she saw from airplane windows.

“I see land that was once filled with Native Americans in the recent past,” Yazzie explained in her artist statement, “I am in awe of how it has been farmed and divided up.”

The exhibit consists of Yazzie’s depiction of landscape drawings, drawn from the perspective of someone looking down at the earth. Yazzie uses guache, an opaque substance similar to watercolor paint, and handmade paper, in these aerial view interpretations.

Yazzie shared stories during her talk that acted as anecdotes to her work. In one she spoke about the tattoos that she got as tributes to both of her grandmothers. She decided on the tattoos after a volcano erupted, something she took as a sign that she should go ahead with the process. In another, she talks about reassurance she received from a friend — validation that came during a time when she questioned her path as an artist.

All the stories she chose to share directly related to her work, and the random connections served as inspiration. The festival was another connection for Yazzie. “[This festival] brings people together, it brings souls to a wonderful place,” Yazzie said at the exhibit opening.

“Histories Beyond Homeland” offers a special insight perspective, not only into Yazzie’s life, but also the life of her family and friends.

The Museum of Anthropology includes study tables on the first floor of Sturm, making it a peaceful place to get lost in work and art alike.

katE rogErS

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katE rogErS

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Yazzie’s art dedicated to indigenous art is portrayed in a unique medium.

Yazzie’s presentation was filled with anecdotes that explained her process.

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| LIFESTYLES

OCTOBER 14,2015

Fall specialties in and around the DU campus KATE ROGERS

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STAFF WRITER

he start of every new season signifies a time when it’s out with the old and in with the new.

Restaurants, businesses and patrons alike switch into new season overdrive as they change their food, products and looks to match whatever’s going on outdoors. Everyone has their seasonal vices, so here is a list of places serving fall specialties that will satisfy your current needs.

Einstein Bagels just came out with a variety of fall drinks: Pumpkin Chai Latte, Pumpkin White Chocolate Mocha and Pumpkin Latte. Other fall treats, such as pumpkin cream cheese and pumpkin muffins, accompany these delicious drinks. To start your day off in full fall fashion, visit the location in DCB and indulge.

Jelly U Cafe updated its menu last May, but it kept the classic Harvest Hash, a dish that tastes just like fall feels. This hash is a mashup of rutabaga, turnip, parsnip, carrot, butternut squash, brussel sprouts and red potatoes. As an added bonus,

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eat at Jelly on a weekday and couple your morning munch with $10 bottomless mimosas.

Habit Doughnut Dispensary is a new doughnut spot on Platte Street, which has a Seasonal Doughnut section on its menu.

Some current items include: Plain Jane (Habit brioche and brown sugar), Peanut The Creator (Habit brioche, peanut butter glaze, chocolate candied peanuts) and Let Me Be Your O.R.E.O (Habit brioche, cookies and cream, cream cheese glaze, chocolate cookie crumble).

Prices for the seasonal doughnuts range from $2-5 dollars, and as can be expected, they are only around for one season, so go get them while they’re hot.

Morgan Liquors’ selection of pumpkin beer is flowing with a wide range of fall drinks. Pumpkin Beer by Lakefront Brewery, Punkin Ale by Dogfish Head Brewery, Black O’ Lantern Pumpkin Stout

by Wasatch and Pumpkick Spiced Seasonal Ale by New Belgium are just a few of the options. There’s also the option of a Denver local: Pumpkin Spiced Autumn Maple

by Breckenridge Brewery. Enjoy one of these brews on a weekend while you’re fully relaxed and

taking in all this time has to offer.

The specialties are endless this quarter, even if they do have a shelf

life. But there is no need to fret, for winter is right around the corner with its own unique things to offer.

Fall is the time for all sorts of specialties, including festive coffee drinks.

kate rogers | clarion

diDUknow?

Bringing awareness to happenings at and around DU

CHLOE BARRETT LIFESTYLES ASSISTANT

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ith 300 days of sunshine, a prolific arts and culture scene, award-winning culinary experiences, an accessible downtown and a backdrop of the Rocky Mountains, Denver affordably combines outdoor adventures with urban finesse. And what better way to explore every fun facet this city has to offer than with the Explore Denver Program at DU: a program from Undergraduate Student Government that provides the DU community access to events around the Mile-High City at free or discounted rates.

The Explore Denver Program Denver Zoo: General Admission When: Tickets expire April 30, 2016 Where: The Denver Zoo Located in Denver’s City Park, the Denver Zoo is sprawling with animal exhibits, shows and demonstrations. Plus, there are tons of upcoming can’t-miss events like “Nature Connects, Art with LEGO Bricks,” an award-winning traveling exhibit featuring life-size animal and plant sculptures made of LEGOs, and “Mike’s Camera Zoo Lights Photo Safari,” a photography workshop where participants learn how to photograph the upcoming “Zoo Lights.” For non-natives unfamiliar with one of Denver’s most popular winter

photo courtesy of the denver zoo

The Denver Zoo has a special LEGO exhibit occuring; soon the Zoo Lights will start.

attractions, “Zoo Lights” features more than 40 acres of brilliantly illuminated lights and of course, Santa Claus. Undergraduates can purchase tickets for $6, graduate students, faculty and staff get these for just $12.

Denver Aquarium: General Admission When: Tickets expire June 30, 2016 Where: The Denver Aquarium The Denver Aquarium is an entertainment and dining complex that hosts more than 500 animal species, the Nautilus Ballroom, dive lounge, interactive Stingray Reef touch tank and aquarium restaurant. Undergraduates can purchase $6 discounted tickets; graduate students, faculty and staff pay $12.

photo courtesy of elitch gardens

Halloween is extra special at Elitch Gardens with lots of spooky events going on, including a haunted house.

Elitch Gardens: General Admission When: Tickets expire Nov. 1, 2015 Where: Elitch Gardens Amusement Park Elitch Gardens is a 70-acre theme park located downtown with thrilling rides, attractions and shows. Tickets are good for one admission on any regular operating day during the 2015 season—including Fright Fest weekends, open Friday nights 6-10, Saturdays 12-10 p.m. and Sundays 12-9 p.m. from Oct. 2 through Nov. 1. Undergraduates can score these tickets for $12, graduate students, faculty and staff for $24.

artemis katsaris

| clarion

The Denver Zoo is a great activity for friends.

OCTOBER 14,2015

DU CLARION

ENTERTAINMENT

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‘AHS: Hotel’ promises season of terror

photo courtesy of chicagotribune.com

American Horror Story is back for its fifth season. This season is “AHS: Hotel,” focusing on a haunted hotel in Los Angeles run by The Countess (Lady Gaga) and Iris (Kathy Bates).

RACHEL REIDENBAUGH CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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he fifth season of popular show “American Horror Story: Hotel” premiered Oct. 7 on FX, and the hair-raising mini-series wasted no time getting to the gorey details.

This season’s story is centered around the strange happenings of L.A.’s fictional Hotel Cortez. Kathy Bates (“Titanic”) plays mundane and frustrated hotel manager, Iris, who keeps sending guests to room 64 where they encounter inhuman spectacles, undead staff and a number

of creepy children. The episode also guest starred returning cast member Chloe Sevigny (“American Psycho,” “Boys Don’t Cry”) and first-timer Wes Bentley (“American Beauty”) as married couple Alex and John Lowe, who are dealing with the aftermath of their missing son. John is a melodramatic detective thrown into a pattern of gruesome cases, who finds himself checked into the haunting hotel after he is forced to leave home in hopes of protecting his family. The show’s start is sinister, immediately diving into situations of serial murders, assault, drug use and characters with a taste for blood. The faint of heart are encouraged to change the channel.

“American Horror Story” premieres have a tendency toward disorienting, hit-the-ground-running material and the premiere of “AHS: Hotel” is no exception. There is not enough time to effectively establish so many characters’ backstories in one episode, and with the extensive amount of plot threads in the premiere, it was challenging to keep track of who, what and why. New and returning cast members have lots of potential for further development in the season, including Lady Gaga who is fearless in her portrayal of seductive and murderous hotel owner “The Countess.”

Creators Ryan Murphy and

“Girls Your Age,” in July, but after the performance, it was clear each member knew what they were doing.

Dressed in all black, the band strutted on stage, confident and radiant. The lead singer, Sarah McTaggart was sultry and enigmatic; she took the energy from the crowd and turned it into a powerful performance, jampacked with passionate vocals and sensual dancing. The stage had a key visual aspect as well—muted lights in shades of blue, purple and pink worked as a dreamy backdrop, causing the lead singer to look even more ethereal. Transviolet’s set, composed of dance-inducing pop with woven-in synths, included hits from the group such as “Bloodstream” and the popular “Girls Your Age.” The most refreshing part of Transviolet’s performance was the

band’s interactions with the young band has been raved about again and crowd up front. While some art- again by smaller music outlets. The ists get annoyed by adoring fans, consensus is this—Transviolet may Transviolet took extra care of them, have come out of the blue, but the winking and holding hands, even band is here to stay. letting a few girls sing into the mic.

Transviolet was not simply a band on stage—it was more like they were the audience’s good friends who jumped up to play a set. The group so obviously cares about its listeners that it’s hard to not find Transviolet at least a little bit endearing.

Overall, Transviolet’s performance was charismatic, energetic and very, very fun—this band is going to get absolutely huge (both Katy Perry and Harry Styles have already tweeted about them). After rising out of nowhere, Transviolet’s first single “Girls Your Age” already has over one photo courtesy of itunes million listens on Spotify, and the Transviolet’s first hit was “Girls Your Age.”

Brad Palchuk (“Glee,” “Scream Queens”) have been known to let character development and plot progression fall by the wayside, only to have shock value take its place. “American Horror Story” never disappoints in its establishment of conflict and crazed characters, but clarity in storyline is sometimes sacrificed in the process. There is a lot to be revealed in upcoming episodes, but with so many characters and plot lines yet to be uncovered, fans are inclined to keep watching. Keep hopes high for the rest of this nightmarish season, airing Wednesdays at 11 p.m. on FX.

Transviolet takes over Marquis Theatre JOCELYN ROCKHOLD

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STAFF WRITER

n Saturday, Oct. 10, a mixture of teen girls, middle-aged men and women and a spattering of young adults crowded into the Marquis Theater to see Mikky Ekko. However, many members of the audience were there just to see the opener, electro-pop darlings Transviolet.

Transviolet, hailing from Los Angeles, took the stage with a seasoned sense of poise that only comes with experience, despite this being the group’s first tour (and first time in Denver). The band, comprised of lead singer Sarah McTaggart, guitarist and vocalist Judah McCarthy, bass and key player Mike Panek and drummer Jon Garcia, just released their first song,

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| ENTERTAINMENT

OCTOBER 14,2015

‘Sicario’ a haunting journey Pop not to be dismissed JOCELYN ROCKHOLD STAFF WRITER

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photo courtesy of slate

Emily Blunt shines as real and resilient FBI agent Kate Macer in new thriller “Sicario.”

RYAN NINESLING

human being who is just as resilient as she is honorable and CONTRIBUTING WRITER emotional. She is a fox in a den of wolves, bringing a moral center he movie “Sicario” is to a depraved web of corruption a thriller set along the and treachery.

Watching her A m e r i c a n / M e x i c a n eagerness to get the job done fade border, where the vio- into horror and guilt over what lence of the War on Drugs is at a she bears witness to is probably breaking point. After a disturbing the most heartbreaking character hostage rescue gone wrong, FBI development audiences will see agent Kate Macer (Emily Blunt, this year, and it’s an essential “Edge of Tomorrow”) is recruited part of why the film leaves such a

by Department of Defense advi- lasting impression. sor Matt Graver (Josh Brolin, The scenes between Blunt and “Everest”) and his partner Ale- del Toro alone are pure Oscar jandro Gillick (Benicio del Toro, potential, and it’s their outstanding “Guardians of the Galaxy”) to join work that elevates this film to art. an elite unit and bring down the Del Toro gives an equally magnifmen responsible. icent performance that demands A black and twisted heart beats attention every moment he is at the center of on screen, “Sicario,” a film making Gilso bold in its lick the most ability to push compelling the boundaries crime charof the crime acter to come genre that it’s out of the film hard not to industry in leave the theater quite a long uneasy.

Denis time. He is the Villeneuve perfect foil to (“Prisoners”) Macer, a man continues to tortured by prove himself as his gruesome a skillful direcpast who has tor, working abandoned with legendary his morality cinematogfor vengeance rapher Roger against the Deakins (“Skycartel the fall”) to paint team hunts. a bleak and Occasionally decaying world Del Toro that is just as will skillhaunting as the fully show events that take glimmers of place in it. Every photo courtesy of forbes s y m p a t h y single moment “Sicario” is set along the Mexican/American border. left in this of the film, from hollow man, the dazzling action set pieces only to reveal his true nature when to the quiet and intense scenes the film reaches its climax. When of terror and deceit, will leave the real identity of his character knuckles white with anxiety. It’s is finally revealed, what ensues an outstanding feat how captivat- is a shocking and powerful politing all this desolation truly is. ical statement that exposes the However effective the violent potential dark side of America’s imagery and narrative may be, controversial War on Drugs and the real genius of this film lies will leave audiences haunted for in the characters and the per- years to come. By the time that formances behind them. Unlike twist arrives, however, “Sicario” many female action protagonists, has already established itself as a Emily Blunt’s Macer is actually classic. It’s simply the best thriller written as a real and complex to grace the screen this year.

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hen talking about “good music,” definitions range from classic groups like The Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd, to classical like Bach or to historically important acts like N.W.A and Wu-Tang Clan. Despite how someone defines good music, many leave out the most widespread and accessible genre of this time: pop. Pop has been disregarded by people who say it’s “superficial,” “generic” or “too simple.” A large audience does not consider the likes of Taylor Swift and One Direction “real” music, but the discrimination of pop is currently being called into question. Why isn’t pop highly regarded, and who decides what good music is anyway?

According to Pitchfork contributor Brodie Lancaster, pop may be written off just because teen girls like it. The Beatles rocketed to fame by the support of dedicated girls; when the group’s music reached the male audience, it was henceforth considered some of the best music in history. Teen girls are largely responsible for moving the pop market. Ed Sheeran is a perfect example—the singer-songwriter was first discovered by devoted teenage girls, and he went from a young man playing pubs to a young man playing two sold out shows at Red Rocks in just a few years. Teen girls have been constantly reprimanded for liking nearly anything—if a girl likes Starbucks, she’s “basic;” if a girl likes rock, she’s “trying too hard.” Teen girls can’t ever seem to win, especially if they like pop. Things that teen girls enjoy are just as valid as things other age groups or men like, even if that thing is the newest Justin Bieber song.

Pop is also regarded as simple, something that may ring true in terms of how many chords a song contains or the depth of the lyrics, but not all pop songs are as easy to craft as some may think. For example, “1989” is strategic—it’s Swift’s strongest venture into pop and it’s one of the best pop albums of 2015.

There’s nothing simple about its forceful usage of catchy melodies and blend of slower, emotional tunes and energetic proclamations of love or fun. A lot of work went into “1989,” and its quality surprised the music world.

A new wave of pop is especially causing people to re-think the power of the genre—in a changing world in which people are thinking more carefully about race, gender and sexuality, music from icons like Halsey is a call to arms for the new generation, one that wants to alter the world for the better. In “New Bohemia” by new elec-

photo courtesy of telegraph.co.uk

Ed Sheeran’s career was launched by girls.

tro-pop group Transviolet, the artists declare young adults are “gonna light it up, wanna change the world.” Pop isn’t just about going to the club or drinking.

Pop is powerful—it can call for social change or sell millions of records, or even just give someone joy when dancing with their friends. It isn’t all simple or superficial—the genre is an active agent of social progress and a reflection of culture. The genre may be popular due to teen girls (which, once again, isn’t a bad thing), but pop can and should be enjoyed by people of any age or gender. Even if you are listening to “simple” pop, who cares? It’s fun to have fun, no matter what the critics think.

photo courtesy of cpr.com

The Beatles, supported by their teenage fangirls, played Red Rocks in 1964.

JULY 23, O CTO B E2015 R 14,2015

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OCTOBER 14,2015

Classic Halloween movies still scare

Weekly book reviews for readers of all types

‘Beale Street’ demands attention ABBIE RANDALL

N

STAFF WRITER

ovels are depictions of history through captivating stories, fiction or nonfiction. They tell of society’s anxieties, dreams and horrors, all somehow reflective of the time period surrounding the author. This is especially true in “If Beale Street Could Talk” by James Baldwin as he addresses ideas of race in the US during the 1970s. Reading it in the context of the 21st century United States hits like a punch in the gut.

Tish is 19 years old and three months pregnant. Fonny is 22 years old and in jail as he hears about his baby through a pane of glass with Tish on the other side. As an African-American falsely accused of rape, Fonny is trapped behind bars while Tish and her family scramble to prove his innocence. The novel explores the love and hardship surrounding Tish and Fonny, creating a wholesome story through flashes from the past building with progress in the present.

Given entirely through Tish’s perspective, the story is framed by the mind of a girl who is young and somewhat innocent, though not oblivious to the harsh realities of the world. Baldwin took a risk allowing his expressive story to be told through such a young and feminine narrator, yet the choice was a brilliant one.

Tish’s identity pulls readers in since she is unassuming and inoffensive, yet she is confronted by challenges of gender, socioeconomic status, stereotypes and race on every page.

Baldwin is incredibly talented in his ability to evoke depth and intense feeling. Often, these emotions are pressed into the reader through skillfully shaped one-liners that stand out because of their subtlety. The reader is forced to traverse a difficult terrain of social questions tied with emotional topics.

Prepare to be pulled into a story that can’t be put away, as the thoughts within “If Beale Street Could Talk” will run through the mind long after the final page. As Baldwin said, “One of the most terrible, most mysterious things about a life is that a warning can be heeded only in retrospect: too late.” The end of the novel leaves the reader with a feeling of insecure finality: entirely uncomfortable but attractively thought provoking.

photo courtesy of movieboozer.com

“Nightmare on Elm Street” (1984), starring a young Johnny Depp is just one of a few classic horror movies to watch this October.

TAMARRA NELSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

R

emember Halloween as a kid? The coolest costumes, enough candy to make a dentist faint, staying up just a smidge past bedtime and the horror. Everything seemed terrifying on Halloween, and isn’t that what the day is all about? So on Oct. 31, pop that popcorn, grab some friends and curl up with a nice blanket, because these movies will make even the bravest college student a kid again.

The Babadook (2014)

tle bit of tragedy, so it’s fun for the whole family.

The Exorcist (1976) This classic horror film doesn’t joke around. Multiple movie theaters across the country banned trailers from being played for fear of terrifying audiences, and most of the UK banned the film itself for the same reason. “The Exorcist” tells the story of Regan (Linda Blair, “Exorcist II: The Heretic), a young girl possessed by a demon, and the two priests (Max von Sydow, “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close,” Jason Miller, “Rudy”) who must save her soul. The movie is loosely based on a real exorcism in 1949, so keep a crucifix nearby for this one.

With psychological thrillers clogging up the stream of horror movies, “The Babadook” is a The Silence of the Lambs breath of fresh air. The film dusts (1991) off an oldie, bringing to life a terrifying monster and reminding the Imagine a particularly chalaudience what it really means to lenging day at work. Now multiply be afraid of things that “go bump that by a billion. That’s “The Siin the night.” Amelia (Essie Davis, lence of the Lambs” in a nutshell.

“The MaFBI Agent, trix RevClarice Starling olutions”) ( J o d i e and her Foster, y o u n g “Taxi”), son, Samuel (Noah must hunt W i s e down a sem a n ) , rial killer, spend the “Buffalo m o v i e Bill,” who running skins his photo courtesy of georgetownvoice.com from an “Silence of the Lambs” (1991) is a terrifying psychological thriller. female vicinescaptims. His able boogeyman brought to life by latest victim just happens to be the a mysterious children’s book. The daughter of a United States senastory creates a mixture of nail bit- tor, and the only way to find her is ing suspense, true terror and a lit- with the help of renowned psychol-

tony borek | clarion

ogist-turned-crazy-people-eater, Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins, “The Elephant Man”). This terrifying movie gets pretty twisted, so it may require a few sessions of therapy to recover. Just make sure the therapist is a vegetarian.

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) Maybe some of the bloody special effects don’t quite hold up to today’s standards, but this slasher flick is no less horrifying because of it. Freddy Kreuger (Robert Englund, “A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge”), a long dead child-murderer, is somehow killing teenagers in their dreams. If the premise of being hunted while sleeping isn’t convincing enough, it may be interesting to know that this was Johnny Depp’s (“Black Mass”) first role. Supernatural serial killer, blood, gore and young Johnny Depp. What more could anyone ask for?

So ditch those Halloween ragers and settle in, because it’s going to be a long and scary night.