DU Clarion Volume 122 Issue 21

Voice of the University of Denver Pioneers since 1899

duclarion.com

VOL. 122, ISSUE 21

OCTOBER 21, 2015

STUDENT STARTS TRANSPORTATION BUSINESS Jackson Trott is on to something in the DU neighborhood

2 pa g e

SEE EXCLUSIVE ONLINE CONTENT AT DUCLARION.COM IS WALKING AT HALLOWEEN FILMS DU REALLY SAFE? IN THEATERS 8 pa g e

5 pa g e

MEN’S SOCCER CONTINUES TO WIN

15 pa g e

11 pa g e

LAST-MINUTE COSTUME IDEAS

N E WS DU CLARION

2

OCTOBER 21,2015

October campus crime update JOHN POE NEWS EDITOR

W

ith the academic year in full swing, incidents across the campus are becoming more frequent.

“September and October are the busiest months for Campus Safety, averaging over 100 incidents per month,” said Sergeant James Johnston, the Community and Partnerships and Training Coordinator for the Department of Campus Safety.

“This September, liquor law violations were frequent. [There were] 24 incidents between Sept. 1 and Sept. 30 from the 10-year average of 18 violations.”

The most frequent incidents throughout September included liquor law violations and medical emergencies.

“Normally during September we would see around 13 medical assists,” said Johnston. “However, this September we had 23.”

He went on to explain an incident that took place on the Peter Barton Lacrosse stadium. “After a male party was stung by a bee, he became unconscious and needed assistance breathing. Sports Medicine Staff began providing care to the individual and Campus Safety officers soon arrived to provide more support,” said Johnston.

“The individual was soon transported to a hospital for additional treatment. The actions of Sports Medicine Staff and Campus Safety have been attributed to saving the individual’s life.”

Bicycle thefts were a big problem on campus last fall. According to Sergeant Johnston, a new patrol strategy has been implemented, new cameras and lighting have been installed and education around the issue has been increased.

This year, bicycle thefts have declined. This year, only three bike thefts took place in September compared to the 17 last year.

Johnston did discuss one incident that took place this year.

“A few weeks ago we released a Campus Safety Alert for bicycle thefts after we had a number of them occur in just a week. A few days after that, though, one of our dispatchers was monitoring the cameras at the Towers bike racks and spotted three suspicious individuals around 3 a.m.,” said Johnston. “One of the three parties were seen cutting a lock off a bike.

Campus Safety was immediately dispatched to the location. Upon arrival, two of the three individuals fled the area. One of the officers detained the third suspect who was later transported to Denver County Jail by the Denver Police Department.” Warrants for this incident were issued and the bike was recovered.

To prevent more bicycle thefts taking place across campus, Campus Safety wants to remind everyone to utilize a U-lock on the frame of your bicycle. Any suspicious activity should immediately be reported to Campus Safety at 303-871-3000.

Campus Safety would also like to remind students to keep a close eye on their belongings because many laptops and cell phones are

stolen due to students leaving them unattended in study spaces.

“We had over 100 such cases last school year alone. We ask that community members use the lockers provided in AAC to secure their items if they won’t be taking anything with them for these study breaks. Should anyone see anything valuable unattended, please contact us at 303-871-2334 so that we can contact the owner before

the item gets stolen.”

DCS lastly wants to remind the student body to have a fun and safe Halloween. “We see a number of pedestrian accidents each year around Halloween and would like to ask that everyone remember to use crosswalks and pay close attention to traffic when crossing streets,” said Johnston.

More information can be found on Campus Safety’s website.

guSto kubiak

| clarioN

Any suspicious activity should be reported to Campus Safety immediately at 303-8713000. Severe situations will involve the Denver Police Department.

Business Staff

Editorial Staff

Contributors

JOHN POE

CONNOR W. DAVIS

ABBIE RANDALL

ANDREW MATRANGA

MEG MCINTYRE

CAROLYN ANGIOLLO

Digital Staff

JOHN POE

KATE ROGERS

GUSTO KUBIAK

JILLIAN QUERI

JOCELYN ROCKHOLD

SETH HARRIS

ADRIAN BOGART

RUTH HOLLENBACK

O PIN IO N S E D ITO R

C O N TRIBU TIN G W RITE R

PAUL HEINEN

COURTNEY LUSTER

ISABEL DUFFORD

L IF E S TY LE S E D ITO R

C O N TRIBU TIN G W RITE R

C O N TRIBU TIN G W RITE R

CHLOE BARRETT

RYAN NINESLING

RACHEL REIDENBAUGH

MAX PIVONKA

SASHA KANDRACH

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

P HO TO E D ITO R

S O C IAL M E D IA D IRE C TO R W E B E D ITO R

CARISSA CHERPES

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

C O N TRIBU TIN G W RITE R

A S S IS TAN T W E B E D ITO R

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

Cartoonists

E N TE RTAIN M E N T E D ITO R

C O N TRIBU TIN G W RITE R

MONICA MCFADDEN

ANDY MCDEVITT

EVAN HICKS

S TAF F C ARTO O N IS T

TONY BOREK

S TAF F C ARTO O N IS T

ARTEMIS KATSARIS

C O N TRIBU TIN G C ARTO O N IS T

MADELINE ZANN

A S S IS TAN T E N TE RTAIN M E N T E D ITO R

GINNY STOUSE C O PY E D ITO R

JACK FOERSTERLING C O PY E D ITO R

C O N TRIBU TIN G W RITE R

DAZONG CHEN

C O N TRIBU TIN G P HO TO G RAPHE R

CAROLINE FIELD C O N TRIBU TIN G W RITE R

JUSTIN CYGAN

C O N TRIBU TIN G W RITE R C O N TRIBU TIN G W RITE R

JOSEPH MORRISON

C O N TRIBU TIN G P HO TO G RAPHE R

OLIVIA HYDE

C O N TRIBU TIN G P HO TO G RAPHE R

DU CLARION

OCTOBER 21,2015

NEWS | 3

FOLLOW US! @DUClarion

DU Clarion

@DUClarion

www.duclarion.com 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.

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.

4

| NEWS

DU CLARION

OCTOBER 21,2015

JACKSON TROTT LAUNCHES CRUZE CONNOR W. DAVIS

T

his fall, DU student Jackson Trott launched a new transportation company called Cruze that is receiving attention all over campus and possibly giving competitors like Uber, Lyft and Yellow Cab a drive for their money.

The 21-year-old from Kensington, Maryland started studying general business at DU in 2012, earned his bachelor degree in June 2015 (a year ahead of schedule) and is now enrolled as a finance graduate student at Daniels College of Business. While classes keep him busy just like any other DU student, entrepreneurship is now fitting into the schedule, too, as he attempts to change the way college students are transported around their neighborhoods.

The premise of the business is that Trott drives a golf cart-style electric vehicle called an eTuk (commonly found abroad) around the DU neighborhood and takes students from place to place.

The eTuk is 100 percent electric, something Trott is proud of as a member of the transportation committee of the DU sustainability council.

As a temporary launch special, a ride anywhere in Cruze’s permitted boundaries (As far West as Broadway, as far East as Colorado, as far North as Virginia and as far South as Dartmouth) costs $2 per person, with a maximum fee of $6. Trott says rates will most likely rise to $3 per person with a $9 cap.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The vehicle fits six customers, who can request a ride through the Ride eTuk app. The app, which is currently only available on Apple devices, tracks users’ locations through GPS for pickup, and when the time comes for payment, Trott accepts credit cards and cash on the spot.

He also outfitted the vehicle with speakers that customers can play their music through and an LED disco ball.

The idea for Cruze came during the winter quarter of 2014 when Trott noticed an influx of students using Ubers to go short distances.

“I’d be going out to places like C&G, The Border and different house parties and it was freezing cold so everyone was taking Ubers everywhere. And I was just like, ‘wow, that kid just paid 10 bucks for a really short Uber ride.

You know what, why don’t I start a local transportation company?,’”said Trott.

After the “aha” moment was over, Trott said the process of getting Cruze up and running was anything but simple. He started diving into the project in March, and it wasn’t until late September when everything fully came together. He said that, above all, insurance was the biggest barrier, especially with the golf cart bought off Craigslist that he initially intended to run the business with.

“No insurance company would work with me for under $30,000 a year and there was no way I could profit on that,” he said. “And

connor w. davis

| clarion

that was mainly because it was a 21-year old kid driving a golf cart, while you generally need to be 25 to get a good rate.”

While researching a way to insure the golf cart for a decent price, Trott came upon eTuk USA, a company selling eTuks all over the country. After some conversation, he discovered that his main point of contact there at the time, Michael Fox, is an alumnus of Daniels College of Business (class of 1997). From there on, these conversations started to evolve into a partnership that Trott never expected.

While Cruze still stands as its own company, it is now directly partnered with eTuk and Trott said the partnership has provided him with a stable business plan and the tools he needs to propel his company forward. This includes access to the eTuk app, which would have cost too much for him to develop on his own. He even has an office at eTuk’s Denver location waiting for him whenever he wants it.

“They [eTuk] essentially gave me the vehicle and I’m paying them royalty on my profits,” he said. “So now, we’re full-on business partners, our goals are aligned and I can grow with them and take this to other college campuses.”

As expected, Trott ran into further hiccups on top of insurance while certifying Cruze as its own individual company. He said the biggest was a legal complication with Yellow Cab. “Because there is a regulated

monopoly on the transportation industry in Denver, existing companies can veto new companies from getting licensed to operate as a public utilities company,” he said. “So Yellow Cab intervened on my application and threatened to sue me if I continued to apply because, legally, they could. eTuk USA was able to settle out of court when this issue arose for them, but I didn’t have that type of money. At the end of it, it wound up being that I can have three vehicles in this neighborhood because that wouldn’t hurt Yellow Cab too much.”

Trott said this was a win because he doesn’t see more than three vehicles being necessary at DU. He also got a public certificate of public convenience and necessity, making the business completely official.

By the end of this quarter, or possibly the end of the winter quarter, Trott hopes to work with investors to buy more vehicles.

Each one costs about $20,000.

These vehicles would be used possibly to expand business at DU, or to start a new branch of Cruze at another campus such as CU Boulder. He is also looking to hire a driver to add to his staff of five, who are currently helping out with accounting, marketing and law.

To try out Cruze, download the eTuk app and request a ride on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. To keep up to date with the company’s progress, make sure to follow Cruze on Facebook.

connor w. davis

| clarion

photo courtesy of andrew yazbak connor w. davis | clarion The Cruze launched on Oct. 8 and provides rides to students around the DU campus. Users can request a ride through the eTuk App every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night.

OCTOBER 21,2015

SPORTS DU CLARION

5

Hanlin’s golden goal secures win over Omaha SASHA KANDRACH CONTRIBUTING WRITER

O

n Oct. 17 Denver men’s soccer faced Summit League opponent University of Nebraska Omaha on CIBER Field. A physical match, the game was sent into double-overtime, but the Pios were able to walk away with a 1-0 victory.

In the 101st minute of the game, redshirt junior and Summit League Athlete of the Month Reagan Dunk (Dallas, Texas) dribbled down the right flank to find the feet of redshirt junior Karsten Hanlin (Centennial, Colorado) who slotted his shot to the back of the net, which gave the Pios their W. The team’s win on Saturday bumped their home-field winning streak up to 26 matches

and continued as the longest active unbeaten home streak in the nation.

Denver came into the match ranked 8th in the nation and moved up to 7th following Saturday’s win, according to the NCAA. “[We] knew it’d be chippy and knew it’d be a big battle the whole time, so [the team] knew [we] had to stay positive and resilient to get a result and that’s what happened,” said junior captain Sam Hamilton (Evergreen, Colorado).

From the start of the match, Omaha established a very physical and intense level of play towards Denver. Throughout the game, Denver’s players sustained a couple of minor injuries, two of which actually drew blood, and four yellow cards were issued: three to Omaha players and one to Pioneer red-

shirt junior Chandler Crossways (Bedford, Texas).

Denver was able to find their rhythm in the first half and match the intensity of play, leveraging six shots on goal opposed to Omaha with five.

Sophomore Alex Underwood (Winnetka, Illinois) contributed greatly to the Pio offense, firing a couple of shots for Denver, but was unable to convert any.

In the second half of the match, Denver outshot Omaha 8-2. Underwood and freshman Andre Shinyashiki (San Paulo, Brazil) each had some nice looks on frame. “[We] knew they were tired playing at 5280 [feet in elevation], it’s difficult to play 90 minutes plus,” said Hamilton.

The first period of overtime was dominated by Denver with two shots taken by Shinyashiki and one from senior captain

Jordan Schweitzer (Everett, Washington). Omaha had two shots in the first round of extra time, but none required Denver keeper Dan Jackson (Chapel Hill, North Carolina) to make any saves.

The second period of overtime took just over a minute for freshman Kenny Akamatsu (Niigata, Japan) to play the run from Dunk.

The initial cross was deflected, then recovered and sent to a patient Hanlin, who composedly netted his fourth of the season.

“I think [we] could have made the game even easier on [ourselves] and [we] didn’t have the best game tonight. But overall, [we] got the shut-out and, more importantly, the result,” said Head Coach Jamie Franks.

The Pios lace up for their next match at the University of Portland on Oct. 24.

dazoNg chEN

| clarioN

The Pioneers have a home winning streak of 26 matches, which is the longest and only active homebeaten winning streak in the nation. The team is currently ranked no. 7 in the US.

DU hockey defeats Michigan State in Homecoming Weekend series CAROLYN ANGIOLLO

T

STAFF WRITER

his past weekend, DU hockey welcomed Michigan State University for a Homecoming battle at Magness Arena. On Oct. 16 and 17, the student section was filled to the brim and the seats were full of alumni, family and friends. DU would win the series 2-0 against the MSU Spartans.

Oct. 16’s game was very fast moving from the get-go. MSU junior JT Stenglein scored the first goal of the game when Denver freshman Blake Hillman (Elk River, Minnesota) tried to block the shot, but it snuck past junior goaltender Evan Cowley (Evergreen, Colorado).

The Pioneers were able to tie the game before the end of the first period when MSU senior goaltender Jake Hildebrand blocked a shot from freshman Dylan Gambrell (Bonney Lake, Washington), but Denver junior Emil Romig (Vienna, Austria) was there to smash the puck in.

The second period was quiet

and no goals were scored. The third period, however, began with a goal from MSU senior Matt DeBlouw, his first of the season.

DU then answered powerfully when junior Matt VanVoohris (Edina, Minnesota) received an assist from freshman Logan O’Connor (Calgary, Alberta). The remainder of the game was strongly dominated by the Pioneers. Senior Gabe Levin (Marina del Rey, California) brought the Pioneers’ total to three after an assist from senior defenseman Nolan Zajac (Winnipeg, Manitoba). The desperate Spartans pulled their goalie in a last-ditch effort to tie the game and O’Connor scored his first DU goal on the empty net.

Oct. 17’s game also went very well for the Pioneers, despite the game being more hard-hitting.

There were many penalties throughout the game for rough hits and unsportsmanlike conduct, making the night a very physical contest.

Sophomore Tanner Jaillet (Red Deer, Alberta) was in goal for the Pioneers. DU got off to

a great start when junior Matt Marcinew (Calgary, Alberta) scored the first goal of the game on an assist from Hillman.

During the first intermission, the players walked onto the ice with their parents and family members in honor of Homecoming and Family Weekend.

The second period resumed with a very rough hit on DU junior Will Butcher (Sun Prairie, Wisconsin). He was checked and thrown over the Spartan bench, yet no penalty was called, even though the hit was inappropriate.

Later in the game, Marcinew scored his second goal of the game on an assist from freshman Jarid Lukosevicius (Squamish, British Columbia). Lukosevicius wasn’t done for the night as he scored the final goal for the Pioneers in the third period after Hildebrand deflected senior captain Grant Arnold’s (Centennial, Colorado) attempt.

The Pioneers completely dominated the game with 41 shots on goal to MSU’s 16.

Denver will face rival Colorado College at home on Nov. 6 at 7:36 p.m.

guSto kubiak

| clarioN

Will Butcher skates the puck down the ice.

6

DU CLARION

| SportS

OCTOBER 21,2015

Join us for a law fair hos ted by the Wes t Coa st Con sort ium of Priv ate Law Sch ools .

Mee t one -on- one with repr ese ntat ives from 38 diff eren t law sch ools !

California Western School of Law

Seattle University School of Law

University of Nebraska College of Law

Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law

South Texas College of Law

University of New Mexico School of Law

Creighton University School of Law

Southwestern School of Law

University of San Diego School of Law

Saint Louis University School of Law

University of San Francisco School of Law

Golden Gate University School of Law

Texas Tech University School of Law

Gonzaga University School of Law

The University of Tulsa College of Law

University of Southern California Gould School of Law

Lewis & Clark Law School

Thomas Jefferson School of Law

Loyola Law School, Loyola Marymount University

University of Kansas School of Law

Loyola University Chicago School of Law

University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law

Notre Dame Law School

University of Colorado Law School

Oklahoma City University School of Law

University of Denver Sturm College of Law

Pepperdine University School of Law

University of Houston Law Center

Santa Clara University School of Law

University of Idaho College of Law

University of the PaciďŹ c McGeorge School of Law University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law University of Wyoming College of Law Vermont Law School Western State College of Law Whittier Law School Willamette University College of Law

P l e a s e R S V P o n l i n e a t l a w. l c l a r k . e d u / o f fi c e s / a d m i s s i o n s / e v e n t s / o r b y e m a i l i n g l a w a d m s s @ l c l a r k . e d u

University of Denver Sturm College of Law 2255 E Evans Ave, D e n v e r, C O 8 0 2 1 0

FOR MORE INFORMATION P L E A S E C O N TA C T:

PRIOR TO EVENT | 503.768.6836 D AY O F E V E N T | 3 0 3 . 8 7 1 . 6 1 9 2 Support for this event provided, in part, by an LSAC Outreach Grant

DU CLARION

OCTOBER 21,2015

SPORTS | 7

Homecoming Weekend was celebratory for men’s lacrosse SASHA KANDRACH

D

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

enver men’s lacrosse team celebrated Homecoming Weekend with scattered activities and events throughout the weekend.

On Oct. 16 the Pios received National Championship recognition during the Denver hockey game against Michigan State University.

On Saturday Oct. 17 their annual Alumni Game took place followed by an in-state match against Colorado State University at the Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium.

The team was recognized at center ice after the first period of the DU vs. MSU matchup. Denver was honored for their first NCAA National Championship title in the 2015 season.

At 10:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, all DU alumni were invited to participate in a Crimson vs. Gold scrimmage. The game was refereed by current players; Jeremy Boshner (Kamloops, B.C.) and Nate Marano

(Tustin, California) with fan support from current players in the stands.

Former members of the 2015 National Title team; Wesley Berg (Coquitlam, B.C.), Jeremy Noble (Orangeville, Ontario) and Chase Carraro (Louisville, Kentucky) made appearances at the Alumni Game.

The game was split into two 30-minute halves.

Crimson took the lead early on, but was matched quickly by Gold. The first half ended after Crimson received momentum to give them a 7-4 lead.

Alums and current players joined together for a halftime talk from Pioneer Head Coach, Bill Tierney.

The second half was evenly matched, as both teams fought back and forth to end in a 10-9 final score favoring the Crimson.

At 1 p.m. Denver took the field in an exhibition match against Colorado State’s club team. The Pios dominated the play to earn a 27-7 final score.

“Our goal for today was not to be concerned with who we were

olivia hyde

playing or what color they were wearing,” said Tierney.

Throughout the match, Denver had 16 different players contribute to the scoreboard.

Junior Connor Cannizzaro (Cazenovia, New York) racked up four goals and three assists with classmates Zach Miller (Steamburg, New York) and freshman Austin French (Danville, California) each scoring three points. Sophomore Colton McCaffrey (Parker, Colorado) tallied closely behind Cannizzaro’s seven points with two goals and four assists.

The starting position for goalie is still up for grabs, as the match was split between freshman Alex Ready (Lancaster, Pennsylvania) teammate David Winsor (Boulder, Colorado), junior Hunter Krout (Naples, Florida) and senior Joey Gigantiello (Shamong, New Jersey).

Ready was in goal for Denver during the first half, totaling three saves. Winsor stepped in the third quarter coming up with four saves. The fourth quarter was split by Krout and Giganti-

| clarion

Sophomore Trevor Baptiste (Denville, New Jersey) wins the faceoff over Colorado State.

ello who saw little to-no action thanks to Denver’s energetic attack.

“We feel good about all four of our goalies right now, but the jury is still out and we have a long winter ahead of us,” said Tierney.

At halftime, the Pios and Rams joined together to cheer on a center-field scrimmage put on by the non-profit Unified Lacrosse. Unified Lacrosse is an organization that supports athletes with disabilities by teaching them how to play lacrosse alongside the partnered support of local, Cherry Creek High School athletes.

“Halftime was as moving of an event as I’ve ever been a part of,” said Tierney.

Denver ended their evening with the annual postseason banquet held at Cherry Hills Country Club, honoring the National Title and distributing the much anticipated Championship rings.

The Pios return for their next exhibition game against John Hopkins University on Jan. 30 in Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium at 10 a.m.

olivia hyde

| clarion

The Pioneers faced Colorado State University in a fall scrimmage at Peter Barton Stadium.

PIO BIO: cassidy rey

SPORT: Soccer GRADE: Junior

MAJOR: Psychology HOME STATE: California

CAROLYN ANGIOLLO

T

STAFF WRITER

his week, The Clarion sat down with women’s soccer goalie Cassidy Rey.

Q: How did you begin playing soccer?

A: I started playing when I was very little. I fell in love with the sport and playing goalie and I just never stopped playing.

Q:What are your favorite parts about being a goalie rather than another position?

A: My position decides the outcome of many games and I really like that pressure. Being a goalie requires a lot of leadership.

Q: How did you come to DU? A: I was looking at many schools and I knew that I didn’t want to stay in California. I visited DU when I was in Colorado for a tournament and I really liked the environment. It was a great fit and I get to play soccer here, too. photo courtesy of summitpoints.blogspot.com

Q:How have you elevated your game over the last three seasons?

A: During my freshman year, there was a great class of seniors that really helped me and taught me leadership skills. Last year, I realized that there is more to life than just winning and playing soccer.

This year, I’ve really focused on my character. Being an athlete requires good character just as much as skill.

Q: What are you looking forward to most over the rest of this season?

A: I’m looking forward to winning games. It’s been a tough start to this season, but we are learning something every game. A losing record is not something any of us are used to, but we are getting through this together. I know that soon we will start winning those important games.

Denver plays Western Illinois University on Oct. 23.

OPINIONS DU CLARION

8

OCTOBER 21,2015

Rapid changes to pedestrian crossings needed MAX PIVONKA CONTRIBUTING WRITER

E

veryone has jaywalked before. When finding a crosswalk just isn’t convenient or there’s no traffic, what harm could there be in crossing the street? It’s fine to cross whenever one pleases on a low-traffic side street; it’s not fine to dart across Evans Avenue just after classes let out when 200 other people are trying to cram onto the median to get halfway across the street.

Jaywalking isn’t a problem, until it is. According to Campus Safety, in the last 24 months, 13 students have been hit by cars on streets that intersect campus or border it. Unfortunately, three of these incidents were fatal. Of these 13 incidents, not a single driver was at fault; pedestrians were held solely responsible for every one of those accidents because they were all jaywalking.

This is a ridiculously high statistic for a college campus and it needs to change. When it comes to pedestrian and traffic safety, DU uses the three “E” model — Educate, Enforce, Engineer. Educate by informing people about how to safely cross streets and interact with traffic. Enforce by holding people accountable for their actions when crossing streets; jaywalking is a civil offense that can result in a fine and

citation. A physical way DU is looking to mitigate future incidents is to re-engineer streets. According to James Johnston, Sergeant for Community Partnerships, “There are plans to re-engineer Asbury between Sturm Hall and Sturm Law School.

They’re looking to make that a one way [street] converting one of the lanes to slanted parking stalls and then doing two raised crosswalks.”

Raised crosswalks elevate the street level to that of the sidewalk, making pedestrians more visible and forcing vehicles to slow down.

Additionally, it includes an increase in signage, making drivers more aware of the pedestrians. There is also a recommendation to do a similar resign on Iliff Avenue in terms of the crosswalks, putting three in on that street; one in front of JMAC, one in front of Olin Hall and one in front of the Newman Center.

When it comes to Evans Avenue it’s not as simple due to the fact that it’s a main artery street for the City of Denver. Campus Safety says DU has offered proposals to re-engineer the area but the city continues to refuse changing the street due to the high volumes of traffic. Campus Safety will continue to pursue changes in terms of changing stop light cycles, allowing more time to cross or putting in another crosswalk. In the meantime, Driscoll Bridge is a fantastic way to get across Evans without crossing the actual street, and you have the opportunity to

warm up or cool off depending on the time of year.

It all comes back to education and making people aware of the risks of being a pedestrian and how to mitigate these risks. It’s important to use a crosswalk, glance both ways and, if it’s safe, cross. If the signal tells you not

to cross, just wait. Waiting at a crosswalk can take a lot of time and if you’re running behind it may even make you late for class, but it’s much better to be late for class than to be hit by a car or cause an accident. So pause, take your time and enjoy DU’s beautiful campus while you wait.

maX pivonKa | clarion

Intersections surrounding DU experienced 13 bystander accidents over the last 24 months.

Clinton, Sanders represent student issues ABBIE RANDALL

A

STAFF WRITER

t this point in time, the Republican Party has hosted multiple debates to test and compare their wide range of Presidential candidates. On the other hand, the Democratic Party is starting to heat up, as was displayed in their first debate on Tuesday Oct. 13. The two obvious front-runners are, and have been, Senator Bernie Sanders and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The debate on Tuesday night supported the photo courtesy of Jonah engler campaigns of both contenders and Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton have been aggressively advocating for student issues according to author Abbie Randall. proved that both have reason and drive to be in the race, especially the middle class and making one of the other lesser-known stepped offstage and the audience on facing issues that college stu- college tuition debt-free, if not candidates. However, Sanders may not have noticed or cared. dents are concerned about, such completely tuition free. How- and Clinton stole the stage, powSanders and Clinton are the as college tuition, the environ- ever, college students should be ering through their declarations clear figures for college students ment, gun laws and the economy. sure to listen to Clinton as well, with hope and measured finality. to pay attention to and research Unlike members of the valuing her wealth of experi- Each was strong in their position, for their progressive ideas and Republican Party, the contenders ence as a reason to research her and the respect they held for one serious desire to make changes in the Democratic debate share politics. She also has a plan for another was evident; Sanders for the better. Though the debate similar viewpoints on how to long-term economic growth and even went so far as to help defend didn’t have a ‘winner’ necessardeal with many of the issues stu- a layout that supports reasonably Clinton on the subject of her ily between Sanders and Clindent voters are facing. Sanders priced tuition as well as debt-free private emails. Martin O’Malley ton, there is one absolute fact: is, and should be, highly favored college opportunities. stuck his nose into the conversa- Democrats are winning over among many college students As Clinton continues to lead tion with some effort, Jim Webb Republicans, even if only in the due to his concern and passion- over Sanders in the polls, the whined about unequal time and ability to spend time discussing ate appeals to progressive ideas. debate was a key way to evaluate Lincoln Chafee may have con- policies and aspirations instead He places heavy emphasis on his personalities and stage presence, tributed at some point, however of wasting time by slandering policy’s focus of strengthening or to possibly be surprised by these three candidates could have one another.

JULY 23, O CTO B E2015 R 21,2015

DU CLARION

O C MICS

OPINIONS | 9

Students find it difficult to ‘unplug’ TAYLOR SIENKIEWICZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

N

ine-in-ten college students use a laptop, notebook or chromebook computer every week in order to do their schoolwork. It has become a necessity. With online textbooks, quizzes, class websites and email communication, there really isn’t a way around it. However, it comes with an added responsibility. Students can’t continue to hinder technology capabilities by frequently using it as a distraction. We must instead have the self-control to use technology for entertainment when entertainment is necessary and as a resource for knowledge when we are in class, studying or completing assignments.

Technology, it seems, is a blessing and a curse to students.

While it allows for a much higher concentration of information, resources and tools to be available to us, technology piles on the pressure to simultaneously complete assignments, communicate with peers and professors, and manage their overloaded social, academic and work schedules. “ It simultaneously reduces and adds stress,” says MacKenzie Mantsch, a sophomore business major from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Schoolwork is only one of the constant technological tasks on the minds of students every day.

“I have to remember to post on Canvas when assignments are due or do my online Italian homework every day. I can’t just bring my laptop to class and have that be it,” explains Kenna Keller, a sophomore from Eagle, Colorado majoring in strategic communications.

The “fear of missing out” we tend to experience isn’t just related to social events. The responsibility to maintain constant communication with other aspects, namely school and work, forces students to keep up at all times, for better or worse.

The temptation of distraction is just as problematic. According to a study done by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2013, more than 80 percent of students said their use of digital devices interfered with learning.

Even at a small school like DU, walk into a lecture hall and you’ll see almost every student with a laptop open, and many aren’t using it for course-related work. In the library, students everywhere are distracted by the technology they brought with them for use in their studies. Ask any given student where their phone is and chances are it’s with them at all times.

Despite all of the negativity surrounding distracted millennials in a technological era, it is unrealistic to backtrack from the progress made possible with technology. One of the most influential schools on campus, the Daniels College of Business, recognizes that to thrive in the business world you must be trained and

capable to fully operate programs such as Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint, as well as field-specific program necessities. Certifications in these vital skills are required to simply be admitted into the school during secondary admissions.

Chris Dronen, a sophomore business major from Wilmette, Illinois explains that some use of technology is required and necessary for all of his classes. “My writing class is blog-oriented, so I read, write and edit blogs as assignments for this class. In my business INFO 1010 class, I use Excel for labs, class, assignments and tests. My other classes require me to complete online quizzes. In the busi-

ness world it’s essential to be able to access email, Excel and the internet to conduct research. It makes things more efficient.”

It’s obvious that we need technology to thrive in the modern world, and many positive aspects arise from students being “plugged in.” We need to be cognizant of time management, effective multi-tasking and staying focused. Students need to practice self control and not spend class time on Facebook. We can’t use technology as a crutch to procrastinate, cheat or blow off responsibilities. We need to use technology to enhance our knowledge by being better multi-taskers, learners, and informers.

connor w. davis | clarion

Technology, while essential, makes students unproductive according to Sienkiewicz.

10

| OPINIONS

DU CLARION

OCTOBER 21,2015

Pioneer Voices

question of the week: what did you think of last week’s homecoming events?

“I was disappointed because at one of the events they ran out of s’mores.”

— jenna curran

“It was really fun and the effort was made to make it festive. I really enjoyed the hockey games.”

— meredith gee Freshman Idaho

Sophomore Colorado

MY MEATS ATE

REAL VEGGIES “Homecoming was great compared to last year, it was definitely was more present on campus.”

— eric wingeard Sophomore Illinois

got something you want to say

SERIOUS DELIVERY!

TM

★ JIMMYJOHNS.COM ★

about du? let us know!

TO FIND THE LOCATION NEAREST YOU VISIT JIMMYJOHNS.COM

shoot us an email at duclarioneditor@gmail.com

©2014 JIMMY JOHN’S FRANCHISE, LLC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

OCTOBER 21,2015

DU CLARION

L I F E ST Y L E S

11

Creative and cheap Halloween costumes COURTNEY LUSTER

I

LIFESTYLES EDITOR

t seems that many of us are in this situation every year; you get so caught up in school and work and everything else that Halloween sneaks up on you and all of a sudden you’re getting invitations to parties and other events.

You check your bank account and it is… not looking stellar. You’re in the middle of midterms and think, “oh great, one more thing I have to worry about checking off my to-do list.”

Well, never fear because there are endless possibilities for cheap, easy and/or do-it-yourself Halloween costumes for last minute festivities.

For girls: There are a lot of easy costumes that you can create with simple items from your closet and a simple trip to Target, Walgreens, Safeway or even the dollar store.

Snowman What you need: White top, black leggings, boots, scarf, elastic, tulle, top hat The only part of this costume you’ll need to put together is the tutu snowman skirt. Just cut off a length of the elastic to fit around your waist, cut strips of the tulle, and tie them around. If you want, you can add a ribbon to the top hat.

Rosie the Riveter What you need: Red handkerchief, jeans, denim top Hopefully, most of these items you already have. A red handkerchief can be bought at Hobby Lobby or Target for a couple dollars. Just roll up the sleeves and show off your muscles. You can do it.

The Sky What you need: Blue dress or shirt (a simple long sleeve from Walmart would work perfect), cotton balls, sunglasses, yellow construction paper to make a paper crown, glue.

This one takes a tiny bit more assembly. Glue the cotton balls onto the blue shirt in the shapes of clouds.

Cut zigzags in the yellow paper and glue the ends together to make a crown in the shape of sun rays.

Pumpkin Spice Latte What you need: White top, white scarf, cotton balls, long green (preferably unused) Starbucks straw, printout of Starbucks logo, glue, elastic and whatever pants you want to wear--something white or khaki would work best (a khaki skirt would tie it together nicely).

store or just marker one on if you wanted to.

The Most Interesting Man in the World What you need: Suit, white shirt, red silk handkerchief (if you really want to get into it) and white hair chalk. It also would be a good idea to grow out your beard a little bit.

Tyler Durden from Fight Club What you need: Ugly retro button up, red leather jacket, tinted sunglasses.

This one will probably require a trip to your nearest thrift store, but you can definitely make it a one-stop

shopping for the ‘90s style clothes.

Forrest Gump What you need: Khaki suit, blue button up shirt, red baseball cap.

Everyone knows who Forrest Gump is, but it is a unique costume that no one sees around that often and super easy to put together.

Finding a Halloween costume doesn’t have to break the bank or cause stress. You could make it a group event with your friends, picking out DIY costume materials and frolicking at the thrift shop. With the anxiety of finding a costume out of the way, enjoy your festivities, Pios.

The only part of this one that requires assembly is the headpiece.

Glue the cotton balls together, with the straw coming out of the middle.

Glue it all to the elastic, to fit around your head. Glue the Starbucks label to your white shirt and you are good to go.

For guys: The costumes shown here, and just in general, for guys require a little less assembly (sorry girls). All of these are easy to just throw on and you’ll be unmistakeable at your next Halloween party.

Brawny man: What you need: Jeans, red flannel and a roll of Brawny paper towels.

Mario/ Luigi What you need: Overalls, red or green shirt depending on which you want to be, red or green hat. You could buy a mustache at the costume

artEmiS katSariS

| clarioN

Four anti-Halloween ways to have some fall fun CHLOE BARRETT ASSISTANT EDITOR

Autumn has officially arrived, ushering in days of falling leaves, crisp air, bonfires, hockey games and of course, Halloween. But October doesn’t have to be synonymous with creepy costumes, scary movies and haunted houses.

For Pioneers who don’t celebrate Halloween, or at least don’t want the holiday to overpower their entire month, there are plenty of ways to make the most of this fall.

Visit a corn maze Not all corn mazes feature the stuff of nightmares at every turn. Maize in the City’s Crazed Corn Maze is a no-frills, no-scares, run of the mill maze: no zombies, no monsters, just a whole lot of fun and a whole lot of corn. What better way to celebrate seasonal fall vegetables than to get lost in a field of them? Tickets can be purchased at the Thornton site and online for $12 and are good for one entry only.

Going to a corn maze is a way to get some thrills in without the craziness of a haunted house.

Check out a comedy show It seems the only movies and tv shows available in October are of the horror variety, so to get your comedy fix and escape the cold, spend a night at a comedy club. Comedy Works in Larimer is a Denver favorite, and is currently featuring Saturday Night Live’s Pete Davidson. Tickets are still available for Oct. 22 at 8 p.m., for $21; for Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. and Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. for $28. You must be at least 21 to see a show, and can buy tickets online or at the venue.

photo courtESy of maizE iN thE city

Go to Glow at the Gardens Check out the Botanic Gardens for its newest fall event: Glow at the Gardens Oct. 28 from 6-9 p.m. The York Street location will have luminaria-lined pathways winding through the gardens to accentuate grandiose pumpkin displays. Visitors can participate in scavenger hunts, free face or tattoo painting, a silent auction, a pumpkin carver meet-and-greet and other fall-themed activities.

Tickets are available online and at the Bonfils-Stanton visitor center for $12.

Throw an anti-Halloween party Decorate your celebration with un-carved squashes. Serve a hummus platter instead of candy. Tell guests that they are not to, under any circumstances, wear a costume. Put on a romantic comedy on in the background. Do everything in your power to make it clear that this is not a Halloween party, but a party that just happens to fall on Oct. 31.

12

DU CLARION

| lifEStylES

OCTOBER 21,2015

DU’s extensive on-campus coffee scene RUTH HOLLENBACK CONTRIBUTING WRITER

D

U’s academics are stellar. Unfortunately, this means countless sleepless nights dedicated to studying require cups upon cups of caffeine. Fortunately, however, places around campus make late night homework feats possible due to their delicious coffee offerings.

Every place on campus that provides some sort of this life-saving drug is outlined below so that you don’t have to worry about where to go to get your fix.

Beans Cafe: 7:30a.m. to 4p.m. on Mondays through Fridays, this student run-coffee shop in the Fritz Knoebel School of Hospitality Management serves Vail Mountain Coffee & Tea with freshly brewed coffee and full service espresso bar. DU’s very own homey cafe provides the perfect atmosphere to study and sip at some muchneeded caffeine, right in the middle of campus. Keep in mind that they do not, however, accept flex or meal plan money--only cash.

Jazzman’s Cafe: This cafe and bakery is located on the north side of Driscoll, up one flight of stairs and straight back past the ballroom. They are open Mondays through Thursdays at 7:30AM until 5PM, and on Fridays they close at 3PM and accept meal plan, flex, credit, and cash. A great place to study, Jazzman’s Café always is there to get you through a day full of work and classes. Also make sure to checkout their new fall specialties, included pumpkin spice beverages and blended drinks.

Einstein’s in Daniels College of Business: Darn Good Coffee, bagels, sandwiches, lunch and breakfast are all offered at the Einstein Bros Bagels on the first floor of Daniels School of Business right behind Anderson Academic Commons, on the corner of Evans and University. They are open Mondays through Thursdays at 7:30a.m. until 8p.m. and Fridays from 7:30 to 4p.m and accept meal plan, flex, credit, and cash.

Law School Cafe: Also a great place to eat if you need a quick pick-me-up in between classes, the Ricketson Law Building also offers an option for caffeine at

its cafe. In addition to its selection of coffee, sandwiches, melts, soups and salads are also sold here from 7:30a.m. to 6p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays and 7:30a.m. to 1:30p.m. on Fridays.

Anderson Academic Commons (Front Porch Cafe): The library has a cafe in it serving Aspretto coffee and a full service espresso bar. It is open every day 7:30a.m. until 10p.m., except Fridays (7:30a.m.-5p.m.), Saturdays (10a.m.4p.m.) and Sundays (10a.m.-10p.m.) and accepts meal plan, flex, credit, and cash. The season has also welcomed in pumpkin spice drinks that you will want to take advantage of before they are gone.

Centennial Halls Dining: Home to the majority of the campus’ freshman class, this Sodexorun cafeteria has a large variety of coffee amongst their delicious meal selection. They also serve Aspretto coffee and tea here, with a variety of roasts and flavors. Cream and sugar are also available to doll up your coffee, but keep in mind that there are no to-go cups so don’t forget to bring your own thermos. Coffee is also

available at Late Night dining from 9p.m.-10:30p.m.--this year’s addition to the dining hall meal schedule.

Nelson Dining Hall: If you are on the south side of campus, in need of a caffeine boost while on the south side campus, use a meal swipe and get unlimited Aspretto coffee or tea. To-go cups are at one’s disposal here. Coffee is also offered at Late Night (9p.m.-10:30p.m.).

connor w. davis | clarion

Beans offers great coffee in the Hospitality School.

diDUknow?

COLUMN

Bringing awareness to happenings at and around DU

COURTNEY LUSTER LIFESTYLES EDITOR

W

ith October in full swing and the first snow of the year close at hand, ski resort openings are becoming highly anticipated. Coloradans are chomping at the bit to get back out on the slopes and enjoy the Rocky Mountains’ fresh powder. Well, never fear Pios, it is almost time to strap on those skis and boards and get up to the mountain. Although many of these dates very well may change, especially because temperatures have been pretty high lately, here is a the most recent list of opening days for the nearby Colorado ski resorts:

CONNOR W. DAVIS

| CLARION

Keystone is one of DU students’ favorite ski resorts.

Ski resort openings for 2015/2016 First to open will be Keystone, on Nov. 6.

Note: this article was finalized on Oct. 19 and does not take into account any events that have transpired since then.

Copper Mountain is open the following day, Nov. 7.

Breckenridge will be opening Nov. 13.

Next up is Winter Park on Nov. 18.

Opening day for Eldora and Vail is Nov. 20.

Beaver Creek has the last posted date of Nov. 25.

Arapahoe Basin and Loveland, which generally are in a contest of sorts as to who can open up first, have not yet posted their opening dates. Rest assured, though, the Clarion will keep you updated as soon as their dates are up.

CONNOR W. DAVIS

| CLARION

CONNOR W. DAVIS

| CLARION

Breckenridge Ski Resort from the top of the mountain.

Arapahoe Basin is almost always one of the first resorts to open but has not yet posted its opening date.

COURTNEY LUSTER

A timeline of the ski resort opening schedule.

| CLARION

DU CLARION

JULY 23, O CTO B E2015 R 21,2015

THE GRIND COLUMN

lifEStylES | 1 3

COLUMN

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

A weekly examination of Denver’s art scene

Yum Yum Spice: 2.5 / 5.0 stars

Marilyn Minter’s erotic ‘Pretty/Dirty’ KATE ROGERS STAFF WRITER

Where: MCAD When: Now-Jan. 31 Cost: $8

A chloE barrEtt | clarioN The Kung Pao Chicken offered at Yum Yum Spice did not quite live up to Grind expectations.

CHLOE BARRETT

N

ASSISTANT EDITOR

estled between Fat Shack and Yakety Yak on University Blvd is the newest addition to DU’s off-campus culinary scene, Yum Yum Spice. Despite its convenient location, this Chinese restaurant was simply not worth the walk.

Upon entering the reasonably-packed sit-down restaurant, I was less than impressed with the decor. The interior is an assault on the senses—reminiscent of a retro McDonalds—brimming with posters featuring food that at best looks inedible, and at worst nauseating. I averted my eyes while we took a seat at a steel table near the back and braced myself for the menu.

Yum Yum Spice features two menus: one with authentic Chinese dishes like Griddle Cooked Duck Head ($10.99 for small, $19.99 for medium and $29.99 for large); one with Americanized staples such as Sesame Chicken ($10.25) and Beef with Broccoli ($10.95) for dinner portions. This Grinder decided to play it safe with Kung Pao Chicken ($10.25) while my dining companion ordered the Steamed Dumpling appetizer ($5.95).

| clarioN The surprisingly good steamed dumplings. chloE barrEtt

The dumplings were actually quite good, so despite the sickening posters, I grew optimistic that my entrée would follow suit (especially considering the steep price). Unfortunately, a few bites into my dish, the Kung Pao transcended the realm of average into awful, the chicken a rubbery consistency drowned in an unpleasant orange sauce.

That said, the service was exemplary; our food arrived as quickly as we’d ordered it and the staff was very accommodating. And the convenience can’t be beat since it’s just a short walk from virtually anywhere on campus. Bottom line though, the dishes are sold at far too exorbitant a price for what the restaurant delivers both in taste and in sight.

If Yum Yum Spice is going to avoid the failure that has befallen so many of its University Blvd. predecessors, it’s got to either lower prices or enhance quality so customers actually get what they pay for. The best advice I have for anyone planning a visit, is to avoid the poultry.

chloE barrEtt

The interior of Yum Yum Spice.

| clarioN

solo exhibit that dominates two floors of the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, “Pretty/ Dirty,” follows the artistic evolution of photographer and painter Marilyn Minter.

Several of Minter’s past projects are strung together, and the result is a plethora of different mediums: photography to painting to video. Her work illustrates the recurring themes of material behavior, sexual self-expression and gender roles that she continually questions in her pieces.

On the first floor, one can find some of Minter’s photography: a series of large-scale pictures that showcase different parts of a woman’s body. In some, eyes are covered in dramatic eye makeup and look seductively at or away from the camera. In others, lips smeared with lipstick eat jewelry or lick what appears to be the camera lense. Legs covered in glitter dance in pools of paint with feet dressed in playful highheels.

Each art piece feels as if the subject indulges in a lavish lifestyle and are extremely decadent by nature.

As one walks up to the second floor, he or she is greeted with Minter’s paintings. At first glance the work looks exactly like the

photo courtESy of maryliN miNtEr

“Pretty/ Dirty” is made up of a series of photos exploring sexual behavior.

preceding photography. The difference is that they are enamel and metal renderings of the pictures themselves. These hyper real paintings look so much like their originals that one has to look to the sides and see the metal covered canvases to realize they aren’t what they seem.

Near the back of the second floor the last room suddenly gets dark. Projected on the wall is Minter’s video “Green Pink Caviar”. In the short film her photography and paintings come to life and a series of lips take turns licking colored paint off of a glass plate. After the lips is a pair of legs spinning in high heels, paint flying everywhere.

Minter’s work verges on the uncomfortable as she explores the advertisement and porn industries in her art. Her narrative mimics the entertainment and fantasy aspects of people’s lives that they tend to over engage in.

Minter acts as a critical watchdog who sheds light on the cultural backlash of images produced by these industries — industries who churn out eyecandy campaigns ready for consumer consumption.

In a society dominated by visual modes — computers, cameras, televisions, billboards, ads — Minter’s realization of the eyeball overload people face everyday couldn’t come at a more prevalent time. Visit “Pretty/Dirty” before Jan. 31 to get her take on some of the most engaged in facets of human lives.

photo courtESy of maryliN miNtEr

The exhibit showcases different parts of women’s bodies.

DU CLARION

ENTERTAINMENT

14

OCTOBER 21,2015

‘Crimson Peak’ is frighteningly terrible

photo courtesy of entertainmentweeKlycom

Gothic horror film “Crimson Peak” stars Jessica Chastain (“The Martian”), Mia Wasikowska (“Alice in Wonderland”) and Tom Hiddleston (“The Avengers”).

RYAN NINESLING

T

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

he film “Crimson Peak” is a gothic horror tale about young Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska, “Alice in Wonderland”), a spunky and determined writer who has seen ghosts since childhood. Despite her reservations about romance, Edith is instantly taken with dashing baronet Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston, “The Avengers”) and quickly becomes his bride. He whisks her away to his decrepit English estate where he lives in solitude with his sinister sister Lucille (Jessica Chastain, “The Martian”) and before long, the spirits of the house come to life and threaten to expose the dark secrets behind Edith’s spooky new family.

If this all sounds incredibly

corny, that’s because it is. Corny plots aren’t inherently bad, especially when it comes to old-fashioned horror, but “Crimson Peak” takes cheesiness to an uncomfortable level. This becomes apparent within the first 20 minutes of the film, in which the dialogue is god-awful, the acting is embarrassing and the editing is distractingly silly. Again, this all could be an effective set-up for the change in tone, but all it ends up creating is an awkward opening for what is ultimately a ghastly film.

That being said, there are a few small diamonds in the rough.

Chastain is excellent as usual, creating a character that is so convincingly unhinged that it’s impossible not to squirm whenever she’s on screen. She and Wasikowska are the main players while the male roles are mostly pushed aside into being objects for

the plot, which is an admittedly refreshing change in a genre where women are mostly cannon fodder.

The biggest triumph of the film, however, is its striking style. Director Guillermo del Toro (“Pan’s Labyrinth”) has always been a master of atmosphere, and he skillfully creates a hauntingly beautiful yet discomforting haunted house. Red clay from underneath the grounds of the estate oozes through the walls like blood, the exposed ceiling makes snow and leaves trickle into the main hall and the dark corners of the manor look downright otherworldly. It’s rather spectacular, which makes it that much more disappointing that just about every other element of the film is so bland.

On the much less than spectacular side of things, Wasikowska does bring some much-needed humanity

to her character, but still mostly falls flat in comparison to Chastain. She has some effective moments, but for the most part she mindlessly follows the plot the best she can. The male roles are easily the worst part of the film, particularly a completely pointless and laughable role from Charlie Hunnam (“Pacific Rim”) as Edith’s childhood admirer that has the eyes rolling every time he shows up.

Speaking of rolling eyes, the plot is so predictable and ridiculous that it’s almost impossible not to groan every time a major event takes place.

It’s surprising that del Toro, usually just as good of a storyteller as he is visualizer, has created a tale that is so embarrassingly inept. Despite its intentions to pay tribute to the classic horror films of old, “Crimson Peak” is, in the end, nothing more than a hollow imitation.

girlfriend Melody (Rachel Reidenbaugh, Colorado Springs, Colorado). The show is directed by Dr. Greg Ungar, an associate professor.

Jonah, Liam and Daphna are brought together by the death of their grandfather, Poppy—a revered community member, and a Holocaust survivor—something that becomes a sticking point throughout the play.

While the rest of the family stays down the hall, the four of them are stuck together in Jonah’s tiny studio apartment, arguing over their Poppy’s chai: a symbolic piece of jewelry that he protected all the way through the Holocaust. But the argument quickly goes beyond that as Daphna and Liam brutally air all of their past animosities with each other while Jonah tries to stay out of it and Melody desperately

tries to understand what’s going on.

Daphna, who plans to move to Israel after her impending graduation from Vassar, can’t stand that Liam seemingly scorns Jewish tradition.

Traver plays Daphna so well that even as she manipulates and screams at each character, there’s still some sympathy left for her, especially as she reaches her heart-breaking emotional tipping point at the end of the play. Her self-righteous rage and desperation are completely believable, but so is everyone else’s viewpoint. The power of the play is that while some of it may be hard to relate to for someone who didn’t grow up in a very specific culture, each character has a point, and the actors keep the drama from becoming over the top.

While the central conflict is over the chai, the chai is just the focal point for something much larger: what does it mean to be a Jew in 21st century America? As one would expect from the title of the play, each character has a different idea of what it means to be a “bad Jew,” and each makes that perfectly clear. But the ending is left open-ended; no character’s viewpoint is fully given validation, leaving it for the audience to mull over.

There are five more performances of “Bad Jews” left, running from Oct. 21-25. Tickets are available for most shows through the Newman Center box office. More information about the play and upcoming productions are available on the Department of Theatre’s website.

‘Bad Jews’ a thought-provoking dark comedy MADELINE ZANN

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

T

he White Box Studio, located in Johnson-McFarlane, is small and intimate, perfect for the recent showing of the student-acted play “Bad Jews.” The DU Department of Theatre’s production is highlighted by the small space, letting the power of the actors and the script shine through.

“Bad Jews,” a dark comedy written by Joshua Harmon (New York City), has a cast of only four actors: brothers Jonah (Tristan Anderson, Denver) and Liam (Daniel Crumrine, Portland, Oregon), their cousin Daphna (Meagan Traver, Castle Rock, Colorado) and Liam’s

DU CLARION

JULY 23, O CTO B E2015 R 21,2015

ENTERTAINMENT | 1 5

WAYS TO CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN

Classic Halloween flicks Halloween weekend shows to see on the big screen JOCELYN ROCKHOLD

H

STAFF WRITER

alloween is coming up, and it’s always a struggle to figure out what you actually want to do to celebrate. There are so many options, ranging from costume parties to a night in with some horror movies, but there are also numerous concerts scheduled for Halloween weekend. Check below for just a few of the shows.

of Montreal, Diane Coffee, deCollage at Bluebird Theater, Oct. 28

photo courtesy of playbuzz.com

“Hocus Pocus” is just one of a few classic Halloween movies being shown in Denver.

MEG MCINTYRE EXECUTIVE EDITOR

O

“Beetlejuice” Alamo Drafthouse Oct. 29, 7:15 p.m.

ne of the best things about Halloween is the influx of spooky movies coming out in theaters or, better yet, the excuse to watch your favorite Halloween flicks at home. Still, nothing can beat the experience of seeing Halloween classics in the theater. Check out these places to watch Halloween hits from the past on the big screen this October.

You’ve heard of exorcism, but what about ‘bio-exorcism’?

In the ‘80s hit “Beetlejuice,” a recently deceased family of ghosts hires a bio-exorcist to rid their house of the humans who have just moved in. See it at the Alamo Drafthouse on Oct. 29.

“Hocus Pocus” Alamo Drafthouse Oct. 25, 5 p.m.

Few cult classics have reached the widespread renown of “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Featuring singing, dancing and more than a few risqué wardrobe choices, “Rocky Horror” is an experience unlike any other. The showings at Denver’s Esquire Theater also feature a full shadowcast, complete with costumes, dancing and more, in which actors perform the parts alongside the film. Tickets tend to sell out, so make sure to buy them in advance.

Though it may be more silly than scary, “Hocus Pocus” was a Halloween staple for most children of the ‘90s. Bette Midler (“Beaches”), Sarah Jessica Parker (“Sex and the City”) and Kathy Najimy (“Sister Act”) play the Sanderson Sisters, a trio of witches who are accidentally brought back from the dead by well-meaning high-schooler Max (Omri Katz, “Dallas”). This fun Halloween flick is sure to satisfy a child-like penchant for mischief.

“Rocky Horror Picture Show” Esquire Theatre Oct. 30 and 31, 11:59 p.m.

Let’s be real, everyone knows the weekend starts Thursday night, so why not start Halloween weekend off right with some experimental rock from of Montreal? Bonus: supporting act Diane Coffee is Shaun Fleming, drummer of successful band Foxygen. Denver psych band deCollage is also supporting, so make sure you get there early to see the whole line-up. Tickets are $18.

Sunboy, Plum, Freaky North at Lost Lake, Oct. 29

This local show has a dream line-up of some of the most talented bands based in Denver. Indie rockers Sunboy are headlining the show with support from other local bands, including psych rockers Plum and avant-garde art rock band Freaky North. This show will be one of the best local shows this year, and tickets are only $10, so there’s no excuse to miss what will be one of the best concerts of the year.

In the Valley Below, Handsome Ghost, Plume Varia at Bluebird Theater, Oct. 30

Dream pop Cali duo In The Valley Below hits the Bluebird on Oct. 30 along with indie rock band Handsome Ghost and local act Plume Varia. With an out-of-state duo and a local performance, the audience will get

photo courtesy of halfnhalf.com Local band Plum is playing this weekend.

the best of both worlds. Tickets are only $13, so snatch them up while you still can.

Albert Hammond Jr., at Lost Lake, Oct. 31

Calling all fans of The Strokes, Albert Hammond Jr. is making his way to Lost Lake on Halloween.

Fueled with new material from his most recently released album, Momentary Masters, Hammond Jr. is going to fill the venue with his talented rock guitar grooves.

Tickets are astronomically cheap for seeing one of the best living guitarists (he was on a panel of other top-notch musicians to select the top 100 guitarists of all time)— they’re only $15, and get them fast, as the show might sell out.

Coloween Denver at City Hall, Oct. 31

This 18+ Halloween party at City Hall will feature mainly club music, and will showcase T-Pain as the main artist. Other DJs will be playing top-40 hits as well as reggae and hip-hop. Costumes aren’t required, but highly encouraged at this event, and you can even win $1000 if you’re crowned champion of the costume contest.

Buy tickets online—prices increase as the event draws nearer.

“Halloween” Northfield Harkins 18 Theater Oct. 27, 7 p.m.

Originally released in 1978, this classic features horror icon Michael Myers, the mysterious, seemingly indestructible masked killer who preys on teenagers on Halloween night.

The film may be over 30 years old, but it’s still just as scary as the day it came out and seeing it on the big screen can only make it more frightening.

photo courtesy of loftcinema.com “Rocky Horror” is showing next weekend.

photo courtesy of rollingstone.com

Albert Hammond Jr. of The Strokes is playing at Lost Lake on Oct. 31.

16

DU CLARION

| ENTERTAINMENT

COLUMN

OCTOBER 21,2015

‘Beasts’ a brutal look at war

Weekly book reviews for readers of all types

‘Breath of Scandal’ a story of revenge ABBIE RANDALL

S

STAFF WRITER

andra Brown is a go-to writer when in the mood for a thriller mystery novel with a twist of romance.

Though not one of her more recent novels, “Breath of Scandal” is intriguing due to its seemingly different thriller formula.

Protagonist Jade Sperry has a plan for revenge. Raped by three boys during her senior year of high school, Jade left her small town of Palmetto, South Carolina, in a storm of rumors, shame and burning anger as the culprits skated free, piling disgrace and blame onto Jade’s otherwise beautiful image. Now, she’s returning after 14 years away, armed with an arsenal of wounds and determination to make them pay for their crime. Driven by revenge, Jade has become a powerful and manipulative businesswoman, focused on collapsing the wealth and pride of those who nearly destroyed her years earlier.

This novel differs from Brown’s typical thrillers. Though her novels aren’t predictable or boring, they usually follow a general formula of build-up, twist and intensity. However, in “Breath of Scandal”, character motivations and the true culprits are immediately exposed.

On one hand, this alteration is enjoyable since it escapes her usual formula, and this novel throws expectations for a whirl.

On the other hand, it feels as if the characters lost some of their mystery and could be predictable, causing the story to lose some of its intensity. However, Brown makes sure to throw some curve balls into the story so the events aren’t actually foreseeable and even the characters are taken aback at certain points by the twists that conspire.

“Breath of Scandal” proves that Brown knows how to write a captivating mystery novel, and it is refreshing to find a story in which she challenges her own style of writing. She is successful in producing yet another fast-paced and thrilling novel, guaranteed to hold readers’ interests all the way through to the final twist that nobody will see coming.

photo courtesy of statepress.com

Newcomer Abraham Attah stars in Netflix’s new film “Beasts of No Nation,” along with Idris Elba (“Avengers: Age of Ultron.”).

MONICA MCFADDEN ASSISTANT EDITOR

N

etflix has proven to be a successful creator of quality television shows and now the company is making its foray into filmmaking with “Beasts of No Nation.”

Written and directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga (“Jane Eyre”), this harrowing film based on Uzodinma Iweala’s wonderfully crafted book of the same name follows Agu, a young boy in an unnamed West African nation who is captured and turned into a child soldier after violence ravages his village. The story is a disturbing look at the terrors of war and one boy’s struggle between childhood and adulthood.

The movie doesn’t fully capture the tone of the novel—the book is entirely from Agu’s perspective and is told in a broken dialect of English, which paints a vivid picture of Agu’s understanding of the world.

He doesn’t always comprehend exactly what’s going on, but is affected deeply by the horrors that he experiences. Agu grapples throughout the whole book with whether or not he is a “bad boy” and comes face-to-face with his doubts in God many times. In the book, the reader gets a much more significant impression of Agu’s initial naive youth, and he doesn’t seem nearly as young in the film. Aside from a few poignant voice-overs, these aspects aren’t explored as thoroughly.

However, Abraham Attah, the young breakout actor cast as Agu, does an incredible job of portraying his character’s childlike, yet intelligent persona in his nuanced expressions. While the

intense first-person narrative of visceral reaction than in the the novel isn’t achieved in the book. He doesn’t shy away from film, Attah’s subdued command the sickening violence, but also of the role carries a similar doesn’t go overboard with the impact. He makes the transition gore—he maintains that the story from a carefree young boy to a is about the characters and their weathered old man in a child’s experiences, not the shock value body in a raw and deeply believ- of the blood.

It’s a hard film to watch, but a able way, which is extremely impressive for such a young and very important one, and one that is unapologetically authentic. inexperienced actor.

Idris Elba (“Avengers: Age If all future Netflix films are as of Ultron”) plays opposite Attah strong as “Beasts of No Nation,” as the charmingly coercive Com- audiences are in for some quality mandant in charge of the soldiers movies dominating the industry. and becomes a manipulative and abusive father figure for the young boys. Elba fills the powerful role well, but also expertly navigates the character’s humanity when his power dissipates.

Fukunaga’s masterful direction results in beautiful cinematography that illustrates both the fiercely real and the hazy, dreamlike moments of the war.

Seeing some of these horrible moments play out on-screen, with the emotions of the characters and the bloodshed photo courtesy of africanbookaddict.com overtly visible, causes a more “Beasts of No Nation” is based on the book by Uzodinma Iweala.