DU Clarion Volume 122 Issue 18

Voice of the University of Denver Pioneers since 1899

duclarion.com

VOL. 122, ISSUE 18

SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

MEMORY WALL HUMBLES CAMPUS How a big, black wall just made its mark at DU

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CAMPUS NEEDS MORE BIKE RACKS

Q&A WITH THE VELVETEERS

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HOW TO GET DU’S GOLDEN TICKETS

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THE GUIDE TO BEING A FRESHMAN AT DU

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SEPTEMBER 30,2015

USG creates the wall of awesome JOHN POE

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NEWS EDITOR

n Sept. 18, DU’s Undergraduate Student Government sent an email to the DU community with its latest creation: the Wall of Awesome.

“The wall is now YOURS TO PAINT. Awesome. Whatever you want, whenever you want. No approval necessary,” stated the email from USG. “Advertise an event, outdo everyone else’s Instagram birthday collages for your best friend, show off your Pio Pride, or recreate Sistine Chapel-quality artwork.”

The email informed students anything offensive will be painted over, and reminded students to abide by the honor code and make good choices.

More information about the Wall of Awesome can be found on the Driscoll Student Center website.

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TOP: Many students have already left their mark with art all about Pio pride. BOTTOM: One segment of the wall encourages students to join Greek Life through sorority promotion.

Business Staff

Editorial Staff

Writers

JOHN POE

CONNOR W. DAVIS

ABBIE RANDALL

SOPHIA HANCOCK

MEG MCINTYRE

CAROLYN ANGIOLLO

ANDREW MATRANGA

KATE ROGERS

JOHN POE

JOCELYN ROCKHOLD

B U S IN E S S M AN AG E R A D VE RTIS IN G R E PRE S E N TATIVE

Digital Staff GUSTO KUBIAK P HO TO E D ITO R

SETH HARRIS

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

PAUL HEINEN W E B E D ITO R

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

Cartoonists EVAN HICKS

S TAF F C ARTO O N IS T

TONY BOREK

S TAF F C ARTO O N IS T

E D ITO R - IN -C HIE F

E X E C U TIVE E D ITO R

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

F AC U LTY A D VIS O R N E WS E D ITO R

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

KYLEE SKALL

S PO RTS E D ITO R

C O N TRIBU TIN G W RITE R

CAROLINE FIELD

ADRIAN BOGART

TAMARRA NELSON

O PIN IO N S E D ITO R

C O N TRIBU TIN G W RITE R

SOPHIA HANCOCK

COURTNEY LUSTER

ISABEL DUFFORD

JILLIAN QUERI

L IF E S TY LE S E D ITO R

CHLOE BARRETT

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

MADELINE ZANN

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

MONICA MCFADDEN

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

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C O N TRIBU TIN G W RITE R

OLIVIA HYDE

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

PHO LOGS

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

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

JUSTIN CYGAN

C O N TRIBU TIN G W RITE R

GRACE CARSON

C O N TRIBU TIN G W RITE R

TARYN ALLEN

C O N TRIBU TIN G W RITE R

JULIE GUNDERSON

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

SEPTEMBER 30,2015

DU CLARION

NEWS | 3

Imagine DU town hall meeting graces AAC

gusto kubiak

The Imagine DU initiative launched Winter 2015 and plans to carry DU into a bigger and brighter future.

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MADELINE ZANN

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ENTERNTAINMENT EDITOR

image courtesy of imagine.du.edu Imagine DU has created the DU Impact 2025 plan, which aims to improve DU in various ways.

ABOUT US

n Sept. 23, Chancellor Rebecca Chopp and Provost and Vice Chancellor Greg Kvistad hosted a town hall meeting in the Anderson Academic Commons in order to receive feedback on the recently released DU Impact 2025 plan.

The full document of the plan was released online on Sept.

21 as the “respond and refine” aspect of Imagine DU. The whole Imagine DU initiative started in the winter of 2015.

DU Impact 2025 lays out the impact model through four “transformative directions.”

Transformative Direction One

is “Students Striving For Success,” Transformative Direction Two is “Knowledge Design in a Collaboration Age,” Transformative Direction Three is “Impact Denver and the Rocky Mountain West” and Transformative Direction Four is “One DU.” The Directions focus on building community both at DU and in the surrounding area by creating more opportunities for students, staff, faculty and alumni.

“We’ve got to come together,” Kvistad said. “Students have been trying to do this for years through athletics and other things and there are a variety of means of doing this … it’s from tradition, it’s about doing things as a community that involve all of us … coming together.”

In accordance with other DU initiatives, the Chancellor and Provost and the Impact 2025 document also highlighted sustainability and a community of diversity and inclusive excellence.

Constantly trying to strive towards better programming for students and the outside community in order to better support students and alumni was discussed as well.

“We have to support the students outside the classroom so they can have the very best experience inside the classroom,” Chopp said.

The town hall was sparsely attended, by students, even though student success—by both graduate and undergraduates—is a large aspect of the plan. However, undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty and staff were all represented at the town hall. Most of the attendants expressed appreciation for the plan.

Feedback for the plan can be given online through the Imagine DU website and another town hall will be held from 3-4:30 p.m. on Oct. 19, also in the AAC.

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.

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.

ERRORS: • •

The Clarion regrets to inform the DU community that the following errors were made in last week’s paper, which was released on Sept. 23, 2015. Any questions or concerns regarding the errors can be sent to duclarioneditor@gmail.com. The Clarion staff apologizes for these errors, and promises to do its best in the future to avoid further errors.

• In the lifestyles article, “BlueLight app ensures a safe night,” the Clarion incorrectly In the news article titled, “Chopp officially inaugurated,” the name of Jill Tiefenthalreported that the BlueLight app is officially affiliated with DU’s Campus Safety Deer, president of Colorado College, was misspelled “Teifenthaler.” partment. Campus Safety has no affiliation with the app.

In the news article titled, “Divest DU urges Chopp to change,” Nick Stubler, Divest DU’s organizing coordinator, was incorrectly labeled as Divest DU’s “organizing director.”

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DU CLARION

| NEWS

SEPTEMBER 30,2015

MEMORY WALL HUMBLES DU CONNOR W. DAVIS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

White’s purpose of the wall is to help others understand the sacrifices countless United States soldiers have made for this country.

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n Sept. 24 a large, black, 50-foot-long wall appeared on the south side of Carnegie Green. At the time, it was completely blank. Then on Sept. 25, veteran and brain athlete Ron White spent 11 hours covering the wall with the 2,200-plus names and ranks of U.S. soldiers who have died in Afghanistan.

From memory.

White, a scruffy-bearded, calm fellow from Fort Worth, Texas, is a U.S. memory champion who once held the record for the fastest memorization of a deck of cards in the U.S., along with many other memory achievements. When he returned from serving in Afghanistan as an intelligence analyst, he had a realization that would change the course of his life and, eventually, bring him to the DU campus.

“When I returned from Afghanistan, I was looking at the Vietnam Wall, and I was thinking, ‘how long would it take me to memorize that?’” said White.

“And as I was contemplating that, it just hit me. The Vietnam service members should, of course, be honored, but why would I do that when I served in Afghanistan? I can do Afghanistan and honor them [those who died there].”

White said that, while there are many individual monuments for those who have died in Afghanistan, there is not a national monument yet. So instead of waiting for it to come into existence, he travels the country with his own. He has already visited 20 different locations, from NASCAR races to college campuses, and he doesn’t plan on quitting until his “brain

stops working.”

“The purpose behind it is just to keep their memory alive.

There was a dad who came out here today, and Lance Corporal Brandon Pearson was his son,” White said as he pointed to Pearson’s name on the wall. “And he just said, ‘thanks for keeping my son’s memory alive.’ So that’s why I do it.”

While White’s memory is an integral aspect of the traveling wall, he said he doesn’t want that to be the focus. Instead, all he wants is to help others understand the sacrifices U.S. soldiers have made for this country.

“It’s just a way for people to look at all of this a bit differently and think, ‘wow, I didn’t understand the scope of the sacrifice, I didn’t know it was that many [people].’”

White said that it took him

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10 months to memorize all of the names on the wall, which are made up of 7,000 words, and that no shortcuts were taken along the way. The list of names is even written in order of when the soldiers died.

“When I was doing it [memorizing the names], I thought, ‘maybe I’ll just do first name, last name.’ But then I was like, ‘no, they earned their rank, they need their rank.’ And then I thought, ‘maybe I’ll do rank and last name.’ And I was trying to think of all the easy ways out and I’m just like ‘you gotta do their first name, too.’”

Every time White finishes the wall, he takes a few steps back and salutes the names on it. He didn’t personally know any of the soldiers during his time in Afghanistan, but he said he feels like he knows them all now.

SEPTEMBER 30,2015

DU CLARION

LEFT: White explains the purpose of the wall to DU students. TOP: There were over 2,200 names written on the wall by memory. RIGHT: The wall in its entirety.

NEWS | 5

connor w. davis

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DU CLARION

SEPTEMBER 30,2015

Sturm College of Law begins search for new dean

The next dean of the Sturm College of Law is expected to start on July 1, 2016 and will replace the current dean, Marty Katz.

ANDREW SMALLEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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he University of Denver is in the early phases of searching for a new dean for the Sturm College of Law, as current Dean Marty Katz, who has served since 2009, prepares to step down in July of 2016. Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Gregg Kvistad said in an interview, the current plan calls for the new dean to take over on July 1 2016.

“We will conduct a national search with the help of a search consultant so that we can reach out as broadly as possible and attract a diverse and impressive

candidate pool,” Kvistad said in an interview with the Clarion.

“We have just started the process and have not yet created a position description.”

According to Kvistad, the chair of the search committee is Doug Scrivner, who is also the chair of the DU Board of Trustees and an alumnus of the College of Law. Scrivner said the committee will reach out to the legal community in Denver as part of the search effort.

“The next dean of the Sturm College of Law will be one who is committed to maintaining our deep connections to the legal community in Denver and the surrounding region.”

Scrivner also said the search process will be open to public feedback and comment.

“We will provide many forums for faculty, alumni, students and others to share their thoughts on what qualities the next dean should possess and to nominate specific individuals,” he said.

The committee will be looking for qualities that embody DU’s values according to Chancellor Rebecca Chopp.

“Our next dean should represent the core values of the University of Denver, such as inclusive excellence, innovation and collaboration, and serving the public good,” Chopp explained.

“It will be important that the next dean be committed to supporting

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faculty and students, partnering within the community and preparing graduate who are ‘practice-ready.’”

Chopp also believes that the success of the law school and its strong reputation will make it easier to attract top candidates as the next Dean.

“The Sturm Colege of Law has become a national leader in legal education, moving up more than 20 places in the U.S. News & World Report law school rankings, with six specialty programs ranked in the top 25,” she said.

“Dean Katz has provided remarkable leadership. He leaves the law school in a position of great strength, which will help us to attract its next leader.”

Renew DU revamps the language learning program ANNA WALSH CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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his year The Center for World Languages and Cultures (CWLC) is expanding on its new learning program that allows students to learn languages not typically offered in the DU curriculum for either elective credits, or as a self-directed study.

The Directed Independent Language Study (DILS) began in 2011 and has continued to grow since then, introducing more opportunities this academic year.

“As part of this year’s Renew DU initiative, we have piloted DILS offerings for undergraduate credit,

as well as a Cultures & Languages Across the Curriculum (CLAC) initiative,” said Alison Nishi, director of the CWLC. “We are also planning for an intensive Summer Language institute on campus.”

In July of 2015, the CWLC offices were moved to room 336 in Anderson Academic Commons in order to open up study space for students as well as to place CWLC in a central location.

“The CWLC aims to serve all of campus,” said Nishi. “We are building upon the pilot programs from last year and expanding upon our offerings.”

DILS began as a noncredit opportunity for students to learn less commonly taught languages.

The program began with Korean and Swahili as non credit learning

experiences, and Portuguese was ultimately added in 2012. These programs were initially targeted at graduate students, with minimal undergraduate participation.

Under Renew DU, this year is different. DILS will now offer Korean, Portuguese and Swedish for undergraduate credit, counting for four elective credits per quarter.

“While these credits do not count towards the Common Curriculum foreign language requirement,” said Nishi, “these courses are now offered for elective credits to all undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty and staff.”

“Students meet twice each week for conversation practice, questions and cultural explora-

tion with a native speaker of the language, the language partner.

Students are responsible for setting their weekly learning goals and setting the agenda for these meetings; the language partner is not a teacher but a coach and partner in learning. Student progress in the language is assessed by a language examiner, a faculty member from an institution where that language is taught or otherwise qualified expert in the language,” said Nishi.

To learn more about the new language learning experience visit the CWLC webpage, scroll down to the bottom of the page, and click on the link: “Center for World Languages and Cultures joins AAC.”

SEPTEMBER 30,2015

SPORTS DU CLARION

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Students prepare for the annual hockey campout CAROLYN ANGIOLLO

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STAFF WRITER

n Oct. 3, DU students will rise with the sun in an effort to receive free season hockey tickets.

The 2015 Hockey Campout will begin on the evening of Oct. 2 when students will gather to pitch their tents and roll out their sleeping bags.

Once the sun finally rises, the pep band, cheerleaders and hockey team will greet the fans who have gathered outside of the Ritchie Center. The hockey players bring donuts for their dedicated fans and also give a few speeches before the ticket office opens at 9 a.m.

The campout has been a large success in DU’s history. 350 season tickets were sold to students last year at this event.

This year, even more students are expected to attend due to a new effort pioneered by Undergraduate Student Government.

Cam Hickert and Jess Davidson, the USG president and vice president, spoke to students last spring and found that free hockey tickets were something desired by many.

After speaking to the Athletics Office and the Chancellor’s Office, Hickert was able to acquire 400 free student tickets for every home hockey game this upcoming season.

There will be 200 Golden

Tickets distributed to the first 200 students in line on the morning of the campout. Those that receive a Golden Ticket will be able to attend every home game (including the Battle on Blake) for free.

The Battle on Blake is a special game where the Pioneers will face cross-state rival, the Colorado College Tigers, at Coors Field on Feb. 20.

For individuals that are not in the first 200, season tickets may still be purchased for $52 apiece.

However, the non-Golden season tickets do not include admission to the Battle on Blake.

Tickets must be purchased for this event separately at $10 for Denver students.

The school is also offering Crimson tickets. These limited tickets will be distributed an hour before home games in the Crimson Tent on the north side of Driscoll Student Center.

“DU is an awesome place and we are hoping that students will take this opportunity to rally around our awesome hockey program,” said Hickert.

Also on Oct. 3 at 5 p.m., the Pioneers will take to the ice for their annual Crimson vs. Gold team scrimmage.

“We are hoping to build community on campus. When you look nationally, the best way to build school spirit is with athletics so we want to take advantage of that,” said Hickert.

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The grassy area located by the Ritchie Center is a popular gathering area for students to camp, eat and socialize during the annaul hockey ticket campout.

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DU CLARION

| SPORTS

SEPTEMBER 30,2015

Men’s soccer ranked no. 12 in the nation after strong opening SASHA KANDRACH CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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he men’s soccer team advanced their ranking in the Division One National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll following their 1-0 victory over Saint Louis University and their first home game of the month against Utah Valley University, where the Pioneers won 2-1 in extra time by way of a golden goal.

Denver, currently ranked 12th in the nation, is sitting at the highest national ranking in program history.

The team currently remains undefeated and continues their home-game winning streak from last season.

“We’re training as hard as we can and making sure we maintain the same standard at every single training session. It’s about focusing on one result at a time,” said junior midfielder, Sam Hamilton (Evergreen, CO).

Watching the team play, there is a visible amount of trust and confidence and cohesion between the players.

“We have a really good energy. It’s not something you can put into words, but it’s something you know when you see it,” Hamilton said.

The success from the tight-

knit team stems from Denver’s knowledgeable coaching staff.

Head Coach, Jamie Franks, entered his fourth year with Denver and first year as head coach this season.

“We [the coaching staff] have been given a little bit more responsibility to our players where they hold each other accountable to the higher standards and expectations of the program,” said Franks.

Offering Denver’s coaching staff an alternative perspective is former midfield captain, Brian Hoyt, who now serves as the Pioneer’s volunteer assistant coach.

“He [Hoyt] understands being captain last year. Some of the mistakes that we made and is a good voice on the staff and a good liaison for the players, which is extremely helpful for me,” said Franks.

The Pioneers will enter this season’s league play as two-time back-to-back Summit League Champions, both regular season and tournament.

“I think we have to refocus.

The first goal for us is to win the regular league championship and it’s my job to make sure the guys don’t look past every game,” said Franks.

Note: This article was finalized on Monday, Sept. 28 and does not take into account any events and or games that have transpired since then.

Check out next week’s Clarion for coverage of the Pioneer’s game against the University of South Florida.

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Denver soccer plays home matches at CIBER Field.

PIO BIO: sarah schmid

SPORT: Volleyball GRADE: Senior

MAJOR: Psychology HOME STATE: Colorado

CAROLYN ANGIOLLO STAFF WRITER

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his week, The Clarion sat down with women’s volleyball player Sarah Schmid.

Q: You started out attending school and playing volleyball at Rutgers University, how did you end up coming to DU? A: My senior year of high school, I just wanted to get away and experience a new part of the country. I liked the team and I liked the school, but I was a little homesick. Colorado is such a great state and going somewhere else wasn’t really the best fit for me. I decided to come back home and I’m really glad that I did.

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photo courtesy of the aurora sentinal

Q: How was it when you started playing for DU? Did you notice any differences in your play or in the atmosphere?

A: It’s just nice having your family come to the games and being so close to home. The team dynamic here is awesome, as well.

We’re all really close. We do stuff outside of volleyball. We call our-

selves a DU VB family, because we truly are a family.

Q: How has the beginning of this season been going for you and for the team?

A: It’s going really well. Each week we improve a little bit more.

Personally, I’ve grown a lot. We are really physical this year and I look forward to seeing what the rest of the season holds.

Q: Since it is your last season, do you have any individual goals or goals for the team to really make this season stand out?

A: Winning the conference again is the first step and then making it to the NCAA rounds.

Last year, we made it to the NCAAs and we made history by doing that, but I want to take it a step further and make it to the second round. I would like to be on the All-Conference team again, too.

Q: What are your plans for future plans post graduation?

A: I’m part of the teaching program here [at Denver]. I start taking classes this year for the teaching school and next year I’ll be doing my Master’s.

DU CLARION

SEPTEMBER 2 33 0,2015

A guide to making the most of Denver’s hockey season JULIE GUNDERSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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ith fall getting into full swing, the cool air and changing leaves are symbols that hockey season is just around the corner. The Pioneers will be hitting the ice for the first time this fall on Oct. 10, opening against the Air Force Academy at Magness Arena.

And while it may seem like there’s an endless season ahead of us, it will be over before you know it, so it’s crucial to enjoy it to the fullest. Here’s how:

Attend the hockey ticket campout There is no better way to get pumped for the upcoming season than gathering with your friends for a night of fun, food and prizes in the early October chill. When you wake the next morning sleeping in line, or in a tent, you can purchase your season tickets at a discounted price of $52. If you’re lucky, you could even win a Golden Ticket, which gets free admission to all 18 home games. At the campout, you will be greeted by the Pioneer players and maybe even some donuts.

So make sure you’re in attendance Oct. 2 and 3 outside of Magness Arena.

Find your Pio fan club Gather a group of friends from your floor, from a club or that kid you sit next to in class and get pumped. Make it a group outing by grabbing dinner before the game.

The larger your community, the more fun you’ll have. Home games are played on Friday and Saturday nights, so if you have that project due Monday, work it out on Friday night and treat yourself Saturday.

Know your players.

SPORTS | 9

Teams prepare for Summit League

Our players come from all over the world. Some have even been drafted by National Hockey League (NHL) teams such as the Boston Bruins or the Los Angeles Kings. Check out the hockey website and see who is playing for our team. That way, when you’re sitting in the stands on a Friday night, you will know what they mean when they call out 2-9 or when they refer to Arnold—that’s the team captain by the way.

Be prepared Winter months can be brutal with cold drafts, persistent midterms and dorm life. So keep up on your vitamin C, your throat and your grades. It will all be worth it come November when you’re screaming “defense” in Magness a weekend before finals. Wear layers, too. Magness looks pretty ‘cool’ and all, mostly because it is. It’s an ice rink. So wear your Under Armour, your parka or your turtle neck underneath your hockey jersey. You won’t regret this one. And lastly, get a foam finger. Pointing at the opposing team with a foam hand larger than your face gets rather intimidating in a crowd of 7,000.

It’s also gentle on the glass so there’s no need to worry.

Represent your Crimson and Gold Wear every piece of crimson and gold clothing you own-layers again--and show your pride. You can go all out with a fully-painted face and or simple with the t-shirt you got at orientationtwo red streaks on each cheek. Whatever you choose to wear, just make it known that you are a Pioneer and you’re here to cheer.

Whether you are a fullblown fan waiting on the boards two hours before the game, or someone who just wants to become better-acquainted with DU come last minute, always show off your Pio pride.

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Denver playing rival Colorado College in Magness Arena during the 2014-2015 season.

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Denver basketball, a participant in the Summit League, begins its season on Nov. 13.

JILLIAN QUERI

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SPORTS EDITOR

enver athletic teams have already been winning games and making the Pioneer community proud this year.

From women’s volleyball to men’s soccer, various DU teams participate in the Summit League conference, a NCAA Division One collegiate conference of nine universities located within the midwestern U.S. Denver, the westernmost university in the league, is always a top contender. The Pioneers face the following universities throughout Summit League play: Indiana University- Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW), North Dakota State, Oral Roberts University, University of South Dakota, South Dakota State University, University of Nebraska-Omaha, University of Western Illinois and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI).

The Pioneer teams that participate in the Summit League include: men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s golf and swimming and diving.

Currently, women’s volleyball is 1-1 in Summit League play, while men’s soccer is 1-0 in con-

ference thus far. Many teams, like women’s soccer, do not begin playing Summit League games until the latter half of the season.

Denver volleyball faced their first Summit League opponent of the season on Sept. 25, winning 3-0 over IPFW. In a close match, the Pioneers fell to IUPUI 3-2 on Sept. 26. Denver’s remaining 14 games are all against Summit League opponents in preparation for the Summit League Championships which begin on Nov. 20 in Denver.

Opening Summit League play with a win, men’s soccer defeated Western Illinois 2-0 on Sept. 26.

The first conference match of the year, the Pioneer’s road victory moved their current season record to 7-0-1. The next Summit League matchup for Denver is scheduled for Oct. 2 against IUPUI at the Pio’s home turf, CIBER Field.

Although many Summit League teams are from smaller universities, they still pose as difficult competition for the Denver Pioneers.

Summit League play will continue to increase for all participating teams as each season progresses into league play, which then finishes with the annual Summit League Tournament.

Note: This article was finalized on Monday, Sept. 28 and does not take into account any events and or games that have transpired since then.

OPINIONS DU CLARION

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SEPTEMBER 30,2015

Limited racks slow student sustainability CAROLINE FIELD

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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s the push for sustainability grows on campus, more and more students are seen riding their bikes to save gas, get to class more quickly and promote a healthier lifestyle. When they aren’t crashing into people walking on the sidewalk, they whiz by to try to get to an open bike rack in time to get to class. While these crazy cyclers should be slowing down, they can’t afford to when they have classes in places like Sturm Hall and the Newman Center, because, a lot of the time, the bike racks are filled up. There is definitely a lack of bike racks on campus, and it’s becoming more and more of a problem for students who want to be on time as the bikers get faster and faster.

Having been almost run over a few times myself in just the three weeks since classes began, we asked fellow classmate Donovan Rice, an undeclared freshman from Golden, Colorado what he felt about the scarcity of bike racks on campus.

“Most places have healthy amounts of bike racks,” Rice said. “At the Mass Communications building it can get a little rough depending on the day and then Sturm is the worst one because it is the center of campus and everybody’s there with their bikes and there’s never room.”

Rice had a few fair points to make when it came to the lack of bike racks.

“If there’s not a space for my bike, I have to go to another building and find another one, and then run to my class so that I’m not late. For the most part

I’m satisfied with the bike racks, the big thing is putting in a few new bike racks at Sturm.”

Looking for an open bike rack can often make students late to class, which is another huge issue at hand here. Most professors have a harsh system in place if a student is tardy to class so students have to rush from places like J-Mac, for example, to get to classes on the top floors of Sturm Hall.

Katie Busch, a freshman from Rancho Cucamonga, California double-majoring in theater and psychology, has the same opinion about the lack of bike racks on campus.

“I know in front of residence halls there’s enough bike racks but in front of the Newman Center or in front of Sturm there’s not enough for how many people actually have classes there.”

Busch rides her bike to class every day from her room in Towers. “I think that the bike racks could be wider so that more people can put their bikes in, but I would definitely like to see more bike racks where people actually have classes.”

This mode of transportation is meant to be easy and environmentally friendly, not a hinderance to a student’s daily routines.

The school has money to install a few more metal racks, so it should be putting more bike racks across campus to help reduce student tardiness and increase our campus sustainability goals.

We’re already deep into the fall quarter, yet students are tardy because they had to lock their bike two buildings over. This is an easy problem to solve, but the decision is up to DU to make the changes necessary to promote sustainability and on-time students.

connor w. davis | clarion

The lack of bike racks on campus results in student tardiness and inconvience for bike riders who use this sustainable mode of transportation.

JULY S E P T 23, E M2015 BER 30,2015

DU CLARION

OPINIONS | 1 1

Should the U.S. drinking age be lowered?

ISABEL DUFFORD CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A

s school begins in earnest on college campuses across the United States, students begin spending their time at study sessions, sports games—and parties. Party culture and alcohol consumption are a big reality at many universities across the country, including DU, despite the fact that at any given time roughly half of a four-year institution is younger than 21 and thus breaking the law by participating in what many consider to be the tradition of college parties. However, in much of the developed world the minimum drinking age is 18 or 19, and the U.S. should follow suit.

For much of this country’s history, there was no national minimum drinking age—teenagers’ eligibility to consume alcohol depended on the law in their state or county. In 1984, however, President Ronald Reagan signed into effect a bill which would withhold valuable and necessary highway funds unless states adopted the age of 21 as their legal drinking age.

This law was meant to combat underage drinking and driving—which was rampant— and it succeeded in lowering teenage deaths from car accidents involving alcohol. This didn’t mean that teens stopped drinking entirely, though. If

anything, the forbidden-fruit factor has made drinking that much more appealing to those who are underage.

A drinking age of 18 or 19 would allow for more oversight when young people are drinking.

Much of the danger of underage drinking comes from the secrecy involved—teenagers who are trying to hide their drinking are less likely to seek help in emergencies, or call a parent or cab to drive them home. If college freshmen were able to sit at a bar and order a drink, they would be visible and trackable in their consumption, unlike in the crowded and anonymous house parties where many underage drinkers get access to alcohol.

This is not to say that alcohol isn’t dangerous. Really, in an ideal world, nobody should technically be drinking—some of the risks of alcohol include impaired judgement, physical risks that come from too much consumption (liver damage, alcohol poisoning) and risk of alcoholism over time. However, for much of the world, drinking alcohol is a fun and celebratory tradition.

College students are not going to stop drinking either, regardless of the national minimum drinking age. The obfuscation involved when those who are underage want to party only serves to add an extra layer of danger. So what’s there to do?

It doesn’t appear that the law is going to change any time

soon, but what can change is the enticing taboo associated with drinking in college. The University of Denver has taken a step in the right direction with measures like having incoming freshmen complete AlcoholEdu

(an online program that presents the practical realities of drinking alcohol), and though this and measures like it may seem small, they’re the first steps to addressing the problem of excessive underage drinking.

Unsafe, underage drinking is rampant across the country and DU.

artemis katsaris | clarion

Trump deserves a failing grade from students ABBIE RANDALL

T

STAFF WRITER

hough the presidential election doesn’t occur until November 8, 2016, it is important for students to be aware of the political dynamics already in motion. Early proceedings by no means guarantee or predict any official candidates or future policies. However, they are worth observing for their displays of possibilities and issues that should be considered. One of the more concerning aspects at play right now is that of Donald Trump’s campaign and the support displayed for his polarizing statements. Students should not take his campaign seriously for various reasons, including his lack of informed arguments, his ability to brush off important issues and, therefore, his blatant disregard for the future of higher education and its’ students.

Though there are 15 total Republican candidates at this point, Trump unfortunately outshines them all in both media presence and at the polls. Any student who visits news sites or social media has seen Trump’s presence and extreme commentary. He has been on the top of the leader board for a few months

despite severe and discriminatory comments about racial minorities, women and immigration policies. Even though experts and citizens alike agree that his performances at recent Republican debates have been extremely weak, he is still consistently ahead of other candidates such as Ben Carson and Carly Fiorina (though this gap seems to be closing slightly according to recent polls).

Trump’s success so far should be substantiated by solidified arguments and personal stands on issues that voters care about; however, any outline of his views is weak and limited. In visiting Trump’s official website, very little information can be obtained.

The site presents his background as a successful businessman and popular public figure, as well as his stance on gun control and immigration, but the information ends there. College students especially, many of whom are first-time voters, should be able to easily access a candidate’s arguments and propositions on a multitude of important issues such as the economy, climate change, women’s rights, international policy, income inequality, education student loan debt (to name a few). If Trump were a serious and devoted politician, he would have thorough and apparent argu-

ments on these various issues.

This leads to a serious question: is Trump a serious candidate, honestly concerned about the future of our country, or simply a notable public figure causing a ruckus in the political sphere?

Though it is difficult to find merit in Trump’s campaign, it can be said that his extreme views can help define where voters may politically agree or disagree on certain ideas. In multiple DU classes full of critically thinking students, there seems to be resounding disagreement and unsettled chuckles surrounding Trump’s views when his statements were mentioned. There might be support for Trump

from somewhere on campus, however the typical mood on campus when Trump’s name is mentioned feels disapproving and somewhat concerned for the future if he continues to be a leading Republican candidate. If students in higher education had to choose a Presidential candidate to support at this point in time, support would not, and should not, weigh in Trump’s favor. His campaign relies more heavily on his offensive persona and past successes than on conviction for change or concern for the future of the country. Therefore, Trump is not deserving of support from students looking to support a serious presidential candidate.

photo courtesy of gage skidmore

Donald Trump, the top contender for the Republican Party, fails to address important student issues.

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| OPINIONS

DU CLARION

SEPTEMBER 30,2015

Pioneer Voices

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: what is your ideal hockey campout experience?

“Spending time with friends and staying up all night, maybe having a BBQ as well.”

“I’m looking forward to the experience and seeing what the campout is all about.”

— Chace Gardner Freshman Colorado

— Catherine Ray Freshman Colorado

“I really don’t know what to expect as a freshman, but I’m hoping to get to know new people.”

“I’m looking forward to socializing during the entire night and camping if I get a tent.”

— Morgan Bonomo Freshman Michigan

— Alexandra Ricker Freshman Colorado

Got something you want to say about du? let us know!

Shoot us an email at duclarioneditor@gmail.com or get in touch with us through one of our social media channels.

DU CLARION

JULY S E P T 23, E M2015 BER 30,2015

O C MICS

OPINIONS | 1 3

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| OPINIONS

DU CLARION

SEPTEMBER 30,2015

Four-year degrees unrealistic for many students SARAH CAREY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

T

he phrase, “time is money” is all too true for college students, especially to those who don’t get a degree in four years. All incoming students at colleges across the nation believe that they will get a degree “on-time”, but this is not always the case: only about 40 percent of students manage to pull it off according to the National Center for Education Statistics, resulting in spending “more for less” on their degrees. The fouryear standard is based on a student with a stable, school-oriented lifestyle, which isn’t a possibility for all. Most students have to work through college and life is bound to throw countless surprises at you over the course of four years.

These surprises can include missing weeks of school for sickness, injury recovery or family tragedy.

According to Liz Freedman of Butler University, around 75 percent of college students change their major at least once, lessening their chances at graduating “on-time.” The government now even bases “on-time” graduation on a six-year standard. This is evidence to why we should stop trying to force the idea of a fouryear degree.

The biggest problem is why students aren’t finishing on time.

According to Dr. Fritz Grupe of

MyMajors.Com, about 50 percent of students who try to get a head start by declaring their major before entering college, change it, sometimes more than once. This sets students behind and leaves them with a lot of catching up to do. Switching majors is a common, and necessary step in college that can set some back. At DU we have the quarter system, where each quarter credit class transfers to about .67 of a semester credit. We are able to take more classes, but this does not guarantee a fouryear graduation, as the courses are often more challenging and concentrated. Each quarter is only 10 weeks of classes, this does not allow much room for catching up if you fall behind. The transition for students from a semester high school system to the quarter system is hard. While switching majors at DU is easier because there is more space for classes and interterm opportunities, the trade off is that the courses are shorter, having as little as 19 class meetings throughout the quarter, this is a challenge for many students who need to miss class. Missing class even once can take a toll on your final grade.

There are steps that students can take to help avoid the prolonged degree time: to start, talk to your professors and advisors, be honest about your situation and see if take-home assignments or online work is something that will work for both of you. See if summer or winter interterms offered by DU

can relieve some of the added time.

However, there are a large variety of reasons why a student may not finish in four years and solutions like take-home work won’t remedy all of them. DU itself could start by counseling students during the summer on what their

proposed major would be like, or what they should choose, giving students a head start and an idea of what each major would be like. It is time that we stopped enforcing the stereotype of a four-year degree and stopped forcing students to choose between life or school.

connor w. davis | clarion

Many students have personal or academic reasons why they cannot graduate in four years.

Tuition hikes create financial struggle for students KYLEE SKALL CONTRIBUTING WRITER

E

ach day, University of Denver students pass by the up-and-coming International Studies building just across from Ben M. Cherrington Hall, and likely swear to themselves that it has gotten bigger since yesterday.

There is another thing that has also seemingly grown since yesterday to many – the DU tuition bill.

The price tag on the place over 5,000 undergraduate students call home has increased a whopping 5 percent this year, according to an official letter mailed to permanent residences by the university this past year. This rise brings the 201516 school year tuition and fees to be $44,178, and estimated cost of attendance to $61,460. This number is only expected to go up from there in the coming years. This is not right. $61,460 is just too high of a number to not know how it will grow and impact you in the future.

As eager seniors in high school, students call the idea of deciding on a college “committing.” They are bound to the place they send their deposit to. It is the next four years of their lives. It is baffling that the permanence of it all stops at tuition, arguably the most potentially important thing to commit to.

When students decide to attend a university, they should sign a document that ensures a flat tuition rate for the duration of the typical fouryear-long undergraduate education.

There is no reason universities can’t make this important expense more predictable and easier on college students and their families.

Sure, each graduating class may

pay a different number, but at least they would fully know what they’re getting into for the duration of their college expenses.

While the University of Denver is a wonderful place that is easy to grow attached to, being at the mercy of any price tag increase the institution chooses to inflict upon families each year is unsettling. More than

unsettling, it is wrong. The class of 2018 didn’t commit to DU because there was a new international studies building being built. They didn’t commit to DU because of the new engineering building. The students of next year, you ask? Maybe they will. And, in business student terms, that product and price should be presented to them.

john poe | clarion

Raising tuition rates, due to factors such as increasing construction projects, threaten students’ ability to stay financially stable.

SEPTEMBER 30,2015

DU CLARION

L I F E ST Y L E S

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An open letter to DU’s class of 2019 COURTNEY LUSTER LIFESTYLES EDITOR

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ell freshmen, we’re a few weeks in and you’re officially a part of the DU community now. You’re all moved into your dorms, immersed in classes and you’ve maybe even gone to a party or two. You’re here. Now you get to hear some sage advice from the students who have gone through your exact same experience—and come out on the other side. So, without further adieu, here is a crash course for your freshman year of college.

Walking It probably seems like the walk from Halls to Olin or Lamont or Mass Comm is excruciatingly long now… actually, yeah it really is that long. That doesn’t get much better.

Try to walk with someone else or contact Campus Safety if you ever need an escort.

Dorms People think that where you live is what matters the most right now.

Each dorm has its own positive and negative stigmas; Towers gets its

own bathrooms and Halls generally has about 18 things broken in every room from all the partying. Don’t worry about it. You are where you are for a reason. Don’t compare your freshman year to anyone else’s.

There’s no right or wrong way to do freshman year.

Registration Never sign up for classes because of your friends. It probably seems like the people you met this month are your whole world but don’t let them limit you. You will become so much more independent over the course of your college career and taking classes that actually interest you away from your friends is a huge step in getting there.

bounds. Be nice to the omelet man in the dining hall. He controls your breakfast.

Respect As a general rule, give your highest respect to all of the dining hall and dorm maintenance staff. They work really hard, and we all know we wouldn’t want to feed countless students per day but they do it with a smile on their face.

Napping Take naps while you can. Freshman year is the easy, happy year when you get to explore and frolic; there are so many opportunities to do as much or as little as you want.

Soon you will be getting involved in time-consuming extra-curricular

activities, internships and jobs.

You’ll be far too busy for naps. So enjoy this time while you can.

Friends The friends you make this year do actually count. A majority of the seniors here will tell you that some of their best friends are people they met the first month, week or day of freshman year.

You all are at a beautiful juncture in your lives. The world is opening up and you can go a million different directions from here. So stop, take it in, and appreciate the good with the bad. It’ll go by faster than you think.

(See a comprehensive guide to being a freshman on page 18)

Be Independent On that note, enjoy your time alone. If your roommate goes out on Friday night and you want to stay at home and watch Netflix, do it. If a new group of people invites you out and your friends are doing something else, go. Try new things, hang out with new people; be safe, but not too safe.

Food Appreciate the food in the dining hall. It’s improved with leaps and

courtNEy luStEr

J-Mac, one of the three freshmen dorms on campus, shows off its fall colors.

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Four essential lifestyle apps for the college student JUSTIN CYGAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

L

iving in the city can be overwhelming, but being within the confines of a place as culturally vibrant and beautiful as Denver means that there is a constant flow of new events, amazing restaurants and goings-on around us. Want help navigating the constant state of awesome that is living in Denver? Then check out these four helpful apps: Thrillist Basically a Buzzfeed-esque city guide platform, Thrillist gives you on-the-go access to its collection of “professionally curated recommendations” for the best bars, restaurants and clubs in the Mile-High City. Expect articles such as “13 Great First-Date Bars in Denver” or “14 New Denver Restaurants You Need to Check Out Immediately.” Perhaps the most useful feature, however, is the “Nearby” function, which gives users a Google Maps image with nearby well-rated bars and restaurants, helpful for when you’re lost downtown and need a good burger.

Gogobot Gogobot is a discovery and travel research app based all around the idea, “forget tomorrow, discover something new today.”

The app interface is beautiful and easy to navigate. One can search places to stay (more for tourists), eat and play. When you open one of these three options, you get a

long list of filters that allow you to tailor the list to your personal needs. When you choose a location, a separate page opens with reviews, photos and the most unique feature of all—a popularity rating system based on specific preferences (e.g 98 percent popular with foodies, 78 percent local, 63 percent vegetarian).

Westword You might know Westword as that wild, ad-laden magazine always scattered around in bars and restaurants, but there is more to the alternative magazine than its reputation conveys. The mobile app version of the alt-weekly is one

of the best places to digitally stop by if looking for something to do in the city. The calendar option gives a rundown of upcoming and current events ranging from indie film premieres to fringe art festivals and bar openings. The app also contains a fantastic collection of hidden gem bars and clubs. If you want to get your alternative on, Westword is your best friend.

Curated Denver Incredibly well-designed and versatile, Curated describes itself as being made for “those who want to explore the rad, crafty, and creative side of the city.” Curated’s interface allows one to pick

and match different categories of attraction and then to receive a photographic list of the places that match the parameters. For example, one can choose the “Coffee” and “Hidden Gem” options to find the perfect quiet and delicious coffeeshop to crank out an essay in. Clicking on a location reveals another screen with a description and “Curator’s Note” that provides a reasoning for the location’s appearance on the list beside simple ratings and reviews.

With these apps in your pocket, you’re ready to go forth and explore the diverse and fantastic options Denver has to offer.

Curated Denver is one of the best lifestyle apps; it offers an expansive list of places to explore.

juStiN cygaN

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DU CLARION

| lifEStylES

THE GRIND COLUMN

SEPTEMBER 30,2015

COLUMN

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

Matt’s Snack Shack: 4.0 / 5.0 stars

A weekly examination of Denver’s art scene

“In Bloom” exhibit at the Denver Art Museum KATE ROGERS STAFF WRITER

Where: Denver Art Museum Level 2, Hamilton Building When: Now - Oct. 11 Price: $8 (There is a two-for-one deal for students every last Friday of the month)

T juStiN cygaN

Choosing just one option from the menu at Matt’s Snack Shack is a difficult task.

JUSTIN CYGAN

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CONTRIBUTING WRITER

owadays, it seems a city is only as good as its food trucks. Denver is no exception to this rule and in turn the city is filled to the brim with copious delectable culinary experiences on wheels for everybody from the food-instagramming hipster to the intoxicated late night reveler. Fermaentra, the University Park neighborhood’s brewery and taproom, plays host to a selection of food trucks throughout the week, giving the DU community a chance to sample Denver’s best motorized culinary options.

One of Fermaentra’s regular food trucks is Matt’s Snack Shack, a grill-specific eatery specializing in grilled wings, loaded grilled cheeses, brats and more. The truck itself is clean and well-designed, with a black and blue retro aesthetic that helps to convey the traditional, yet modernly-tweaked grilled snacks the truck serves.

The options for food aren’t as exhaustive as other trucks, but the menu is most definitely delicious.

First up are the wings. They come in three different styles, the house original sauce (a classic buffalo sauce), BBQ style and dry rub. All three options are available in quantity sizing from six ($7) to 48 ($40) wings, so more than enough for one hungry late night excursion or a quick pick up for you and a couple friends.

Also offered are specialty hot dogs ($6)—with three different protein varieties: a veggie dog, jumbo all beef dog or specialty beer brat slow cooked

| clarioN

in a Colorado craft brew (which can be perfectly paired with whatever hoppy-beverage you are sipping). All dogs can be made in either a classic German style or a Mexican-themed “South of the Border” topping.

Grilled cheese sandwiches make up the rest of the menu. These delicious pairings of gooey cheese and perfectly-toasted bread can be made in a classic style ($4.50) with your choice of two different cheeses (choose from American, Cheddar, Pepper Jack, Jack or Swiss) or if you’re feeling ravenous, they can be stacked with scrumptious extras.

Three separate loaded options exist: “The Cowboy”, “The New Mexico” and “The Buff.” Each choice differs in the extras included within the sandwich, but one can expect a protein, some type of veggie and a special sauce all for $7.50. Add a canned soda ($1) to wash down the deliciousness. This Grinder had a classic with Pepper Jack and American, which, when combined with the buttery crunchy bread, was a fantastic and incredibly gooey monstrosity.

While the 48-count wings carry a hefty $40 dollar price tag, the rest of the menu is pretty affordable for the cash-strapped college student, and along with affordable delicious food, you also get the joy and satisfaction of supporting a small business and Denver’s mobile culinary scene.

Matt’s Snack Shack can be found online on Facebook, where they post their current location.

They commonly visit Fermaentra on Evans, where they stay open 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

he Denver Art Museum has brought the outside indoors for their “In Bloom” exhibit.

The exhibit traces the influence of flowers on European painters, scientists and elitists throughout the 1700s and the 1800s.

“In Bloom” was curated specifically for the DAM and includes an array of artists prevalent in different eras. The most well-known painter displayed is Van Gogh, whose work was accompanied by the likes of Mary Cassatt, Gerard van Spaendonck and Henri Matisse.

During these times, flowers were “all the rage” and people were caught up in a “botanical craze,” as one exhibit plaque stated. At the start of the 1700s, Europeans loved flowers so much that daughters of the French elite took lessons on how to draw them. Scientists, on the other hand, took interest in plant anatomy and thus drew plants for encyclopedic, educational purposes. The combination of elites and scientists — who made up the first classes of people to seriously draw flowers — resulted in intricate paintings that aimed to draw flowers in exact detail.

In 1849, French painters grew tired of academic flower painting and expressed what is known as “New Realism,” or new ways of perceiving the real. Around this time flower paintings began to lose their precise brushstrokes and looser interpretations of painting came about. In Frédéric Bazille’s paint-

ing, “Flowers,” one can see how the subjects lose their definition and refinement when compared to previous depictions.

Also in the 1800s, painters placed their flower arrangements in unconventional places. Rather than simply putting flowers in a vase with a standard wall backdrop, they began placing their subjects outside and in objects such as hats — creating a lively environment rather than a simple still life recreation.

The previous styles of flower painting paved the way for the impressionists, a movement of painters who gained popularity from the 1870s to the 1880s. The French Impressionists were “more concerned with light and color,” as stated by a museum docent, rather than “precise lines favored by academic painters.” As a result, flower paintings sported vibrant colors and simple arrangements.

In addition to the different paintings shown at “In Bloom,” the exhibit incorporates a sensory experience for its viewers. When one first enters through the exhibit doors, a floral scent overwhelms and wafts throughout the entire room. At the end of the exhibit patrons can enter “The Impressionist Garden,” a room that offers different areas of interest that release garden smells, along with additional sniff and scratch cards that people can take.

Flowers used as subjects for paintings or as prints for clothing may seem redundant in this day and age, but they still hold prominence after 300 years. Popular companies, such as Lilly Pulitzer, use flowers as inspiration for clothing and accessory prints. Early twentieth century painters, like Odilon Redon and Henri Matisse, continued to revisit flowers in their work. Flowers, as it turns out, are both classic and timeless.

katE rogErS

“In Bloom” is a special gallery only here for a limited time, and it’s not to be missed.

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DU CLARION

JULY S E P T 23, E M2015 BER 30,2015

lifEStylES | 1 7

Top vendors of the Pearl St. Farmers Market SOPHIA HANCOCK CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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very Sunday from midMay to mid-November, charming South Pearl Street is packed with all walks of life at the Pearl Street Farmers Market. This event that started in 2001 has grown into a popular neighborhood happening for neighbors and DU students alike. The farmers market hosts a variety of vendors who sell sauces, baked goods and soaps among the fresh produce. The vendors are all friendly and helpful and the people there are enthusiastic to be there as well. While all the hustle and bustle might be overwhelming there is no need to worry, here is a breakdown of some of the cream of the crop vendors to check out.

Guerrero’s Chile Guerrero’s is a family business that has been perfecting their chile recipe since 1997. They have a vendor’s stand with artfully displayed chile peppers and their very own fire roaster on site. Specializing in roasting green chile peppers, they also offer chile spices and dehydrated and fire-roasted chiles.

Miller Farms The Miller Farm Stand lets you fill a five-pound potato bag with as many veggies as possible for only

$10 and offers a wide selection of produce such as squash, lettuce, mushrooms and green beans. Even though fall is in full swing, they still have several summer products like corn and tomatoes as well.

Joy Nut Co. While there are a bounty of healthy snacking products offered at the farmers market, the Joy Nut Co. stands out. Their artfully-flavored almonds will make health nuts and dedicated snackers alike drool. The Joy Nut Co. flavors include cocoa mint, cinnamon, cocoa roast and roasted, salted almonds. All flavors SophiE haNcock | clarioN are delicious on their own or mixed The Joy Nut Co. is one of the most popular vendors at the Pearl Street Farmers Market. into trail mixes.

Kettle Head Popcorn At the south end of the farmers market, Kettle Head Popcorn provides deliciously-seasoned popcorn.

With reasonable prices and delicious flavors such as Cheddar and BBQ, this place is not to be missed.

The Old South Pearl Street Farmers Market is definitely worth checking out. The food trucks, live music and free samples are more than enough reason to go. But, if that isn’t enough, there are always cute puppies to oggle at as well.

Make sure to bring water and a SophiE haNcock | clarioN hat as it can get hot out, and most Kettle Head Popcorn is a vendor that specializes in unique flavors of popcorn. importantly, be prepared to enjoy a day of fun and food.

diDUknow?

COLUMN

Bringing awareness to happenings at and around DU

The Farmhouse at Breckenridge Brewery COURTNEY LUSTER

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LIFESTYLES EDITOR

he Farmhouse, a recent addition to the Denver food scene brought to you by the Breckenridge Brewery, delivers a distinct dining experience unique to the region.

Open every day for lunch and dinner, guests are treated to an array of American favorites with creative culinary quirks available with gluten-free adjustments.

Since it’s tucked away between the Platte River and south Santa Fe Drive in Littleton, visitors can explore the eatery after a day of biking, tubing or hiking.

Diners can enjoy their meal in a variety of beautiful settings: the “great room,” the north dining room, on the porch or at the bar.

The menu incorporates classic dishes such as the Tin Pail Buttermilk Fried Chicken ($14.99) or the Grilled Scottish Salmon ($18.50) as well as more contem-

image courtesy of breckenridge brewery

Breckenridge Brewery is one of Colorado’s finest.

porary dishes like the Pickled Beet Sliders ($8.50). The bar features fresh-brewed Breckenridge Brewery beer, of course, but also offers six guest taps from breweries like Grist and Epic, as well as two wine taps and an extensive wine list and cocktail program.

After eating, guests have plenty more to explore: they can play a game of bocce ball or take in the scenery in the beer garden, open Thursday and Friday from 4 p.m. until sunset and Saturday

Farmhouse employees hard at work in the Beer Garden as the sun sets.

courtNEy luStEr

and Sunday from noon until sunset.

There’s also a lawn complete with firepits and cornhole games.

The restaurant, brewery and taproom conveys the comfort you’d expect to find on a farm. It also hosts tours Thursday through Monday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., so you’re sure to find a slot that works for you. For just $3 you get an hour and a half to learn the ins and outs of brew-making and drink your complimentary pint of beer along with a flight of samples.

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| LIFESTYLES

SEPTEMBER 30,2015

A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO BEING A FRESHMAN AT DU 10 things every DU freshman needs to know RUTH HOLLENBACK CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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verwhelmingly excited and feverishly nervous, I rode in the back seat of my dad’s black Toyota Tacoma truck down South High Street admiring out the window the inescapable amount of college students and the forest of white plastic signs with phrases like, “Welcome to DU,” “Proud to be a Pioneer” and “Class of 2019.” Amidst all the mayhem of move-in day, we finally parked, only to be instantly ambushed by a dynamically peppy group of frat boys who suddenly, with no need for assent, began removing all of my delicately packed belongings and taking them into a very tall, old building that I would eventually learn to call my home for the next year.

The chaos of move-in day came to a beautifully decorated close, and the chaos of Orientation Week began. In the thick of being welcomed to DU by receiving a ubiquitous amount of free T-shirts, learning 1300 new freshmen faces, navigating my way around campus and figuring out how to be okay with showering in a public bathroom for the next few months, I couldn’t help but feel the need to ask others their advice. According to this random selection of upperclassmen and DU staff, the following 10 pieces of advices are what freshmen need to to know for their first year at DU.

photo courtesy of jeff haessler

The class of 2019 poses during orientation week. These young, ambitious students are currently diving into four of the most fun years of their lives.

1.

2.

“Don’t travel in herds of 20 or more other freshmen. It’s funny for the upperclassmen though, because we can tell you all just got out of high school.”

– Bryce McCall

3.

“Talk to your professors as much as you can. Even if they don’t seem approachable in class, they generally are awesome during their office hours. Plus, the more familiar they are with you, the better.”

– Hadleigh Seely

“In the beginning, do everything.”

– Arik Stewart “The tutors on campus are awesome—they are literally like a free teacher. I didn’t take advantage of the them until the end of my freshman year, and I so wish I would have sooner.”

–Hadleigh Seely “Know the schedule for what time the Dining Halls open.”

– Deborah Clement, Cashier at Centennial Dining Hall.

4.

5.

6.

9.

7.

10.

“In the morning at breakfast, “At some point in your DU career, if you try to skinny dip in the when I say hi, say hi back! Don’t give ponds by Evans Chapel… you will get me that dead look… I don’t bite!”

–Benita Foote, Cashier at away with it. Or so I’ve heard.”

Centennial Dining Hall – Tim Longfield “Everything is not as it “Get lost on the light rail as a freshman. It will help you figure out seems, but everything is as it seems.

You’ll understand when you become the city. But don’t get mugged.” a senior.”

– Haley Osborn – Cameron Simmons

8.

“Exams come way faster than you think they will. I still clearly haven’t learned that—here I am at midnight cramming for a test I have tomorrow.”

– Bryce McCall

DU CLARION

JULY S E P T 23, E M2015 BER 30,2015

LIFESTYLES | 1 9

How to avoid the daunting freshman 15 CHLOE BARRETT ASSISTANT LIFESTYLES EDITOR

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elcome to DU, where a trip to the gym seems out of your way but a visit to Illegal Pete’s fits your schedule perfectly.

Where the dining halls’ chicken nuggets always seem to overshadow the salad bar and where you’ll walk all the way to Downing Street for a mediocre party but not for a produce run. College is an adjustment—no one’s gonna remind you to eat your vegetables and PE is no longer a graduation requirement—but it doesn’t have to lead to an adjustment in your pant size. Freshmen, do whatever you want this year. But if you want to avoid gaining those extra pounds you keep hearing about, stick to these tips.

GET BUZZED, NOT BULGING

College is really the only time in life when you can go out and drink upwards of four times a week without your loved ones staging the obligatory intervention; still, you need to know your limits to keep yourself safe and sexy. Consider this: one of those red solo cups of frat party beer has about 150 calories in it, so drink in moderation and alternate alcohol with water to get that blissful buzz without the extra bulge.

STOCK UP ON HEALTHY SNACKS

If you have bad food, you’re going to eat bad food. You know that sleeve of Oreos stashed in your desk drawer? The second you feel that unavoidable college roller coaster of emotions—stress, boredom, homesickness—you won’t be able to eat just one, you’ll eat the whole thing without a second thought. So stock your mini-fridge with healthy but satisfying snacks;

hummus with carrots, apples with peanut butter, cheese and popcorn will all keep your hunger at bay and your waist well within your jeans.

CAFETERIA 101

The dining hall can be your friend or foe; yes, there are nutritious options, but they’re often overshadowed by the plethora of other, less healthy ones. For breakfast, oatmeal topped with fruits and nuts will start your day off right; and you can never go wrong with an omelet if you have time to endure the long line. For later meals, if you can’t spot a well-balanced meal among the pizza, fries or dessert platter, the salad bar is a great way to load up on nutrients; just watch out for dressings that can negate your conscious eating—oil and vinegar is always a safe option. You can also ask the chef on-duty to grill you a piece of chicken so you can incorporate some un-smothered, un-breaded protein.

GET MOVING

It’s hard to find the time and commitment to regularly attend the gym. The walk just from Halls to the Ritchie Center feels excessive and the walk from JMAC is practically a stand-alone workout.

But one of the perks of attending DU is full access to the Ritchie Center, because if you don’t prescribe to the boring treadmill and weights regiment, it offers plenty of fun classes and access to the pool that allow you to sneak in exercise without feeling like you’re actually working out. And for the days that you can’t make the Ritchie Center trek, you can still do situps, pushups and other simple but dynamic workouts within the confines of your dorm room.

artemis katseris | clarion

Eight hacks to make your dorm room a home

D

COURTNEY LUSTER LIFESTYLES EDITOR

orm-room-living is a unique experience, to say the least. Making those brick walls and school furniture your home is sometimes a daunting task. Never fear; there are some easy and cheap ways to make dorm living easy living.

1.

Target is your best friend. They cater to college students moving into the dorms better and cheaper than any other store out there. They have some really innovative storage and organization products that will help you out a lot. If you don’t have a car, you can rent one through the DU Car Share Program.

2.

Make your closet space count.

It’s not much, but it’s all you’ve got and you need to make the most of it.

Get hanging closet shelves; they’re basically cloth shelves that velcro to the railing and give you way more storage space—for about $12. Girls,

get scarf/ belt hangers and guys get tie hangers—if you wear that many ties.

3.

Get a laundry basket that you can easily transport. Seriously, it will make your life so much easier to get a canvas one with a strap rather than a plastic or wicker one.

4.

Take advantage of the fact that you can loft your bed; not only does it feel like you’re having a fun sleepover every night, but you can slide your dresser underneath and open up a lot of space for activities-not to mention fitting more than two people in your room.

5.

If you’re a coffee addict, just get a coffee maker for the horror that is not being able to get coffee on campus until 10 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Also the dining hall coffee is just inherently bad.

Try a small Keurig for single-serve coffee.

6.

Embrace the glory that is coffee mug microwave recipes.

From chocolate chip cookies to French toast to mac n’ cheese to scrambled eggs, you be amazed at the power a microwave and a mug have to create deliciousness.

7.

So you can’t have candles and your dorm starts to get a bit smelly sometimes. It’s understandable; it’s a small space with two people living in it. Get a car air vent freshener and put it on a fan or air conditioner and your room will always smell fresh.

8.

Command tape is awesome but don’t overestimate its powers.

Some things you just can’t hang on the walls. For these, either get standing frames to put pictures in or just tuck them away to enjoy when you have your very own place.

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| LIFESTYLES

DU CLARION

SEPTEMBER 30,2015

Denver’s very best food and drink specialties KATE ROGERS

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STAFF WRITER

U attracts students from across the globe and every individual has their own reasons for coming to Colorado. Aside from legalized weed, the biggest appeal is the Rocky Mountains, which are majestic enough on their own to bring hoards of people throughout the year — snow or shine. Apart from the more obvious reasons, there are a few highlights born out of patrons’ unconditional love for Colorado that are worth mentioning. Here are a few of the best to check out this fall:

What: Denver Omelette Where: Pete’s University Park Cafe The Denver Omelette is a popular dish that can be found pretty much anywhere in the U.S., but it’s a rite of passage for Denverites to chow one down right here in the Mile-High City where it all started. People are understandably more interested in eating it than learning about it, but the somewhat hazy history behind it is interesting nonetheless. Originally known as a Western sandwich, historians believe the breakfast dish was popular amongst cowboys. Others believe

that Chinese cooks, who came to America to work on the transcontinental railroad, invented putting scrambled eggs between toast to make it easier to eat while working. Pete’s University Park Cafe, on the corner of University Blvd. and Evans Ave., serves the best Denver Omelettes in town and it’s not to be missed.

What: Rocky Mountain Oysters Where: The Buckhorn Exchange The name of this delicacy is deceiving. The ‘oysters’ are actually bull or bison testicles that are dipped in batter and

deep fried. This meal is popular in areas where cattle ranching is common, such as parts of the American West, which includes Denver. They can be found at scattered hotspots around the city, The Buckhorn Exchange on 10th and Osage.

What: Denver Broncos shot Where: Make it at home The sports scene here is a big reason that people come to Colorado, whether they’re dedicated fans or just in it for the tailgates.

If you’re the latter, or former for that matter, you may be pleased to learn that the Broncos have a shot named after them. The ingredients — orange soda, vodka and blue curacao liqueur — come together and transform the team’s colors into a drinkable fan favorite.

Cliff diving is just one of the highlights of Casa Bonita.

What: Casa Bonita Where: 6715 West Colfax Avenue This family-owned Mexican restaurant offers much more than just food. The large pink building, built in 1874, houses a 30-foot waterfall, staged shows featuring cliff divers, a gift shop and an arcade. For afternoon and evening show times visit their website.

photo courtesy of casa bonita

photo courtesy of the buckhorn exchange

Rocky Mountain Oysters are available at Denver’s own Buckhorn Exchange.

Restaurants around campus that accept Flex GRACE CARSON

S

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

odexo-affiliated cafeterias are great for students who want easily-accessible food that comes with their meal plan.

On-campus restaurants are convenient for those who want to spend their meal plan cash.

But what about the students who have money on their Flex account from their parents and want to spend it somewhere off campus? Here are the 19 restaurants off campus that accept Flex cash (and sometimes with a discount).

Beau Jo’s Colorado Style Pizza Home of the Colorado Style Mountain Pie, this restaurant fulfills that occasional pizza craving with flying colors. From pizza layered with meat to gluten-free and vegetarian options, there is something for anyone’s liking. If a student is looking to try a Colorado tradition, Beau Jo’s is known for its honey-crust pizza. Plus, there’s a 15% discount when using flex cash.

Ben & Jerry’s Everybody loves ice cream, but Ben & Jerry’s is especially crave-worthy. Take a break from studying every once in awhile and go indulge in that heavenly Vermont goodness.

Bruegger’s Bagels Who doesn’t enjoy a fresh bagel? Bruegger’s Bagels specializes in fulfilling all bagel needs by making sure their products are always fresh.

Chipotle Chipotle is a popular Mexican grill, but not many people have visited the first Chipotle ever built. Students can spend their Flex allowance on Chipotle while visiting a true historical landmark.

Deli Zone Deli Zone specializes in cravings of all New York Style sandwiches, from Rubens to Philly Cheese Steaks. The restaurant also serves breakfast sandwiches and burritos, and vegetarian items like its well-known Hot Veggie Bomb Sandwich.

Fat Jack’s Supersubs Located on East Evans Ave., this Denver-based sandwich shop never fails to satisfy a student’s hunger with its stacked subs.

Fat Shack Fat Shack has the perfect menu for those study munchies, from burgers topped with mac and cheese to deep fried Twinkies.

Illegal Pete’s Illegal Pete’s specializes in a variety of Mexican food, while focusing a large part of their mission towards helping

local bands and other sectors of the Denver community get the exposure they deserve.

Keith’s Coffee Bar This coffee bar is Russian-themed, and serves organic coffee, pastries and sandwiches.

New to the Denver community, it has become a great place for students to relax and do homework, or simply catch up over Keith’s delicious coffee. The coffee shop is located on S. Downing Street between East Wesley Ave and East Harvard Ave. Little India Voted ‘Best Indian Restaurant’ for 16 consecutive years, Little India has a great deal for DU students. When a student buys one entrée, they get the second entrée of equal or lesser value free. This is valid every week, Sunday through Thursday, and offers free delivery every day of the week. The restaurant is located on South Downing St at East Wesley Ave. Mustard’s Last Stand Mustard’s Last Stand serves classic Chicago style hotdogs and fries, as well as burgers and italian sandwiches. The restaurant also serves vegetarian burgers, hotdogs, chili and more. In fact, it has been rated as serving the best veggie dog by the organization PETA. Noodles & Company Commonly just called “Noodles,” this restaurant offers

many different pasta from around the world.

dishes

Park Burger This casual restaurant specializes in gourmet burgers with the freshest of ingredients in the picturesque and historic Pearl St. neighborhood. Some of the restaurant’s specialty burgers include the Croque Burger (a 1/3 lb. patty with ham, a fried egg and swiss cheese), the Turkey-Bacon-Guac Burger (a 1/3 lb. turkey patty with bacon, guacamole and ranch) and the Veggie Park Burger, made with a homemade veggie patty.

Qdoba Mexican Grill The Mexican Grill that serves everything from smothered burritos to Mexican gumbo.

Sexy Pizza Another offering in the Pearl St. neighborhood that serves delicious pizza, pasta, salads and more. You can order online or stop by for one of the restaurant’s many different options.

Snarf’s Sandwiches Snarf’s Sandwiches all began with a man’s dream to find the world’s finest sandwich: a dream that has been well-accomplished. The shop promises that its award-winning sandwiches are not to be missed.

Spanky’s Roadhouse This sports-focused restaurant has a new special every day, and its happy hour (3 p.m. - 6 p.m.) offers great deals.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2015

DU CLARION

ENTERTAINMENT

21

‘Columbinus’ gets to heart of matter TAMARRA NELSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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he Columbine High School Massacre is a black spot on the history of the U.S. The tragedy, which occurred in April 1999, continues to spur debates of gun control, violence in the media and school bullying. People from the nation’s president to parents at the dinner table have had discussion after discussion, trying to find someone to blame for the event and those like it.

But what people most often forget is that while the shooting held a national context, it also held, and continues to hold, a local one.

Unfortunately, Columbine was not the last shooting to occur in Colorado. With the national frenzy surrounding each one, it can be difficult to remember that at the center of it all are communities who are forever altered.

On Sept. 25, the DU Department of Theatre’s production of “Columbinus,” directed by senior Thomas Lynch, a theatre major from Littleton, Colorado, reminded the audience that the shooting was not only a matter of gun control or violent video games, but also a matter of human beings.

The stage reading began with a single chalkboard at center stage, the word “Columbinus” written on it in all caps, accompanied by nine chairs for each character. Each one was a stereotype, with names like “Perfect,” the pretty girl everyone knows and likes, or “AP,” the straight-A student who isn’t so great at sports. Two characters immediately stood out from the others: “Freak” and “Loner,” played by sophomore theatre majors Daniel Crumrine and Isaiah Adams, didn’t quite fit —not in a neat stereotype and not in their group of classmates. The two are tormented because of it.

The play gets darker as Freak and Loner get angrier, and in Act 2, the outcasts are revealed to be the Columbine school shooters, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. They are both shown coming to terms with their decision to execute their attack, portraying both their rage and what seems like hesitance. In this act, much of the dialogue is taken directly from The New York Times interviews with victims and parents, as well as tapes that the real Harris and Klebold made chronicling their plans.

The production’s climax was a dramatic retelling of the shooting, with the majority of the lines taken straight from the victims’ firsthand accounts.

The cast was wonderfully strong, seamlessly moving between the fiction of the stereotypical characters to the

photo courtesy of du theatre department

DU Theatre students recently staged a reading of “Columbinus,” a play based on the events of the Columbine Massacre.

reality of the victims’ interviews.

Crumrine and Adams were all at once sad, terrifying and despicable in their roles, doing a brilliant job of creating palpable tension in the audience. But what the production does best can be summed up by its director, Thomas Lynch.

At the talkback after the show, Lynch mentioned the play’s intention was not to preach to the audience.

“The purpose of this play is to ask why this tragedy happened, and why shootings continue to happen. Though this is an extremely sensitive topic for people in Colorado, I thought producing this staged reading would be an effective mode of sparking

discussion about the truth of this story and offer some insight into why this happened.”

The show does not push the story in one direction or another, urging the audience to feel sympathy for the shooters or hate the parents that raised them. Instead, it explores all sides of the story, opening the topic up for discussion.

“Columbinus” powerfully ends with each actor quietly walking up to the chalkboard and writing the names of the victims one by one.

The scene brings the play’s message home: that beneath the shuffling of blame, beneath the national news coverage, beneath labels like “Freak” and “Perfect,” these were people. They got up every morning

for school. They worried about tests.

They struggled with fitting in. They had friends. They had parents. They were a community.

image courtesy of theatre in chicago

“Columbinus” helps to spark a discussion.

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DU CLARION

| ENTERTAINMENT

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SEPTEMBER 30,2015

THE VELVETEERS: Q & A JOCELYN ROCKHOLD STAFF WRITER

he Velveteers, a band based out of Boulder and formed by siblings Demi Demitro (vocals/guitar) and John Demitro (drums), has been up to a lot this month, playing numerous shows, releasing merch and working on some music. The rock and roll duo is fairly new, but their sound is distinct—it’s loud, always on the edge of becoming uncontained, but that’s just good rock and roll. The Velveteers had some interesting things to say about their growth as a band.

Q: A:

How did The Velveteers start?

Demi: Well, we started the band last September. I was in an acoustic project. I wanted to do something that was heavier, and this just felt really right.

John: And we’re brother and sister, so...

D: So we’ve known each other for a while.

J: It makes it easy to rehearse and practice.

Q: A:

Q: A:

What bands influence you musically?

D: I grew up listening to The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and a lot of Elvis, so I always had that for an influence. And my brother, John, was always listening to rock and roll, so that’s what I listened photo courtesy of sam keller photography to. Our biggest influences are Queens of Brother-sister duo Demi (guitar) and John Demitro (drums) make up Boulder-based band The Velveteers. the Stone Age, The Kills, Nirvana, Jack White and Elvis.

Can you speak a bit about your Do you have any new music coming? songwriting process?

J: A lot of heavy rock.

How has the local scene helped you?

D: We started being The Velveteers when I was 17 years old, so a lot of the bands have been mentors and kind of older siblings, always giving me advice. Telling us what [to do] and what not to do. Everyone’s really nice.

Q: A:

D: Nothing is too forced. Most songs just come about on their own. I never say “oh I’m going to sit down and write a song right now” or anything like that. Usually, I’ll write stuff and I’ll just bring it in and we’ll jam on it, and we’ll see how it goes.

Q: A:

J: I’ll just add anything.

D: We aren’t gonna say too much about it.

J: We might record some scratch demos.

D: Well we are, but there’s another thing we aren’t gonna tell anybody yet.

J: There will be music soon.

D: I try not to let songs not be written. If you let them sit for a long time, it’s not creative. You have to make a deadline to get stuff done.

Q: A:

Since you’re young, is it difficult playing in the scene?

D: When I was 17 it was worse, because everyone thought I was some random little kid that didn’t know what I was doing. Some venues are hesitant if they want to book you or not. I’m only now really able to play bars since I’m 18. We’ve played at bars where they weren’t gonna let us play and they were gonna kick us out. It’s hard being young, but it’s not really an issue.

J: Being young is a pretty big advantage. We’ve got a lot of time. We’re several years ahead of everybody.

Other bands are much older in the Denver scene.

Q: A: photo courtesy of the velveteers

While being a young band has its disadvantages, The Velveteers are using their relative youth to their advantage.

How would you describe The Velveteers?

D: Gritty, honest.

J: Music.

D: Maybe, I guess.

DU CLARION

JULY S E P T 23, E M2015 BER 30,2015

COLUMN

ENTERTAINMENT | 2 3

‘Scream Queens’ off to a so-so start

Weekly book reviews for readers of all types

‘Rosie Project’ a scientific look at love ABBIE RANDALL

I

STAFF WRITER

t is safe to say that humanity is concerned about what we cannot understand, causing us to explore frontiers, discuss theories and search the past for hints and answers. Some might even venture to say that everything can be explained by science and logic. “The Rosie Project” by Graeme Simsion explores this idea, navigating the boundaries and complications between science, emotion and humanity.

Protagonist Don Tillman is a genetics professor with a few quirks due to his extreme intelligence and social disconnect.

Everything in his life sticks to a strict schedule, planned out to exact minutes, meals and conversations. Attempts at typical dating always go awry, so Don develops a 16-page scientific survey to efficiently find the perfect wife, entrusting his dating life to science and logic. Rosie Jarman fails nearly every expectation set by Don’s questionnaire, but their accidental friendship grows into a whirlwind of events. Don flounders for answers in science, and comes up empty handed as he confronts the complex universe of human emotion.

Simsion is manipulative and clever in how he tells the story of Don and Rosie. This novel is not a typical love story reminiscent of Nicholas Sparks, thanks to the unique storyline and characters developed therein. The novel is told solely through Don’s voice, forcing the reader to understand the way Don processes and reacts to the world around him. Simsion allows Don to be blunt, practical and simply unemotional while still holding a dry sense of humor that keeps the readers’ attention and interest.

Don’s story provides a perspective that allows readers to be comfortable and more willing to fully engage with a somewhat foreign mindset. With Don, readers venture through the innately human tumble of falling in love with the added complication of not knowing how to truly feel emotion. The romance feels real and genuine, reminding readers that while love is elusive and clever, it may be perfectly within reach the whole time, simply waiting to be noticed.

photo courtesy of popsugar.com New horror comedy “Scream Queens” stars Emma Roberts as sorority president Chanel Oberlin and follows a series of murders within the sorority.

JOCELYN ROCKHOLD

O

STAFF WRITER

n Sept. 22, new TV show “Scream Queens” premiered to much anticipation. “Scream Queens,” penned by Ryan Murphy (“Glee,” “American Horror Story”), Ian Brennan (“Glee”) and Brad Falchuk (“Glee,” “American Horror Story”), is based around the notoriously exclusive and fictional Kappa Kappa Tau sorority who, under the order of the dean, must accept any pledge this school year. Obviously, this is going to lead to some tension between the rich, conventionally pretty elites of the sorority and the wannabe “outsiders.”

In addition to these rampant social confrontations, things are even worse for the girls—a devil-masked serial killer is trying to kill them off one-by-one. No one knows who the killer is, but the sorority will literally be dying to find out.

Add in a strong cast composed of notable actresses like Emma Roberts (“We’re the Millers”) as

Chanel, sorority president, and Jamie Lee Curtis (“Halloween”) as Dean Munsch, guests stars such as Nick Jonas (Jonas Brothers) as Boone, fraternity brother, and “Scream Queens” is one compelling show.

The premiere was made up of the first two episodes, titled “Pilot” and “Hell Week.” After watching both, one conclusion could be made: “Scream Queens” is mediocre, but full of potential.

The “Heathers”-influenced show occasionally hits the mark with jokes aimed at social commentary. When Chanel #2 (Chanel can’t even bother to learn the names of her minions), played

by Ariana Grande, texts the serial killer, the scene is deliciously funny and very “Scream”-esque, but fails with some tasteless racial jokes that move far, far past comedy into much more sinister territory (calling the maid “white mammy”—really?).

Stereotypes are also abundant—the show builds off characters like the “sassy black girl” and “rich and white mean girl.”

Tasteless jokes and overused stereotypes greatly affect the quality of the show. “Scream Queens” has the accuracy of a toddler—it hits a few marks but misses others by a landslide.

The tastelessness will certainly push many viewers away, but the overall “American Horror Story” reminiscent content, enigmatic cast and few moments of comedy will keep some coming back every week. There’s something alluring about seeing expensively dressed sorority girls being forcibly, or in some cases, willingly banded together in order to keep a secret and to stay alive. Plus, there’s the question of who the red devil serial killer is, a question that will presumably be answered in the season finale.

So, is it worth watching “Scream Queens”? Despite a soso premiere, don’t rule it out just yet. It’s simply too early to tell. If the writers cool it down with the tasteless jokes and heat it up with more comedic, twisted social commentary, the strong cast will carry the show just fine.

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| ENTERTAINMENT

DU CLARION

SEPTEMBER 30,2015

Fall quarter full of on-campus entertainment

gusto kubiak | clarion

The Lamont School of Music will be putting on numerous shows during the school year, including performances from student choirs, wind enembles and drum ensembles, just to name a few.

in the minds of him and his wife. Performances will be at Byron Theatre in the Newman Center.

CLARION STAFF DU’s Lamont School of Music always has events, ensembles and concerts. Upcoming events rom another successful Discoveries throughout fall quarter include performances by Orientation to the grand inauguration student choirs, bands and ensembles, of the chancellor, DU has had a great like the Lamont Wind Ensemble and start this year. Hopefully, students Flo’s Underground. More information continue to strengthen the community and about which ensembles are playing enjoy the opportunities that this campus has and when can be found on their website. to offer. Be sure to O n pay attention to all Oct. 17, the flyers, tables, L a m o nt emails and shoutis hostouts, because DU ing a full has a wide array day of of entertainment e v e n t s events to come. about hip Denver is full courtesy of the lamont school of music hop and of theater, so be The Lamont School of Music will be performing “Guys & Dolls” this fall. its sursure to not miss rounding out on any shows. culture.

Seven Denver hip hop artists Besides the discounted tickets for the awe-inwill be attending, and there will be a spiring shows at the Denver Center for Performdiscussion about hip hop and its role ing Arts, check out the shows on campus this in social justice in the afternoon.

The quarter. From Oct. 15-25, the DU Department day will cap off with a concert in the of Theatre is putting on “Bad Jews,” a comedy evening by Hip-Hop Colorado. about three cousins’ explosive argument after From Nov. 5-8, the school of music their grandfather’s funeral. Performances will will be performing Frank Loesser’s be at JMAC Studios. “Two Rooms,” playing “Guys and Dolls,” a classic musical from Nov. 5-15, tells the story of a man held from 1950 about high stakes gambles hostage and the imaginary conversations held

TARYN ALLEN AND MONICA MCFADDEN

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and seduction. Tickets are already available online and cost anywhere from $11-30.

Pay attention to upcoming seminars, shows, events and opportunities on campus—there’s truly something for everyone.

FREAKY FAST! FREAKY GOOD!

®

SERIOUS DELIVERY!

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TO FIND THE LOCATION NEAREST YOU VISIT JIMMYJOHNS.COM connor w. davis | clarion

Ensembles from the Lamont School of Music will be putting on numerous shows during the fall quarter.

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