DU Clarion Volume 121, Issue 7

‘VIKINGS’ NEW SEASON OPENS WITH CLASH | Page 10 University of Denver student newspaper since 1899

Vol. 121, Issue 7

feb. 26, 2014

www.duclarion.com

Residence hall may offer gender-neutral restroom by brandon tate Senior Reporter

Before the end of the winter quarter, four members of the Social Justice Living and Learning Community (SJLLC) will attempt to convert one of two women’s bathrooms on the SJLLC floor of JohnsonMcFarlane Hall (JMAC) into a genderneutral bathroom.

The initiative was started by first-year students Cassidy Ammerman, Kirsten Wilshire, Kade Wilson and Larcy Brooks as an assigned class project with the SJLLC. The bathroom has its own rules listed outside the SJLLC hall.

“The thing about the bathroom is that it is creating a safe space on our campus,” said Wilson. “There’s an idea that people who are transgendered feel uncomfortable going into a bathroom that’s designated as male or female, and a lot of times face violence for going into a bathroom they identify with but their physical gender

doesn’t match. [This] creates a safe space for anyone to go in and use the restroom because it’s a basic human need.”

A gender-neutral bathroom is a public bathroom space in which people of any gender may use freely, without facing repercussions normally associated with using single-gendered bathrooms.

Wilson said it could be possible to have such bathrooms in every residence hall on campus eventually.

She added that there is a petition the group has used to gain support for the bathroom, with a question asking if students would be comfortable using the bathroom. According to Wilshire, only one signature has gone against the initiative.

However, some JMAC residents were indifferent to the project.

“It’s an area of JMAC we don’t frequent,” said first-year student Logan Williams. “I think it’s a strange concept.”

Williams’ roommate, Danny Johnson

is interested to see the restroom in action.

“I think it’s an interesting change of pace,” said first-year student Johnson. “I’m not really for or against it, but it’ll be interesting to see how it plays out.”

Some residents of other residence halls however felt the project would be good for the university.

“I think if it goes through in JMAC, it could go through in any residence hall,” said junior Sam Korea. “I have a lot of friends who identify as transgendered and I think it’s good that it relieves them of the pressure from having to choose between two distinct groups.”

SJLLC Director Catherine Orsborn stated this is not the first time a push for a gender-neutral bathroom has been attempted at DU. “It’s come up a few times but this is the first time students decided to take it on and make it a group project,” said Orsborn. “They’ve been working on it

since the fall and I feel it’s gotten more complicated as it’s gone on because they realized how many things they have to do to actually make it happen. They see this as a way to educate JMAC and the broader DU population on gender issues, gender norms and such.”

Orsborn reinforced that carrying out the project has been entirely student-led, with no involvement from LLC staff or Housing and Residential Education (HRE).

Ammerman stated the main challenges of the project have been reaching out to people for more involvement, as well as “getting people to understand the educational purposes of our campaign.”

Eventually, the students will be required to present the project to DU’s Board of Trustees for further evaluation.

Anyone who is interested in supporting the project or has questions about it can contact its members at dugenderneutral@ gmail.com for more information.

DU politicos duke it out CC claims Gold Pan title Staff Writer

Last Tuesday, Feb. 18, the DU College Republicans and DU Democrats held their first formal debate since October 2012, with DU Debate Team participating for the first time.

The debate was held in the Davis Auditorium with approximately 40 people in attendance as three representatives from each side debated the Affordable Care Act (referred to by some as “Obamacare”), the minimum wage and long-term unemployment benefits.

Peter Cal, Roderick O’ Dorisio and Kelsey Betz argued for the Republican side, while Gabe Rusk, Chelsea Warren and Connor Everson represented the Democrat side.

Cal and O’Dorisio are members of College Republicans, while Warren and Everson are members of DU Democrats; Rusk and Betz argued on behalf of their respective sides and are members of the DU Debate Team. The debate was moderated by the presidents for the two clubs, Alex Johnson of the College Republicans and Trevor Fifer of the DU Democrats.

Each party was given the opportunity to present an opening argument for three minutes followed by eight minutes of cross-examination and a three-minute closing argument from each side.

The College Republicans won the coin toss and chose to speak first.

The opening question asked whether the Affordable Care Act has a positive effect on Americans. Democrats and

Republicans were split on this issue.

O’Dorisio presented the Republican argument and stressed the idea of individual rights.

“Nothing is more personal than health,” he said.

He also accused Obamacare of “reducing the public from free citizens to cowards” and said it will make us a nation of takers.

Warren offered the Democratic rebuttal for the issue, in which she said the Affordable Care Act is “positive for America’s society” and “health care is bigger than just you, we have to take care of society as a whole and invest in our future.”

In closing, O’Dorisio compared Obamacare to old wine in new bottles.

Warren rebutted by saying, “The Affordable Care Act is a damn good wine.”

The next question of the debate was whether or not the government should raise minimum wage.

Everson proposed a plan to raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10.

“Americans are earning less and working harder than at any other point in our nation’s history,” said Everson.

Cal responded with specific examples of how jobs were lost throughout history when governments raised minimum wage.

He stated that the minimum wage should be chosen by local governments or municipalities because the cost of living differs for different places. For example, he said, the minimum wage in cities with a high cost of living, such as New York, should be higher than in cities where it is relatively low, such as Albuquerque.

SEE campus, PAGE 2

The Clarion dives into Denver’s hippest happy hours LIFESTYLES | Page 6

QUOTABLE

by logan baker

gusto kubiak

| clarion

Senior forward Gabe Levin charges down the ice, flanked by two Colorado College players in the first game of the series on Friday, Feb. 22, in which DU fell to CC 3-2.

by sawyer d’argonne Staff Writer

It was a very disappointing weekend for the Pioneers and their fans as they dropped two games to rival Colorado College (CC), relinquishing the prestigious Gold Pan in the process.

Friday’s game took place at Magness Arena, where the CC Tigers were able to edge out the Pios 3-2. The series continued Saturday night in Colorado Springs, where CC once again defeated

Denver by a score of 3-1. The two losses leave the Pioneers with a 14-12-6 record on the season with an 8-9-3 mark in conference play.

The Tigers’ wins move them up to 6-18-6 with a 6-9-5 record in conference play.

The Gold Pan, a traveling trophy awarded to the winner of the DU/CC season series, has changed hands in each of the past three years, with Denver winning in 2011 and 2013.

“She’s very musical; she thought of it as a dance with the hill.”

LIFESTYLES | Page 6

SEE in, PAGE 15

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number of Chancellors in dU’s 150year history

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Feb. 26, 2014

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Student sustains injuries on campus by clarion staFF On Monday, Feb. 3, first-year English major Alex Aghishian was transported from campus to the hospital for injuries she sustained after falling on a patch of ice on campus.

The accident occurred when Alghishian was walking from class to her room in Johnson-Macfarlane (JMAC) hall. According to Alghishian, the incident occurred around 10 a.m. on a stretch of sidewalk between JMAC and Nelson Hall.

“It was just ice and more ice and I slipped and fell,” she said. “I felt the pain just shoot up my back, and I felt my spine crack a little.”

Alghishian reported not being able to move her legs for at least five minutes after the fall.

“When I was on the ground I couldn’t move my legs,” said Alghishian.

“I remember being horrified that I could be paralyzed for life.”

She said some of the members of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity helped her after she slipped, and they contacted the Department of Campus Safety (DCS) shortly thereafter. DCS then contacted paramedics.

“I couldn’t move, so [DCS] contacted the paramedics, and the paramedics came, and I was in the hospital by 10:45 a.m.,” said Alghishian.

At the hospital, Alghishian says X-rays revealed a compression fracture at the bottom of her spine.

Alghishian re-visited the emergency

u s g

room on Saturday, Feb. 15, due to the pain she was still experiencing after the fall. She said she will be visiting a spine specialist to address lingering issues related to the incident and that she will likely need to complete physical therapy after a six-week healing period.

“We are sorry the student is still feeling the effects of their fall,” said Department of Campus Safety (DCS) Sergeant Stephen Banet on Feb. 18. “When our officers notice areas that are in need of special attention, no matter if it is ice, snow or broken glass, our officers routinely notify the grounds department so they are aware.”

He further encouraged students to be mindful of their surroundings, especially during icy weather conditions.

“I would suggest that all community members be aware of ground conditions as they are walking and to take reasonable precautions,” said Banet.

Alghishian said that she considered contacting DU Disability Services after her fall, but ultimately decided to just talk with her professors about the issue.

She took her midterms a week late, but says she feels her professors have not been as accommodating as they could be of her injury.

She said the lack of accommodation from her teachers has also upset her parents.

“I don’t think the school has handled it well at all,” she said. “My parents are frustrated with the school.”

However, Alghishian said she does not plan to contact the school or raise the issue further in any other way.

u P D A t e s

Check here for weekly updates from the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) Key Notes from Feb. 18, 2014 1. Chair of DUPB discussed an on campus Mardi Gras event planned for March 4.

2. Chair of Communications Cameron Hickert addressed the issue of having a student representative on the DU Board of Trustees. This is in the preliminary phases.

3. Secretary of Recreation Jordanne Kniss announced that construction will continue on the soccer fields when there are 10 consecutive days over 40 degrees Farenheit.

4. The Senate Affairs Committee announced that USG will be unable to move its meetings to Anderson Academic Commons this quarter due to scheduling conflicts.

Corrections From Feb. 19, 2014 Last week’s story, “Denver Restaurant Week adds winter dates,” should have been entitled “Denver Restaurant Week adds spring dates.”

We sincerely regret this error.

Readers wishing to submit corrections, or those concerned about the paper’s journalistic integrity, may contact Editor-in-Chief Alex Johnson at alexander.johnson@du.edu.

Student organizations hold first debate in two years there applying for jobs and attempting to better themselves,” said Betz.

“How exactly will companies Rusk responded to Betz’s statement, finance a raise to $10.10 without having saying citizens would use the proposed to cut jobs?” asked O’Dorisio during 150-week period in which unemploycross examination. ment benefits would “History has shown apply to better thema raise in minimum wage selves and get an eduis followed by increases cation. He argued that in consumer spending without the extra weeks and an increase in revewith benefits, unemnue for those businesses,” ployed people would reresponded Everson. enter the working world The final question in entry-level positions of the debate addressed that would not benefit extending unemploythe economy. ment benefits past the Overall, it seemed current 99-week coverlike the night belonged age period. to the Democrats. The In her opening stateapplause throughout ment, Betz said extendthe night seemed to ing the length in which Kelsey Betz, lean left. Both sides unemployment ben- College Republicans defended their arguefits are offered would ment well but the team encourage unemployed of Rusk, Warren and people to delay looking Everson had the upper for work. hand when the night drew to a close.

“Raising benefit length would The debate ended with both club be dangerous because it would make presidents encouraging attendees to join people okay with being unemployed and their clubs. More information for each relying on the government instead of out group can be found on OrgSync.

Continued from page 1

“Raising benefit length would be dangerous because it would make people okay with being unemployed.”

For more details on the aforementioned bills and resolutions, please visit news.duclarion.com/category/usg.

USG meetings are held every Tuesday night in the Driscoll Gallery.

They are open to the public.

Information courtesy of the USG

gusto kubiak|clarion

Connor Everson of the DU Democrats speaks on the minimum wage during last Tuesday’s debate.

Wednesday 51º |30 º

Thursday 54º | 33 º

Five Day Forecast Friday 48º | 26 º

Saturday 38º | 19 º

Sunday 38º | 19 º

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Feb. 26, 2014

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Student Orgs get the spotlight for a week by gigi peccolo and brandon tate Clarion Staff Last week, DU hosted its first annual Student Org Week in an effort help student organizations grow and develop, according to the DU Student Activities Facebook page. The week included four events: the Reverse Career Fair, a P.E.A.K. (Participate, Enhance, Activate, Know) workshop, the Winter Pioneer Carnival and an Advisor/Leadership Training.

Reverse Career Fair On Tuesday, Feb. 18, over 30 student organizations participated in the Reverse Career Fair, held from 7-8 p.m. in the Driscoll Gallery. The reverse career fair put the employers in the role of students, approaching each organization’s table to introduce themselves and their business. Over 25 different employers were represented at the fair.

“It’s a fabulous opportunity to showcase DU groups,” said Executive Director of Career Services Sue Hinkin.

Several students said the format made talking to employers easier.

“It’s a less intimidating way to network and to meet employers and to establish connections,” said second-year student Molly Mosenthal, a member of the DU Environmental Team. “It’s not as scary

as walking into a room and not knowing anything about half the employers there.”

Senior Chelsea Korski, member of Up All Night, said she also found the event helpful.

“It’s a great way just to be able to talk about the transferable skills that you acquired being in a club or an organization,” added Korski. “It’s kind of not as intimidating compared to when you go to a table at a career … There’s kind of already something established to talk about. They’re asking you questions which makes it nicer rather than you trying to think up a question based on the brochure you’re looking at.”

P.E.A.K. Workshop On Friday, Feb. 20, University Programming Support (UPS) hosted a “Smarketing 101” workshop, aimed at helping student organizations better promote themselves and their events on campus.

“I feel like here it’s kind of a challenge to get people to your event sometimes, especially when the Driscoll Bridge is the most effective way, sometimes the only primary way, for organizations to market their event,” said junior Ryan Huning, a member of UPS. “Giving organizations more tools and more knowledge when it comes to marketing in general, ‘smarketing,’ will lead them to have more successful events.”

Representatives from

GlobeMed, DUET and other organizations discussed strategies to better “smarket” their event, or “smart market.”

“What your event’s about should line up with [your marketing] design,” said Huning.

Second-year student Julia Chun, a member of UPS, said the workshops are a response to increased interest from student organizations.

“They’re topics that students have reached out to us about, what they’re looking for and ways to make their events better,” said Chun.

UPS is a branch of DUPB “designed to help other organizations be successful,” according to Huning.

“We want to increase student life here on campus,” said Huning. “We want events that we’re aligned with in our values as a student organization to be carried out through these events that we participate in.”

Student Org Fair On Wednesday, Feb. 19, DU Student Activities hosted a winter student organizations fair on the Driscoll Bridge to promote various clubs and groups within the DU community, similar to the Pioneer Carnival held during fall orientation. However, this was the first time one was held in the winter quarter.

According to Graduate Assistant for Student Activities Suzanne Medwid, the event was organized in order to allow student-led clubs

and groups another chance they Evans. “We usually get about 40 may not normally have to recruit people to come to our shows, so otherwise during the year. She that’s like a 20 percent bump for said Student Activities chose to us. [We want] people to sign up hold the event on the bridge due for our group because we want to the high amount of student them to audition themselves. traffic there.

Improv is a really good time to “We felt like a lot of student watch but it’s even more fun to do, organizations don’t have a lot of and anyone can do it.”

New student organizations different avenues to really share their mission and share what appeared at the fair as well.

National co-ed they’re doing on business fratercampus,” said nity Alpha Phi Medwid, “so Omega, whose we gave them a table was led by place to all come members Britogether and gitte Kirchner, advertise what Elspeth Sweatthey’re doing and man and Celia to attract more Smits, opened members.

On a new chapter top of that, we on DU this acawanted to help demic year. build community “We need for student orgs so new members people who aren’t who are passionin student orgs ate about comcan see who they munity service are on campus.”

Stephanie Cichocki, According and who want to to Medwid, 22 Ticket Office get out there and student organiza- Student Coordinator do new things,” tions participated said Sweatman. in the event, and an estimated 200 “People sometimes don’t pay students passed through the area. attention to our group, and One of the student organi- others, but today worked out zations at the event was improv well for us.” comedy group Skintight OutMedwid finally stated Sturage, whose booth was tabled by dent Activities will not seek to members Preston Evans and Dani hold another student organizaKoelling. Both Evans and Koelling tion fair in the spring quarter. said they benefited from having a However, the winter fair will winter organizations fair. be moved to the beginning of “We’ve had at least eight winter quarter for the next acapeople sign up for improv,” said demic year.

“We wanted to help build community for student orgs so people can see who they are on campus.”

BIG Birthday Event will celebrate DU’s 150 years by isabel mccan Sernior Reporter This quarter’s “The Big Event” will be put on for the third time by the Student Life and the Department of Student Activities and will host an array of activities for students, faculty, alumni and all of the DU community to participate in. It will take place Friday, Feb. 28 from 8 p.m. - 1 a.m. on campus, with activities stretching throughout the Ritchie Center, into Sturm Hall and all the way over to the Driscoll Student Center.

According to Assistant Director of the Driscoll Student Center Francisco Chacon, this quarter’s Big Event will be bigger and better than ever before.

“It is really a celebration event, and this year’s scale is much larger. Compared to when we first put it on last spring, it has really grown substantially,” said Chacon.

Some might be questioning why the promotional banners, posters and flyers around campus for the event read “The Big Birthday Event.” The name was changed to mark the official kickoff for the DU sesquicentennial founder’s week activities and a celebration of 150 years of the stu-

dent experience at DU, according to Chacon.

“This is a very special Big Event, so much so that we have gone through and re-branded it,” said Chacon.

This quarter’s event will feature activities such as: a zip line, laser tag, caricature, rock climbing, horse-drawn carriage rides, midnight snacks, casino, a hot cocoa bar, a comedy show, ice-

carving demonstrations, movie screenings and other various activities throughout the night.

One activity even features giant water balls students can enter into and roll around on the water. Students can participate in any and all of the activities for a whopping zero dollars and zero cents. That is right, the entire event is completely free.

Many of the activities are sponsored by student organizations that offer volunteers to help the nights activities operate smoothly. Some activities will be sponsored by academic departments, such as the hot cocoa bar

sponsored by DU Alumni Relations. According to Chacon, there are about 12 different academic departments involved in helping volunteer and run the activities throughout the night. Prior to this quarter, only undergraduate student organizations were able to sponsor activities, but with the expanding range of the event, more and more facets of DU are getting involved with volunteer-

ing and sponsorship.

“We see that there is value in bringing organizations together for a common purpose. We are really hoping to promote collaborative efforts throughout this event and further into the student experience,” said Chacon.

Individual students are also able to volunteer their time to help out with the event if they would like. Chacon also noted that this quarter they have made a special effort to reach out to graduate students and promote involvement in that category of the DU community as well.

Chacon mentioned that

there are more than a few reasons that Student Life goes through the effort of putting on a largescale late night event such as this for students. They articulate these motivations in their mission statement.

According to the mission statement, the purpose of the Big Event is to provide a vibrant event that is an alcohol-free alternative activity for students, instill a sense of school spirit and pioneer pride for attendees b r i n g groups together for a common purpose by prov iding meaningful programm i n g opportunities for student organizations and campus departments, develop community on campus and provide service learning opportunities.

“One of the key reasons that we initiated this event was that we were seeing a significant rise of alcohol-related incidents on campus that was alarming. With events like this were trying to bitby-bit create a late-night culture that students are able to go to comfortable events that don’t have alcohol at them,” said Chacon.

For more information about volunteering at or attending the Big Event visit its website or Facebook page.

Featured Activities Fire & Ice Winter Wonderland Horse Drawn Carriage Rides Festival of Lights Zip Line Laser Tag Casino Night Dance Party Athletic Competitions Feature Films Nationally Touring Comedian Midway Carnival Chill Out Lounge ...and much, much more

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Feb. 26, 2014

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Student Advisory Council officers announced AHSS hosts elections and Alumni/Employer Tell All by makayla cisneros Contributing Writer On Thursday, Feb. 20, the Department of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) announced the winning officers for the 2014-2015 Student Advisory Council (SAC). These included: Kristen Powell for president, Gabrielle Healy for vice president of media and communications, Neda Kikhia for vice president of alumni relations, Hannah Szabo for vice president of programming and events, and Charlotte Brasch and Zachary Sanfillipo for vice presidents of finance.

The election process began about a month ago with an email sent to AHSS students calling for nominations of potential officers, according to Kristin Kemp, director of community relations for AHSS. “AHSS students could submit their own names or names of their peers for officer positions,” said Kemp.

“After this, all AHSS students submitted applications and then were voted on by their peers.”

The voting was open to students for one week.

According to the SAC website, the council creates events to build relationships between AHSS students and

courtesy of kristin kemp

Students interact with each other and alumni at the AHSS Alumni and Employers Tell All event last week.

faculty, increase awareness of AHSS student identity, generate feedback for events and improve student and university spirit.

The election announcements were made in conjunction with an AHSS Alumni and Employers Tell All event on Thursday, which featured alumni speakers giving advice about how

P o l i c e Parking Violation Monday, Feb. 17, 2014 at 12:43 p.m. – While on routine patrol, a Parking Enforcement Officer (PEO) contacted a student in lot O who was misusing an ADA parking placard. Because the placard had not been issued by the state to the student, the PEO confiscated it.

Criminal Trespass Monday, Feb. 17, 2014 at 2:11 p.m. – While on routine patrol, a DCS officer was flagged down by a student who stated that there was a suspicious party in the area. The officer contacted the party in question and determined that they had been previously removed from campus.

The Denver Police Department (DPD) was called to the scene where they arrested the party in question.

Fire Monday, Feb. 17, 2014 at 2:14 p.m. – DCS responded to a report of a fire burning just outside of the Chambers Center for the Advancement of Women. Upon arrival at the scene, officers observed several contract employees extinguishing a burning shrub. The contracted employees stated that the fire was caused by a welding spark that had contacted the shrub in question. The Denver Fire Department (DFD) responded to the scene, ensured that the fire was properly distinguished and departed.

Theft Monday, Feb. 17, 2014 at 4:58 p.m. – DCS took a report from a student regarding a laptop that had been stolen from the Daniels College of Business. The student stated that they had forgotten their personal laptop in a study room for less than one hour and that when they returned to the study room, it was missing.

Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014 at 8:19 p.m. – DCS was called to the Ritchie Wellness Center regarding a theft. Upon arrival, they met with a Coors Fitness Center member who stated that their son had left their wallet in

AHSS students can utilize their liberal arts degrees.

“It might not be completely obvious that you can become an HR consultant with an English degree,” said Kemp. “The purpose [of the event] was to demonstrate the varied job opportunities after graduating.”

Speakers included two alumni:

Susan McIntosh and Scott Beckett.

McIntosh acquired her B.A. in English in 1987 and her M.S. in Linguistics.

She currently works as a senior manager consultant at Sogeti U.S. According to their website, Sogeti provides business services in order to meet the needs of corporations in regards to the latest technologies.

The Tell All also featured Scott Beckett, who earned his B.A. in English in 1996 and his M.A. in Education in 1998. He currently works as a partner with Insigniam. According to their website, Insigniam works with large organizations in order to improve their management.

The Alumni and Employer Tell All began with the alumni explaining how they got to their current positions, and it was then followed by a questionand-answer session.

The event was part of a weeklong Courses to Careers event series focused on giving AHSS students the tools they need to utilize their degrees, according to Kemp. The series also included a preparatory session for students on how to speak to employers at a Career Fair, hosted in Gates Field House on Wednesday, Feb. 19.

“Tuesday’s event was focusing on how to speak to employers at the Career Fair,” said Kemp. “[AHSS] students don’t always know that employers are looking for students with liberal arts degrees.”

r e p o r t

the Gates Field House and that when they returned cash was missing from the wallet.

Friday, Feb. 21, 2014 at 2:32 p.m. – DCS responded to a call regarding the theft of textbooks from the Sturm College of Law. Upon arrival at the scene, officers contacted a student who stated that they had left the books unattended for approximately three minutes and that when they returned the books were gone.

Narcotics Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014 at 10:27 p.m. – DCS responded to a call regarding narcotics paraphernalia that had been found inside a residential room in Centennial Towers. Upon arrival at the scene, officers confiscated the paraphernalia and made contact with the student whose room the paraphernalia was found in.

Friday, Feb. 21, 2014 at 12:22 a.m. – While conducting a routine patrol in JohnsonMcFarlane Hall, a DCS officer noticed a DU student in possession of marijuana and alcohol. DCS proceeded to confiscate the contraband.

Friday, Feb. 21, 2014 at 6:08 p.m. – DCS responded to a call regarding a student who appeared to be under the influence of narcotics in Centennial Halls. Upon arrival at the scene, officers contacted the student in question and called for paramedics. The student was combative towards paramedics who called for DPD assistance. The student was transported by paramedics to Porter Hospital.

Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014 at 1:49 a.m. – While on routine patrol, DCS officers identified the odor of marijuana emanating from a residential room in Centennial Halls. Officers were admitted to the room in question by two students who admitted to use of marijuana and relinquished possession of a small amount to officers.

Monday, Feb. 24, 2014 at 1:20 a.m. – While on routine patrol, DCS officers identified the odor of marijuana emanating from a residential room in Centennial Halls.

Officers were admitted to the room in question by four students, one of whom relinquished possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia to the officers.

Unwanted Party Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014 at 10:53 p.m. – DCS responded to a call regarding two unknown males who were looking through unattended property in the Sturm College of Law. Upon arrival at the scene, officers contacted a staff member who stated they had seen two parties looking through a bag and when they noticed the staff member, they fled the scene.

Disturbing the Peace Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014 at 7:54 a.m. – A DU staff member contacted DCS regarding a loud party that had occurred on Feb. 15, in which a resident in the neighborhood called to file a complaint. It was confirmed by DCS that a DU student lived in the house in question and was cited for Disturbing the Peace.

Lost Property Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014 at 4:10 p.m. – DCS responded to Facilities to take a report regarding lost property. Upon arrival at the scene, DCS met with a DU staff member who reported that they had lost a set of keys at Centennial Halls on Feb. 19.

Detox Friday, Feb. 21, 2014 at 12:23 a.m. – DCS was contacted by DPD regarding a DU student who was extremely intoxicated at an off campus location. The student in question was cited for underage intoxication and transported to Porter Hospital by paramedics.

Friday, Feb. 21, 2014 at 2:12 a.m. – DCS responded to a Johnson-McFarlane Hall regarding the odor of marijuana in a residential room. Upon arrival at the scene, officers made contact with a DU student. The student denied smoking marijuana, but appeared to be intoxicated.

Due to their level of intoxication, paramedics were called to the scene and

the student in question was transported to Porter Hospital.

Saturday, Feb. 21, 2014 at 12:20 a.m. – DCS responded to a call regarding an intoxicated, unconscious student near the intersection of South Josephine Street and East Evans Avenue. Upon arrival at the scene, officers contacted paramedics because they were unable to wake the student. Upon being awoken, the student became combative and DPD was called to the scene. The student was transported to Porter Hospital by paramedics.

Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014 at 2:13 p.m. – While on routine patrol, DCS officers contacted four students in a common area of Centennial Halls who were all under the influence of alcohol. Officers determined that three of the four students were too intoxicated to remain safely on campus. The three students were transported by DPD to Denver Cares.

Monday, Feb. 24, 2014 at 1:41 a.m. – DCS responded to a call regarding an intoxicated student on the Barton Lacrosse Field. Upon arrival at the scene, officers contacted the student who fled the scene on foot. Officers eventually contacted the student and, due to their level of intoxication, called for Denver Cares. The student was transported by DPD to Denver Cares.

Monday, Feb. 24, 2014 at 2:24 a.m. – DCS responded to a call regarding an intoxicated student in Nelson Hall. Upon arrival at the scene, officers contacted the student in question and determined that they were too intoxicated to remain safely on campus. Paramedics were called to the scene where they transported the student in question to Porter Hospital.

medical Assist Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014 at 2:20 a.m. – DCS responded to a call regarding a student in need of medical assistance in Centennial Halls. Upon arrival at the scene, officers contacted the student and called for paramedics. The student declined transport and said they would ask a friend to transport them to Porter Hospital.

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Feb. 26, 2014

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SUSCOM grows and blooms by carli hansen Assistant News Editor

or twice per quarter. During the rest of the quarter, sustainability groups meet on their own and check in with Powell On Thursday, Feb. 20, the USG or his successor, third-year student Sustainability Committee (SUSCOM) Wyeth Seidel. Then SUSCOM sends held their first major meeting of the out weekly email updates. year with 40 members in attendance.

“Nobody needs to go to more At the meeting, SUSCOM Chair Daniel meetings,” said Powell. “It’s better to Powell briefed the committee on the use that time for the projects instead progress SUSCOM projects have made of sitting around updating each other.” in the last 20 weeks. The committee With the new model, SUSCOM also brainstormed projects for the rest passes a budget for each project at the of this year and next year. beginning of the quarter instead of “Last night, the idea was to bring voting on every expense. everybody back together and brainAnother change to the SUSCOM storm,” said Powell. “The theme was bylaws allows the current chair to this: there are forces constraining what choose their own successor. The chair is possible, but the biggest constraint is no longer needs to be a USG senator, our perception of what but they do need to be a is possible.” member of USG. Powell According to selected Seidel to be his Powell, nine out of 43 successor after working projects on this year’s with him on sustainproject list have been ability initiatives. completely finished.

“He’s definitely The rest of the projects going to get a lot of are currently in-progstuff done. He’s got big ress and most of them plans,” said Powell. are almost finished.

According to Daniel Powell, These projects Powell, some of the address issues on Chair of SUSCOM plans for next year campus such as bicyinclude introducing a cling and transportation, Greek Life solar power golf cart on campus, crecomposting and recycling, gardening, ating more community gardens and solar energy, divestment from fossil hosting more farmers markets. fuels, sustainable food, water conservaAs part of SUSCOM, Powell is tion and hosting sustainability events. also a member of the DU Center for Starting last fall, Powell arranged Sustainability, which falls under the for SUSCOM to become the umbrella Provost’s Sustainability Council. group for all “green” student groups, On Wednesday, Feb. 19, Sustainincluding the DU Environmental Team ability Coordinator Chad King sent a (DUET), Divest DU and Students for university-wide email asking members Sustainable Food. of the DU community to fill out a “Sustainability in terms of student survey about sustainability at DU. activity has been fractured in past “The DU Center for Sustainability years,” said Powell. “The idea was to is revising the university’s sustainbring all those groups together under ability plan that outlines key goals and one group. Especially with SUSCOM milestones to help our campus reach having the funding, it made sense. carbon neutrality by 2050,” said King Now it’s more streamlined and better in the email. for everybody. The idea is to work less Powell said the sustainability plan and do more.” was last updated five years ago, but SUSCOM receives funding from they are moving to a three-year model. university fees, according to Powell.

“We’re trying to get opinions Every undergraduate student pays a across campus that will be incorpo$16 green student fee as part of his or rated in the three-year plan,” said her student activity fees. This means Powell. “If 75 percent of students want the total budget for SUSCOM varies something, based on that survey, it will based on student enrollment, but this be a lot easier for us to push it through year it is roughly $90,000. with the new chancellor.”

This year, Powell also decided Powell ultimately expressed his not to have standing weekly meet- enthusiasm for the direction SUSCOM ings, because he did not think they is taking. accomplished enough. He said the new “It’s in good hands and they have a model was for SUSCOM to meet once lot of great activities planned,” he said.

“The biggest constraint is our perception of what is possible.”

u p c o m i n g wednesday Last Day to Add or Drop Classes: Approval Required This date is not applicable to non-degree, special status students or students at the College of Law, Graduate Tax Program, Women’s College or University College.

Nonprofit Speaker Panel 12-1 p.m.

Law 125 Discussing public interest career opportunities in environmental law, juvenile law, human rights, and more.

Friends of Chamber Music Piano Series presents Lise de la Salle 7:30 p.m.

Newman Center for the Performing Arts Before the age of 20, French pianist Lise de la Salle was already recognized by Gramophone as “a talent in a million.”

She has performed with the New York Philharmonic as well as the Colorado, Chicago, Los Angeles and Boston Symphonies. “Ms. de la Salle is eminently musical; she offers depth as well as virtuosity.” – The New Yorker DU Jazz Faculty Combo 7:30 p.m.

Newman Center for the Performing Arts An ensemble of the finest jazz musicians around, who all happen to be Lamont faculty members, perform a cool evening of jazz.

Improv Show 8:30-10 p.m.

Lindsay Auditorium, Sturm Hall Join Skintight Outrage for a free biweekly on-campus improv comedy show! It’ll be a ton of fun; bring your friends!

Thursday Students Can No Longer Add or Drop Classes for this Quarter This date is not applicable to non-degree, special status students or students at the College of Law, Graduate Tax Program, Women’s College or University College.

“Actions, Agents and Causes”

by Dr. Michael Brent 9:15 a.m.

Sturm Hall 286 There will be a presentation on “Actions, Agents and Causes” by Dr. Michael Brent, postdoctoral lecturer at Carthage College and candidate for tenure track position in philosophy at DU.

e v e n t s International Marketing Panel 12:30-1:45 a.m.

Daniels College of Business, Room 105 Listen to five top professionals in International Marketing discuss the current issues of the industry, things to consider, things to avoid and how to reach a non-U.S. audience.

NAGPRA from the Tribe and Museum Perspective 4:00 p.m.

Sturm Hall 286 There will be a presentation on NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection Repatriation Act) with Theresa Pasqual, director of the Pueblo of Acoma Historic Preservation Office, and Chip ColwellChanthaphonh, anthropology curator at Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

DUPB Film - Jobs 8-10:30 p.m.

Davis Auditorium, Sturm Hall This week the DUPB film will be JOBS. Friday Flo’s Underground 5 p.m.

Williams Recital Salon Lamont School of Music Jazz Combos.

Free admission.

Nectar House Cooking Class 7:15-10 p.m.

Nectar House Cafe DUVVS will be hosting a raw vegan cooking class with Nectar House Cafe! The menu will include Creamy Corn Chowder, Pad Thai and Chocolate Truffles! It is only $15 and you get to enjoy the fruits of your labor when we are done!

The BIG Event 8 p.m. - 1 a.m.

Driscoll Student Center, Sturm Hall, and Ritchie Center The BIG Event is a major, late-night event for students, faculty, staff, alumni and special guests. It is the official kick-off event for the sesquicentennial founder’s week activities and a celebration of 150 years of the student experience at the University of Denver. All members of the University of Denver community are welcome to attend. sunday Oscar Night 4-9 p.m.

Driscoll Underground A black-tie optional event that will include food, games and prizes in celebration of the 2014 Oscar awards.

All seniors now required to take senior exit surveys by keller minton Contributing Writer Seniors will be required to complete and turn in an exit survey to graduate, in a new development for DU. Some seniors will also be required to participate in an exit interview.

Each department assigns their own exit survey to the seniors; it is not a general survey administered to the entire senior student body.

Director of Academic Assessment Robert Flaherty explained the reasoning behind the surveys. “[These] surveys are used by individual departments to gain information about student learning and student experiences that they can use to improve their programs,” he said.

It is new to mandate that each department assign a survey, but the idea itself is not completely untried, according the Flaherty. Some departments have been a history of carrying out exit surveys.

“Many programs have had an exit survey or senior interview program for some time,” said Flaherty.

Departments trying to gain a more in-depth look into the experiences of the students have resorted to more personal one-on-one interviews with the student.

“For smaller departments, I think that an interview process provides more in-depth information, and I would recommend that process,” said Flaherty.

Flaherty also commented on why he felt there was a renaissance of these surveys now.

“One reason why there may be a growing number of departments with senior surveys is that they are a measurement tool that can be used as one aspect of the assessment of student learning process,” he said.

DU is not the only institution interested in how the students feel about their college experience.

“Assessment of student learning is a process that is required by accreditation agencies,” said Flaherty. “The idea is that all academic programs should be able to determine whether the students who graduate from a

program have actually achieved the knowledge and skills that the program is supposed to have delivered.”

Although not a direct requirement for walking during graduation, most senior students will end up having to fill the survey out at one time or another to complete their course work.

“Some programs require students to complete various assessmentrelated tasks prior to graduation,” said Flaherty. “Sometimes these are part of a senior course [and constitute part of the grade in that course], and sometimes they are administered outside of a regular course.”

Although the regular administration of these surveys and interviews is fairly recent, this process has been recommended for over 20 years.

“It has been roughly 25 years or so since the accrediting bodies started recommending that all institutions develop comprehensive processes for assessment of student learning,” said Flaherty. “At some institutions, measures have been in place for much more than a decade.”

SENIORS: Do you want to know what is required for your exit survey?

Log on to: https://assess-it.du.edu/ assessment/login.do with your DU ID and password to find out.

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Feb. 26, 2014

DU student’s sister takes gold at Sochi by courtney luster Contributing Writer

While it is true that Colorado boasts some of the best skiing in the United States, there are a few skiers who Coloradans are proud to call our own when they make it to the Olympic Games. Last week, the sister of DU’s own Division One skier Taylor Shiffrin went one step further into stardom when she won gold at Sochi. Many may have heard the name Mikaela Shiffrin while watching the Alpine Skiing events of the Olympics this past week. She competed in the Giant Slalom event on Feb. 18, placing fifth, and in the Slalom event Feb. 21, bringing home the gold medal for Team USA. Mikaela’s brother, Taylor Shiffrin, a sophomore mechanical engineering and accounting double major from Vail and Division I skier at DU, shared some insight into him and his sister’s background and lives ski racing.

Both siblings boast their own variety of accomplishments. Aside from competing in Sochi, Mikaela won the world championships last year; at 17 years old, she was the youngest woman in 42 years to have done so. She was also crowned the Slalom World Cup champion and is

currently ranked as the best slalom skier in the world. Taylor himself was a part of the U.S. Ski Team out of high school for a year before being recruited to ski for DU. He has Olympic aspirations for after college; while the average competition age for women is 20-24 years, it is slightly later for men at 28-32 years. This puts Mikaela’s skiing career first and schooling after.

“She’s definitely said she wants to go to college.... She told me she’d prefer to go here since I go here and could show her the ropes,” said Shiffrin.

According to Shiffrin, it was a nobrainer to compete in ski racing for both he and his sister.

“Both of our parents are skiers, my dad raced in college, my mom raced. I mean when you’re born in Vail you kind of have to be a skier or snowboarder so we just fell right into it,” said Shiffrin.

The siblings both began skiing as soon as they learned to walk; they used to train together when they were younger and throughout high school.

“We would chase each other around the mountain all the time,” said Shiffrin.

While Taylor enjoys recreational and free skiing, he claimed that Mikaela used to skip the early morning free skiing sessions in lieu of the training later in the day.

“She just loved the rhythm of the gates. She’s very musical; she thought of it as a dance with the hill,” said Shiffrin.

Now, with each pursuing their sport in different arenas, they do not get the opportunity to ski together all the time. Both siblings train and compete year-round, traveling to the Southern Hemisphere in the summer to take advantage of their winter.

Though her career dictates photo courtesy of atomic.com that Mikaela live in Europe Mikaela Shiffrin, sister of DU sophomore Taylor Shiffrin, showed during the season, the two her skiing chops in this year’s Winter Olympics. of them get to see each other and train together during the the DU team in the NCAA Regionals, off-season. he watched his sister’s second and best Through the separation, they keep event on Friday, with the live feed airing their bond as siblings strong. from Sochi at 2 a.m.

“We’re really close. The best way to “I am unbelievably proud of my describe [our relationship] would just sister and all of her accomplishments. be goofy. Any sibling would be able to She is the most dedicated and hardworkrelate to the miscellaneous goofy things ing person I know and the Olympic gold you do around each other that nobody medal she just won is simply more evielse would get, the inside jokes. It’s dence to support that,” said Shiffrin after pretty much the same as anybody else his sister’s win on Friday. who has a closer relationship with their By all appearances, both Shiffrins siblings,” said Shiffrin. have huge futures ahead of them in Although Shiffrin was in Beaver alpine skiing and both are embarking Creek over the weekend competing with on a journey that is just getting started.

mostly middle-aged women catching up over Latin-Asian inspired cocktails. The happy hour is reserved to a specific section of the restaurant, where people are sitting on couches or high-top tables, making it a more intimate experience than a regular dinner reservation. Zengo’s happy hour is from 5 - 7p.m. and features $5 beverages like the Guava Mate, a refreshing blend of gin, guava juice, yerba mate and lime. For the person that likes to live on the wild side, spice things up with the Martini Peligroso which blends serrano pepper-infused vodka with cilantro and lime. The food is just as much the focal point of the happy hour as the beverages. While sipping on sangria or the Martini Peligroso, one can also be munching on guacamole or the salt-and-pepper shrimp roll for an average of $6 a plate. Overall, Zengo is the place to go when you feel like spicing things up and getting a change of scenery (but be ready to spend more money and wait longer).

from Thursdays through Saturdays for the reverse happy hour from 10 - 11 p.m. With two locations around the city, Cherry Creek and Downtown, students can decide on their desired destination, but Hapa’s overall atmosphere has a fast-paced vibe where friends can enjoy the art of watching sushi chefs carefully prepare each roll, all while snacking on one of their many appetizers.

Denver is home to a heap of happy hours by kameryn tanita and camilla sterne

Lifestyles Editor and Assistant Lifestyles Editor

Denver offers something for everyone during the week with a plethora of postoffice (or post-class) happy hour options ranging from the neighborhood dive bar to the more sophisticated spots downtown.

Working for the weekend might have a whole new meaning after college, but students can still save money at various spots around the city.

The Pio - 2401 S. University Blvd.

When the majority of happy hours are constricted to a time frame from 5-7 p.m. the Pioneer offers two happy hour specials everyday. The afternoon happy hour, from 3 - 7 p.m., and a late-night happy hour from 10 p.m. - 12 a.m., ensure that everyone will have the opportunity to enjoy themselves with $3 wells drinks or $1 off drafts. The Pioneer is the perfect place for the loyal Boone fan or the thrifty college student who is sure to get the most out of the $3 House Margaritas that are flowing endlessly from the tap. The Pioneer exudes college culture and an authentic neighborhood feel, making it the best place to go for a happy hour near campus. While the food specials are limited to Mondays and Tuesdays, most college students are more concerned about their beverages, rather than their bellies, but when you are craving some Mexican food to accompany your Margarita, the Pio is the place to go.

photo courtesy of richardsandoval.com

Zengo - 1610 Little Raven St.

Zengo is where the Zen meets the Go, with a downtown atmosphere that is both relaxing, yet stimulating. The low-lit red lighting makes it a seductive destination but in reality, the happy hour crowd is

patron into a carefree state that is characteristic of exotic getaways in fantastic locals.

With two -or-one appetizers and wines, as well as $5 double tall cocktails and $3 beer, Vita offers a happy hour rife with sophistication. However, the defining characteristic of Vita’s happy hour is that it can be enjoyed on the rooftop patio while basking in late afternoon rays of sunshine. With the slogan “Eat. Drink. Live,” Vita might just convince its happy hour patrons to partake in those activities for much longer than a single hour. Located in the Highlands, right around the corner from Little Man Ice Cream, Vita is the perfect way to end a day of leisurely window-shopping or a grueling day at the office.

photo courtesy of thrillist.com

Agave - 975 Lincoln St.

photo courtesy of hapasushi.com

Hapa - 2780 E. 2nd Ave.

Hapa offers a happy medium between an upscale downtown and casual campus bar. While happy hour usually has an emphasis on the cocktails, Hapa’s motto is about the meal. Traditional Japanese beers are $2.50 while sake-infused fruity cocktails are $3.50, but the real deal is their two for $7 rolls and half-off all appetizers. Although the happy hour rolls are much more simple than their signature rolls, which feature risqué pseudonyms like the XXX roll or the Booty Call roll, one can settle for a salmon avocado roll after filling up on delicious appetizers like the Magic Mushrooms, avocado wrapped in salmon topped with Japanese aioli or Hawaiian pork sliders.

From Monday through Saturday, one can find the masses enjoying a late lunch or early dinner at the afternoon happy hour from 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. On the weekends, the late-night crowd will flock to the restaurant

Only a five-minute drive from campus, Agave’s cozy and laid-back atmosphere is ideal for afternoon leisure and offers an authentic Mexican vibe. With a casual ambience and an extremely collegefriendly price range, Agave is the kind of place to spend a few hours with a small group of friends playing a lively game of “Would you rather” or simply bonding over a shared love of margaritas and cheap tacos.

Agave offers two tacos for $2 from 2 - 3 p.m., with the traditional options of carne asada, pastor, grilled chicken or carnitas.

From 3 - 6 p.m. Agave offers a happy hour menu with two-for-one frozen margaritas and a variety of other food options including nachos, tortas, flautas and quesadillas.

Agave’s outdoor patio seem suited to be a Thursday or Friday afternoon weekly occurrence during spring quarter, because spring quarter actually means “a 10-week period in which plentiful margaritas should be consumed.”

Vita - 1575 Boulder St.

Vita, meaning “life” in Italian, certainly lives up to its name by offering a little slice of life and escape from the bustle. Its happy hour from 3 - 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 2 - 6:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday is the perfect getaway from the stresses of everyday life and will relax any

photo courtesy of vitadenver.com

The Corner Office - 1401 Curtis St.

Just a block away from the Convention Center light-rail station, The Corner Office exemplifies chic urban fusion at its very best. Every day from 3 - 6 p.m. and 9 - 11 p.m., the Corner Office offers discounted cocktails and a plethora of charming finger foods in the $4 - $6 range. Its bustling downtown atmosphere attracts a whole variety of young urban professionals, and its close vicinity to a hotel increases the likelihood of running into fascinating foreigners. For those who would choose food over alcohol any day, The Corner Office is sure to quell any afternoon pre-dinner cravings.

With tacos, burgers, poutine, sliders, wings and ceviche, the Corner Office covers its cultural bases. With such a variety of food choices, this trendy joint is sure to have something to please almost every happy hour goer. The Corner Office also offers a selection of unique cocktails for $6 and well drinks and wine for $5. A variety of local beers cost $3 and for those who prefer the classics, The Corner Office offers $2 PBR. Be sure to check out the bathroom (it’ll be necessary anyway); it is arguably one of the best bathrooms in the city of Denver.

Feb. 26, 2014

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Dog Act premiers in Byron Theatre by isabel mccan Senior Reporter

Nada mucho. Foot-fagged.

Vaudevillians, story-tellers, scavengers and soothsayers.

These all may be words, phrases or descriptions that might be unfamiliar, but in the world of Dog Act, a one-act play of actors acting as actors acting after the apocalypse, the past has been destroyed and the present is a desolate society where these phrases are part of a common vernacular.

“Dog Act,” written by Liz Duffey Adams and described as a “post-apocalyptic vaudeville comedy,” will premier in the Byron Flexible Theater in the Newman Center Friday Feb. 27 with performances throughout that weekend and the next.

“Dog Act,” originally premiered in San Francisco in 2004, follows Zetta Stone, a traveling performer, and her companion Dog (a young man undergoing a voluntary species demotion) as they walk through the dangerous wilderness of the former U.S., heading toward a gig in China.

The show is a meta-performance, with most characters being rag-tag thespians themselves called “vaudevillians.”

Characters also perform their own travelling “morality plays,” which are contorted Biblical tales.

The actors address an imagined audience, while also addressing their true audience. The language they use is part Shakespearean, part wild colloquialism and part pure profanity. The very first scene of the play in fact possesses the f-word over 20 times.

“Reading the script was so strange at first. It didn’t make any sense, but now after really putting the actions together with the dialogue, I love it. It’s a great story,” said Trevor Fulton, a freshman theater and commu-

nication studies student from other major pairing in the show is Vera and Jo-Jo, played by Grand Junction.

Fulton plays the character of Cheyenne Michaels, a senior theCoke, a ruthless “scavenger” who atre and strategic communicapreys on other travellers so he tions major from Louisville, and and his companion, Bud, played Ashley Campbell, a freshman

by Hao Liu, junior marketing theatre and english major from major from Tsing Tao, China, Albuquerque, N.M. The play is may “recycle” them. The term directed by the head of the the“recycle” is used to describe the ater department, Rick Barbour. act of stealing a victim’s belong“[Dog Act] is pretty much ings and killing and eating them. theater doing what theater Fulton studied movie villains to does best,” said Tony Ryan, gain inspiration about how to assistant director and theater present his character. major from Larkspur.

The cast doubles as the stage According to the cast, the crew, with every costume and play may be a great comedy, but scene change in plain sight. Only also contains tragic elements as six characters and actors are in well, tackling questions such as the entire show, and two stage managers and one assistant director to help keep the behindthe-scenes action fluid. Each character is on stage for the majority of the play. A few scenes have musical pieces embedded in them as well, but mostly as a complement courtesy of wren schuyler to the dialogue and Vaudevillians in “Dog Act” express all of the darkness of a therefore not nec- post-acpocalyptic U.S. with intense body language. essarily enough to describe the play as a “musical.” the basis of loyalty, tribal dynamThe set is mostly bare, save ics and the importance of theater. for the one major set piece that “Dog Act” uses references the play centers around: the from pop culture, history and large, ramshackle cart wagon literature to spin together a that the vaudevillians use to world where the characters are store their necessities. both savage and sympathetic The cast and crew have been and every tribe is faced with practicing every night, Monday self-preservation. through Friday, for at least three “It’s different than most of hours starting the second week the other theater I’ve worked on. of winter quarter.

It’s funny, it’s sad, it’s shocking, Playing protagonist Zetta it’s just a great show to come and Stone is Jasmine Sympruch, a see,” said Ryan. junior political science major The play runs February Feb. from Denver, and her compan- 27, 28, and March 1, 7, 8 and 9, ion, Dog, is played by Garrett with doors opening at 7:30 p.m.

Bigs, a freshman English major Tickets are $10. For more inforfrom Mountain View, Calif. The mation visit newmantix.com.

Ragtime Ensemble jumps and jives by camilla sterne Assistant Lifestyles Editor

Nearly 100 years after ragtime originated as a musical form, percussion students at the Lamont School of Music are still celebrating its syncopated and lively melodies, and adding their own flare.

On Wednesday at 12 p.m. in the Joy Burns Plaza of the Newman Center, the Lamont Ragtime Ensemble performed for a group of approximately 40 eager listeners.

A group of nine undergraduate music majors came together in lively vestige to honor the time-worn tradition by performing both classic and updated ragtime tunes solely on xylophone and marimba, which are both percussive tonal instruments played with mallets.

The group performed nine diverse tunes, each featuring one of the group’s members as the soloist on xylophone with four to five percussionists playing supporting chords on two marimbas.

According to senior percussion major Rose Martin from Denver—the only female percussionist to perform on Wednesday—each of the group members were allowed to pick the tune that they wanted to solo over.

George Hamilton Green, a xylophonist, composer and pioneer of ragtime composed five out of the nine tunes performed.

“George Hamilton Green was one of the first really famous xylophone ragtime soloists in the ‘20s and ‘30s. He kind of pioneered it and then it kind of died out on xylophone but Bob Becker brought it back, and he wrote pretty much all the arrangements,” said Martin.

Martin soloed over one of the few pieces not composed by Green or arranged by Becker.

The tune, entitled “Tambourin Chinois,” offered a unique rag arranged by percussion department director John Kinzie, and was an unexpected tune with basic ragtime musical principles and obvious Chinese influences.

According to Kinzie, he started the group seven years ago because he thought it had immense potential to be enjoyable for everyone involved.

“It was my idea, because it’s just fun,” said Kinzie. “How can you not have fun at this concert?”

The oddball costumes weren’t part of the equation at first, said Kinzie, but have become a tradition in the last few years.

“I think it’s kind of cool because especially for the young kids who haven’t performed as much, they can put on a costume and pretend they’re somebody else and they’re not as nervous,” said Kinzie.

Each group member was clad in clashing patterns, most complete with an unusual hat.

According to Martin, who wore a

lively jester ensemble topped with a green velvet hat, the DU theatre department allows the group to borrow their funky garb from the department’s costume shop.

Aside from the lively costuming, the ensemble augmented their performance with spontaneous choreography consisting of timed spins between chords.

Joey Glassman, a senior percussion major from Littleton, performed “Bye Bye Medley,” a Bob Becker arrangement of the 1926 jazz standard “Bye Bye Blackbird.”

“I love ‘Bye Bye Blackbird,’ it’s one of my favorite standards,” said Glassman, who has participated in a variety of jazz ensembles.

Glassman played the extremely technical tune with ease and pizzazz. The audience met his solo with applause and vocal encouragement.

Senior percussion major Kevin Matthews played the final tune of the show, and made his grand entrance by sliding down the railing leading from Gates Concert Hall into the plaza.

The ensemble is offered each year during winter quarter, and the final performance occurs each Feb. in the plaza over the lunch hour.

According to Martin, the ensemble is a pleasurable and supportive environment.

“I’m really close to everybody,” she said. “This is a good environment.”

the dos and don’ts of mountain culture by connor davis Contributing Writer

Our lives are dictated by dos and don’ts. Do treat people with respect, and don’t fart in class.

Do call your parents, and don’t drop out of school to join a gang.

The list goes on and on, all the way to the mountains. Just like any other culture, there are distinct dos and don’ts on the slopes that should be fully understood by us city folk.

Without even realizing it, we can be really offensive to a number of people: locals, tourists, employees, families, elders and anyone else who truly values a day on snow. This is particularly expected from college students, so follow these dos and don’ts to show how much respect DU really has for the mountain culture.

Do wear America-related clothing; it’s a real crowd pleaser.

Don’t ignore strangers on the lift, and make some conversation instead. It’ll only last 10 minutes whether it’s good or bad.

Do go up the lift with kids and ask about their day.

Don’t talk about partying and other vulgar topics on the lift or in line with strangers. The mountain is not a frat house.

Do help someone collect their belongings if they just had a yard sale. We’ve all been there at some point. Do laugh after though, that’s just fine.

Don’t litter on the mountain.

Just don’t.

Do offer people snacks on the lift, because everyone is just as hungry as you are.

Don’t openly complain around others, especially strangers. This goes for equipment, snow conditions, weather or anything you’re tempted to whine about.

You might be offending someone who spent a lot of money on a vacation in Colorado.

Do carry skis with tips forward. Doing it any other way is a sure sign of being a rookie.

Don’t ski/ride in a t-shirt unless it’s actually warm out.

Being “that guy” might seem chill, but it’s really just obnoxious.

Don’t go on closed trails.

They’re usually closed because they’re not safe, and getting caught on them is a guaranteed way to lose a pass.

Do let people in the gondola if they’re trying to squeeze.

Don’t be that guy who squeezes into a full gondola.

People might let you in but they won’t be happy about it.

Do put the bar down, especially with strangers on the lift.

There’s no reason not to, and falling off will certainly ruin your day, and probably your life.

Don’t go on trails past your ability. The rankings are there to keep people safe, not push them past their limits.

Do make fun of yourself from time to time. Skiing and snowboarding are not always serious sports.

Don’t bounce the lift up and down. Not only is it obnoxious, but it can break or derail the lift. Then you’ll be stuck like the people in that awful film “Frozen.”

Do stay until the mountain closes at least once every season.

It’s a rewarding feeling and locals respect it.

Don’t sit in the left lane the whole way up to the mountain unless you’re going 90 mph. It’s still the passing lane despite terrible driving trends on I-70.

Do make friends with ski patrollers. They’ll show you around, and more importantly not take your pass if they remember you during a run-in.

Don’t take another run if you’re thinking about calling it a day. This is usually when people get unnecessarily hurt.

Do use duct tape to fix any gear problem. No one wants to hear about how your jacket ripped, so cover your sorrows with tape.

Don’t borrow an Epic Pass.

Getting caught doing this can actually lead to court. Vail Resorts does not mess around.

Do take lots of pictures for friends and family who don’t get to shred the Rockies.

Do ask people which way they’re going off the lift. You don’t want to run into them and they don’t want to run into you.

Don’t buy any food sold on the mountain unless you’re completely starving and have money to lose.

Don’t be on your phone the whole lift ride. It’s the great outdoors, and you can upload those selfies later.

Do always realize how lucky you are before, during and after every single run.

Do wear a helmet. Flying down the mountain with your favorite hat is stylish, but a bloody and concussed head is not.

Each week, the Clarion will bring you tips, advice and anything else snowrelated for an even better time on the slopes.

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Feb. 26, 2014

www.duclarion.com

The Grind: Gaia Bistro s r pic you rind g a T G #DU ith us re w arion a h S UCl @D

The Clarion staff reviews bars, restaurants and coffee houses, attempting cultural mutiny on all things hipster

Gamma Phi-Oke faces technical tribulations by mae birtch Contributing Writer

kameryn tanita|clarion

Gaia is where sophistication meets simple wholesome goodness.

Gaia Bistro: 4.3 beans

Gaia offers a gathering place for Denver’s earthy elite. by kameryn tanita Lifestyles Editor

Gaia Bistro is the happening hotspot for Denver’s farm-to-table loving foodies who gather inside the rustic Victorian house to enjoy the unpretentious atmosphere on a busy weekend morning.

Gaia Bistro, located at 1551 S. Pearl St., brings the same indie flare and folksy vibes as its counterpart restaurant down the street, Kaos Pizzeria, but the crowd sways on the more sophisticated and intellectual side with middle-aged women hosting breakfast meetings in the middle foyer.

Its unassuming exterior and neutral color scheme uses earth-friendly tones like whites, browns and light blue to tap into the down-home feel that all granola-loving gurus will appreciate. Instead of putting its effort into the decor (the menu is served on a simple white piece of paper with coffee stains and wrinkles from previous patrons and the walls are barely decorated with any band posters or eclectic artwork), the presentation is on the plate.

Where Gaia goes off the grid is with their starches; rather than serving sub-par pancakes, the bistro takes a break from normal breakfast items and brings the cultural flare with their organic buckwheat flour savory crepes (with gluten-free options for the hypoallergenic foodie) filled with various local ingredients like roasted chicken, bacon and brie with pear butter, or the sweet crepes with roasted butternut squash and Jonathan apple hash with streusel. They snub run-of-the-mill hashbrowns and roasted potatoes and instead get sophisticated with asiago scalloped potatoes that are $3 to add on to any meal and are served right out of the oven. To top it off, the Egg Sandwich replaces toast or an English muffin for seasoned Foccacia bread making jealous onlookers’ mouths water.

Like any loyal foodie knows, the food is always worth the wait, but Gaia’s normal brunch wait is 45 minutes to an hour.

To tide themselves over people can either take a gander around Pearl Street at the various boutiques, sit outside on the bench in the garden out front or stay crammed inside anxiously trying to ignore the smells that are wafting through the house.

The female staff are fairly friendly, rocking flannels and floral print tops, but they don’t have any sympathy for the eager customers who want to be seated. It is the only male server with a mustache almost as mod as his aztec-print backwards cap in combination with his light-wash skinny jeans and tattered t-shirt who will catch your attention, as his casual and indie-finesse will aid the anxious patron’s irritation by telling a joke to lighten the mood.

Most patrons will neglect to notice the music playing in the background because they will be busy trying to concentrate on their own conversations (so as not to overhear the other consumers), but the music snob is likely to approve of the background tunes, which includes greatest hits like The Cure’s “Friday I’m in Love” and other classic jams.

Gaia is open Tuesday through Sunday for breakfast and lunch as well as dinner and is closed on Mondays (most likely to recuperate from the weekend crowd). On warmer days, one could find families pushing their children in strollers along Pearl St. or fixie bikes cruising by while diners enjoy their French press coffees and people watch on the porch.

With an average of $9 - $13 for a breakfast dish, which does not include potatoes or the French press coffee, this breakfast nook is a place to nosh now and then, but the organic and locally sourced ingredients will leave any sustainable citizen feeling good about themselves.

And that is what everyone wants these days, right?

In spite of technical difficulties, Gamma Phi Beta sorority’s annual Gamma PhiOke Karaoke fundraiser raised significant charity funds and proved to be highly entertaining. The event, which took place from 6 - 9 p.m. in Davis Auditorium Feb. 19, was open to all students and featured performances by Greek Life members, a campus a cappella group and non-Greek students.

The technical difficulties derived from the DJ, DJ Boom, who was new to the program this year.

“We wanted to switch it up and try something new” said Sam David, a junior marketing major from Overland Park, Kan., who is Gamma Phi Beta’s president.

The DJ began setting up at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday and provided a new light display system but failed to have the necessary karaoke songs on his computer.

“The lights looked great and the staged looked awesome,” said David, but DJ Boom was ill prepared and had difficulties connecting to PioneerNet. Although the technical difficulties provided minor setbacks, the show continued positively and the announcers, Jillian Voege, a junior marketing major from Carmel, Ind., and Georgie Keogh, a junior HRTM major from Charlotte, N.C., along with the performers, improvised and delivered great acts. The show began with an open mic portion followed by a performance by the Idiosingcrisies, a campus a cappella group.

During the lull in stage action, there was evident tension in the audience, but as soon as the performances resumed, the energy in Davis Auditorium erupted.

Spectators cheered for their friends and the announcers as they returned to the stage. The audience was supportive of both the performers and Gamma Phi Beta as the event progressed.

Clair Talmadge, a junior accounting major from Portland, Ore., and member of Gamma Phi Beta thought the audience handled the event well and that they maintained a positive attitude.

“It was obvious how awkward it was for the entire audience, and [Gamma Phi Beta] felt really uncomfortable having to stay and watch so many malfunctions, but I was really impressed by the girls in charge and how they handled the situation,” said Talmadge.

Along with the new DJ, there were several other fresh additions to this year’s event.

The funds raised through Gamma Phi-Oke will be given to a new charity. The charity, which will be voted on next Monday at the sorority’s chapter meeting, will be a local Denver-based organization recommended by a member of Gamma Phi Beta. Each organization in the running is focused on helping youth.

The funds raised have not yet been totaled, but the sales are

gusto kubiak|clarion

Despite technical difficulties, Gamma Phi-Oke was still able to have a few performances from students on campus. The event took place on Feb. 19 in Davis Auditorium.

estimated to be close to $3,000, according to junior biology major and Financial Vice President from Colorado Springs, Alisa Phillips. Last year, Gamma Phi Beta raised $2,029 for the Girls Incorporation of Metro Denver. The total amount raised comes from ticket sales, as well as donations. Both Sigma Chi fraternity and Tri Delta sorority chose to donate in addition to ticket sales.

Because several planned karaoke performances were not able to take place, Gamma Phi Beta is considering plans for a Gamma Phi-Oke revival in the coming weeks. Delta Zeta sorority, Beta Theta Pi fraternity and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity were not able

to perform. As one of Gamma Phi Beta’s main philanthropic events for the year, Gamma Phi-Oke is always highly anticipated and the sorority wants to maintain the positive, lively reputation the event has continuously had.

Whether this happens through an upcoming event hosted by the sorority or by changes made for the following year, the opinion of Gamma Phi-Oke is still upbeat.

The judges awarded Alpha Phi first place, Delta Gamma second place and Tri Delta third. Although the event did not go entirely as planned, the optimistic outcome of funds that were raised overshadowed the difficulties.

Feb. 26, 2014

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The story of the 17: DU’s chancellors by sarah ford Managing Editor

Through DU’s 150-year history, the university has seen the leadership of 17 chancellors, each with their own success and legacies they have left behind. By June of this year, the university’s 18th chancellor will begin a new chapter in DU’s history. As the university looks forward to new leadership, the Clarion looks back at several of those who have come before.

Robert Coombe: 2005 - 2014 Coombe began his career with DU in 1981, when he was hired as a chemistry professor. He would go on to advance through the positions of assistant dean of Graduate Studies, a chair in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and dean of the Division of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering. Coombe was named provost of the university in 2001 before become chancellor in 2005.

During his time, Coombe oversaw the implementation of the ASCEND campaign, a funding campaign that has so far raised over $450 million for the university.

Coombe announced in January that he will step down from his position in June of 2014, leaving room for the hiring of DU’s 18th chancellor.

Daniel Ritchie: 1989 – 2005

Ritchie began his career at DU in the middle of an economic downturn affect-

ing both Denver and the university, presenting a steep challenge as he joined the university as vice chairman of the board and chair of the development committee.

In 1989 he became the university’s 16th chancellor. He would go on to oversee the then-largest fundraising campaign in DU’s history, bringing in over $270 million for university projects and renovation programs. The success of the fundraising allowed for construction of a series of new buildings on campus, including student housing buildings, law and music buildings. Ritchie was also involved in restructuring and rejuvenating DU’s study abroad program based on the results of a task force he created to review the existing international programs.

Ten years after retirement, Ritchie’s legacy still continues on campus today through the thriving study abroad program and the Ritchie Center, which opened in 2000.

photo courtesy of du archives and special collections

Ritchie is shown at right, in hat, serving barbeque in the 1990s.

A former member of the Union army during the Civil War and a Pastor, Moore became president of the Cincinnati Wesleyan Female Seminary (today Cincinnati Wesleyan College) until 1880 before moving to Colorado and becoming president of the Colorado Methodist Seminary, which later became the University of Denver.

In 1900, More was made a Bishop and assigned as Bishop of China, Japan and Korea, where he served for three years. photo courtesy of du archives and special

Henry Augustus Buchtel: 1899 – 1920

Buchtel served in a variety of positions before becoming a DU chancellor, including working as a missionary in Bulgaria and pastor in several states, including Indiana, New York, New Jersey and Colorado. He began serving as chancellor of DU in 1900, coming in at a time the university faced tremendous debts that prompted Buchtel to immediately initiate a fundraising camcollections paign.

Buchtel is pictured in an undated photo.

The campaign would prove successful enough to pay off the university’s debts within three years. During his term at DU, Buchtel would go on to serve as the seventeenth governor of Colorado for one term.

Buchtel would resign as chancellor in 1920 after suffering a stroke.

David Hastings Moore: 1880 – 1889

photo courtesy of du archives and special collections

Vice-Chancellor Wilbur Engle, Chancellors Frederick Hunter, Caleb Gates and Herber Harper.

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Feb. 26, 2014

‘Vikings’ will slay viewers with excellence

photo courtesy of cdn.history.com

Katheryn Winnick plays Lagertha Lothbrok in the History Channel series “Vikings.” The Clarion interviewed Winnick last week to discuss the upcoming season.

by kaitlynne birkett Co-Copy Chief

“In the second season, it pretty much starts off right behind episode nine from season one, so there’s not much of a time jump. And Lagertha at the end of season one has a lot to deal with, you know, with her miscarriage, has to deal with her daughter Gyda dying, having to deal with a plague, and dealing with losing most of her people,” said Katheryn Winnick (“The Art of the Steal”), female lead of the TV show “Vikings,” in a conference call interview with the Clarion and other university newspapers last week.

Winnick plays Lagertha Lothbrok, a powerful shieldmaiden who is forced to endure death and destruction around every turn—even from her husband. The acclaimed History Channel show, which is set to premiere its second season Feb. 27, follows a group of Vikings who are all based on Norse legends from over a thou-

sand years ago. Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel, “The Baytown Outlaws”), husband of Lagertha, has recently become an earl and is faced with the imminent betrayal of his brother, Rollo (Clive Standen, “Hammer of the Gods”); in addition, Ragnar must face the consequences of his infidelity from the first season.

“Brother’s War,” the first episode of season two, finds Ragnar and Rollo facing off against each other in battle, one that could have easily been avoided had Rollo quelled his pride and Ragnar been less selfish. Upon Ragnar’s return home, he divulges to Lagertha the truth of his infidelity—which is only amplified when the woman whom with he cheated, Princess Aslaug (Alyssa Sutherland, “The Devil Wears Prada”), turns up on his doorstep, stomach swollen from pregnancy. Ragnar must choose between Lagertha and Aslaug, in addition to deciding if he will ever forgive Rollo for his betrayal, while Lagertha must decide if her pride can continue in such a negative

environment. Season two has already had a promising start, pushing its characters to their limits in a mere 45 minutes.

Winnick, who is very impassioned about her role and the history of Lagertha, promises even more intense sequences.

“Her identity is tested in the second season. Her sense of self is something that I struggled with, because in the first season, she was very much Ragnar’s wife and partner-in-crime…. Now the fact that, where does she go from here, should she choose to stay with him … or does she decide to leave and follow her own path?” said Winnick.

In addition to providing a captivating acting presence, Winnick is also very skilled at presenting shieldmaiden Lagertha, doing her own stunts and constantly training. She was initially cast only a week before filming began, so prep time was not in excess, but for the second season, Lagertha will probably be doing even more skilled weaponry and stunts.

“I am a third degree black belt in taekwondo and a second degree black belt in

karate … I had never really done martial arts for movies or anything before, so I had the physical training of it, but picking up a sword and shield was all very new to me.…

This season, it was a little different, because now I had the time to learn and try different weapons, and how to get used to the sword and the shield, as well as horseback riding, which is a lot of fun as well,” said Winnick.

Whether it is shooting on location in Ireland or just going with the cast and crew for a post-work pint, Winnick revealed how close of a bond the group has together.

Some of them have moved to Dublin, as she has, while others constantly travel for filming; yet the group stays in contact, especially during filming as they sit in their heating tents and play games until the Irish rain dissipates enough for shooting to once again commence.

“Vikings” prides itself on being one of the most historically accurate TV shows at present, with hours and hours of research going into each episode and season, as well as a historian working with Michael Hirst, the writer and director of the show.

“You can go into different departments, go into the costume department, where they are all making your costumes, handstitched and leather and carved, and you can talk to them in terms of what material did they use to dye the clothes, or how did they dye them, and how do they make the clothes. So you learn a little bit more of the lifestyle as you spend time on set.… Even for new castmates getting into the show, you will have a great learning curve and a quick Vikings 101 while you are there,” said Winnick.

Another interesting aspect of Hirst’s directing was his choice to use a variety of generally unknown actors, who he thought could live in the role. Winnick, as well as some of the others, have stepped up to the plate and really encompassed the truth of the Norse legends. The characters of “Vikings” are so vast and complex that it is always exciting to see what is going to happen next.

The second season very well looks as if it could beat out season one in voracity and intensity. The new season promises to break new territory in the show, so only time will tell where their ship sails next.

“So there’s a lot of trust that I have in [Hirst], and how he portrays Lagertha and her character because he really knows her and has a lot invested in her, and knowing that he will portray her the right way. So, I don’t know what’s going to happen next, but I’m excited to find out,” said Winnick.

Schoolboy Q graduates to mainstream hip hop by logan baker Staff Writer

The wait is over—“Oxymoron,” the highly anticipated album from TDE (Top Dawg Entertainment) member Schoolboy Q, is finally here after a year of delays.

Featuring guest verses from fellow TDE labelmates Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock and SZA, as well as rappers 2 Chainz, Tyler the Creator, Suga Free, Kurupt, BJ the Chicago Kid and Raekwon, “Oxymoron” also features production from an incredible list of producers such as Pharrell, Tyler the Creator, The Alchemist and Mike Will Made It. This album is meant to be Q’s breakout into mainstream stardom. Supported by smash singles Collard Greens and Man of the Year, the hype was definitely real.

After a few listens, the answer still is not clear. While not quite the level that friend and fellow rapper Mac Miller hailed it as when he said it was better than Kendrick’s universally adored 2012 album “good kid, m.A.A.d city,” it still brings to the table a unique blend of sounds that Q

has become known for. A contradictory mix of west coast gangster rap and early2000s east coast Jay-Z/50 Cent, the album is stylistically hard to pin down.

One thing that can be taken away from the album is the presence of his four-year-old daughter, Joy, throughout the album. She appears on the album cover and also features several speaking parts throughout. Q describes her as integral to the album, and the title is even about her. As he explained in an interview with DJ Whoo Kid in Jan., the title of “Oxymoron” is a representation of the bad things he has to do to take care of his daughter, who is scowling on the cover. It creates an uncomfortable atmosphere for the listener to hear a four-year-old’s voice and see her on the cover as her father details his past of drug dealing and his many sexual conquests.

In terms of the music though, “Oxymoron” is quite an enjoyable album throughout. With hypnotic beats that will have your head nodding constantly and Q’s voice jumping around, switching his flow up, it is hard to imagine someone

not entertained as he tells stories from his youth with the gang, the 52 Hoover Crips. A big focus on the album deals with his past as an Oxycontin dealer and gang banger. Perhaps the most honest song on the album is “Prescription/Oxymoron.” The seven-minute song is split into two halves. The first is an ode to his love for prescription drugs and ends with his daughter trying to wake him up after an overdose. The second half, which could really be a completely different song, is a triumphant banger that fits as a sequel to the first half.

Q excels at making the listener really understand the emotion he felt while recording. When he details a sixminute story about his drug-addicted uncle on “Hoover Street,” he gives specific details that latch themselves in the listener’s mind along with smooth, addicting production, courtesy of TDE producer Soundwave.

When Q is at his best, he is spitting long and detailed bars that put the listener in his shoes. Usually he blends the lines between his bridge and hook while

attempting to keep it from getting overly repetitive. He has friends in high places so his features are all on point. Jay Rock and Kendrick’s verses on “Los Awesome” and “Collard Greens” respectively have a large part in determining the quality of these tracks. Occasionally you wish the album would diverge in subject matter.

While there is not anything inherently wrong with the explicit subject matter, one might think if Q wanted to attempt a jump into mainstream success, he would focus more on a broad range of topics.

The west-coast, gangster aspect of the album may alienate some listeners, but at least it feels authentic to California G-funk history.

“Oxymoron” isn’t really comparable to “good kid, m.A.A.d city,” yet critics will undoubtedly attempt to hold Q up to Lamar’s standard. They are separate artists and it is not fair to what Schoolboy Q is trying to establish. The album is a compelling piece of work and it should catapult Q into the mainstream, but at the end of the day, the listener may feel let down due to the overwhelming hype.

Feb. 26, 2014

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St. Vincent synthesizes styles on new record by logan baker Staff Writer

The opening track on St. Vincent’s eponymous album is an autobiographical story of Annie Clark, the woman behind St. Vincent, running naked from a rattlesnake in West Texas. This is the perfect way to start an album that is strange and beautiful, revelling in creating a different world to accompany Clark’s triumphant guitar playing. Clark is an incredible, multi-instrumental artist who is different from any other musician out there.

Her music is legitimate art into which she has poured her soul. Incredible lyrics such as “Remember the time we went and snorted the piece of the Berlin Wall that you’d extorted” from the beautiful ballad “Prince Johnny” and “Oh what an ordinary day / Take out the garbage, masturbate” from “Birth In Reverse” are as brilliant as they are common.

While the album is fantastic throughout, the real brilliance shines in the first five songs. “Rattlesnake,” “Birth In Reverse,” “Prince Johnny,” “Huey Newton” and “Digital Witness” are more imaginative and better music than anything else released this

year. “St.Vincent” is destined to lead the “Album of the Year” category already, despite it being only February.

The opening track, “Rattlesnake,” creates a new world for Clark. She described it herself in an interview with Pitchfork media earlier this month as the beginnings of a “new mythology.” Her voice warbles over a synthy, keyboard-laden beat that is almost as addictive as Clark’s voice.

As mentioned earlier, “Birth In Reverse” begins with one of the more brilliant, funny couplets that has been recorded in a while. The track continues this streak of brilliance with a triumphantly funky guitar solo that Clark tears apart.

Her traditional backing band for this song complements her perfectly, ascending with her voice and completely obliterating the almost robotic cadence of the song.

“Prince Johnny” is a fairly traditional song by Clark’s standards. It is a love song addressed to an unidentified lover. Her poetic lyrics complement the angelic backing vocals perfectly and it almost feels like a better version of a Lana Del Rey song. It is a lushful, rhythmic ballad with a melancholic, detailed narrative that puts Clark’s vocals on full display.

Her fluctuating vocals give off a religious feel and the smooth guitar-tinged beat enhances the tone of the song perfectly.

The next two songs are both genius tracks with surprising twists. “Huey Newton” starts with a strange electronic beginning, but ultimately becomes an almost heavy metal song with absolutely incredible guitar playing and shrieking vocals. A hard guitar solo comes out of almost nowhere to absolutely blow the listener away. Lead single “Digital Witness” is an ode to the Facebook era of oversharing. It is carried by a thumping, synthesized beat and Clark makes her message clear: She “wants all of your mind.” She does not want to share her love with anything, not even social media.

The next six songs are all great pieces of music in their own right, but these first five are absolutely captivating. “I Prefer Your Love” is another ballad that again focuses on religions, but in a negative way. Her voice floats over a soft beat as she questions the nature of life, love and family.

“Regret” does a great job of switching styles between a fluid, harmonic hook to hard guitar solos throughout. Clark builds anticipation with her soft voice and then switches the tempo with her own guitar playing. “Psycho-

photo courtesy of flavorwire.com

The cover art from St. Vincent’s most recent album, released Tuesday, Feb. 25.

path” is a more poppy song that resembles an old Lauryn Hill song with less funk.

St. Vincent has created another masterful album that transcends both genre and style. It is a work of art that has to be truly delved into to be appreciated. This is an album that deserves your full attention. Do not worry about it growing old—the styles

are far too different to ever become boring. This album truly deserves all the praise it is bound to receive in the coming months. It is filled with fantastic songs throughout that touch every range of substance and emotion. Clark’s style might not be for everyone, but “St. Vincent” is truly fine art that deserves as much appreciation as possible.

‘Pompeii’ plot goes up in flames Fallon welcomes ‘The

photo courtesy of indiewire.com

Milo (Kit Harington) and Cassia (Emily Browing) declare their love in “Pompeii.”

by kaitlynne birkett Co-Copy Chief

Set in 79 AD, the newly released film “Pompeii” follows a slew of characters as their city falls under the power of a volcano. A Celt slave, Milo (Kit Harington, “Game of Thrones”), finds himself being brought to Pompeii to fight against gladiators in their arena, while Cassia (Emily Browning, “A Series of Unfortunate Events”), on the run from some bad experiences in Rome, hopes to find solace in her home city. The two fall in love just as the city begins to fall, first from Roman Empire threats, and then from the unrelenting power of the mountain.

Plotwise, “Pompeii” does not provide any fresh or exciting new stories. Like most forbidden romances in film, that of Milo and Cassia is generic. Neither of them face much discrimination for their love; Cassia’s mother, Aurelia (Carrie-Anne Moss, “The Matrix”), even supports it.

The two have barely known each other for two days, relying purely on physical attraction to risk their lives for the other. A small

revenge subplot is included, with Milo’s family being mercilessly slaughtered at the film’s beginning. As he rushes about Pompeii to save Cassia, he also faces off against the two leaders of the Celtic massacre: Corvus (Kiefer Sutherland, “24”) and Procolus (Sasha Roiz, “Grimm”).

In addition to the sparse plot, not much could be done with character development, which does not give many of the acclaimed actors much to work with. Both Cassia and Milo’s personalities are very bland, their only purpose in life seeming to be their love for each other. Their outside relationships with Ariadne (Jessica Lewis) and Atticus (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, “Lost”) respectively, are never entirely fleshed out. Cassia and Ariadne appear to be great friends, but as Ariadne is her servant, there must be a sense of duty over that of friendship. Atticus, on the other hand, who is a slave one fight away from freedom, must choose between escaping or helping his new friend Milo.

The main saving grace of this film is its cinematography

and CGI. In the final scene of the film, Cassia and Milo embrace each other, flames bursting around them and a wash of ash descending upon the two.

Though the rest of the film does not enrapture, the simple but elegant final shots are enough to strike a chord in the last minutes. The volcano’s special effects are absolutely fantastic, but it seemed as if the majority of the budget went towards that CGI, which neglected simple green screen work in earlier parts of the film. The sets are beautiful, but it is easy to see where the sets ended and computer graphics began.

The biggest flaw of “Pompeii,” though, lies not in acting or character development, but rather simply in the complete lack of historical accuracy.

Most of the people of Pompeii realized what was occurring and escaped to safety, but the film depicts streets littered with bodies, with no movement at all. At one point in the film, Cassia and Milo appear to be the only people left alive, venturing down streets almost impenetrable by corpses.

From the many excavations of Pompeii, only around two thousand bodies have been found, while it is estimated that almost 30 thousand people lived there. A simple Google search would have lent more accuracy to this film.

“Pompeii” is a film of many flaws, but the pure and gorgeous scenes throughout could be reason enough to see the film. Sometimes it is not always necessarily the content that can prove to be the defining factor of a movie, as in this case. The final shot of Cassia and Milo together will stay with all viewers long after the credits have rolled.

Tonight Show’ to NYC by tabor smith Contributing Writer

The NBC late-night programming block began a new era as Jimmy Fallon recently inherited “The Tonight Show,” a show that has aired on the network for 60 years.

Monday, Feb. 17 marked the first episode with Fallon as the host and kick-started a week full of celebrity A-listers and hilarious bits.

Fallon parted the blue curtain and took the stage of a beautiful new “Tonight Show” set at Rockefeller Center in New York City. “This is the first ‘Tonight Show’ broadcast from New York in over 40 years,” said Fallon as he began the first show. “I’m Jimmy Fallon and I’ll be your host … for now,” he said, poking fun at 2010’s chaotic late-night programming shuffle.

After introducing house band The Roots and announcer/sidekick Steve Higgins, Fallon said, “I just want to do the best I can and take care of the show for a while, and if you guys let me stick around long enough, maybe I’ll get the hang of it.”

Overall, the premiere and first week of “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” went very well. What makes Fallon an excellent late-night host is his comfort with the stage and his presence as a comedian. He is collected and on-point; his wit allows him to keep the show moving when it gets dull.

Fan response for his first week was very positive.

Viewership for his premiere was on par with that of Conan O’Brien’s first “Tonight Show.”

A few of Fallon’s first bits quickly circulated around the internet, including an “Evolution of Rap” bit he performed with Justin Timberlake Friday night. His social media presence and younger audience is bringing a fresh vibe and newer, younger viewership to 11:30 p.m. ET. Comedienne Joan Rivers made a brief appearance, alongside several other A-listers, during one of his first sketches, effectively ending her almost 30-year ban from the show. The ban began after she started a late-night program on Fox which competed with Johnny Carson. It was a subtle way of Fallon showing he is embracing a new era of “The Tonight Show.”

Meanwhile, Seth Meyers has taken Fallon’s slot on “Late Night,” and is currently in his first week of shows.

He is expected to do well, but his lack of non-scripted interview experience could impede his ability to keep the show moving. However, bandleader and former SNL cast member Fred Armisen should be able to fill the gaps. “Late Night with Seth Meyers” airs right after Fallon weeknights on NBC. It should not be hard for Fallon to make the show his own, backed by the following he built on “Late Night.” If he is true to his roots, the future of “The Tonight Show,” which airs on NBC weekdays at 11:00 p.m. MT, looks bright indeed.

Feb. 26, 2014

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Navigating SnowBall 2014 by tabor smith Contributing Writer

As we reported in the Feb. 4 issue, SnowBall Music Festival is coming to Denver from April 4-6, and last Friday its three daily schedules were released. If you are a music lover, the task of picking which shows to see can be a tough one—which is why the Clarion has done it for you. It is almost impossible to see every act, so we have done our homework to find out the best acts of SnowBall, concocting a game plan that will allow you to get the most out of your experience.

FRIDAY

4:30 p.m.

The day begins in the Groove Tent for a taste of some of Henry Fong’s house jams.

He is an electro/progressive house producer out of Orlando, Fla., and his big room house vibes are bound to get your feet moving. Just be sure to conserve your energy, as you have a big weekend ahead of you.

5:00 p.m.

Chill out a little bit and head over to the Heat Hut to catch Tropicool. He is an LA-based artist who produces some funky, feel-good disco tunes. It is a great opportunity to get groovy. Plus, you will have plenty of room to dance because it will still be early in the evening.

6:00 p.m.

Get your daily dose of dubstep back in the Groove Tent. HeRobust has skyrocketed in popularity in the last couple years, for good reason. His dirty dubstep drops mixed with a dash of trap will make for a very unique live show.

6:30 p.m.

Try to pry yourself away from heRobust and make your way to the SnowBall Stage to catch the second half of The Floozies’ set. Matt and Mark Hill, brothers out of Lawrence, Kan., have a funky vibe and some crowd-moving electronic hits. Their live sets feature guitar and drums along with some killer production. You will not regret it.

7:15 p.m.

Take this opportunity to walk around the festival and fill up your water bottle.

While you are walking around, go check out the Ballroom Stage where the Brooklynbased group, Escort, will be firing up some disco house.

7:30 p.m.

Find a good spot at the main-stage for Earl Sweatshirt. This 20-year-old LA rapper has made a name for himself by teaming up with artists such as Mac Miller, Flying Lotus and Pharrell Williams. Tyler the Creator, Frank Ocean and Earl Sweatshirt are among the premier members of OFWGKTA (Odd Future), a popular rap collective formed in 2006. His set is one of the most anticipated of the festival and will certainly be one to remember.

8:30 p.m.

Work your way out of the crowd and head back to the Groove Tent once more for Mimosa’s set. This Global Dance Festival 2013 headliner will undoubtedly have the whole tent moving to his one-of-a-kind glitch-hop tracks.

9:00 p.m.

Leave the Groove Tent a bit early and get your bearings back in preparation for Knife Party. Then, find a good spot at the SnowBall Stage. Knife Party is a headliner for good reason; they go hard. Their in-yourface dubstep and electro-house drops are on the intense end of the electronic music spectrum, so their live show is packed full of energy. Their hour-and-a-half long set will surely take it out of you, so make sure you are well hydrated and do your best to keep your group of friends together.

SATURDAY

2:00 p.m.

Start your day off by checking out the indie-rock group, The Knew, at the Ballroom Stage. Support this local group and get the blood flowing with their exciting take on rock-and-roll.

3:00 p.m.

Go check out Technicolor Tone Factory at the main stage. While their music incorporates the sound of many genres, they are hard-rock group at heart, with influences of soul, electronica and jazz. No matter how you label them, their live show will be a party.

Stick around the SnowBall Stage afterwards for the beginning of the indie electronica group, STRFKR. 4:30 p.m.

Head back to the Ballroom Stage to see SunSquabi’s second set of the day. They are described as “electronic hydro-funk,” and are comprised of a guitarist/producer, a bassist and a drummer. They have played sets at several top-tier Colorado venues including Red Rocks Amphitheater, and they have appeared at many music festivals across the country.

5:30 p.m.

Get ready for your hip-hop portion of the day and head back to the Snowball Stage.

Rapper and producer Brother Ali has been in the game since 1998 and takes his inspiration from the golden age of hip-hop.

6:20 p.m.

Once more to the Ballroom Stage to catch the end of Afroman’s set. It is rare that you would be able to see this Grammynominated rapper perform live. Chances are good he will save his hits, “Because I Got High” and “Crazy Rap” for the end of his set so hopefully you will catch them.

6:45 p.m.

Lunice is halfway through his set at the Groove Tent. This producer/DJ specializes in bass lines and is often featured on BBC Radio 1 and the Mad Decent Block Party with the popular producer, Diplo. He has toured internationally and forms one half of the electronic duo, TNGHT. 7:15 p.m.

If you have not already, this is a good time to take a walk around the festival. Drink some water and relax a bit because you have almost four hours of insanity ahead of you.

7:45 p.m.

Whenever you are recharged, meander back to the Groove Tent for Kill the Noise.

In fact, his name is a complete misnomer because he brings the noise to a new level (in a good way). He is an electronic producer from New York and is signed to Skrillex’s OWSLA label. His intense dubstep/drumand-bass drops are a must-see.

8:30 p.m.

It is time for Pretty Lights. Get a good spot at the SnowBall Stage and get ready for the electronic artist to which all others are measured. If you have not heard of him, you might be living under a rock. This Colorado native dropped out his freshman year of college to produce music, and his talent has gained him his own record label and a massive following worldwide. His live shows broke new ground after his appearance at Red Rocks Amphitheater last year, which featured a full live band. Additionally, according to an official SnowBall press release, fans can look forward to new live instrumentation and visual production. Strap on your dancing shoes and get ready for two and a half hours of greatness!

SUNDAY

2:00 p.m.

Kickstart the last day by checking out the Boulder-based progressive electronic group,

Eminence Ensemble, at the Ballroom Stage.

They incorporate sounds from many genres into their songs, and they embrace improvisation in their live shows. Although they have been producing since 2008, this five-man collaboration has remained under the radar.

7:30 p.m.

Rapper/producer/actor Busta Rhymes is taking the main stage. To date, he has received 11 Grammy nominations and is frequently hailed as one of the best rappers of the ‘90s. Do not miss this one!

3:00 p.m.

Head over to the Groove Tent for some TWRK. If the name did not already clue you in, TWRK produces primarily trap music aimed at getting you to shake your rump.

Afterwards, stick around for What So Not, an Australian electronica duo that has been turning heads for the past year with their truly unique electronic sound.

8:00 p.m.

No one knows quite what to expect from this last set in the Groove Tent. Pretty Lights is bringing together many of the artists on his label, PLM, to perform on the same stage. This includes Pretty Lights himself, recently announced Michal Menert, Paul Basic, Supervision, Eliot Lipp and more. This electronic collaboration is likely the most anticipated set of the festival, and it will surely be one to remember.

5:00 p.m.

Time to head over to the SnowBall Stage for Chali 2na, a founding member of the hiphop group Jurassic 5. He has also collaborated with artists such as K’naan, Mos Def, Rusko, the Black Eyed Peas and Slightly Stoopid.

5:30 p.m.

Time for a break. While it is still kind of early in the evening, you are going to want to recharge because the rest of the day is jampacked with great sets.

6:00 p.m.

Head back to the SnowBall Stage for Wild Belle, the indie-rock group out of Chicago. You may have heard their popular single “Keep You” or their debut album “Isles,” which was released under Columbia Records.

6:45 p.m.

Clockwork’s set is starting back at the Groove Tent. After the release of his single “Squad Up,” he got the attention of worldrenowned DJ Steve Aoki, who signed him to his label, Dim Mak. Since then, the big-room house producer has been touring internationally and gaining a lot of attention in the electronic dance scene.

9:45 p.m.

Spend the rest of your night at the SnowBall Stage grooving to the electrofunk vibes of the Griz. Griz got his start producing at the age of 14, and he has since pioneered a new realm of the electronic genre. Old funk samples, chest-thumping bass lines and live sax power his sets, and his collaboration with producer Gramatik brought his music to a new level. He will undoubtedly finish off the weekend right and leave you craving more.

Keep in mind that half the fun of a music festival like SnowBall is exploration.

Do not follow this schedule to a tee; check out some artists you have never heard of before and of course, make sure you catch the sets of your favorites. It is going to be quite difficult to steer yourself wrong, so go with the flow.

If you do not have tickets to SnowBall yet, they are available at SnowBall’s website for pre-sale prices of $150 for three days and $350 for three-day VIP. While the festival is accessible by lightrail, SnowBall has also partnered with nearby hotels to offer discounted lodging packages. Discounted Winter Park lift tickets for April are also available.

Feb. 26, 2014

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Vagina Monologues promotes Vagina Warriors by naomi forman Staff Writer

“Vagina. Vagina. It doesn’t matter how many times you say the word, it never sounds like a word you want to say.”

This is a quote from the Vagina Monologues, which were presented at DU the Friday of Valentine’s Day. These courageous female students weren’t intimidated by saying “vagina.” And they said it a lot.

Audience members experienced vagina words, vagina thoughts, vagina stories and vagina empowerment. It was all about vaginas, from vaginas and for vaginas. For vaginas are the creators of life, they are 50 percent of the human race, they are the identity of women and they are being globally dismissed and abused. It is time to expand the vagina dialogue and transform DU students into Vagina Warriors.

Eve Ensler, the creator of Vagina Monologues, explains, “I was worried about vaginas, I was worried what we think about vaginas and even more worried that we don’t think about them.” She has me worried. I had never considered whether or not we were thinking about vaginas too much, too little, in the right way or in the way that matters.

USA Today discusses a study from the “Journal of Sex Research” that reports college-age guys think about sex 19 times a day, but does this ever actually involve the intricacies of the vagina? Psychology Today reports that women on average engage in familiarity with the vagina, otherwise known as masturbation, 22 percent less than men; this figure for men is 61 percent nationally. Fifty-three percent of DU students have vaginas and yet I seem to be missing out on all the vagina discussions.

What does dialogue surrounding vaginas sound like on our campus?

I approached several students and simply asked, “What do you think about vaginas?” Most were taken aback, giggly and not all that enthused to voice their vagina views. The majority began with “I don’t know…” and then went on to state some brief observation about vaginas or vaginas in our society. Katie Bring commented, “I don’t think people talk about them,” on the other hand, “‘penis’ gets a lot of attention.” This was echoed in Kaitlyn Sniffin’s statement,“It’s a dick, whatever, but nobody will ever actually say the word vagina.” In search of male opinions I posed this question to three gentlemen, Roy-Michael Harris, Ben Bulow and Luke

Torchetta. What do they think of vaginas?

In Roy’s view, “They’re useful, because babies come out of them.” Ben, on the other hand, feels they have become objectified within our society. And lastly, Luke mumbled something about too much vagina talk and needing to go to the gym.

One of the most comical yet positive, provocative and honest responses I heard was from Andrea Gerdes. She explained a saying she had heard about vaginas that she really loved. “Why do people say ‘grow some balls?’ Balls are weak and sensitive. If you wanna be tough, grow a vagina. Those things can take a pounding.” This quote is sometimes attributed to Betty White, but the author is officially unknown. It certainly is the initial stages of recognizing that vaginas are worth talking about, since vaginas not only play an immense role in the circle of life, but they are pretty damn impressive. No girl should ever be made to feel ashamed of her vagina, no girl should ever have a vagina violated; vaginas should be celebrated.

This is the mission of the Vagina Monologues. Inspiring responses were heard, such as the one from first-year DU student Beccah Schaefer, “I was so

excited to have a vagina and to know other people with vaginas.” Finding our vagina voices. From woman to woman raising awareness about vaginas. Genital mutilation, rape — incest, the list of vagina violations is disturbingly extensive. And it is this mission that inspires the development of what Ensler recognizes as Vagina Warriors.

Vagina Warriors are women or “vagina friendly men” who, in the face of immense violence, choose to grieve it instead of attack it and who dedicate their lives to ensuring no other has to experience this same suffering, whatever it may be. We already have many warriors on campus: Lori Scott, the co-director of DU’s 2014 Vagina Monologues, is a warrior for vaginas; Mollie Doerner, president of DU Environmental team, is a warrior for the earth; and Alejandro Garcia, an active member of QSA, is a warrior for the LGBTQIA community.

Ensler believes that “lasting social and cultural change is spread by ordinary people doing extraordinary things.” Take from this the empowerment to talk about whatever matters to you, whether or not that be vaginas, and to be a catalyst for change. Be a warrior.

want you to feel comfortable being your true, authentic self,” reads part of the announcement on the Diversity page.

This move makes a lot of sense for Facebook, whose major goal is to allow users to create their own personal profile that they feel is the best representation of their true identity.

So what are these new genders? The list of more than 50 include options such as androgynous, bi-gender, intersex, cis male, cis female, gender nonconforming and transsexual, among others. The sheer number of options available demonstrates a basic but still significant form of recognition for the growing number of Americans who do not identify as simply male or female. Facebook software engineer Brielle Harrison, who identifies as a transwoman, told the Associated Press, “There’s going to be a lot of people for whom this is

going to mean nothing, but for the few it does impact, it means the world.”

Initially, this new option will only apply to Facebook’s 159 million U.S. users, although it plans to expand the customizable gender option for international users as well in the future. The U.S. market was probably one of the most likely to accept the new options without much pushback.

Still, there has been some disagreement with the decision to make more options for gender available. Focus on the Family, a Colorado-based group that advocates for conservative values, does not support the decision. “Of course Facebook is entitled to manage its wildly popular site as it sees fit, but here is the bottom line: It’s impossible to deny the biological reality that humanity is divided into two halves — male and female,” said Jeff Johnston, an issue analyst for Focus on the Family.

For all practical purposes, this is an important step in taking acceptance of differences to a new level. Even though the number of people impacted relative to Facebook’s overall user base is miniscule, seeing the option available or seeing friends who have non-traditional identities will serve as a constant reminder that the world of gender identity today is not black and white but, pardon the pun, more than 50 shades of gray.

Everyone should be comfortable identifying with the gender they believe themselves to be, even though this is impossible when it comes down to a single checkbox. The move by Facebook should be heralded and replicated by other social media outlets and sites where users can build profiles, giving everyone the opportunity to identify as the gender that they see themselves.

Facebook gender options more inclusive by danny zimny-schmitt Senior Reporter

On Feb. 13, Facebook announced on its diversity page that it will now allow its users to identify themselves as more than male or female for their gender. This rollout of more than 50 new gender options came just in time for Valentine’s Day, and demonstrated that the social media giant is recognizing that some people choose to identify themselves as something other than male or female. This is a great and important step forward that should be followed by other sites where profiles can be created.

The announcement on the diversity page noted the social media company’s commitment to making its users feel comfortable on the site. “When you come to Facebook to connect … we

Pioneer Voices:

what are you most excited about for the big event on feb. 28?

liz carey Sophomore Illinois

“I’m excited for all of it.”

lindsay rodgers Freshman California

“[The] concert tickets.”

aaron sexton Freshman Kentucky

“I won’t be going. I have practice.”

stephanie jones Sophomore New Jersey

“The hamster ball things.”

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Feb. 26, 2014

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Girl Scout cookies cruel Weekly Wealth: The Rod Report by naomi forman Staff Writer

We’ve all been confronted by those little schoolgirls on Driscoll or walking into Safeway, more than a few of us guilted into purchasing a box or two of cookies. But what lies behind those sales pitches and inside those Girl Scout cookies? The Girl Scouts website states that girls “need ways to learn about social justice issues that will turn their empathy, interest, and compassion into action.” Developing people’s sense of compassion is a mission that genuinely should be strived for in more arenas. Instilling moral values and the ability to engage in activism on their behalf are invaluable qualities. But do those cookies, that are so integrated into the Scout experience, support this mission of kindness? Unfortunately, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals would respond with “no” and are calling for some of their cookies to have a cruelty-free transformation.

Selling these cookies provides them with the opportunity to not only participate in more scouting, but to “better their world.”

This may not be reflected in their product, however. The majority of Girl Scout cookies are not vegan, which means they contain either eggs and/or dairy. Through this immense production they are supporting an industry that exploits and abuses animals.

Not just any animals: mothers, daughters and sisters of the farming world. The money raised to continue the empowerment of girls is contributing to systematic degrading and violence towards millions of females.

Shifts towards more inclusive and compassionate cookie options have begun

and should be supported. Unbeknownst to cookie gobblers Girl Scout cookies are produced by two separate companies depending on what region they’re in, either the Little Brownie Bakers (LBB) or ABC Bakers. These companies are not affiliated with one another despite supplying nearly identical cookies. ABC has a significant and impressive advantage over LBB: they offer vegan and gluten-free options.

With veganism trending and being an option that better maintains the Scout mission, it only makes sense for these companies to evolve in that direction, and ABC did not wait long to jump on board. Currently they provide four all-vegan cookies and one non-vegan gluten-free cookie. ABC’s Lemonades, Peanut Butter Patties, ThinMints and Thanks-A-Lots are all vegan and their gluten-free option is a chocolate chip shortbread. Though LBB also bakes ThinMints and Peanut Butter Patties (Tagalongs) they have refused to remove the whey (milk byproduct) from their recipe. When asked about vegan options they responded with, “Little Brownie Bakers does not label our cookies vegetarian or vegan because there are varying definitions for these terms.”

Except it’s pretty cut and dry in reality: If they removed the whey from the cookies ABC has already piloted, they would be vegan and could therefore be labeled as such.

The purpose of Girl Scouts is to develop young girls into strong, compassionate young ladies. Let us begin by encouraging more vegan cookies to be sold and therefore embody their mission of bettering the world. Sign this petition to encourage Little Brownie Bakers to incorporate vegan options.

Let’s talk about Boone, baby by chris bach Opinions Editor

We are well into 2014 and we still do not have a mascot. But what I find most disturbing is not that we still lack a symbol of school spirit, but that discussion on the matter has virtually come to a halt. There should be as much discussion as possible until we come to a consensus on a mascot.

I have not had contact with any member of USG, so I do not know if any discussion is going on there. However, I do know that among the general population, talks about the mascot situation have ceased to exist. This is unacceptable. I find it very embarrassing when I have to tell my friends from other schools that my school does not have an official mascot. Yes, we are the Pioneers, but what do I tell them is the symbol of a Pioneer?

I would like to say that our symbol is Boone. I have made this argument in two other articles (one last Jan. and another one last May), so I will not spend time here on why I believe this; rather, I am saying this in hopes of re-energizing the conversation.

Despite whether you agree with me or not, each of us has a responsibility in voicing our opinions about the future of DU. The mascot, either Boone or something new, will be the face of this university in the future and that is something to take seriously.

Only through dialogue will we be able to shape the next symbol of what it means to be a Pioneer. Previous attempts to come up with a new mascot have failed.

This university spent thousands of dollars on developing new ideas for mascots only for the student body to ultimately reject the ideas. I would like to mention here that Boone was not a part of the choices offered to the students. I can only wonder what the outcome would have been if Boone had been a choice.

Regardless, I see the failed attempts as a lack of communication. I do not think the student body provided a coherent voice and thus the decision-makers had difficulty responding adequately. Ultimately, this is why we are still left without a mascot. My hopes are that by reigniting the discussion we can have a much better dialogue this time around and actually come up with a solution. And this responsibility is on each and every one of us.

We need to speak openly, candidly and respectfully about our options. Stand firm with what you want; don’t be afraid to support the mascot that you want to represent you. The administration and USG will respond to the will of the students. If we can redevelop a conversation among the students, then I believe that we will continue down the path of finding a mascot. I am hoping this article is the first step.

The opinions in this article are for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell the stocks/funds/bonds mentioned. Past performance of the companies discussed may not continue and the companies may not achieve the earnings growth as predicted. Investments in stock markets carry significant risk; stock prices can rise or fall without any understandable or fundamental reasons. The Clarion does not recommend anyone act upon any investment information without first consulting a financial advisor.

by roderick o’dorisio Business Manager

In a little town outside of Kiev, Ukraine, Jan Koum was born to a humble housewife and a construction worker.

Jan’s house had no hot water, and his parents rarely spoke on the phone out of fear that the state had tapped their lines.

When Jan was 16, he immigrated to Mountain View, Calif. where he barely graduated high school and isolated himself from his peers. During senior year in high school, Jan taught himself the basics of computer programming and networking from a couple books from the local library. He then joined a hacker group called wOOwOO on the Efnet Internet relay chat network where he gained valuable knowledge from other hackers and programmers on the forums.

After dropping out of San Jose State University, Jan was hired by Yahoo as an infrastructure engineer. He worked for nine years at Yahoo and lost thousands of dollars to the dotcom bubble burst and Yahoo’s failed Project Panama of 2006.

In 2007 after leaving Yahoo, Jan applied for a job at Facebook and was rejected. With little money and no job, Jan enrolled in the government’s Social Security system and began receiving food stamps from the North County Social Services office in Mountain View.

A little more than five years later at the same location where he received food stamps in North County, Jan signed one of the largest technology deals to date. He sold his startup company, WhatsApp, to Facebook for an impressive $19 billion.

While at Yahoo, Jan became friends with Brian Acton. Brian supported Jan after they both left Yahoo in 2007, and he eventually became the co-founder of WhatsApp with Jan. The idea was hatched at a kitchen counter when Jan was scrolling through his contacts and wished that each individual contact would have a status displayed next to the name — “At the Gym,” “In a Meeting,” “Sleeping Zzzz.” Over the next couple years, Jan and Brian teamed up with several Apple developers to establish the back-end framework of the application and eventually released the first version in February of 2009.

However, the app was only installed by a handful of Jan’s friends due to crashes and bugs. In June 2009, Apple released its Push Notifications, which allowed WhatsApp users to receive updates regarding the status of their contacts. What the founders quickly realized was that they had inadvertently created a messaging app through the status updates. Towards the end of that summer, WhatsApp 2.0 was released with a messaging component, and it immediately saw its users swell to over 250,000.

By 2011, WhatsApp was in the top 20 most downloaded apps in the U.S. store.

By Feb. 2013, with only 50 employees, WhatsApp had gathered over 200 million users worldwide.

But why is this small start-up company that barely brought in $20 million revenue last year worth $19 billion?

Because WhatsApp is a Facebook killer.

One of the most significant aspects lacking in Facebook’s platform was its ability to successfully implement real-time communication via chat, even with its own standalone application of Facebook Messenger. “It’s widely used today for chatting with your Facebook friends, and a lot of the messages are not real time,” said Mark Zuckerberg on a conference call to discuss the acquisition. WhatsApp removes the informal email structure of Facebook Messenger and instead integrates the real-time communication with all your contacts and friend groups.

WhatsApp is one of the fastest growing apps ever released on the market. It currently boasts over 450 million users worldwide with an average of one million new users signing up daily. Six hundred million photos are uploaded every day.

Two hundred million voice messages are sent per day. One hundred million video messages are sent per day. WhatsApp represented a significant existential threat to Facebook, and Facebook responded appropriately — write a fat check to the company who could have outsmarted Facebook.

In a matter of five years, Jan Koum went from standing in line for food stamps to being worth $6.8 billion.

To put things in a broader perspective, the WhatsApp deal for $19 billion represents 10 percent of Ukraine’s entire GDP.

“With only 50 employees, WhatsApp had gathered over 200 million users.”

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Editorial Board

Staff Writers

alex johnson lanna giauque

Editor-Elect

carli hansen

Assistant News Editor kameryn tanita

Lifestyles Editor

camilla sterne

Assistant Lifestyles Editor

Editor-in-Chief

sarah ford

kaitlynne birkett

Co-Copy Chief

Managing Editor Digital Director

noel mckillip

gusto kubiak

chris bach

Co-Copy Chief

Photography Editor

Opinions Editor

calvin jouard

meg mcintyre

Sports Editor

paul heinen

Web Editor

Logan Baker Sawyer D’Argonne Naomi Forman

Entertainment Editor Social Media Director

Contributing Photographers Breanna Demont

Staff Photographers Emily Krebs Kim Nesbitt

Faculty Adviser

Andrew Matranga

Senior Reporters

Kaitlynne Birkett Isabel McCan Jillian Queri Brandon Tate Danny Zimny-Schmitt

Contributing Writers

Mae Birtch Makayla Cisneros Connor Davis Courtney Luster Keller Minton Gigi Peccolo Tabor Smith

Online and Digital Sales Lead JD Arora

Advertising Representative Isa Almy

Advertising Manager

Adrienne Leonard

Business Manager

Roderick O’Dorisio

The Clarion is the official student publication of the University of Denver. It serves as the Voice of the Pioneers. It does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the faculty, the staff and/ or the administration. Reproduction of The Clarion in whole or part in any form written, broadcast or electronic without written permission of The Clarion is prohibited. The opinions expressed by columnists and contributing writers do not necessarily reflect those of The Clarion. Any photograph that has been substantially altered or staged for use as a graphic will be labled as a photo illustration.

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Feb. 26, 2014

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In the (CC Tiger) jaws of defeat

GAME TALK

Saying goodbye The Clarion sports staff dives into the world of athletics. by sawyer d’argonne Staff Writer

gusto kubiak|clarion

Freshman forward Gabe Levin (white) battles for the puck against two Colorado College (CC) players. The Pios lost both games to rival CC over the weekend to lose the season series.

Continued from page 1 DU had won the first part of the series earlier this year, winning and topping CC in a shootout tie back in November. The Pios were expected to retain the trophy this year, as the Tigers entered the weekend with just four wins on the season and needing to defeat DU twice in order to win the Gold Pan. CC took the lead early in Friday’s match with a first period goal by Jared Hanson.

Sophomore Quentin Shore tied the game for the Pioneers in the second period before the wheels began to fall off for Denver. In a controversial call, Captain Zac Larraza was ejected for game misconduct after a contact-to-the-head

penalty resulted in a fiveminute major. The power play allowed the Tigers to blow the game open with a late second period goal by CC’s Cody Bradley. An early third period goal by Christian Heil gave the Tigers a two-score lead. A kneeing penalty by CC’s Jared Hanson seemed to light a fire under the Pioneers.

Senior David Makowski hit a power-play goal to lift the Pios within one, although the deficit would prove too large to overcome.

“I’ve got to look at how I’m preparing the team because obviously on Friday nights— it’s been three Friday nights in a row where we’re sub par. So that falls on me and preparation and how I’m preparing them mentally and physically,”

said coach Jim Montgomery.

Montgomery touched on that fact that the Pios again started the weekend off slow, an unfortunate habit for Denver. The Pioneers have not won a Friday game since Jan. 17 at Minnesota Duluth.

Saturday’s game also saw DU start off from behind.

Aaron Harstad gave CC a short-lived lead before Junior Matt Tabrum tied it up for Denver late in the first period.

An uneventful second period gave way to a two-goal third period for the Tigers as they came away with a 3-1 win, and the Golden Pan. Sam Brittain had 33 saves in the match, and allowed two goals before CC scored on an empty net with seconds left to play.

Coach Montgomery also

discussed the issue of the Pioneers’ struggles in big games.

“We talked about it this week. I thought that our first game against CC on a Friday night there, and the first Friday night we had here against the North Dakota, rivalry games, and/or nationally televised games for whatever reason we start slow. And it happened again tonight.”

Denver will take on Western Michigan in Kalamazoo this weekend. The Broncos hold a 15-12-5 mark on the season with a 9-9-2 record in conference play. They also hold a two-point conference lead over the Pioneers, meaning this weekend’s game may prove vital to win home ice advantage in the quarterfinals of the NCHC Tournament.

Udofia impresses in final home games of career by calvin jouard Sports Editor

It was the Chris Udofia show this past weekend in what may be the last time the senior forward steps on the court as a starter for the Pioneer men’s basketball team.

A fitting end to an altogether impressive college career, Udofia started off the weekend strong in the 75-67 win over Western Illinois University with a near tripledouble performance.

He scored 21 points on 8-for-9 shooting to go along with eight rebounds, seven assists and three blocks.

Udofia proceeded to snag a double-double against the University of Nebraska Omaha on Saturday night, scoring 12 points and grabbing 11 boards, seven of which came in the first half.

The 6-foot-6 forward also

played stingy defense on the way to a 72-60 team win, a win that puts the Pioneers at 15-12 overall and 8-4 (fourth place) in the Summit League.

“It’s just nice to do that in Chris’ last home game because he played unbelievable in a big game and he finished his career at home the right way,” said head coach Joe Scott.

Udofia was not the only one making shots Thursday night, as the Pios shot at a season-best clip of 65.8 percent from the field in a backand-forth affair last Thursday night. The game featured 15 lead changes.

Clutch free throws down the stretch by Udofia and sophomore guard Bryant Rucker along with stingy team sealed the win for the Pioneers.

There was a lesser sense of tension during Saturday night’s game against the

Omaha Mavericks, apart from the first half.

Down nine at the 13minute mark of the first half, junior guard Brett Olson hit a second-chance 3-pointer to get the scoring going for the Pioneers, and at the half the Pios held a seven-point, 41-34 lead.

The Pios used a 17-6 run in the first part of the second half to distance themselves from the Mavericks, at one point holding a 23-point lead, the largest of the night.

Both nights the Pios had four players get to double digits. Sophomore guard Nate Engesser scored 11 points both nights to lead the effort off the bench, and made a goahead layup Saturday night that gave the Pios their first lead of the night with under 6 minutes to play. Omaha would never lead again.

SEE UDOFIA, PAGE 16

gusto kubiak|clarion

Senior forward Chris Udofia (34).

One of the hottest stories in all of sports right now is the announced retirement of Yankee great Derek Jeter. Jeter will finish up his 20th season as a shortstop for the New York Yankees this season before giving up baseball for good.

This news wasn’t all that shocking. He’s 39 years old and has had injury troubles in the last couple of seasons. He wants to go out proud and productive, the way a player of his stature and legacy should. The news did get me thinking though. All of a sudden I was reminiscing about my own baseball life, and I came to some realizations. Hanging up the cleats is a very hard thing to do (I couldn’t do it yet, as I felt overwhelmingly compelled to join DU’s club baseball team). If it’s hard for people like me, I can only imagine how hard it is for someone who has been playing professionally for 20 years.

While it won’t be the last time we hear Jeter’s name (goodbye baseball, hello Cooperstown), it sparked another musing. It’s tough to say goodbye to the players we love to watch.

Big-time players are always retiring. Mariano Rivera and Ray Lewis are recent examples of future Hall of Famers leaving their game.

It is always grim to see your favorite players leave, but it’s especially hard for us college fans. At most we get four years to follow the collegiate careers of our favorite players. The Yankees are losing their captain, but DU is losing one of theirs as well. David Makowski, defender and co-captain of the hockey team, is graduating this year, taking with him goalie Sam Brittain and possibly others. Men’s basketball will bid farewell to Chris Udofia. Gymnastics says goodbye to Jorie Hall and Moriah Martin.

The list goes on. So how do we, as fans, accept that we don’t get to go to their games every week and cheer them on?

Lucky for both us and them, if a player is able to go pro, we do get the privilege to continue watching them. We may, gathered around friends watching a Florida Panthers game sometime in the future, get to boast about how we got to see Sam Brittain dominate the NCHC. For those who are not able to take the next step, the reality of their departure is much more menacing. All we can really do is look back at their time in the DU uniform fondly, recalling how great it was to get to see them play, and accepting that we will inevitably fall in love with a new batch of Pioneers. Thinking about it can be tough, but it teaches us that we can’t take for granted getting to see our favorite players, professional or collegiate, and that you should never hang up your cleats until you’re absolutely sure you’re ready.

Feb. 26, May 22, 2014 2012

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Men’s lacrosse scores two wins at Face-Off Classic www.duclarion.com

16

Feb. 26, 2014

by calvin jouard Sports Editor

After a four-point loss to top-ranked Duke University last weekend, the men’s lacrosse squad rebounded with two wins at the Frontier Airlines Face-Off Classic at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium.

Sophomore attackman and Hartford-transfer Jack Bobzien led the charge on the offensive end, netting three goals in the 15-9 win over Marist College on Saturday, and adding four goals and assist in a 14-3 pummelling of Canisius College this past Sunday.

“Last weekend was clearly disappointing, but it taught us a valuable lesson about how hard we gotta work during the week, and they put in a great week of effort and they got the rewards today and yesterday,” said Head Coach Bill Tierney.

Offense was particularly explosive in the first game of the weekend, tallying seven goals in the first quarter of play against Marist, a burst fueled in part thanks to senior midfielder Harrison Archer’s three scores. The Pios were up 11-5 at half.

The Red Foxes of Marist seemed to be mounting a comeback in the beginning of the fourth quarter, reeling off three goals to DU’s lead to three, 12-9.

Freshman attackman Zach Miller stopped the bleeding for the Pios, after split-dodging

to the middle of the field and puncturing the top of the net from 10 yards out. Miller’s third goal of the game triggered a three-goal run for the Pios to close out the win.

Defense proved to be the deciding factor in Sunday’s win over Canisius. The Pios held the Golden Griffins scoreless for the first 21 minutes of the game,and held a 7-2 advantage heading into the half.

“I thought our starters did a great job of keeping things under control,” Tierney said. “They never had a letup offensively or defensively, we were very patient today, very unselfish.”

Bobzien had three of DU’s four goals to start the second half, and the defense would go on to give up only one more goal. Senior goalie Jamie Faus was named tournament MVP. He had 10 saves on the weekend. “[It’s] always pretty humbling getting an award like that but our defense did an amazing job this weekend throughout both games, [only] giving up bad shots, making great slides, making the job easier on Ryan [Laplante] and I,” Faus said.

Junior attackman Wesley Berg, who had 56 goals last year, was quiet on the weekend, scoring three goals and adding two assists. Another highly-touted returnee in senior Jeremy Noble was just as quiet when it came to lighting up the scoreboard, having tallied two assists between Saturday and Sunday’s

kim nesbitt|clarion

Junior midfielder Garret Holst (left) carries the ball during the win over Marist. Holst made the Face-Off Classic all-tournament team.

games. But for Tierney, this did not mean the tandem wasn’t contributing in big ways.

“Everybody’s paying attention to him [Berg],” Tierney said. “What I thought Wes did, today especially [Sunday], was

he really kept the ball moving.”

“I thought Jeremy Noble today was fantastic and I don’t even know if he had a point,” Tierney said, referring to Noble’s play against Canisius.

“He was just all over the field,

ground balls, taking wings [on faceoffs], playing defense, creating offense.”

The Pios head to Philadelphia to take on the 16th-ranked University of Pennsylvania (Penn) on Saturday, March 1.

Udofia leads men’s hoops in wins Continued from page 15

“To have guys come off the bench like that maybe when things aren’t going so well, I think it’s definitely a sign of maturity on their parts individually but also of how our team has grown this year,” Scott said.

With two games left in the regular season, Scott has his team thinking small.

“We gotta embrace the

one-and-done situation. We have a one-game season next Thursday night at South Dakota State. If we can embrace it, and know what the word embrace means to us playing-wise, then we’ll be ready to go.”

Scott and company will be on the road to close out the season, taking on South Dakota State University next Thursday and North Dakota State University on Saturday.

South Dakota State was the

victor in the teams’ last meeting, as the Jackrabbits scored eight points in the final 17 seconds to win in heartbreaking fashion. The Pioneers rebounded the following day to grind out a four-point win over North Dakota State.

“We’re 8-2 in our last 10,” noted Scott. “We’re playing well, and we’ve put ourselves in pretty good position going on the road here to play some really meaningful games.”

Par for the course for women’s golf by jillian queri Senior Reporter

Currently ranked No. 44 in the nation, the women’s golf team started off their regular season with a No. 9 finish at the Peg Barnard Stanford Invitational last weekend.

Senior Tonje Daffinrud tied for eighth, scoring a 73 and a 72 for the two-day tournament. This was her third top 10 finish in a row.

Junior Rachael Watton and sophomores Elise Smidinger and Isabel Southard all shot 74s last weekend, helping the Pioneers make a top 10 finish.

“We did pretty well the first day,” head coach Lindsay Kuhle said. “We were in fourth after the first day and then fell to ninth the second day. We didn’t play our best golf the second day, but we still finished in the top ten.”

With improving weather conditions in Denver, the Pioneers have been able to gain more outdoor playtime before

traveling to tournaments. according to a recent Unfortunately, Denver will coaches poll. A league not be playing in any home championship would be the Pioneers’ third conmatches this season.

Three regular season secutive title of the sort. tournaments remain, with the The Summit League ConChampionships Tulane All-Star Sugar Bowl up ference are scheduled first starting on Feb. 23.

“We just want to for April 21 at the Sky Creek D e n v e r ’s Ranch Golf head coach, get better each Kuhle, was a tournament. We Club in Texas.

If the golfer at Tulane Pioneers win before starting focus a lot on the Summit her coaching League confercareer with the process goals Pioneers. The that lead to the ence title, they will advance fourth annual to Regionals, t o u r n a m e n t outcome.” which will take is bringing in place during 17 teams, 14 Lindsay Kuhle, the first week of which are of May. ranked in the Head Coach “ W e top 50 in the just want to nation.

“Tulane will be great com- improve and get better petition. The course isn’t too each tournament. We difficult, but we will need to focus a lot on process goals be playing well to score well,” that lead to the outcome.

We focus on what we can Kuhle said.

Denver enters the Summit control out on the golf League as the season favorite, course,” Kuhle said.

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