DU Clarion Volume 124 Issue 16

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VOLUME 124, ISSUE 16

WOMEN’S CLUB LACROSSE WINS NATIONALS

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On May 13, women’s club lacrosse took home their second consecutive title

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MUSICFEST 2017: FEATURING D.R.A.M.

MINDLESS CLASSROOMS: USING TECH IN CLASS

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THE BOOK STACK: DU’S 5 USED BOOK STORE pa g e

SUMMER 2017 CONCERT PREVIEW

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| NEWS

A close up of 2017 MusicFest featuring D.R.A.M.

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U Programming Board’s (DUPB) seventh annual MusicFest welcomes D.R.A.M. to Ogden Theatre on Friday, May 26 at 8:30 p.m. D.R.A.M. will be opened by a student opener titled Late Night followed by a second act which has not been announced yet.

D.R.A.M. (Does. Real. Ass. Music.), also known as Shelley Marshaun Massenberg-Smith, is an American rapper, singer songwriter from Hampton, Virginia.

D.R.A.M. is best known for his singles “Cha Cha” and “Broccoli” featuring Lil Yachty.

DUPB will be tabling throughout the week of Monday, May 15 through Friday, May 26 outside of Sturm or on Driscoll Bridge, depending on weather.

Tickets will sell for $15 a piece for DU students only. DU students may bring up to one additional person to the venue by showing their ID card when purchasing a ticket. Tickets will also be available for $18 at the door.

The flashiest of DUPB’s events requires efforts from the organization as early as week one of school to pull off a successful Music Fest.

“We started planning this the first week off school in September,” sophomore committee member Annie Langston said.

“We’ve been working on this since day one; it takes all of our energy every meeting. We have to make sure all of our contacts are in line, that our planning is okay. It’s a lot of emailing and a lot of communication between us and the school and our BABCO [entertainment company] representative.”

Perhaps the hardest part of the process is selecting an artist, mutually one students are interested in that also falls within budget.

“It depends on prices mostly, depending on who we can get.

Then, we take a poll on who we are listening to and what we think will be popular in the spring,” Langston said. “No one

ABOUT US

really knew who D.R.A.M. was in the fall but as time has gone on we’ve seen him grow and we [DUPB] predicted that, so we made a pretty good guess. He just got on tour with Kendrick Lamar, so he’s made a really good growth spurt which is helpful for us.”

Previous MusicFest artists include; Galantis, Milky Chance, Air Dubai, Odesza, The Head and the Heart, Trout and Steak Revival, Chris Webby, The Dean’s List, Brenton Duvall, Hujje, Clipse featuring Epilogue and the Photo Atlas and Swollen Members.

As the quarter system seems to drag on at this point in the year and the grind feels never-ending, DUPB events like May Days and MusicFest aim to motivate students to finish the quarter strong and kick-off summer festivities.

“We try to help relieve stress.

May Days are coming up so it’s all just an end of the year celebration,” Langston said. “Plus, it’s only for DU students, so it makes it more special.”

Sasha Kandrach | News Editor Photo courtesy of DUPB

DU Clarion EDITORIAL STAFF

JOHN POE, Editor-in-Chief RYAN NINESLING, Executive Editor SASHA KANDRACH, News Editor BRAIDEN ALBRECHT-REED, Sports Editor The Clarion is the official student newspaper of the University of Denver, serving as the “Voice of the Pioneers.”

Founded in 1899, it covers campus and local stories with the highest level of journalistic integrity possible. 1000 copies are distributed each Wednesday afternoon (throughout the academic year) across the DU campus, and every article is also published at duclarion.com. The Clarion does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the faculty, staff and/or administration of DU, and the opinions expressed by columnists and contributing writers do not necessarily reflect those of the Clarion.

Reproduction of The Clarion in whole or part in any form written, broadcast or electronic without written permission of The Clarion is prohibited. The opinions expressed by columnists and contributing writers do not necessarily reflect those of The Clarion. Weather forecasts are of courtesy of the National Weather Service. The Clarion reserves the right to reject advertising, stories, columns or letters to the editor that it deems graphic, obscene or that discriminate on the basis of race, culture, gender or sexual orientation.

The Clarion welcomes letters to the editor. Those who submit letters must limit them to 500 words. Some letters may not be published because of space limitations, overly-libelous content or similarity to past submissions. Please submit letters to duclarioneditor@gmail.com.

HOW TO JOIN

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

GRACE CARSON, Opinions Editor SYDNEY KAPP, Lifestyles Editor MADELINE ZANN, Entertainment Editor DUSTIN AMICK, Photo/Video Editor TARYN ALLEN, Copy Editor MADISON HELLER, Copy Editor OLIVIA HYDE, Social Media Director ANDREW MATRANGA, Faculty Adviser

CONTRIBUTING STAFF CLAIRE BOGGS JUSTIN CYGAN NICOLE JOHNSON DANIEL LORENZO CHRIS LUGG JACOB MILTENBERG DANIELA SANTOS VY TRAN

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SPORTS | 3

The Sidelines: Club lacrosse wins back-to-back titles

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or the second year in a row, the DU women’s club lacrosse team secured the US Lacrosse Women’s Collegiate Lacrosse Associates (WCLA) Division II National Championship. Heading into the tournament ranked No. 1, the Pioneers downed Loyola University Maryland 9-6 on May 13.

Having gained momentum throughout the season, DU (14-2) headed into the championship match riding a 13-game winning streak. Despite having an All-American goaltender in Jammie Dumolt, the senior failed to enter the game. Instead, Kallie Feldhaus earned the win after Head Coach Mindy Stone decided Feldhaus’s left-handedness would be more effective versus Loyola’s attack. Feldhaus made eight saves on the day.

Trailing 3-4 in the first half, the Pioneers were able to mount a sizeable run when they rallied off four straight goals. The 7-4 lead heading into halftime was far from safe, as Loyola’s fantastic attack had terrorized opposing defenses all season.

A quick Loyola tally to open the second half cut DU’s lead to 7-5, but the Pioneers backline failed to panic. Instead, they only surrendered one more score over the game’s final 27:42, allowing DU to cruise to a 9-6 victory and become the first back-to-back champion in WCLA Division II history.

“Coming off of our win at nationals last year, we were excited from day one of this season. We wanted to repeat and we knew that we could. I have never experienced a team that is so committed and close-knit, which was a huge factor to our success,” said senior All-American attack Jillian Queri.

Kaitlin Ball, Kelley Dingens and Sophie Vernon represented DU on the Division II All-Tournament Team for their performances throughout the week. Ball recorded two points (one goal, one assist) in the championship game, while Vernon tallied three points (two goals, one assist). Vernon was also named the tournament’s most outstanding midfielder.

The national title put an exclamation mark on another superb

season for the team, having produced six First-Team All Americans and two Second-Team All Americans. Senior Kelly Dingens won the Amtahcha Award as Player of the Year, as well as the Defender of the Year award. Ball was named the Attacker of the

Year and Vernon was awarded the Rookie of the Year.

After another accolade-laden season gleaned a national championship, the team will look to build off of their momentum and make another title run in 2017-18.

Braiden Albrecht-Reed | Sports Editor

Photo courtesy of DU women’s club lacrosse

Men’s lacrosse advances to NCAA quarterfinals

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clash between men’s college lacrosse’s two westernmost teams both located along the I-25 corridor occurred May 13 at the Lacrosse Capital of the West, Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium.

Never trailing in the game, the hosts and fifth-seeded DU Pioneers soundly defeated the Air Force Academy (AFA) Falcons 17-10 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Faceoff extraordinaire and Tewaaraton finalist Trevor Baptiste (Denville, New Jersey) continued to redefine the position at the X, as he was successful in 23-of-27 draws, scored twice and collected 18 ground balls to lead the Pioneers to the victory.

“He’s just an amazing, amazing young man, and in my mind the best player in the country,” DU Head Coach Bill Tierney said.

Denver, one of four programs

Dustin Amick | Clarion

(University of Maryland, University of Notre Dame, Syracuse University) to have hosted a first-round NCAA Tournament matchup in each of the last five seasons, will advance to the second round for the first time since 2015, the same year the Pioneers claimed their first national title. In 2016, DU was the No. 2 seed and fell in the first round to Towson University.

A slow start on Denver’s end, despite a three-goal lead, was quickly diminished. The Pioneers knew their first half performance wasn’t meeting their elite level of play and Tierney could attest.

“I walked in the room and I said, ‘Fellas, I’m going to give you two choices. I can rant and rave and tell you how terrible we’ve played, or you can keep shooting as many shots as you want in the second half. What’s your vote?’” said Tierney.

Caitlin Gannam | Clarion

The Pioneers carried on to dominate the Falcons, outscoring them 11-7 in the second half and finishing with a 46-23 shots on goal advantage.

Denver had six different players to complete the afternoon with multiple points. Senior captain Connor Cannizzaro (Cazenovia, New York), classmate Max Planning (Alexandria, Virginia) and sophomore attack Austin French (Danville, California) all boasted hat tricks. Freshman attack Ethan Walker (Peterborough, Ontario) added two goals and dished two helpers, junior midfielder Connor Donahue (Groton, Massachusetts) had three points (two goals and an assist) and Baptiste had two goals.

Despite Air Force’s final efforts, the Pioneers emerged victorious in the contest. Tierney reflected on the experience of facing military academies over

the years as he currently models some military characteristics in how he runs the DU program.

“I have such respect for [AFA Head Coach] Eric Seremet. Any time you play a United States Military Academy, any of them, you kind of get this feeling inside like, these are the kind of people you want playing our game. It’s an honor to play them,” Tierney said. “You see them running out of the locker room with that [American] flag coming [and] you kind of go, ‘Wow, this is special.’

We’ve been fortunate to be on the good side of the most recent games. You never get second best from those [AFA players]. I’m proud to be on the same field with those guys.”

The Pioneers will face the University of Notre Dame on May 20 in Hempstead, New York at Hofstra University.

Sasha Kandrach | News Editor

Caitlin Gannam | Clarion

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Pio Bio: Jake Nolan rebounds in senior season

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he DU men’s lacrosse team defeated Air Force Academy on May 13 in the first round of the NCAA championship tournament by a score of 17-10. A key cog in the Pioneers’ back line, defenseman Jake Nolan helped Denver earn the home victory. A 21-yearold senior, he has been a vital member of the team this season.

Nolan is from Upper Arlington, Ohio and has been playing lacrosse since he was in the fourth grade. A multi-sport athlete, Nolan also played golf, basketball and soccer before choosing to pursue lacrosse collegiately.

Also recruited by Ohio State University, Colgate University and John Hopkins University, Nolan described his decision to come to DU as a “no brainer.”

“I loved the campus, Colorado, the coaching staff and the teammates,” said Nolan.

While being a student-athlete can be difficult, especially in season when the team is constantly travelling, Nolan believes that playing a sport has made him a better student by teaching him to effectively manage his time and communicate with professors.

On the field, Nolan had to deal with a serious injury when he suffered an ACL tear just weeks before the first game of the 201516 season his junior year. After getting surgery and completing nine months of rehab, Nolan was finally cleared for full play this spring and currently plays a vital role in the Denver defense.

Despite getting injured and missing out on an entire season,

Nolan was still revelling in the highlight of his college career— winning a National Championship his sophomore year. Describing the 2015 championship as “special,” Nolan acknowledged that he is nearing the end of his final season as a DU lacrosse player and is hopeful for another major highlight.

“Being able to win [a championship] my senior year and put my senior class’s stamp on a national championship would be an awesome opportunity,” said Nolan.

As a senior, Nolan recognizes the important role he plays on the team.

“From an experience standpoint, just from being on the team and getting more playing minutes since my freshman year, I’ve been able to help out younger teammates and just be a leader on the field,” said Nolan.

May 13 marked the beginning of the NCAA championship tournament for Division I lacrosse.

Receiving the No. 5 seed, Denver hosted Air Force Academy at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium.

The Pioneers defeated the Falcons by a score of 17-10 and advanced to the second round of the championship tournament to be held in Hempstead, N.Y. next weekend.

Despite having the experience of winning a national championship in 2015, Denver was eliminated by Towson University in the first round of the 2016 NCAA tournament and recently suffered a loss to Marquette University in the BIG EAST Conference tournament on May 4.

“It helps winning a championship two years ago, so we know what it’s like and the work that needs to go into it so we’re able to share that with the younger guys, especially the ones that are playing big minutes for us. I also think losing to Marquette in the BIG EAST Conference tournament both this year and last year helped us learn to digest [the loss], get over it and use it to fuel our next game,” said Nolan.

The leadership that Nolan exemplifies on the field is a testament to how Head Coach Bill Tierney has guided the DU lacrosse program since 2009. “[Working with Tierney is] really great. Not a lot of people have the opportunity. He’s probably one of the best coaches in all of college lacrosse and has won seven national championships, which separates him from any other

college lacrosse coach. He knows what type of people to recruit and bring into the program, and it’s really special to have a coach like him on and off the field. He’s a great coach on the field, and he’s a great mentor off the field. He’ll do anything to help you out, and not only is he trying to get you to be a great lacrosse player but also just a great person for the rest of your life,” said Nolan.

Nolan is set to graduate with the Class of 2017 in June. After graduation, Nolan plans to move back home to Ohio and enter the commercial real estate business.

The Pioneers will be back in action on May 20, taking on the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second round of the NCAA Men’s College Lacrosse Championships at 12:30 p.m. MT in Hempstead, N.Y. Vy Tran | Contributing Writer

Olivia Hyde | Clarion

Women’s tennis wins first round of NCAA Tournament

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articipating in the NCAA Tournament in Lubbock, Texas, the No. 44 DU women’s tennis team made conference history by becoming the first Summit League women’s tennis team to advance past the tournament’s first round. The Pioneers downed No. 25 University of Southern California 4-2 on May 12 before being knocked out of the tournament by No. 7 Texas Tech University on May 13.

The underdog Pioneers fell down 2-0 early to the Trojans after losing the doubles point and the first singles competition. The comeback was initiated by redshirt sophomore Arisha Ladhani (West Vancouver, British Columbia), who won her singles match 6-2, 6-1.

Senior and Summit League Player of the Year Maureen Slattery (Newport News, Virginia) was able to bring the competition back to even at 2-2 after downing her opponent, No. 25 Gabby Smith, 6-2, 6-2.

DU earned a 3-2 lead after senior Sonja Radosevic (Miami, Florida) defeated her opponent.

Completing the team’s comeback and securing the victory, sophomore Bianca Mok (Boise, Idaho) won her singles competition in the No. 3 spot. Despite falling down 2-6 in the first set, Mok battled back (6-4, 7-6 (7-4)) and won the first round-clinching point for the

Pioneers, advancing them to the second round for only the second time in program history and the first time since 2008.

Denver’s Cinderella magic ran out in the second round, running into a fantastically talented Texas Tech team. The No. 17 duo of junior Julia O’Loughlin (Highland Beach, Florida) and Slattery won the first doubles match, but DU was unable to pull out the doubles point as the Red Raiders took the other two matches.

Mok earned DU’s only point on the day, securing a singles competition win versus Alex Valenstein (7-5, 6-3), capping a fantastic weekend for the second-year collegiate athlete.

O’Loughlin, Ladhani and junior Gracia Mboko (Burlington, Ontario) were defeated in their competitions, giving the Red Raiders the 4-1 victory.

The 2016-17 season concluded with an exciting trip to the NCAA Tournament for the women’s team, one in which they can build off of heading into next season. The Pioneers will graduate Slattery, Radosevic and Morgan Barnhill (Austin, Texas) but will hope that the continued progression and growth of younger players can help fill their void next year after a wildly successful campaign this season.

Braiden Albrecht-Reed | Sports Editor

Photo courtesy of DU women’s tennis Facebook

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DU CLARION

OPINIONS | 5

PIONEER FUNNIES

The consequences of classroom internet scrolling R ecall the last class you were in that required you to use your laptop. Most likely, it is a majority of them. Out of the some 20-30 students using a laptop, how many of them are using it for class purposes? A glance around a classroom says certainly not all. How many of those looking at their laptops will keep their eyes on coursework for the entire time?

It is a decreasingly small number.

Having your computer for class became a necessity in the digital world. Our parents’ stories of having to attend every class and take diligent notes, and the fact that you missed it was imperative to get them from someone else you trusted fall by the wayside in the age of online PowerPoints and eBooks. Sitting in class, there is a feeling in the back of a student’s mind that if you miss a piece of information, learning it in a moment of need will only require a modest search through the wealth of information already at our fingertips. We can control search our textbooks for a term to memorize. If you didn’t hear the professor explain the new formula on the board, there’s a plethora of YouTube

videos already on the topic. It is easy to find the condensed information and main points of a lecture on a PowerPoint, sans the life stories and vaguely concealed political ramblings of the professor, or so we tell ourselves.

These thoughts creep onto the edge of our brains as we struggle to pay attention in class. We stare at our laptop screens, the call of infinite amounts of entertainment all sounding just a little bit better than learning the material on the PowerPoint. It is extremely easy to leave Canvas and browse Facebook. The temptation is always there to zone out looking at Reddit.

Whenever a class becomes less than riveting, skiing videos sound much more interesting.

If you were a recovering alcoholic, you probably wouldn’t keep liquor in your cabinet. If you were trying to quit smoking, you probably wouldn’t keep a pack of cigarettes in your pocket. Such is the same way with technology in class: the temptation is ever present. If our attention spans are less than nine seconds, how can we be trusted with a laptop?

We are left with a paradox: technology is a necessity for learning in most classes yet the

main contributor to distraction for students. Have you experienced the phenomenon that a teacher will ask a question, and students hear the inflection in their voice, indicating a question has been asked, but not have the slightest idea how to answer it, or even what it was? A quick check of the laptop screens around the room confirms that the deafening silence that follows a teacher’s unanswered question is usually due to technology disengagement.

In today’s world, where most information can be found with internet resourcefulness and clever Google searches, the relationship between teacher and student changes. How we rate the efficacy of a teacher has become whether they are able to use technology and engage students without distraction. In a world where information is at our fingertips, we place a greater emphasis on teachers who are able to give us real world applications, personal experience and why something matters. While students love being able to access any information at any time, the eventual disengagement from the class is counterproductive

to this want. Agree with it or not, many students have come to expect teachers to not just be vessels for information, but performers and entertainers of a sort as well.

In light of this, students and teachers should have an awareness of the symbiosis of the relationship between them.

Students at DU pay money to be here, to learn, grow and absorb from the teacher resources available. We have a responsibility to respect the time of the teacher and class, to resist the temptations of mindless in class internet scrolling and the expectation that the narrative of the material learned in class will not always be Game of Thrones level of engaging. Teachers also have a responsibility to become more than simply vendors of information, but focus on engagement, applicability and experience.

They have a responsibility to use their humanity to care about the success and futures of their students. Consider the mutual respect of this relationship the next time the urge to mindlessly scroll calls to you.

Chris Lugg | Contributing Writer

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| OPINIONS

PIONEER VOICES Question of the week:

What are you doing this summer?

“For this summer, I plan to do an internship with the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the honor internship program. That’s pretty much what I have planned, and hopefully everything goes well.”

“This summer I’ll be home and working and just trying to spend as much time as I can outside.”

Jack Fenn, Freshman

Andrea Bonilla, Sophomore

“This summer I’m going back home to Tucson, Ariz. and I’ll be interning and grant writing at the Mexican consulate there.”

“I will be living in Grand Lake, Colo. I’ll be working at a clothing store and at an internship with the Water Management and Sustainability Organization.”

Suzannah Whitlatch, Junior

Maggie Heckendorf, Junior

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DU CLARION

LIFESTYLES | 7

DU Org Spotlight: Get to know the Latin@ Student Alliance

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n a campus where the students are mainly white, the 10-year-old Latin@ Student Alliance (LSA) is an organization dedicated to giving minority students a support system during their time at DU that will give them a sense of belonging. “It is called the Latin@ Student Alliance, but it’s not exclusive to just Latinos,” explains LSA president Carina Garfio “We encourage everyone to come.”

Garfio, a third-year student double-majoring in accounting and Spanish, is one of the devoted students at the organization who believes in a safe, diverse campus. She commits this value in everything she is involved in from working at DU’s Center for Multicultural Excellence to her time as president of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority Inc. Recently, the LSA had changed their name from the Latino Student Alliance to the Latin@ Student Alliance to

follow the ongoing movement of making Spanish nouns more gender inclusive. They found this to be an important action to take to strive to be a more accepting community.

Their meetings are an ongoing pattern of informative conversations and group bonding. During their meeting on May 3, keynote words including privilege, race and gender were posted around the room and the group was asked to discuss their thoughts as each word was brought up. It was the students’ chance to share their experiences and engage in deep conversation with their understanding and compassionate peers.

As tradition, LSA hosts some events to continue celebrating the different faces on campus.

In the Fall Quarter, they host a homecoming event called Noche Caliente where students can dance and hang out as they get re-accommodated to life on campus. This month, the orga-

Daniela Santos | Clarion

nization is planning a custodial appreciation dinner where they thank the unrecognized employees of DU. Acknowledging the muted voices on campus is a theme that emerges in everything they do.

Occasionally the LSA reunites with other student alliances on campus to touch base and hear each other’s stories. Earlier in the year LSA had a joint meeting with the Muslim Student Alliance and discussed how the Trump Administration was going to affect them. Garfio sees the existence of each alliance as a valuable part of DU. “I think it’s important for people to know that, yes, we’re all different organizations, but at the end of the day we’re coming together as one to support one another, and if I see you struggling I’m gonna be right there struggling with you,” says Garfio.

Racism and microaggressions are the two main issues Garfio and the LSA notice on

campus. “Latinos are hardworking people. We fight for what we have and we work so so hard to have what we have,” said Garfio, addressing the negative stereotype that Latinos are in the United States to steal jobs.

To continue the dialogue about how to reach the goal of establishing a more diverse campus, Garfio wants DU administration to open their ears. “In these inclusive excellence decisions that these administrators are making, [it’s important to] include the people of color in them,” says Garfio as she suggests that DU higher ups should be inviting student alliances to their meetings and take the time to ask them what their ideas are for DU. LSA meets on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. at the Driscoll Student Center in Room 135.

Daniela Santos | Contributing Writer

Daniela Santos | Clarion

Daniela Santos | Clarion

Between the folds: DU’s Book Stack

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pon arriving on campus as a freshman and wanting to explore every inch of campus, I stumbled upon the Book Stack, a quaint used bookstore on campus. It is located on the main floor of Mary Reed. For those who may not know, Mary Reed is nestled behind Korbel on the East side with the roundabout that exits onto University. As I wandered inside, I was met with everything a used book store should be – crowded, random and enticing. I have visited multiple times this year, but I had not purchased anything until

this Wednesday. I got a copy of “Beloved,” “Sophie’s Choice” and a special illustrated edition of “The Da Vinci Code” for a ridiculously low total price of $4.31.

The women volunteering were willing to hold my choices until I could come back with my wallet, and they offered me a cookie and some candy on my way out.

Immediately when you walk in, you will be greeted by a few women who are the sole, proud staff members. The Book Stack is run by the University Library Association, and all proceeds go directly to Anderson Academic Commons. They explained that

the Book Stack houses only donated books sold by a group of women who work solely as volunteers. One can also find a modest collection of CDs and records, if interested. The current location has been there for approximately 30 years and, hopefully, will be there for many more. Their hours of operation are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

The Book Stack offers tremendous deals, and the lovely ladies there are willing to wager.

Other than extremely discounted prices, they always have a few racks of free books in the foyer.

They also offer a $3 bag special once per quarter where perusers can fill a grocery bag with as many books as they can fit and pay $3 for their finds. The Book Stack is certain to provide a fun few moments, minutes or hours of dreamily poring over every shelf for any bookworm.

The next special discount event is from May 23 to May 27, when the entire store will be half off.

Be sure to stop by and not miss the opportunity to explore this little gem on campus.

Maya Pinon | Contributing Writer

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The Grind: The Molecule Effect

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ucked into the center of Denver’s Santa Fe Art District is a swanky coffeehouse and bar that is presenting coffee and wine in a fresh, new way. This innovation shines through on their menu which features a combination of caffeinated drinks, alcoholic concoctions and tasty treats all day long. The vibe of The Molecule Effect is as equally “come get some work done” as it is “come have a drink with some friends.” Locally owned and operated with hand selected menu items that center on quality, The Molecule Effect is a translation of its local culture and a gem in the neighborhood.

Being located in the heart of the art district, local work is proudly displayed in The Molecule Effect with a rotating gallery display every 90 days. The Molecule Effect doesn’t charge any

gallery fees or percentage of sales.

Art is at the core of their business, and they focus more on getting the artists work seen than making a buck. This support of the up and coming really embodies the culture of the neighborhood and is a great opportunity for those just getting started.

While The Molecule Effect is in the art district and displays work, its main function is not a gallery; people come in for the tasty treats. The menu is divided into three categories: liquids (coffeehouse drinks), solids (all food items) and other liquids (beverages with alcohol).

The liquids consist of hot and iced coffee made from the Denver company Kaladi Brother Beans and iced teas made locally from kombucha. Specialty drinks are also offered that are created in house and change regularly, so make sure you check in to see

Claire Boggs | Clarion

what they’re serving up now.

As for the other liquids, the adult beverages that The Molecule Effect offers up also are on regular rotation but always consist of wines, beers and cocktails. They partner with Infinite Monkey Theorem, Strange Craft Brewery and many Colorado whisky companies to create their unique concoctions. Some of their most popular drinks for grown ups are their coffee cocktails, but with so much variation in their specialty drinks, the experience is different every time.

While your reason for coming in may be to drink, it is not a bad idea to come in hungry, as The Molecule Effect has some really tasty food items as well. A wide variety of items ranging from baked goods cooked up at local bakeries to delicious burritos made from high quality meats, cheese and veggies, they are really

kicking up the norm when it comes to bar snacks.

On my visit, we sampled iced teas and a spicy sausage burrito.

The burrito was one of the best I have ever had, running laps around Chipotle and Illegal Pete’s.

As for beverages, the iced chai and iced fruit tea are both super satiating. Not too sweet,and generously portioned we were quite satisfied.

Overall, I would recommend giving The Molecule Effect a try.

For the 21+ crowd, it would be a great place to try out some unique brews and cocktails; and for the rest, their burritos really cannot be beat. Prices are standard, and the mood is good. If you are in the art district anyway or are thinking of making a trip out for the monthly First Friday festivities, I would recommend swinging in and seeing what The Molecule Effect has to offer.

Claire Boggs | Contributing Writer

Claire Boggs | Clarion

Last minute things to do in Denver

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ith two weeks left of school, DU students begin to stress about finals, moving out and summer jobs. It’s important to make sure that we didn’t miss out on anything while living in Denver for the school year. In an ever-growing and fun-filled city, there are countless things all DU students should make sure they do before they leave this wonderful environment for a few months:

shopping and exploring the exciting downtown environment.

2. Visit Denver Museum of Nature and Science Usually a popular destination for DU students on a day off, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science is a ‘must-see’ for anyone looking for something to do with their spare time. Nestled in Denver’s City Park with the Zoo, the Museum of Nature and Science is offering a very popular Vikings Exhibition until Aug 13, as well as their usual exhibits which include Expedition Health, Gems & Minerals, Space Odyssey, Prehistoric Journey, North American Indian Cultures, Russian Folk Life, Wildlife Exhibits, Egyptian Mummies and the Discovery Zone. The museum is open 9a.m.-5p.m. everyday and tickets range between $11 and $25 depending on how old you are and which exhibits you see.

1. Visit Union Station and explore downtown Union station is an easy light rail ride away, and if you haven’t gone yet, now is the time. “I go to Union Station to study all the time,” sophomore Devon Yach studying finance from Chicago comments on his frequent visits to Union station. “It’s a lot easier for me to study there instead of a stuffy, overcrowded coffee shop, and it’s an easy light rail ride.”

3.

Spend the afterBeyond studying, Yach visits Union Station and the downtown noon at Elitch Gardens and area for fun restaurants, excellent Theme Park

Roller coasters may not be your style of fun, but don’t worry.

Elitch’s water park opens Memorial Day Weekend, which provides a fun way to spend the day with friends and soak up those sun rays.

For those of you who have a wild side, Elitch’s amusement rides are a thrilling way to spend the day.

In May, the park’s hours vary, yet more days than not you have the option of taking an easy light rail ride to a very exciting day spent with friends. Tickets bought online are over $10 cheaper than tickets bought at the gate, priced at $35.

4. Try Denver’s hottest restaurant: Cattivella.

Translating to “Naughty Girl,” Cattivella is a restaurant you must visit and one you are bound to come running back to.

Award-winning chef and owner, Elise Wiggins has mastered the art of Italian food with her decades of experience in crafting delicious Italian meals. With a wood-burning oven, various five-star dishes

are crafted for hungry food-lovers, as the open kitchen offers to its diners the opportunity to watch their meal be made for them personally. With stunning views of the mountains and an experience you will never forget, Carrivella is a restaurant you must visit while living in Denver.

5. Visit Rocky Mountain National Park for the day Whether you came to Denver for the mountains or not, a day hike is a must before you head home for the summer, and Rocky Mountain National Park is the perfect place to do so. Only a short one-and-a-halfhour car ride away, a day trip spent hiking and exploring the many trails Rocky Mountain National Park has to offer will freshen your soul for the next couple weeks of hard work and finals. Hopefully, it will fill your “adventure fix” until you come back to Denver in the fall.

Nicole Johnson | Contributing Writer

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LIFESTYLES | 9

What to do in Larimer Square T

Taryn Allen | Clarion

he oldest commercial block in the city, Larimer Square, has been serving Denver as a center of shopping, food and drink since 1858. In 1971, it became Denver’s first historical district and ever since has been one of Denver’s greatest commercial centers and one of the only that has kept its historical look and feel.

Today, Larimer Square is one of the most diverse spaces for dining, drinking and shopping in the city.

While it has become known for its luxury and expensive options, there remains cheaper alternatives within the square for the intrepid city adventurer. Here’s a small collection of things to do on the block.

Dining: The square is probably best

known for its dining, containing some of the highest rated restaurants in Denver and local favorites.

There’s a diverse selection, ranging from the classic steak spot, Ted’s Montana Grill, to the local and Mediterranean fusion restaurant, Rioja. While all the restaurants in Larimer Square are more than worthy of trying, two spots in particular are unique among their neighbors. Bistro Vendôme, a leftbank style French bistro, serves up the best French fares in a beautiful courtyard setting in the historical Sussex building. The space is a little slice of Paris in Denver’s historical heart. The second unique option in Larimer Square is The Market, a deli, espresso bar, bakery and downtown grocery store that breathes historical

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(Clockwise from top left) 1. Taryn Allen 2. Madison Heller 3. Taryn Allen

ambiance. The space is not only incredibly aesthetically pleasing and welcoming, but offers some of if not the, cheapest food and drink on the block.

Drinks: As a social center, Larimer Square bristles with excellent, albeit expensive options for libations. Examples include Corridor 44, which boasts itself as Denver’s only champagne bar and restaurant, Cru, a cozy wine bar with over 50 wines on its list that also serves cheese and stone-fire pizza and the Crimson Room, an intimate cocktail lounge that provides nightly live music.

Shopping: Besides drinks and food, most people come to Larimer Square for its charming, luxurious boutiques

and stores. Shopping on Larimer Square can be expensive, but there are some great finds to be found on the block. Goorin Brothers, founded in 1895, provides Denver with excellent haberdashery (hat making). The store is chocked to the brim with classic hats ranging from italian fedoras to 20s flapper hats. Next door to Goorin Brothers sits Gusterman’s Silversmiths, which specializes in handcrafted precious jewelry and repairs.

Across the street, Blush boutique delivers beautiful, classy upscale women’s apparel. If you’re looking for shoes or boots, Scarpaletto is the premier destination for an enormous amount of fine shoes from around the world.

Justin Cygan | Staff Writer

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| ENTERTAINMENT

Lewis Watson brings English folk-pop to Denver Denver

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ewis Watson brought a healthy dose of English folk-pop charm to Denver on Monday, May 8, with songs capable of impressing more than just the teenage girls that filled the room.

Watson played a solo show at Denver’s Larimer Lounge last Monday as part of a tour to support his latest album, “midnight.” Due to the small size of the venue and his purely acoustic set, everything about the evening was understated and intimate, which allowed the subtle appeal of his music to shine through.

The crowd, bunched up around the stage and taking up about three-quarters of the Larimer’s space, was mostly young, ecstatic and female. The opening act was an unfortunately bland set from local songwriter Ian Mahan, who demonstrated a lot of potential with his vocals and stage presence but was held back by his lyrics.

When Watson shyly sauntered out with his guitar though, the crowd went wild with anticipation. His set was only an hour long, but was filled with old, new and “mostly sad” songs, nearly all of which contained a memorable lyric, hook or guitar riff and clearly had an emotional impact on most of the audience.

For those unfamiliar, Watson is a 24-year-old acoustic guitar-wielding singer-songwriter from London in the vein of Ben Howard or Damien Rice, just on the cusp of breaking into the mainstream. If you must, you could think of a more introspective Ed Sheeran, minus the influences of hip-hop and fame.

His nearly-well-known status was made apparent by an admission Watson made after one of his first songs: he was only playing solo because he legitimately couldn’t afford his usual backing band. The shockingly transparent statement was met with laughter and was indicative of his coy, humble stage presence that lent a warm, friendly air to the show.

In between songs, Watson, complete with his baggy “In-NOut” t-shirt, engaged in delightful self-deprecating banter, remarking, “that one’s about

Photo courtesy of Zoe Klein

summer concert preview

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hile we might not have the musical clout of other cities like New York or L.A., Denver does provide an exciting and captivating concert scene, one that spans from Red Rocks to the numerous Colfax theaters and auditoriums and the dank, intimate spaces of Broadway clubs. For the intrepid music fan, here’s a list of some of the most exciting music acts coming to Denver in the upcoming months, ordered from largest to smallest in venue size.

Pepsi Center: June 25: Vans Warped Tour ‘17 July 19: John Mayer July 20: Earth Wind & Fire July 29: Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott and D.R.A.M. Aug. 15: Ed Sheeran Fiddler’s Green: July 13 and 14: Jack Johnson Aug. 9: Green Day Aug. 12: 93.3 Big Gig (Blink182, Bleachers etc.)

Aug. 25, 26 and 27: The Lumineers Sept. 8 and 9: OneRepublic

being sad,” “It’s better with the whole band” or “This is a happy sounding sad song.”

Self-consciousness aside, Watson didn’t even need a backing band. The emotional weight of his songs was strong enough to stand on their own, and his individual talent was allowed to be on full display.

His songwriting style was mature, earnest and especially impressive to a reviewer who is an admitted cynic about pop singer-songwriters. One could hear a genuine passion in both his lyrics and his delivery of them—it was personal but not melodramatic.

In addition to his sheer Photo courtesy of Zoe Klein

vocal chops, his unique chord voicings, subtle movements towards and away from the mic and haunting stop-on-a-dime endings showcased a care for his craft that proved his potential.

In fact, several of his songs (“Stones Around the Sun” chief among them) sounded better than the full band studio versions when backed by just his booming, bassy guitar. In the case of “Sink or Swim,” he was also able to fill out the song with the sound of the entire crowd belting every word, capitalizing on the advantage of having a small but devoted fanbase.

The highlight of the fun, cozy show came during Watson’s unique cover of the Guillemot’s “Made-Up-Love-Song #43.”

Prior to officially starting the song, he hopped into the crowd, divided it in two and taught each half a different vocal part.

This so-called “Colorado choir” continued underneath the entire song as Watson rotated around and sang beautifully about “poetry in an empty Coke can.”

Though he might not yet have much commercial or critical recognition, Watson’s endearing live show proved that his music is worthy of it. His remaining tour dates can be found on his website.

Daniela Santos | Contributing Writer

Red Rocks: May 27 and 28: Odesza May 29 and 30: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers June 11: Marshmello June 28: Paul Simon July 5: Flume July 26: Glass Animals Aug. 7: Alt J Aug. 10: A Tribe Called Quest Aug. 25: Father John Misty Sept. 1 and 2: Griz Sept. 29 and 30: Big Gigantic Fillmore Auditorium: June 6: Modest Mouse Sept. 29: Future Islands Ogden: May 7: Kehlani May 26: D.R.A.M. (presented

by DUPB) June 17: XXXTENTACION July 2: Zed’s Dead July 11: DJ Shadow Gothic: July 26: Mura Masa Bluebird: May 14: Com Truise May 18: Ab-Soul Jun 17: Portugal. the Man Larimer Lounge: May 20: Project Pabst: (Noname, Ice Cube, Phantogram, Danny Brown etc.)

May 26: Smino June 21: Foxxes

Justin Cygan | Staff Writer

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ENTERTAINMENT | 1 1

“The Wall” shows strength in its simplicity

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implicity in films can be hard to entertain, especially in movies surrounding war and its violent and emotional connotation, but Doug Liman’s new film, “The Wall,” which landed in theaters May 12, takes its simplistic tone and runs with it, making for a enjoyable, yet gut wrenching film that gives anxiety a whole other meaning.

If sitting in an entire movie theater alone late at night wasn’t scary enough while reviewing “The Wall,” take the idea of being alone in the middle of the war torn desert of Iraq in 2007. Allen Isaac, played by Aaron Taylor Johnson (“Kick-Ass”) and Staff Sergeant Matthews, played by John Cena (“12 Rounds”), find themselves in the middle of the Iraqi desert after investing a supposed terrorist sniper. Within minutes, Issac soon finds himself running to save Matthews, who starts slowly succumbing to a sniper wound. After the sound of another gunshot, Isaac finds himself with his leg squirting blood and his radio broken, and he hides behind a wall as his only source of cover from the sniper. Isaac has to face the reality of his friend’s impending death, all while trying to deal with a psychotic terrorist named Juba (Laith Nakli, “24: Legacy”) who is communicating through his local radio while trying to take aim; the only thing

Photo courtesy of IMDB

stopping the terrorist’s trigger finger is the stone wall that Isaac safely hides behind.

One factor that “The Wall” struggles with is its length and pacing. The simplistic tone of the film works in almost every matter except for a few scenes that can drag on but are very bleak. For example, we see a good eight or nine minutes worth of looking through binoculars, with only the slightest hint of movement to be found.

The film shines at the times where bullets whiz through the air, only to hit a wall or object seconds later. However, the most

amazing part of the film is the performances of Johnson and Cena. Johnson brings a seemingly impeccable realism to his character, with every slur of his voice and stride of his walk, making him feel like a real soldier. He gives the audience a heavy and emotional performance that shows a man’s inner mind and the insanity that deals with the impending doom of one’s life. While Cena has a short screen time, the time that he is on screen is unlike anything Cena has done; he brings a type of complexity that a former WWE star like Cena would not usually portray.

At the film’s climax, the film forces you to ask yourself how it was possible to be so simplistic in scale and in story, all while being so engaging and detailed in character. The movie doesn’t hold your hand and really asks for you to be invested, which is hard at times, though the end result is Liman’s great film. “The Wall” is full of suspense, blood, explicit language and an amazing cast of actors.

Cena and Johnson do a fabulous job of showing an experience of wartime and its unknownness of survival, which builds up to be a truly but sturdily built “wall.”

Jacob Miltenberg | Contributing Writer Photo courtesy of SlashFIlm

“King Arthur: Legend of the Sword” is gleefully messy take on the tale of Excalibur

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he tale of King Arthur is a cultural touchstone that has passed from generation to generation for as long as anyone can remember.

It’s an endearingly strange tale full of magic swords, ladies of the lake and powerful sorcerers, a myth that’s served as the basis for countless fantasy fables. Writer-director Guy Ritchie (“Sherlock Holmes”), continuing his streak of turning older properties into sleek and witty adaptations, takes a shot at this classic tale with “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword”, injecting it with a grimy and witty personality to varying degrees of success.

Following Arthur (Charlie Hunnam, “Sons of Anarchy”) as he discovers his kingly heritage and battles to reclaim the throne from his treacherous uncle Vortigern (Jude Law, “Sherlock Holmes”), this take on the king’s origin story takes a distinctly Ritchian approach. Trading in Arthur’s chivalrous and sappy

upbringing, setting him up as a cocky but good-hearted gangster raised in a brothel, allows Ritchie to play with the famous story as well its style and tone. Ritchie, whose career started in voguishly over-the-top London gangster films, has all his tropes on display here: highly kinetic and fast-cut montages, Cockney banter and heavily stylized violence. For the most part, it works. Arthur’s story has never felt so mindlessly entertaining or provocative, and the film is the most fun when it lets Ritchie truly be himself.

The film wanders into messy territory, however, when it’s forced to buy into the conventions of the fantasy genre. The studio heads who gave the okay to Ritchie clearly wanted this to be the jumping off point for a new “Lord of the Rings” type franchise, and as a result the film’s third act sees it trying to emulate those films with CGI-ridden, borderline incoherent battle scenes. The action doesn’t work

as well beyond the street-level thuggery seen in the earlier parts of the plot, feeling more like an over-stylized video game than a true fantasy film. Other fantasy properties like “Game of Thrones” do these kind of scenes successfully because they are patient and balanced in their pacing. “King Arthur” just goes off the rails and it’s impossible to tell where the rails even were.

While the film can be a mess, it’s often so much fun that it’s easy to overlook. Hunnam and Law both chew up the scenery here, with Hunnam providing an effortlessly cool foil to Law’s gloriously sinister (and slightly odd) characterization. Blockbuster films are suffering from a serious villain problem as of late, and while he is underused, Law is on the top of his game in every scene as he crafts a complex and entertaining antagonist that feels like a legitimate threat to Arthur and his band of warriors. The earlier action scenes and Ritchie-style mon-

tages are infectious, easily some of the most entertaining takes on big-budget tropes in quite some time. Best of all is Daniel Pemberton’s (“Steve Jobs”) extremely memorable and rollicking score, a folk-metal pastiche rife with frantic breathing and cacophonic blends of strings and percussion.

It’s without a doubt the biggest success of the film, and easily one of the finest genre soundtracks in recent memory.

Bombarded by a flurry of negative reviews and a poor box office performance, “King Arthur” is perplexingly misunderstood film.

It might be a mess, but the thing is that it knows it is and runs with it. Despite some obvious studio intrusion and an overstuffing of ideas, it’s a dynamic and naturally charming adventure. It’s a popcorn film if there ever was one, and in the era of increasingly dull action titles, it’s one we may desperately need.

Ryan Ninesling | Executive Editor

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