DU Clarion Volume 124 Issue 24

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VOLUME 124, ISSUE 24

DU/UC BERKELEY TEAM PLACES THIRD IN SOLAR DECATHLON

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DU SKATES PAST NOTRE DAME IN SEASON OPENER

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DU DACA RECIPIENT SHARES HER STORY

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AN INTERVIEW WITH 9 SOREN BRYCE pa g e

“SAVAGE IN LIMBO” FEATURES SAVVY ACTING

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| NEWS

MFJS to offer a social media class next quarter

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tarting Winter 2018, the Media, Film and Journalism (MFJS) department will offer “Social Media Strategies,” a course taught by the department’s newest assistant professor, David Coppini, who teaches the best social media strategies in the field.

The course will cover various topics on the subject, including an introduction on social media’s principles, strategies and tactics, how to use data analytics in campaigns and how to consider the variations of each platform for the intended goal of an organization. The class will also have some hands-on practice for students as they will also work for a campus oriented client.

Coppini’s professional experience includes working in advertising and public relations (PR). “Between 2008 and 2011, I started in digital advertising. I worked in a few digital companies in Italy, and then I worked in public relations for a small boutique agency in New York

on media relations and social media,” he said.

In the time period when he worked, he noted, social media was only in its emergence.

“Brands and companies and agencies were still trying to understand how to use social media,” he admitted, “we were definitely doing some social media management... but it was very different and much more simple than what brands are doing now.”

Coppini stays informed with how professionals use social media for he sees significance in the subject matter. “One problem that I see, and that’s why I’m really excited about this class, is that a lot of people go into a job and say, ‘Oh I can do social media!’ But, then you see so many mistakes and so many companies that are really bad when it comes to [it] because there is not a strong [social media] background,” he said.

The topic, which—as Coppini remarked, can include jobs

ABOUT US

in numerous positions such as management, data and analytics, advertising and media production, comes with pros and cons.

Staying connected with weak ties to enhance one’s networking opportunities was one benefit the professor had mentioned as well as the ability for organizations to spread their message without the need for a large amount of funding.

Through his research, Coppini noticed that, “sometimes it’s the more extreme voices that are heard on social media and speak out on social media.”

Years after his time working those positions in digital advertising and in a PR agency, Coppini noticed how social media has evolved since then. “Now it’s all about engagement,” he said, reflecting on how organizations tackle campaigns now, stating, “If you don’t have a social media presence, you basically don’t have a successful campaign; it’s a requirement.”

To MFJS students, specif-

ically strategic communication and journalism majors, Coppini recommends that each major take classes on the other major to acknowledge how that profession functions in relation to their own. He also suggests that students notice how an organization’s method for using social media differs from one’s own personal social media.

Registration for winter quarter begins on Oct. 31.

Daniela Santos | News Editor

DU Clarion EDITORIAL STAFF

JOHN POE, Editor-in-Chief RYAN NINESLING, Executive Editor DANIELA SANTOS, News Editor NIKKY JOHNSON, Sports Editor ELIZABETH LOCHHEAD, Opinions 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.

ANNMARIE MARLOW, Arts & Life Editor KENDALL MORRIS, Arts & Life Editor CAITLAN GANNAM, Photo/Video Editor GRACE HOUSER, Photo/Video Editor MONICA MCFADDEN, Podcast Editor JUSTIN CYGAN, Copy Editor MAYA PINON, Copy Editor ANDREW MATRANGA, Faculty Adviser

CONTRIBUTING STAFF HANNAH BRANIT EMMA COHEN CLAUDIA GLENN FRYDA FAUGIER FERREIRA KELI MORIARTY-ALKIRE ANNIE NAGEL GEORGIA PEDEN KATE POWELL JACK REILLY BEN ROSSI

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DU CLARION

NEWS | 3

DU/UC Berkeley wins third place at Solar Decathlon

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he foggy Saturday morning on Oct. 14 did not subdue the triumphant tone of the Solar Decathlon 2017 award ceremony as the final awards were announced and all the participants—each representing different parts of the U.S. and the world spanning from Denver to the Netherlands— rejoiced over their two years of hard work.

The combined DU and University of California, Berkeley team won third place ($150,000) overall behind the University of Maryland, who finished in second place ($225,000), and the Swiss team, which was composed of students from multiple Swiss universities, taking the lead ($300,000).

The Solar Decathlon is a biennial collegiate competition in which universities are tasked to construct a fully functioning home that is sustainable, solar-powered and sets the stage for displaying the potential homes may have in the future. The competition has existed since 2002 and this year’s event was hosted in Denver by the 61st and Peña light rail station.

There, guests could visit the village of competition homes and enter each one and receive a tour from the students themselves.

Each home was built with a target audience and theme in mind. The DU/UC Berkeley team, who coined their home’s name as R.I.S.E. (Residential Inviting Stackable Efficient), targeted their home for families in the San Francisco Bay area in search of affordable housing.

“We’re trying to hit the affordable market in Richmond, California so we’re trying to do it on a budget… that’s definitely the major theme we were trying to push for,” admitted Christopher Landsinger, a DU graduate student majoring in real estate development.

DU joined UC Berkeley in the competition to assist with the realworld implementation of the house and determining how UC Berkeley’s concepts would translate in the construction process. “[DU] came into play basically at the beginning of the year,” explains Landsinger, “DU, our real estate school did a lot of constructability design reviews

and really figured out whether it could be built and what needed to be changed.”

Working within the guidelines set by the Decathlon, the team innovated new strategies for R.I.S.E. to increase the sustainability of their home. A feature unique to the home was its ability to have multiple units stack on top or beside one another. This is meant to be a solution to the national housing crisis for the high-density design, satisfing the need for energy efficiency, affordability and sustainability.

Another touch is the house’s walls were insulated with wool which creates a higher indoor air quality, does not exert harmful chemicals, has good moisture control properties and has a high resistance to fire. After the lifetime of the home, the wool can then be composted.

To Landsinger, the easily movable walls were his personal favorite part of the home, praising its ability to expand the living area, thus allowing flexibility to the 816-square-foot home.

Aside from the overall first,

second and third place awards, the teams were evaluated in ten other contests in juried and measured categories including: architecture, market potential and water. DU/ UC Berkeley’s highest rankings were in measured categories such as Health and Comfort—where houses had to maintain a steady temperature and good air quality, Appliances—determining whether a home is mimicking the appliance use of an average American home, Home Life Contest—evaluating a home’s livability factor (social gatherings, watching TV, enjoying a meal, etc.) and Energy—the measurement of a team’s energy production and energy value.

After the Decathlon, the house is going to Denver Habitat for Humanity on a temporary lot. Once the permanent lot is completed, the home will then be sold to a family in need.

For further information on the competition, the other teams or more details on R.I.S.E, visit the Solar Decathlon’s website.

Daniela Santos l News Editor

Caitlan Gannam l Clarion

Caitlan Gannam l Clarion

Caitlan Gannam l Clarion

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| NEWS

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DU Native Student Alliance launches #NoMorePios campaign

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onday, Oct. 9, is recognized by some citizens as Indigenous Peoples’ Day, a holiday to honor indigenous peoples and raise awareness of indigenous issues, as well as replace the nationally recognized Columbus Day. On this day, the DU Native Student Alliance (NSA) launched their #NoMorePios campaign. This campaign is the culmination of years of conversations that have been happening among the native students on campus surrounding opposition to DU’s mascot, the Pioneers.

“With the No More Pios Campaign, #NoMorePios, we’re looking to create this conversation, this discussion, to bring about change, because Pioneer does not represent the spirit of the students on this campus,” said NSA co-presi-

dent Ontario Duley (Seneca Tribe, Aurora, CO).

“Seeing the word ‘pioneer’ as indigenous students, it’s very degrading because in our experience, ‘pioneer’ is associated with westward expansion, genocide, oppression, assimilation of Native American students,” said the other NSA co-president, Raelene Woody (Diné Tribe, Gallup, NM).

Woody and Duley both discussed DU’s own history with indigenous peoples as was explored in the school’s John Evans report, which found the university’s founder John Evans culpable for the Sand Creek Massacre, an event that saw the slaughter of over 150 Arapaho and Cheyenne people.

There is a photo campaign on social media of students holding signs bearing facts about Denver, DU and indigenous people. Mes-

sages on the signs include facts such as: “From 1893 to 1974, the Iliff School of Theology proudly and publicly displayed a volume bound in the skin of an American Indian. #notyourmascot #changethename,” and “1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie gave the Arapaho tribe the land Denver and DU now resides on #nobanonstolenland.” The signs were created by Jonathan Nelson, a Diné artist in Denver, in collaboration with the DU Center for Multicultural Excellence.

“In the indigenous experience, you’re equipped to handle all of these things. It’s what’s called historical trauma,” said Woody.

“To a lot of students, it may seem like this doesn’t affect them, but it does, and you just may not see it as often because indigenous students—through their history, through their people’s history—

Photo courtesy of DU Native Student Alliance

Photo courtesy of DU Native Student Alliance

Photo courtesy of DU Native Student Alliance

Photo courtesy of DU Native Student Alliance

have been equipped to deal with these things.”

As part of the campaign, the NSA is conducting a survey of DU students asking their opinions about a new mascot, and the responses the survey has produced has the NSA feeling hopeful.

“If you look at it as ‘the Indian students are upset on DU’s campus,’ that’s not productive and that’s not truthful; that’s not the conversation,” said Duley. “[L]ook at it as, the University of Denver is lacking school spirit in some ways; we’re lacking imagery that represents us to the broader community.

So overwhelmingly, students are interested in a change.”

Follow the NSA on its Facebook page to keep up with the #NoMorePios campaign.

Monica McFadden | Podcast Editor

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DU CLARION

SPORTS | 5

DU Volleyball advances to 4-2 record in league play

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U Volleyball team downed Western Illinois in three sets on Oct. 13 on their DU homecourt, Hamilton Gymnasium. They dominated in the first set with a 25-11 final score, 25-23 in the second and finished the match with a 25-18 victory.

With the perfect sweep of the Western Illinois squad, DU moved to a 13-5 record and a 4-2 record for Summit League play. Crimson and Gold Volleyball retains a perfect 9-0 against the Illinois Leathernecks, without dropping a single set on the season. Western Illinois fell to 6-14 overall record and 1-5 in league play with the loss.

The team’s elevated dominance in the match could have been due to a new starting lineup. The Pioneers debuted the lineup for the match

with senior outside hitter Cassie Baird (Indianapolis, Ind.), senior libero Cassidy Rooke (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.), junior outside hitter Becca Latham (Austin, Texas), freshman middle blocker Tina Boe (Plymouth, Minn.), junior middle blicker Emma Willis (La Jolla, Calif.), graduate student right-side hitter Teal Schnurr (Westminster, Colo.) and freshman setter Ellie Anderson (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) getting the start. It was the first career start for Anderson.

Latham led Pioneer Volleyball with 11 kills. Boe hit an impressive .769 in the match. Senior setter Piyusha Boteju (Euless, Texas) led in assists with 21, and Rooke recorded 12 digs on the match. Willis had six total blocks (one solo and five assisted). Baird, Anderson, Boteju

and Rooke all had two service aces in the match.

As a team, the Pioneers hit .300 in the match, with 45 kills, 41 assists, 50 digs, eight total team blocks and 10 service aces.

Head coach Tom Hogan was proud of his players.“It’s fantastic to be back at DU in Hamilton Gymnasium,” he said. “Our team played great on defense and we served well tonight.. We continue to improve on the offense side, and we look forward to the challenge that we have this Sunday as we face a very good South Dakota team.”

In the following Sunday match, the Pioneers also won in three straight matches against South Dakota, 25-14, 25-17 and 25-21. The Pioneers now stand at a 14-5 record on the season and 5-2 in the Summit

League matches.

Latham recorded a team high of 14 kills, hitting .636 in the match.

Anderson had a career and teamhigh 25 assists in her second start.

Rooke had 18 digs on the afternoon to lead the team. Willis recorded five assisted blocks to lead Pioneer Volleyball. Boteju had a career-high three service aces, while adding another double-double to her season after recording 11 digs and 10 assists. Boteju has a team-high seven double-doubles thus far.

As a team, Denver hit .289 in the match, with 48 kills, 44 assists, 63 digs, eight total team blocks and six service aces.

Denver hits the road for an Oct. 28 match at Fort Wayne, with first serve scheduled for 5 p.m.

Nikky Johnson | Sports Editor

Ashley Kneemueller | Clarion

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| SPORTS

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DU Swim and Dive earns a victory to Wyoming

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U Men’s and Women’s Swim and Dive programs both topped the University of Wyoming swimming and diving teams in Laramie, Wyoming on Oct. 14. The DU men’s team held a 163 lead over the Pokes who scored 138. The DU women’s team, however, experienced a much closer race, winning by only 1 point. The final women’s score was 151.5 to the Poke’s 150.5.

For the Pioneer men, sophomore Sid Farber (Portland, Ore.) was a part of four event wins for the Pioneers, winning the two sprint freestyle events and anchoring both the 200 medley relay victory and the 400 free relay. Redshirt-freshman Stephen Calkins (Calgary, Alberta) and senior Anton Loncar (Hillsboro,

Ore.) were both a part of three event wins. The freshman and senior duo accounted for one individual win and two relay wins.

The Crimson and Gold women competed in a close race as junior Bailey Andison (Smiths Falls, Ontario) and senior Heidi Bradley (Victoria, B.C.) both captured two individual event victories and were both a part of Denver’s 200 medley relay win. Senior Maddie Myers (Arvada, Colo.) swept the women’s distance races on Saturday to earn two individual event wins.

“I really appreciated the efforts our team threw out there today,” head coach Brian Schrader said.

“Our women’s team’s effort was a great reminder of how much fun swimming and diving can be, and

that it is a team sport where every point matters. It was a hard fought meet, and we got well-earned wins on both sides this afternoon.”

The Pioneer women’s team also faced the New Mexico swimming and diving team on Oct. 13, the day before their close win over Wyoming.

The women won five individual events and two relays, topping New Mexico on Friday afternoon at El Pomar Natatorium with a final score of Denver 136, New Mexico 105.

During the women’s meet on Friday, Denver’s men’s program took part in an intersquad before their first dual meet tomorrow at Wyoming.

For the New Mexico matchup, Bradley led the way for the Pioneers in the meet with three event

wins, recording a victory in the 100 butterfly (55.18) and relay wins in the 200 medley and the 400 free.

Senior Morgan McCormick (Golden, Colo.) added a victory in the 100 back (55.64) and teamed up with Bradley in the 200 medley. Andison and freshman Aysia Leckie (Georgetown, Ontario) also swam on the 200 medley relay that finished in 1:44.28. Andison won the 100 breast and Leckie was a part of the 400 free relay to round out Denver’s multievent winners on Friday.

The Pioneer men host Air Force for Homecoming on Oct. 20 at 5 p.m. The DU women’s team hits the road Oct. 21 as they head to Colorado State to face the Rams. The women’s team’s first swim is set for 12 p.m.

Nikky Johnson | Sports Editor

Cadence Pearson | Clarion

DU Hockey skates past Notre Dame to break the ice

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o. 1 Denver prevailed in their opening game of the 2017-18 season to defend their title as they beat no. 4 Notre Dame 3-2 in a shootout in South Bend on Friday, Oct. 13. Notre Dame struck first on a goal from alternate captain Jack Evans. DU quickly responded with a goal from sophomore forward and last year’s NCHC rookie of the year Henrik Borgstrom (Helsinki, Finland) who would also go on to score the second goal for the Pioneers in regulation.

In the overtime Notre Dame put hard pressure on senior goaltender Tanner Jaillet (Red Deer, Alberta).

Jallet was able to hold off the Fighting Irish from scoring to force the game to a shootout, which was won

by Denver on a goal from freshman forward Kohn Olischefski of Abbotsford B.C. Overall, head coach Jim Montgomery was extremely happy with his team’s performance in the first game believing that “This was by far the best game in my five years here that this Denver team has played.”

Following a close win on Friday night the Pioneers skated their way

to a 2-0 shutout on Saturday as both goals were scored in the first period by star forward and Anaheim Ducks 5th round draft pick, Troy Terry (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) then one by freshman forward Jake Durflinger with assists from Logan O’Connor and Jake Doremus (Aspen, Colo.).

The defending NCAA champions, Denver Pioneers, look to continue their steady play in front of a packed homecoming weekend crowd for their home ice opener next weekend against Lake Superior State.

This year, DU Pioneers could see players like Tanner Jaillet winning the Mike Richter Award for most outstanding goalie. DU could see several players like Troy Terry or Henrik Borgstrom representing their respective countries in the 2018 Winter Olympics. Most importantly, the ultimate goal for DU will be seeking a second consecutive national championship, their ninth in franchise history.

Ben Rossi | Contributing Writer

Erika Sobelman | Clarion

DU CLARION

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SPORTS | 7

DU Women’s soccer claims victory over Omaha with five saves

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enior striker Jessie Dancy (Park City, Utah) and sophomore midfielder Hannah Adler (Oak Park, Calif.), both accounted for DU scores for the Crimson and Gold win against Omaha. Sophomore goalkeeper Brittany Wilson (Littleton, Colo.) made five saves to put the Pioneers past Omaha for a final score of 2-0 on Oct. 15 at Caniglia Field.

“Every time this season that we’ve suffered a gut-wrenching loss, like we did on Thursday (Oct. 12), this team has found a way to rebound and get a win in the next match,” head coach Jeff Hooker said. “Today was no different. We had a great finish from Adler in the first half to give us the lead, and Brittany had a couple big-time saves to keep us ahead in the second half. Her technique on her last save was brilliant to push that out for a corner and not give up a rebound.”

Hooker continued to say, “Finally to secure the victory, Jessie did what every greedy goal scorer should do. She could have run to the corner flag, but she had a great opportunity to score and increase our goal difference

in the league, and she got that opportunity off a great assist from Angelica [Pacheco].”

Junior co-captain Mary DeWalt (West Bend, Wisc.) started the scoring opportunity down the right flank, crossing a ball to the far post to the run of senior forward Angelica Pacheco (Taos, N.M.). Pacheco knocked the ball into the middle of the frame to the feet of Adler, who finished her eighth goal of the season and the 12th of her two-year career. The goal was recorded in the 31st minute of the game, giving the Pioneers a good start to the Omaha lineup.

In the 89th minute, Omaha’s Susie Dineen got free in the box, and struck a shot that looked destined for the bottom corner, but Wilson made an incredible save, keeping the opposition at a score of zero. Wilson recorded the sixth cleansheet of her career, including her fourth of the 2017 campaign.

DU Women’s Soccer will host their last home game on Oct. 22 against Western Illinois at 12 p.m.

Nikky Johnson | Sports Editor

Victoria Valenzuela | Clarion

Men’s Soccer keeps perfect record in Summit League

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n Saturday, Oct. 14, Denver Men’s Soccer defeated Fort Wayne University 3-1. With the win, they currently are 2-0-0 in Summit League play and 7-6-0 in all games played. Andre Shinyashiki (Sao Paulo, Brazil) scored twice in the game, redshirt-senior Kyle Morlack (Goodyear, Ariz.) scored the other goal. Asists were made by senior co-captain Graham Smith (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) and Jacob Stensson (Stockholm, Sweden). Stensson also picked up an assist on Shinyashiki’s second goal of the night. The Pioneers outshot Fort Wayne 14 to 5, with 6 shots coming in the first half, and

8 coming in the second half.

The first goal came from the Pioneers in the 19th minute when Morlack scored off a corner kick from Stensson and an assist from Smith. This was his first goal since his freshman season in 2013 against Indiana University-Purdue University Indiana and his fourth goal overall in his 4+ year career with the Pioneers. Head coach Jamie Franks said, “His hard work and grit makes him a leader by example in any organization. We’re happy that Kyle was able to get back on the scoresheet tonight.” Fort Wayne equalized in the 39th minute with a goal from Oscar Uyamuda from the inside 18th.

Franks said “We made a few adjustments at halftime, and I thought that we executed really well in the second half,” as the Pioneers outshot Fort Wayne 8 to 1. A strong defense helped limit the opportunities that Fort Wayne had, as an equally strong offense took 8 shots, 6 of which were on target.

In the second half, Shinyashiki scored the first of his two goals in the 72nd minute off of a penalty shot.

He followed that off with a header in the 78th minute, assisted by a corner kick from Stensson. With these two goals, Shinyashiki remains sixth in Denver’s D1 history in points, with 51 points, and moved up to third in career goals scored, as well as third

in game-winning goals scored. In his 2+ year career with the Pioneers, Shinyashiki has scored 20 goals, and seven game-winning goals.

After the game, Franks said “From top to bottom, that was our best performance of the year. They scored on one of their first chances of the game, which is never a good sign, but the resiliency that my guys showed is what makes them a dangerous group to play against. They never got down on themselves.”

The Pioneers continue their season with away games at Oral Roberts (Oct. 21), New Mexico (Oct. 25), Omaha (Oct. 28) and Western Illinois (Nov. 4).

Hannah Branit | Contributing Writer

Clarion Staff

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| OPINIONS

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PIONEER FUNNIES

The greater context of the Solar Decathlon T

he collaboration between DU and the University of California at Berkeley on this year’s US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon has been a good reason to focus attention again on the sustainability efforts going on at DU and on other college campuses. The home built for the competition by DU and Berkeley students is designed to be sustainable and practical. It incorporates features such as solar power and recycled materials, and is designed for places where urban infill would help city sustainability. The project has been an outstanding example of the ability of college students to meet and exceed expectations of innovation.

Depending on which way you look at it, this project could be

seen as taking place at a particularly opportune or inopportune time. Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) moved to repeal the Clean Power Act, an Obama-era policy aimed at slowing greenhouse gas emissions. This is largely meant to keep the coal industry robust, even when momentum had been building to move away from coal power. For anyone who, like the Solar Decathlon team, understands the urgency behind green energy and sustainable development, this comes as a hard hit.

Adding to the strangeness of the timing are the devastating wildfires in California as well as the major hurricanes that have all struck in the last several weeks.

Climate science indicates that

Caitlan Gannam | DU Clarion

emissions from coal-burning industry will worsen global warming, and severe weather events such as storms and fire-causing droughts will become more frequent and more intense. Even if the California wildfires cannot be linked directly to climate change today, more fires like them in the future will be. This makes the decision to scrap plans intended to slow dangerous emissions the same week that wildfires rage an even weirder one.

The convergence of the Solar Decathlon, the EPA move to repeal the Clean Power Act and the news of hurricane and wildfire damage in the same few weeks shows how much knowledge of sustainability varies. But this greater context also shows that universities and their students can be real leaders when it comes to problem-solving.

DU’s Center for Sustainability as well as the other Sustainable DU initiatives have projects ongoing throughout the year, as do a large number of other universities. It is encouraging to think of all of the progress being made in these different places, even when news from the federal government is so frequently discouraging.

A lesson from this year’s Solar Decathlon, therefore, is not just

that sustainability is important, it is that innovation on campuses and at the local level is important. Students have the education and the resources to participate in current projects or to start their own outside of class work, and when community members cannot, for example, rely on the government to take steps to protect the environment, students can step up and make progress towards desired changes.

The Solar Decathlon is a relatively high-profile project, but others, like volunteering or doing an independent study, also have the potential to be impactful. Students are usually very good at formulating ideas and hopes for the future, but these hopes must translate into action.

Undergraduate years are as good of a time as any to use knowledge and new skill to do projects that extend beyond the hypothetical.

College students have a lot of influence over what kinds of projects will be prioritized now and in the future, and these have the potential to be much more meaningful than campaign promises and political maneuvering.

Elizabeth Lochhead | Opinions Editor

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DU CLARION

OPINIONS | 9

DU DACA recipient shares her story O

n Sept.

5, President Donald Trump announced his decision to rescind the DACA program. For those who aren’t up to date on DACA, here’s the explainer: DACA stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. This program came into existence in 2012 as an Executive Order made under the Obama Administration. So, what did DACA do? It allowed young adults under 31 years old who met a list of requirements to apply for two years of deferral and work authorization, including those who had a clean arrest record, were enrolled in school or graduated and were physically present on June 15, 2012.

If the applicant met the qualifications they were given a work permit, a Social Security Number and temporary protection from deportation. DACA recipients do not receive any health benefits or welfare benefits. The decision to end DACA will affect about 800,000 immigrant youths who now have six months to get Congress to pass the DREAM Act. The DREAM Act would grant lawful permanent resident status to those that meet the requirements listed in the bill. For a DACA recipient, this would be a permanent solution that could lead toward citizenship.

So now that you know the basics in abstract, here’s how this matters to a college student ready to graduate. My name is Fryda, and

I’m from Mexico City, Mexico. I’m majoring in international studies, socio-legal studies and Spanish.

I just started my last year at DU. I came to America in 1996, and I have been in Colorado ever since.

I am a Coloradan, through and through. I’m an American, even.

I have a 3.8 GPA, and I am currently working at DU as the first

DACA was rescinded right before classes started. Prior to all of this DACA turmoil, I was set on going to graduate school to get my masters degree in higher education. I could see myself working, building a career and living out my dreams. I wanted to give back to this system that had given me so such. DACA gave me a sense of

Photo courtesy of Fryda Faugier Ferreira

ever DACA/undocumented student support coordinator. DU has given me the opportunity and resources to reach out to affected students in our community and make changes that will improve their lives on campus and help them be successful. This has further pushed me towards working on getting my master’s in higher education so that I can continue the work I’m currently doing. I am ready for the workforce, and I can’t wait to contribute to my community.

normalcy. That is now gone. Come March, I could lose everything that I have ever worked for. It’s devastating to think that I will graduate but that I won’t be able to use my degree. It’s debilitating. Very few of my colleagues on this campus face this reality. But for me, every day since Sept. 5, I have feared that I could be be forced to leave everything and everyone behind. These thoughts haunt me. And this isn’t a sob story about missing out on senior year. Screw that. Each day

it’s harder to imagine a future in this country.

Yet, I remind myself of the sacrifice that my parents made so that I could be where I am today. I remind myself of all the DACA and undocumented youth affected. I think about them and know that I can’t give up. The fight must continue. One day future generations will look back and remember the struggles of those who fought for the future of immigrants.

So, humans of DU, while this decision may not hit home personally, it’s really hitting home in your front yard. I don’t have the privilege of ignoring this problem, and I’m asking my DU community to stand with every Dreamer. After all, this country was built on a dream, and it’s that very dream that needs protection in these times.

For ways to get involved and stay informed, DU has a Resource Page, and there’s the DU Emergency Fund that provides limited emergency financial assistance to currently enrolled DU students who are unable to meet immediate, essential expenses because of temporary hardships related to an unexpected situation. You can also visit the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, United We Dream and UndocuMedia, a group that leverages digital and social media to empower the undocumented community throughout the US. Fryda Faugier Ferreira | Contributing Writer

Self-monitoring on social media

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hese are confusing times for social media executives, social media users and social media avoiders alike. Most daily use of social media involves staying in touch with friends and relatives, but with apps like Facebook and Twitter making headlines for manipulative political advertisements and fake news, defining how we want social media to operate has gotten tougher.

Confusion over social media was most recently manifested in Facebook’s latest controversy. At the end of September, the company turned over to Congress ads published by hundreds of fictional Facebook users that were later linked to Russian accounts in an attempt to sway American voters during the 2016 election.

Following this, Facebook CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg made a video statement that included plans to make ad publishing on the site more transparent. In addition to helping Congress with further investigations as well as the Federal Election Commission with potential regulations, Facebook will require disclosure of who paid for political ads and to which users they are being shown.

An arguably more complicated issue that Facebook is currently dealing with, however, is the use of the platform to spread false information. Most recently, Facebook was used to circulate false stories of all kinds about the Las Vegas shooting, some of which were widely shared, and there are many other examples of untrue “news” stories becoming heavily viewed. The implications of this are frightening as an increasing number of people base arguments and decisions on information that has no root in fact. The extent to which fake news should be monitored is not as clear as for political advertising, though.

In his statement following the move by Congress, Zuckerberg said that Facebook does not read over content before it is posted, and that what is more, “our society shouldn’t want [them] to.”

Many would agree that Facebook should be for personal expression and the sharing of ideas, but it is also now true that social media can be used to influence public opinion and even elections. This truth makes regulation of political advertising by Facebook and Congress easier to swallow, but Zuckerberg’s response also indi-

cates that for many social media users, regulation would not be welcome elsewhere. However, if fake sources continue to be believed and shared, it is likely that future conversations will be about further regulation.

For the time being, anonymity and unscreened posts are valued elements of these sites.

If these features are to continue, self-monitoring will be necessary. Using official news sources like newspapers to check the validity of content read online is one of the simplest steps to take.

These news sources often have social media presences, making it easy to verify facts and then to share with other users who may have seen false stories. More cross-referencing social media users will mean less attention to fake news stories, and this could decrease the chance of Facebook needing to pre-screen posts in the future.

This also must continue to go on in the classroom. It is common for schools to teach students how to find legitimate sources for research, and this process should continue to be emphasized, with an included focus on online media in life as well as in research. The existence of fake news is a sub-

ject that could be discussed in school more formally, as well as ways to spot it and what to do. New ideas on how to handle fake news might come from class discussions as well. This does not account for the adults not currently in school, but on social media, students would know how to share more credible news sources with others.

The complexity of social media interactions extends beyond concrete topics like fake news and political advertisement, and conversations on how social media should operate will be very important conversations to continue. But while we work towards a more coherent vision of how social media should look in the future, reining in false and manipulative content must be a priority. As we have seen in the past few weeks, Congress can get involved where election meddling is concerned. But if, as Zuckerberg said, our society doesn’t want Facebook checking content before it is posted, the responsibility of informational integrity will fall to the people using these sites daily.

Elizabeth Lochhead | Opinions Editor

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Homesi ck? Do what you love this weeken d

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nother weekend rolls around which, for most of us here at DU, is something to celebrate.

Making it through another jampacked week of classes and work deserves a few days of fun. For others however, the free time that the weekends provide serve as a reminder of all of the things we miss back home.

As we cross over the halfway mark for the first quarter, many students are still faced with the classic struggle: homesickness.

For most of us, it’s the first time we have been away from the safety and security of home and family. According to a 1992 study, roughly two-thirds of freshmen are homesick for the first week or

so, which is to be expected. The same study concluded that after eight weeks, only 18% of freshmen reported feeling homesick. What does this mean? It gets better.

As a student who came to DU from over 1000 miles away, I’ve found it very difficult to motivate myself to be outgoing. Many of the people that I have met have the luxury of going home on the weekends or whenever they miss their families. A drive home for me would be a two-day venture, so I (along with countless others) have to find means of entertaining myself here in Denver.

Luckily, we have the fortune of living in a very progressive and innovative city. From walking the 16th Street Mall, to visiting the

downtown zoo or aquarium, to touring the U.S. Mint, there are tons of ways to keep yourself busy during all of that free time. After all, the best way to pass time is to fill your schedule to the brim.

Don’t allow yourself the time to miss home, because you’ll be back there in only a few more weeks.

You’ve made it this far, just keep powering through.

Spend your time doing what makes YOU happy (that’s why we’re here, after all), whether that be surrounding yourself with new friends, going hard at the gym or even simply exploring this beautiful city by lightrail. The key is: it’s all up to you. The only person who can control how you feel is you. So if you’re tired of moping around

and wishing you were somewhere else, stop. Text a classmate or friend and ask to explore, or hit the library and study up for those midterms. There is always a new leaf to be turned over, and new territory to explore, and we have the perfect opportunity right in front of us.

And if you’re lucky enough to fall in that group of freshmen who doesn’t miss home at all, extend a hand to someone who is struggling. Even something as simple as a study group can help to bring people out of their shells and give them confidence to reach out. Let the second half of this quarter be an adventure-filled one.

Keli Moriarty-Alkire | Contributing Writer

Photo courtesy of the Denver Zoo

Rupi Kaur’s “The Sun and Her Flowers”

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upi Kaur is not merely a modern poet. She is the modern woman. She is the mother, the daughter, the sister and friend. With a simultaneously haunted and exalted prose, she encompasses the tragedies and triumphs of the female experience.

This October, the 24 year-old writer published her second book of poems, The Sun and Her Flowers. Composed of five chapters, the book is paced to reflect the life cycle of a plant through constant revolutions of wilting and rebirth.

The sunflowers that grace the cover are interwoven through the collection as an extended metaphor of the coexistent fragility and strength of human intimacy, whether with another person or with oneself.

Like her first book, “Milk and Honey,” which was an instant bestseller and translated into over thirty different languages, Rupi’s new poetry centers around themes of love, self-care, abuse and grieving. The author writes vulnerably and unapologetically of her experiences, representing matters of her sex with a fresh and honest voice.

In the past, Kaur’s candor has earned her respect as well as pro-

voked controversy. In 2015, her name swept headlines when Instagram took down a photograph of her bedsheets stained with menstrual blood. Outraged, Kaur responded that the social media site should be concerning themselves with the staggering amount of pornographic and objectifying photographs being published, rather than furthering the mystification of the natural process of female menstruation.

This event quickly established Kaur as a bold and unabashed activist for women’s rights and female empowerment.

Like the photograph, her poetry is direct and compelling. It does not attempt to soften any lines or hold anything back for the sake of society’s baseless and outdated discretions.

Kaur’s language is honest and accessible and doesn’t work to overwhelm the reader with embellishments or convoluted analogies.

Most of the poetry in the new book consists only of four or five lines, reading similarly to private devotionals intended to begin one’s day in quiet meditation. This effect is heavily influenced by Kaur’s childhood experiences of performing Sikh traditions in which holy texts are composed in poetic verse.

The brevity and the prayer-like nature of the poetry also caters to Kaur’s primary platform: social media. The poet has over one million followers on Instagram. Her most recent post from “The Sun and Her Flowers” begins: “you tell me / I am not like most girls / and learn to kiss me with your eyes closed.” The poem received over 100,000 likes and many comments along the likes of “this speaks to my soul.”

Kaur has endured a fair amount of criticism for being a so-called “instapoet.” Some claim her poetry is too consumer-driven and doesn’t pay enough respect to the literary tradition. Yet, she is clearly writing for the modern young woman, so why should she not reach out to them through their own forum?

Kaur’s poem titled “when it goes too soon” consists of three lines that read, “loving you was breathing / but that breath disappearing / before it filled my lungs.”

These words were not written for the canon of English Poetry. They were written with the hopes of making someone, somewhere feel less alone in their pain. And for this, millions are grateful.

AnnMarie Marlow | Arts & Life Editor

this is the recipe of life said my mother as she held me in her arms i wept think of those flowers you plant in the garden each year they will teach you that people too must wilt fall root rise in order to bloom

-Rupi Kaur

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One-on-one with Los Angeles artist Soren Bryce S oren Bryce is a force to be reckoned with in the world of electronic indie-pop. At only nineteen, she has mastered a captivating sound with the lyrics to match. Her crisp voice punctuates the ambient instrumentals in songs you can’t help but tap your foot along to.

After moving from Amarillo, Texas to Los Angeles, Calif., she was quickly swept up into the music scene. I got the chance to sit down with her in the green room of Summit Music Hall in downtown Denver before her show to talk about her background and get to know the girl behind the sound.

Claudia Glenn: To start things off, how are you liking Denver so far?

Soren Bryce: I love Denver. I’ve only played here a couple times, but it’s like always perfect. Last time I came through was really cold, though. It’s a nice break to get out of big cities and just go to a Midwestern-type place.

CG: Does the altitude affect you at all?

SB: Yeah. Last night I was so dizzy, but it could’ve also been because we were so tired of driving. We drove 12 hours the day before and then 9 yesterday. It was pretty insane.

CG: Do you listen to music in the car?

SB: Yeah. It’s hard, though, because we’ve already gone through our favorites. Usually a couple of people ride in my car from their band (Layne), and now we know everybody’s favorites, so we were like trying to find new playlists to listen to. We listen to podcasts, too.

CG: How did you first break into the music industry?

SB: It’s really weird how it happened because I was studying violin, and I was going to be a violinist and go to college for that. Then, randomly my friend in LA recommended me to another person, and they recommended me to my manager, and it all kicked off from there. She got me all of the connections I have now. So, it was definitely not planned. I decided not to go to college the year I was supposed to because I got signed to a label, and that’s when everything started going really intensely.

CG: Was it intimidating since you’re so young to work with people like David Kahne and other big shots?

SB: When I did work with David Kahne, I was much younger. I was 17, I think. So that was definitely intimidating because now I do a lot of my own production and stuff, but then I barely even knew how to play piano when we were doing that EP. He was super nice and welcoming, and he even let me stay at his house, so we got to know each other very well, and he’s kind of like my music grandpa. By the end of it we were all super chill, but I think the first day I was pretty nervous.

CG: How old were you when you started writing and making music?

SB: Writing actual songs, I was probably like 14 or 15. There was only one studio in my hometown, and I knew a lot of people there, so I would go hangout there a lot, and they were just like “hey, you should try writing a song, and bring it back tomorrow.” So, I tried and they were like “this is sick!

You need to do this more” and I was

like “ok, maybe I will!”

CG: Did you always write songs, or did you write poetry as well?

SB: In school, I was super into creative writing, and English was my favorite class, so I would write lots of short stories. I would always try to start novels, but I would never finish them, so songs are a nice abridged version of that because you have to fit everything within a certain timeframe.

I think that fits me better because with my attention span, I just never finish anything. I’m much better at concise wording.

CG: Do you have any advice for writer’s block?

SB: Oh, gosh. I don’t think anybody ever figures out the best way.

For me, I just wait it out. I know some people have exercises where they try to make themselves write, but I try not to force anything just because I feel it’s inauthentic.

CG: How old were you when you first performed in front of an audience?

SB: Probably that same year, 14.

There’s this really great venue in my hometown, Amarillo, called “Cowboy gelato.” It’s gelato, and the sizes are “the good,” “the bad” and “the ugly”.

I had to play a two-and-a-half hour set and just try to play covers; it was crazy. It was a good hustle at first to be forced to just sit and play to people who weren’t even listening to me.

CG: Have you gotten used to performing or do you still get stage fright?

SB: I don’t get stage fright as much as I just get nervous about the tech stuff not going right, and that’s happened a lot on this tour, which kind of sucks, but that’s really the only thing I get anxious about. That’s why I like checking because you can make sure everything’s running, and you don’t have to worry about any of the stuff messing up.

CG: Do you have a favorite part of the process: writing, recording or performing?

SB: Probably for the past couple of years, recording has been my favorite part, just because I started doing a lot of production myself. I’ll even just start a song idea and track the whole thing, and then I’ll write the rest of it while I’m tracking. It’s been a long time since I wrote a whole song and then did the production. So, production is probably my favorite because it’s so fun and versatile.

CG: Have you always played the same style, or do you experiment with other genres?

SB: I started out being a folk artist.

I only played guitar, and I had all of these songs, so I was like a singer/ songwriter. Then, as I started to get into more of the production and more into gear—I’m super into gear now— that broadened my horizons. I started listening to different music, like James Blake and all of these people who were mixing organic and electronic music, and that’s what this album at least was born from.

CG: If you weren’t doing music, what do you think you would be doing?

SB: I ask myself this question on a daily basis because I’m like “do I really have a plan B,” I think it’s good not to have a plan B, and just to put all of your eggs in one basket and go for it,

Photo courtesy of A Humming Heart

at least for a while. I don’t know, I’m really into visual art, so something else creative. I don’t think I could ever just sit at a desk and work 9 to 5; that sounds terrible.

CG: On a similar note, do you have any hobbies outside of music?

SB: Well, art, and I like listening to podcasts. I like playing volleyball; it’s really random. I was captain of my team in high school. I gave myself a concussion my last game ever, and I was like “great I don’t even get to play the last game; I’ll probably never play volleyball again,” so sports, I guess, and hanging out.

CG: Do you sing your own music in the shower? Or do you have a go to song or artist?

SB: No, I definitely don’t sing my own songs. I’m always so tired of my own music by the end of the day that I just don’t even sing in the shower.

That’s like my nice peace and solitude period of the day, especially on tour.

Every time I go to take a shower I’m just like, “Okay, 30 minutes not to be around anyone or socialize.” I get very exhausted with socializing, even though I love the people I’m on tour with right now. It’s just nice to take a break and be in silence for a second.

CG: This is broad, but where do you find the inspiration for your lyrics?

SB: No, that’s a good question. I get a lot of inspiration from people, a lot of inspiration from my own daily interactions with everyone. I like watching movies, I know that’s kind of a weird thing, but sometimes I get super inspired after watching a really good movie just because it’s another story besides my own story, so I like to try and branch of just “what do I have to say,” and try to think, “what can I say for everybody?”

CG: Definitely. If you could collaborate with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?

SB: Probably Thom Yorke; I love him. I have this fantasy of, well he’s a lot older than me, but I have this fantasy of meeting him and him like respecting me, falling in love with me, and like chasing me, but I’m like “no, Thom, but I’ll do music with you,” and we like have a great side project. I think about that all of the time.

CG: You never know.

SB: It could happen! I hope he lis-

tens to this and reaches out. Or James Blake; I love James Blake, and he’s a bit more age appropriate.

CG: Are there any lesser known artists that you would like to recommend to the DU students?

SB: Oh yes, I have so many. Elliot Moss is a cool New York guy. Porches, I guess Porches is kind of popular, but Porches, and Frankie Cosmos. Darwin Deez is a good friend of mine; his stuff is super sick. I think that’s about it.

That’s all of the new stuff I’ve been listening to recently. And obviously Layne, she’s amazing.

CG: Do you have any advice for young musicians?

SB: Just to keep going, and to not be comparative. The biggest hurdle I got over that really gave me a lot of confidence was I used to compare myself to everyone and think I needed to be doing things a certain way, but then I realized that you can be in your own lane. Music is kind of nice because it’s different from acting or something because with acting you’re playing a role and have to be that exact thing, but with music you can literally just be yourself. It’s so cool. It’s a creative outpour of who you are as a person. So just keep doing what you’re doing, and don’t worry about what everybody else is doing because eventually, if you’re good enough, you’ll do well.

CG: That’s awesome. This is my last question: You have a new album coming soon, is there any word on when it’ll be released?

SB: The first single should drop next month. I’m playing a single-release show, and we already have the videos done, and then they’re spitballing like first quarter of next year, so February, I think was the date. But there will be two music videos that come out before then, so there will be stuff to tide people over, and I’ve been doing collabs. I did some songs with Polarcode and Blackbear. There’s stuff that’s been coming out besides just my stuff, but I’m excited to just start diving into the album release.

You can hear Soren’s debut EP, “Soren Bryce,” on Spotify or Apple Music, and be sure to keep an eye out for her upcoming album.

Claudia Glenn | Contributing Writer

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“The Foreigner” is more than its easy–and ill-timed–premise lets on Photo courtesy of STXFilms

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t first glance, “The Foreigner” looks like a movie destined for the bargain bin at your local retail store.

It has all the markings of B-movie schlock: a violent revenge tale with a rather problematic title (though far better than that of the novel it was based on: “The Chinaman”) where an immigrant father (Jackie Chan, “Rush Hour”), who happens to be ex-Special Forces, wreaks havoc on the men he believes to be responsible for the bombing that caused the death of his only living daughter (the others lost to the political conflict that drove him from his country). As viewers, you know you’re going to get what you paid for: Chan, the world’s foremost master of kicking ass and making it look effortless, doing exactly that. However, the most dramatic Hollywood role of Chan’s career, along with a script with a surprisingly dark political heart, makes this brutal vendetta tale much more nuanced than expected.

The film follows the aforementioned “foreigner,” Quan, as

he makes life a living hell for Liam Hennessy (Pierce Brosnan, “Goldeneye”), a former IRA leader who’s turned things around as a stuffy Irish deputy minister who’s abandoned bombs for politics. The bombing that took Quan’s daughter’s life was perpetrated by a group claiming to be the “Authentic IRA,” a violent offshoot of the original movement that feels the peace accords between the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland are nothing but a shameful surrender. Quan is convinced that Hennessy can give him the identity of the bombers, despite the minister’s increasingly flummoxed claims that he’s left his IRA life behind him. Desperate for answers and his vengeance, Quan takes the battle to Hennessy and his posse of former foot-soldiers, setting off dirty bombs where Hennessy works and living and fighting like Rambo in the woods near the minister’s home until he gets what he wants.

Quan certainly isn’t the most fleshed out character ever put to screen, but Chan’s performance

proves that he doesn’t need to be.

Chan, known typically in the States as a more comedic and loose actor, plays the role with an aching sadness and determination that compliments the film’s events nicely. The character doesn’t have to weep, explain his dark past or monologue at his enemies to show his pain to the audience; it’s seen organically and poignantly as he convincingly mourns amongst the belongings of the only family had he left, fights with raw power and acts relentless in his determination.

Chan perfectly captures all the ache and anxiety that can come with being an immigrant in a strange land and all the guilt and horror of being someone left behind. Combine that with the willpower for vengeance and you have a complex English role finally worthy of one of the world’s biggest stars.

While Chan delivers, it’s actually the film’s rather bleak commentary about Irish-British relations and the nature of modern terrorism that saves the film from being dangerously offensive. In context of larger

issues in England and Ireland, from Brexit to numerous terrorist acts, the film’s premise feels a little exploitative in its timing. However, as we watch Brosnan’s character and other minor players argue bitterly over the direction of their movement, the scope of their violence and the future of their homeland, it becomes clear it’s trying to be more than a simple political-action thriller. The script isn’t strong enough to support this, necessarily, as the dialogue is often clunky, and the endless array of subplots can often feel tacked on.

However, as Chan and Brosnan’s two men of action face off, both haunted by violent pasts they tried to escape, we see the price of imperialism on display. Their duality drives the film to be one that still gives audiences what they paid for, yet tries to makes them think a bit in the process. It may not work entirely, but it’s an admirable quality in a time where action movies are getting dumber as the world seemingly gets darker.

Ryan Ninesling | Executive Editor

Kuuskmann and Reynolds give an emotional performance Photo courtesy of The Lamont

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ct. 10 marked the opening night at the Newman Center for the Lamont Symphony Orchestra, and with Lawrence Golan at their head, they brought their audience to their feet multiple times during the night. The three-piece program featured works by Ludwig van Beethoven, Richard Strauss and Johannes Brahms.

Each piece was longer than the last, with the final piece logging around 40 minutes of four exceptionally different movements that wrapped up the show with a big and loud finish underscoring the talent showcased.

The featured artists of the evening

were clarinetist Jeremy Reynolds and Martin Kuuskmann on the bassoon, both of whom are professors of their respective instruments at the Lamont School of Music. They are also both world-renowned masters of their instrument and have played all over the world.

Kuuskmann dedicated the piece to his student who tragically died ten days before the show, and he went on to say that “he absolutely loved the bassoon.” This dedication surprised not only the audience but also the orchestra themselves who did not know that it would be taking place.

This gave the piece new meaning, and the performance was felt more deeply by the audience because of it.

Comprised of three movements, the “Duet-Concertino for Clarinet and Bassoon with String Orchestra and Harp” made the instruments talk back and forth, mirroring the other, saying their own lines and building off of one another. This created a very dynamic atmosphere that kept the listener engaged and dreading the final note. And, unlike traditional classical pieces, it ended quietly which was a perfect way to conclude the dedicated work.

The technical skills displayed by the musicians could rival any respected orchestra in the world.

Despite their youth the students, both graduate and undergraduate, displayed remarkable artistry for

only having these pieces for a short amount of time before the performance. The Lamont School of Music has gained musicians from around the country, and the world and is committed to creating experiences that prepare their students for the professional world.

This was especially evident during the second movement when the cellos took control of the piece and struck a chord with their wonderful playing. Their power over the audience was most apparent during the final piece. Each movement became its own narrative that all came together in the end.

Georgia Peden | Contributing Writer

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Netflix originals worth checking out this October Photo courtesy of Netflix

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ith fall officially in full swing Netflix is busy adding shows and movies. There are some much anticipated new seasons like “Stranger Things 2” as well as some lesser known titles coming too. In this article, we’ll take a look at five new films or shows coming to Netflix. Warning: this article contains spoiler alerts about previous seasons.

Netflix’s unexpected gem, “Stranger Things” is returning this fall. Set in a fictional Midwestern town, the story follows a group of friends as they struggle to find their missing friend, Will.

The show’s cult following is due primarily to its stylistic tribute to beloved genre films of the 1980s.

If there ever were to be a binge worthy show, this action packed nine episode season is sure to be on top of the list. Release Date: October 27.

“Mindhunter” Season 1, a Netflix original starring Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, Anna Torv and Hannah Gross is a crime drama where FBI agents are determined to get inside the minds of serial killers in order to understand why they committed their heinous crimes. In a genre

already oversaturated with likeminded shows such as Criminal Minds and its spinoffs it will be interesting to see if the show is able to differentiate itself. James Poniewozik of the New York Times seems to think that it does in his review. Release Date: October 13.

“The Day I Met El Chapo,” a three part Netflix series features Kate del Castillo telling her side of her infamous encounter with notorious drug lord El Joaquin El Chapo Guzman or more commonly known as El Chapo.

The documentary series also talks about actor Sean Penn’s role in the their meeting. Castillo wrote an open letter to El Chapo applauding him for being more transparent than the Mexican Government. This led to El Chapo wanting her to make a documentary about him which led to their meetup. Check out the riveting trailer here. Release Date: October 20th “One of Us” is an all new Netflix Original documentary about the lives of three people who leave the Hasidic Jewish Community. It documents the abuse and trauma they experience as they attempt to leave. Three people, one woman and two men

are profiled in their struggles with leaving the Hasidic Community including everything from drug abuse to spousal violence.

It is sure to be a thought provoking documentary leaving viewers with many questions to ponder.

Release Date: October 20.

Based off a Stephen King Novel, the new Netflix Original Film “1922” is sure to appeal to lovers of horror everywhere. The plot of the film revolves around a rancher killing his wife with the help of his son to prevent them from moving. However, it seems that more problems begin

to arise for the rancher and his son after his wife dies. He has no idea what he has unleashed by killing her. The film has an 88% percent rating from Rotten Tomatoes with no critic consensus yet. It also received 7.5/10 on IMDb with 55 reviews so far.

It’s definitely worth checking out if you’re into horror movies and willing to watch one that may not be the most jump scare packed film. Release Date: October 20.

Jack Reilly | Contributing Writer

WHERE

FRESH & FAST MEET

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Photo courtesy of Netflix

WE DELIVER! VISIT JIMMYJOHNS.COM TO FIND A LOCATION NEAR YOU

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P!nk is familiar yet refreshing on “Beautiful Trauma” Photo courtesy of the LA Times

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n Friday, October 13 P!nk released her seventh studio album, “Beautiful Trauma,” following the release of three singles and a powerful speech at the VMA’s in August.

The album opens with the title single. Euphoric strings and horn sections begin and weave throughout the song with a catchy synth-pop style beat backing Pink’s defiant and triumphant voice, as she brings you on the rollercoaster of a relationship she calls “Beautiful Trauma.”

The next song on the album, “Revenge (feat. Eminem),” was written by Pink with the express purpose of collaborating with Eminem and “going for a rap Grammy.” The song follows a bitter former couple, both vindictive after a messy end to

their relationship. Pink labels it “a nightmare f––ing come true.”

The next single, “Whatever You Want,” is stylistically reminiscent of Pink’s 2016 single “Just Like Fire,” and it deals with romantic perseverance, a theme already present in multiple songs on this record. The song stands strong on its own, but it becomes redundant amongst the other tracks on the album.

“What About Us,” the album’s first single, is a far more oblique follow up to her 2006 single “Dear Mr. President.” The lyrics beseech the current administration, calling for more compassion and peace, rather than hostility and cruelty.

The music video for the song contains politically charged imagery, with a short audio clip at the beginning of the video declaring: “We are going to reject hate. We are going to

reject racism.”

The album’s tone shifts with “But We Lost It,” a stirring ballad that has a darker take on romantic struggles. A more uptempo “Better Life,” also looks on the darker side of things, exploring doubt and insecurity within a relationship. “Where We Go” is about searching for answers to squelch this uncertainty.

Pink examines her flaws and past mistakes in “For Now,” asserting “My mouth gets me in trouble all the time.” This gives an alternative perspective of her outspokenness– a trait she’s frequently lauded for.

“I Am Here” is a rollicking, life-affirming declaration of victory after battling everything life throws at you. This song glues the entire album together, speaking to both

Pink’s personal struggles, and the problems everyone faces in these particularly trying times.

“Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken” slows the album down once more, with only piano accompanied by haunting strings and soulful, touching lyrics. Her best vocal performance by far, though, is on “You Get My Love,” the final song on the album. She reassures, “If there’s only one thing about me that you can trust/You get my love, baby,” aptly closing a contemplative and cathartic album.

Pink has a three-month long nationwide tour scheduled to begin in March of next year, and she’ll be at the Pepsi Center on May 8, 2018.

You can find tickets and more about the album here.

Emma Cohen | Contributing Writer

MASSEDUCTION: St. Vincent’s newest is nothing short of brilliant

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nnie Clark, more commonly known as St. Vincent, dropped her sixth album “MASSEDUCTION” on Friday, Oct. 13.

The album confronts lyrically the more insidious cultural underpinnings of West Hollywood, particularly on tracks like “Pills.”

Sonically, Clark has mutated radio-pop into chromatic and funky abstractions, particularly strong on tracks such as “Los Ageless” and “Young Lover.”

She’s the master of making sweetness sour, making love feel like false advertisement.

Her breathy performance and characteristic grit of her guitar meld a familiar and jarring dichotomy she perfected in 2009 with “Actor.”

Clark is an artist who’s always known what she wants for herself. In an interview with Noisey she recalls walking herself to the guitar shop for lessons, barely 12 years-old in rural Texas.

In 2006 she left her first position as a professional musician with The Polyphonic Spree to tour with Sufjan Stevens as a member of a backing band. After working with Sufjan, she set out to write her own music, feeling that she possessed her own genius. Clark received a grammy in 2015 for her self-titled album, has starred in advertisements and has collaborated with both David Byrne and The Pixies.

Her personal independence is reflected in her music, constantly towing the line between

commercial pop and obscure electronic rock, while ballads like “Smoking Section” place the listener in a smoky jazz lounge, a loveless, seasick, midnight attraction, where the bar keep’s eyes are glazed over and you can hear the cars outside, wheels wet with rain. Dipping into the emotional realm in a breath, or plunging into an electronic cacophony, the artistic brain inside Clark has carefully shaped every aspect of St Vincent like a well tuned Gibson.

Some have criticized Clark for being “too precious,” but they can’t be more wrong. Not only is Annie Clark fully aware of her position of power in the public spotlight, she’s aware of herself as heir to pop demi-gods Madonna, Bowie and the like.

Her precision and her heavy conceit, perhaps what others have mistaken as preciousness, is wholly intentional, and “MASSEDUCTION” is as all the rest of her masterful albums: written from her throne of power and intellectuality.

In the same manner as Alex Cameron who plays the Vegas adonis on stage, St. Vincent takes tropes of femininity on and off like costume jewelry. Equal parts actress and musician, Annie Clark has been turning St. Vincent on and off since she entered stage right.

St. Vincent is a persona, a theatrical representation of the modern woman bent on self destruction, the sugar and the

false glamour that surrounds her local environment.

In “Sugarboy,” she describes herself as “a casualty hanging from the balcony.” “MASSEDUCTION” is a highball mixed with equal parts desire and moral degradation, but it’s not inauthentic.

It’s coming from a place of honesty and self awareness living in Clark and in West Hollywood, and it’s totally addictive.

Compared to Lana Del Rey, an artist who tries to express the same ethical deprivation of

LA, laced with a familiar catharsis and apathetic outlook, Del Rey just doesn’t stand up with the raw genius of Clark. Clark’s vaudeville pout, her electric self-satisfaction, the tenacity she pulls out of her fretboard and pedal work, her occasional playing of a twelve-string and operating a line of pedals, it doesn’t compare. Clark is both poet and musician, and MASSEDUCTION is pure literature.

Kendall Morris | Arts & Life Editor Photo courtesy of Spin Records

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Jon Bellion hits an “All Time High” at 1stBank Center Photo courtesy of Capitol Records

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his past Tuesday teens and twenty somethings alike lined up at Broomfield’s 1stBank Center to hear the pop rap and soul genius of Jon Bellion.

Bellion made his big break last year with his single “All Time Low” going platinum and since has been an unstoppable force of counter-culture lyrics and heart throbbing performances.

The Long Island raised artist brought “The Human Condition Tour Part lll” to Colorado after selling out performances in Vegas, Los Angeles and Vancouver. “The Human Condition” was released in 2016 and was Bellion’s first studio album.

Tuesday night’s show started with graphic tee wearing fans lining up outside 1stBank’s doors hours before they opened at 7 p.m. for an 8 p.m. show. Domino’s pizza deliveries were made reg-

ularly throughout the line while people played Bellion favorites through their phone speakers.

The moment the doors opened people flooded onto the floor of the concert venue making it very clear that there would be standing space only.

The concert began with a hyped performance from Bellion’s mentor and close friend, Travis Mendes. Mendes was accompanied by Beautiful Mind which is Bellion’s backing musicians and stage crew he has with him on tour. Beautiful Mind is a compilation of Bellion’s college friends who agreed to drop their jobs and join Bellion on tour if he were to ever make it big.

Mendes prepared the crowd with some of his own originals pausing in between to ask, “Are you ready for Jon Bellion?”

The crowd’s energy built with every insistence from Mendes

that Bellion would soon take the stage.

Bellion made a leaping entrance on stage sporting an unkempt hairdo and a shirt that read, “Money is not the key to wealth,” Bellion’s credo when it comes to fame.

Bellion surprised the crowd by playing the platinum hit “All Time Low” third in the set list. Hands were up in the air bouncing to each belt of “low low low low low.”

The momentum stayed steady while Bellion jumped around the stage singing songs from the 2016 album as well as his earlier 2014 project, “The Definition.”

The crowd was more than eager to shout every word while Bellion showed off his wide range both vocally and lyrically.

He even took his turn at rapping in songs like “Luxury” where he compares money to a jealous girlfriend. An encore was inevi-

table and Bellion was more than happy to comply to the roarous claps of fans who weren’t quite ready to go home.

Bellion, always one for being unpredictable threw it back and left the audience with one of his earliest tracks, “Jim Morrison” off of his free 2013 album, “The Separation.”

Knowing how to capitalize on the power of online streaming has gotten Bellion far and placed him in the sold out concerts he now knows all too well.

His performance at 1stBank showed that he knows how to work his way into fans’ hearts while supplying them with three hours of pure entertainment.

There is no doubt that Jon Bellion is still discovering his potential and will continue to surprise us every step of his journey.

Annie Nagel | Contributing Writer

Savage in Limbo: confused characters, savvy actors

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his year’s fall production documents the hopes and dreams of a group of social outcasts, a group of young and restless regulars who frequent a Bronx dive bar, hoping to distract themselves from their own dissatisfaction and disappointment.

DU’s theater department has created an arresting and brilliantly inventive production of the play, slowly building the audience’s relationship with the character’s until one feels as though they are themselves on stage, feeling the aching heart of Linda Savage. The actors masterfully move through the script as it swings from comedy to near tragedy, balancing wit with raw emotion as the plot develops, drawing the audiences further into the complexities of its characters.

The crew of student actors put on a performance that is both believable and fascinatingly real.

The authenticity of the script has been done justice by the department, and the characters somehow manage to plunder through their various affairs with grace.

The entire play occurs within a drab, run-down neighborhood bar where a group of 32 year-olds try to find connections, friends, advice and moreover seek relief from the disappointments and tedium of the working world. But neither the setting, nor the characters, grow banal as the plot progresses. A large feat for a student play, and a testament to the high standards of

the DU Theater Department.

A lesser known play, “Savage in Limbo” was originally written

by American playwright John Patrick Shanley in 1984, and it was produced by various theater companies until 1987. It was most recently produced in 2011 by The Drilling Company Theatre, New York City.

The first to arrive on stage is central figure Denise Savage (Tamarra Nelson), a lush who’s stretched thin and loudly proclaims that she is a thirty-two year old virgin. Savage begs for advice from the bartender Murk (Kevin Douglas) about how to snag a man. Nelson is convincing and her delivery always compelling. Due to her performance, the audience wants Savage to succeed despite her character’s shortcomings, boozy immorality and total lack of judgement.

Then enters Linda Rotunda (Meagan Traver), who is growingly anxious. Her current boyfriend, Tony Aronica (Daniel Crumrine) seems distant and uninterested in their relationship. Linda is the mother of a few children already, which has lead to both financial difficulty and trouble in her romantic life. Soon after she expresses her worry, her boyfriend Tony enters the bar, proclaiming that he is leaving her to find “ugly girls,” girls who’ve “read books and can teach him something.”

Denise immediately makes a

Photo courtesy of the DU Theater Department

desperate advance toward Tony.

All the commotion forces the taciturn bartender, Murk (Kevin Douglas), to play mediator. Murk is good at his job, which is to keep the glasses filled to the brim and water all the plants despite the fact that they’re hopelessly dead.

His own girlfriend April (Gracie Jacobson) seems to suffer emotionally after her failed attempt as a nun, and has turned to the bottle.

The cast runs through the almost frustratingly cyclical plot without tiring, and although the resolution is in many ways a return, the theme is in plain sight:

as human beings, we’re doomed to make the same mistakes over and over again, but that’s where the joy in life comes from.

At times it’s easy as an audience member to write off the afflictions of the characters as petty, caused by their lack of moral judgement and foresight, but their issues are the source of the plays wry and candid humor. “Savage in Limbo” captures both the spirit Bronx and the confused characters who populate it with sharp satire and raw characters that will ultimately win the hearts of any audience over.

Kendall Morris | Arts & Life Editor

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get: hyped hockey games

october 20 & 21 . 7 pm . magness arena

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october 20 . 5-7 pm . championship village, ritchie center

rhythm

a new world: intimate music from final fantasy october 20 . 7:30 pm . newman center

spirit parade

october 21 . noon . between lot 108 & ritchie center

hungry piopalooza

october 21 . 4-7 pm . championship village

pride

wear your DU colors every friday

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