DU Clarion Volume 125 Issue 07

FEB. 21, 2018

VOLUME 125, ISSUE 07

“BLACK PANTHER” IS A MARVEL REVOLUTION 2 pa g e

DU COLLEGE REPUBLICANS HOST DOUG ROBINSON

MEN’S BASKETBALL DEFEAT ORAL ROBERTS

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ANALYZING TRUMP’S 3 SPEECH AFTER FLORIDA pa g e

MCA HOSTS ARTIST CONVERSATION AT DU

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DU CLARION

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FEB. 21, 2018

| NEWS

DU College Republicans host Doug Robinson

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n Feb. 15, the DU College Republicans hosted potential Republican gubernatorial candidate, Doug Robinson, in Margery Reed Hall where he introduced himself to members of the club and answered questions.

The meeting began with Robinson asking students what they thought the political climate was like on the DU campus. Some students described the climate as being slanted while one had commented that the left-leaning campus was “somewhat ostracizing.” Part of their frustration was over professors and classmates making blanket assumptions about their beliefs or assuming, after President Trump’s election, how Republicans are presumed to be.

In response, Robinson praised the students for holding their beliefs.

“When you really use your head and you think through what really lifts people out of povert—he things that you want from people—you want them to have opportunities, you want them to be successful in life, you want them to really thrive. It is conservative principles that allow that to happen. It is not a handout to people,” said Robinson.

“What you believe—more conserva-

tive, republican, principles—is the way to make our country better and yet you are a minority at your school,” said Robinson, “I’m concerned with what America looks like 30 years from now.”

Robinson, 56, has a background in technology and finance. He moved to Colorado in 1996 and is commonly referenced as the nephew of former 2008 Republican presidential nominee, Mitt Romney. Although this is his first time running for office, Robinson sees his lack of political title and his work with non-profits as a strong suit.

As one of the founders, he mentioned his work with “KidsTek,” a Colorado non-profit focused on “increasing the technology literacy of students at Colorado’s highest-needs schools through […] innovative after school, project-based enrichment programs, and […] in-school technical certificate programs.”

Before answering questions from students, Robinson also spoke about his stances on some of the high profile claims potential Democratic candidate Jared Polis has made during his campaign.

In regard to Polis’s hope to make Colorado a state that uses 100% renewable energy 20 years from now, Robinson—although agreeing with the value

ABOUT US

of having renewable energy—disagrees that it should be Colorado’s only power source. He sees the rejection of the oil and gas industry as an elimination of jobs for thousands of Colorado citizens.

Robinson also commented on Polis’s wish to make preschool universal, saying that is it unrealistic and unaffordable.

Considering the recent Florida school shooting, when asked about his plans to protect Colorado schools from a mass shooting, Robinson hopes to protect schools while still allowing citizen second amendment right to hold and have firearms.

“I don’t think gun control, trying to take guns away from citizens, is going to really make the difference because these are people who are obviously not obeying the law and they’re going to find a way to get access to them. But I do believe we should close the gun show loophole and try to make sure that we’re doing a good job on background checks to keep the guns out of the hands of criminals,” he said.

The final question Robinson asked was about his stance on whether Denver should be a sanctuary city and what to do with students formally protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood

Arrivals (DACA).

Currently in KidsTek, Robinson said there are 42 kids whose parents brought them from another country into the U.S. illegally. Having met them, he sees the students as exactly what America wants—hard workers who can improve the country. He wants to provide students in a similar situation a path towards citizenship.

“I don’t think we send them back to a place they don’t know. I do think we should provide a path for them to become citizens. I’m hopeful that President Trump is this negotiator and he has thrown up these things. We need to do a better job securing our border, we have to have control,” he said.

When it comes to sanctuary cities, Robinson is opposed to them. If elected governor, he told the students that he intends to speak with Mayor Hancock on the issue, discuss how much money Denver receives from the state and argue that the safety of Coloradans needs to come first.

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.

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CONTRIBUTING STAFF HANNAH BRANIT GRACE CARSON BEN ROSSI

FEB. 21, 2018

DU CLARION

SPORTS | 3

DU steals win from Oral Roberts in final home game

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U Men’s Basketball stole a close win over Oral Roberts (ORU), 66-65 by holding off a run from the Golden Eagles to win their last home game of the season on Feb. 18 in Magness Arena. With the win, Denver added a game to their now three-game winning streak, and improved their overall record to 13-14, going 7-6 in Summit League stats. The Pioneers finished their season with 10-4 wins on their home court, the most wins at home since the 2012-13 season. ORU dropped to a 10-20 record and 4-9 in Summit League.

Junior guard Joe Rosga (St. Paul, Minn.) scored his second double-double for the season, adding 13 points and 10 rebounds

to Denver’s win. Making his first start of the season, senior center Christian Mackey (Kirtland, N.M.) tied a season high of 10 points, shooting 100 percent in the game.

Other contributors were senior center Daniel Amigo (EL Paso, Texas) and junior guard Jake Holtzmann (Parker, Colo.), both scoring 10 points for the Pioneers.

Mackey led the Pioneers early, scoring eight of Denver’s first 12 points. Mackey hit four out of four of his jumpers in the opening stretch. The Pioneers continued to shoot well, getting lots of open looks against the Golden Eagles’ zone defense. The Crimson and Gold shot 52.9 percent (9 for 17) in the first 12 minutes, which gave the squad a five-point led. At the

half, the Pioneers still lead by four.

Defense was the biggest factor in Denver’s strong opening half, limiting the Golden Eagles to just seven field goals made.

In the second half, the Golden Eagles fought for the lead, closing to within three. Both teams continued to trade baskets. ORU tied the game at 56 with 3:03 left, but sophomore forward Jake Krafka (Austin, Texas) shot the basket of the game, knocking down a corner 3 to break a 56-56 tie and give Denver a needed momentum change.

Krakfa then claimed key rebounds and hit timely free throws down the stretch. With 11 seconds left, the Pioneers led by four. The Golden Eagles immedi-

ately came down and hit a threepoint shot with three seconds left on the clock and fouled Krafka.

Krafka missed his first free throw and intentionally missed the second to force the Golden Eagles into a timeout with 0.7 left.

ORU missed a half-court attempt, giving Denver the victory on Senior Day. The Pioneers will hit the road to close out their regular season in Macomb, Illinois Denver will take on Western Illinois on Feb. 24 at 6 p.m.

Nikky Johnson | Sports Editor

Caitlin Ganam | Clarion

Caitlin Ganam | Clarion

DU CLARION

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| SPORTS

FEB. 21, 2018

DU ties CC in series but keeps Gold Pan trophy

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ivalry Weekend started out with a bang for the Denver Pioneers as they won their fourth straight Gold Pan trophy in their historic rivalry with Colorado College.

The Pioneers were in the absence of star forward Troy Terry who is currently competing for Team U.S.A. in South Korea. On Friday night in Colorado Springs, DU’s clinching of the trophy started midway through the first period as sophomore Henrik Borgsrtom (Helsinki, Finland) took a shot from behind the net off of Tigers goalie Alex Lecurc to give the Pioneers the first goal. That was followed by a goal by DU’s Colin Staub in front of the net.

The Tigers managed to narrow

the deficit in the second period on a wrist shot from Brian Williams.

However, the Pioneers were quick with their responses as they have been all season as Rudy Junda responded on a puck from Griffin Mendel. The Pioneers would go on to score two more goals in the game, making the final score 5-1.

DU Head Coach Jim Montgomery was proud of his teams performance Friday night stating that, “I thought we were relentless, I thought we never stopped pressuring.” Denver continued their dominant penalty kill going five for five on penalty kills despite failing to score on five power play opportunities.

Denver looked to capitalize on their success the next night at Mag-

ness Arena. Denver looked aggressive near the goal in the first period but couldn’t find the back of the net off of Colorado College’s goaltender.

In the waning seconds of the first period when Colorado Colleges Nick Halloran delivered a slapshot that found its way in the back of the net.

That would be the lone goal of the hockey game despite outshooting Colorado College 40-22. The second period looked especially promising for the Pioneers as they had several deflections off Colorado College’s Alex Leclerc that failed to go in. Denver’s power play struggles continued as the Pioneers went 0-4 on power plays as they fell to the Tigers 1-0 on Saturday night.

“I think you saw that they were a pretty determined team coming off

of last night’s game,” said sophomore Erich Fear (Winnetka, Ill.), “we did have a little bit more desperation to get to their front to finish off some of our plays and it’s a good learning experience at this point of the year.”

This year’s rivalry with Colorado College ended with a 2-2 tie and due to the tie, Denver maintains the Gold Pan trophy, a trophy the two teams have competed for since 1992 that DU has held the past four years. The Pioneers have a difficult matchup ahead in these next couple of weeks as they travel to Minnesota to take on No. 1 ranked St. Cloud State before returning to Magness in a couple of weeks to take on Miami University at Ohio.

Ben Rossi | Contributing Writer

Erika Sobelman | Clarion

Ethan Walker earns first sock trick in DU loss to Duke

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lthough sophomore Ethan Walker (Peterborough, Ontario) had his first career sock trick, with hat tricks in both halves of the game, and senior faceoff specialist Trevor Baptiste (Denville, N.J.) went 23-30 (.767), with 16 ground balls from the faceoff dot, No. 4 ranked Denver fell to No. 1 ranked Duke 15-12.

“You play so few games that each one is so very important,” Head Coach Bill Tierney said following the match. “If you win this one, you get one in the bank and can almost put yourself in the tournament on Feb. 16. Overall, that was a great lacrosse game between two teams that are both going to get better as time goes on. It was really a weird game with the field almost tilted (22 of the 27 goals were scored on

one side of the field). To Duke’s credit, they did what they had to do to win in the fourth quarter.”

Duke opened up scoring 48 seconds into the game. The goal was answered by junior midfielder Colton Jackson (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) from 12 yards out, the first of fourstraight goals for the Pioneers.

Walker followed Jackson with a goal at the 11:20 mark. Senior attackman Colton McCaffrey (Parker, Colo.) scored at the 10 minute mark, followed by junior Nate Marano (Tustin, Calif.) to bring the game to 4-1, Denver.

Walker scored once more in the first quarter to bring the score to 5-2.

In the second quarter, Duke controlled the play, forcing four turnovers and outscoring Denver 4-1. Walker completed

his first-half hat-trick at 5:42 at 15-12. left to play, putting the Pioneers Walker’s sock trick was the back in the lead at 6-5. Duke first for Denver since 2016. scored before halftime, leaving He is also the last Pioneer to the game tied at 6-6. score 8 tricks, last doing so In the third quarter, Denver against No. 20 Providence in his took back the lead, using a 5-1 freshman season. run to help take a four-goal Baptiste’s groundball total lead, leaving the score at 12-8 following this game (499) entering the fourth quarter. moved him into a fourth-place Walker had three goals, com- tie with Kyle Rowe in the NCAA pleting his second-half hat Record Book. trick, as well as two assists.

The Pioneers will open their Jackson, senior captain Connor home season on Feb. 25 against Donahue (Groton, Mass.) and Cleveland State. The faceoff is McCaffrey had the other three set for 11 a.m. MT. The game will goals. Walker was assisted by be broadcast on Altitude, and junior Austin French (Danville, ESPN Denver 1600.

Calif.), and held assists for Jackson and McCaffery. Jackson was credited with the assist on Donahue’s goal.

In the last quarter, Duke had a 7-0 run, ending the game Hannah Branit | Contributing Writer

FEB. 21, 2018

DU CLARION

SPORTS | 5

Denver Swim wins fifth-straight Summit League Title

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oth the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams won their fifthstraight Summit League Swimming and Diving Championships. For the second straight year, Denver won every swimming event at the championships, extending their current streak to 78 consecutive event wins, going back to the final day of the 2016 Championships.

On the first day of the Summit League Championships, Feb. 14, the women’s swimming and diving program set new school and Summit League Championship records in the 200 medley and 800 free relay to take an early lead in the championships. Senior Morgan McCormick (Golden, Colo.), junior Bailey Andison (Smiths Falls, Ontario), redshirt-junior Heidi Bradley (Victoria, B.C.) and senior Morgan Wice-Roslin (Colorado Springs, Colo.) combined for a new record of 1:37.19 in the 200 medley relay. They beat Denver’s previous record, set at the 2015 Summit League Championships, by 0.24 seconds. The women also broke the school record in the 800 relay by 0.12 seconds. Most impressively, their time of 7:10.32 was 1.35 seconds faster than the Summit League Championship record. Freshman Aysia Leckie (Georgetown, Ontario), Andison, junior Annelyse Tullier (Dallas, Texas) and senior Maddie Myers (Arvada, Colo.) all contributed to the record breaking time.

The men won in their 200 medley, touching in 1:26.26. The team was comprised of senior Anton Loncar (Hillsboro, Ore.), freshman Cy Jager (Moscow, Idaho), sophomore Peter Webster (Odense, Denmark) and sophomore Sid Faber

(Portland, Ore.). In the 800 free relay, redshirt-freshman Stephen Calkins (Calgary, Alberta), sophomore Colin Gilbert (Kamloops, B.C.), sophomore Hugo Sykes (Weston, Conn.) and senior Ray Bornman (Mackay, Queensland) combined for first, with a time of 6:24.63.

Closing out the night, Denver took a chance at a time trial in the 200 medley relay. Sophomore Neil Wachtler (Waco, Texas), Jager, Webster and Farber combined for a Summit League Championship record time of 1:25.92.

On day two, sophomore diver Sammy Walker (Los Gatos, Calif.) scored a 251.95 in the one-meter dive finals to become the first women’s diver to win a Summit League Championship for Denver, since Denver joined the league five seasons ago. The women’s 200 free relay made another new school record for the Pioneers, as the men’s and women’s swim and dive programs extended their lead on the second day of competition.

The women’s 200 free relay team, consisting of Wice-Roslin, junior Lauren Moden (Parker, Colo.), McCormick and Leckie, finished in 1:29.35, beating the previous record by over a second.

Following them, the Denver’s men 200 free relay finished first, with freshman Cameron Auchinachie (Binghamton, N.Y.), Farber, Calkins and Loncar finishing in 1:18.10.

The individual event began on day two, with Denver sweeping the podium in the men’s and women’s 500 meter free. For the women, Myers touched first in 4:45.38, Tullier was second in 4:47.05, and sophomore Andi Johnston (Fort Colins, Colo.) was third in 4:49.52.

In the men’s race, Gilbert was first in 4:17.72, senior Alex Walton (Boulder, Colo.) was second in 4:24.68, sophomore Jesse Haraden (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) was third in 4:30.03 and junior Kyle Ewoldt (Gilbert, Ariz.) was fourth by 0.06 seconds.

Denver’s women swim swept the top four spots in the 100 fly, with sophomore Josie Valette (Boulder, Colo.) touching first (53.20), McCormick placing second (53.33), Bradley third in 53.40 and sophomore Kylie Cronin (Marblehead, Mass.) touching fourth in 53.49. The women continued their dominance in the 200 IM with another podium sweep.

Andison won the race by more than four seconds with a time of 1:58.09.

Freshman Emily Vandenberg (Ajax, Ontario) was second with a time of 2:02.18, and freshman Charlotte Simon (Saint Remy, France) was third in 2:04.18. The final event for the women was the 50 free, where Wice Roslin won in 22.55, followed

by Moden in second with 22.79.

On the men’s side, Calkins won the men’s 100 fly with a time of 47.75, followed closely behind by Webster in 47.98. The men swept the top four spots of the 200 IM, with Wachtler touching first in 1:48.15, followed by freshman Adriel Sanes (Rosharon, Texas) in 1:48.37, freshman Anthony Nosack (Beaverton, Ore.) was third in 1:49.30 and freshman Trent Panzera (Gauteng, South Africa) finished fourth in 1:50.03. The men continued their sweep when they took four of the top spots in the men’s 50 free. Auchinachie touched first in 19.15, followed

by Farber (19.83), Loncar (20.49) and Sykes (20.53).

The Pioneers started their third day by setting another Summit

League Championship record in the men’s 400 medley, as well as combining to win each of the last 64 swimming events at the Summit League Championships since 2016.

Loncar, Jager, Calkins and Auchinachie combined for a time of 3:09.36 in the 400 medley relay, a new Summit League Championship record. Notable wins from the third day include Myers in the 400 IM, Jager in the men’s 100 breast and sweeps in the men’s 400 IM, women’s 200 free relay, men’s 200 free, women’s 100 breast, men’s 100 back and women’s 100 back.

The meet concluded on Feb. 17, where Denver won every swimming event at the Summit League championships for the second straight year. Denver also set several new school records in a time trial of the 200 medley relay (Wachtler, Jager, Calkins and Farber in 1.25.73), men’s 200 breast (Sanes in 1:56.24), women’s 200 fly (sophomore Josie Valette (Boulder, Colo.) in 1:57.91).

Additionally, the men’s swim team set six new Summit League Championship records, breaking their own records in the process, in the 100 IM (Jager 49.78), 200 Back (Loncar 1:41.15), 100 Free (Farber 42.78) and 200 Breast (Sanes 1:56.24).

Denver competes next in the 2018 American Short Course Championships beginning on March 1. Following that, swimmers will compete in the CSCAA National Invitational (March 8-10), NCAA Women’s Championship (March 14-17) and NCAA Men’s Championships (March 21-24).

Hannah Branit | Contributing Writer

Women’s Lacrosse takes down Louisville 12-5

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he Pioneers dominated the Louisville Cardinals from early on in the game, keeping the ball in the offensive half of the field, preventing the Cardinals’ several offensive chances, and won three of the first four draws. Denver outshout Louisville 25-33, winning 11 out of the 19 draws.

Junior Kendra Lanuza (Littleton, Colo.) recorded the first goal of the game at 28:37. Shortly after, junior Julia Feiss (Baltimore, Md.) scored an unassisted goal. Her goal was followed by a goal from freshman Quintin Hoch-Bullen (Severn, Ontario) assisted by junior Elizabeth Behrins (Basking Ridge, N.J.).

Freshman Eliza Radochonski (Englewood, Colo.) scored at

Julie Gunderson | Clarion

10:12 off a free-position shot.

Behrins had an unassisted goal at the 4:05 marker of the game.

Sophomore Molly Little (Tiverton, R.I.) scored the last goal of the first half with five seconds left. At the break, Denver lead 6-2, with sophomore goalkeeper Carson Gregg (Severna Park, Md.) credited with six saves.

Denver began scoring shortly after the second half began, with Behrins getting her second goal of the game, with an assist from freshman Hannah Liddy (Westfield, N.J.). Senior Riley Eggeman (Mission Viejo, Calif.) scored the sixth straight goal for the Pioneers at the 27:08 mark, off an assist from Hoch-Bullen.

Louisville would break Denver’s hot streak off a free-posi-

tion shot with 26:41 left. Denver responded with Eggeman’s second and third goals of the game at the 24:01 and 16:37 minute marks, to bring the score to 10-3. Liddy assisted on both shots, ending the game with a team-high three shots. Eggeman scored her fourth goal of the game at 13:52, an unassisted shot after the Cardinals made it 10-4 at the 15:10 mark.

Behrins would score her third goal of the game in the last 10 minutes of the game, with an assist from Radochonski.

Behrins and Eggeman both finished with a hat-trick and four points, leading the team. Eggeman tied her career-high total of five shots and set a new career record with her four goals in

the game.

Louisville scored once more with two minutes left, leaving the final score at 12-5.

Gregg finished with 10 shots stopped out of the 15 that she faced. The defense had a very strong game, limiting the Cardinals offensively, finishing 12 for 20 on clear attempts. Redshirt junior Kennedy Milburn (Whitby, Ontario) led the strong defensive performance with five ground balls, a career-high.

The Pioneers play again on Feb. 23 at noon against San Diego State at the Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium.

Hannah Branit | Contributing Writer

DU CLARION

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FEB. 21, 2018

| OPINIONS

Inaction on two fronts after Florida shooting

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t’s hard to know what to say when talking about the latest school shooting—so many prior calls for change in so many places—but guns are the the one thing that we usually talk about in the wake of a mass shooting. For one high-profile person, that was not the case in this instance. President Trump in his address on the day after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, did not mention guns, skirting an issue where he has spoken few words, including after the Las Vegas massacre. He did, however, mention mental health, a topic that he brought up after previous shootings. Though frustrating that Trump did not speak of gun control in his speech, many agree that addressing mental illness in the United States is a priority. This is certainly true, but there’s still a problem: the Trump administration is confronting neither mental health nor gun control.

As more details about the gunman are published, it is clear that this person had behavioral and mental problems, something that President Trump acknowledged in a tweet where he scolded community members for not reporting this to the authorities. His speech also pointed out “the difficult issue of mental health” as it relates to this shooting. While many may perceive this as a distraction from the real conversation of gun control measures, the

mental health dimension does deserve attention. Almost 20 percent of US adults experience mental health problems in a given year, and problems often

healthcare bill that kicked around in Congress at the end of summer 2017. Though the bill did not pass, it made the administration’s inaction on health-

Photo courtesy of KVUE.com

get worse with lack of treatment.

President Trump is not wrong in acknowledging mental health as a huge problem in the U.S., one that can play a role in ghastly acts of violence.

But the Trump administration’s actual priorities on mental health were revealed in the deliberations on the failed

care clear. The bill included proposed cuts to Medicaid, which is the largest payer for mental health services in the U.S., and also proposed allowing states to waive requirements to cover problems like mental health and addiction. If Trump is choosing to emphasize mental health over gun control as a response to

mass shootings, one would think he is willing to act on this issue.

In reality, he has done nothing productive for either.

Actually, it gets worse. In February 2017, President Trump signed a bill rescinding an Obama-era regulation that had made it more difficult for people with mental illness to buy guns.

This contradicts Trump’s words on mental illness following the Florida shooting. Bringing up mental health and its connection to violence in his speech was a way to seem like there was a proposed policy solution somewhere, but no one should be fooled.

Mental illness and gun violence are both pressing issues in the United States, and they both need concrete action. If the Trump administration does care about helping the mentally ill, then they should focus on access to services and treatments. But if the Trump administration also cares about the lives of those murdered in mass shootings, then addresses to the nation need to include gun control proposals. The only way to actually ensure that mass shootings don’t happen is to support both mental health treatment and real gun control measures.

The Trump administration is doing neither when it needs to be doing both.

Elizabeth Lochhead | Opinions Editor

Hopes dashed for Denver’s safe injection site

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he concept of safe injection sites for drug users is a simpler idea than usually portrayed, and the controversy surrounding proposals for these sites muddies the clarity of their mission.

A safe injection site is where a drug user can go to gain access to clean needles and supervision from public health workers while they take drugs, making addiction and drug use less dangerous for the user and for the public.

A bill in the Colorado legislature that would have allowed the opening of a safe injection site in Denver was rejected by Republican members on Feb. 14, a decision that represents the often backward and unrealistic expectations when it comes to the issue of drug addiction.

There were 912 overdose deaths in Colorado in 2016. This is a tragic problem that affects our fellow citizens, and the public health concerns are substantial— needles discarded in streets, in parks and in public restrooms have the potential to transmit disease. The bill’s creation of a supervised injection site would have provided a safe place to use (and dispose of) clean needles and also the presence of health workers able to administer naloxone, the anti-overdose medication. These sites do not provide drugs, only resources to make the

community safer. The purpose of this bill was to increase public safety and decrease unnecessary, accidental death, not to encourage drug use.

The opposition comes from the fear that such a site would enable and encourage drug users. This is oversimplified thinking. Drug use and addiction takes a painful toll on the lives of fellow Denverites and Americans constantly, and it is unrealistic to expect the problem to be solved all at once. We have to accept the fact that there are people injecting drugs right now, and they will be doing the same thing tomorrow and the next day. Confronting addiction and decreasing drug use is a cause that is absolutely necessary, but ending drug use cannot happen overnight. Supervised injection sites make users, and non-users, safer and healthier on a day-today basis, and we can support this safety even as we work toward longer-term solutions.

There are currently zero safe injection sites in the U.S., but Vancouver’s public health department has operated these sites for 15 years. Vancouver Coastal Health has found that these sites do not increase drug use. Though Colorado lawmakers denied Denver such a crucial service, Denver does have the Harm Reduction Action Center,

Photo courtesy of Connor W. Davis

an organization that operates a syringe exchange and is an advocate for addiction recovery efforts. Expanding needle exchange services and outreach to those in need of help will remain essential for Denver in the future.

Safe injection sites do not encourage drug use and they will not make the problem worse. To support these organizations is to acknowledge that drug use is

a real problem that is happening at high rates, but that there are steps to make this safer and to keep people alive while we address the overall epidemic. It was a mistake not to pass a bill approving safe injection sites, and Colorado must be more realistic and more compassionate toward this issue in the future.

Elizabeth Lochhead | Opinions Editor

FEB. 21, 2018

DU CLARION

OPINIONS | 7

Trump’s proposed changes to SNAP program an insult to low-income communities

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n Feb. 12, the White House budget director, Mick Mulvaney, explained how the Trump administration wants to change the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program. Most folks know this as “food stamps.” According to the United States Department of Agriculture, there are currently around 41,658,868 people participating in the SNAP program.

SNAP gives a certain amount of money to low-income families in order to save money on food aid, usually on a Electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card that people can use at grocery stores to purchase food items.

The proposed program is essentially a worse version of Blue

Apron, a weekly service in which food is delivered to your home.

Instead of fresh ingredients, it would be government-purchased, nonperishable food items such as shelf-stable milk, pasta, canned meat, peanut butter, canned fruits and vegetables. It’s what the Agriculture Department has called “America’s Harvest Box.” This would apply to food stamp recipients who are given more than $90 per month in benefits, which is 81 percent of SNAP households overall, and would make up half of their benefits.

As a low-income student, I have been on, and off, food stamps for most of my life. For my entire life, I have received government benefits, like Medicaid. I am not ashamed of this,

and no one ever should feel shame for needing assistance.

While I have been a recipient of government benefits, my family has worked for ours, and I have been working for as long as I was able. My family and I pay our taxes — income, sales, property, etc — and contribute to programs such as Social Security and Medicare, just like everyone else. And just like everyone else, we are deserving of fresh food.

These changes arwe a part of the proposed budget for 2019, including substantial cuts to funding for food stamps, or SNAP, adding up to $200 billion over ten years. The budget claims that “Harvest boxes” would contribute $130 million of that savings.

The proposed “harvest box” is

an insult to low-income communities. It’s dehumanizing to say that those who are struggling aren’t deserving of even fresh fruits and vegetables. Living in poverty is systemic, and is not the fault of those who are poor. They should not be blamed or shamed for their income status, and they should be treated as fairly as everyone else.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that nearly half of SNAP beneficiaries are children, meaning that 1 in 4 children in the United States receive food stamps. Are those roughly 42 million children not worthy of fresh, healthy food?

Apparently, the Trump administration thinks so.

Grace Carson | Staff Writer

Photo courtesy of Connor W. Davis

PIONEER FUNNIES

DU CLARION

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FEB. 21, 2018

| OPINIONS

PIONEER VOICES Question of the week:

What is your favorite Winter Olympic Sport?

“My favorite Winter Olympic sport is ice skating because it takes a lot of talent and determination to be able to dance on ice skates.”

Chinta Keys, First Year

“My favorite Olympic sport is speed skating because it’s very exciting and everything happens extremely fast.”

Monica McFadden, Fourth Year

“Biathlon [chuckles].”

“Ski jump.”

Theodore Hite, Second Year

Madison Broader, Second Year

DU CLARION

FEB. 21, 2018

OPINIONS | 9

Many faces, countless stories.

We are all Founders.

Thursday, March 1

Founders Formal

A student dance celebrating the University’s 154th birthday 8 pm - 12 am | Cable Center

Friday, March 2

A Birthday Celebration Event Celebrate the University of Denver Drop by for food, cake and fun 11:30 am - 1 pm | Driscoll Bridge

Friday, March 2

The Will to Live

Bill Coors documentary exclusive screening 4 pm | Newman Center

du.edu/founders

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| ARTS

& LIFE

FEB. 21, 2018

Ought releases “Room Inside the World” after two-year hiatus

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ontreal’s Ought, a post-punk band known for turning the sounds of their predecessors like My Bloody Valentine and Joy Division on their heads, dropped “Room Inside the World” on Feb. 16. The album proves to be a melodic, transitional and inward-swirling meditation, much closer to new wave than their two debut albums of 2015.

Ought’s earlier sound has often been compared to Parquet Courts, The Drums or The Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Their fresh release “Room Inside the World” bangs into punk, art rock and new wave like a pinball. This release proves that Ought’s genius lies in its mosaic-like restructuring of genres throughout history.

The group is, like all worthy modern music, an original transduction of music trends throughout the decades.

Frontman Tim Darcy aptly described their style as “a deadsplit between the old and new,” and the idiom couldn’t be more true. Ought’s new sound feels as familiar and comfortable as The Smiths’ “Barbarism Begins at Home,” without once nearing imitative.

Ought’s first two 2015 albums, “Sun Coming Down” and “More Than Any Day,” were hailed by many as some of the best albums of the year.

Their 2015 works operated with cold tonalities, and Darcy’s vocals were characterized by a deadpan delivery.

In contrast, “Room Inside the World” is softer. The album bears influence of new wave bands like Palm or local art-rock trio Body Meat, reeling with wacked-out time signatures and shrill guitar riffs on the offbeat, but it’s offset by frontman Tim Darcy’s tremulous vocals like salt and honey.

Standout tracks include “Into the Sea,” “Disgraced in America” and “Take Everything.”

“Into the Sea” is a drifting entrance, followed directly by “Disgraced in America,” a steady uprising that ends in a cacophonic spree. From the album’s beginning, it quickly becomes obvious that Ought is not moored to any specific sound, era or even vocal styling.

“Disaffection” recalls Joy Division’s “Unknown Pleasures” with modulating synth pop and an upward lift in tonality until

Photo courtesy of Miami New Times

the chorus breaks down into a heady, punctuated silence.

“Desire” bears vocals that border theatrical but are offset with an easy synth-pop beat.

The release is Ought’s way of showing that they’re capable artists who are willing to continue reinventing their sound.

In other words, they’re going to be around for a while. Their lyrical optimism and upward swung compositions have brought new life to the post-punk genre that was born out of the early aughts.

Kendall Morris | Arts & Life Editor

Film scores and soundtracks you should be listening to B etween the upcoming Academy Awards and the wave of new films hitting theaters to kick off 2018, there are new and amazing movies everywhere you look. One of the most underrated aspects of films are their scores and soundtracks, which are often original, awe-inspiring and masterpieces in or out of the context of the movie.

Whether they’re background music or the star of your Spotify playlists, check out some of these newer scores and soundtracks as you relax, study or jam. Regardless of if you’ve never listened to scores or don’t usually prefer largely instrumental music, I highly recommend you give these a try.

“The Shape of Water” – Alexandre Desplat Desplat (“The Danish Girl”) is an icon of original film score creation, so it’s no wonder “The Shape of Water” won an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Score.

Everyone knows at least one Desplat score, but check out this one, which carries romantic yet light and quirky melodies wholly enjoyable to listen to independent from the film. “The Shape of Water” score carries notes of Desplat’s previous work in movies like “The Grand Budapest Hotel” and “The Imitation Game” while still feeling brand new. Start with: “The Silence of Love.”

“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” – Carter Burwell Burwell’s scoring of “Carol” in 2015 received an Oscar nomination, and “Three Billboards” has earned him the same. The slow and haunting score has lines of acoustic guitar and piano in some songs that counter heavy drum beats and sounds of

church bells in others. It’s simple, with darker notes and a more country sound than “The Shape of Water,” but it’s certainly worth a listen. Start with: “Billboards On Fire.”

“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” – John Williams There’s not much to say here.

The infamous Williams, who has brought us iconic themes of Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, E.T. and so many more, is as great as ever. In “The Last Jedi,” Williams has stayed true to the franchise with all the melodies fans know and love while also keeping it fresh and engaging for the new installment.

Bonus: If you listen on Spotify, your “now playing” bar should turn into a lightsaber as the time counts up. Start with: “Fun with Finn and Rose.”

“Phantom Thread” – Jonny Greenwood This is another highly recommended score, especially for studying or relaxing. However, it comes, oddly enough, from Radiohead band member Jonny Greenwood (“We Need to Talk About Kevin”).

Greenwood has been focusing more on film scores in recent years, and the Oscar-nominated “Phantom Thread” is a sign of success. The score is hauntingly beautiful, with a style that perfectly captures the tone and time period of the film itself.

Start with: “That’s As May Be.” “Coco” – Michael Giacchino and Various Artists Disney and Pixar’s “Coco” has a soundtrack that is fun and innovative. Songs like “Remember Me” will stay with you, and Giacchino’s (“Up”) score brings listeners everything from subtle piano to mariachi.

There are both English and Spanish versions of the set list available, as

Photo courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

well. Start with: “Un Poco Loco.”

“The Greatest Showman” – Various Artists This film, a musical full of top Hollywood talents like Hugh Jackman (“The Wolverine”) and Zac Efron (“Baywatch”), meets every expectation in terms of its original soundtrack. You don’t need to see the film to be able to appreciate the tracks, which are enjoyable, memorable and also perfect for sing-alongs.

The song “This Is Me” received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song. Start with: “Tightrope.”

“Black Panther” – Various Artists While definitely a change of pace from traditional movie soundtracks, the “Black Panther” film has a set list that should not be overlooked.

It was largely compiled by Kendrick Lamar and features artists like SZA, The Weeknd and Khalid in a

collection of largely hip hop/R&B songs that fit the film’s edgy, dark and groundbreaking aesthetic, absolutely owning power and representation in and out of the film. Start with: “Pray For Me.” Honorable mention also goes out to Hans Zimmer’s Oscar-nominated score from “Dunkirk,” which was impressive but dark and intense—not the most enjoyable to listen to on its own. There are also some tunes on the “Call Me By Your Name” soundtrack like “Une Barque Sur L’Océan from Miroirs” and “Hallelujah Junction – 1st Movement” from various artists that warrant a listen. Finally, John Williams also scored “The Post.” The soundtrack was not nominated for Original Score, but it is still a fantastic track list, with similar tones to comparable films like “Spotlight.”

Taryn Allen | Arts & Life Editor

FEB. 21, 2018

DU CLARION

ARTS & LIFE | 1 1

Artist talk: MCA hosts Cleon Peterson with Shepard Fairey at DU

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n a bitterly cold Feb- society and got to know it and ruary evening, a sold- understand its workings. He out crowd packed the would use this knowledge later Gates Concert Hall to develop his distinct, bold, at the Newman Center for the graphic and thematically violent Performing Arts to enjoy a con- style in school.

His paintings began to showversation between Museum of Contemporary Art Denver exhib- case deeply violent, depraved iting artist Cleon Peterson and scenes of the underworld. Peterhis long-time collaborator and son himself stated that the comfriend, Shepard Fairey. The talk bination of his tumultuous home was put on by the MCA Denver life, one that in his own words to celebrate the opening of left him “confused about life and Peterson’s exhibition, “Shadow violence,” his time on the streets drug-addicted and his time in of Men” at the museum.

The conversation, as con- prison all added up to a surplus versations between artists tend of dark experiences, ones that to go, jumped from subject to needed to be put down on paper subject, including a fair deal of for him to deal with them. He profanity, anti-establishment wanted to be honest about what inklings and drug talk, but as it is like when you pull the curwell was a fantastic glimpse tain back from polite society.

While his earlier works into Peterson’s work and life.

Additionally, Peterson and were rooted strongly in reality, Fairey explored their collabo- they began to take on a more rations together, and offered abstract, dystopian, primal and an engrossing look into the art anonymous look as he gained world they inhabit and the pro- fame in the art industry. However, they kept his themes of cesses behind their creation.

The entire first portion power and power dynamics, of the conversation was over violence, abuse of authority, Peterson’s upbringing and early war, destruction, authoritarian career, which featured a frac- power and the general deviance tured yet creative family life and of humanity.

One of the most interesting how he came to meet Fairey.

Peterson didn’t step back from parts of the conversation was fully letting us into his early the discussion over how Fairey career and life. As a child, Peter- and Peterson separately view son lived in a creatively free their works and the inspirations household (his brother is also behind them, even though they an artist) and was something of both come from the same art a prodigy. He grew up obsessed scenes. Fairey stated that his with history and the darker side work is meant to be shown in the of it, devouring books on World public sphere, and is an attempt War II. Peterson was deeply to create conversations that into skateboarding and the art might not happen otherwise. of the scene (something he had Peterson, in turn, expressed that in common with Fairey). During his work was more introspective the conversation, Fairey and and crafted from the personal.

Peterson both stated that their He attempts to make work unfilearly art in the skate scene, and tered. He voiced that he doesn’t skateboarding in general, were like to think of the viewer or the so important to them as they viewer’s reaction when crafting sought to “do something our pieces and that he has always had a deep desire to make art parents hated.”

In his teens, he and his skills that people both hate and love.

The last topic the two were used by his mother for profit. She promised to buy him touched on was a poignant and skateboards if he would paint well-timed look at how their art idyllic still lifes of flowers for her evolves and works with current to sell. At 16 however, he said politics. Fairey is well known for “Fuck this” and stopped working his activist, left-leaning pieces for his mother, and he dropped (he designed the 2008 Obama out of school. He spent the next “Hope” poster), but Peterson is period of his life as a street kid, less specific about who his pieces skateboarding and making art. represent, preferring to target It was during this time in par- broader themes than specific ticular that he began to identify political entities. However, a with the darker side of things in talking point during this portion life. He eventually ended up in of the conversation was PeterSouthern California, addicted to son’s 2017 piece, aptly named heroin. It was during this stage “Trump.” The piece is a Greof his life, in 1997, that he met co-Roman style vase depicting Fairey and tried to sell him his a Marxist-esque stratification of designed skateboards in order society, with a still anonymous but vaguely Trump-like figure at to score more heroin.

After a stint in prison—“Even the top.

Peterson poignantly ended though everyone was nice in prison, I didn’t feel like that was the conversation with the best where I belonged”—Peterson quote of the evening, stating was offered a rent-free studio how he thinks of the subjects space from Fairey. This started of his work and how he uses their working relationship and his art: “In life all we have is our would eventually lead to Fairey hiring Peterson after he finally stories, and that’s what makes completed school. During this us powerful.” time in So-Cal, Peterson began to embrace the darker side of Justin Cygan | Copy Editor

Photo courtesy of Cleon Peterson

Photo courtesy of National Vangaurd

Photo courtesy of Shepard Fairey

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| ARTS

& LIFE

FEB. 21, 2018

“Black Panther” is the rightful king of the Marvel franchise Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios

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n the decade since “Iron Man” arrived to change blockbuster filmmaking forever, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has grown to become not only a money-making machine but also a cultural touchstone. With that status comes a great deal of responsibility, and the creative stagnation that plagued a considerable number of Marvel releases in recent years have made many question the studio’s handling of that responsibility, and rightfully so. In the new age of increasingly progressive blockbusters spearheaded by last year’s “Wonder Woman,” the MCU was feeling increasingly old-hat. It was in desperate need of something fresh, diverse and bold to inject new life into the franchise. “Black Panther” has arrived to do exactly that, taking on the whole of Hollywood in the process.

Taking place almost directly after the events surrounding the death of his father in “Captain America: Civil War,” the film follows an unsure T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman, “Marshall”) as he is crowned king of the fictional African nation of Wakanda, a secret technological paradise disguised as an impoverished and intensely isolated nation. He faces pressure from

every angle as he struggles with the notion of whether or not to push Wakanda and its vast resources into the international limelight, an issue complicated by the unwelcome arrival of Erik “Killmonger” Stevens (Michael B. Jordan, “Creed”), an American outsider who seeks the throne for himself. In his battle against Killmonger, he is aided by spy Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o, “12 Years a Slave”), his spunky inventor sister Shuri (Letitia Wright, “Urban Hymn”), his loyal guard Okoye (Danai Gurira, “The Walking Dead”) and CIA agent Everett Ross (Martin Freeman, “The Hobbit”).

The film pushes the boundaries of the MCU due to its willingness to take risks and break the Marvel formula whenever possible. This is possible due to the incredible talent of its diverse cast, guided by a sure hand in director Ryan Coogler (“Creed”), who continues to prove himself as one of the most uncompromising and confident directors working today. What’s perhaps the most admirable thing about “Black Panther” is its pride in its diversity; it is holistically unafraid of showing off its blackness to the fullest extent. This extends to the plot,

which is the most brazenly political story of the entire MCU, a complicated and nuanced allegory for current discussions about race around the world.

The film will undoubtedly ignite fiery controversy over its content, particularly around the character of Killmonger and his motivations, and that controversy will only serve to prove the film’s point about black voices routinely being dismissed or silenced in the modern world.

Which brings us to arguably the most remarkable thing about this film: Killmonger himself. An inherent problem with Marvel films is (save for Tom Hiddleston’s Loki) that none of them truly have a compelling villain. Killmonger is much more than just that; he’s a complex, driven and even sympathetic character who is made endlessly compelling by both the film’s script and Jordan’s transformative performance. Jordan isn’t alone in his excellence, as the rest of the cast is routinely marvelous in their performances.

Boseman continues to own the role of Black Panther, bringing a tenderness and confidence to a role that could have otherwise been overshadowed in the film’s sea of interesting characters

(mostly strong women), all of which should become franchise mainstays after this film. It certainly helps that Coogler has painstakingly crafted a lush and beautiful Afrofuturist world for these characters to inhabit, the likes of which have never been seen before in a film of this scale.

As is the norm with all Marvel movies, the still present house style is the one glaring negative with this film. The action can be ugly and CGI-ridden, and the script is forced to take some of the same awkward beats these films are doomed to do. However, anyone who says they come to these movies purely for the action is kidding themselves. These movies are intrinsically about characters, ones that interest and inspire us and continue to serve as cultural symbols around the world. The difference here is that “Black Panther” features a revolutionary cast that will surely inspire generations upon generations of black communities, and that in and of itself is a testament to the power of representation. It’s good to be king.

Ryan Ninesling | Executive Editor