DU Clarion Volume 125 Issue 08

FEB. 28, 2018

VOLUME 125, ISSUE 08

“ANNIHILATION” VENTURES INTO THE STRANGE UNKNOWN

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RTD EXPANSION PLANS IN 2018 AND BEYOND

DU MEN’S LACROSSE 8 DEFEATS CLEVELAND STATE pa g e

REFORMING GUN LAWS AT 4 A STATE LEVEL pa g e

UPCOMING MARCH 2018 ENTERTAINMENT

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DU CLARION

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FEB. 28, 2018

| NEWS

Karlton Creech to be new Head of Athletics and Recreation

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n Feb. 19, in a campus-wide email, Chancellor Rebecca Chopp introduced Karlton Creech as DU’s next vice chancellor for Athletics, Recreation and Ritchie Center Operations. He will oversee 17 Division I teams, DU’s recreation program, the Coors Fitness Center and other programs within the Ritchie Center.

Prior to this position, Creech—according to the email—

came from the University of Maine where he was the director of athletics for four years. He had also spent a decade at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where, for part of that time, he was senior associate director of athletics. There, said Chopp in her letter, he coordinated an $88 million expansion of the university’s football stadium.

Creech’s new position will be effective starting May 1. He will

be replacing Peg Bradley-Doppes who was with DU for 13 years.

In DU Newsroom’s report on the announcement, Creech says he plans to familiarize himself with life at DU. “I am here to help you to achieve your goals. If I can do that, we will at be successful,” he said. “Winning is fun. Winning the right way is even more fun.

Many of our programs are achieving excellence, and our goal is that all of our programs have that

opportunity and I look forward to working with our coaches and student-athletics to get us there.”

DU’s YouTube channel features further insight into Creech and his hopes for students and the community.

Daniela Santos | News Editor

Photo courtesy of Ashley Kneemueller

ABOUT US

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.

TARYN ALLEN, 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 Photo Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

CONTRIBUTING STAFF HANNAH BRANIT GRACE CARSON BEN ROSSI JESSICA SILVA

FEB. 28, 2018

DU CLARION

NEWS | 3

Queer Student Alliance hosts second annual Love is Love dinner

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n Feb. 21, the Queer Student Alliance hosted its second annual Love is Love Dinner to remind the DU community that love is love.

The event took place in the Craig Hall Community Room where attendees were treated to a festive night filled with friends, music and food. “Our goal with events like these is to bring love as a celebration,” said Christian Anton, president of the Queer Student Alliance.

And a celebration it was. With a colorful display of LGBTQ flags and Love is Love signs adorning the walls, the venue provided a positive and inclusive environment, where guests were encouraged to be themselves and have fun with their community.

The night began at 7 p.m. when guests began to file into the Craig Hall Community Room where upon entering, they were greeted by a sign-in table that displayed the flags of the LGBTQ spectrum.

Upon checking in to the event,

guests were treated to a buffet style dinner, with options that included making your own salad and spaghetti. And for dessert, tiramisu was served. After guests grabbed their dinner, they were then free to sit at one of the many tables that could seat up to eight people, in which casual and playful banter was exchanged between guests. Additionally, throughout the course of the event, the atmo-

sphere of the room continued to encourage guests to dance and have fun with their friends and overall community.

Hannah Bumgarner, a sophomore at DU said the dinner made her feel included in the queer community. “Just looking around right now, there is such a good community, and even being my first time coming to one of these, I don’t feel out of place at all,” she

Jessica Silva | Clarion

said, adding that it would be nice to see more participation from students of all backgrounds.

Apart from being an event to honor love in all of its forms, Brynn Domimice, event coordinator for the alliance said it was also a way to show the broader DU campus that the LGBTQ “community is alive on campus.”

In upcoming months, the alliance will host other social soirees including a Second Chance Prom at the university’s Tuscan Ballroom in the Fritz Knoebel School of Hospitality Management. The Second Chance Prom is meant to provide guests with the opportunity to redo their prom, and as Brynn Domimice said “have the prom experience they never got to have.” The event, which will take place on April 6, is open to all, and attendees are encouraged to dress formally, in cosplay or an any outfit of their choosing. To stay updated on the Second Chance Prom and on future QSA events, follow them on Facebook.

Jessica Silva | Contributing Writer

What to expect from RTD in 2018 and beyond W hen it comes to transportation in Denver, 2018 looks to improve and evolve its services from the Regional Transportation District (RTD). In his state of the city address, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock aims to see fewer cars on the city streets. The three in-progress projects RTD is highlighting is the G Line, the 16th Street Mall Transit-Way and the L Line.

According to RTD, “[The G Line] will travel 11 miles between Union Station and Wheat Ridge, passing through northwest Denver, Adams County and Arvada.” The new light rail will

Photo courtesy of RTD

also include seven new parking lots in the seven out of eight stations. The train is going to have commuter rail vehicles like those in the A Line with larger seats, overhead storage, luggage towers and bicycle racks.

The opening of the G Line has been delayed due to the wireless system, the automatic gate that block the cars when a light rail is crossing, not meeting the Public Utilities Commission’s standards. Similar to the A and B lines who have required flaggers, the wireless systems, as reported

by CPR, come down early and stay up too late.

An RTD project in earlier stages is the plan for the 16th

Street Mall Transit-Way. On Jan. 23, RTD staff presented to the Board of Directors plans to realign transit lanes which will give wider sidewalks down the popular Denver area. According to Andrea Burns, a spokeswoman for Denver’s Community Planning and Development office who spoke with Denver Business Journal, funding will come from sources like bond money, tax increment financing and grants from the Federal Transit Administration. Construction is expected to start near the end of 2019 and into 2020.

The L Line is Denver’s most recent functioning addition. On Jan. 14, the L Line Downtown

loop opened which replaces the D Line between the 18th and Stout station and the 39th and Downing station. According to the RTD website, plans for the L line will be to connect it to the A line from the 30th and Downing station to the 38th and Blake station.

Coloradans can visit the RTD website for updates on these three projects or other RTD announcements.

Daniela Santos | News Editor

DU CLARION

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| SPORTS

FEB. 28, 2018

Men’s Lacrosse powers past Cleveland State 17-8

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en’s lacrosse defeated Cleveland State 17-8 on Feb. 25 in front of their 23rd straight sellout at the Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium. Senior Trevor Baptiste (Deville, N.J.) was a perfect 22-for-22 at the faceoffs and had 13 ground balls.

Eleven different Pioneers scored, and sophomore attackman Ethan Walker (Peterborough, Ontario) had a first-half hat trick.

Walker opened up scoring at 9:25 in the first period, assisted by junior attackman Austin French (Danville, Calif.) followed by an unassisted goal from junior Nate Marano (Tustin, Calif.). Walker scored again at 6:39 assisted by junior Colton Jackson (Highlands Ranch, Colo.). Senior Zach

Runberg (Centennial, Colo.) and French, assisted by Walker, continued the Pioneers’ dominance in the first period.

In the second period, Denver began scoring with a goal from senior Sean Mayle (San Carlos, Calif.), assisted by senior Colton McCaffrey (Parker, Colo.). Cleveland’s first goal of the game came at 9:24 in the second quarter, but was immediately answered by an unassisted goal from junior Drew Supinski (Collegeville, Pa.), followed by Walker’s third goal of the first half, off an assist from McCaffery. This is the second consecutive week in which Walker has had a first-half hat trick.

Senior Connor Donahue (Groton, Mass.), French, Supinski, Walker, McCaffery and senior Joe Reid

(Petaluma, Calif.) all scored in the second quarter, extending Denver’s lead to 13-1.

Cleveland State opened up scoring in the third quarter and scored twice before Denver answered.

Reid had an unassisted goal at 5:12. Cleveland then scored three times before the quarter ended to bring the score to 14-6.

In the fourth quarter Walker, Flynn and freshman Riley Curtis (Brampton, Ontario) scored while Cleveland State scored only twice.

The final score was 17-8.

Baptiste’s perfect game of 22-for-22 on faceoffs is the second-most faceoffs won without losing one in a single-game in NCAA Division I. The game was the 18th game with 20 plus faceoff wins of Baptiste’s career. Eight

of these games have been in the Pioneers’ last 13 games. He is also tied for eighth for faceoff wins in single-games in Denver’s history, holding 11 of the top 19 faceoff win performances in the record book.

Walker had six points, with four goals and two assists, extending his active point streak to 20 games. French had five points with two goals and three assists, scoring on half his shots. Supinski had his first two goals for the Pioneers after transferring from John Hopkins.

The Pioneers will travel away on March 3, playing Furman on Saturday, then traveling to play North Carolina on March 5. Following that, they will head to Notre Dame on March 10 for the last of a three game road series.

Hannah Branit | Contributing Writer

Caitlin Gannam | Clarion

Women’s Lacrosse beats San Diego State 17-12

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he Pioneers defeated San Diego State 17-12 following a dominant first half in which Denver outshot San Diego State 14-5. Although the Aztecs came back in the second half, Denver defense held on to preserve the lead.

The Pioneers scored the first goal one minute into the game when junior Julia Feiss (Baltimore, Md.) scored with a free-position goal. One minute later, Feiss scored a second free-position goal, the second of her four goals in the game. With 21:19 left in the first half, freshman Eliza Radochonski (Englewood, Colo.) scored another free-position goal, followed by junior Kendra Lanuza’s (Littleton, Colo.) 100th career point,

a no-look goal from over her shoulder. She is the 17th player in Denver history to reach this mark. At 17:18, Feiss made her third goal of the game with another free-position shot.

Freshman Quintin Hoch-Bullen (Severn, Ontario) scored Denver’s sixth straight goal with 14 minutes left.

The Aztecs scored their first goal of the game at 13:54, followed by a second goal 40 seconds later. The Pioneers’ defense held San Diego State to just five shots, minimizing opportunities for the Aztecs to take a lead. The offense also responded with two straight goals by junior Elizabeth Behrins (Basking Ridge, N.J.) assisted by Lanuza, and a second goal from Hoch-Bullen.

The Pioneers ended the first half up 13-3 after a run of fivestraight goals. Lanuza scored twice at 16 and 4:17, Radochonski scored at 2:46, senior captain Caitlin Derry (Seal Beach, Calif.) scored at 0:54 and freshman Caroline Wiseman (Alexandria, Va.) scored at 1:37.

In the second half, junior Riley Eggeman (Mission Viejo, Calif.) scored off an assist from Hoch-Bullen during a man-up advantage. San Diego State would then go on a three-goal scoring run, which was answered by a goal from Feiss at 18:54, assisted by Eggeman. After another SDSU goal, sophomore Laura Milleker (Severna Park, Md.) scored. Sophomore Molly Little (Tiverton, R.I.) scored the

final goal of the game for Pioneers with an assist from Behrins. The game ended at 17-12.

Feiss and Lanuza led the team with four points each, while redshirt junior Katherine Fischer (Upper Nyack, N.Y.) had a career-high five ground balls as well as a career-high three draw controls, while Little had six draw controls and Nicki Wilkinson (Groton, Mass.) tied her career-high of three caused turnovers. Junior Maddie Baum (Piedmont, Calif.) had a careerhigh four draw controls.

Denver will play Virginia tech on March 7 at noon at the Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium.

Hannah Branit | Contributing Writer

FEB. 28, 2018

DU CLARION

SPORTS | 5

DU Basketball falls to Illinois in quarterfinals, 77-61

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U Women’s Basketball fell to Western Illinois (WIU) on their home court in the quarterfinal game of the Summit League tournament, with a final score of 77-61.

The women’s squad finished 7-7 in Summit League play this season and went 16-13 overall. With the win, WIU improved to a 21-8 overall record and 10-4 in Summit League play.

Sophomore guard Lauren Loven (Scottsdale, Ariz.) led the Pioneers with a team-high of 15 points, and her teammate senior forward Jordyn Alt (North Oaks, Minn.) chalked nine points and a game-high of 17 rebounds. Senior forward Sydney Koel (Sioux Falls, S.D.) earned a career high of 10 points and four

rebounds in her last game at DU. Koel and fellow seniors, Alt, guard Ciera Morgan (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) and forward Jahla Osborne (Stafford, Va.) were honored in the last home game.

In the match, the Pioneers shot 32.3 percent (21-65) from the field and 30.8 percent (8-26) from threepoint range. The team grabbed 56 rebounds, forced 17 turnovers and had 14 assists.

DU started the game strong with 5-2 lead as Koel opened the game with a momentum-grabbing threepointer. WIU was quick to respond, going on an 8-2 run and taking the lead 10-7 at the three minute mark.

DU fired back, with a five point run from Alt and Loven, and took back the advantage by the end of the

quarter, 14-13.

In the second quarter, WIU outscored DU 13-4 in the first five minutes. The threat came from WIU player, Emily Clemens, as she drained back-to-back threes that led her to a game-high of 28 points. WIU continued to dominate offensively, but the Pioneers fought hard. Loven was the star of the game for Denver in the first half, scoring 10 points and earning two rebounds.

In the first half, the Crimson and Gold grabbed 29 rebounds, had six assists and forced six turnovers.

Sophomore forward Madison Nelson (Dover, Minn.) started the second half with another momentum-grabbing three, but WIU responded with an 11-1 run, giving them their largest lead of the game

of 23 points. The teams fought back and forth offensively, and DU found itself in a comeback position.

The Pioneers opened the final quarter strong again, with six points in a row. With this run, Denver found itself down by eight with less than eight minutes to play. WIU’s offense took off again with a 15-2 run, which claimed the fourth quarter and ended the final home game at 77-61 in favor of WIU. Denver returns to the court March 4, when they take to Sioux Falls, South Dakota for the Summit League Tournament. They will face Oral Roberts in the first matchup of the tournament.

Nikky Johnson | Sports Editor

Caitlin Gannam | Clarion

Caitlin Gannam | Clarion

DU CLARION

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| SPORTS

FEB. 28, 2018

DU ties and falls to No. 1 St. Cloud State in series

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oming off a weekend series split against Colorado College where DU dominated the first game and lost in the second game, the No. 4 ranked Denver Pioneers traveled to St. Cloud, Minnesota to take on No.1 ranked St. Cloud State. Denver continued to successfully hold their ground defensively like they’ve done all season, as they didn’t give up a goal until the second period on a tap-in by Blake Lizotte to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead. While both teams were about equal in shots going into the third period, the struggle continued for the Pioneers to offer senior Goaltender Tanner Jaillet (Red Deer, Alberta) with goal support.

With 3:27 left in regulation the Pioneers finally found the back of the net for the first time in two games as junior forward Troy

Terry (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), who just returned from the Olympics, delivered a one-timer pass to senior defenseman Adam Plant (Penticton B.C.) to send the game to overtime.

Neither team scored in the first five-on-five overtime which led the game to a three-on-three overtime. The Pioneers scored in dramatic fashion with junior forward Logan O’Connor (Calgary, Alberta) receiving a lucky ricochet off the back of St. Cloud State’s David Hrenak. While the game was decided as a tie in regulation by NCHC rules, the Pioneers picked up two points in the standings from scoring in the three-onthree overtime.

“We didn’t have great life and energy (until the third period),” said Head Coach Jim Montgomery.

Denver came into the next game looking to climb closer to that No. 1 ranking. Both teams missed several close opportunities in the first two periods but St. Cloud State outplayed the Pioneers to take a 2-1 lead into the third.

The Pioneers tied the game 2-2 early in the third period on a wrist shot from Blake Hillman, but the always elusive offense of the top team in the country took the lead again at 12:25 in the period on a breakaway by Jack Poehling.

The Huskies then sealed it on an empty-netter to win the game 4-2 and the Penrose Memorial Cup for best regular season performance in the NCHC. Despite the loss, Montgomery showed more hope in his postgame remarks saying, “I thought we were a better hockey team than

we were last night and St. Cloud State was too.”

The Pioneers were able to salvage a couple of points against the top team in the country on Feb. 23 which will likely help their spot in the NCHC rankings. As the playoffs roll around, Montgomery is confident with the progress he’s seeing in the team.

“We have to play with more purpose and more determination like we did tonight and good things will happen for us,” Montgomery said. “We can’t have bad results anymore.”

Next week the Pioneers return to Magness Arena to take on Miami Ohio in their final regular season series before the NCHC playoffs.

Ben Rossi | Contributing Writer

Erika Sobelman | Clarion

Erika Sobelman | Clarion

DU CLARION

FEB. 28, 2018

OPINIONS | 7

PIONEER VOICES Question of the week:

What are you doing to de-stress before finals?

“Honestly I don’t think I do at all, I stress right up until it happens.”

“I’m usually able to stay pretty unstressed during finals, but I’ll definitely make time to see my friends and eat a lot of good food.”

Sam Windham, Fourth Year

Taryn Allen, Third Year

“Reading books and watching a lot of Netflix. Trying to spend time with friends at least an hour a day to take my mind off of schoolwork.”

“I guess I just try and stay prepared, and if I’m prepared then I’m usually not too worried about my finals.”

Naia Perkins, First Year

Keegan Heneghan, Fourth Year

DU CLARION

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| OPINIONS

FEB. 28, 2018

States and universities can act on gun reform

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t a time when action is needed more than anything, a number of states are taking on the issue of gun control—Democratic governors from Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island announced a plan on Feb. 22 to share information on the buying and transport of guns between the states and to form a consortium to integrate policy research happening in multiple areas. This plan reflects the desperation for more practical gun control measures following the Parkland school shooting, but it also gives recognition to another key point: there are conflicting and strongly held feelings about gun violence and its relation to mental health, and more research and sharing of findings could greatly influence policy.

Part of the reason that action from this group of governors is motivational is because it represents some levelheadedness at a time when the federal-level debate is producing some bizarre ideas—the announcement of this

state-led collaboration came the same day that President Trump proposed giving bonuses to trained and armed teachers while also calling active shooter drills “crazy.” Teamwork and practicality at the state level in the face of poor choices at the federal level also happened following Trump’s denouncement of the Paris Climate Accord when a group of governors formed the U.S. Climate Alliance to stay on track with climate goals. It is fortifying to know that real policy steps can happen even without federal leadership.

Colorado can act on gun control measures, and it should.

This is already happening to some extent—the Colorado House voted on Feb. 22 against three gun laws that had been proposed previously, one of which would have allowed concealed carry in schools. This isn’t large-scale gun reform, but it is impactful all the same.

Colorado should join efforts of other governors in the nation, or start a similar agreement

with our neighboring states, to accomplish goals that likely won’t be accomplished at the federal level. Sharing information on gun ownership and transport with neighboring states adds additional information on top of background checks, and a plan can be developed for what further efforts would work at the state level.

More research and a better understanding of why America’s gun violence problem is so severe is where universities like DU can also come in. The newly formed group of governors suggested that universities could be leaders on research and policy formulation on gun measures, and this acknowledges the fact that there is often misunderstanding on the causes of mass shootings and whether guns, mental health or some other factor plays the largest role. Extending research efforts on these issues as well as what policies would be the most reasonable and productive in the U.S. could help minimize the time spent

digging in heels about personal beliefs. Mass shootings and violence are complex topics and the policy around them needs to be clear. DU and other universities could contribute to the research around these topics.

The new consortium of governors and the prospect of action at the state level should be heartening, so long as their promised efforts get underway quickly. One must hope that comprehensive gun measures such as universal background checks and regulation on weapons are taken on at the federal level, but states have power to exercise, too.

While members of Congress and the administration of the president stay friendly with the NRA and propose perplexing ideas like arming teachers, states can move ahead and universities can support this with research and actual policy suggestions.

Elizabeth Lochhead | Opinions Editor

Photo courtesy of Connor W. Davis

FEB. 28, 2018

DU CLARION

OPINIONS | 9

Ballot initiative to crack down on predatory loans

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f you haven’t experienced predatory payday lending, the topic may seem distant or unimportant, but as John Oliver (and other major news sources) memorably pointed out, these predatory loans are widespread and often destructive— Colorado now has the opportunity to pass a ballot initiative aimed at reining in these loans, and it is a move that every voter should be able to get behind.

Payday loans are shortterm loans of relatively small amounts, and excessively high fees and interest rates often apply. Currently in Colorado, the average interest rate charged on one of these loans is 129 percent, an absurdly high figure that well exceeds the state’s 36 percent usury rate (not to mention that 129 percent is an average, and many have rates above it).

Research from the Bell Policy Center has found that payday loans with high rates and fees can trap borrowers in cycles of debt since the interest owed on a loan for several hundred dollars can be several hundred dollars itself, and borrowers take out more loans before the pay period of their last. Minorities are disproportionately and unfairly affected.

A new ballot initiative

in Colorado seeks to cap the payday lending interest rate at 36 percent, cutting the average by over half. Payday lending was reformed in the state in 2010 which brought down costs and extended the time frame of loans, and though this decreased the number of loans being issued, research has now shown that people are paying off one loan and simultaneously taking out another, finding a way around the intention of the reforms. Capping payday loan interest rates at the general rate would catch Colorado up to 15 other states that have also recognized the harm that these lenders are inflicting on the lives of borrowers.

The point of seeking a November ballot initiative is to leave the state legislature out of the process—interest groups of payday lenders would likely slow down reforms at this level since these lenders often have the ear of lawmakers. Fortunately, this is a ballot initiative that should be able to win support of voters— stopping lenders from charging interest rates that look like a Jeopardy! board is a reasonable thing to ask voters to do.

Predatory payday lending might seem like a vague and only semi-important problem for

Photo courtesy of Flickr

those fortunate enough to have never been targeted and trapped by debt and fees that continue to grow perpetually, but it is a practice that has no place in Colorado, or anywhere. We do have to acknowledge that payday loans provide relief for many borrowers, but lenders should not be able to draw in these borrowers further with high rates and more loans. Capping interest rates through a ballot ini-

PIONEER FUNNIES

tiative is something that voters should rally for, and this will also keep the issue from having to go through the legislature later. Even if it doesn’t impact you directly, keep an eye on this issue—voting on this issue in November will help to defend fellow Coloradans against future predatory lending.

Elizabeth Lochhead | Opinions Editor

DU CLARION

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| ARTS

& LIFE

FEB. 28, 2018

“Red Sparrow” represents Hollywood sexism at its most vile

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f there is any such thing as plague in the Hollywood filmmaking of the moment, it’s male filmmakers mistaking violence and humiliation as empowerment. As women have continued to forge a place for themselves on and off screen, many men have stood by their sides leering and waiting for a chance to cash in on what they consider to merely be a “trend.”

Concurrently, film fans have waited tirelessly for Marvel to give in and gift the world with a Black Widow film, studios have been scrambling to provide audiences with a passable alternative. Thus, both these hideously opportunistic worlds collide with “Red Sparrow,” an adaptation of the novel of the same name designed to check off every box the female super spy genre has to offer.

It’s a travesty.

The plot, which follows a ballerina (Jennifer Lawrence, “The Hunger Games,” putting on her worst Russian accent) forced into becoming a spy of seduction for her government uncle after a dancing accident destroys her career, is obsessed with torturing and objectifying women for nearly every minute of its inexplicable two hour and 20 minute runtime. Lawrence runs the gamut of female nightmares, experiencing rape, forced public nudity, grisly physical abuse and more, all in the name of what the film thinks is creating a “strong female character.” This parade of violence represents Hollywood at its most ignorant, patting itself on the back for its victorious “feminism” as audiences squirm at the sight of Lawrence dragging her battered body across the floor. Oh, how far we’ve come.

The film leaves much to be said about this cinematic obses-

Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox

sion with portraying the ugliness of how the world treats women.

The controversy around this idea has been heavily discussed in the past year, especially in the case of “Blade Runner 2049,” which was attacked heavily for its bleak depiction of women as sex objects.

The director of that film, Denis Villeneuve, gave an interview to Vanity Fair in which he defended his creative choices regarding women, stating, “I am very sensitive to how I portray women in movies...cinema is a mirror on society. Blade Runner is not about tomorrow; it’s about today. And I’m sorry, but the world is not kind on women.”

Villenueve’s comments

represent the current mode in which male filmmakers granted the heavy responsibility of portraying women in film should operate. When taking on the great privilege of being an artist, there is an ethical responsibility to cast a light on the darkest shadows of the world in order to warn us of what we’re in danger of propagating. Seeing the horrifying objectification of the women of the “Blade Runner” future warns us of the world we could be heading towards if we do not give women the respect and agency they deserve. It stands at a line of that representation.

“Red Sparrow” crosses that line, pettily grinning as it abuses

the women of its world. Nothing is to be gained from its continued flurry of abuse outside of fantasy fulfillment for the most depraved and unaware of male audiences. Nothing in the film justifies its horrifying pursuit of what seems to be nothing but glossy torture porn. Nothing will make you feel clean after watching this movie. In the era of “Lady Bird,” in the same month as the female-led “Annihilation” is released, this is the best female spy movie Hollywood had to offer? Not even close. And Hollywood doesn’t get a pass for trying.

Ryan Ninesling | Executive Editor

Recommendations of can’t-miss podcast favorites T

he podcast is a wonderful thing. While they might seem like a holdover from a bygone time, similar to the radio broadcasts and serials of yesteryear, podcasts nowadays are some of the most entertaining, informative and humorous programming available. Jumping into podcasts can be a little overwhelming due to the multitude of shows available. To assist, here’s a list of podcasts you should be listening to right now.

1. “Wait Wait... Don’t Tell Me!” Broadcasted for almost 20 years now, “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!” is NPR’s weekly news panel show and a humorous, participatory look at present culture and politics. Available as a downloadable podcast off the NPR website and iTunes, the show consists of both participatory games played by call-in listeners, and competitive quizzes between the show’s guest panelists, which range from comedians to journalists and actors. A guest celebrity calls into

every show, and has included people as differing as Kim Kardashian, Chance the Rapper and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

The humor in the show is relatively “high-brow” due to it being NPR, but it’s honestly funnier than most stand-up and is a great way to pass the time while driving or studying.

2. “99% Invisible” One of the most informative and interesting podcasts out there, “99% Invisible” explores the hidden ideas and thoughts that go into things we don’t think about, “the unnoticed architecture and design that shape our world.” Episodes range from discussing the architecture of the Kowloon Walled City in Hong Kong, to the history of the wacky, wavingarm inflatable tube men outside of used-car dealerships, to how retail spaces that used to be Pizza Huts are instantly recognizable. It’s an incredibly well-produced podcast and will leave you feeling just a little more knowledgeable about the world.

3. “Invisibilia” Another Podcast from the powerhouse of NPR, “Invisibilia” explores the invisible forces that influence human behavior. It’s a podcast about the brain, society and the indescribability of human nature.

It’s a science podcast that combines a fair amount of cutting edge brain and psychological research with immersive stories of the human condition. Hosted by award-winning journalists, Alix Spiegel and Hanna Rosin, stemming from NPR’s other podcasts, it’s an informative and fascinating program.

4. “This American Life” So far this list has favored podcasts from NPR—for good reason, they’re the best—but “This American Life” is the best of the best. It’s NPR’s flagship podcast and one of the best sources of storytelling in the American media world. Hosted by Ira Glass, episodes have no underlying theme beyond their connection through great storytelling. Stories range from simple personal tales to

deep looks into, poignantly, American life and the intricacies that come from it. Besides its fantastic production value, “This American Life” will enthrall you, make you laugh, cry and feel.

5. “Heavyweight” “Heavyweight” is about time travel. It’s about going back to a specific moment in time where something, or everything, changed. Its host, humourist radio producer and writer Jonathan Goldstein, ventures into people’s lives—those he knows and total strangers—and attempts to help them resolve issues from their past. It’s a deep glimpse into our fascination with and compulsion to always wonder about the past and what could have been. It’s a sentimental, humourous and emotional program, one that makes the listener start to question their own obsessions with the past and how one can work to resolve the pain of regret.

Justin Cygan | Copy Editor

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Preview of the best upcoming March entertainment F

or many, the month of March is cold, dreary, filled with exams and a bit depressing. However, progress never slows in the world of entertainment, and there’s plenty to look forward to in the coming weeks if you enjoy new music, film and TV. Here’s a sneak peak of what to expect in the coming weeks from the entertainment industry.

The Grammys may be behind us, but there’s still great music ahead.

Throughout March, expect album releases from artists like Snoop Dogg, country star Scotty McCreery, English favorite George Ezra and EDM icon Moby. Fans of concerts can look forward to performances by Lorde, G-Eazy, Phillip Phillips, 3OH!3 and Mura Masa at different venues around Colorado.

In terms of film and TV, the number one event will be the Academy Awards, coming up on March 4. There is plenty of new material set to hit the screens next month, as well, including

new films like “A Wrinkle In Time,” the highly anticipated science fiction piece featuring big names like Oprah Winfrey (“Selma”), Reese Witherspoon (“Big Little Lies”) and Mindy Kaling (“The Mindy Project”); the dystopian “Ready Player One,” the coming-of-age story “Love, Simon,” the Bruce Willis (“Die Hard”) remake of “Death Wish” and many more. Some of the can’t-miss TV premieres include the Netflix documentary “Flint Town,” the Hulu pre-apocalypse drama “Hard Sun,” a TV adaptation of the film “Heathers” by the same name, the Mindy Kaling production called “Champions,” Shonda Rhimes’s legal drama “For The People” and Superman prequel “Krypton,” among others.

Keep on top of all the new releases that March will bring, and don’t forget to check out things like books, podcasts and theatre performances if those suit your interests more.

Taryn Allen | Arts & Life Editor

Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Studios

“Annihilation” pushes blockbuster filmmaking into the unknown

A

n inherent problem with the filmmaking side of the science-fiction genre today is an industry aversion to embracing what should be standard in this genre: the strange and unexplainable. Studios seem to shudder at the idea of producing (and then marketing) a sci-fi film that forces its audiences to put in any degree of mental work. They frequently opt more for the glitz and explosions that “Star Wars” popularized while forgetting that the oddities of “Star Wars” are what made it iconic in the first place. So when a movie like “Annihilation” comes along, it serves as a refreshing reminder of what could be if the movie industry strove to embrace the weird.

Based on Jeff VanderMeer’s highly acclaimed novel of the same name, “Annihilation” follows a team of female scientists as they venture into what they have named “The Shimmer,” a mys-

terious ecological zone created by the crash of an meteor into a Florida lighthouse. No team who has gone into The Shimmer has ever returned, that is until the soldier husband (Oscar Isaac, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”) of the new team’s biologist Lena (Natalie Portman, “Black Swan”) inexplicably returns after disappearing into the zone a year previously. Spurred by his reappearance and subsequent illness, Lena joins the team in an effort to understand what’s inside this mysterious ecosystem and how it may save her husband.

The Shimmer itself is arguably the main selling point of this film, and screenwriter-director Alex Garland (“Ex Machina”) dutifully brings it to fascinating life. To delve into what inhabits this strange land would be to spoil the fun of the film, but rest assured that it’s dazzling in all its beauty and its horror. And the movie itself is a culmination of both these concepts; “Annihila-

tion” is a deftly crafted, gorgeous piece of filmmaking that expertly hides how scary it is until just the right moments. It’s all made possible by the film’s ceaseless drive to be strange. Everything in this film feels wrong, from the detached and flat mood of its cast to the exceedingly disturbing nature of the flora and fauna of the zone they are exploring. This feeling is ultimately what makes the film work, the same way this strange distance heightens the drama of other recent and strange films of note, such as Yorgos Lanthimos’s “The Lobster.”

Despite the aloof mode in which they are expected to operate, the performers here are just as marvelous as the wonders they encounter in The Shimmer.

It’s a testament to the abilities of the cast (which includes Portman and Isaac as well as the excellent Jennifer Jason Leigh (“The Hateful Eight”), Gina Rodriguez (“Jane the Virgin”) and Tessa Thompson (“Thor:

Ragnarok”) that the conceit works and manages to affect the audience emotionally as well.

Many in the past have scorned scripts penned by Garland, criticizing him for never knowing how to write a proper ending. Though that’s often a gross over-exaggeration, those critics may have a point in this case. The ambiguity of the film’s ending doesn’t quite feel earned when stacked against the dizzying highs of the rest of the film, though it’s certainly not enough of a negative to discredit the power of its craft and narrative.

Ultimately, despite asking the audience to take perhaps too big of a leap of faith in its final minutes, “Annihilation” is still one of the best science-fiction films in recent memory. It’s a breathtakingly bold and ambitious trip into the great unknown, and big-budget filmmaking is all the better for it.

Ryan Ninesling | Executive Editor

Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures

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| ARTS

& LIFE

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

FEB. 28, 2018