DU Clarion Volume 126 Issue 5

FEB. 13, 2019 VOLUME 126 ISSUE 5

DU’S LYNNZEE BROWN SCORES PERFECT 10.0 SEE PAGE 5

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DU CLARION

| NEWS

FEB. 13, 2019

USG Weekly Update 2/11/19

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he weekly Undergraduate Student Government (USG) meeting on Feb. 5 passed four bills and two proposed collaboration fund requests. Discussed in the Feb. 4 meeting, the Single-Use Plastic Ban Amendment was passed this week and will now be a part of USG’s contributions to DU’s 25 by 25 Sustainability goals.

The goal of this amendment is to make the ability to purchase single-use plastics not possible through student funds, excluding third-party vendors.

Also passed was the Emergency Funding Amendment.

This gives Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) who have received funding from USG and who have come across unforeseen circumstances resulting in additional need for funding to apply for up to $200 from a set-aside emergency fund. The passing of this amendment will

result in this availability, but also the creation, of an additional pool of funds to be allocated as the Emergency Fund.

As an amendment to the Student Advocacy Position description within USG bylaws, the passing of this bill will cause a change in the details of the position within the organization. The amendment to the Ex Officio members’ description also received a passing vote at the meeting.

Funding approved at this meeting will go to two groups of organizations. Cru+Campus Ambassadors+Young Life+Alpha Delta Chi requested funding for their Bridge (Worship and Waffles) Event occurring on Feb. 20. Kappa Phi Lambda+ASA+CSSA+SASA were granted funding to host a Lunar New Year Presentation occuring on Feb. 15.

Discussed at this meeting

ABOUT US

and tabled for a future meeting include a fund request from the Food Recovery Network for Zip-Car food recovery and two tabled bills: Finance Committee Manual Amendment and Official Stance on Test Optional Admission.

Here are the upcoming important dates: • February 11-15: Diversity Summit • February 13: 4-8 p.m.

Craig Hall Community Room: Work on Purpose Workshop • February 15: 5-8:30 p.m.

Craig Hall Community Room: Lunar New Year Celebration • February 15: 7 p.m. Joy Burns Tuscan Ballroom: ​ B eta Theta Pi’s “Date-a-Beta” • February 19: 4-5:30 p.m.

AAC 290: D ​ U Grand Challenges Forum on Workplace Equity • February 20: 5-10 p.m.

SIE Maglione Hall: ​ B ridge: Worship and Waffles

• February 21: 6-7 p.m.

Nagel Classroom 102: ​ T enants’ Rights Info Session • February 22-24: D ​U Parents and Family Weekend • March 9: 5 p.m.

Shwayder foyer: ​C ommunity Art Show Cameron Elder | Contributing Writer

Photo courtesy of DU USG

DU Clarion EDITORIAL STAFF

TARYN ALLEN, Editor-in-Chief GRACE CARSON, Executive Editor DANIELA SANTOS, News Editor HANNAH BRANIT, Sports Editor The Clarion is the official student newspaper of the University of Denver, serving as the “Voice of the Pioneers.” Founded in 1899, it covers campus and local stories with the highest level of journalistic integrity possible. 1000 copies are distributed each Wednesday afternoon (throughout the academic year) across the DU campus, and every article is also published at duclarion. com. The Clarion does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the faculty, staff and/or administration of DU, and the opinions expressed by columnists and contributing writers do not necessarily reflect those of the Clarion.

Reproduction of the Clarion in whole or part in any form written, broadcast or electronic without written permission of the Clarion is prohibited. The opinions expressed by columnists and contributing writers do not necessarily reflect those of the Clarion. 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 Hub. 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.

ELIZABETH LOCHHEAD, Opinions Editor JUSTIN CYGAN, Arts & Life Editor NINA PETROVIC, Arts & Life Editor CAITLAN GANNAM, Photo/Video Editor VICTORIA VALENZUELA, Photo/Video Editor SARA LOUGHRAN, Copy Editor MAYA PINON, Copy Editor CHELSIE FINCHER, Illustrator LAWSON MONTGOMERY, Paper Delivery Person HALEY BIRT, Paper Delivery Person SYDNEY KAPP, Business Manager ANDREW MATRANGA, Faculty Adviser Cover photo coutesy of DU Athletics | Brittany Evans

CONTRIBUTING STAFF GRACE WILKINS

VISHAL BEEKI

CAMERON ELDER

CARMEN LEIBROCK

LAWSON MONTGOMERY

EMMA COHEN

RACHEL KUNZI

HALEY PAEZ

KIANA MARSAN

REBECCA SHAGRIN

MEGAN COONEY

FEB. 13, 2019

DU CLARION

NEWS | 3

Who are the Democrats running for president in 2020?

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s the list of potential candidates sometimes becomes speculative, a starting point is necessary to have a baseline understanding of the potential Trump opponents in the next presidential election. This list will briefly introduce all the Democratic candidates so far who have said they are running for president in 2020.

Cory Booker, 49 Booker, who announced he was running on Feb. 1, is the current New Jersey senator and was the former mayor of Newark. He calls for the unification of the country and has been a strong advocate for criminal justice reform. The Chicago Tribune calls Booker a centrist.

Pete Bettigieg, 37 Bettigieg is the mayor of the unfamiliar South Bend, Indiana. A military veteran from the war in Afghanistan, Bettigieg would be the youngest and the first openly gay nominee from a major party. Some of the issues he stands by include climate change and widening economic opportunities.

Julián Castro, 44 Castro is the former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under Obama. Before that, he was the mayor of San Antonio,

Texas. He is the first Latino in this bunch of candidates to enter the race. In his candidacy announcement, he focused on immigration and disapproved of President Trump’s policies for a border wall. Other issues of importance to him include universal pre-kindergarten, Medicare for all and raising the minimum wage.

John Delaney, 55 Delaney is a former Maryland congressman.

He was the first one to say that he was running, dating the announcement back to 2017. He endorses universal healthcare and comprehensive immigration reform and hopes to, according to PBS, “repatriate tax revenue to fund bipartisan infrastructure package.”

Tulsi Gabbard, 37 A congresswoman from Hawaii and an Army National Guard veteran, Gabbard announced her candidacy on “The Van Jones Show” where she said she wants to solve criminal justice reform, climate change and health care issues. She has faced controversy a week after her announcement regarding her previous anti-gay statements and for working for the antigay advocacy group, Alliance for Traditional Marriage.

She has apologized for her

past and said her views have changed since then.

Kristen Gillibrand, 52 Gillibrand is a New York senator and a former congresswoman who shared that she was running on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” in mid-January.

According to The New York Times, she is a leading liberal voice in the senate and prioritizes women’s equality and opportunity.

Kamala Harris, 54 A current first-term senator for California, Harris caught the attention of the public when she questioned Trump’s cabinet nominees and his Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

If she gets the nomination, she would be the first African-American women to get the nomination. Some of the issues she stands by include middle-class tax cut legislation, rent relief, Medicare for all and immigration and criminal justice overhauls.

Amy Klobuchar, 58 Klobuchar, so far, is the most recent Democrat to announce her candidacy. Like Harris, the Minnesota senator was taken notice when she questioned Kavanaugh. The issues she is prioritizing include handling the opioid epidemic, drug addiction and limiting the cost of prescription drugs.

Elizabeth Warren, 69 Warren is the current Massachusetts senator who announced on New Year’s Eve that she was forming an exploratory committee and expected to officially enter the race early next year. She wants to combat income inequality and protect the middle class from big corporations and political corruption. In late 2018, Warren faced criticism for releasing a DNA test “to prove her claim to Native American heritage.”

Marianne Williamson, 66 Williamson is the best-selling author of multiple self-help and spirituality novels. She aims to propose a $100 billion in reparations for slavery and $10 billion annually in a 10-year span for economic and educational projects. According to The New York Times, she ran for congress in 2014 as an independent.

Andrew Yang, 44 The former tech executive is leading his campaign with the proposal of creating a basic universal income of $1,000 per month for all Americans.

Daniela Santos | News Editor

Chancellor Chopp takes Get to know DU’s 2019 a stance on Title IX commencement speakers

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n Jan. 30, Chancellor Rebecca Chopp wrote a letter to the U.S. Department of Education on DU’s position on the proposed revisions to Title IX. In this letter, Chancellor Chopp supported the comment letter proposed by the American Council on Education on the Title IX changes.

The proposed Title IX changes include provisions to further address the issue of sexual harassment and assault on university campuses. The first step taken is in defining sexual harassment as “unwelcome conduct on the basis of sex this is so severe, pervasive and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the school’s education program or activity.” In defining sexual assault, Title IX will adopt the Clery Act definition.

Included is a mandate of investigation following any formal complaint and supportive measures offered to students to help their success in the school’s educational programs, with or without a formal complaint.

The provisions would also require schools to follow due process protections for students including a presumption of innocence, written notice of

allegations, equal opportunity to review evidence and a right to cross-examination. Universities would also be required to hold live hearings for cross-examination and to promote impartiality, no “single investigator” or “investigator-only” models may be used.

Chancellor Chopp writes on behalf of DU, “We share the Department of Education’s goal of having campus disciplinary processes that are clearly understood, based on an objective evaluation of relevant facts, consistently applied and fair to both parties. While some of the proposed regulations will help accomplish the goal of preventing campus sexual harassment and sexual assault, others would be a detriment to the progress that has been made by colleges and universities in recent years.”

To end this letter, Chancellor Chopp states, “I urge the Department of Education to reevaluate many of the recently proposed provisions so that colleges and universities can continue to focus on being educational institutions, not arms of the criminal justice system.”

Cameron Elder | Contributing Writer

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U has chosen speakers for its graduate and undergraduate commencement ceremonies which will take place on June 14 and 15, respectively. Imran Khan will speak at the undergraduate ceremony, and Freeman A. Hrabowski III will speak at the graduate ceremony.

Khan graduated from DU in 2000 with bachelor’s degrees in finance and economics. In 2017, he received distinction as a young DU alumnus with a far-reaching impact and strong leadership capacity.

Khan has enjoyed successful careers at JPMorgan, Credit Suisse, Snapchat and, most recently, a technology and social media company called Snap Inc. Hrabowski graduated from Hampton Institute with an MA in math and a PhD in higher education administration and statistics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is the president of the University of Maryland at Baltimore County, has extensive research experience on science and math education and advocates for inclusion of minority groups. Hrabowski has received prestigious awards from U.S. News &

World Report and Time Magazine and served on the President’s Advisory Commission on Education Excellence for African Americans during the Obama administration. As part of his activism during the Civil Rights movement, Hrabowski was featured in “Four Little Girls,” a documentary about a church bombing in Birmingham, Ala. For more information on the commencement ceremonies, visit DU’s commencement website.

Grace Wilkins | Contributing Writer

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DU CLARION

| SPORTS

FEB. 13, 2019

Men’s lacrosse downs Air Force in season opener

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he No. 5 Pioneers downed Air Force by a score of 11-4 on opening weekend at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium.

Freshman midfielder Ellis Geis (Tustin, Calif.) netted his first career collegiate hat trick in under three quarters for the Pioneers. Also tallying points for the Pioneers was senior attackman Colin Rutan (Walnut Creek, Calif.) and sophomore midfielder Jack Hannah (Milford, Ohio) with four points apiece.

The Pioneers got off to a hot start with a 5-0 run in the first quarter with two goals

from Geis, one from Rutan and junior Ethan Walker (Peterborough, Ontario) with his first goal of the season. Freshman midfielder Alex Simmons (Smithville, Ontario) scored a beautiful stinger to the upper ninety that tallied his first career goal as a Pioneer, a wonderful way to begin his college career.

Air Force would jump back into the game with two quick goals at the beginning of the second quarter. After the quick tally by Air Force, the Pioneer defense led by senior goalie Alex Ready (Lancaster, Pa.), who saved

nine of the 13 shots he faced, and junior defender Dylan Gaines (Baltimore, Md.) would shut down the Air Force offense for 21:24 minutes. The Pioneers were able to score the first four goals of the second half, extending their lead to 10-2. Air Force answered with two more goals, and senior Quinn McKone (Novato, Calif.) sealed the 11-4 win for the Pioneers in the fourth quarter.

Freshman Brett Boos (Parker, Colo.) made a name for himself as he was 15-of-19 at the faceoff dot, displaying a

hopeful future at the position after the legendary career of Trevor Baptiste.

The Pioneers will be traveling to Durham, N.C. this weekend to face No. 8 Duke.

Faceoff is set for 9 a.m. MST and will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra and ESPN Denver 1600.

Lawson Montegomery | Contributing Writer

Photo courtesy of Denver Athletics

Women’s lacrosse sweeps on opening weekend

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he Denver women’s lacrosse team defeated Stanford 8-7 on Jan. 8, followed by a 13-4 win over the University of California, Berkeley on Jan. 10. After the matches, Head Coach Liza Kelly said, “We had a great swing through California. Both games provided us with a number of learning opportunities. I am excited to get back to work and prepare for our home-opener against Louisville.”

On Friday, Jan. 8, the Pioneers opened their season up against Stanford. After the first half, Denver held a commanding seven-goal lead. Senior Julia Feiss (Baltimore, Md.) scored the first goal of the game at 20:55, with an assist from fellow senior Kendra Lanuza (Littleton, Colo.). Lanuza was credited with another assist at 19:12 after assisting sophomore Hannah Liddy (Westfield, N.J.). This would be Liddy’s first of three goals in the game. At 13:55, the 2018 BIG EAST Co-Freshman of the Year, Quintin Hoch-Bullen (Orillia, Ontario), scored to bring the Pioneers up 3-0. Stanford scored their first goal at 12:12, but the Pioneers quickly responded with goals from sophomore Eliza Radochonski (Englewood, Colo.) at 9:23, junior

Molly Little (Tiverton, R.I.) 4:33 and the second of three from Liddy. In the second half, Liddy would be the only Pioneer to score, completing her hat-trick at 2:25 to preserve the Pioneers’ lead.

In their Sunday, Jan. 10 game against Berkeley, Denver improved to 2-0 behind a strong offensive performance led by sophomore Bea Behrins (Basking Ridge, N.J.) and Liddy. Liddy was credited with the first two goals of the game after scoring at 27:05 and 16:50. Radochonski scored at 14:27 after a Berkeley goal, bringing the game to 3-1, Pioneers. Behrins scored the first of her five goals at 14:09, followed by a goal at 12:43. Hoch-Bullen (11:22, 8:51), Lanuza (9:17) and Little (6:55) rounded out the scoring in the first half for Denver. In the second half, Behrins started the offensive action with a goal at 22:33, followed by Little, who scored at 8:41. Behrins scored twice more, at 7:28 and 00:58, to round out scoring for the game for Denver.

Denver returns to the Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 16, at 1 p.m., MST to kick off their 2019 home season with a game against Louisville.

Hannah Branit | Sports Editor

Photo courtesy of Denver Athletics

FEB. 13, 2019

DU CLARION

SPORTS | 5

No. 6 Denver hosts record-setting crowd

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he No. 6 gymnastics team scored their fourth-highest score in program history on Jan. 10, 2019 in front of the largest-ever group for a Denver gymnastics meet.

6,100 fans were in attendance at Magness Arena, breaking the previous record of 4,634 from January 14, 2018.

Denver started the meet on vault where they scored 49.125 overall behind a strong performance from sophomore Lynnzee Brown (Kansas City, Mo.), who scored a 9.875. She was followed by junior teammate Maddie Karr (Stillwater, Minn.) with a 9.850. Senior Diana Chesnok (Charlotte, N.C.) and sophomore Mia Sundstrom (Boulder, Colo.) both contributed 9.825’s.

On the bars, senior Claire Kern (Charlotte, N.C.) and

freshman Alexandria Ruiz (Lake Mary, Fla.) each tied their personal bests of 9.875 to help lead the Pioneers to a 49.375 overall. Karr scored 9.925, good for second in the event, and Brown tied for third with a 9.900. Sophomore Emily Glynn (Longmont, Colo.) contributed a 9.800 for Denver’s final counted score.

On the beam, the Pioneers kept their momentum rolling and tied the second-highest score in gymnastics program history after earning a 49.475. Brown led the team off with a commanding 9.850, followed by 9.800 from Ruiz.

Freshman Alexis Vasquez (Arcadia, Calif.) earned a 9.925, the second-highest score for Denver. Both Karr and Kaitlyn Schou (Orlando, Fla.) tied their career highs

with matching 9.950’s.

DU finished on the floor, matching their season high of 49.425. Karr scored a season-best 9.925, while Schou tied another career-high with a 9.900. Sundstrom scored a 9.850 and Ruiz scored a 9.750.

The highlight of the night for DU came during the floor as Brown scored her first perfect 10.0. Brown’s 10.0 is the first 10.0 for Denver since Karr’s on vault on Feb. 18, 2017.

“It’s super exciting to do what I’ve been practicing. I wanted to scream (after sticking my final pass),” Brown said after the meet. “I planned out my routine to be right in front of my teammates, and their eye contact kept me motivated throughout the performance. It’s a reminder that I’m doing this for them and not for myself.”

Karr placed first in the allaround with a score of 39.650, while Brown was second with a 39.625 and Ruiz was third with 39.175.

Denver finished the night with a score of 197.400, three-tenths of a point behind No. 1 Oklahoma. This is the closest margin of victory between DU and Oklahoma since Jan. 6, 2006.

The Denver gymnastics team continues its threemeet homestand on Feb. 16 when DU hosts Illinois State in Hamilton Gymnasium, a meet that has already sold out.

Hannah Branit | Sports Editor

Photo courtesy of Denver Athletics | Brittany Evans

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| OPINIONS

DU CLARION

FEB. 13, 2019

Hickenlooper’s presidential campaign is an uphill battle

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Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

ith the beginning of 2019 comes the inevitable hypothesizing about potential presidential candidates for the 2020 election. Among them is John Hickenlooper, a Colorado Democrat who just finished his second term as governor.

Hickenlooper began as a small

business owner after being laid off from his job as a geologist, which he believes gives him a keen insight into the plight of everyday business owners. Following his business ventures, Hickenlooper began his political journey and successfully ran for mayor of Denver in 2004, remaining in the position until

he became governor in 2011.

Though not much is known about Hickenlooper’s platform, it can be feasibly assumed that he’ll continue pushing his progressive views, having stressed the need for a leader with effective follow-through.

Since visiting Iowa, South Carolina and New Hampshire, all important locations in the presidential race, Hickenlooper has compared his possible presidential climb to his path in life, describing it as an uphill battle.

It’s important to acknowledge, though, that Hickenlooper’s lack of tangible governmental experience is something that may be frightening off voters.

Despite his success as governor, Hickenlooper hasn’t seen much of the inner workings of federal government, and voters may easily turn their attention to more whetted candidates. For example, other upcoming presidential candidates have more experience than Hickenlooper: Senator Elizabeth Warren has been affiliated with higher levels of government since 1995, and Senator Cory Booker has been in politics for 22 years.

One thing Hickenlooper does have going for him, which is difficult to understate, is his charisma and the public’s affinity for him. Studies show

that the most mesmerizing and captivating candidates tend to win the most elections, as they naturally garner the people’s trust. In addition to that is the former governor’s ability to appease both parties of government and generate compromise on delicate subjects, an asset highly necessary in a presidential candidate. Most of all, Hickenlooper’s propositions and policies yield action and results, facts that are not lost on today’s generation of voters. His success in crafting a methane regulation law that was the first of its kind, appeasing members of environmental groups and oil representatives, cannot go unnoticed.

Overall, though Hickenlooper may be facing no small amount of difficulties in running for president, that isn’t to say that the task he now faces is impossible. After all, he’s faced great odds before and came out on top. To suggest that he would be unable to do so this time around would be to put the fork in a campaign that hasn’t even fully begun yet. He would make a competent, if slightly inexperienced, candidate, capable of executing bold bipartisan policies while other politicians might very well shy away.

Rachel Kunzi | Contributing Writer

Cory Gardner faces backlash from Coloradans over support for Trump

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ory Gardner, a Republican senator for Colorado, has experienced backlash from Coloradans since he verbally stated his support for President Trump and his reelection campaign in January 2018. This support is of particular interest because previously, in the 2016 election, Gardner didn’t support Trump.

Let’s see what has changed.

Gardner rescinded his support of Trump in 2016 when the tapes of the president degrading women surfaced. Understandably so, this move can feasibly be seen as an attempt to save his image. Yet, he recently decided to endorse Trump and support his re-election. “I know what Kamala Harris and I know what Bernie Sanders will do to Colorado, and that’s why I’ll be supporting the president,” Gardner told the Washington, D.C.-based Independent Journal Review.

It’s no surprise, especially when looking at where Gardner stands on the main policy issues currently. According to FiveThirtyEight, a website dedicated to analyzing opinion polls, politics and economics, in the 116th Congress, Gardner’s votes aligned with Trump’s approximately 50 percent of the time and 91.7 percent of the time in the 115th Congress.

Both Trump and Gardner have agreed on multiple heated topics. Some of these include support to ban federal funds toward abortions or health coverage that includes abortions, the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh, disaster relief for Puerto Rico, the American

Health Care Act of 2017 and others that can be found on the FiveThirtyEight website.

In order to gauge Gardner’s likelihood of being reelected,

won with 48.2 percent of the votes, and Trump received 43.3 percent of the votes.

A gradual trend can be seen towards becoming a “blue” state.

Photo courtesy of The Denver Post

it’s important to first take a look at Colorado’s political climate.

Known as a swing state, Colorado is typically a toss up. In the 2016 election, Hillary Clinton

According to a study done by the American Politics Research Lab at CU Boulder, only 14 percent of Coloradans approved of the job performance of Congress.

In 2017 presidential approval, in the same study, dropped to 34 percent. The most dramatic shift is seen with Gardner, who went from an approval rating of 43 percent in 2016, to 25 percent in 2017. A shift has been noted, as Denver and Boulder have experienced a sharp increase in Democratic voters, and Republicans maintain a hold on the rural, less populated sections of Colorado. If this pattern continues, the amount of Democratic voters may tip the balance.

It’s important to look at where Coloradans stand on the current popular issues as well.

Drawing from the same study, over 60 percent of Coloradans favor gun control, 71 percent are in favor of keeping “Dreamers” in the country and half report being concerned about climate change.

These beliefs coincide best with the Democratic platform.

Lastly, the 2018 midterm elections provide insight into the political forecast of Colorado. The ballots revealed that 56 percent of people voted for Democrats.

That is higher than the national average of 48 percent.

After uncovering the trends of Coloradan voters, it’s no longer a surprise that Cory Gardner is facing ramifications for supporting Trump. Quite frankly, he is hindered because his position on today’s policies tend to align with Trump, and if Trump’s approval rating isn’t high, Gardner’s will not be either. It’s safe to say that Colorado is still a toss up, but it won’t be for long.

Megan Cooney | Contributing Writer

The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the Clarion or of the DU community.

DU CLARION

FEB. 13, 2019

OPINIONS | 7

A political theater starring Jeff Bezos and the National Enquirer

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n a blog post entitled “No thank you, Mr. Pecker,” Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos rocked the news cycle last Thursday with his accusations against the National Enquirer’s publisher, American Media Incorporation (AMI), of extortion and blackmail.

The billionaire’s invested interest in AMI began in January, when the National Enquirer put out a print exposé on his affair days after he announced his divorce from his wife on Twitter.

When the piece included text messages that were sent between him and another woman, Bezos went on to hire Gavin de Becker as a private investigator to look into how the Enquirer obtained the materials. After several weeks, reports were put out with statements from Becker where he insinuated it was a “politically-motivated” leak.

Trump and Bezos have been long-standing adversaries, the result of Bezos’s ownership of both Amazon and The Washington Post, a media outlet the president has denounced on many occasions as “fake news.”

In contrast to Bezos, Pecker— the CEO of AMI—has proven his news organization to be one that likes to play in Trump’s favor.

During the Cohen investigation, it was uncovered that the AMI was involved in a “catch-andkill” deal for his presidential campaign. They had purchased

the rights to women’s stories that negatively portrayed Trump, yet proceeded to never publish them. Pecker and the AMI were granted an immunity deal by federal prosecutors that allowed them to escape persecution.

It was circulating, then— based on both Becker’s statement and Pecker’s history—that the leak and the exposé that was born from it were moves by the AMI to butter up the president and make up for having to turn against him in order to get the immunity deal.

This drawn-out narrative, Bezos writes in his post, is what led to the series of threatening correspondence he receives from the leadership at AMI. “It is our understanding that [Bezos’s] representatives continue to pursue and to disseminate false and spurious allegations,” Jon P. Fine, Deputy General Counsel for the AMI, is alleged to have written in an email to Bezos’s lawyers.

“Accordingly, we hereby demand that you cease and desist such defamatory conduct immediately. Any further dissemination of these false, vicious, speculative and unsubstantiated statements is done at your client’s peril.”

The emails then go on to describe in detail the 10 explicit pictures of Bezos and his mistress they claim to be in possession of, concluding with: “I hope common sense can prevail — and quickly.”

“These communications cement AMI’s long-earned reputation for weaponizing journalistic privileges, hiding behind important protections, and ignoring the tenets and purpose of true journalism,” Bezos states in the post. “I won’t participate in their well-known practice of blackmail, political favors, political attacks, and corruption.”

Bezos provides little to corroborate the validity of the content of these emails, but it is unlikely that he would make exaggerated claims such as these so publicly if they were untrue.

The stakes are simply too high; if found to be fabricated, he risks social, economical and legal repercussions.

New York prosecutors think these accusations might be credible, too, as they’ve begun to look into them. If found to be true, not only could the AMI be brought to court, but they would be in violation of one of the conditions of their immunity deal and could be persecuted for their previous crimes as well.

These are the intense circumstances that make Bezos’s choice to deal with them publicly rather than privately so strange.

This decision is indicative of how much harder it is becoming to make the distinction between news and entertainment in today’s society.

Before Bezos went public with the emails he received

from the AMI, he was largely villainized by news outlets. In the public perception, he was seen as dishonest and stingy. When word got out that his wife may become the richest woman in the world from their divorce, people commended her on social media, the jokes often as his expense.

With his blog post on Medium, though, Bezos is changing the narrative, opening up about how the conflicts that have arisen from his divorce are morphing his reputation. From his piece— whether or not it reflects reality—readers get the sense that he is a protector of ethical journalism and a public figure that refuses to cave to corruption.

Through the intimate gossip surrounding his divorce and his affair, Bezos is indirectly bringing relevance and attention to politically charged events that were reaching minimal audiences before he got involved.

The public battle between Bezos and the AMI has effectively built a crossroads between news and entertainment for the general public.

The closing of Bezos’s open letter to Pecker may be the best testament of this political theater; as the audience watching how this narrative develops, we have no choice but to “stand up, roll this log over, and see what crawls out.”

Kiana Marsan | Contributing Writer

Ralph Northam should be held accountable for his actions

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irginia politics have been in turmoil over the last week due to serious allegations regarding both racism and sexual assault against Democratic Governor Ralph Northam and Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax. A 1984 medical school yearbook picture on Northam’s page of two men who were dressed in a Ku Klux Klan outfit and in blackface, one of whom is largely believed to be Northam, has caused fellow Democrats to encourage Northam to step down. Northam, shortly after apologizing for the picture, then denied that he was one of the two men in the photo, only to admit after that he dressed up in blackface later to impersonate Michael Jackson. Despite this controversy, Northam has so far refused to step down. His potential replacement would be Justin Fairfax, who shortly after the blackface controversy faced allegations that he raped fellow Duke University student Meredith Watson in 2000 and sexually assaulted Vanessa Tyson in 2004. To further the chaos, Attorney General Mark Herring then admitted that he too had dressed in blackface.

The Virginia political controversy resembles a long list of political figures who have faced both racist and sexual assault allegations, such as President Donald Trump, Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanaugh and

United States Senator Al Franken. Because of these allegations against political figures, even the discussion of race and sexual

Kavanaugh’s sexual assault allegations were very partisan, as almost all Republican senators chose to ignore the allegations to

Photo courtesy of Politico

assault allegations can be partisan. The discussion about Brett

further their political ambition of confirming a conservative

justice, while almost all Democratic senators did the opposite.

Americans first need to realize that these allegations are not a political issue, and party politics need to be eliminated from these discussions. Regardless of what party individuals identify with, when it comes to the topic of race or sexual assault, any personal ambitions for the success of one party should be ignored.

It is up to Americans and Ralph Northam specifically to decide the statement that can be made. In recent times, we as a society have put more effort into taking a stand against racism and sexual assault, as seen by the #MeToo movement. Democratic politicians must first put party politics aside and continue treating Ralph Northam and Justin Fairfax the same way they treated Brett Kavanaugh and Donald Trump. If Ralph Northam wants to continue this trend of holding leaders accountable for racism and sexual assault, he must step down. Justin Fairfax will continue to defend his innocence amongst these allegations, but fellow Democratic leaders and Americans must treat Fairfax the same way they did with Donald Trump, Brett Kavanaugh and Al Franken, and push him to resign, proving that American can truly put party politics aside and stand for what they believe in.

Vishal Beeki | Contributing Writer

The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the Clarion or of the DU community.

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DU CLARION

| OPINIONS

FEB. 13, 2019

PIONEER VOICES Question of the week:

What do you do to relax after a hard day or week?

“I turn all of my devices to ‘Do Not Disturb’ and I’ll take my dog for a walk. And then I will power clean my apartment.”

“I play a puzzle game on my Nintendo Switch.”

Winnie Pham, Second Year

Noah Sullivan, Fourth Year

“I hike and just really try to take it all in. I also just will watch movies with my roommates.”

“Me and my roommate are both obsessed with the Office and we watch it constantly.”

Colin Phillips, Third Year

Audrey Harmon, First Year Graduate Student

FEB. 13, 2019

DU CLARION

ARTS & LIFE | 9

Jesse McCartney concert review: I’m leavin’ and never comin’ back again

Sydney Kapp | Clarion

L

et me just start by saying that if you had told me 10 years ago that I would go to a Jesse McCartney concert, I would have died of excitement. Jesse McCartney was my first crush, and I listened to his “Beautiful Soul” album so much when I was in elementary school that my dad literally threw away my CD. My love for Jesse McCartney was undying... until I saw him in concert this last Monday at the Ogden Theatre.

In its defense, the concert started out really strong.

The opening act, Whitney Woerz, was a spunky, talented performer with a killer light show. Her rendition of Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” was sweet

and soulful and confirmed her star-status.

Followed by her was the man of the hour, Jesse McCartney. He started out his set with a scream-worthy performance of “Leavin’” and “She’s No You.” He was exactly what I was hoping for—his blonde hair was flowing, his “shawty’s” were heart-melting and his choreography was so 2000s it made me want to break out my Juicy sweatpants. That feeling quickly changed to confusion as the concert continued.

I heard the question “Is he okay?” asked a few times from different concertgoers throughout the evening. McCartney was all over the place; from running back and forth across the stage and multiple crotch grabs, to stopping to pose and show his

profile to the audience, McCartney was a little much for my taste. Usually, I would enjoy this level of energy from a performer, but it caused the concert to be laughable.

Simply put, McCartney seemed fake throughout the entire evening. Almost “Ken Dolllike,” according to my date.

My favorite part of the concert was when he brought a girl on stage to serenade her, a similar tactic Justin Bieber used at the beginning of his career. The criteria to be chosen was simple: heartbroken and single. When asked who she was with that evening, she confidently answered, “my boyfriend.” Though McCartney followed through with his serenade, it was mostly

drowned out by anguished outcries of “she’s a liar.”

There were some positives to the evening despite his bizarre personality, however.

McCartney’s use of lighting and projectors throughout the concert was impressive. Specifically, on his performance of “She’s No You,” he created a jaw-dropping backdrop of New York City at night that shifted throughout the song. Along with that, his remix of “Beautiful Soul” was a lot of fun to jam to as a long-time fan of the song.

Though it was exciting to see my long-time crush perform live, the best part of the concert may have been the Bruno Mars music playing between performances.

Sydney Kapp | Business Manager

Super Bowl halftime show disappoints Photo Courtesy of Getty Images

A

fter discussing the performance with my peers, I did not hear one positive opinion about this year’s Super Bowl halftime show. Between Maroon 5, Big Boi and Travis Scott, you would think that at least one of these famous artists would have made a good impression on viewers, but this is not the case.

Beginning the show with the song “Harder to Breathe” was a bold move from Maroon 5, and as they continued to perform hits from their 2002 album, Adam Levine began stripping until he was shirtless. Revealing his tattoo-covered body may have seemed like a good idea to Levine, but don’t neglect the fact that he turns 40 this year.

Additionally, he danced around

stage with an electric guitar draped over his body, even though he really only busted out one riff throughout the entire performance after asking, “Can I play guitar for you right now?”

Despite all of this negativity, this halftime show did execute one part phenomenally: SpongeBob’s legendary “Sweet Victory” clip. By commemorating the recent death of the show’s creator, Stephen Hillenburg, and implementing the Bubble Bowl into this halftime show, SpongeBob fans were overwhelmed with feelings of nostalgia, which were quickly interrupted by Scott’s burning asteroid entrance.

Seeing Levine on stage attempting to dance along to Scott’s famous song “SICKO

MODE” was downright uncomfortable to witness. It was clear that he was out of his element while on stage with Travis, who was basically just yelling into the microphone while a pool of teenage girls cheered him on in tears. It felt as if Travis just chose a bunch of his favorite lines from the song and threw them together to fill his very short window in the show.

Levine and Scott jumped up and down as they faced one another, and Levine decided to strum out a cord of “SICKO MODE” here and there.

After Travis’s quick appearance, viewers could actually appreciate Levine’s talented voice as he sang the beginning of “Girls Like You,” but since Cardi B refused to attend

the Super Bowl, her part was filled by a large choir, which only confused the audience further. Then, Big Boi came out in an old-fashioned Cadillac to perform OutKast’s “The Way You Move” in the same location where he launched his rapping career.

All in all, after being disappointed by the Rams and Patriots’ first half, fans were just as underwhelmed with Maroon 5, Big Boi and Travis Scott’s performances. Not even a half-naked Adam Levine could save the show.

Rebecca Shagrin | Contributing Writer

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FEB. 13, 2019

Rapper 21 Savage arrested by ICE

S

he’yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, also known as the rapper 21 Savage, was taken into custody by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Sunday Feb. 3 following a classified operation by the government organization. 21 Savage, originally a British national, has been outspoken over the years on a number of social issues such as support of the Black Lives Matter movement and abolishing ICE, in addition to creating his popular music.

This situation has become more complicated, as ICE has said that the group intends to deport 21 Savage, who has three U.S. American children, back to the United Kingdom. The group has cited that the rapper came to the U.S. at the age of 14, while 21 Savage’s legal team has said that he came to the States when he was seven. His legal team has also stated that the rapper applied for a U.S. Visa in 2017 after Savage was shot and his friend died in a 2013 attack. However, his legal team states that this visa

application was delivered and ignored by ICE and nothing came from 21 Savage’s quest to stay legally in the States. Since his arrest last week, the artist has been held by ICE without bond.

ICE spokesman Bryan Cox reiterated in an interview with CNN that 21 Savage is from the United Kingdom and entered the U.S. on a temporary visa in 2005. “His whole public persona is false. He actually came to the U.S. from the U.K. as a teen and overstayed his Visa,” Cox told the network. This statement has sparked debate online over how ICE uses propaganda statements to vilify those living in the U.S. without legal paperwork.

As the U.S. continues to see a crackdown on undocumented immigration, U.S. citizens can expect to see many more of these high-profile deportation cases in the future.

Carmen Leibrock | Contributing Writer

Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia

Things to do this Valentine’s Day Victoria Valenzuela | Clarion

V

alentine’s Day is almost upon us once again, so if you’re looking for something special to do with your partner or friend(s), here are some of the best things that Denver has to offer: There are quite a few exciting things happening right here on campus: 1. Macaron Sale Kappa Phi Lambda will be selling macarons outside of Sturm Hall to benefit Street’s Hope, an organization that “helps women escape and recover from the sex trafficking industry in Denver.” You can buy them as a nice treat to enjoy with your partner, all while doing your part to help end a major injustice happening to children and adults everywhere.

2. “Black Love” Forum Black Student Alliance (BSA) will be hosting a meeting (only open to DU students) with the

theme “Black Love” where DU faculty members will come with their partners and discuss the complexities of relationships, including the dynamics of interracial relationships and more. Come to Sturm Hall room 380 at 6:30 p.m. to listen to the conversation.

3. The Vagina Monologues The Health and Counseling Center’s Gender Violence Prevention Program will put on two performances of “The Vagina Monologues” (Feb. 14 and 15), a play by Eve Ensler that celebrates and empowers female sexuality. Tickets are only $10 and proceeds will go to the CAPE Survivors fund.

4. Beans After Dark Beans Coffee Shop will be having a Special Valentine’s Day Beans After Dark kicking off at 4 p.m. in the Fritz Knoebel School of Hospitality and Management.

You can enjoy a beer, “Bad and

Bubbly” cocktail or some wine and cheese. Partake in a “Mix and Mingle” at 5 p.m. if you’re looking for love and Tinder just isn’t your thing. And cap the night off by listening to some live jazz starting at 6 p.m. to set the loving mood.

There are plenty of other events around the city, too: 5. Hearts for Art The nationwide event “Hearts for Art” at the Denver Art Museum (DAM), is the best time to show your love (in the form of small paper hearts) for different pieces throughout the museum. While you’re there, make sure to check out the Dior exhibit.

6. Sex in the Sea If you’re looking for something unique and unexpected, you should go to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science for Sex in the Sea, where you can learn about the love lives of different

aquatic animals, enjoy appetizers and look at different kinds of coral, shells and marine life.

If you do choose to go, you and your partner or friend will likely leave with more than a few fun facts for your next dinner party.

7. Movie Date If you just want to keep things casual, you can always go for a classic movie date. “What Men Want” and “Isn’t It Romantic” are perfect movies to get you in the Valentine’s Day spirit. If you and your partner or friend are a bit unconventional, “Happy Death Day 2U” is a great alternative.

Enjoy the holiday, and be sure to remind all those close to you how much you love them.

Emma Cohen | Contributing Writer

FEB. 13, 2019

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Skiing and marijuana: Do they mix?

W

inter is well underway in Colorado; with unparalleled slopes and countless options for snowy mountain getaways, Colorado has acquired quite a reputation for being a home base for skiers and snowboarders across the U.S. and the world.

Colorado has also acquired a reputation for its legalization of recreational marijuana, which may cause many to wonder: can the two be enjoyed together?

Whether you are a local or a tourist, if you plan on enjoying marijuana in Colorado this winter, the first step is to know how the legal system works in the state. While Colorado has legalized recreational marijuana, the federal government has not, so skiing on federal land remains illegal. State law only technically allows for private consumption, out of view of the public eye.

Vaping or taking edibles is a lot more discreet, but it’s best to do some research based on where you’re skiing.

Basically, while it does happen, skiing under the influence of drugs or alcohol violates the Colorado Ski Safety Act, meaning that it is dangerous and illegal to ski and use marijuana.

Because marijuana can affect people in different ways, especially when considering the different forms and types of consumption, it is hard to generalize what the experience of skiing while high looks like. Some will stand by it, claiming that skiing

Chelsie Fincher | Clarion

under the influence puts you as close as you can get to flying.

Couple that with the unbelievable views from the lift and the mountain, and you could have a pretty surreal experience.

However, using marijuana impairs judgement and motor function in a lot of cases, making high skiing more dangerous for you and for others on the hill. Since it can also function as a depressant, there is a chance that use may lead to quick fatigue and dehydration on the mountain, which both cuts the day short and makes you more prone to accidents.

Really, it’s all about knowing your skills and your body;

you want to have the best time possible, but don’t hurt yourself on the mountain just because you’re trying to get the full “Colorado experience.” Also keep in mind that while you and others may really enjoy combining carving and cannabis, there are people on the mountain just trying to have a good time without the drug.

Not every ski town in Colorado has embraced the cannabis industry, but there are some that know how to cater to their consumers. Many of the most tourist-heavy towns have learned to capitalize on demand and allow dispensaries to operate right near the slopes.

According to Westword, the following ski towns allow for recreational sale of marijuana: Alma, Aspen, Basalt, Breckenridge, Carbondale, Crested Butte, Dillon, Dumont, Durango, Eagle, Edwards, Fairplay, Fraser, Frisco, Georgetown, Glenwood Springs, Gunnison, Leadville, Mancos, Ridgway, Silver Plume, Silverthorne, Silverton, Steamboat Springs, Tabernash and Telluride.

Buena Vista and Craig allow for medical but not recreational sales, and Avon, Mountain Village, Snowmass Village, Vail and Winter Park have banned recreational sales altogether.

The big takeaway here is to use your best discretion. Know the law, and have common courtesy if you want to break it and enjoy a high on the mountain. It can be a health and safety concern to ski or snowboard under the influence, but others call it an incomparable experience, so maybe it’s worth a try someday.

Note: the Clarion does not condone the use of marijuana, especially in underage or illegal contexts.

Clarion Staff

“Russian Doll”: A multi-layered must watch

“

Russian Doll” has many layers. The show is reminiscent of “Groundhog Day,” a Bill Murray film where he is forced to relive the same day over and over again. Once you have opened the Russian nesting doll you find out that there is more than meets the eye. In contrast to “Groundhog Day,” the day does not restart after the person falls asleep. Rather, Natasha Lyonne (“Orange is the New Black”) as Nadia relives her birthday party when she meets her imminent demise. As we get closer to the center, or the end of the first season, the real difference is distinguished. When you are finished with “Russian Doll,” you have a new hyper-awareness of your space, time and company. This is typically the downfall of a “Groundhog Day” scenario. Instead of an over-

whelming sense of discontent, we have begun the process of self-actualization.

This television show is not something that I would have asked for, but now I have been graced with the best version of this scenario. I understand that you may be skeptical of Netflix’s content since they create more content than we can even watch, but “Russian Doll” does not have to have the viewership of “Bird Box” to know that it is the closest new arrival to a 10 out of 10.

I believe it earns a nine out of 10.

Victoria Valenzuela | Photo & Video Editor

Photo Courtesy of Refinery29

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FEB. 13, 2019

Small plates with big f lavors in Union Station

M

y initial vision of a restaurant inside a train station would resemble a McDonald’s at an airport. You eat it because it’s convenient, not because of your burning passion to think about the flavor profiles presented by a boot-shaped chicken nugget drowned in ketchup. Neither, by the way, tasting like they should. But in Denver, experiencing the restaurant scene offered at Union Station is an attraction close to the ranks of attending a Rockies game or going to Red Rocks: a complete must. In the heart of Denver is the immaculate Union Station, but the real gem is a small eatery located inside somewhat tucked away in the corner. The scene is chaotic in the main station area, but this hideaway poses a great spot for both a date or a big group of friends.

Ultreia specializes in authentic tapas dishes meant to stir up conversation and have people bond over the small bites that get presented so artfully before them. No eater is exempt from having a memorable meal here. The finger food placed daintily

on skewers transports you to nibbling at a cocktail party.

Those interested in their very own dish can rejoice with the options presented under “large plates.” Be careful not to let your guard down because people will definitely be peeking over your shoulder to snag a quick bite. These are the moments where friendships are meant to be tested.

With the lights down a little low, make sure to have a fellow foodie stand over you with a light because the presentations are Insta-worthy.

Added to the fun, the price of items (i.e. Croquettes de Jámon for $7.14 and Flank Steak for $22.44) is not what you’d find anywhere else. It may not be the dollar menu, but you’ll definitely have a Happy Meal.

FOOD RUNDOWN: Chorizo Picante Y Manchego: Tell the ice cream man to keep his truck rolling because their cones come to the table almost spilling with salty, spicy and meaty chorizo slices; the ice cream can definitely wait.

Pescados Conservados:

Some might be traumatized from soggy tuna swimming in a tin can, only to disintegrate in the massive amounts of mayonnaise that usually accompany it. But have no fear because the anchovies and sardines served in Ultreia’s tins are sourced from Italy, Spain or Portugal instead of a convenience store down the street. The delicate fish almost melts in your mouth as it hits you with a pop of fruitiness from the olive oil. In competition for the spotlight are the crisp chips that are piled higher than the Himalayas next to the humble tin. This is basically middle school lunch royalty.

Setas: Mushrooms are lining restaurant menus everywhere, making a memorable dish somewhat hard to find.

The combination of smoke from the cedar plank and the punch of a sweet balsamic vinegar flavor from the black garlic makes you want to give this dish another bite.

Frango Piri Piri: Good thing this chicken arrives at the table with the leg and claw still attached,

T h e C l a r i o n C r o s s w o r d : We e k 6

Chelsie Fincher | Clarion

because you’ll want to shake its hand for how tasty it is.

Be careful because the nails aren’t manicured. The spicy, lip-tingling Piri Piri rub allows the skin to crisp up like the potato chips you had moments before. Once you have finished devouring the skin, all that’s left is the tender dark meat slowly releasing its juices. The dish is then cooled down with a creamy green goddess dressing painted below (not to soak the skin, of course) with cucumbers as a refreshing crunch.

People always say to enjoy the journey instead of only focusing on the destination, so maybe you miss your train on purpose because a journey to Ultreia is not one to be overlooked.

Haley Paez | Contributing Writer

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