Volume 29, Issue 21, Feb. 15, 2007

THE

METROPOLITAN 2.15.07 • Vol. 29 No. 21 • http://www.mscd.edu/~themet • Serving the Auraria Campus since 1979

FasTracks faces its demons Public transit system hits several speed bumps in attempt to reach commuters The Future of FasTracks part one of three

PAGE 3

SPORT

Powerless Rangers get railed as Roadrunners pull upset PAGE 19 PULLOUT SECTION

METROSPECTIVE

Keep on monster truckin’ PAGE 12

AUDIO FILES

En pointe and pirouette with Denver’s Le Ballet PAGE 14

Photo by Jenn LeBlanc • jkerriga@mscd.edu

Now that T-Rex is complete, residents north of Denver looking forward to a chance to ease their commute are finding that RTD has already said “no” to sending the light rail north. Instead it is planning to follow the current Union Pacific corridor for a commuter train that would run through residential neighborhoods, back up against houses and run a less constant schedule than the existing light-rail systems.

MetNews

THE METROPOLITAN • PAGE 3 • GEOF WOLLERMAN • GWOLLERM@MSCD.EDU

The Future of FasTracks part one of three

Stops sparse along north corridor Federal regulation, long distance needs dictate rail choice

By Geof Wollerman gwollerm@mscd.edu Recent developments with RTD’s FasTracks transit plan have shed light on how much its completion is dependent upon overextended budgets and the pitfalls of community opinion.

In December, RTD planners decided to go ahead with plans to build a commuter-rail line into the north metro corridor, rather than one of the light-rail lines that has been ubiquitous throughout the FasTracks project thus far.

Commuter-rail trains run on traditional, or heavy-rail, tracks, whereas light-rail trains run on different tracks developed for shorter commutes and lighter cars.

As it stands now, the plan calls for an 18mile stretch of heavy rail with eight stops between Union Station and 162nd Avenue. This means an average of one stop every 2.25 miles, compared with the recently completed southeast corridor that provides 13 stops over the same stretch of rail.

Despite objections some may have about this decision, there is not much that can be done. Ever since voters approved it, the FasTracks plan has been subject to change, said Kristi Estes, FasTracks’ spokeswoman for the north metro corridor project.

“I think people were under the impression that it’s all light rail, and I think that’s only because that’s what we know in Denver,” Estes said, adding that the project was always intended to utilize several technologies.

“FasTracks was carefully crafted to please as many people as possible in order to secure passage,” said Tom Clark, a UCD planning professor.

“It was the package that the voters bought.”

The decision to go with commuter rail in the north metro corridor means there will be fewer stops along the corridor because heavy-rail cars need more distance to speed up and slow down, Clark said. This is not necessarily a bad thing.

“The longer routes are probably better served by heavy rail, because typically the longer routes that are interurban – up and down the front range – would benefit from higher speeds, which can be attained only with heavy rail and fewer stops along the way,” he said.

Estes agreed about the benefit of fewer stops and pointed out that the commuter cars would feature more creature comforts such as space for laptops and cozier seats.

Part of the reason planners decided on

Photo by Tyler Walton • twalton2@mscd.edu

Existing heavy-rail tracks run through Thornton subdivisions located in the north metro corridor of FasTracks. The Regional Transportation District plans to utilize these tracks for the corridor’s newly planned commuter line, which will provide fewer stops but more amenities. commuter rail was a recent federal regulation prohibiting light rail from being built along an existing heavy-rail right of way, or the path of land that tracks follow, an option planners had previously explored. Planners did look into developing a new light-rail right of way along Washington Street, but the project’s $420 million budget could only afford land as far as 88th Avenue, an option that did not work for commuters, Estes said.

More than 2,000 Metro students live in Adams County, which the north metro corridor would primarily serve, and it is unclear how the developments within the project will affect them.

RTD had only begun looking at basic transportation patterns and not specific demographics within those patterns, Estes said.

Larry Burgess, president of the Elyria/ Swansea Business Association, attended some of RTD’s north metro corridor community meetings and said he is concerned that the commuter-rail lines won’t serve enough stops to make it convenient for riders.

“What they’re doing is putting the stops so far apart that it’s not clear that people are going to be using it,” Burgess said.

After living in Washington, D.C., where lightrail service provided stops every few blocks, he knows now that he never would have used the

service if the stops had been miles apart.

“I could get around all over the Washington, D.C., area downtown and never walk more than four or five blocks,” Burgess said. “We won’t be able to do that, in my opinion, with what we have presently.”

If RTD planners can keep expanding on the project and identifying places where other stops can be built in the future, he said the project will then be a success.

“If they stop where they are today, I’m not so sure how many people are going to ride it.

We’ll have to wait and see.”

Despite what some see as drawbacks to the project, Estes said she believes the completion of the north metro corridor will still help alleviate the traffic problems on I-25.

“Anytime you put a rail close to a busy highway, a lot of those folks are going to leave their cars at home and move over into the rails,” Estes said. “It helps not only the people who want to take a train down to Union Station or out to DIA – it also helps people who want to take their cars because there’s less people on the highway.”

Next week Find out about the worsening woes of the west corridor, rising building costs and other budgetary concerns that are slowing FasTracks down.

NORTH METRO CORRIDOR

Map courtesy FasTracks

FasTracks map depicting the route and planned stops for the north metro corridor commuter line.

THE METROPOLITAN • 2.15.07

NEWS • 5

Restaurants grapple wage increase

By Amy Woodward awoodwa5@mscd.edu Consumers are facing menu price hikes and employees are dealing with schedule cutbacks as Denver restaurants begin to adjust to Colorado’s new minimum wage.

Amendment 42 raised Colorado’s minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $6.85 an hour, and for those who make their living from tips, their hourly wage increased from $2.13 to $3.83.

In a predominantly minimum-wage area like the restaurant business, an increase in payroll can significantly decrease profit margins. Some restaurant owners said they will not take the hit but rather pass it on to the consumer.

“When the payroll is increased, the profit is less,” said Gene Tang, manager of 1515 Restaurant on Market Street. “Someone has to pay for the profit. We have to increase prices in food, and the consumer is paying for everything.”

Waiters rely heavily on tips, and an increase in their hourly wage hardly affects their paycheck but ends up hurting business. Business drops, tips drop and the benefits of the amendment remain null, Tang said.

Tang has yet to figure out how he will adjust to the minimum wage increase, or what he will do to ensure that 1515 suffers no profit loss because of the new amendment.

“It’s still early yet … we are going to try to hold out as much as we can,” he said.

Down a block from 1515, Two-Fisted Mario’s Pizza is taking a different approach to dealing with the wage increase: cutting back the hours of its employees.

According to Two-Fisted manager Mike Reilly, it’s not easy to increase the price of pizza,

so he has to cut costs elsewhere.

“If you’re scheduled for four shifts a week, probably two of those are going to be cut,” Reilly said.

Some restaurant owners are also wary of doling out raises because of future business costs that cannot be anticipated, Reilly said.

“We’re way more careful with our wages … it sucks because we can’t give raises to hard workers,” he said.

Some business owners are taking the increase in stride, but consumers are going to have to foot the bill, according to Alexandre Padilla, an assistant professor of economics at Metro. “Just because you have good intentions doesn’t mean you’ll have good results,” he said of Amendment 42.

“The basic idea is that employers will have to compensate for increasing costs of production resulting from mandatory increases of minimum wage,” Padilla said.

That compensation could have results more negative than some may have hoped.

“Ultimately, it is possible that workers end up worse off,” he said.

Padilla predicts that a good amount of minimum-wage workers could lose their jobs, and the amendment does nothing to compensate those workers.

“It does not matter what politicians’ and others’ intentions are, the fact remains that increasing minimum wage does not reduce poverty and does not help people currently employed.

Minimum wage laws tend to increase unemployment and in the best-case scenario have no impact whatsoever,” he said.

According to Padilla, it is likely that owners who increase prices to compensate for the

Photo by Jason Small • jsmall4@mscd.edu

Pete Contos, Denver restaurant owner, plans to raise menu prices at some of his restaurants to compensate for losses caused by the minimum wage hike. wage increase will lose customers. Owners will then be forced to cut their employees’ hours or let them go.

“In theory, consumers are going to consume less and not adjust,” Padilla said.

For Pete Contos, owner of the Pete’s string of restaurants on East Colfax, it’s not that the amendment is bad for business but rather that it diminishes profits.

“It hurts my bank book,” Contos said.

Since the minimum wage increase affects the profit margins of his restaurants, Contos sees only one solution: raise menu prices.

“Employees have to work eight hours a day,

five days a week. All we can do is increase (the price) for food and liquor,” he said.

He has already made menu adjustments at a few of his restaurants.

The new wages are also set to keep going up, as Amendment 42 will adjust wages annually for inflation.

Contos shrugs at this and said the government can do what they want.

“At the end of the year, business has to make up for the increase,” Contos said. “If they increase minimum wage to $10, you will be paying $20 for a hamburger.”

Catalogs to computers part three of three

Three schools, one campus and the politics of possessing the past

By Ruthanne Johnson rjohn180@mscd.edu It may seem strange that Auraria’s Archives and Special Collections Department – an oft-overlooked repository for documents and collectibles – could become a hitch in campus politics. But the Auraria Library, which houses the department, is set up with a complexity that goes beyond its endless rows of books, computer work stations and quiet study spaces.

The library procures most of its material through funds pooled from all three Auraria schools – Metro, UCD and CCD – which can complicate even simple decisions.

“Currently the budget toward library expenditures, which is changing as we speak, is decided by a formula driven by enrollment,” said the soon-to-be-retired dean of the Auraria Library, David Gleim. “If enrollment goes up, the library’s budget goes up.”

Although simple to use, the formula does not address the broader issues concerning the different goals of the three schools, such as the difference in tuition costs.

“Ten years ago it was different. We had no policy, except that the three schools contributed on kind of an ad hoc basis. They could contribute whatever they wanted, and we never knew if we could pay the library employees

or keep the lights on,” Gleim said, adding that under the shared cost formula the library has been lucky, because enrollment has been increasing every year.

But lurking behind this functioning relationship is the sticky issue of ownership of the thousands of books, computers and other library property purchased over the years with the pooled money. Auraria’s archives are wedged firmly in the middle of it all.

“We are a shared campus, a shared library with shared books and other resources of which students from each college freely use. The shared library system was originally set up as an egalitarian effort in 1976, and it works,” Gleim said, adding that when students come through the library doors they feel like it is theirs because there is nothing to overtly remind them of the other schools.

According to some library employees, however, the issue of ownership could become a problem if UCD, Metro or CCD decided at some point to move away from the Auraria Campus.

With the addition of UCD’s Health and Sciences Center – which recently opened at the old Fitzsimmons military base – UCD would be most likely to consider a move. And the issue of ownership is delicately entwined with this recent administrative merge.

“An example I remember is of a case in Flor-

ida, where on a shared campus the community and state colleges went their separate ways.

The library had to go through their property book by book, journal by journal, to divide up all the property, including technology,” Gleim said.

Auraria archivist Rosemary Evetts said a move by UCD is highly unlikely.

“But in the event that UCD ever decided to move, it would be kind of like a divorce,” Evetts said. “In that situation, the archives would not be a problem because those are each school’s records and official documents, which would be easy to identify and divide. But the special collections would take some time and effort, especially the more valued ones.”

In theory the archives belong to the Auraria Library, which falls under the UCD umbrella, said Mike Gryglewicz, a library tech and UCD English professor. And it would definitely be a problem if UCD relocated to Fitzsimmons, he said.

“We have a deed-of-gift form for donors, a legality that recently began. But most of our collections have no deed of gift formally signed. We just know where each collection came from and who donated it,” Evetts said, adding that in the case of a campus separation, archive employees would have to look at each collection and then determine where and how they got it before dividing it up appropriately.

“Lots of professors will bequeath papers to us, and the family will donate the collection to the archives to process it because we have the expertise and knowledge,” said Jennifer Goodland, a student assistant at the archives.

But if a donor does not designate to which college they want something donated, the property will fall to UCD, Evetts said.

Archive property protected under the UCD umbrella includes the highly valued Amache Japanese Relocation Center collection, some recently donated Civil War letters, the Donald Sutherland collection, and KOA’s “Colorado Reflections” audio series, among others.

“Most of what we have here falls to UCD, but there are some things that belong to Metro and a couple owned by CCD,” Evetts said.

While a move of any one of the three colleges from Auraria seems far-fetched, Evetts emphasized that anything can happen.

“Although a separation is extremely unlikely in the future – that each institution would want to take back their stuff – we never want to progress to the point of conflict,” she said.

For information about Auraria’s Archives and Special Collections Department, go to http://www.carbon. cudenver.edu/public/library/Archives/AHP1.html.

THE METROPOLITAN • PAGE 8 • MATTHEW QUANE • MQUANE@MSCD.EDU

Insight “

Love is as unproblematic as a vehicle.

The only problems are the drivers, the passengers and the road.

Tess McCarthy • tmccart9@mscd.edu

-- FRANZ KAFKA

”

EMILE HALLEZ ehallez@mscd.edu

Bio to the future

Can’t sell me love Certain holidays are known for the consumption of certain alcohols. We drink Mexican cervezas on Cinco de Mayo, champagne on New Year’s Eve, microbrews or American lagers on Independence Day, liqueurs around Christmas and nice bottles of red wine on Valentine’s Day. It’s not a requirement, but we all understand the correlation between holidays and the culture they showcase. Food and booze are some of the common ground among our various cultures.

While watching cartoons – yes, cartoons, of all things – on Feb. 7, I saw the first commercial for St. Patrick’s Day. It was a Guinness commercial, reminding consumers to purchase some Guinness beer for St. Patty’s Day celebrations. They also reminded the consumer to drink responsibly, and we all know that everybody takes that advice to heart while celebrating Irish heritage.

Shopping for hooch on St. Patty’s Day doesn’t require a major game plan. It’s not like shopping for relatives at Christmas. There is not a lot of thought involved. I usually do my St. Patty’s Day shopping on March 16, and it usually takes eight to 10 minutes of planning.

I go to the liquor store to pick up a 12-pack of Guinness and a fifth of Jameson. Done and done.

It is certainly not the kind of thing you spend five weeks planning, so why advertise such a celebrated holiday so needlessly early?

In the name of St. Patty’s Day, Guinness execs are following the example set by holiday execs for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Independence Day, Cinco de Mayo and Halloween.

JEREMY JOHNSON jjohn308@mscd.edu Companies begin advertising six to 10 and sometimes 12 weeks ahead in attempts to gain consumers’ attention for these holidays. Every time a consumer feeds into this advertising by buying a product, ad execs decide to begin advertising that much earlier the following season.

Shortly after spending more money than most of us have on Christmas gifts, Valentine’s Day ads appear, ranging from King’s Jewelers to Colorado’s famous Shane Co. With us already reeling in debt, advertisers push us to spend more. And, face it, Valentine’s Day is a Hallmark product just like Mother’s and Father’s Day. It was invented to tap into your wallet, not to express your unfailing love to your girlfriend, spouse, mom or dad. If your relationship is based on anything other than material wealth, those people should already be well aware of your undying love. In fact, here’s an idea: Call your mom once a week. That would be a better

gift to her than any set of diamond earrings.

Movies follow the same advertising schedules. Of course, movies aren’t made for Thanksgiving – go figure, a nation’s attempt at genocide kind of kills the holiday spirit. But, of course, movies are specifically advertised well ahead of time to coincide with certain holidays. Romantic comedies come out soon after the New Year, just in time for Valentine’s Day, and movies about Santa Claus come out prior to Thanksgiving Day, so that we might all have a full month or more to catch Tim Allen’s latest holiday spoof.

Sure, an advertiser’s job is to be timely. But when timeliness means a barrage of needless advertising that comes on the heels of another holiday, it has gone too far. Holidays should not consume us. Family, work, friendship and community should consume us. A holiday should be a little vacation when we have time to reflect on the rest of our lives and those involved. Instead, holidays have become a constant consumerist machine forever nagging at our wallet.

I have a solution. If everyone boycotted the first three, five or 10 advertisements they see too soon before the actual holiday, perhaps advertisers would be inclined to let the holidays go for a couple of weeks in between.

Actually, I’m thinking about a nice 12-pack of German lager and a fifth of single-malt scotch this St. Patty’s Day. I’ll feel bad watching all of those people drinking Guinness and Jameson on St. Patty’s, but I hope to make the advertisers who overestimated my brand loyalty feel even worse.

Who knows, maybe I’ll even wear yellow.

I was 4 years old when I saw Doc Brown fly his anachronistic De Lorean onto Marty’s driveway at the end of Back to the Future. While flying cars visually delight most children, I was more impressed that Brown fueled his with old beer and a banana peel.

We’ve needed a long-term remedy to fossilfuel addiction since Karl Benz’s inaugural pump of a gas pedal. On Feb. 15, the Senate will vote on a Department of Energy fiscal-2007 budget increase that could funnel funds into renewable-energy research. From there, approval lies completely with President Bush.

Though he dedicated a banal rambling in the State of the Union Address to a need for more renewable-energy solutions, I’m not convinced his heart is in the matter. If Bush gives this budget increase the thumbs-up, it won’t be anything but reactionary. But at this point, I’ll take reactionary.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a division of the DOE located in Golden, stands to benefit greatly. The laboratory’s budget could increase by at least 50 percent. It would be a welcomed boost; NREL’s fiscal-2006 budget dropped substantially from that of 2005, resulting in layoffs. Though employees were invited back after Bush personally visited the facility and secured financial assistance, not all chose to return.

“I’d say NREL could get $100 million more in fiscal 2007,” said U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, as quoted in the Rocky Mountain News.

Though it won’t use the extra funds to create jobs, NREL would pour the money into buildings and equipment for biomass and solar-energy research, media-relations manager George Douglas said.

Biomass, a term for energy derived from agricultural products, is still in its commercial infancy. While we have some access to ethanol fuel born from corn kernels and a handful of plastic products of similar origin, the greatest potential for this technology has yet to be developed. It’s NREL’s highest priority for additional funding.

The master plan is an “integrated biorefinery.” Such a facility would take in celluloseheavy agricultural waste, such as corn stalks and wood chips, and create ethanol and chemicals used to make plastics and other materials.

“What we see as the future is the ethanol that comes from inedible parts of plants,” Douglas said.

See EMILE Page 17

metrospective Truckin’

PAGE 12

.Douglas, 3, looks at King Krunch with his mother, Adrianne James, and his little sister, Anna, Feb. 11 at the Monster Jam in the Pepsi Center.

Photo by Heather A. Longway-Burke • longway@mscd.edu

Predicting the winner’s circle

By Joe Nguyen nguyejos@mscd.edu Will Marty finally bring home the gold?

Will a king and a queen end up as big winners, or will a pair of legends usurp their throne? And can some cars run over a bunch of penguins? This year’s Academy Awards is filled with great storylines for the nominees, but just as in Highlander, there can be only one. Here are my predictions for the 2007 Oscars: Best Picture Should win: Letters From Iwo Jima With Dreamgirls absent from the nominees, the slow paced yet powerful Letters is the favorite to win. Director Clint Eastwood captures the emotions of war-trodden men as they battle their enemy. What makes it unique is that it’s through the eyes of the enemy.

Will win: Letters From Iwo Jima Best Actor Should win: Forest Whitaker, The Last King of Scotland After three decades of playing a plethora of characters,

Whitaker should finally be awarded for his portrayal of Idi Amin.

Will win: Whitaker Best Actress Should win: Helen Mirren, The Queen On a recent episode of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Mirren said that she gets better with age. Her turn as Queen Elizabeth certainly confirms that notion.

Will win: Mirren Best Supporting Actor Should win: Mark Wahlberg, The Departed Marky Mark shows off his acting chops as the brash and intense Dignam in The Departed. His foul-mouth rantings are among the best moments of the film.

Will win: Eddie Murphy, Dreamgirls Many forget that Murphy can sing. Can someone say, “Party All The Time?”

Best Supporting Actress Should win: Jennifer Hudson, Dreamgirls Although she didn’t win American Idol, Hudson steals the stage in Dreamgirls. Her stellar performance stood out from the rest of the ensemble.

Will win: Hudson Best Director Should win: Clint Eastwood, Letters From Iwo Jima Eastwood and character-driven dramas go together like green eggs and ham. It’s almost unfair how masterful he is in this genre.

THE METROPOLITAN • PAGE 9 • ADAM GOLDSTEIN • GOLDSTEA@MSCD.EDU

Will win: Martin Scorsese, The Departed The academy’s finally going to give Scorsese his due this year. Marty helped himself immensely by remaking one of the greatest dramatic crime thrillers of all time, Infernal Affairs.

Best Animated Feature Should win: Cars A hotshot comes into town and learns the true meaning of friendship. It’s been done before in Doc Hollywood.

Heck, Pixar already did it with Toy Story. But it stands above the rest in this year’s weak category.

Will win: Cars

The dark horses

There’s never a clear-cut winner when it comes to the Academy Awards – just ask Brokeback Mountain. Here are some picks that may snatch the night’s big prizes.

Best Picture: Little Miss Sunshine Best Actor: Peter O’Toole, Venus Best Actress: Meryl Streep, The Devil Wears Prada Best Supporting Actor: Alan Arkin, Little Miss Sunshine Best Supporting Actress: Rinko Kikuchi, Babel Best Director: Paul Greengrass, United 93 Best Animated Feature: Happy Feet

PULLOUT SECTION

10 • METROSPECTIVE

campus eats

2.15.07 • THE METROPOLITAN

Local Cafés

Cimarron trying to fill big shoes

By Josie Klemaier jklemaie@mscd.edu Occupying what is arguably the most valuable retail space in the Tivoli, Cimarron Café and Grill made its debut in mid-January, standing in the shadow of 15-year veteran occupant the Daily Grind.

So the question stands: What kind of a place is Cimarron? Student governments and devoted patrons of the Grind alike put pressure on the Auraria Board to make sure the new occupants would be independently owned and would provide healthy food. Does Cimarron live up to the expectations?

Though Cimarron has its share of shortcomings, it surfaces as an alternative to the deepfried corporations whose smells drift from the lower floor.

The general layout of the café has stayed the same, but Cimarron offers a noticeably different atmosphere that is both comfortable and classy.

The walls are a warm, textured orange and the deco-style iron sconces and chandeliers play on the nostalgia of the antique copper distillers and high ceilings of this section of the old Tivoli Brewery. Tastefully framed photography adorns the walls of a cozy alcove lined with padded bench seats and dotted with café tables.

On the other side of the café, the atrium offers a beautiful view of Denver’s skyline, a scene that spurs both meditative studying and intriguing conversation. Wherever one sits in the large space, the lights reflecting off the gleaming casks and warm walls harness the full potential of this historical gem.

Behind the espresso bar, the coffee and espresso are worth the long morning lines, standing out as high-quality, fair-trade brews at fair prices. Their coffee menu includes original caffeinated creations offered at special prices.

With sweet-treat likenesses such as raspberry

truffle and Snickers, they exceed expectations.

Every dining experience at Auraria must face the fact that better deals can always be found off campus. This said, Cimarron lies in limbo between what is good and what is attainable during a 45-minute breakfast or lunch break.

The breakfast menu, served from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., is an exception to the otherwise pricey café menu. The fulfilling breakfast burritos and sandwiches, French toast, pancakes and omelets are fresher than those of any other food court, hut or corner store on campus. The “Cimarron skillet” is a deal at $3.75 for two eggs any style with green peppers and onions, hash browns, toast and bacon or sausage, all topped with cheddar cheese.

For lunch or dinner, patrons can chose from a simple selection of sandwiches, salads, or wraps.

The grill offers burgers, a steak sandwich, a Rueben or hot dogs. Though each dish carries the ap-

peal of fresh American food, they do not carry much oomph on the plate.

The chicken salad is good, but the bread and tortillas are thin, and the salads are tasty but merely snack-sized. All extras are a la carte, right down to the 75-cent cheese.

The biggest blunder is the vegetarian menu, which includes the over-played veggie burger and peanut butter and jelly sandwich. In a ridiculous mistake among the vegetarian options, Cimarron also lists a spinach Florentine – a spinach salad that comes with bacon and bacon dressing.

These ills are within reach of a cure. Overall, Cimarron fills the shoes of the Daily Grind as a place on campus to escape the high-paced atmosphere of the rest of Auraria.

This wing of the Tivoli should not stay a secret for much longer, especially as Cimarron gets comfortable and smoothes out the wrinkles.

Walking into the Tivoli is a lot like walking into a tornado of grease, and Pete’s Arena is the center of the vortex.

The mugginess of fats and oils fills one’s pores upon entering the pizza parlor tucked away in one of the Tivoli’s many corridors. The gaudy decor, with its vibrant shades of red and green, looks like an Italian flag exploded. Televisions hang from the ceiling playing satellite music videos disregarded by almost everyone.

The best thing about Pete’s is that it’s the only place on campus to get a beer ($3.25 per draft and $2.75 per bottle). The parlor would satisfy most connoisseurs with its large variety

The Evil Bean 1512 Larimer St.

Right in the heart of Writer Square, The Evil Bean café shares a wall and an owner with Jamaica Juice, making for a great quick-bite combo. Stop for lunch with sandwiches, salads, healthy smoothies, espresso drinks and pastries.

Price Range: $5.50 – $6.00 for a sandwich $4.75 – $5.50 for a salad $4.00 – $4.75 for a 24 oz. smoothie $1-$4.00 for coffee and espresso beverages Personal Favorite: Big Mean Green Machine with apple juice, spirulina, wheatgrass, lime and banana.

The Market 1445 Larimer St.

The Market, located along the bustling Larimer Square, offers a great selection of gourmet coffee and espresso beverages along with wine, bottled beer and tasty deli treats.

Photo by Heather A. Longway-Burke • longway@mscd.edu

Cimarron’s atrium offers good lighting and a quiet space for studying or friendly conversation.

Pete’s premium brews beat out its plain pies

By Joe Nguyen nguyejos@mscd.edu

Though Auraria’s coffeeshop scene is relatively small, nearby Larimer Street is full of places to get your caffeine fix and a tasty pastry. Here are some top picks.

of ales and lagers. Pete’s pièce de résistance is its happy hour, which begins at 5 p.m., when all bottles and cans drop to $1.75 – an inexpensive option compared to most places downtown.

As for the pizza itself, well, it looks like a pizza and it has elements of what constitutes a pizza. They have the cheese and tomato sauce and dough and toppings, and can put it in a circle and layer it properly. Unfortunately, Pete’s fails in the most important aspect of creating pizza: making it taste like a pizza. The crust is dry and the toppings are nothing more than bland objects that lend texture to the pie. It’s like eating oatmeal spread on dry French bread.

The barbecue chicken pizza ($2.69 per slice or $19.99 per pie) is a flat combination of ingredients. The chicken is flavorless, while the

barbecue sauce contains a subdued sweet taste.

Pete’s menu isn’t entirely worthless. The roasted vegetable pizza ($2.19 per slice or $16.99 for the pie) features an assortment of delectable veggie delights. Though insipid compared to other pizza parlors’ pies, it’s a burst of sweet and salty flavors in comparison to Pete’s other pizzas.

For those not craving Pete’s pizza staples, the restaurant also offers a variety of calzones ($4.59 to $5.39) and salads ($4.29 to $5.99).

Pete’s Arena is not a great, or even a decent, place to fill one’s appetite when the tummy starts a grumblin’. What it is, however, is a nice hangout to knock back a few brews with some friends after a long day of classes or down a quick pint in between.

Price Range: $1.99 – $6.25 for breakfast $6.10 – $8.50 for sandwiches $7.95 for lunch/dinner entrees $4.25 – $11.25 for salads (per pound) Personal Favorite: The Café Mocha Mint with soy milk; $2.95 for a single shot of espresso, $3.40 for a double.

Gelazzi

1411 Larimer St. Gelazzi brings the signature Italian sweet treat to Denver’s Larimer Square in a hip, colorful retro atmosphere.

Price range: $3.49 – $4.99 for gelato scoops Personal Favorite: A piccolo cup of acai berry and mango gelato

Nicole Queen • nqueen@mscd.edu

THE METROPOLITAN • 2.15.07

timeout “

METROSPECTIVE • 11

Love is a snowmobile racing across the tundra and then suddenly it flips over, pinning you underneath. At night, the ice weasels come.

Everyday Blues

Galileo Simpson

”

– MATT GROENING

Adam Goldstein • goldstea@mscd.edu

This Day in History 2.15.07 Today’s Birthdays

Astronomer Galileo Galilei – 1642 American composer Howard Arlen – 1905 Original “Joker” Cesar Romero – 1907 Maus cartoonist Art Spiegelman – 1948 Simpsons creator Matt Groening – 1954 Funnyman Chris Farley – 1964 Olympian Amy Van Dyken – 1973

On this day...

Yellow fever...

DTU

Joe Nguyen and Conor Drummond • nguyejos@mscd.edu • cdrummon@mscd.edu

1758 – Yellow mustard, that staple of the barbecue, is advertised for the first time in the U.S. by Benjamin Franklin. He was known to travel the countryside in a carriage, asking random strangers, “Excuse me, do you have any sticky yellow goo I might spread on my bread loaves?” Hundreds of years later, Grey Poupon would steal his sales strategy.

The quickest way to get to Harlem...

1941 – Duke Ellington and his orchestra record “Take the A Train,” a jazz standard that would become his signature tune and help millions of pop music fans navigate the subway.

Flags of our fathers...

1965 – Canada unveils a new design for their national flag – a red maple leaf on a red-andwhite background. The new pattern comes as a replacement to the Dudley Do-Right banner, a flag that elicited many a snicker from foreigners during hockey games.

Across 1- Tibetan oxen 5- Poles for sails 10- Beat up 14- According to the Bible, he was the first man 15- Hawaiian greeting 16- Earthen pot 17- Start of something small? 18Rod used to reinforce concrete 19- Travel from place to place 20- Begin 22- Person who tends swans 24- Burn slightly 27- Foot covering 28- Umbilicus 32- Beer choice 36- Fish eggs 37- Son of Abraham 39- Photographic tone 40- Conclusion 42- In a strange way 44- Sketched 45- Modify 47- Shallow water 49- Tavern 50- Slender graceful woman 51- Not readily handled 53- Crew needs 56- Fencing sword 57- Waver 61- Living in a city 65- Dash 66- Armed strongholds 69- Villainous character in Shakespeare’s “Othello” 70- Common abbreviation for “is not” 71- Fungal infection 72- Supplements, with “out” 73- Clarets 74- Smell 75- Hurry Down 1- Edible roots 2- Mine entrance 3- Japanese syllabic script 4- Discredit 5- Mutilate, spoil 6- Beer 7- Weeps 8- Melts 9- Mother of Isaac 10- Concerned 11- Drug-yielding plant 12- Insult 13- Solid 21- Baht spender 23- Agrees tacitly 25- Too 26- Highways, e.g. 28- Killer whales 29- Given to moods 30- Foot-operated lever 31- Hindu ascetic 33- Month of showers 34- Demon 35- Yellowish brown color 38- Doppelganger 41- Assigns 43- Yelp 46- Yonder thing 48- Stead 52- More strange 54- Floating platforms 55- Impassive 57- One who has something coming? 58- Otherwise 59- Quartz grains 60- Sea eagle 62- Capital of Azerbaijan 63- Matures 64- Snack 67- Sawbuck 68- Posed Crossword reprinted courtesy of bestcrosswords.com. Solution for puzzle can be found at http://www.bestcrosswords.com/. (Solution is under Feb. 11 puzzle.)

12 • METROSPECTIVE

2.15.07 • THE METROPOLITAN

THE METROPOLITAN • 2.15.07

METROSPECTIVE • 13

Monster mash

Photo by Heather A. Longway-Burke • longway@mscd.edu

Monster Jam brings big wheels, big stunts to eager Denver crowd at Pepsi Center

Photo by Heather A. Longway-Burke • longway@mscd.edu

Top left: A mechanical dragon breathes fire to the delight of Monster Jam fans Feb. 11 at the Pepsi Center. The Dragon eventually moved two junk cars into place for the freestyle monster truck finale.

Above: Linsey Weenk and his truck, Iron Outlaw, jump to a photo-finish victory over Jimmy Creten and Bounty Hunter in the Monster Jam finals race. Though Iron Outlaw won the race event, Bounty Hunter took the checkered flag in the Monster Jam time trials earlier in the afternoon.

Bottom right: Driver David Smith and his truck, King Krunch, catch some serious air during the opening wheelie competition at the Monster Jam. The judge’s panel gave King Krunch 23 points, but it was not enough to overcome the perennial Grave Digger, who scored 27 points.

By Jeremy Johnson • jjohn308@mscd.edu Judging from the large number of 6-year-olds at the most recent Monster Jam Feb. 10 and 11 at the Pepsi Center, one might think of monster trucks as nothing more than a kid’s Hot Wheels come to life. But be assured, these are no children’s toys.

Six monster trucks and their drivers were on display Feb. 11 in a pre-show pit party full of loud classic rock, children screaming in delight and delirium, flash bulbs galore and pure awe.

These massive trucks have tires 66” in diameter and can weigh anywhere from 9,000 to 13,000 pounds.

The engines that power these trucks range from 1,500 to 2,000 horsepower.

“When you look in a kid’s toy box, that’s what you’re going to find,” said Bounty Hunter driver Jimmy Creten, who celebrated his 41st birthday the opening day of the Jam. “The kids just love big machines, and they’re in such awe when they see them up close like this.”

Creten was right, kind of. Everywhere kids perched and posed on top of the giant tires, while moms and dads pointed and took photo after photo. It was hard to tell who was having a better time.

Soon, the floor cleared and the fans took their seats. Before the mayhem began, the drivers and the crowd took a moment for a patriotic salute.

A standing ovation was given to all of the police, paramedics and firefighters in the audience, as well as all military personnel and their families. “Let’s thank these people for our freedom to do what we want to do,” the announcer said. Considering the drastically excessive nature of the event that was about to take place, I couldn’t help but wonder if we, as a nation, sometimes confuse freedom with consumerism.

All my ecological and political guilt began to fade the second the lights went down, the rock and roll came up and the roaring trucks took the center stage.

“A packed house on a Sunday afternoon – is there any better place to be?” the announcer asked the nearly sold-out crowd.

There were four main events scheduled, including a newly added arena event, the monster truck time trials. But any fan knows that monster jams have to start with some air time. That’s where the wheelie competition comes along.

The wheelie competition is spectacular, with the trucks attempting to achieve full and vertical air. The possibility of a truck flipping backward adds to the thrill. Unfortunately, nobody flipped over, and the panel of three judges gave the win to fan-favorite Grave Digger, with 27 points.

“Sometimes when you’re sitting in the hallway waiting to go out there, you get a little scared, a little nervous,” Grave Digger driver Charlie Paukin said. “But once you get out there, it’s all business.” Paukin, 40, has been in the monster truck business for nearly 20 years.

“If you’re scared when you start driving, then you’re going to make a mistake,” added the 26-year-old driver of El Matador, Daron Basl. “You don’t want to make mistakes in a truck like that.”

For Paukin and the 25-year-old Grave Digger, it was business as usual during the two-day Jam. The pair took five of eight events in Denver, including full sweeps in the wheelie competition and the final freestyle competition.

The drivers are very competitive with each other but are even more concerned with putting on a good show for the audience, while honing their skills for the upcoming Monster Jam World Finals March 24 in Las Vegas.

“People come from all over the world to see the World Finals,” said Iron Outlaw’s Linsey Weenk, 27. Weenk was named the most improved driver of 2006 and is currently making a name for himself in his eighth monster season. “(The finals are) a great opportunity to get together with other drivers and show off your stuff.”

In between the four main events are four-wheeler races and radio-controlled-car racing and ramp-jumping.

But no monster truck rally would be complete without some kind of car-crunching beast of yore.

A suspiciously slow fire-breathing dragon made its obligatory halftime appearance. The announcer told a rather long-winded backstory concerning the dragon’s history, but nobody listened. Instead they “oohed” and “aahed” as the crane in dragon’s clothing spit fire, and they clapped and cheered tremendously when the dragon clenched onto a junk car and spun it around like a prize. This, apparently, was where old cars go to die.

In a role reversal a few seats away, a father pointed wide-eyed at the dragon, elbowing his son and gesturing wildly. The son sat and took it all in. It was like pops had never seen a car-crunching, fire-breathing mechanical dragon before.

The dragon disappeared as “Sweet Home Alabama” blared from above. Apparently the dragon was a southern boy.

The Jam ended with the freestyle competition, the culmination of the monster truck competition. It is a favorite among fans, since it gives license to the drivers to prove whose is the biggest, baddest truck out there, even as the frantic pace of the competition adds an extra vulnerability to drivers and trucks. In other words, there’s a good chance someone will spill.

The competition started slowly, but came around strong when Hot Wheels, King Krunch and Grave Digger tore up the floor down the stretch.

Grave Digger is a favorite for a reason and took the competition hands-down with an array of big-time jumps and dust-kicking doughnuts. For the second time in as many days, Paukin scored a perfect round and left the event the King of the Monsters.

The drivers stayed after the show, signing autographs for little fans with big, monster dreams.

“We’re here until the last fan leaves,” Weenk said. “We’re just happy to be in Denver, putting on a great show.”

Photo by Jason Small • jsmall4@mscd.edu

THE METROPOLITAN • PAGE 14 • MEGAN CARNEAL • MCARNEAL@MSCD.EDU

audiofiles

Upcoming shows Hemi Cuda Feb. 16 Bender’s Tavern 314 E. 13th Ave. 9 p.m. $10, 21+ Girls who like muscle cars are hot. Girls who can fight in stilettos are even hotter. And girls who can play punk rock like they’ve got a pair down below are the hottest. Local vixens Hemi Cuda will be celebrating their latest CD release, Classics for Lovers. And just in case Cupid was unavailable this year, these girls are a reminder of why one-night stands are so much more fulfilling.

Megan Carneal • mcarneal@mscd.edu

Photo by Marcie Buckner, courtesy of Le Ballet

Five of the most unlikely ballerinas ever. Le Ballet, from left, Tristan Johnson, Jacob Bond, Zack Bond, Chris Moser and Miles Johnson.

Denver’s dance revolution

By Cassie Hood hoodc@mscd.edu Music is a drug.

At least for Le Ballet it is. Without music they would be hyperactive, bouncy young men who couldn’t concentrate on much for long.

“One time I took Ritalin, and I thought it would make me all calm and I would be able to do my homework,” bassist Tristan Johnson said jokingly. “But it didn’t. Instead I just played video games for a really long time. So you see, that stuff doesn’t work.”

Singer and synth player Jacob Bond laughed along and then with all seriousness said, “Writing music is like our medication. We’re so ADD off music. So when we get together, that is the only time we can concentrate.”

Seeing them sitting around the table fidgeting and laughing, it’s hard to believe that even music could calm them down.

With such electricity flowing through them, it’s not surprising they play such rousing, highenergy music.

As friends since high school, the guys have grown and matured with each other. They formed because they wanted to compete in their school’s Battle of the Bands. According to Tristan Johnson, they sounded like acoustic baby-making music. After the competition, which they said was horrible, the spark was lit.

While he beat his hands on the table in front of him, keyboard player Miles Johnson said that he likes to think of the band as a “bat-chu-cat-

chu” band because that was the first drum beat they used, and to this day, they still use it, but their talent has progressed past that sophomoric rhythm.

Eventually they became entranced by the synthetic techno new wave movement, inspired by bands like The Faint and Depeche Mode.

They named themselves Analogue. At the time, they thought it was a clever name, but they soon realized that they didn’t use analog synthesizers, and so the name didn’t fit.

“It kind of rolls off the tongue and into your heart,” synth player Chris Moser said about the name they finally decided on, Le Ballet. “It has a dance reference, but it doesn’t tie us down to any specific genre.”

Surprisingly enough, the boys don’t just listen to electro-pop bands. Their other influences include Guster, Moving Units, The Police and the Bee Gees. “I like anything that makes me move my feet,” Tristan Johnson said.

Their diverse and atypical taste in music filters into their performance. They’re an oddity in Colorado for many reasons. People first snicker at them when they mention that they don’t have a guitar. “Anything we would need a guitar player for, we can do on the synths or the keyboards,” Miles Johnson explained.

They have a real drummer, Zak Bond, and a bass player to free up the synthesizers to make other noises freely. With three synthesizers and a keyboard, they have unlimited possibilities.

Another reason that they haven’t completely taken off in the Colorado music scene is the

genre they chose. “The scene is rough,” Tristan Johnson said. “There is a prevalent hardcore scene.”

But according to Jacob Bond, it is fun to rival that scene. A few bands, such as The Ax that Chopped the Cherry Tree, have paved the way to bringing the new wave scene back to Denver.

“I think it is really going to take off here,” Tristan Johnson said. “The Denver fans are really receptive. I think they’re just waiting for something new to come along, and we are just that.”

Tristan Johnson is perceptive. The live electro-pop movement has blown up in cities such as Los Angeles and New York, and it is gaining momentum in Colorado. People are looking for something to dance to, and they need look no further than Le Ballet.

For more information on Le Ballet check out http://myspace. com/leballet

Dir En Grey Feb. 16 Gothic Theatre 3263 S. Broadway Doors 6:30 p.m. $25 in advance, $29 day of show, all ages With their dark, treacherous sound filled with sorrow, heartache and disappointment, Dir En Grey trots around the world looking pretty but sounding dismal. When they formed in 1997, they had one goal: take Japan by any means necessary. They achieved that goal and now are aiming for the world.

Cassie Hood • hoodc@mscd.edu

The Roots Feb. 17 Fillmore Auditorium 1510 Clarkson St. 9 p.m. $30, 16+ Spreading like a virus through the hiphop community, The Roots have infected audiences with their uncommon mix of rock and roll-laced raps and beats. The underground group from Philadelphia has demonstrated a contagious flow throughout their career, and their latest album, Game Theory, is just as addictive as their previous works. With live instruments and brilliant vocals from Black Thought, The Roots will open fans’ ears to a hip-hop sound no one ever thought possible.

Shannon Yoshida • syoshida@mscd.edu

THE METROPOLITAN • 2.15.07

AUDIO FILES • 15

The mothership has returned

By Michael Hargrave mhargra1@mscd.edu With album names such as Hey Man … Smell My Finger, How Late Do U Have 2BB4UR Absent and Testing Positive, one need not be a genius to ascertain that George Clinton is one funked-up motherfunker.

Born in North Carolina – although he now claims Sirius as his star of origin – Clinton started his career straightening hair in a barbershop.

Before claiming the title “King of Interplanetary Funk,” he wrote songs for Motown while earning a bachelor’s in mathematics. With the combination of mathematical precision, cosmetic profession and musical experience, Clinton was ready to blast off into interstellar melodic mastery.

Photo courtesy of georgeclinton.com

freeplay

George Clinton and the amazing technicolor dreadlocks.

Clinton is prolific, having produced and released more than 50 singles, EPs and full-length albums under several different band names and as solo projects. “His Funkness” even had a cameo as a secret character in the hit video game NBA Jam. Clinton also provided the inspiration for Snoop Dog’s “Who Am I (What’s My Name)?” with his hit “Atomic Dog.” However, most of the white, middle-school-through-30-year-old male demographic didn’t even notice the sample. They didn’t pay homage to Clinton, and continued their gang-bangin’ hard-knock lives ignorant of a funk classic.

But now they have their chance to redeem themselves in an upcoming spectacle of sexual innuendo laced with hip-hop beats and extraterrestrial guitar solos.

Often attired in psychedelic garments, Clinton sways his multicolored locks of hair as he instigates all-night jam sessions featuring an often large ensemble of funkably-apt spacemen and women – up to 22 singers, musicians and dancers at a time. All are notorious for performing well past their designated set time.

Lasers, the occasional spaceship and a variety of mind-altering aesthetics are to be expected at P-Funk Allstars shows. Their use of extracurricular props, tricks and direct interaction with the audience challenges everything the DARE program ever proclaimed to be true about recreational drug use.

When Clinton sings, “Everybody would wish I would die so they can write my life story,” it’s proof of paranoid schizophrenia from any psychology text. Perhaps such musings are a direct result of drug abuse.

Whatever the source of his wacky lyrics, the music speaks for itself, and it is confident as well as defiant of mainstream R&B’s protocol for composition and production. Clinton is not afraid to use odd samples, incoherent poetry and heavy-metal guitar rhythms and solos on top of his grooves.

Clinton’s musical endeavors are in a state of constant flux. So is the nature of his fans. P-Funk shows attract a diversity of funk enthusiasts including techno weirdos, obligatory hippies, veteran funksters and seventh-grade art teachers.

They will all be there dancing every way imaginable for the sole purpose of bringing this “One Nation Under a Groove.”

Bedroom Eyes Embrace in Stereo EP

By Christopher Gilmore cgilmo10@mscd.edu Bedroom Eyes rubs the sleep out of the baby blues of Swedish pop music and prepares the world to forget all previous notions about music from the land with the blue and gold flag.

The pantheon of Swedish pop music usually begins with ABBA, then dances its way through the A*Teens. Bedroom Eyes breaks away from the traditional happy-go-lucky dance music and establishes their credibility with playful indie pop.

Jonas Jonsson is the band’s leader and is backed by a group of mercenary Swedish musicians who flesh out the band with all the fun sounds of handclaps, cellos, ukuleles and French horns. These instruments join with the staple instruments of rock, allowing Bedroom Eyes to explore the

George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic will play at 8 p.m., Feb. 24 at the Ogden Theatre, 935 E. Colfax Ave. Tickets are $25. 16+

possibilities of pop while being grounded in the fundamental elements of the genre.

The band’s motto is “to the topmost of the popmost.”

While some bands may think of pop as a four-letter word, Bedroom Eyes embraces its uplifting elements. The band looks their national pop heritage in the eye and salutes it.

The aptly-named song “Dancing Under Influence” is a DUI everyone will want. The song blends ukulele and melody to create a story of starry-eyed young love. The simple chorus of “ahs” matches the casual freedom and the innocence of being young and in love. The combination of nontraditional instruments, sincere lyrics and a minimal chorus makes it hard to resist dancing under the influence of this track.

Bedroom Eyes aren’t likely to have their songs adapted to a major Broadway musical, but the mellow narrative tale “The Skywriter” could be the perfect inspiration if they did.

The song begins as a story of a failed lover hiring a skywriter to share his message of love. The narrative then follows the depressed skywriter, who repeatedly plasters the skies with messages of love while suffering from loneliness himself. The story ends with a jarring medley of solos that contrast with the overall tenderness of the song.

Featuring just four songs, Embrace in Stereo showcases the band’s knack for sophisticated, memorable lyrics to complement their enthusiastic arrangements. The songs fly by with glimpses of supporting female vocals and Swedish accents. It’s hard to imagine a band with this much mass appeal will stay unsigned for long.

Upcoming shows Mad Caddies Feb. 21 Ogden Theatre 935 E. Colfax Ave. Doors 7 p.m., show 8 $20, 16+ Most ska bands from the ’90s retire into the comfortable estates of reggae or emo.

Mad Caddies took the lesser of two evils, and their aging fans are just fine with that. Sharing the stage with Pepper, Mad Caddies will bring forth the hits of Fat Wreck Chords compilations and their newfound love for Jah’s music.

Michael Hargrave • mhargra1@mscd.edu

Constellations Feb. 23 Bluebird Theater 3317 E. Colfax Ave. 9 p.m. $8, 21+ With the skies of contemporary music polluted with childishly drawn five-line stars, the rock gods have blessed the dark with the glaring, life-changing sounds of the Constellations. This experimental electro-pop band is the thousand-foot-tall guitar illuminating the night skies of the local music scene.

Chris Gilmore • cgilmo10@mscd.edu

Download Bedroom Eyes’ Embrace In Stereo EP at http://www.bedroomeyes.se/

$ x Every week, Freeplay will cover the best free albums and EPs to be found on the World Wide Web

THE METROPOLITAN • 2.15.07

EMILE • Alternative fuel is more than bananas Continued from 8 Though ethanol made from the edible portions of plants is currently available, its production costs about $2.50 per gallon, Douglas said.

“You couldn’t sell it because gasoline is much cheaper. … You can still buy gasoline as cheap as bottled water.” One goal of the integrated biorefinery includes making cellulose-derived ethanol production thriftier.

“We have done a study that says that if we put our minds to it – and our money to it – we could replace a third of the nation’s gasoline by 2030 with biofuel,” Douglas said.

If this seems far away, that’s because it is.

Biofuels are a promising prospect whose implementation we can’t afford to delay. Write your members of Congress, the president or Paul Reubens. If this matters to you in the least, let them know about it. Let them know you enjoy the last five minutes of Back to the Future as much as I do.

SINCE 1979 EDITOR IN CHIEF Cory Casciato • casciato@mscd.edu MANAGING EDITOR David Pollan • dpollan@mscd.edu NEWS EDITOR Geof Wollerman • gwollerm@mscd.edu ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR Lou Christopher • achris25@mscd.edu OPINIONS EDITOR Matthew Quane • mquane@mscd.edu ASSISTANT OPINIONS EDITORS Andrew Flohr-Spence • spencand@mscd.edu Emile Hallez • ehallez@mscd.edu FEATURES EDITOR Adam Goldstein •goldstea@mscd.edu ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR Josie Klemaier • jklemaie@mscd.edu MUSIC EDITOR Megan Carneal • mcarneal@mscd.edu SPORTS EDITOR Eric Lansing • lansing@mscd.edu PHOTO EDITOR Jenn LeBlanc • jkerriga@mscd.edu ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Amie Cribley • acribley@mscd.edu DESIGN EDITOR Joe Nguyen • nguyejos@mscd.edu ILLUSTRATOR Andrew Howerton • ahowert2@mscd.edu COPY EDITORS Jeremy Johnson • jjohn308@mscd.edu Taylor Sullivan • tsulli21@mscd.edu Joel Tagert • tagert@mscd.edu Clayton Woullard • cwoullar@mscd.edu ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MEDIA Donnita Wong ADVISER Jane Hoback

The Metropolitan is produced by and for the students of Metropolitan State College of Denver and serves the Auraria Campus. The Metropolitan is supported by advertising revenue and student fees, and is published every Thursday during the academic year and bi-weekly during the Summer semester. The Metropolitan is distributed to all campus buildings.

No person may take more than one copy of each edition of The Metropolitan without prior written permission.

Please direct any questions, comments, complaints or compliments to Metro Board of Publications c/o The Metropolitan. Opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of Metropolitan State College of Denver or its advertisers. Deadline for calendar items is 5 p.m. Thursday. Deadline for press releases is 10 a.m. Monday. Display advertising deadline is 3 p.m.

Thursday. Classified advertising is 5 p.m. Thursday.

Our offices are located in the Tivoli Student Union, Room 313. Mailing address is P.O. Box 173362, Campus Box 57, Denver, CO 80217-3362.

INSIGHT • 17

Keep loving, keep fighting It turns out that I have a reputation for being a killjoy when it comes to holidays. While I would argue that brutal history and corporate culture put the ax on most celebrations long before I came around, I would like to attempt to redeem my image. After all, I was born on a pseudo-holiday that has some potential.

I am talking about St. Valentine’s Day – the day that ceases to have any charm past fifth grade.

Believe me, I have better luck bathing my cats than I do getting my friends to feel good on my birthday.

Between Hallmark and heartbreak, V-Day has a lot of nasty baggage following it around.

However, in these times, love could do this world some good. My generation is known for its passion toward iPods and its participation in some of the most tragic international invasions since Columbus hit the Americas. The love of two consenting adults has to be debated on the Senate floor if it involves homosexuals, yet celebrity marriages earn the blessings of millions. Partner abuse is an epidemic in this country. Meanwhile, I hear more people speak about their love for cars and computers more than for any person or meaningful principle of existence.

ZOË WILLIAMS williamz@mscd.edu I am not advocating for more lace doilies or contrived hippie good vibes. In the words of Che Guevara, “At the risk of sounding ridiculous, a true revolutionary is guided by great feelings of love.” I feel a bit ridiculous writing a column calling for love, but I think it is needed.

Love – for a friend, relative or partner – gives us something for which to live. When we have a lot to live for, we are not likely to risk losing it.

This means we probably are not willing to support wars that will take our beloved from us and

risk our safety unless they are for something more than greed and conquest.

But love goes beyond that. Love gives us a reason to fight.

Right before Christmas, one of my best friends hopped on a plane to Palestine to volunteer as a human-rights worker and journalist.

My friend has the skills to do anything he wants.

Naturally, he headed off to a place where, as he described in his blog, “fear rips through from the center, flies outward and away without pausing to reconcile, leaves you breathless and faint.”

Hundreds of activists are doing this same work every day and not for fame or profit. They have a passion for justice, a strong sense of compassion and the love of a cause.

Sure, Valentine’s Day sucks for most folks, but the emotions it symbolizes are no joke. Love, both for a cause and for each other, must play an integral role in this world if we are to make changes. There’s an anarchist standby that says, “The heart is a muscle the size of a fist: Keep loving, keep fighting.” So there you have it. May your Valentine’s week and beyond be filled with love and rebellion.

InResponse: Letters to the Editor The truth is out there ... and it’s on Fox Oh my god, did Zoë actually admit to watching Democracy Now!?

Maybe that explains some of her skewed views. Democracy Now! is an extremist news program that claims to present the truth. They make this claim even though they lie in their own advertisement, claiming to represent the “silenced majority” when they actually represent the minority view. These extremists, unhappy with the marginal bias of the three major networks, decided to establish a news program more fitting to their views.

While the world was watching the fight between Hezbollah and Israel, Democracy Now! showed their anti-Semitism by proudly showing the setup shots that reporters helped Hezbollah make. While searching for something to watch, I stopped on their program to see the images of bombed-out buildings. There in the picture with rubble and debris scattered everywhere was a pristine child’s toy.

Wait, that can’t be right?

A search of the Web quickly showed that this wasn’t an isolated incident. Pictures had been modified, duplicating clouds to make the destruction seem more extensive. An Israeli jet launching a flare to protect against heat-seeking missiles had its flare multiplied and identified as missiles. In the fallout, Reuters was forced to fire its Lebanon correspondent.

Hezbollah started the war with Israel by committing an act of war trying to further its mandate, which is to destroy Israel. With the aid of the press and doctored photos, Hezbollah played on the sympathies of Americans, playing us for fools. As a result of complacency of the American press, millions were fooled.

Only bloggers refused to be fooled. They analyzed the pictures, saw the fraud and put it out for everyone to see.

Did the Israelis bomb civilian areas? Yes, of course they did. They had no choice. That is where Hezbollah positioned the rocket launchers.

These people have no problem using civilians as human shields, much like Saddam Hussein tried to use American volunteers to shield his military installations, even though they had volunteered to protect hospitals and schools.

So Zoë, I ask, as a 14-year veteran of the military, that you take time to get a more balanced view of the world before making political or military commentary. Perhaps you can balance your watching of Democracy Now! by giving equal time to the Fox News Network. Winstron Churchill is quoted as saying, “If you are not a liberal in your youth, then you have no heart.” I know from reading many of your columns that you have a big heart. All I ask is that the heart not get in the way of reason.

Paul Confer pconfer@mscd.edu

Truck you, buddy Matthew Quane’s article “Fordasaurus Wrecks” is not an unbiased view of Ford’s current situation by any stretch of the imagination.

I was truly offended by your column. Not by its falsehoods, but by your lack of evidence and obvious lack of research on the subject. Don’t assume that everyone thinks you know what you’re talking about. I sure don’t.

Americans will always need trucks. But when gas prices go up, Americans decide they don’t really need a new truck right now. If gas prices level out at a steady price for an extended period of time, no matter how high that price may be, the amount of trucks being purchased will continue. The truck market may slow down as some consumers realize they can get by with less truck. But there will always be a market for trucks.

You state that the F-350 is “terrifying, gas-guzzling, (and) redneckowned.”

Terrifying? That’s your call.

Gas-guzzling? It’s not designed to be a fuel sipper as you portray all vehicles should be. It’s designed for utility, and that’s what it accomplishes.

If you want to talk fuel economy, at least even the playing field.

Compare Ford’s 1-ton truck’s fuel efficiency when fully loaded to that of the most fuel-efficient sedan fully loaded. Then, factor in how many trips the sedan will need to take to move the same amount of mass as the 1-ton truck can. You will see how fuel-efficient trucks really are.

“When did trucks become equivalent to opulence?” Good question.

Here’s when: in the mid-1980s, when it became “cool” to modify your truck to look or perform better.

Here’s a more reasonable question: When did automobiles become equivalent to opulence? Answer: around 1905, when the Model A and Model T became signs of wealth. Why do people drive Audis, which are the same mechanically as Volkswagens, when they cost more and look nicer? It’s a sign of opulence.

You strike me as a tree-hugger who only wants the world to pollute less. That’s nice, but it doesn’t work that way. You show me a Japanesemade truck that is more fuel-efficient than an American made truck of equal capacities, and I’ll buy it. You seem to see the Japanese market as a “the early bird gets the worm” type of investment. I see that, for a while, that may work on sedan sales, but that eventually, trucks will still need to be purchased for the blue-collared redneck who has to haul goods for one reason or another. Ford will come back with rising truck sales once fuel prices level out. It is inevitable. I’ll say it as “the second mouse gets the cheese.”

Saul Reisman Gum2crew@aol.com

THE METROPOLITAN • PAGE 19 • ERIC LANSING • LANSING@MSCD.EDU

Sport

DID YOU KNOW...

The baseball team started the 2006 season 0-7 before finally winning their first game 11-10 March 4 against St. Cloud State at Auraria Field. Metro lost their first two games this season but avoided another debilitating losing streak to open the season by taking an 8-7 victory against Nebraska-Kearney Feb. 11.

‘Runners’ sweet revenge on Regis Metro fights back from 9 down to close gap in standings

By Heather Embrey hembrey@mscd.edu

Photo by Andrew Bisset • abisset1@mscd.edu

Metro guard Ashley Mickens pulls up for a 15-foot jumper against Regis Feb. 10 at the Auraria Events Center. Mickens scored a career-high 21 points and added eight rebounds and four assists in the upset win over the No. 19-ranked Rangers. The Roadrunners finished with a 13-2 record on their home court.

The women’s basketball team made a statement with a sweep over conference foes UCColorado Springs and Regis University on Feb. 9 and 10.

Their message? “We are not dead yet.”

The Roadrunners’ Anne-Marie Torp delivered 15 of the 52 first-half points scored by Metro in a win over UC-Colorado Springs, 85-30, Feb. 9 at the Auraria Events Center.

Cassondra Bratton followed close behind Torp by scoring 14 points to give the Roadrunners the win they needed to prove they still had plenty of gas left in the tank, after losing two games in the past two weeks.

In the first two minutes of the game, Metro managed to score seven straight points and then doubled their lead to 18-4, forcing the Rangers to take a timeout.

Metro kept the Mountain Lions’ offense in check by pressing full court for the first half of the game. Because of their conditioning, they were able to keep the lead early on.

“There’s no secret to our style,” head coach Dave Murphy said. “We try to put at least 40 feet of pressure early in order to keep the turnover rate high. Teams know our strategy. They just don’t come prepared for it.”

Metro found the 3-point range late in the first half with consecutive threes by Torp, Stephanie Sauter, Rianna Harris and Paige Powers.

They ended the first with a 26-point lead over UC-Colorado Springs.

Torp attributed her good game to a great warm-up. She had more energy Friday night and knew she and the ’Runners had to get out on the court and get on it.

Metro was more alive than ever when they took on 19th-ranked Regis the following night with an exciting 76-67 upset win.

Ashley Mickens took the game on her shoulders by scoring 21 points in the game. Powers, who struggled all year to find her groove coming off shoulder surgery, scored a season-high 19 points, while Harris followed up with 10 points of her own and nine rebounds.

Regis led the game until Torp tied it up at 30 in the second half, when Powers grabbed an offensive board and gave Torp an assist for a layup. Metro forced a turnover with seven minutes left in the game when they used it to capture the lead that they never relinquished.

“This time of year, it’s not about the points,

See WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Page 20 Feb. 9 at Auraria Events Center UC-Colorado Springs Metro

Total 26 52

24 33

50 85

Leading Scorers:

M: Torp 19, Bratton 14 CS: Tripp 14, Fiedelman 8 Leading Rebounders: M: Denee 7, Bean 6 CS: Jenkins 8, Tripp 5

Feb. 10 at Auraria Events Center Regis Metro

Total 26 23

41 53

67 76

Leading Scorers:

M: Mickens 21, Powers 19 R: Di. Lopez 18, De. Lopez 15 Leading Rebounders: M: Bratton 10, Harris 9 R: De. Lopez 7, Di. Lopez 6

Metro finishes perfect at home in easy conference wins Roadrunners reach 14 straight victories as seniors honored

By Nick Tacinas tacinas@mscd.edu The Roadrunners men’s basketball team (212, 15-1 RMAC), ranked fourth in the national Division II coaches’ poll, outpaced their opponents 169-128 in the final two home games at the Auraria Events Center. The ’Runners finished with

an unblemished record (16-0) at home and have reeled off 14 straight wins.

On Feb. 9, the Roadrunners beat up on the UC-Colorado Springs 83-67, the second victory against the Lions in two weeks. The ’Runners were fast out of the gate, starting the game with a 21-3 run led by guard Marquise Carrington’s career-high 27 points.

“They were focusing on Mike (Bahl), so it leaves open opportunities for us,” Carrington said. “So it’s all about them trying to stop Mike.”

Metro guard Joe Ciancio also had a careerhigh 12 points, and Bahl added 11 points, nine rebounds and five assists.

Carrington said it was not quite an A-game performance, but it was close, and better than the 87-82 victory they snuck away with at UCColorado Springs on Jan. 27.

This time around the Lions were rattled by the Roadrunners’ pressure defense.

“We played our man-zone defense, but we did a better job of matching up this time,” Bahl said.

The Roadrunners forced 28 turnovers but committed 21.

“If we want to go where we want to go, we have to get the other team by at least 12 turnovers,” Bahl said. “We tried to stop the middle — the middle pass on the press — for the most

part. We did a good job, but they got loose a couple times.”

The ’Runners did a good job of containing guard Patrick Hannaway, the Lions’ best player, to 20 points, five assists and six rebounds. Hannaway left with an ankle injury with 11:45 remaining in the second half.

“The Springs is a good team,” Metro head coach Brannon Hays said. “They have a lot of firepower and they kept surging, and our de fense kept making the stops when we needed the stops. To pressure the ball and see if we

See MEN’S BASKETBALL Page 21

20 • SPORT

2.15.07 • THE METROPOLITAN

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL • Powers scores 19 points Continued from 19

SCHEDULE Men’s Basketball Chadron State

it’s about the passion,” Murphy said. “We have to come together this time of year and show teams that we are here. Winning always gives us more confidence.”

Murphy explained that they had prepared for Regis with a simple strategy: rebound defensively and execute offensively.

It was also senior night for Rianna Harris, who played her last regular-season game at the Auraria Events Center. In school history, Harris ranks fourth in career points (1073), third in blocked shots (74), fifth in steals (155) and third in rebounding (696).

“When this young lady came in as a freshman, we knew she was talented,” Murphy said.

“We knew she had a lot of potential, but through the years she had some injuries and some confidence issues. But this kid has persevered. This kid is going to be a success … and I believe we haven’t seen the last of Rianna.”

Harris, who has won two Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Player of the Week awards in her career at Metro, was humbled about the flowers and plaque, but her focus was still on the game.

“It was definitely motivation to come out and play hard,” Harris said about being honored by her teammates and coaches. “I’ve been here for four years, and it was a great senior night.”

With the two RMAC wins, Metro’s record improves to 18-5 and 11-4 in the conference.

They face off next at Chadron State Feb. 15 and at Nebraska-Kearney Feb. 17.

8 p.m., Feb. 15 Chadron, Neb.

Nebraska-Kearney 8 p.m., Feb. 17 Kearney, Neb.

Colorado Christian 8 p.m., Feb. 20 Lakewood

Colorado School of Mines 8 p.m., Feb. 24 Golden

RMAC Tournament TBA, Feb. 28 No. 1 seed’s home court

Women’s Basketball Chadron State 6 p.m., Feb. 15 Chadron, Neb.

Nebraska-Kearney 6 p.m., Feb. 17 Kearney, Neb.

Colorado Christian 6 p.m., Feb. 20 Lakewood

Colorado School of Mines 6 p.m., Feb. 24 Golden

RMAC Tournament TBA, Feb. 28 No. 1 seed’s home court

invite you and a guest to a special advance screening of

Wednesday, February 21 at 7 PM

PLEASE Stop By:

900 AURARIA PKWY. DENVER

TODAY to pick up a complimentary WARNER BROS. PICTURES PRESENTS pass for two A SPRING CREEK PICTURES PRODUCTION A POLISH BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTION BILLY BOB THORNTON “THE ASTRONAUT FARMER” FILM VIRGINIA MADSEN BRUCE DERN TIM BLAKE NELSON MUSICBY STUART MATTHEWMAN EDITOR JAMES HAYGOOD, A.C.E. to see the film!

PRODUCTION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DESIGNER CLARK HUNTER PHOTOGRAPHY M. DAVID MULLEN, A.S.C. PRODUCER J. GEYER KOSINSKI PRODUCED WRITTEN

BY MARK POLISH & MICHAEL POLISH

BY MARK POLISH PAULA WEINSTEIN LEN AMATO MICHAEL POLISH (One pass per person.

DIRECTED

BY MICHAEL POLISH While limited supplies last. ) www.theastronautfarmermovie.com

THIS FILM IS RATED PG. PARENTAL GUIDANCE SUGGESTED. Some Material May Not Be Suitable For Children.

Passes are limited and will be distributed on a first come, first served basis while supplies last. No phone calls, please. Limit one pass per person. Each pass admits two. Seating is not guaranteed. Arrive early. Theatre is not responsible for overbooking. This screening will be monitored for unauthorized recording. By attending, you agree not to bring any audio or video recording device into the theatre (audio recording devices for credentialed press excepted) and consent to a physical search of your belongings and person. Any attempted use of recording devices will result in immediate removal from the theatre, forfeiture, and may subject you to criminal and civil liability. Please allow additional time for heightened security. You can assist us by leaving all nonessential bags at home or in your vehicle.

IN THEATRES FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23!

3 inducted to hall Metro celebrates new members with plaques, halftime ceremony

By Eric Lansing lansing@mscd.edu Metro inducted three new members and a team into the Metro State Hall of Fame Feb. 10 at the Auraria Events Center.

Former women’s volleyball player Marina Bazana, former men’s basketball player DeMarcos Anzures, former assistant athletic director Greg Smith and the 1987 baseball team were honored at a ceremony at the center, and were later recognized at halftime during the women’s game against Regis.

“Back in the ’80s, so many people didn’t even know that we had athletics,” Metro athletic director Joan McDermott said. “The baseball team and Greg Smith were the ones who put Metro on the map. They were the ones who really started the foundation.”

Smith was not only the assistant athletic director from the mid-1980s until 1994, but he also served as the sports information director.

Smith began the hall of fame in 1994 and started the record-keeping process for Metro athletics. During his speech, he reflected on how they started record keeping from scratch with pads, pencils and a ton of file folders so that every sport and every player had a file.

“Everyone used to say, ‘What is your secret in getting Metro State more fair share of cover-

age?’” Smith said. “It was just hard work. Hard work and a great student staff. The hours never seemed so long because we were working with one another.”

Bazana played only two seasons with Metro, in 2000-2001, but led the team to two regional tournament appearances in those seasons, including a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championship in 2001.

Bazana, who came from Brazil so she could get an education while playing volleyball, finished her career ranked second in school history in kills per game (4.51) and second in digs per game (4.26), and led the team in both categories (475 kills, 471 digs) during the 2001 campaign. Bazana is currently a volleyball coach in California.

“I just wanted everyone to know how excited and how honored I am in receiving this award,” Bazana said in her acceptance speech.

“I was not expecting this award since I was only here for two years, but I had a great time here at Metro.”

Anzures was already a part of the hall of fame with the 2000 national championship basketball team. He is now inducted as a player who finished his career as Metro’s all-time leading scorer with 2,116 points.

Anzures is also the program’s leader in 3point baskets, minutes played, field goals and attempted field goals.

The 1987 baseball team was inducted into the hall of fame for posting the highest winning percentage in the school’s history. The team went 34-15 (.694) and was coached by Bill Helman.

INVITE STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF TO A SPECIAL ADVANCE SCREENING OF

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21 AT 7 PM PLEASE STOP BY THE METROPOLITAN OFFICE (TIVOLI STUDENT UNION, RM. 313)

TO PICK UP A COMPLIMENTARY PASS FOR TWO STUDENT ID MUST BE PRESENTED AT TIME OF TICKET PICKUP. WHILE LIMITED SUPPLIES LAST. ONE PASS PER PERSON. MUST BE 17 OR OLDER. THIS FILM IS RATED R. RESTRICTED. Under 17 Requires Accompanying Parent Or Adult Guardian.

Please note: Passes received through this promotion do not guarantee you a seat at the theatre. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, except for members of the reviewing press. Theatre is overbooked to ensure a full house. No admittance once screening has begun. All federal, state and local regulations apply. A recipient of tickets assumes any and all risks related to use of ticket, and accepts any restrictions required by ticket provider. Paramount Vantage, The Metropolitan and their affiliates accept no responsibility or liability in connection with any loss or accident incurred in connection with use of a prize. Tickets cannot be exchanged, transferred or redeemed for cash, in whole or in part. We are not responsible if, for any reason, winner is unable to use his/her ticket in whole or in part. Not responsible for lost, delayed or misdirected entries. All federal and local taxes are the responsibility of the winner. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary.

Participating sponsors, their employees & family members and their agencies are not eligible.

NO PHONE CALLS!

BLACK SNAKE MOAN OPENS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23

THE METROPOLITAN • 2.15.07

SPORT • 21

MEN’S BASKETBALL • Senior night brings brotherhood Continued from 19 could create some turnovers, that’s what we did early in the game.”

Feb. 10 was senior night at the Auraria Events Center, and the home crowd saw the men’s basketball team dominate the Regis Rangers 86-61.

The first half was capped off by a 23-6 scoring run by the Roadrunners, who held a 40-20 lead at the half.

“We made better decisions just making the simple pass that keyed our offense,” Hays said.

“When we deviate from that, we turn the ball over a lot more. When we stay with that, the turnovers are down.”

Bahl scored 17 points, and guard Terrell Burgess had 12 points. Forward Willison Price finished with eight points and six rebounds.

The Rangers attempted to attack Metro by out-muscling the ’Runners, but Price said that is why they lift weights.

“We bang at practice for nights like tonight,” Price said.

Regis was led by star senior Brandon Butler, who had 31 points and 10 rebounds in the team’s last meeting on Jan. 26.

“We tried to keep his points down,” center Moussa Coulibaly said.

Butler was banged around this time by the two Metro senior centers, and was frustrated by the team’s defense as he was held to 25 points and five rebounds.

“Me and Moussa bang with each other every single day at practice for two years,” Price said about the years of preparation for these moments.

Coulibaly and Price have spent the past two seasons together playing for Metro and have stood side-by-side through the hardships.

“We both kind of grew,” Coulibaly said.

“We went through some hard times together.

It brought us really closer together. We are like brothers now.”

Four senior Roadrunners were honored with flowers and plaques prior to the game.

Bahl, Price, Coulibaly and guard Benas Veikalas played their last regular season game at the Auraria Events Center.

“Senior night is not about the seniors,” Price said. “It’s about the seniors giving back to these guys from all these hard practices and all these games up to this point. So tonight I just wanted to give back to all my teammates and the fans for so much support.”

Coulibaly has come a long way from Bamako, Mali, to contribute to the nationally ranked Roadrunners and make his mark on one of the best teams in Division II. “It was definitely the best experience of my life,” Coulibaly said. “I would not trade it in for nothing. I can’t be thankful enough, and I don’t have anything to pay back except to work my butt off on the court.”

Bahl leads the team in points per game, (15.7) and Veikalas averages 9.6 ppg. Bahl plans to be a student coach next season until he obtains his degree in education.

Metro takes their 14-game winning streak on the road to Nebraska, where they will play Chadron State Feb. 15 and Nebraska-Kearney Feb. 17.

Feb. 9 at Auraria Events Center UC-Colorado Springs Metro

Total 30 48

37 35

67 83

Leading Scorers:

M: Carrington 27, Ciacio 12 CS: Hannaway 20, Scott 13 Leading Rebounders: M: Bahl 9, Wagstaff 5 CS: Hannaway & Davis 6 Feb. 10 at Auraria Events Center Regis Metro

Total 20 40

41 46

61 86

Leading Scorers:

M: Bahl 17, Burgess 12 R: Butler 25, Gibson 14 Leading Rebounders: M: Wagstaff 8, Veikalas 7 R: Winder 7, Gibson 6

Photos by Jason Small • jsmall4@mscd.edu

Guard Marquise Carrington, left, gets stopped in his tracks by UC-Colorado Springs guard Nic Fuller, right, in Metro’s 83-67 victory Feb. 9 at the Auraria Events Center. Carrington scored a career-high 27 points.

Sport Briefs Baseball team’s high-powered offense scores one, drops two The Roadrunners lost the first two of three games in their opening weekend, falling to Regis and splitting with Nebraska-Kearney in nonconference action. Metro lost 4-3 in their season opener against Regis Feb. 9 in Pueblo.

Regis pitcher Craig Deaver struck out eight ’Runners in 4.1 innings while allowing two runs on six hits for his first win of the season.

Metro split a doubleheader against Nebraska-Kearney Feb. 11 played in Pueblo at Runyon Field.

In game one, the ’Runners scored

15 runs but allowed Kearney to put up 20 runs in a game where relief pitching didn’t fare well.

“Sunday we opened it up a little bit,” Metro head coach Bobby Pierce said of the offense scoring 28 runs in two games. “We put up 15 runs on the board, but we had some guys blow up out of the pen, and that’s not going to be too consistent this year.”

In the second game, the Roadrunners jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first inning, but failed to score a run for the rest of regulation. Kearney managed

to put up seven runs to force extra innings, but Metro finally got into the win column with an 8-7 victory.

“When we get a chance to bury somebody, we need to bury them,” Pierce said. “We got to get more sense of urgency when we get up on somebody, because in both games, we were up early.”

The opening weekend left Metro with a 1-2 record and the season continues on the road Feb. 16 to 18 at Hays, Kan., where the ’Runners will participate in the Fort Hays State Tournament.

Women’s soccer revamps for 2007-2008 season

Photos by David Yost • dyost2@mscd.edu

The baseball team looks on from the dugout as Metro infielder Kyle Bowman makes contact with the ball in an 8-7 win over Nebraska-Kearney Feb. 11.

Metro’s Division II champion women’s soccer team recently signed seven new players to the team, head coach Danny Sanchez announced on Feb. 12.

“If there’s a year to come in and be important to the team, this is the year,” Sanchez said of the new recruits. “We have some quality players returning, but we need these players to come in and contribute immediately.”

Metro signed Linnea Dengah, Ash-

ley Munchiando, Jaclyn Percy, Nicole Renko, Alee Seehausen, Carrie Aversano and Kayla Poe to begin playing in the 2007 season.

The new group includes three midfielders, three defenders and one goalkeeper.

“With the exception of goalkeepers, we’re just looking for good soccer players,” Sanchez said. “We have plenty of good in-house players to begin with,

and we have plenty of players that can play up top.”

Sanchez will announce further signings in the weeks to come.

“We had a small roster last year and we need to rebuild,” Sanchez said.

“We’re not done yet.”

Metro was 24-2-0 last season and took their second national championship in three years.