Volume 32, Issue 8 - Sept. 10, 2009

The

METROPOLITAN $2 million duty Vol. 32, Issue 8

Serving Auraria for 30 years

September 10, 2009

SGA appoints funds to four students; SAB vacancies remain • A3

Creative capers

Jay Miller climbs up the Big Red Chair in front of the Denver Public Library on Aug. 27. Miller, an Arts Street board member, covered the horse on top of the chair until a “ransom” is paid, at which time Arts Street will unveil the artwork once more. Art for Ransom is an exhibition put on by Arts Street as a fundraising idea to appreciate the value of art. Photo by Daniel Clements dcleme12@mscd.edu • B1

Auraria campus ranked top Colo. buyer of wind energy • A5

SPORTS

audiofiles Josh Baker, co-founder Metro volleyball breaks momentum of Monolith Music Roadrunners lose to Concordia Festival, sounds off • B6 University–St. Paul • A11

A3 • THE METROPOLITAN • SEPTEMBER 10, 2009

NEWS

“While there is room for improvements in the U.S. health care system, the system does not require a complete overhaul.”

- Sam Blackmer on A8

CAITLIN GIBBONS • NEWS EDITOR • cgibbon4@mscd.edu

THIS WEEK EVENTS

9.12

Denver Food and Wine Classic Grand Tasting The event will feature 400 wines, a culinary showcase and a silent wine auction.

Tickets $55 for Metro students, faculty, alumni.

12:00 p.m.

Auraria Flag Pole

9.14

Annual Penny Drive begins Metro groups and organizations compete to choose charity for entire drive Contest ends Sept.

25. Pick up buckets at Tivoli 305

INDEX

Katarina Davis, left, C.J. Garbo, center, and Jason Cordova, far right, sit in on the Student Senate meeting Sept. 4 in the Senate Chambers located in the Tivoli.

The senate confirmed Davis to a position on the Student Affairs Board. Photo by Rebecca Feder • rfeder@mscd.edu

Seats fill at student fee table SGA nominees win committee positions for budget allocation

By Ben Wiebesiek wiebesib@mscd.edu

Four Metro students have been put in charge of $2 million in student fees.

The Student Government Assembly confirmed four students to positions on the Student Affairs Board during a Sept. 4 meeting.

The SAB is a group of seven voting students, three voting faculty and one voting administrator that receives proposals from various campus programs; specifically student services.

The SAB then recommends to the Board of Trustees on how to allocate money collected from student affairs fee to those programs.

Last year, Metro collected more than $2 million from student activity fees and the Board of Trustees allocated this money, based on SAB recommendations, for 16 programs.

These programs include the Auraria Early Education Center, the Center for the Visual Arts, Metro Theatre Association, Campus Recreation and the

Student Government Assembly.

In past years, members of the SGA have filled all seven of SAB positions, but this year, Bateman asked Vice President C.J. Garbo, to submit several nominations for the vacant positions from outside student government.

Introducing his candidates to the senate, Garbo said he conducted his search for qualified students by requesting recommendations from student activity program directors and administrators.

Garbo intended to announce the seven nominees for the Friday senate meeting, but was forced to remove three of the applicants Thursday because “they could no longer honor their commitments to serve on the student affairs board.”

Despite the last-minute dropouts, Garbo said the four remaining appointees are enough for a quorum, the minimum number of members necessary for SAB meetings.

The confirmed members are Joseph Gerlick, Alex Gomez, Steven-Jon Billings and Katarina Davis.

Gerlick is a student senator elected this spring and was approved unanimously by the senate.

Gomez is director of student affairs

for the executive staff of the SGA. He was also unanimously approved by the senate.

Billings is a trumpet performance major and a transfer student from Arizona State University. Billings described SAB as a useful and tangible way of interacting with the school.

His confirmation passed the senate with one opposing vote from Senator Gary Lefmann.

Davis is an incoming freshman and a political science major.

During her freshman orientation, Davis said she visited the SGA office to find out how she could get more involved on campus.

Davis’ confirmation passed also with Lefmann’s opposition and Senator Richmond Boakye and Speaker Pro-Tempore Julia Woodward abstaining.

“I abstained because she is a brand-new student and for the rest of our positions we have a requirement of six credit hours,” Woodward said.

“Because I don’t have an opinion either way on the requirement, I chose not to vote either way,” she said.

Garbo said that Davis’ lack of experience could be an asset for Davis as she approaches issues at the SAB.

“I wanted a student voice on the student affairs board of somebody who is fresh, new, and doesn’t know the college,” Garbo said introducing Davis.

“Sometimes students that have been in college kind of think like the college and where we do that she may be able to point out a fresh perspective we sometimes need,” Garbo said.

Boakye voiced his concern Garbo’s nominees didn’t reflect the diversity of the student body.

“There should be some kind of structure for selecting students from different communities to be part of student affairs,” Boakye said. “We shouldn’t narrow our view to just those who come to us.”

Responding to these concerns, Garbo said three of his candidates who dropped their nominations due to scheduling conflicts had “different backgrounds in regard to economics, race and gender.”

Garbo said that he didn’t focus on filling any particular representation other than the 16 programs affected by the SAB.

Continued on A5

INSIGHT ... A8 METROSPECTIVE ... B1 AUDIOFILES ... B6 SPORTS ... A11 TIMEOUT ... A14

WEATHER 9.10 • Chance of rain High: 86/Low: 54 9.11 • Partly Cloudy High: 71/Low: 52 9.12 • Partly Cloudy High: 69/Low: 47 9.13 • Chance of rain High: 73/Low: 49 9.14 • Partly Cloudy High: 80/Low: 51 9.15 • Chance of rain High: 83/Low: 52 9.16 • Partly Cloudy High: 81/Low: 51

By Kendell LaRoche

CORRECTIONS In the Sept. 3 issue of The Metropolitan, page A3 Josh RunningWolf ’s name was misspelled.

On page A5, Minerva Galvez’s name was misspelled.

On page B2, the Teacher Licensure Program was incorrectly identified.

To notify The Metropolitan of an error in any of our reports, please contact Editor-in-Chief Dominic Graziano at dgrazia1@mscd.edu

Student senate confirms board members

DID YOU KNOW? When a porcupine is born, its quills are soft and mostly white, but harden within hours. • THE METROPOLITAN • SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 • NEWS • A5

Kick back, relax and enjoy the show

SGA from A3 Speaker of the Senate Hashim Coates emphasized the importance of a diverse pool of applicants for the remaining vacancies to encourage a larger cross-section of the student body to get active in the SGA. “I think it is important to make sure that all minority groups are solicited for the possibility of representation,” Coates said.

“Being from a minority group, I can say there is a sense of disenfranchisement that is out there when it comes to these types of positions,” he said.

The four new members are joining the board at a time of change for both the SGA and the SAB. The SGA executive branch is currently exploring options to collect revenue through a new student fee separate from the student affairs fees, freeing the organization from the jurisdiction of SAB allocations.

Increasingly, SAB allocations have reflected the sweeping cuts in state funding forcing Metro to shift personnel costs from the college’s general fund onto the expenses paid for with student fees.

The challenge of balancing the financial forces pushing both organizations will face the new SAB members who will attend their first meeting 11 a.m. Friday in Tivoli 329.

At the meeting, Bateman stressed that SAB is an independent committee that does not answer to members of the SGA. “The [SAB] doesn’t necessarily have a relationship with the [SGA] except that we are the ones charged with selecting the student representatives to that committee and the committee ultimately decides what our budget allocation is going to be,” Bateman said.

STudent Affairs fee Funded programs •Auraria Early Learning Center •Campus Recreation at Auraria •Career Services •Center for the Visual Arts •Children’s College •Club Funding Committee •Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, •Transgender Student Services •Institute of Women’s Studies and Services •Metro Theatre Association •Music Activities •Peer Education Program •Student Activities •Student Finance Resource Center •Student Government •Assembly •Student Life •Student Media

Kayo Tanimoto, left, and Chiyo Tanimoto, right, sit in the grass and watch “Slumdog Millionaire” Sept. 4 on Auraria Campus near the Tivoli. The Asian Student Alliance projected the movie outside and in addition to the showing they provided numerous treats for an audience of approximately 50 people. Photo by Leah Millis • lmillis@mscd.edu

Greenest campus in Colorado Environmentally friendly programs grow at Auraria

By Alex Vaughn avaughn5@mscd.edu Fall may be right around the corner, but Auraria is greener than ever as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership has named the tri-instution campus in the top 20 green institutions.

The Auraria campus is the top higher-education institution buyer of wind energy in Colorado and seventh in the nation.

With plenty all of that wind in their sails, the SCP, a portion of the Student Advisory Committee to the Auraria Board, is working on many programs to make the urban locked Auraria increasingly green.

The new programs consists of Reusable Energy Credits, Water Conservation, Single Stream Recycling, future building project as well as education and out reach.

Renewable Energy Credits are a purchasable unit that is used to off-set the impact of coal consumption and reduce the environmental impact, “You are paying for the environmental benefits,” said Heather Philip Director of Media and Com-

munications for Boulder based Renewable Choice Energy. “Energy is coming from a big pool, by purchasing RECs you are guaranteed that the energy pulled off the grid is replaced with clean energy.”

The new contract, based on student fees, shifted the combination of coal and wind power from 49 to 100 percent wind energy.

For the duration of the program 122 million kilowatt hours worth of REC’s will be purchased to power the campus, “enough energy to power 15,000 Denver homes for a year,” said Andrew Pattison University of Colorado chair of the Student Advisory Committee to the Auraria Board.

In April 2007, 3,500 students of Auraria voted on the new energy deal and 96 percent of students approved.

The predecessor to the Sustainable Campus Program, known as the Green Fee, enacted in 2004, was also student funded.

The Renewable Energy Credits that were purchased in 2004 shifted the campus to 45 percent wind energy and paid for all the solar powered lights used on the campus maps and flags.

A vote by the SCP committee and approved by the Auraria Higher Education Center on Sep. 3, 2009 released funds for the replacement of

230 toilets to low flush models. The shift from 5 to 1.6 gallon low flush toilets will save the facilities budget 1.25 million gallons of water per year, the equivalent of five Auraria event center pools, added Pattison.

Water is 16 percent of the SCP’s budget. Early projections for the project were $220,000 but thanks to Denver Waters’ donation of the required toilets only $49,000 will be spent on the upgrade.

Expected to start this September the water conservation project should be completed within six months.

The money was raised from student fees that started at $2 dollars in 2008 and graduating by $1 per year until the end of the program in 2012, not to exceed $5. “The budget after four years totals $1.5 million,” added Pattison.

Denver Water is committed to reducing usage of water. The replacement of Auraria toilets “...coincides with our time line on conservation,” said Donna Pacetti, Denver Water Program Sustainability Coordinator.

The old toilets will be disassembled to their base components and then recycled. The Porcelain will be crushed and mixed into road base; while Student Union has plans to sell the remaining metal parts, “as soon as we get the green light we will order the toilets,” Said Pacetti.

“With the water conservation goals in mind the Auraria campus with some 43,000 students per semester switching over to a low flush system will save the city water and the campus money,” commented Michelle Sprow, SACAB Metro Representative.

The SCP fee also paid for the blue single stream recycling containers seen around school. “The program is going very well” said Dave Krajicek Environment Health and Safety manager for the Auraria Campus.

“We have seen a 30 to 35 percent over-all increase of diversions of waste since the beginning of the program,” in January 2008, with some building showing 50 to 70 percent improvement, Krajicek noted.

“Education is our biggest issue, we’re finding full drinks in the recycling containers, this fouls the paper and makes it really messy to pick up.”

The single stream program has reduced the campus land fill waste by 25 percent.

Schools are ranked on a combination of energy saving programs that help reduce the carbon foot print of their daily operations.

“The ratings go on wind and any alternative power such as water conservation, carbon offset and transportation benefits,” commented Sprow.

DID YOU KNOW? Central Park located in New York has 125 drinking fountains. • THE METROPOLITAN • SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 • NEWS • A7

Series provides food for thought Local lawmakers stop

by Auraria for lunch, political discourse

By Caitlin Gibbons cgibbon4@mscd.edu Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll joked to a packed audience in the Multicultural Lounge that he had purposely worn extra deodorant to the “Lunch with Lawmakers” event because he knew students would raise tough questions.

Carroll’s visit to the campus is a part of the “Lunch with Lawmakers” a monthly series is co-hosted by Auraria’s Offices of Student Life and occurs the second Tuesday of every month.

Eric Brooks, a Metro student studying Economics, asked Carroll about state funding for higher education and if there would be any tax increases to help.

In answering the question, Carroll iterated to the audience that the general assembly only controls 12 percent of the general fund, and when it comes time to make cuts, the assembly is severely limited in the areas they can cut.

As far as tax cuts are concerned, because of the tax payers bill of rights, TABOR, any increase must be voted on directly by the constituents of Colorado, and in the current economic state it would be highly unlikely to be approved, said Carroll.

Student Government Assembly President Andrew Bateman took the open forum as an opportunity to ask Carroll about his thoughts on building ordinances prohibiting the construction of new facilities that would block mountain views from downtown Denver.

The SGA is working on Senate resolution 09-06 that focuses on

changing Denver municipal code.

“Do you think it is appropriate for state property to be restricted by a city law, especially when it constricts the development of something as important as institutions of higher education,” Bateman asked.

Carroll said he has spoken with Metro President Stephen Jordan about the huge number of students on Auraria.

“I saw the trailers on campus. It’s absolutely ridiculous,” Carroll said.

“At some point we are going to have a long conversation about the growth of the Auraria campus and how we work with the city to make that happen.”

Metro student Brandon Daviet, a sociology major, asked Carroll about drug testing for people receiving public assistance.

Scott Bolt was concerned with the reduction in funding for social programs.

Although Carroll could not address every question due to time restraints, it was clear the students of Auraria are curious and ready to engage in political discussions.

Robert Hazan, chair of the Metro Political Science Department introduced Carroll to the packed audience.

He also commended Auraria’s organization of the event and remarked that at events such as this, the campus transcends their individual boundaries and becomes an “Auraria nation.”

Mark Schwartz, the assistant director of student life at Metro said the purpose of the series is to give students the opportunity to be informed about what is going on in the Denver community.

“This was the best attendance I’ve seen in the last year,” Schwartz said.

Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll talks about his political history to students Sept. 8 in the Tivoli Multicultural Lounge at Auraria Campus during the Lunch with Lawmakers event. Students were invited not only to listen to Carroll speak but also to ask him questions afterward. Photo by Chancey Bush • cbush7@mscd.edu

Students lined up at the microphone provided to pick Carroll’s brain.

“I think it is very important for lawmakers and legislature to reach out to college students, they are our next generation of leaders,” Carroll said.

Carroll is the 34th speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives and the first African American to hold the position.

He graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta, with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.

He also holds a Master of Divinity degree from Illiff School of Theology in Denver and a Juris Doctor de-

gree from The University of Denver College of Law. Carroll has also been a member of the annual Metro Caucus, a group of legislators that meet with the college every year to discuss legislation and issues impacting the campus.

Tom Sheridan, assistant director of student life at UCD helped create the program in fall 2008.

At the time, the office was looking to create more programs that would appeal to academic departments. “With the capitol being less than five minutes, what an under utilized resource,” Sheridan said.

The Office of Student Life at each school, UCD, CCD and Metro, helps

to coordinate the event. Schwartz said the schools rotate organizing the event from month to month.

The school responsible for organizing tracks down the speaker and provides lunch for the event.

Typically, Schwartz budgets $250 for food, and the speakers volunteer their time.

Attendance for the series has grown month to month. Sheridan said he anticipates the event outgrowing the multi-cultural lounge by the end of the semester. Sheridan said he also hopes to move away from the “pizza paradigm,” and vary the lunches offered at the event.

up. The victim was taken to the hospital for treatment.

notified of the situation. The officers then observed a red Mustang come onto Federal and also saw a female calling for help. The female stated that she was on Federal and heard a loud bang, then saw someone jump out of the Explorer into the red Mustang; they left at a high speed. The Explorer also hit a Honda station wagon. Paramedic had been called, but was cancelled when observing both cars were vacant. DPD is in charge of the investigation.

Auraria Crime Blotter

By Morgan Bia • mbia@mscd.edu

Reported theft Aug. 10 A student left their laptop unattended on their desk in the South Classroom, when they came back to the classroom, the laptop was gone and they called to report the theft.

Aug. 11 An officer was on foot patrol in the Tivoli when a student reported their backpack had just been stolen. The student was eating in the food court, when they placed their backpack by their chair. Within a few minutes the student noticed the backpack was missing.

Aug. 12 Officers responded to a theft call in the library. The victim stated that someone came into their office and took their laptop, which was placed behind their desk on a shelf.

Aug. 18 A bookstore employee stated they saw a suspect place two books in their backpack and leave the store without paying. Campus police responded and placed the suspect into custody in the Tivoli substation. Denver Police Department arrived and took custody of the suspect.

Aug. 19 Auraria police responded to the Library on a theft call. The victim stated their I-Pod charger was stolen from their locked office.

Aug. 24 A temporary bookstore employee admitted they sold books at a “discount” price. Loss prevention from the bookstore contacted ACPD.

Sick,injured calls Aug. 16 A mother said her child had gone to kick a ball when another player pushed them. The child landed on their upper back and neck. An ambulance was called and the child was taken to the hospital.

Aug. 17 An officer responded to a sick/injured call. The victim was in diabetic shock. The reporting party said the victim was sitting in their desk when they went limp and would not wake

Traffic Violations Aug. 14 An officer noticed an Explorer traveling on the northbound in the southbound lane of Speer Boulevard without their head lights on. The officer then pulled to the right side of Auraria Parkway in order to avoid the vehicle and heard the vehicle accelerate to 60-70 mph on the wrong side of Auraria Parkway. The officer then made a U-turn an activated emergency lights and a siren. The vehicle did not attempt to stop and continued driving westbound and eastbound Auraria. The officer last saw the vehicle turn onto Federal Boulevard.

Denver Police Department was

Aug. 26 An officer contacted a subject for driving through a “do not enter sign’. A routine clearance revealed a warrant for arrest. The subject was placed into custody and transported to the Denver Sheriff ’s office.

A8 • SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 • THE METROPOLITAN

INSIGHT

“They exceeded my expectations for this time in the season so I'm really happy with where they're at.”

— CROSS COUNTRY INTERIM HEAD COACH SEAN NESBITT ON A13

THE POINT: HEALTH CARE CRISIS NOT THAT BAD

Get uninsured numbers straight

About a year and a half ago I did a small survey of friends and family to see what their view of the “health care crisis” was.

I did get some response about family members who were misdiagnosed, or had conditions that would have caused far less problems had they been diagnosed earlier, but it did leave me wondering what exactly the health care crisis was.

While the term “crisis” is tossed around a lot, the U.S. is not in a health care crisis.

We have health care issues, people who don’t have health care have a health care problem, and a very few people who don’t have insurance and have chronic diseases have a health care crisis, but America does not.

You want a health care crisis?

Go to Somalia.

Heath care is expensive, there is no doubt. We also have the best health care in the world.

I realize the World Health Organization disagrees, but their concern is more geared toward

SAM BLACKMER blackmar@mscd.edu distribution than quality. As far as quality goes, no where in the world is America matched for health care.

The U.S. has better doctors, better equipment, better facilities, better drugs and a better rate at prolonging lives of the ill than anywhere else in the world. And while health care is expensive, it is a very small cost as a portion of U.S. spending.

Americans spend more on living accommodations, the cars we drive, and recreation than we spend on health care.

To be sure, distribution is a

necessary part of the discussion.

The number frequently cited of uninsured in the U.S. is 50 million, but this figure is misleading.

Of the 50 million uninsured: 10 million are not U.S. citizens, 18 million make more than $50,000 a year and choose not to buy health insurance and another 14 million already qualify for Medicaid or similar programs and do not take advantage of them.

Of these numbers, 42 percent are between the age of 18 and 35, are in relatively good health and choose to take their chances knowing if they do become seriously ill, the government will provide health care. Throw into the mix those who are uninsured due to their situation — those who had insurance, but lost it with the loss of a job, but will likely have insurance once again when they find another job — and the actual number of uninsured is much smaller than 50 million.

Yes, many of these groups still require health care.

The U.S. will continue to

provide health care to non-U.S. citizens, and those who choose to gamble on their good health and will at times need service — it is still a relatively small number, closer to 8 million, left uninsured.

To suggest the entire system should be changed to accommodate a small minority is ridiculous.

There are many ways in which the U.S. health care and insurance system could be made more efficient. There are ways costs could be reduced, there are also ways insurance companies could become more competitive. But when in the history of the world has adding bureaucracy increased efficiency or decreased cost?

While there is room for improvement in the U.S. health care system, the system does not require a complete overhaul.

We do not need to scrap the current system and start over in order to improve the system. Rather than scrapping a system that works for the majority of people, why not just improve the areas where the system doesn’t work?

Of course, it's so simple! If we do our homework and listen to our parents, we'll succeed.

Thanks Obama.

Illustrated and written by THE METROPOLITAN STAFF

BIGGER VIEW

On Labor Day, not much labor

Staff Editorial The Denver Post

Monday's celebration was bittersweet.

Labor Day 2009 comes as the nation's jobless rate hits a 26-year high and we weather the worst recession since the Great Depression.

The 9.7 percent unemployment rate surprised economists, who had predicted it would rise to 9.5 from July's 9.4, according to The Associated Press. Colorado's unemployment rate in July was 7.8 percent.

Then there is the so-called underemployment rate, or the percentage of laid-off workers who are settling for part-time jobs or have given up looking for new jobs. That rate is now at 16.8 percent.

Even the government is cutting jobs.

State and local governments hit hard by the recession laid off workers, as has the Postal Service, for a total of 18,000 job losses last month.

Such numbers are sobering.

With so many relatives, friends and neighbors out of work or getting by with far less pay, and with so few companies willing to hire, it will be difficult for consumer confidence to return.

Though economists say the recession should end before year's end, they predict anemic growth levels for the next few quarters.

The recession also has been tough for labor unions, and that's been on vivid display in Colorado's capital city.

On Sept. 15, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper will present a budget to the City Council that attempts to trim $120 million in spending by the end of next year.

City workers are taking unpaid furlough days, being offered early retirement packages and toiling in understaffed departments under a months-long and ongoing hiring freeze.

Union leaders representing Denver firefighters have agreed to delay $7 million in salary and health benefits to avoid layoffs and to do their part to cut spending. The reductions now go to a full union vote and we hope members accept the deal.

But the police union rejected a similar request, forcing a standoff with the mayor that could mean the loss of 90 officers.

The mayor asked police to postpone a 4.5 percent pay raise next year and a 3 percent raise in 2011. The officers still would get the money, only at a later date.

We're surprised that the officers rejected that offer, especially since it means breaking solidarity with the 90 junior officers who will now be out of work.

Against the local and national backdrop of the grim employment figures, we find the police union's move a brazen stick in the eye to the all- for-one mantra of unions.

There is still an outside chance police can work something out with the mayor and possibly rethink their position. They should — for the benefit of all Denver citizens.

Call it the Labor Day compromise.

B1 9.10.2009 THE METROPOLITAN

By Ashley Moreland amorela1@mscd.edu Photos by Daniel Clements dcleme12@mscd.edu

tion last fall held by the Art Directors Club of Denver. The fund raiser asks the questions: “Where would we be without art? If art was suddenly kidgroup of marauders jumped napped, would we get a sense of its valout of an unmarked van in ue, and would donors, big and small, front of the Denver Public pay to get it back?”

“Without art, our surroundings Library. Looking around to make sure the coast was clear, they stealthily become more sterile,” said Yu. “We crept up to a sculpture and wrapped hope that people will see that through it in black plastic and yellow caution the covered art and pay to get it back.”

Arts Street, which started in 1999, tape. Minutes later, the gang jumped back into the van and sped away into is a year-round, arts-based employment program for Denver enthusiasts the night.

Okay, perhaps that’s a bit of an ex- ages 14-21. It specializes in visual, aggeration, but Arts Street, a nonprofit performing and multimedia arts.

The program has three phases. art organization for youth, is “kidnapThe first is art classes where the stuping” art and holding it for ransom. dents are trained Arts Street “Without art, our surroundings by professional went out into the become more sterile,” said Yu. artists. The next city and “kid“We hope that people will see phase is Entrenapped” art by wrapping it up that through the covered art preneurial Art in black plastic and pay to get it back.” Business training.

Here the students and caution tape.

- Stella Yu, Executive Director of learn basic busiTheir goal was to Arts Street ness and indusget people talktry skills such as ing. Is the art under construction? Was it vandalized? marketing, branding and inventory and financial management.

What exactly was there?

In the last phase the participants The “kidnapping” of art from around the city leads up to Art for are divided into 16-18 member teams Ransom, an exhibition put on by Arts and given a seven or eight-week job Street, where pieces submitted by art- where they work hourly for a client.

“We partner with community orist are covered. Slowly, throughout the night, the 140 submitted pieces of art ganizations to showcase them,” Yu said. “They can easily make $,000 a will be unveiled as the ransom is paid.

The event will take place 6 p.m., summer.”

In 2004, Arts Street earned the Saturday, Sept. 12 at RedLine gallery, 2350 Arapahoe St. There will be a $5 Coming Up Taller award, which recogcover charge. Ransom notes will be on nized the group as one of the 15 best after-school programs in the nation. sale for $5 each, or $45 for 10.

All funds raised by the Art for Ran“The community collectively releases the art,” said Stella Yu, executive som event will go to Arts Street. The director of Arts Street. “Say a piece of organization hopes to make it an anart has a ransom of 50 notes. You can nual event.

“There’s a lot of potential for this give two notes and your friend can give four. As soon as 50 notes have been not only to become an annual event, but to involve more galleries and bencollected the piece will be unveiled.”

The fund raising concept was de- efit other non profits,” Yu said. veloped at a student design competi-

A

TOP: Stella Yu, middle, Karen Andrews, bottom, and Kimberly Colegrove, top, work on masking a piece of modern art in Civic Center Park. All are members of Arts Street, a youth program aimed at fostering creativity.

BOTTOM: Stella Yu, center, tries duct-taping warning tape, meanwhile, Jay Miller tries to playfully entangle Yu to the artwork.

Art for Ransom unveils their art 6 p.m., Sept. 12 RedLine, 2350 Arapahoe, Denver

Metro{spective}

Some of the city’s most popular art pieces are being held for ransom to raise money for two nonprofit galleries

Julie Vitkovskaya Features Editor uvitkovs@mscd.edu



B2• FEATURES • SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 • THE METROPOLITAN

12 p.m. Sun. The Know 3 p.m. Sun. The Andy Hilton Show 9 a.m. Mon. — Fri. Morning Mix 11 a.m. Mon., Wed., Fri., Suicide Sunglasses 11 a.m. Tue., Thurs.

Classic Rock 1 p.m. Mon., Wed. The Undercurrent 2 p.m. Tue. Dark Side of the Tune 2 p.m. Thurs.

Winds from the Front Range 3 p.m. Mon., Wed. Thrash Time 3 p.m. Tue., Thurs., Fri. Sports 4 p.m. Mon. — Fri. Emerald City Mix Show 6 p.m. Mon., Wed. Underground Hip-Hop 10 p.m. Mon., Wed. Techno/Electronica

Meet your representatives Hashim Coates

Speaker of the Senate Major: Criminal Justice, minor in International Business Years at Metro: Four E-mail: hcoates@mscd.edu

By Ashley Moreland amorela@mscd.edu Gary Wilson is trying to create a new club at Metro for innovative thinkers to save the environment and make money.

The Ecological Club of Innovative Thinkers’ (ECO-ITNOW) primary purpose would be promoting green inventions by students. Wilson says he would like to focus on using leftover materials that would otherwise “end up in a dump or in the natural landscape and waterways.”

“There are many avenues this club can take,” Wilson said.

“And with the politicians now starting to ring the environmental warning bell themselves and promoting a green culture and entrepreneurship within the U.S. for green technology and funding for state-funded colleges starting to dwindle, the fire is hot and it is time to strike.”

In order for a student to start an organization, they must have four officers and an advisor. The officers must be Metro students, have a minimum 2.0 GPA, be enrolled in three or more academic credits for the following semester and have completed at least three academic credits in a prior semester. The next step is to fill out a registration form and create a constitution.

For more information about creating a club, go to Tivoli 305 or call 303-5562595. For more information about ECO-IT-NOW, contact Wilson at eco_it_now@yahoo. com.

Can you describe your position to the student body?

I am the speaker of the senate, which means I am the voice for the senate when it needs to be represented.

Can you describe one problem that faces Metro today?

I know that Metro is relatively inexpensive, but when you are not a working student, nothing is relatively inexpensive. I guess more money for the students... And another issue to bring it home is student involvement.

We’re failing as far as getting the student’s attention to get them involved.

Have you started to brainstorm on things you can do?

The senate brainstormed initiatives, but the new structure of student

CLUB BEAT The Ecological Club of Innovative Thinkers

Part 1 The Senate

Can you describe your position to the student body?

I am speaker pro tempore in the senate which means that if the speaker is not available, then I chair the meeting, so the second in command.

And if either the president or vice president leave… I would step in.

As senator, what are some of your goals for this year?

My original goal when I came onto the senate was just making sure we have more interaction with the students.

I’m very concerned that the students on the campus aren’t aware of our presence... It’s hard to make decisions for the student body if we’re not getting their input. I don’t want the senate just to be a representation of the students. I want them to

literally go out and bring more than just their diverse opinions.

Now that the SGA has restructured itself, does this limit the participation of the senate?

It does not limit the participation of the senate, however, it does not require the same participation of the senate. It also does not reward any extra participation of the senate.

What is something new that you plan on doing with the position this year?

I wasn’t involved in [previous] years, so I can’t speak to that personally, but my impression has been that accountability has been an issue. And as the speaker pro tempore, I think it’s really important

Interviews by Julie Vitkovskaya uvitkovs@mscd.edu

government that was explained to us is that we’re not the workers... [We’re] the brain — to put it in a concept. And the executive board... are actually the doers.

How do you feel about that?

We always hear the same war story that the senate in the past hasn’t done things... I can speak for the senate, and they are a group of willing workers... It remains to be seen of the effectiveness of this executive board.

How do you feel now that the senators play a lesser role due to their lack of success last year?

This is one of my funny analogies,..

If you feel like you have an issue with smelly feet, and you just throw away your old shoes and get better shoes, but you refuse to wash your feet, they’re

that I make sure people are being accountable to the speaker and to themselves; and also keep the speaker accountable.

still going to have the same problem.

I’m a skeptic of it.

But just because I’m a skeptic, does not mean that I’m not working and giving my best effort to make sure that it works.

As speaker of the senate, what is your personal goal?

My main goal is to make sure the voice of the students is represented – all students and minority students.

When I say minority, just because I’m black, people think that I mean black specifically, but I don’t. [I mean] those that may not voice out, but will like to tell you a one-on-one issue, “this is what I feel that needs to get done.”

And I’m more than open to receive those types of things and I would encourage those types of dialogues as well.

Julia Woodward Speaker Pro Tempore Major: Anthropology Years at Metro: Two E-mail: jwoodw15@mscd.edu

How will you be more accessible to students?

One thing that I would like to do is to go visit some classes. I am not in classes this semester because I am traveling a lot… but if my friends and teachers would let me, come and talk to the classes to let them know who I am and what the SGA can do for them. Also, I think the students need to know that we are here, most of us, all day on Fridays.

Yes, we’re in meetings but there’s a lot of downtime in between the meetings where we’d be happy to talk to students if they wanted to talk to a senator.

Gary Lefmann Parliamentarian Major: History Years at Metro: Six E-mail: glefmann@mscd.edu

Can you talk about your position in SGA? I am a senator and I also serve as the senate’s parliamentarian as well. Parliamentarian is someone who acts in the capacity of an assistant to the chair of a meeting – in this case, the speaker.

That person should be as thoroughly knowledgeable about rules of order, parliamentarian procedure as well as the body’s own operating rules, as is the chair.

It gives the chair an extra set of eyes to help catch issues because, no matter how good a person [is at] chairing a meeting, depending on the nature and size of the body, you can run into issues.

And it’s good to have someone assist the chair in observing parliamentarian procedure... This position has been a part of the

senate since I joined the student government, which was back in ’05 in November.

What is something new that you’re planning to do with the position?

Well, the parliamentarian position is more of a support thing for the senate itself. As far as the meetings – making sure that they run smoothly and that the good discussions respect everyone’s point of view.

As far as being a member of student government as a senator, I certainly have a lot of wider duties.

Can you talk about those duties?

Well, I represent the interests of the students and their views.

So, in the body of the senate, we are supposed to represent a good

cross-section of our entire student body.

Additionally, that means that because we are their representatives, we are to be more informed than the average student on any number of issues in order to make the best decisions possible.

In some cases, we need to be in touch with what the students want and what they desire.

Our job, in some cases, is to represent those particular views and interests, no matter what our personal views are.

In other cases, our job is to see a particular problem and, if is a very complex one, then our job is to make a decision–even though students may not be totally aware.

Then we need to turn around and communicate it.

THE METROPOLITAN • SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 • FEATURES • B3

Film festival touts local talent ‘Long Story Short’ Film Festival 7:15 p.m., Sept. 10 Mayan Theatre, 110 Broadway Everyone knows that their decisions come back to haunt them. But what happens when you actually have to deal with them? In a Colorado-based short film, Koester captures a young man as he struggles to make the right choices. Koester directed and wrote the short film that was largely filmed in Golden.

THE SACRIFICE OF OLD SAN JUAN, BY AK HOTTMAN

By Julie Vitkovskaya uvitkovs@mscd.edu Before AK Hottman got his hands on a Super 8 film, he was shooting the “Snowboard Seven” — seven friends from high school that wanted to make their own movie. Now, Hottman shoots and writes his own short films, including the latest, “The Sacrifice of Old San Juan,” — loosely based on the poem “Dark Night of the Soul” by St. John of the Cross.

Shot on the Eastern plains of Colorado, the film conveys a sense of loneliness.

“There is definitely a theme of isolation in the community,” Hottman said.

John, the main character, purposely leaves his materialistic past

life behind. Except that he gets lost.

He finds a bag and becomes obsessed in caring for it – almost to the point of treating it like another human being. The film deals with materialism, obsession and paranoia. But the audience grows to love him because of his naturally human flaws.

“He becomes respectable, likeable and relatable,” Hottman said.

A recently-accepted graduate student at the University of Southern California, Hottman said that he has changed his view on how to shoot for the audience. He started with films that would trick the audience, but later learned that “wit is the enemy of intelligence” In the future, Hottman would like to shoot big budget films and come back to Denver to do it.

TechBytes

By Drew Jaynes ajaynes1@mscd.edu

BREATHLESS BY KRIS KOESTER

CIGAR SHOP BY ELI BERG The only Colorado-directed film at the festival to be shot in Los Angeles, the 12-minute-long

Try to capture the American Dream with the means of a camera — and a deranged couple in tow.

Hitchhiking his way around the country, The Kid hopes to capture the hope of millions of Americans looking for peace and prosperity.

A locally-based film, the piece captures the beautiful plains in the golden bask of Colorado’s favorite ticket item — the sun.

film deals with a Kofka theme.

After a cigar shop patron, Ron, gets the unexpected surprise of actually becoming its owner, the world starts to flip around him, eventually forming into reality. “[I like] deadpan comedy that comes with absurd humor,” Berg said.

Though based on a closelyrelated personal experience, Berg calls the piece absurd and very surreal.

THE BIG FAT LAZY SUN BY DANNY BROTHERS

“Snowblind” author pens crash memoir

By J.T. Barthelemy jtbarthe@mscd.edu There have been many books written about catastrophes and their aftermath.

The effect of sudden misfortune on families, victims and survivors may at times read as a broken record.

Not so with Robert Sabbag’s “Down Around Midnight.” The author uses precise and evocative story telling. It is a first-rate read to have as a time out from your class studies.

Journalist Robert Sabbag’s ‘70s book “Snowblind” is about the burgeoning cocaine scene in the U.S. brought him literary acclaim.

After surviving a plane crash in June 1979 near Cape Cod, Mass., Sabbag penned “Down Around Midnight” to chronicle his experiences.

Sabbag does not spend a lot of time on himself in his new memoir; he is neatly focused on the task of searching out fellow passengers and those who came to their aid. He describes how lives changed during and after the crash and in this context was

able to tell the story of all those involve. Cape Cod, the airline and the first responders are as central to his book as the victims.

The story is conducted in an interview style with each person being given a brief yet sufficient background. Sabbag was tactful when doing his research. If he sensed a reluctance to discuss, or in some cases, not to relive the scene, the importance of his book didn’t supersede the value of people’s private lives.

The author reinforces this by quoting the ancient historian Thucydides “of all the manifestations of power, restraint impresses men most.”

This author gets the perspective of those concerned with great story lines linking the characters.

A paramedic on the scene was quick to note that “plane crashes that don’t have dead people on them are few and far between. Dead and in the kind of condition that makes it hard for firefighters to sleep at night.”

As Michael Matrinko, an Iranian hostage survivor and friend of Sabbag’s, said, “There is nothing heroic about being a victim; it’s like being glorified for being raped.”

The book detailed how one passenger was

Dead battery blues

“waiting for the voice of authority” to tell him what to do next. Another trudged through the woods until picked up by a group of Deadheads who dropped her off at her airport destination when asked to do so.

This plane crash, like other events that involve adversity, reinvigorated the value of everyday life to its sufferers. According to CNN, the “Miracle on the Hudson” crash of January 2009 has done the same for those involved. Although for some folks, all appreciation of life requires is taking an algebra exam or writing a history paper.

“Down Around Midnight” takes us on a tour of Cape Cod, with Kennedy references, gay Provincetown lifestyle, and the famed minor league baseball of the Cape that is sought out by both players and teams as a spawning ground for experience and talent.

A first-hand account book about the Hudson River crash came out this summer and is commonly seen on book shelves everywhere from Borders to Starbucks.

I chose the book less visible. Robert Sabbag covers both sides as having been on board and then going back years later to piece it together.

This plane crash, like other events that involve adversity, reinvigorated the value of everyday life to its sufferers.

My cell phone battery decided over the weekend that it had had enough.

The phone shut off unceremoniously right in the middle of a call, and after trying to call that person three more times without success, I resigned myself to being ‘off the grid.’

For someone who has grown used to having the ability to call or text anyone whenever I need to, not having a phone is a serious inconvenience.

Five or maybe closer to 10 years ago, being constantly connected might have seemed strange, but in this day and age, it is expected and encouraged.

And going ‘off the grid’ is no small thing either. Let’s face it, if you’re not connected you’re missing on what’s happening right now. It’s a small wonder how we survived daily life before this connectivity revolution.

Surely we’ve all heard stories of the ‘good old days’ from our parents and older friends describing times even before answering machines, cell phones, pagers and whatnot.

If the person you were calling wasn’t home, you called back later.

And that was just the way it was.

Always being connected is the way it is now. If you can’t be reached then something must be wrong. Many Blackberry owners have dubbed their smart-phones ‘crackberries’ in reference to their addictive nature, with dependent users like a horde of babies with their blankies.

I hesitate to imagine what might happen if one of those crackberry users were suddenly left out in the cold by a faulty battery like me.

But if I were to venture a guess, the old adage “from my cold dead hands” would thunder to the heavens and life as they know it would come to a shrieking standstill. That’s just a guess though.

And so, along those lines, I eagerly await the arrival of my new cell phone battery. The disconnection has taught me to consider the slower pace we used to enjoy.

It has also taught me the true value of the phrase: ‘out with the old, in with new,’ at least as far as batteries are concerned.

B4 • METROSPECTIVE • September 10, 2009

THE metROPOLITAN

september 10, 2009 • METROSPECITVE • b5

TOP: Todd Jilbert, president of Golden Toad plays his giant spatula along side fellow grill master Marcus Worner. Photo by Mark Farnik •

mfarnik@mscd.edu

RIGHT: Brain Baumgardner volunteers to take in the heat while grilling chicken wings. The Toad is known for their shrimp bombs but the Fire Grilled Toad wings became a popular treat during this year’s A Taste of Colorado.

ABOVE: The Golden Toad’s biggest seller is the Shrimp Bombs, a Kabob of shrimp and sausage.

A taste of ‘The Toad’ Story by Drew Jaynes ajaynes1@mscd.edu

G Volunteer Robbyn Owen serves pasta as part of the unique fare The Toad offers. Photo by Drew Jaynes •

ajaynes1@mscd.edu

Photos by Ryan Martin martirya@mscd.edu

iant spatula air-guitars, loud honky music and shrimp skewers spitting grease are the first impressions visitors to the Golden Toad road crew’s booth will get.

Sizzling meat, gristle and cooking utensils litter the red-hot grills at “The Toad’s” stand at this year’s A Taste of Colorado outdoor festival held Sept. 4–7 at Civic Center Park in Denver.

The Golden Toad was incorporated by President Todd Jilbert in 2004 as part of a gnawing, long overdue dream to market his signature sauces and meat rubs to the public. And though this is only the second year The Toad has grilled at ‘Taste,’ their statewide popularity is growing.

Jilbert, who works in construction the majority of the time also does not take any money away from his grilling operation. Since The Toad

got its start in March of 2004 at the National Fiery Foods and Barbecue show in Albuquerque, NM, all proceeds outside of covering overhead have been donated to charities including the Denver Zoo and the Colorado Wildlife Heritage Foundation.

“The company, the corporation,” he said, “is an S-Corp. We haven’t taken a penny out of the company so far. Everything we do just keeps going back into the company and the causes we like to donate money to.”

The Toad’s status as an S-Corporation allows Jilbert and his wife to shoulder the income taxes from the business themselves and report earnings on their own tax returns.

Despite the fact that it is an all-volunteer crew, everyone is happy to donate their time. Volunteer Christine Yaekle has only good things to say about the operation.

“The booth is so much fun, we have a lot of fun times dancing, singing and it doesn’t really feel like work. It’s just getting along with friends and having a good time,” she said.

Marcus Worner drums along with his spatulas during a “Spatar” Show. As a familiar country song blasts through the speakers Worner jams on the grill while other volunteers dance with the crowd and play giant spatulas as guitars.

Besides their immensely popular ‘Shrimp Bombs,’ which are essentially shrimp and sausage skewers in a honey chipotle sauce, The Toad offers a menu unlike any other barbecue in the region.

“We’re barbecuing but we’re not doing what everybody else is doing, we’re doing something that’s different,” said Toad Grill Master Marcus Worner. “We’re changing the whole aspect and introducing seafood and pasta into it. No other vendor here has pasta, no other vendor here has shrimp. And that’s what makes us unique. “ The fun really starts when the grilling crew

breaks out several giant custom-made spatulas and cranks up music that streams from an iPod duct-taped to one of two loudspeakers set up in front of the booth. In front, half of the grill crew play air guitar on their ‘spatars’ (spuh-tars) while the other half bang on the grills with their spatulas to keep rhythm.

This unique kind of entertainment serves as both a crowd pleaser and a way to show their customers that they’re having a good time with what they’re doing. “The quality of what we have is why we’re here,” says Worner. “We believe in the food, the quality and the entertainment.”

“We’re barbecuing but we’re not doing what everybody else is doing, we’re doing something that’s different.”

– Marcus Worner Grill master at Golden Toad

Pots full of Golden Toad’s special blend sauces run low after a long day of grilling. The Toad offers a variety of sauces and spice blends including a Chipotle Pepper Sauce, Barbecue Finishing Sauce, and a Prime Steak Rub. It was with these sauces and rubs that The Toad built it’s roots when they first began competing at barbecue competitions in early 2004.

B6 • AUDIOFILES • SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 • THE METROPOLITAN

SOUNDING OFF: Co-Founder Josh Baker: Building Monolith

• By Matt Pusatory • mpusator@mscd.edu

MP: Originally, how did the idea for Monolith come about?

JB: My partner [Matt Fecher] and I were doing a festival up in the mountains, the South Park [Music] Festival, outside of Fairplay and the chief marketing officer for Red Rocks and city venues is Erik Dyce. He actually approached us a few years back about maybe doing a similar idea about maybe an independent music festival over at Red Rocks and Matt and I kinda disregarded it…

He approached us the next year about it and we said ‘Hey, let’s do it’ and we had a name and a site and a title sponsor and within about three months we decided we were gonna do it and it just kinda took off…

MP: How do you feel this year’s line up stacks up against previous years?

JB: I think this year is definitely a good indication of what the future of our festival is going to be about.

It seems a little younger than previous years. A lot more party-oriented, dance-party oriented. I don’t know, each year kind of has its own identity, but I think overall it’s a great two-day lineup.

MP: Do you guys try to keep the lineup balanced genre-wise?

JB: Yeah we do. It fluctuates from year to year…You got two different days that are each unique in their own right but together they make up a great festival.

MP: Who are you personally excited to see?

JB: Let’s see, that’s a good one. Bad Veins would be one of my picks. Of course I always pick all the smaller bands because those are the ones we try to help out the most. Neon Indian would be another one. And we’re all kinda pumped to see Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Doom and Phoenix and…I’m gonna start to name off all the bands.

MP: Can you tell me a little bit about the band Monotonix? Did they really get banned from the Red Rocks stage?

JB: No, I think that was kind of a joke saying they might get banned. They’ve never played Red Rocks so it would be kind of

hard for them to get banned. But they’re crazy. They probably won’t even play on the stage. The drummer sits on his drums and surfs across the crowd and bangs on stuff. It’s gonna be crazy.

MP: This year, you guys announced bands through Facebook and Twitter. How do you think that went overall? Will you do it again next year?

JB: Oh yeah definitely. The reason why we did it was to kinda spend a little more time talking about the smaller bands. A lot of times when festivals announce their lineup, they’ll just announce them all at once… This way, we announce the smaller bands first and some people like those bands and then there’s another band you like… And you feel a little bit more connected to the festival because you’re part of the announcement as it’s happening… I think it was a good way for us to roll out our lineup and everyone seemed to like it aside from the fact that everyone had to wait a little longer to get the headliners. But I think, in the end, it was worth it.

MP: How has having fans pick the bands this year actually affected the festival? Did fans actually have a lot of say in the bill?

JB: Totally. When we put that call out in December or January that was our goal. We like all kinds of music, but at the end of the day we want to give the fans what they want…You can’t get ‘em all, some bands are playing outside the U.S… but, for the most part, this was a fan-picked lineup.

MP: Roughly how many local bands are playing at this year’s festival and how important was it to keep local acts involved?

JB: I think there are 12. I may have to count ‘em again, but I’m pretty sure it’s 12. The local scene is what’s helped build this event. We started off as a little baby festival and now we’re building it…When we set out to do this we wanted to help those bands… We get a lot of enjoyment out of helping bands and being a part of the advancement of their career, if you will.

MP: Monolith is still a pretty young festival. Do you see it reaching

“When you go to a festival, you want to see your favorite bands up close and not have to sift through 40 to 50,000 people and that’s what we’re about...”

12:30 p.m. 9.13 - 9.14 the same heights as SXSW or Coachella in the future?

JB: Not really. That’s not really what we’re about; you know?

We’re kind of comfortable with a smaller, boutique-style festival.

The concept of the festival was we wanted something that was a little smaller a little more manageable from a fan’s perspective.

When you go to a festival, you want to see your favorite bands up close and not have to sift through 40 to 50 thousand people and that’s what we’re about…We got some plans to expand a little bit, but nothing like the size of Coachella…We’re not trying to compete with that.

MP: Do you guys have any last-minute surprises planned?

JB: Not really. We just kind of lay it all out on the table; you know? We don’t wanna hold anything back we just say ‘This is what it is and here’s the schedule.’ Maybe in future year’s we’ll pop in a few surprises. But what you see is what you get this year and I think that’s enough for people to make their decision.

Monolith Staff Picks Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Cymbals Eat Guitars

The Mars Volta

Yeah Yeah Yeahs formed in 2000 and took the music industry by storm by introducing a unique mix of new wave, metal and punk rock.

Citing influences from New York rock tradition such as Sonic Youth and Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, you also can’t help compare their sound to the likes of early Siouxsie Sioux and David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust. With Karen O’s riotous stage presence and dynamic vocals, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are a band you do not want to miss at Monolith. They grace the Esurance Music Stage at 9:45 p.m. on Saturday night.

Brian Hamilton’s lush keyboards and Neil Berenholz’ floating bass lines carry along Cymbals Eat Guitars and their focus on beauty within chaos. While Joseph D’Agostino and his electrified guitar warfare combines with Matthew Miller’s drums to finally define the emotional push of this Brooklyn band. Relevant to Pavement’s angular, pop song writing, along with Built to Spill’s amalgamation of atmosphere, the quartet’s energy is always present. Sincere melody lines are intentionally overshadowed, as the sweetest of songs explode into a cacophony of screaming vocals and fuzz. Cymbals Eat Guitars is sure to endear many indie-rock fans, as they play the WOXY.com indoor stage, this Saturday at 5:40 p.m.

If there is a band that will surely catch your attention at the Monolith Festival, it’s Sunday’s headliner The Mars Volta.

Whether it’s because of their bilingual lyrics or the unpredictably paced melodies that are often at odds with each other, The Mars Volta is hard to ignore. This is a band known for making their own rules, mixing influences and instruments from all over the world and injecting them with their own, indefinable style. They have the ability to turn a mellow ballad into a fast, progressive piece in a second, which will keep you guessing even through one of their 15-minute masterpieces.

• By Julie Maas • pretko@mscd.edu

• By Ian Gassman • img2007@comcast.net

• By Nathalia Velez • nvelez@mscd.edu

OK Go

Thao with The Get Down Stay Down

Bad Veins

After seeing OK Go in concert, the only question left on my mind was ‘Who couldn’t like OK Go?’ Their show was packed full of infectious tunes and danceable numbers that made it impossible for anyone in the audience to not sway a little to the beat.

Their music isn’t ground-breaking, but it sure is catchy.

Don’t miss them when they take the main stage at Red Rocks at 4:45 p.m. Saturday.

• By Krista Coulter • kcoulte2@mscd.edu

Catch this act if only for Thao Nguyen, the song writing force behind the band. Her all-too-cute persona brings life to her newest release We Brave Bee Stings And All, but even more so in person. Normally taking stage at venues smaller than your garage, the band might have a hard time holding the attention of ever-epic Red Rocks. But with their blend of folk-pop sensibility and punk rock passion, expect to walk away from their set with a smile on your face. The trio hits the main stage at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

• By Dominic Graziano • dgrazia1@mscd.edu

Bad Veins from Cincinnati is making some great indie pop. Armed with a reelto-reel to add an interesting orchestral dimension to the basic guitar and drums format, Bad Veins craft catchy rock songs with great riffs and choruses that get stuck in your head for days.

With the release of their self-titled debut album earlier this year, Bad Veins are sure to start turning heads soon, so get down to the WOXY.com stage to take in an intimate show before this band blows up.

The stage has limited capacity so be sure to get there early. The band will take the stage at 4:20 p.m. Sunday.

• By Matt Pusatory • mpusator@mscd.edu

B7 9.10.2009 THE METROPOLITAN

Suburban Home Records Turns 14 • By Matt Pusatory• mpusator@mscd.edu

This Album Changed My Life • By Dominic Graziano • dgrazia1@mscd.edu As is customary, my high school years were tumultuous. Not in the third-world sense that I was dodging gunfire on the way to my one-room schoolhouse with dirt floors and no books, but rather in the typical American sense of woes with the opposite sex and arguing with my mom about what I wanted to wear to school.

As is also customary, I turned to music to soothe my angered soul. First it was nu-metal bands like Limp Bizkit and Korn; bad choices to be sure.

After some serious soul searching, I made my departure from MTV’s suggested corporate-sponsored rock and found a new home in the angered arms of punk rock.

But it would be New Jersey’s Catch-22, and their energetic punk-ska amalgamation, that would show me how a single release could really speak to me.

Most of Keasbey Nights was written by Tomas Kalnoky, lead-singer, guitarist and driving force behind Catch-22.

To 14-year-old me, it seemed Kalnoky was speaking directly about my life on each and every track, with references to growing up wanting: whether it be the money that society promised would make me happy or just positive attention from another living person.

Keasbey’s first track, “Dear Sergio,” starts the album with a frantic horn piece leading into Kalnoky’s lyrics: “Run, run, run all you do is fucking run/ but you’ll never run away from yourself/ I know it’s hard but you’ve been there before/ and you know you’re gonna be there again.”

From here, the energy stays constant through the first half of the release until the eighth track, “Riding the Fourth Wave.” Completely instrumental, this call-and-answer song gave me my first appreciation for true musicianship. Before Catch-22 I had only yearned for three-chorded punk rock: loud and fast.

Keasbey’s closing tracks, “As the Footsteps Die Out Forever” and “1234, 1234” hit very close to home. The former is about Kalnoky’s mother and her short battle with a fatal disease. When I first heard the song my own mom was working through a lot of health issues and the chorus still makes me tear up every time I hear it: “Every night for three long weeks/ She’d roam the hallways half asleep/ And as the footsteps fade away/ In my mind, I could swear, I could swear, I heard her say:/ ‘Don’t wait for me, you’ve got a lot to do, you’ve got a lot to be/ And in the end maybe, I’ll see you there.’”

“1234, 1234” starts with Kalnoky accompanied by an acoustic guitar giving the world the cut-and-paste punk rock outlook on life: the world’s against you, quit complaining. From there, the band kicks in and the song finishes up with this well-crafted defense: “You say I’m full of shit, that I’m a hypocrite/ I shouldn’t talk when I can’t take the advice that I give/ Well maybe you’re right, but open your eyes/ The main difference here is that I try, try, try!”

There may only be praise for four of Keasbey’s 14 tracks, but each song resonates with the passion and energy that can only be found in music with real soul. Kalnoky left Catch-22 after this album and has since released two original CDs with his new band Streetlight Manifesto. But it’s Keasbey Nights that I come back to when nothing else will hit the spot.

Photo Flashback: Dressy Bessy

Audio{files}

Can’t afford a ticket to Monolith this year? Never fear! Sept. 11, 12 and 13, legendary local label Suburban Home Records is havin’ itself a birthday bash. The label has been putting out great alt-country and punk albums for 14 years, including albums from the likes of Drag The River, Two Cow Garage and Tim Barry of the hardcore band Avail.

In celebration of this milestone, the label is putting together two nights of rock ‘n’ roll at 3 Kings Tavern. For ten bucks a night, you can rock out with some of your favorite Suburban Home artists. Sept. 11 includes sets from Drag The River’s Jon Snodgrass, Look Mexico and Austin Lucas; among others.

On Saturday, starting at noon, the label will be having a garage sale at their offices where you’re sure to find some cool stuff, and a handful of artists will be playing acoustic sets. Afterward, head back down to 3 Kings and catch another great night of music with Ninja Gun, The Takers, and more. Two nights of wonderful, dirty, rock and country for dirt cheap.

What’s that? Not enough for you? Well they’ve got you covered. Sept. 13 will offer a barbeque and art show where some of Suburban Home’s artists will be displaying their art. The barbeque will be at Washington Park, while the art show will be in the basement of 3 Kings Tavern.

Suburban Home has been a fixture in Colorado’s local scene and have put out some fantastic music over the past 14 years.

It’s safe to say that Denver’s local landscape would look pretty different without Suburban Home helping local artists get off the ground. Come down to 3 Kings and show your support for such an important label. It is sure to be a kick ass weekend with plenty to do and plenty to see. If Monolith isn’t for you, this is a fantastic alternative.

For more information on the festival, and to buy tickets, please visit suburbanhomerecords.com.

Matt Pusatory mpusator@mscd.edu Music Editor

On this day in 1950, Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry was born in Boston.

TOP: Tammy Ealom, lead singer and guitarist of Dressy Bessy poses before the band’s show at the Gothic Theatre Sept. 5. BELOW: Ealom rocks the guitar while bassist Rob Greene supplies some handclaps.

Photos by Taryn Jones tjone101@mscd.edu

THE POINT: SUMMER ALMOST GONE

September song from an Auraria ‘senior’

The first two weeks of September are over. God may or may not be in his Heaven, but all is well on the Auraria campus, as it should be this time of year.

Last year, September’s idyll came a tad late after being disjointed by the lateAugust Democratic Convention in Denver that had classes starting early that month and the whole place locked down during the convention.

After Obama’s rousing speech at the hottest-ticket-in-town nomination gala at Mile High Stadium — you won’t ever catch me calling it “Invesco” anything — the energy peaked, then leaked, and Denver went back to business as usual.

But it was exhilarating while it lasted; especially against the backdrop of what has, or hasn’t, happened since.

This September should also be exhilarating, even without a post-Convention glow. Students and instructors have been plucked from a summer torpor for nearly three weeks now — summoned from wherever they may have summered.

Everybody has been back a while in the continuum of campus life. Balanced on the knife-edge of a season that’s still summer, but can’t last too long with harbingers of autumn already in the air, including Broncos’ exhibition games as a magnet for need-a-lifes.

Everything is still pretty much as it should be, for now.

Behind the still-in-bloom sunflowers framed by a cobalt morning sky beyond the Tivoli Center’s smokestack and on athletic fields that will be built-over before too long, frisbees float in lazy arcs over still-green grass. They’re tossed and caught by phys. ed. students without an apparent care in the world. There’s no sense of urgency about anything, anywhere.

Outside the fence, students stroll languidly in a cell-phone haze of sentences that are seldom complete. There’s no rush and no stress. Nothing has really happened yet. Apart from some surprise pop quizzes, the Furies of serious exams like midterms, finals and jury appraisals are still weeks away and even architecture students in their studios won’t be accountable for any fleshedout project for a while.

The Metro faculty union (yes, even faculties are unionized) won a court case on faculty tenure last week. Republicans weren’t amused, but the academic infighting that bubbles below tranquil–looking departments hasn’t surfaced yet. As does everything else in academia, this too takes time and no one will take off the gloves until all sides have been consulted. Collegially, of course.

Along campus walks and on benches, cell-phone Harpies haven’t quite begun call and text campaigns to undermine boyfriends’ esteem, with guys on the other end perhaps too lame to even know what’s going on.

Everything, in short, is still mellow

J. SEBASTIAN SINISI sinisi2@msn.com at a time when summer — evidenced by the ever-warming weather — still seems able to last forever for folks who haven’t had time for the bruised psychic shins, wounds and other baggage that teaches very few things, indeed, last very long.

And forget about forever, whatever that means.

Last week also served up the Fall Fest on campus as a huge outdoor party to sell students all the stuff they need.

Wares included bank checking accounts and credit cards, housing that looked a bit upscale, ski and snowboard deals, spiritual solace, New Age nostrums, ethnic identity, energy drinks and every state of grace in between. The festival even featured bands who confused music volume with quality, but that was all part of the ambiance. It was also fun.

A number of people — five is a number, isn’t it? — seated at the booths greeted me with “hellos” and tossed the “how are you today?” throwaway line that sounded surprisingly sincere. It felt good to someone of the definitively wrong age demographic for just about every imaginable product, service or dream being pitched to students. It was also nice not to be ignored for a change because I’m not wearing a backwards hat to hide white hair.

Labor Day weekend, that some of us saw as only two blinks after Memorial Day and the 4th of July, and already in the rear-view mirror, is supposed to be the official end of summer. People buy into that fiction, but it doesn’t hold up in Colorado. Our summery days can run well into October’s aspen-gold blaze, barring a September snowfall that also offers good odds.

Savor the season. Turn off the cell phone and look at the Colorado sky and foothills beyond Mile High Stadium, the Pepsi Center and the high-rise/highend towers rising over LoDo — in this economy, who’s buying those condos, anyway? The season won’t last, and reality will intrude soon enough. Maybe too soon.

THE METROPOLITAN • SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 • INSIGHT • A9

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

THE POINT: GOVERNMENT HAS NEVER ACTED QUICKLY

‘Change’ under Obama slow but steady Remember years ago, during Arnold Schwarzenegger’s campaign for California Governor, proponents used to say how nice it would be to have a “powerhouse” in office, a hero who could get things done.

I used to chuckle at the way they confused the movie character with the man, as if the new Governor could use his laser gun to vanquish a roomful of Democrats.

Clearly, in 2008, we Democrats had the same problem, electing Obama the Hero, Obama the Man of History. A few months later, none of our fantasies have been realized.

It’s amazing how deeply we Americans disdain the political process in Washington, the gradual gathering of support for a plan of action, the slow work of building consensus, the need to appear evenhanded and fair while at the same time, trying to expedite a bill that can actually get passed.

National reform is painstaking, very un-sexy, and you don’t get to say “go ahead, make my day” very often. Honestly, the process should be tedious, unless a President wants to arrest his opponents in the middle of the night and make them disappear.

This is why I always chuckle when friends complain about the snail’s pace of politics. I’m thinking, “Be careful what you wish for.”

To achieve national reform, a sitting President must deploy a mixture of sticks and carrots, of fear and friendship, must selectively extend the promise of support or the threat of opposition to more than five hundred elected individuals who don’t see the world the way he does.

If he steps over his opponents, he’s accused of bullying and risks alienating their supporters. If he’s too

conciliatory, his allies accuse him of watering down reform to the point that there’s nothing left.

Obama wants health reform. Everyone except Republican leadership wants health reform, but the President pretty much has to build it one congressman at a time.

It’s no wonder that during the early 1930’s there were calls for FDR to deploy temporary dictatorial powers. Of course, there are those who claim FDR did just that. But then, there are many more who say FDR didn’t go nearly far enough chasing out the fat cats, and that his failure to do so led to the current crisis that is costing us 1.5 trillion and counting.

The best Obama can do is make a clear case for a public health insurance option. He can then only hope that people tune in and listen to the facts.

His allies say that it’s time the President practiced a bit of arm twisting, cracked the whip, and instilled some serious party loyalty. They’ll point out that the Bush-led White House did not brook dissent from rank and file Republicans.

I’d respond that if Obama were a Republican, he’d have vilified his opponents months ago, calling them unpatriotic, immoral, a threat to national security, and associating them with terrorists. But that’s not his style, and it never will be.

Remember the movie “Billy Jack?” Where actor Tom Laughlin karate-chopped a whole restaurant full of racists after screaming, “I just go berserk.”? Well, we don’t have one of those. We just have this President who expresses himself quite well, and hopes people listen. Will that be enough? We’ll see.

“To achieve national reform, a sitting President must deploy a mixture of sticks and carrots, of fear and friendship...”

Mike Platz

THE METROPOLITAN Since 1979 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Dominic Graziano dgrazia1@mscd.edu

MUSIC EDITOR Matt Pusatory mpusator@mscd.edu

MANAGING EDITOR Lindsay Lovato llovato5@mscd.edu

ASSISTANT MUSIC EDITOR Krista Coulter kcoulte2@mscd.edu

COPY EDITORS Sam Blackmer blackmar@mscd.edu Dacia Johnson djohn205@mscd.edu Lucien Layne laynel@mscd.edu

NEWS EDITOR Caitlin Gibbons cgibbon4@mscd.edu

SPORTS EDITOR Kate Ferraro kferraro@mscd.edu

ADVERTISING Tucker Knight tknight7@mscd.edu

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR Ben Wiebesiek wiebesib@mscd.edu

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Josiah Kaan jkaan@mscd.edu

GRAPHIC DESIGN Kathleen Jewby kjewby@mscd.edu

FEATURES EDITOR Julie Vitkovskaya uvitkovs@mscd.edu

PHOTO EDITOR Drew Jaynes ajaynes1@mscd.edu

DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MEDIA Dianne Harrison Miller harrison@mscd.edu

ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR Gabrielle Porter gporter8@mscd.edu

ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITORS Leah Millis lmillis@mscd.edu Ryan Martin martirya@mscd.edu

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MEDIA Donnita Wong wongd@mscd.edu

ADVISER Jane Hoback hobackje@comcast.net 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 monthly 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 the Metro Board of Publications, care of The Metropolitan.

Deadline for calendar items is 5 p.m. Thursdays. Deadline for press releases is 10 a.m. Mondays.

Display advertising deadline is 3 p.m. Thursdays. Classified advertising is 5 p.m. Thursdays.

Opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of Metropolitan State College of Denver or its advertisers.

A11 • SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 • THE METROPOLITAN

SPORTS

“There’s definitely a theme of isolation in the community.”

-AK HOTTMAN, DIRECTOR OF THE OLD SAN JUAN , METROSPECTIVE, B3

Kate Ferraro • SPORTS EDITOR • kferraro@mscd.edu

SIDELINE

metro 3 - colorado premier tournament 1

THIS WEEK

9.10 Men’s Soccer

7 p.m. @ Western Washington Univ.

9.11 Women’s Soccer

1 p.m. vs Colorado School of Mines Volleyball 7 p.m. @ Colorado School of Mines

9.12 Men’s Soccer

3 p.m. @ Seattle Pacific Univ.

7 p.m. @ Chadron State College

9.13 Women’s Soccer

1 p.m. @ Colorado State Univ. - Pueblo

Say What?

Outside hitter Emily Greenhalgh goes up for a spike Sept. 4 during Metro’s match against Concordia University-St. Paul at the Auraria Event Center. The Roadrunners lost the match, bringing them to a 5-1 record, breaking their early season momentum. Photo by Leah Millis

• lmillis@mscd.edu

Hendricks earns 400th win in tourney Head coach beats former team for milestone

By Enrico Dominguez edoming2@mscd.edu Metro volleyball moved up to No.14 in the country after hosting the Colorado Premier Challenge Sept. 4 and 5 at the Auraria Events Center. Head coach Debbie Hendricks earned her 400th career win against her former team Sept. 5 in a huge upset against Western Texas A&M. In the opening match against Western Oregon University, the women won 3-0. This win put the Roadrunners to a 5-0 season start which is their best start in 15 years.

Sophomores Emily Greenhalgh, Bri Morley and junior Lisa Jones had a combined total of 30 kills against WOU. Senior setter Gabe Curtis had 47 assists and senior Amy Watanabe had 15 digs. Combined the women’s

team held WOU to .184 (27-9-98) while they struck an awesome .361 (57-14-119).

The second match Sept. 4 was rough with the women only scoring a combined total of 39 points against the No. 1 ranked Concordia University-St. Paul. The women lost 3-0 dropping their overall record to 5-1. The team hit -.018 (22-24-09) in the 3-0 loss, which is the worst game the women have played in 10 years.

The women played Northwest Nazarene Sept. 5 and hit .220 (4317-118) while holding NNU to .157 (35-18-108). Curtis had 38 assists along with two kills of her own. Although they won NNU showed signs of life in the third match tying the runners 20-20. The women stayed focused and finished the match scoring on five of the last six points for the win.

Although Metro lost to No. 1 defending champions Concordia University-St. Paul, the women brushed off the loss and took it to No. 3

• Men’s Club Volleyball Tryouts, A13 • Profile on vollyeball outside hitter Bri Morley, A13 ranked Western Texas A&M, which is Hendricks’ former team.

The women dominated against WTAMU, hitting .211 (70-29-194) while only allowing .103 (48-29184). The last time the women defeated a top-5 ranked team was six years ago to No. 3 Truman State and No. 4 Cal State San Bernardino in consecutive matches.

Curtis led five ’Runners to double digits in kills with Morley attaining a season high with 19 kills, with Greenhalgh at 14, followed by Junior Anna Mapes with 12 as well as sophomore Julie Causseaux and junior Lisa Jones each getting 10 kills.

Defensively Watanabe tied a career high 33 kills alongside sophomore Ngoc Phan’s 15 digs.

Hendricks achieved her 400th career victory with the win against WTAMU which is ironic because

Hendricks coached the Lady Buffs from 1993-1998, and led them to a national championship in 1997.

“It represents 18 years of hard work,” Hendricks said. “A coach can’t do anything without great assistant coaches and players.”

Curtis was named Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference’s setter of the week as well as being named to the Colorado Premier Challenge AllTournament team while Watanabe was honored as RMAC Defensive Player of the Week.

The Roadrunners open conference play Sept. 11 at Colorado School of Mines.

“It represents 18 years of hard work. A coach can’t do anything without great assistant coaches and players.”

HEAD COACH DEBBIE HENDRICKS

“I seriously kept wiping my hand to the grass. I didn’t even know it was blood until I looked down at my hand.”

SOCCER FORWARD ASHLEY NEMMERS, A12

FUN FACT Former Metro baseball player Matt McConnell finished his first season of professional baseball with the Gulf Coast League Phillies. He batted .245 with 25 hits in 102 at bats. His biggest moment of the season was when he went 3-for-4 with three doubles off Pedro Martinez in an intrasquad game. The GCL Philies finished second place in the North Division of the Gulf Coast League.

A12 » SPORTS » SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 » THE METROPOLITAN • Ken Griffey Jr. and father Ken Griffey Sr. are the only father and son combo to hit back-to-back home runs in a Major League Baseball game.

metro 1 - minnesota state 2, metro 2 - winona state 1 ot

Split weekend leaves Metro unranked

By Brent Ratliff bratliff@mscd.edu The Metro women’s soccer team went down 2-1 against Minnesota State-Mankato Sept. 4, but rebounded with a win against Winona State two days later at the Auraria Field.

Metro forward Ashley Nemmers was wearing a little more red than the rest of the team 10 minutes into the game. Her bloody face matched her uniform as she slid into an opponent’s elbow.

“I seriously kept wiping my hand to the grass,” Nemmers said. “I didn’t even know it was blood until I looked down at my hand.”

The Mavericks fans, players and coaches were looking for any advantage that they could find due to their awareness of the prowess of Metro’s squad.

Metro forward Becca Mays was tackled from behind in a controversial no-call inside the 18-yard box just before halftime, which should have resulted in a penalty kick. The score at halftime was 0-0.

Metro seemingly had control of the game until a second-half break-

Metro forward Ashley Nemmers, center, listens to a speech from head coach, Adrianne Almaraz, not pictured, on why they lost their game Sept.

4 against Minnesota StateMankato following a close match at Auraria Field. Photo by Leah Millis • lmillis@mscd.edu

away opportunity by forward Brittany Henry of Mankato that came to fruition and gave them a 1-0 lead.

The double viper effect was not in full force for Mays and forward Jen Thomas as they couldn’t find the

back of the net. Mays tried to find her rhythm in order to score a goal, yet her cohort Thomas had to leave the game early due to an upper leg injury.

The Roadrunners fired several

missile shots at Maverick’s goalkeeper Sheila Reynolds during the game, but Reynolds watched a few go wide and deflected or caught the others.

Metro forward Aleah Degeneres was the only player who seemed to find

a pocket and smashed a goal past Reynolds.

Due to the overall time of possession advantage by Metro, Roadrunner’s goalkeeper Becca Maloney didn’t get many pressure shots during the game. However, two of the few pressure shots she faced scored and that was the deciding factor as Metro lost 2-1.

Metro rebounded Sept. 6 against Winona State in a case of déjà vu from Aug. 30 as Thomas scored the gamewinning goal in double overtime again to give Metro a 3-1 record for the season. They won the game 2-1.

Metro will host Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference rival Colorado School of Mines Sept. 11 at Auraria Field.

metro 1 - midwestern state 2, metro 4 - northeastern state 1

Roadrunners exit Texas with a draw Metro dropped to No. 20 after split in Lone Star state

By Lauren Schaedig lschaedi@mscd.edu On their first trip away from their home field, the Metro men’s soccer team suffered a tough loss of 2-1 to Midwestern State Sept. 4, but came back hungry and ready to battle Sept.

6 to a 4-1 victory over Northeastern State in Texas.

In their first game, the Roadrunners were tied up with their opponents, but a red card on midfielder Scott Crawford late in the first half put them down a player. Shortly after the foul, Midwestern’s winning goal was scored on our own goal off a deflection. It was an uphill battle for the Roadrunners for the rest of the game, fighting their opponents while down a man and racing to tie the game.

Unfortunately, they couldn’t find the back of the net and Metro was left with a loss.

Despite the results, head coach Ken Parsons was proud of the composure his team had in the face of such adversity.

“You have to give credit to the team in a situation like that,” Parsons said. “It’s easy to just hang your head and give up… They showed a lot of character. There will be frustrating moments; it’s what you do from there

that’s the most important.”

The Roadrunners didn’t let their first game get them down however, and came out hot in their second game of the weekend. Forward Scott Grode scored Metro’s first goal in the first 30 seconds, putting Northeastern State out of their game right from the start.

“It was a total game change, and it gave our team confidence,” Grode said. “You could see their heads drop right away.”

However, the Roadrunners weren’t finished yet. Grode’s goal was soon followed by a stunning header goal by midfielder Steven Emory off a cross from midfielder Tyler Hambrick. Just over a minute after Emory’s goal, forward Ri Armstrong put another one in the net after a one on one with the Northeastern goalkeeper. The Roadrunners fourth goal came off our own goal shortly into the second half.

Even though Northeastern managed to get one in the net off a corner kick, they couldn’t catch up to Metro, and the Roadrunners came home satisfied and ready to face their next opponents.

As for preparing for their next competition, Parsons has confidence in his team after their improvements in one on one defending and finishing, but also has a few adjustments to make.

“We gave up goals off long services. We need to tighten up the de-

fense,” Parsons said.

He also plans to focus on transition play and, as always, creating opportunities to score. But with the improvement the team has made in just a few weeks, Parsons is confident his team will do well in the coming games.

The Roadrunners will be heading north to Washington for their next two games, facing Western Washington on Sept. 10 and Seattle Pacific on Sept. 12.

“You have to give credit to the team in a situation like that. It’s easy to just hang your head and give up...

They showed a lot of character. There will be frustrating moments; it’s what you do from there that’s the most important.”

HEAD COACH KEN PARSONS

Midfielder Steven Emory vies for possession of the ball against his teammates during soccer practice Aug. 31 at the Auraria Field. Emory scored a goal against Northeastern State Sept. 6 in Texas. File photo

by Ryan Martin • martirya@mscd.edu

Yale University has won the most college football National Championships with 18. The last was in 1927. • THE METROPOLITAN • SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 • SPORTS • A13

Sophomore starter spikes the competition Outside hitter sees big future in volleyball team

Trail High School in Aurora.

Like many athletes, Morley has been critical of herself in the past.

“It’s just going to be fun. If we’re going to go all the way, it’ll be this year and that’s what we’re expecting.”

By Matt Hollinshead mhollin5@mscd.edu Metro volleyball outside hitter Bri Morley had another outstanding performance Sept. 4 against Western Oregon University as she guided her team with 13 kills and a .478 kill percentage. The sophomore indicated that she feels very optimistic about the remainder of the season and has proven she’s a reliable member of the team.

Morley, a Human Performance and Sport major, said she believes that Metro will win the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference’s women’s volleyball championship at the end of this season. This seems entirely possible given the team’s fast start and No. 14 national ranking as of Sept. 7, according to the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association NCAA Division II Top-25 poll. The Roadrunners came in ranked No. 23 the week of Aug. 31, their first appearance in the poll since 2005.

A member of Metro’s volleyball team since the 2008 season and already a RMAC Offensive Player of the Week this season, Morley has learned a lot from her experiences with the team and does not take a starting po-

OUTSIDE HITTER BRI MORLEY

Metro outside hitter Bri Morley. Photo by Ryan Martin • martirya@mscd.

edu

sition for granted.

“It feels good, but there’s no set in stone position right now. You have

to work your butt off if you want to earn a starting position,” said Morley, a 2008 graduate of Cherokee

’Runners off to strong start

By Scott Bassett sbasset4@mscd.edu The Metro men and women’s cross country teams shook off some dust as both squads finished third overall in their first events of the season at the UC-Colorado Springs Rust Buster Sept.4 in Colorado Springs.

The women’s team, led by sophomore Danielle Kehoe’s second place finish in the 4K race, placed just one point behind the Colorado School of Mines.

“They exceeded my expectations for this time in the season so I’m really happy with where they’re at,” Interim cross country head coach Sean Nesbitt said.

Kehoe led most of the race, but senior Sydney Laws of Colorado School of Mines closed very well to edge out the Metro sophomore by a matter of seconds, Nesbitt said.

“I’m a very competitive person, so I would have much rather have won, but coming in second was fine as well,” Kehoe said. “It just gives me something to improve on.”

Sophomore Xenia Flores placed seventh with a time of 15:34.63 and senior Taebrooke Rutter finished in ninth place to round out three top10 finishes for the women’s team.

“It was nothing stellar, but we’re not looking for perfect right now,” Nesbitt said. “But it was definitely

3.8 miles, which made it easy to fall behind early.

“They closed pretty well, but they took themselves out of it in the first mile more than they should have,” Nesbitt said. “In that short of a race you can’t let anybody get away from you.”

Both teams have a good foundation of material to improve on and are ready for the season to progress.

“We’re looking forward to CSU in a couple of weeks,” Luna said.

The men and women’s teams are on a short break until Sept. 18 when they travel to the Colorado State University Classic in Fort Collins.

Metro runner Anthony Luna.

File photo illustration by Cora Kemp • ckemp4@mscd.edu something to build on.”

Senior Anthony Luna and sophomore Nate Newland spearheaded the No. 18 ranked team in the nation, with a fourth and eighth place finish in the 6K run, respectfully.

“I was pretty pleased about my placing,” Luna said. “I personally thought if we went out a little harder, I would have won the race.”

The men’s course totaled a mere

“ I’m a very competitive person, so I would have much rather have won, but coming in second was fine as well. It just gives me something to improve on.”

METRO RUNNER DANIELLE KEHOE

“I used to be really negative on myself when I made a lot of errors and I learned to let those go,” Morley said. “Everyone knows that it happens and you just got to move on.”

Morley said she’s looking forward to this season, because she feels that this will be a strong team.

“It’s just going to be fun,” Morley said. “If we’re going to go all the way, it’ll be this year and that’s what we’re expecting.”

Morley seems pleased with the team’s success thus far.

“We’re still working every day on something new, but it’s a good start for the season,” Morley said.

Morley said she believes there is potential in her volleyball career after college.

“There’s not really anything you can do after college,” Morley said.

“But if I did need to go out overseas, I might.”

Outside of playing volleyball, Morley has a busy life.

“I work. My family owns a restaurant. It’s called The Rock. And then, I hang out with my family and school and that’s about it. That’s all you have time for.”

Morley’s life off the court may seem typical for a college student, but her emergence as a star on the court may lead the team all the way to the RMAC title.

Bri Morley Career stats Offensive Stats GP-MP............. 99-26 Kills..................321 Kills/game.......3.24 Aces.................10 Aces/game.......0.10 Defensive Stats Digs..................144 Digs/game.......1.45 Blocks...............26 Blocks/game....2.6

Men’s club volleyball ready for round two

By Josiah Kaan jkaan@mscd.edu The Metro men’s club volleyball team held tryouts in preparation for the program’s second season Sept. 3 at the Auraria Events Center.

Head coach Gavin Markovits said he expected 20 to 30 people to show up and try out for eight to 10 open spots on the roster.

“I know that there’s good players on this campus ‘cause I know some of them,” Markovits said. “It’s just a matter of if they’re willing to commit the time to play.”

Last season, the team struggled with the level of commitment that the players were showing, and as a result the players that make it on the team will be required to commit, Markovits said.

“I think we’re going to have a lot more organization, (and) dedication.

We had a lot of players just kind of disappear halfway through (last season),” said outside hitter Greg Torres. “So, I think we’re going to have a more committed group and just work with that.”

The club team’s strength lies within their offense as they are a good hitting team, but need to work on ball control and defense, Markovits said.

“You know, I think we’re pretty athletic and pretty physical.” Markovits said. “I think our strengths are more offensive than defensive.”

Another key strength of the team is the player’s cohesiveness, middle blocker Davis Caldwel said.

“We all get along really well,” Caldwel said. “I mean we’re pretty close and we’ve only played a year together.”

In the first season of men’s club volleyball, the team finished in the top division of USA Volleyball’s adult league. USA Volleyball’s adult league is made up of teams from colleges, such as Colorado School of Mines and Colorado State University, and teams of adults, Markovits said.

“It was our first season we even tried to have a men’s club team, so we were really trying to build and, you know, form the foundation for the club team in the future,” Markovits said.

The team is anticipating the start of practice to be either Sept. 10 or 17, and the season will officially start in December.

If any Metro student missed the tryout and would like to try out for the team contact Markovits at gmarkovi@mscd.edu or call his office phone at 303-556-3832.

CROSSWORD

Time{out}

A14 9.10.2009 THE METROPOLITAN

SUDOKU

FABRICATED TALES

Epic celebratory gesture captured Across 1- For fear that 5- Freeway access 9- Go with the flow 14- Fashion mag 15- Dies ___ 16- Anatomical cavity 17- Rate of flow of fluid 18- Drill a hole 19- Force upon 20- Two wrestlers on the same side 22- Archbishop 24- Relative by marriage 26- Pound sound 27- Climbed 30- Skullcap 35- Semi-automatic pistol 36- Dull pain 37- Lecherous look 38- 401(k) alternative 39- Group of fruit trees

42- Cry ___ River 43- Pitchfork-shaped letters 45- Ancient Athens’s Temple of ___ 46- Ages 48- Guard 50- One concerned with the bottom line?

51- Genetic messenger 52- Start of something big?

54- Variety of rummy 58- Between sunrise and sunset 62- Ain’t right?

63- Cure, in a way 65- A party to 66- Extent 67- Editor’s mark 68- Collar fastener 69- Bed down 70- Member of the

Conservative Party 71- Digits of the foot Down 1- Remaining 2- First name in scat 3- Garden pest 4- Cloth 5- Vulgar person 6- Fragrance 7- Damage 8- Quick look 9- Uphold 10- Ominous 11- Bhutan’s continent 12- Attention-getter 13- London gallery 21- Diciembre follower 23- Less common 25- Large-leaved European elm 27- Minor mistakes 28- Swearword

By D. Graziano dgrazia1@mscd.edu

29- Anew 31- Cries of discovery 32- Yellowish citrus fruit 33- New Hampshire city 34- Clear the board 36- Area of 4840 square yards 40- Charged 41- Pyramid category 44- Odd 47- Boastful person 49- Part of the foot 50- Silly 53- Freud contemporary 54- Autos 55- Asian sea 56- Branta sandvicensis 57- Kind of prof.

59- A big fan of 60- Pouting grimace 61- Finishes 64- From ___ Z

Scientists have proof of the first recorded underwater interspecie “high–five,” thanks to an intrepid diver’s bravery.

“I’m just a man, bro. Nothing more,” said Reginald “Skeet” Skeetson regarding his high five.

“I was just the right dude in the right place at the right time.”

Oceanographer Jack Bothe, who took the now-famous picture, said this is a big step for ocean studies.

“We didn’t expect a lot when we went out that morning, but Skeet was determined to get or give some skin no matter what it took,” Bothe said.

Animal rights groups have released statements deterring others from repeating Skeetson’s actions.

Skeetson moments before the epic high–five occurred.

“There’s no telling what this sort of esteem building will have on ocean wildlife,” according to a PETA press release.

Smith’s high–fiving partner, a humpback whale, could not be reached for comment.

WEEK{PREVIEW} SATURDAY/ 09.12

“Highly Evolved Human”

Pizza for a Cause

New Belgium Tour de Fat

7:30 P.M. Avenue Theater — 417 E. 17th Ave. $15

10 A.M. — 11 P.M. Big Bill’s NY Pizza — 8243 S. Holly, Centennial

9 A.M. — 4 P.M. City Park Free, $5 beers for charity

Pin Up Palooza Opening

“Shaun of the Dead”

8:30 P.M. Ziggie’s Saloon — 4923 W. 38th Ave. Free

7 - 10 P.M. Color and Light Gallery — 1422 E. 22nd Ave.

MONDAY/ 09.14

MIDNIGHT Esquire Theater — 590 Downing $7.25

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TUESDAY/ 09.15

WEDNESDAY/ 09.09

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Blues Open Mic

“How I Became A Pirate”

Public Evening

Book Club Happy Hour

4 P.M. Valdez-Perry Library — 4690 Vine St. Free

7 P.M. Chamberlin Observatory — DU Campus Free

6 P.M. Tattered Cover Lodo — 1628 16th St. Free

Bingo with Ginger Perry

Battle Royale

The Man, The Legend: Denver Joe

9 P.M. Hi-Dive — 7 S. Broadway No Cover

7:30 P.M. Bovine Metropolis Theatre — 1527 Champa $5

9 P.M. Bender’s Tavern — 314 E 13th Ave. $3 PBR TALLBOYS

SUNDAY/ 09.13

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FRIDAY/ 09.11

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THURSDAY/ 09.10

ICE CREAM, ICE CREAM, BURGER TOUR

2:30 P.M. COST OF FOOD This tour starts at Little Man Ice Cream, 2620 16th St., and continues to Red Trolley for more dessert before heading back downtown to finish at Thunderbird for hamburgers.

Remember; “life is short, eat dessert first.”