Volume 33, Issue 19 - Feb. 4, 2011 by Met Media

THE

ETROPOLITAN METROPOLITAN Serving Auraria for 31 years

February 4, 2011, Vol. 33, Issue 19

Online >> http://themet.metrostudentmedia.com

No brrreak for cold weather By Nic Garcia ngarci20@mscd.edu

uraria students awoke Feb. 1 to the cold hard fact that campus was open despite the bone-chilling temperatures. And some students weren’t shy about telling Metro President Stephen Jordan how they felt via Metro’s official Facebook page. “Schools closing tomorrow-not that ya care,” Metro student Tina R. posted. “But some students (like me) have kids that won’t have school again tomorrow that we will need to stay home with!!!!” Louie S. was less diplomatic: “I would like to see Dr. Jordan walk from class to class in this cold! What is [he] doing? Is he even on campus? Prolly (sic) not he might just be in Hawii (sic) having the time of his life and if he isn’t, i (sic) think they should put his office outside in the cold for a couple days and then tell us how he feels. THANKS FOR NOT CLOSING SCHOOL YOUR ON MY SHIT LIST!” In a Feb. 2 interview with The Metropolitan, Jordan said he understands students’ frustration but stands by his decision. “I still believe we did not have a set of conditions that would compel us to close a public institution,” Jordan said. Jordan said he was downtown at 7 a.m walking around campus, as well as to and from Writer Square. “I can fully appreciate a whole variety of reasons why some students aren’t able to make it — and we said that in the e-mail,” he said. “I’m sorry; I think there are a lot of other issues at stake. We’re a public institution. Taxpayers pay for this place to operate, and students pay for it.”

CCD student Mamadou S. Camara, center, walks across Auraria Jan. 31 as snow falls around him. Temperatures dropped to 10 degrees Jan. 31 and dipped below zero by afternoon Feb. 1. Camara, originally from Gambia, was not enjoying the cold. “Whenever it snows like this, it makes me want to go home,” he said. Photo by Leah Millis • lmillis@mscd.edu Jordan said he’s been equally criticized in the past for closing campus. The school published a letter from Jordan on the home page and MetroConnect explaining why campus was open, after student complaints grew. The decision to close campus is made by the Auraria Higher Education Center’s Interim Executive Vice President for Administration,

Barbara Weiske, Jordan said. No institution can close independently. Weiske had consulted with Jordan, executives at CCD and UCD, as well as the Colorado State Patrol and Denver police to ensure roads were safe for travel, he said. Jordan said he also consulted with physicians at the Health Center. Director of the Health Center Stephen Monaco said his physicians advised that, if students and faculty

bundled up, there would be no harm from the cold. “The key-word is dressed,” Monaco said. “Cold temperature in and of itself does not cause harm. It’s that students aren’t dressed appropriately.” Monaco said the Health Center is willing to talk with any student who has questions about how to dress correctly during the winter months. Feb. 1’s high was minus 1. It was

the first time since 1997 the city’s temperature did not rise above zero during the day, according to the National Weather Service. All four-year public colleges in the metro area were open Feb. 1 and 2. Monaco said he could not comment on whether or not the Health Center had treated any student for weather-related illnesses.

NEWS In-state tuition for undocumented students proposed • 4 SPORTS

Men’s basketball stays on top of conference • 15

METROSPECTIVE

Students spread bright ideas about saving energy • 10

3 • FEBRUARY 4, 2011 • THE METROPOLITAN

EWS

“Every Roadrunner, down at Auraria, liked snow days a lot. But the President of Metro, who resides in Central Classroom, well, they said he did not.” — STAFF EDITORIAL • INSIGHT • 8

Bus fee increase up for vote Student hope to negotiate campus deal with RTD

2.4 • Mostly Sunny High: 44/Low: 17 2.5 • Partly Cloudy High: 47/Low: 24 2.6 • Chance of snow High: 35/Low: 19 2.7 • Partly Cloudy High: 30/Low: 10 2.8 • Mostly Sunny High: 33/Low: 22 2.9 • Mostly Sunny High: 39/Low: 26 By Kendell LaRoche

CORRECTIONS

A passenger waits for a light rail train Feb. 2 on the south side of Auraria. Students will vote whether to approve a $9 increase for the bus pass fee. Photo by Steve Anderson • sande104@mscd.edu The Auraria Higher Education Center, which manages the contract with RTD, will pay $5.2 million this school year — and if the fee is approved, $6.5 million for the 2011–12 school year. RTD no longer offers an annual all-access pass for its services. The closest option for an individual — a regional pass — would set him or her back $2,112 annually. RTD spokeswoman Daria Serna said her organization is willing to listen to students’ concerns; however,

most of Jurado’s first need to be addressed at Auraria. “On our end, you’re more than welcome to be at the table,” Serna said. “But it would have to be through your leadership because that’s who we have the contract with.” Auraria is one of seven campuses that participate in the RTD program. Dave Newport, director of the Environmental Center at the University of Colorado at Boulder, said RTD has to do a better job of tracking how many trips students take.

“Every time a student transfers between a bus it’s billed as a new trip,” Newport said. Drivers note every time a student shows his or her ID. Individuals who pay cash are offered transfers at no additional fee. A study conducted in 2008 found CU-Boulder was billed twice for 18 percent of all rides. RTD is developing a pilot program for smart cards that will track riders on and off buses, including transfers, Serna said.

College’s name up for $25,000 review President, trustees start phase two of brand assessment By Caitlin Gibbons cgibbon4@mscd.edu Call it a 45-year itch. Call it time for change. But will the college continue to be called the Metropolitan State College of Denver? This is the question the Board of Trustees, the governing board for the college, is looking into with an assessment of the name and brand of the school. The process started a year ago, almost to the date. Feb. 3, 2010 the board approved a resolution to spend $25,000 to assess the name of the college. Sector Brands LLC conducted the research, asking members of the

INSIGHT ... 8 METROSPECTIVE ... 9 SPORTS ... 15 TIMEOUT ... 18

WEATHER

By Nic Garcia ngarci20@mscd.edu Students at all three Auraira institutions will decide this spring whether to approve a fee hike of $9 to keep an all-access pass to RTD buses and light rails. Students must approve the raise since it is more than 3 percent, said Jeff Stamper, director of campus use and services at Auraria. If approved, students taking classes at Auraria would pay $70 a semester starting in the fall. The hike comes after RTD logged more rides by Auraria students and its own rate increase, Stamper said. But, before students vote, one member of the Student Advisory Committee to the Auraria Board wants to haggle. Paul Jurado, a CCD student, knows the program is popular with many students, but he has concerns and a wish list: a three-year deal, a lower fee, an opt-out option for students and the inclusion of students at satellite campuses. “Many students feel it’s a smoking deal,” Jurado said. “But we want to present our concerns to RTD. We’re sitting in a more powerful position to negotiate.” All three schools are at recordbreaking enrollment, and students are using RTD more each semester, Stamper said.

INDEX

community how they felt about the name of the school. The funds came out of one-time money the college sets aside for projects, such as this one. Jordan revealed to the board Feb. 2 plans to move into the next phase of the assessment — testing new names. For an additional $25,000, Sector Brands will be asking students, faculty, community members and alumni to weigh in on three new names for the school as well as the existing. The three new eligible names are: Metropolitan State University of Denver, University of Central Colorado and Denver State University. Metro President Stephen Jordan said having a large community college system in Colorado creates a little confusion with the four-year institutions also bearing the college name.

Sector Brands found 12 percent of alumni and 15 percent of regional employers who have some connection to the college believe Metro is seen as a community college. Other states have already moved to a model of using the college designation for two-year institutions and university for four-years schools, Jordan said. “Generally, people believe a degree with university in it brings higher value than a name without the word university it in,” Jordan said. The phase one assessment concluded more than 90 percent of employers felt using the word university would be an advantage in the name. Alumni — more than 80 percent — preferred university. If a new name is proven to be more favorable, it will be taken to the board, where the 11 voting members

will decide the next move. If the name is approved, it would then have to be approved by the legislature and the governor. The total cost to re-brand the school all at once would be in the neighborhood of $500,000. Costs would include replacing letterhead, business cards and signs around campus. However, Jordan said if a new name is chosen, it would be implemented in steps, not all at once. All the if ’s aside, Jordan is taking the assessment one step at a time. He declined to say which of the names he favored, as to not sway any opinions. The college will host a townhall meeting at 7:30 p.m., Feb. 9 in the Tivoli Turnhalle for students, faculty and staff interested in voicing their opinion on the name of the school.

A story on Page 11 of The Metropolitan’s Jan. 27 edition should have reported Metro’s woman baskeball team played Fort Lewis on Jan. 21. To notify The Metropolitan of an error in any of our reports, please contact Editor-in-Chief Ashley Moreland at amorela1@mscd.edu

Students sound off on the Auraria’s RTD fee hike. We compile the best comments from Metro’s official Facebook page after news spread the campus was open during below zero temperatures.

facebook.com/

The Metropolitan

youtube.com/ themetonline

4 • NEWS • FEBRUARY 4, 2011 • THE METROPOLITAN

Dems back tuition bill for immigrants Undocumented students would pay in-state rates By Caitlin Gibbons cgibbon4@mscd.edu Sens. Michael Johnston, D-Denver, and Angela Giron, D-Pueblo, unveiled a bill calling for undocumented immigrants to receive instate tuition rates in Colorado, at a press conference Feb 2. in the west atrium of the Capitol. Hours before, and just a few miles away, Metro’s Board of Trustees unanimously passed a resolution in support of the bill. Senate Bill 11-126 — also known to supporters as Colorado’s ASSET, Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow — would allow high school students who have graduated after attending three or more years of public or private high school or earned a general equivalency diploma to pay in-state tuition rates at colleges and universities in the state. Currently, undocumented students pay out-of-state or non-resident tuition rates. However, unlike residents, the

tuition rate would exclude the Colorado Opportunity Fund, a $72 per credit hour stipend the state pays. “This will not cost the state one penny,” said Rep. Angela Williams, D-Denver, a co-sponsor of the bill. Giron said she sees this bill as a huge piece to the economic success of Colorado. “Colorado ASSET has always been the right thing to do, and we cannot allow another generation of students to struggle to contribute to society,” Giron said. Johnston said this is not only a moral issue, but also an economic one. “This is not a partisan issue. It is not a federal issue. It is a fiscal issue,” he said. Johnston said by providing more students the opportunity to go to college, the state will become more competitive. Colorado could learn a few lessons from Texas, which passed similar legislation in 2001, Johnston said. “In 2009, Texas reported a $29 million increase in revenue as a result of the change,” he said. One opponent of the bill, Sen. Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch, said the bill would incentivize illegal

behavior. Harvey is sponsoring legislation to tighten immigration laws in Colorado. He said although SB 11-126 would not draw any state funds, taxpayers are already burdened by paying for those with undocumented status through other taxes. “It is not the role of the government to incentivize more people coming here by giving them a reward,” Harvey said. Johnston said the bill does nothing to encourage illegal behavior, but rather it extends resources to people who are already here and in the system. Local area high school students shared their stories on why they would like to see the bill become law. Alicia, a student at Bruce Randolph High School in Denver, said she has applied to seven colleges in Colorado and has been accepted to four, including Metro. However, she was brought to the U.S. by her family when she was 2-years-old and is undocumented. She said she dreams of being the first in her family not only to graduate from high school but also from college. “I’m not a criminal,” Alicia said.

Similar laws

Other states with in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants include: Washington California Utah New Mexico Nebraska Kansas Oklahoma Texas Wisconsin Illinois New York

The Metro Board of Trustees echoed her sentiment as it affirmed its continuing support of legislation seeking to provide students like Alicia an opportunity to go to college. “These students have not committed any crimes. They were brought here as children,” Trustee Antonio Esquibel said. Metro is working toward receiving a Hispanic Serving Institution designation, which means 25 percent of the school’s population would be composed of Hispanic students. Achieving HSI status would

qualify Metro for federal funding. Esquibel said he sees the proposed bill as a perfect complement to what Metro is already working to accomplish. Metro President Stephen Jordan said the college’s Latino enrollment went from 12.5 percent last spring to 16.5 percent this semester. “The college has consistently supported this kind of legislation,” Jordan said. “It is consistent to who we are and the students we serve.” He also said the bill would make a long-term difference in the state economy. This is not the first time the issue of tuition for undocumented students in Colorado has been raised. In 2009, a similar bill was voted down. Nationally, the DREAM Act was defeated only months ago. It too would have offered undocumented students a pathway to higher education. U.S. Rep. Diane DeGette, D-Colo., a co-sponsor of the DREAM Act, said she stood in solidarity with her colleagues in the Colorado statehouse. “I don’t think Colorado can wait for the U.S. Congress to act again,” she said.

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IN THEATERS FEBRUARY 11 JustGoWithIt-Movie.com

THE METROPOLITAN • FEBRUARY 4, 2011 • NEWS • 5

New legislation will allow student governments to fill vacancies by appointment By Ramsey Scott and Linzy Novotny The Metropolitan Two state lawmakers are backing a bill that would allow vacant student representative seats on the Student Advisory Committee to the Auraria Board to be filled by interim members until a special election could be held. House Bill 11-1017, sponsored by Denver Democrats Rep. Crisanta Duran and Sen. Pat Steadman, would change state law to allow members to be appointed to the board so no vacancy ever has to exist, or at least for a long period of time. Metro has been without full representation on SACAB since the end of the fall semester. “It is not a simple thing to have an election,” Steadman said. “It is much more expedient in ensuring the student voices are still heard … to allow appointments for vacancies.” Prolonged vacancies have made it difficult for SACAB to represent the entire student body at Auraria, Metro President Stephen Jordan said. Jordan, who was first to suggest the law be changed, said he was frustrated that half of the student population at Auraria was not represented. “I don’t think it is appropriate that [a vacancy] has occurred for as long of a period as it has,” Jordan said. Student government officials also support the bill. “[Not being able to appoint representatives to SACAB] has created a huge struggle for both the student government leaders and the student body,” UCD SACAB representative Jonathan Raabe said. “It has affected the credibility and mandate that SACAB is supposed to hold a tri-institutional representative body. Student governments at Auraria need to be allowed to appoint interim SACAB representatives during situations of vacancy.” The committee is set up to have two student representatives from each of Auraria’s three institutions. Currently, there are only three student representatives on the board. “Over the last 14 months as a SACAB representative, it has been my experience that we have not once had a full board,” Raabe said. “This December, two members graduated halfway through their term, leaving SACAB with three voting members, two from UCD and one from the Community College of Denver. There is no representation at all from Metro, meaning that nearly half of the campus’s population has no voice in critical decisions that affect all students.” Under Colorado law and the Metro Student Government Assembly’s constitution, vacancies to SACAB must be filled by an election, and no appointments can be made by the school’s student government. SACAB’s bylaws contradict these policies. “The change will allow vacancies to be filled in a timely manner,” Steadman said. SACAB’s bylaws state that if a vacancy exists and the respective student government does not “appoint the representative within 21 days, then SACAB can move to fill such vacancy.” Metro SGA’s constitution does state, however, that a “temporary delegate” can be ap-

The story so far

The campus is governed by the Auraria Board composed of representatives from each institution — Metro, CCD and UCD. The board has two advisory committees: one for students and one for faculty. Each committee has six seats, two from each governing body. Since the end of the fall semester, Metro has had no representation, and CCD has one of two seats filled on the student committee. State law does not allow for appointments to either the student or faculty board. Each student government has its own rules on how to run an elections.

What the bill does

HB11-1017 will create an appointment process for filling vacancies on both the student and faculty advisory board. In the event a seat is vacated, the student government or faculty governing body, respectively, will be able to appoint a fulltime member from its institution for the remainder of the term.

Upcoming election

Metro students will be able to vote for candidates to fill the seats on SACAB starting Feb. 15. pointed to the board, but the delegate would not have a vote. Metro SGA Sen. Jesse Altum has acted as the school’s delegate for the past four months and will continue to do so until new representatives to the board are in place. Due to the two absences on the board, Altum has been Metro’s lone voice on SACAB. Yet, due to Metro SGA bylaws, “We still do not have a vote to … possibly change a decision or even set an agenda,” Altum said. Despite the lack of a vote on SACAB, Altum said he would ensure that Metro continues to be treated fairly by the board, “which has yet to be a concern so far.” Altum is in support of HB 11-1017. With Metro unrepresented for so long, the issues involving state law restricting appointments have been brought to the forefront, Altum said. An adjustment to the law would ensure proper representation in the future if a similar incident occurs. “With a proper change to the law through this new bill, SACAB will be able to correctly represent the students on campus and fulfill its duties,” Altum said.

Late Start Classes At Extended Campus Locations Spring 2011 South Campus 5660 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., Suite 100 Greenwood Village, CO 80111 303 – 721–1212 (at I–25 & Orchard Road)

Free Parking! Dept #

Title

Credits CRN# Days

Time

Dates

ACC 2020 Principles of Accounting II

34806

8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m.

03/19–05/14

CJC 3430

Drugs and the Criminal Justice System

34901

8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m.

03/19–05/14

CPD 190X

Women's Leadership

35310

9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

02/19–02/26

CPD 2300 Time Management

35297

9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

04/02–04/09

CPD 2310

Stress Management

35294

9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

03/05–03/12

CPD 2360 Multi-Level Wellness

35299

9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

04/16–04/23

EDU 4300 Acting Like a Teacher

35396

8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m.

02/26–03/19

HSP 3590 The Resistive Adolescent Client

34861

F,S

8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

04/22–04/23

HSP 4200 Child Abuse and Neglect

34863

F,S

9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

02/18–02/26

PHI 1030

33981

8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m.

03/19–05/14

SED 3600 Exceptional Learner in the Classroom

33388

8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m.

03/19–05/14

SPE 1010

Public Speaking

34688

8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m.

03/19–05/14

SPE 4300

Acting Like a Teacher

35397

8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m.

02/26–03/19

THE 3200 Oral Interpretation

35218

8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m.

03/19–05/14

THE 4300 Acting Like a Teacher

35398

8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m. 02/26–03/19

Introduction to Ethics

North Campus 11990 Grant Street, Suite 102 Northglenn, CO 80233 303 – 4 50 – 5 111

(Just east of I-25 on 120th Avenue & Grant Street)

Free Parking! Dept #

Title

Credits CRN# Days

Time

Dates

CJC 3270

Community Corrections

34813

8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m.

03/19–05/14

CPD 2310

Stress Management

35295

9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

04/03–05/07

CPD 2320 Self Esteem

35303

9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

04/16–04/23

CPD 2350 Career Evaluation Workshop

35308

9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

02/19–02/26

CPD 390B Financial Planning for Women

35336

9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

03/05–03/12

NUT 2040 Introduction to Nutrition

32660

8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m.

03/19–05/14

SOC 365L

Class Power and Decision Making in the Cities

34761

8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m.

03/19–05/14

SPE 1710

Interpersonal Communication

35341

8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m.

03/19–05/14

THE 2210

Introduction to Theatre

33983

8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m.

03/19–05/14

Register Now at http://metroconnect.mscd.edu For more information or to request a class schedule, call 303–721–1313 or visit our website at www.mscd.edu/extendedcampus

THE METROPOLITAN • FEBRUARY 4, 2011 • NEWS • 5

The story so far

What the bill does

Upcoming election

Late Start Classes At Extended Campus Locations Spring 2011 South Campus 5660 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., Suite 100 Greenwood Village, CO 80111 303 – 721–1212 (at I–25 & Orchard Road)

Free Parking! Dept #

Title

Credits CRN# Days

Time

Dates

ACC 2020 Principles of Accounting II

34806

8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m.

03/19–05/14

CJC 3430

Drugs and the Criminal Justice System

34901

8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m.

03/19–05/14

CPD 190X

Women's Leadership

35310

9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

02/19–02/26

CPD 2300 Time Management

35297

9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

04/02–04/09

CPD 2310

Stress Management

35294

9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

03/05–03/12

CPD 2360 Multi-Level Wellness

35299

9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

04/16–04/23

EDU 4300 Acting Like a Teacher

35396

8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m.

02/26–03/19

HSP 3590 The Resistive Adolescent Client

34861

F,S

8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

04/22–04/23

HSP 4200 Child Abuse and Neglect

34863

F,S

9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

02/18–02/26

PHI 1030

33981

8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m.

03/19–05/14

SED 3600 Exceptional Learner in the Classroom

33388

8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m.

03/19–05/14

SPE 1010

Public Speaking

34688

8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m.

03/19–05/14

SPE 4300

Acting Like a Teacher

35397

8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m.

02/26–03/19

THE 3200 Oral Interpretation

35218

8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m.

03/19–05/14

THE 4300 Acting Like a Teacher

35398

8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m. 02/26–03/19

Introduction to Ethics

North Campus 11990 Grant Street, Suite 102 Northglenn, CO 80233 303 – 4 50 – 5 111

(Just east of I-25 on 120th Avenue & Grant Street)

Free Parking! Dept #

Title

Credits CRN# Days

Time

Dates

CJC 3270

Community Corrections

34813

8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m.

03/19–05/14

CPD 2310

Stress Management

35295

9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

04/03–05/07

CPD 2320 Self Esteem

35303

9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

04/16–04/23

CPD 2350 Career Evaluation Workshop

35308

9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

02/19–02/26

CPD 390B Financial Planning for Women

35336

9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

03/05–03/12

NUT 2040 Introduction to Nutrition

32660

8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m.

03/19–05/14

SOC 365L

Class Power and Decision Making in the Cities

34761

8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m.

03/19–05/14

SPE 1710

Interpersonal Communication

35341

8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m.

03/19–05/14

THE 2210

Introduction to Theatre

33983

8:30 a.m.–3:15 p.m.

03/19–05/14

Register Now at http://metroconnect.mscd.edu For more information or to request a class schedule, call 303–721–1313 or visit our website at www.mscd.edu/extendedcampus

6 • NEWS • FEBRUARY 4, 2011 • THE METROPOLITAN

Metro breaks ground on HLC March 31 By Ryen Robnett rrobnet1@mscd.edu Traveling for business or pleasure — it won’t matter in 2012 at the new SpringHill Suites by Marriott staffed by Metro students. Metro has paired with hotel management company Sage Hospitality to provide students with more real-world experience. The new hotel, co-owned by mega-hotel chain, Marriott, is scheduled to be open for classes — and to guests — Aug. 1, 2012. The hotel will be fully functional and will include 150 rooms, a 28,000-square-foot learning center and 5,000 square feet of conference and meeting space. A ground breaking ceremony

GOOD QUESTION: Why does Wi-Fi work well at Auraria in some place and not at all in others?

Multiple networks create interference By Alex Baskett abaskett@mscd.edu Aging technology and the unique architecture of an old brick brewery — the Tivoli — have been two of the issues hindering Auraria’s wireless network. The current Wi-Fi arrangement is a patchwork of networks that are owned and operated by each of the three schools on campus and the Auraria Higher Education Center. “The new technology would extend coverage and speeds of wireless services. In addition, say in Tivoli, [it would] have the ability to penetrate the walls and provide consistent coverage in complex architectures,” Director of IT Infrastructure Services Kenneth Garcia said. “Hopefully, we can start in April, but for the sake of timing, it could be during the summer.” The use of a single network and provider has been proposed but was ruled out, despite the potential benefits simplification could bring to the current system. “Things get a little hairy when we try to consolidate it all and assign a price tag,” Garcia said. Representatives from UCD, CCD, Metro and AHEC are meeting as the Auraria Cooperative Technology Committee to work out the specifics of the Wi-Fi upgrade, Garcia said. “What we are seeing now is the growing and evolving role of a technology on campus. Wi-Fi has matured from a campus luxury into an educational necessity,” Garcia said.

will be held March 31 on the site, west of the corner of Speer Boulevard and Auraria Parkway. The new hotel means hospitality majors will no longer have to learn in a traditional classroom setting. A spokeswoman for Sage said her company is excited for potential new recruits. “It’s a way for Sage to give back and ensure that the next generation of hospitality professionals are as prepared as possible,” Rachel Kelly said. The HLC will provide courses for hotel and hospitality management, housekeeping, security, food service, front-desk operation and events management. Students and professionals who are seeking further education in the hospitality field are

expected to benefit from the courses and real-life training provided by the HLC. “The HLC will give students the opportunity to be in the position of a real-life hospitality job,” said professor Chad Gruhl, director of hotel administration and chair for the HLC at Metro. There are more than 500 students with declared hospitality tourism and events majors at Metro, and that number is expected to double within the next decade, Gruhl said. Hospitality students have studied at different hotels in the Denver area, one of them being the Curtis Hotel, which provides students with 875 square feet of learning space. “Students will shadow individu-

als who work in hospitality careers, and a lot of the full-time staff at the hotel will be students,” Gruhl said. “Instead of having students go to hotels, there will be a facilitated learning environment close to campus where students can pop in anytime to learn.” The development of the HLC is the first of its kind in Colorado and one of 10 educational facilities in the U.S. Metro leadership hopes the HLC will take the program to the next level. “Once completed, the facility will take Metro State’s Hospitality Tourism and Events Department to a new level of recognition in the Rocky Mountain region and nationally,” Metro President Stephen Jordan said

in a prepared statement. A special purpose corporation has provided funding for the construction, management and operation of the HLC. Last November, bonds were issued at a 4.34 percent interest rate, with much of the proceeds going to the Metro State Foundation, which will provide money for academic programming and scholarships. The HLC is also collaborating with the Art Department at Metro. “All of the art throughout the hotel will be student-made,” Gruhl said. The HLC is expected to be a fun but professional environment in which Metro hospitality tourism and events majors can thrive.

iPad sales increase at Auraria Textbook companies moving catalogs to e-book format By James Sienkiewicz jsieukie@mscd.edu Electronic tablets like Apple’s iPad have the potential to change the way students learn at Auraria. These lightweight tablets could replace bulky backpacks and cumbersome textbooks in the near future. The iPad already has for one CCD freshman. Abla Jad said she opted for the Apple tablet when she started school this year. “I bought all but one of my books from the Course Smart app,” she said. She figures she saved about $75 per textbook. With their accessible designs and Wi-Fi capabilities, tablets may become the ideal alternative to learning. There are already electronic textbooks available online at websites such as www.coursesmart. com. Sales of iPads at the Auraria Campus Bookstore have increased recently, said Charles Emmons, the general merchandise manager. “It’s something that I think is growing. It’s a category that we are starting to see more sales on,” Emmons said. In December, the bookstore sold 15 iPads to students. Emmons said the iPad is one of the more accessible tablet products for school textbooks. He said other e-readers have not been marketed to students because neither the Kindle nor the Nook have programs for college bookstores. One hurdle for students wanting an iPad is the price tag. The base model starts at $499. Apple does not yet consider the iPad to be an educational device, and is not providing the student discount they offer on many of their other computer and

laptop products, Emmons said. While there are many textbooks available online, not every textbook used at Metro is available in an ebook format. Major textbook publishers, however, are beginning to take notice of the rapidly growing market. McGraw-Hill Education has 95 percent of its catalog available as ebook, spokesman Tom Stanton said. “As more students gain a greater comfort level with the interactivity, media-rich content, search capability and note-taking functionality available with e-books, we see them and other digital learning tools becoming more widespread,” he said. Metro’s Student Government Assembly is working on a test program for introducing electronic textbooks to students. Cassandra Machado, SGA’s spokeswoman, said there is a program in the works to distribute iPads to members of the SGA and its student outreach program to see just what this technology would be able to offer to students. The Information Technology department purchased iPads last fall, but due to turnover in the department, the program never got up and running. The SGA hopes to get these iPads distributed to its members soon, Machado said. As for Jad, she’s already sold. “The money I saved from buying e-books paid for the iPad itself in one semester,” she said. “So far, so good.”

CCD freshman Abla Jad shows off her iPad Feb. 2. Jad said she saved about $75 per textbook after downloading them through an app on her tablet. Photo by Steve Anderson • sande104@mscd.edu

Tablet, tablets every where

The top four tablets on the market: «iPad $499 Kindle» $139

Nook» Color $139

«Samsung Galaxy Tab $299 w/ contract

8 • INSIGHT • FEBRUARY 4, 2011 • THE METROPOLITAN

NSIGHT

“It’s pretty awesome just to be a part of a program and start it and then finish off in four years. Making history is pretty cool.” —AMBER ROUNDTREE, SOFTBALL SHORTSTOP • SPORTS • 17

How Jordan stole the snow day STAFF EDITORIAL Every Roadrunner, down at Auraria, liked snow days a lot. But the President of Metro, who resides in Central Classroom, well, they say he did not. He liked learning, he wanted students to as well. However, the weather Feb. 1 was far from swell. Temperatures were well below freezing. The K-12 schools all closed their doors, to keep the little ones from sneezing. That president, that grinchy college administrator keep the school open, kept students from slacking.

They logged on to Facebook and made a big stink. “How dare you ask us to venture in the cold, did you even stop to think!” Few ventured out that chilly, icy day. Some professors even cancelled their classes to keep students away. Some stayed home to tend to their kiddos, others said “to heck with the cold,” and just watched videos. But it was business as usual for President Stephen Jordan extraordinaire, he bundled up tight and braved the cold air. “The taxpayers are pouring money into our coffers. Better make the most of it before they rescind those precious dollars.“

One student even said the only reason Jordan kept Auraria open was because he could cruise in to campus in his Hummer. A Hummer he has not, but made it to campus by 7 a.m., the rest of you could have too; oh what a bummer. Coats, gloves, boots and hats were all those ’Runners needed to get their education. All the other universities in the area kept their doors open, too, so we weren’t the only location. But, students said, what about attendance policies lowering our grades? Better make it to class on those sunnier days. Even though the ’Runners were adults, they still liked to bitch. And Jordan, well, he’s content with his decision, and being the witch.

Tough choices for ‘right side of history’ Tucked between “reality” shows and idiotic sitcoms, Egypt has dominated TV news the past week with events that are not at all entertaining. Thousands of protesters in the streets, among ﬂaming buildings and cars in Cairo, can be depressing –— it’s not why we watch TV. By Feb. 2, Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak — the focus of protests calling for his ouster — agreed to step down after national elections this September, not nearly fast enough for protesters who want him out now. While many analysts and policy-sniffers expect Mubark completely out within days, questions now arise about a power vacuum and who will fill it. In slow and carefully worded responses that lagged behind fast-unfolding events, both U.S. President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have called for an orderly transition to democracy in Egypt. While some U.S. policy makers are hopeful, others are less so and fear the worst-case scenario of an Iran-style fundamentalist Islamic regime gaining power. To recap developments that fast became obsolete, a leaderless cadre of Egyptian people — mostly young and emboldened by the toppling of a repressive regime in Tunisia — last week took to the streets of Cairo, Egypt’s capitol of 16 million, Suez, Alexandria and elsewhere to demand that Mubarak step down. With U.S. support, Mubarak has held iron-ﬁst power for 30 years, with a military-backed regime that tolerates little dissent. Last week’s “unrest” had been building for years with smoldering resentment toward a regime that’s corrupt at every level. Propped up by the army, the regime used police and thugs on government payrolls to snuff any whiff of opposition. Torture was said to be a routine response. The same thugs, fresh out of Cairo prisons, were accused by anti-government factions of being used by Mubarak to attack demonstrators Feb. 1, where — hard to believe — Anderson Cooper’s TV crew coming under attack was NOT the biggest story. An ancient cradle of civilization, Egypt has had centralized control for nearly 4,000 years and no real experience with democracy. Since

1952, when King Farouk was overthrown, Egypt has been led by just three strongmen. All relied on army support and rigged elections to stay in power. Last week, to inflame opposition further, the 82 year-old Mubarak appointed his intelligence chief, Omar Suleiman, as vice president. As a key player in police-state tactics, Suleiman is as widely despised as Mubarak himself. Suleiman was also the point man, in Egypt, for CIA prisoner “renditions.” That translates to outsourced torture we didn’t want to do here in America. Egyptian events put the U.S. in an awkward, diplomatic-tightrope position. Every U.S. president since mythologized Ronald Reagan has supported the Mubarak regime as an ally and bulwark of stability. Another “ally” is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with its religious police and Taliban-like despicably low regard for women. We also need Egypt for its oil-lifeline Suez Canal. Hedging our bets, we give $2 billion in aid per year, much of it in military hardware, to Egypt and more than $6 billion to Israel, according to CNN — which might cause cynics to suggest that maybe our “allies” are really “client states.” Obama engaged in unintended irony when he urged Mubarak to be on “the right side of history” by pushing reforms. Since the early 20th century, the U.S. has consistently been on the wrong side by supporting rotten regimes run by corrupt dictators from Latin America to Africa to Southeast Asia and beyond. To learn more, as the cliché runs, about our missteps in Cuba before Castro, Google dictator Battista. For Vietnam, try Madame Nhu. Not only did we back dictators, but we worked to undermine — with CIA assists — regimes we didn’t like, even those democratically elected. El Salvador, Chile and the Congo come immediately to mind. But democracy is what we claim to be all about. Developments seen in Egypt seem odd to Americans, where we blithely accept the results of supposedly un-rigged elections. Here, transfers of power have no tanks rolling in the streets. And there was barely a peep of protest when the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision,

THE METROPOLITAN Since 1979

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ashley Moreland amorela1@mscd.edu MANAGING EDITOR Caitlin Gibbons cgibbon4@mscd.edu NEWS EDITOR Nic Garcia ngarci20@mscd.edu ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR Alex Baskett FEATURES EDITOR Megan Mitchell mmitch46@mscd.edu MUSIC EDITOR Stephanie DeCamp sdecamp@mscd.edu ASSISTANT MUSIC EDITORS Ian Gassman Matt Pusatory SPORTS EDITOR Mark Babish mbabish@mscd.edu ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Cody Lemon COPY EDITORS J. Sebastian Sinisi Drew Jaynes Ramsey Scott PHOTO EDITOR Steve Anderson sande104@mscd.edu

J. SEBASTIAN SINISI sinisi2@msn.com handed us a buffoon like President George W. Bush in 2000, despite obvious election-tally abuses in Florida. So far, not much anti-U.S. sentiment has been part of the protests. But that may not last. Nor is it easy to suddenly dump an “ally” of 30 years. But the U.S. can draw new hatred in the Mideast region by again backing the wrong horse, and the wrong side of history, when a new Egyptian regime emerges. However the tide of history ﬂows in Egypt, it’s not about us in the U.S., but about Egyptian aspirations. Although Bush-style cowboy diplomacy — that trumped up a useless trillion-dollar war with tens of thousands of casualties in Iraq — is dead, the outlook isn’t encouraging if past is prologue. But maybe, just maybe, we can hope to get it right this time.

Check out The Met Report’s Lisa Gennero’s beef about Taco Bell’s “beef” and the current lawsuit against the chain.

ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITORS Luke Powell Sean Mullins WEB DESIGNER Drew Jaynes ADVISER Jane Hoback hobackje@comcast.net GRAPHIC DESIGN Kathleen Jewby kjewby@mscd.edu INTERIM DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MEDIA Kate Lutrey lutreyk@mscd.edu INTERIM ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF STUDENT MEDIA Steve Haigh shaigh@mscd.edu

The Metropolitan accepts submissions in the form of topic-driven columns and letters to the editor. Column article concepts must be submitted by 1 p.m.. Thursdays and the deadline for columns is 9 p.m. Sundays. Columns range from 500 to 800 words. Letters to the editor must be submitted by 5 p.m. Mondays to be printed in that week's edition. There is 500-word limit for letters to the editor. The Metropolitan reserves the right to edit letters for formatting and style. All submissions should be sent by e-mail to amorela1@mscd.edu. 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. Opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of Metropolitan State College of Denver or its advertisers.

THE METROPOLITAN • FEBRUARY 4, 2011 • METROSPECTIVE • 9

ETROSPECTIVE

Stacia Shapan of Bozeman, Mont. looks at a fur goggle cover Jan. 30 at Omeez Boot Toppers merchandise stand at the Snow Show in Denver. The Snow Show took place at the Convention Center Jan. 27–30, featured more than 3,000 booths and had more than 20,000 attendees. Photo by Carla Ferreira • cferreir@mscd.edu

Snow Show continues to soar in Denver Colorado's second year hosting the Ski Industries America trade convention generates local economy boost from hot-selling snowboarding gear By J. Sebastian Sinisi sinisi2@mscd.edu Abundant snow — sans the sub-zero weather in Denver recently — across most of the country plus a belief that the economy is improving lent an upbeat mood to last week’s Ski Industries America trade show at the Denver Convention Center. Some of the biggest names in skiing and snowboarding were no-shows at Denver’s two night “Big Air” competition featuring a $1 million ramp in Civic Center Park. No matter, Big Air was simply a prelude to last week’s SIA show that filled the Convention Center. The national show moved to Denver last year after more than 30 years in Las Vegas. It is a primo industry event that last year drew nearly 20,000 ski and snowboard retailers, buyers, manufacturers, representatives and purveyors of every recreational “snow industry” item imaginable, from skis and boards to ski outfits and sunscreen. This year’s show is estimated to have a $30 million economic impact on Denver and Colorado. Buyers and suppliers travelled from all over the U.S., as well as Europe, Japan and Korea. Aisle after show aisle offered a multimedia sensory overload complete with DJs — apparently paid by the decibel-spinning

badass rap against a curious mix of in-your-face youth culture with middle-aged buyers and reps conducting serious business over laptops. Walking those aisles, Rich Grant of the Denver Convention and Visitors Bureau was delighted with the 2011 turnout. At his huge display area, grand old man of Colorado skiing, Aspen-based Klaus Obermeyer, who admits to age 91, said, “this show belongs in Denver. This is ski country. Vegas has palm trees.” Buyer David Kennedy, whose Altitude Sickness shop is in Empire, Colo., on the way to Winter Park said, “Having the show in Denver is better for business. There’s less debauchery here. In Vegas, people were drunk half the time. Here, they actually show up for early-morning appointments." While wares seemed aimed at a market not much older than student age, prices at retail will not translate to your average undergrad’s budget when what was shown here shows up in stores next fall — unless we’re talking University of Colorado at Boulder students. SIA studies say more than 70 percent of skiers are men, with an average age of 31. Only 16 percent of snowboarders, however, are older than 34. And nearly a third of the entire snowboard market falls between 18 and 34, or fan closer to an

undergrad demographic — for those who can afford it. “Fat” and “rocker” skis continued to dominate this year, with eye-grabbing graphics — an evolving art form in itself — featuring superhero and comic book character themes. Ski and boarder clothing seemed not as dominant as the hardware, but offered still-vibrant primary colors — sometimes mixed with checked patterns. After the show, Olympic snowboard gold medalist and legend Shaun White won the super pipe at the Aspen X Games. That he did it in SKINNY pants, and not the baggy-ass variety that remains part of most riders’ uniforms will likely have a bigger impact than a hundred manufacturers’ booths in Denver. Obermeyer was upbeat. He expected his business to be up by more than 30 percent; against an industry expectation of plus 6 percent. “We’ve had great snow all over the country this year and that’s the most important thing,” he said. “Also, the economy is improving and people are willing to spend more money.” Overall, the industry hopes to this year regain the total $3 billion level reached during the 2007–08 season. But Obermeyer put skiing’s mystique in less business and more human terms with, “I ski every day that I can in Aspen, because you never get back the days that you don’t. At my age, that’s important.”

10 • METROSPECTIVE • FEBRUARY 4, 2011 • THE METROPOLITAN

Volunteers help switch on conservation Metro students canvass Denver to ‘Take Charge!’ Story by Linzy Novotny lnovotn1@mscd.edu Photos by Sean Mullins smullin5@mscd.edu Walking from door to door, light bulbs in hand, student volunteers swap out front porch lights for Denver homeowners while they talk to them about all the simple ways basic living alterations can benefit the environment. The Porch Bulb Project had students canvassing the North Denver neighborhoods Jan. 17 as part of Groundwork Denver’s Take Charge! Project where student volunteers take their knowledge of energy conservation and act upon it. The project aims to prove that making an environmental difference is as easy as replacing an incandescent front porch light bulb for a compact florescent bulb. This simple change, at no cost to the homeowner, saves energy and prevents the release of CO2 emissions, Take Charge! Project Manager Stephanie Fry said. Although it only began two months ago, the program already has about 100 student volunteers. “[Take Charge!] has really taken off,” Fry said. “It’s like a mouth to a fire hose.” Groundwork Denver was founded in October 2002. The organization engages the community in several different projects, from tree planting to community revitalization projects to youth employment projects. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, teams of two volunteers were able to reach on average 30 to 50 homes. With 100 volunteers, there were 50 teams who were able to reach between 1,500 and 2,500 homes. Take Charge! spends 10 weeks in a single neighborhood. Communities in Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Denver and Durango have received the energy efficient, CFL light bulbs. Census maps are referenced so lowincome communities are selected to take part in the project, Fry said. Prior to canvassing the neighborhoods, student volunteers learn about free recycling services and other programs that can benefit members of these communities. The information the students receive is specific to each neighborhood so volunteers know about services that are available in each community. At the end of the 10 weeks, the students participate in the Porch Bulb Project, which puts together all the information they have received. Students also learn the scope of community outreach, Fry said. Students who are especially passionate about the project are asked to be student energy ambassadors. Through presentations, social events and door-to-door canvases, the ambassadors continue the outreach of renewable energy in their community after the Take Charge! project has left.

Groundwork Denver volunteer, Braylen Aldridge, 18, replaces a front porch lightbulb Jan. 29 in Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood.

Missingi Paka, 18, holds a box of energy-efficient compact florescent light-blulbs Jan. 29 at the Groundwork Denver headquarters. “[The ambassadors are] equipped with the tools and knowledge so they can be inspired to continue with the message that [Take Charge!] is sending out there to continue spreading the word on renewable energy,” Fry said. In the summer of 2010, student energy ambassador Lauren Chapman started volunteering with Groundwork Denver. “I was immediately intrigued and soon after I was onboard. Having to work independently on this project in Pueblo has given me a great deal of responsibility as well as accountability,” Chapman said. “I am looking forward to changes being done in Pueblo and am willing to help out any way that I can.” The super ambassadors will also “connect to the community and work with them in the long-term,” Fry said. “They will convey the message [of renewable energy] and keep

conveying the message.” To date, 6,348 bulbs have been swapped. After one year, the amount of energy saved will be 435,291 kilowatt hours each, and 380 tons of CO2 emissions will have been prevented, Fry said. Energy costs saved will have amounted to $39,176 dollars each year. Twenty-six neighborhoods have been impacted, and 1,539 volunteers have interacted with their communities. “[What’s] so shocking to me is that engaging the youth makes people more perceptive [to the project],” Fry said. “[The community finds the program to be] heartwarming, and they feel that it is nice having kids come to the door who want to better their community.” Fry will be holding a presentation and workshop for Take Charge! at Auraria from 12–2 p.m. Feb. 15 in Tivoli 320C.

Volunteer Spanny Massimbo, 19, looks for the address of his next destination as he goes door to door Jan. 29 replacing light bulbs in Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood.

THE METROPOLITAN • FEBRUARY 4, 2011 • METROSPECTIVE • 11

Rackhouse Pub dishes out comfort, tradition American dishes and ﬁne whiskey go hand in hand Review and photo by Ian Gassman igassman@mscd.edu Sometimes, it is hard to distinguish the differences between two great things. Take Abbott and Costello, Lennon and McCartney, and the Rackhouse Pub and Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey Distillery — each pairing goes so well together they should never be apart. The Rackhouse Pub is known for good food, as well as a “localsonly” list of beers, featuring 20 Colorado-made brews. Staple beers from New Belgium, Great Divide and Breckinridge run $4.50 to $5.50 per pint, and sometimes, the bar features an out-of-state tap for a little variety. Mixologists at the Rackhouse give a nod to their neighbor, the Denver-based distillery with the $8 “Sazerac” cocktail featuring Stranahan’s signature whiskey, Leopold Bros. absinthe, sweet and dry vermouth and angostura bitters. Meanwhile, patrons can get a taste of straight, freshly distilled

Stranahan’s without the $50 price tag. A “wee” 3/4 ounce pour is merely $4, while a “proper” 1 1/2 ounce pour is $7.

The Rackhouse Pub is known for good food, as well as a “locals-only” list of beers, featuring 20 Colorado-made brews. The Rackhouse even offers a lot of games and entertainment throughout the week. There are poker nights on Mondays, Geeks Who Drink trivia rounds on Thursdays and, on Feb. 13, Immundo Burlesque will be putting on a seductive show. But if these activities aren’t your barrel of whiskey, order that tempting drink and peruse the Rackhouse’s list of exceptional cuisine. The food menu focuses on classic, American dishes, with flavorful twists thrown in here and there. There are a few simple appetizers. For instance, the $7 “Giant” is a sensationally big pretzel with spicy mustard and a side of beer-flavored cheese for dipping. The $9 “Whiskey Chicken” entree is satisfying and cheap. Even though the chicken breast is served on a soft, “egg bread” bun and is plated nicely, it isn’t anything

too special. On the other hand, the whiskeyinfused barbecue sauce is the perfect, messy companion to the sandwich. The Rackhouse’s signature “beer baked mac n’ cheese” is a hearty side that combines different cheeses and bread crumbs to make the right amount of rich, comforting goodness. Yes, comfort is the maxim of the Rackhouse Pub — the defining characteristic that makes it a standout place to eat, drink and converse as opposed to every other place to eat, drink and converse. So, grab a partner, stop there while heading in or out of the city and enjoy the comforts of the Rackhouse.

RACKHOUSE PUB 208 Kalamath St. 720-570-7824 http://www.rackhousepub.com Hours: Sun.–Thurs.: 11-12 a.m. Fri.–Sat.: 11–2 a.m.

The Rackhouse Pub’s “Rack” Burger and Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey.

ATTENTION METRO STUDENTS! DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR COMPUTER LABS ARE? Student Lab Hours & Locations LAB

Platform

Mon–Thurs

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

317

7:45 a.m.–9 p.m.

7:45 a.m.–5 p.m.

8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Closed

246

7:45 a.m.–9 p.m.

7:45 a.m.–5 p.m.

8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Closed

307

Mac & PC

7:45 a.m.–9 p.m.

7:45 a.m.–5 p.m.

8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Closed

1058

Mac & PC

7 a.m.–10 p.m.

7 a.m.–8 p.m.

8 a.m.–5 p.m.

12–4 p.m.

1048

Mac

7 a.m.–10 p.m.

7 a.m.–8 p.m.

8 a.m.–5 p.m.

12–4 p.m.

103

7:45 a.m.–9 p.m.

7:45 a.m.–5 p.m.

8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Closed

119

Mac

7:45 a.m.–9 p.m.

7:45 a.m.–5 p.m.

Closed

TIV

225

Mac & PC

8 a.m.–9 p.m.

8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Closed

WC 244

Mac & PC

7 a.m.–10 p.m.

7 a.m.–5 p.m.

8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Closed

WC 243

7:45 a.m.–9 p.m.

7:45 a.m.–5 p.m.

8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Closed

Metro North

9 a.m.–8:45 p.m.

9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

9 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

Closed

Metro South

8:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m.

8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Closed

(varies)

Metro State IT Computer Labs have implemented a printing policy. For detailed information, please visit: www.mscd.edu/infotech/complabs/policies.shtml Remember, no drinks or food allowed! • IT Labs can not be responsible for lost items including jump drives. Please visit the Tivoli lost and found for assistance. A wealth of information about the Metro State Computing Labs can be found at www.mscd.edu/infotech/student.shtml. Here you will nd information on lab hours, lab locations, software availability, policies or employment opportunities. Students using Metro State IT Labs and associated resources should be aware of the rules and procedures that make up the Metro State Responsible Usage Policy. To learn about responsible use of information technology resources at Metro State, go to: www.mscd.edu/infotech/complabs/policies.shtml.

Metro State IT Computer Labs is delighted to announce “dual boot” technology. The West 244B and Tivoli 225 MAC labs are now tted with the latest “dual boot” technology which allows the users the exibility to choose between booting into a Macintosh operating system or a Windows operating system with a click of the mouse. These latest group of improvements represent our ongoing dedication to supporting the Metropolitan State College faculty and students who are working to make Metro “the preeminent academic institution.” Please come in and see what we have for you!

Metro State has labs that are equipped with PC or MAC systems. The computer labs are not just for students taking computer classes. Any Metro State student who is currently enrolled may use the equipment. Word processing, spread–sheet, database and programming software is available. Laser printers are available in each of the labs as well as access to the World Wide Web.

12 • METROSPECTIVE • FEBRUARY 4, 2011 • THE METROPOLITAN

DAVE LARSON larsodav@mscd.edu

The rise of ‘reality’ d te

Til

Head

THA – SF

By Megan Mitchell mmitch46@mscd.edu

Publication

DENVER METROPOLITAN

The longer the TV stays on, the more it begins to leak. Ideas and opinions drip from the speakers and seep into the mind, giving form and function to tinsel town’s latest concoctions and obsessions. At first, reality TV was a social experiment that the irresistible power of broadcasting could use to exploit an intrinsic curiosity for man’s natural state under constant surveillance. As the viewer’s appetite for rawness and excitement grew, so did the range of outrageous situations and programs. The draw and devotion to “reality” characters’ lives can be blamed on their ability to emotionally manipulate the sympathies of the audience. Watching reality TV for an hour can fulfill a year’s worth of passions, disasters and sorrows that an actual person would experience. In recognizing this unique influence, television producers have reached a new, more binding relationship with viewers by altering their very perceptions of reality and values in society simply with bombardment. Though reality TV was widely considered to be a flimsy trend in its early days, it is now the most dominating genre of programming in primetime. It’s popularity is likely a result of the exhilarating emotional rollercoaster provided by several days of drunken humiliation, for example, packed into 30 minutes and wrapped up with aRuntear-soaked revelation of any kind. Size Date(s) Initial Time The viewers have an almost vicarious connection with the 5” “lives” x 7” of the characters THURSDAY 2.3 to their traumas and exby relating citements and sharing in their interests and adventures. This attachment allows marketers and trend leaders to essentially soak a TV-glued nation in the flavor of the week until it is exasperated or something juicer comes along.

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EACH PASS ADMITS ONE. TWO PASSES PER PERSON. WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. MUST BE 17 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER TO RECEIVE PASS. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. THIS FILM IS RATED R. RESTRICTED. Under 17 Requires Accompanying Parent Or Adult Guardian. Please note: Please note: Passes received through this promotion do not guarantee you a seat at the theatre. Seating is on a first come, first served basis, except for members of the reviewing press. Theatre is overbooked to ensure a full house. No admittance once screening has begun. All federal, state and local regulations apply. A recipient of tickets assumes any and all risks related to use of ticket, and accepts any restrictions required by ticket provider. Fox Searchlight, The Metropolitan and their affiliates accept no responsibility or liability in connection with any loss or accident incurred in connection with use of a prize. Tickets cannot be exchanged, transferred or redeemed for cash, in whole or in part. We are not responsible if, for any reason, recipient is unable to use his/her ticket in whole or in part. All federal and local taxes are the responsibility of the winner. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. Participating sponsors, their employees and family members and their agencies are not eligible. NO PHONE CALLS!

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Texting 43KIX is free. Standard text message rates from your wireless provider may apply, check your plan. Late and/or duplicate entries will not be considered. Limit one entry per cell phone. Winners will be drawn at random and notified via text message with details on how to claim their prize by Friday, February 11 at noon. Each run-of-engagement pass admits 2. Passes are good Monday-Thursday and exclude holidays, check theater listing for showtimes. Sponsors and their dependents are not eligible to receive a prize. Supplies are limited. The film is rated R. All federal, state and local regulations apply. A recipient of prizes assumes any and all risks related to use of prize, and accepts any restrictions required by prize provider. Focus Features, Terry Hines & Associates, 43KIX, Metropolitan and their affiliates accept no responsibility or liability in connection with any loss or accident incurred in connection with use of prizes. Prizes cannot be exchanged, transferred or redeemed for cash, in whole or in part. Not responsible if, for any reason, winner is unable to use his/her prize in whole or in part. Not responsible for lost, delayed or misdirected entries. All federal, state and local taxes are the responsibility of the winner. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. NO PHONE CALLS!

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THE METROPOLITAN • FEBRUARY 4, 2011 • METROSPECTIVE •13

TAT TUNES

WORST. SONG. EVER.

Here at The Metropolitan we couldn’t help notice that, among the tattooed masses, many people have chosen to ink themselves with their favorite song lyrics. So we decided to investigate. For better or worse, in pride or shame, we present you now with your fellow music lovers. This week, we talked to Metro senior Chris “Spike” Todd. By Stephanie DeCamp • sdecamp@mscd.edu About the ink: It’s GWAR, one of my favorite bands of all time. It’s nice and cartoony. I’m a major fan of cartoons — that’s why it’s got that comical aspect to it. I got it done because I had a friend who was leaving the state and he was giving his last tattoo; I thought it was a good one. And, he was a GWAR fan, too. It just seemed right.

About the band: GWAR is a group of space aliens from the other side of the universe. They were banished here, to the crappiest planet in the universe, by the master of the universe. After being frozen down in Antarctica for a while, their manager, Sleazy P. Martini, taught them how to speak English and how to rock. Since then, they’ve just been trying to get off of earth. They’ve had a lot of different ways that have all failed. They’re pretty much doomed.

Would you recommend it? I couldn’t really recommend it or not recommend it. Before I got any band names tattooed, everyone was like, “No! Don’t get a band tattoo! You wont like them later!” And I said, “Screw you!” So it’s up to the person ... People like me need it.

Chris “Spike” Todd shows off his Gwar-ly ink. Photo by Luke Powell • lpowel18@mscd.edu

Do you have a tune tatt’ed on you? Let us know and you could be featured in an upcoming Tat Tunes. E-mail us at themetonline@gmail.com

FIVE SONGS FOR A GOOD “NIGHT OUT”

Janelle Monae’s “Tightrope” A night out is like a building. No matter how high you are going to make it, you have to start with the right foundation. To assure yourself that your night was worth waiting for all week, The Metropolitan has selected five songs, which will be highlighted during the next month, to help put you in the right frame of mind — because it’s been a long week. You deserve a night off. By Ramsey Scott • rscott42@mscd.edu It’s Friday. You are finally done with classes. You actually have a night off. You’ve been looking forward to tonight all week. You want to make sure your night will go right. So, what’s the point of going out on a Friday if all you are going to do is bitch about your bad week? There is nothing that will kill an evening quicker than a Debbie Downer talking about how annoying their job, classes or significant other has been. This is why it is imperative that you find a jam that will not only make you forget about your worries and cares, but put you in the mood to get on the dance floor and make a fool of yourself. To begin the process, I recommend putting Janelle Monae’s “Tightrope” on the loudest speakers you own and pushing “play” as soon as you walk into the door from work. This funky jam is drenched in southern hip-hop, with a beat that defies you not to bop your head and tap your feet. Monae’s voice saunters through the song, infecting each note with more soul than you can handle. But that is the mission of Monae’s music. After Monae’s multiple appearances on Idlewild, OutKast’s sixth studio album, Big Boi dropped her name to Sean “P. Diddy” Combs. By 2007, Monae was signed to Combs’ Bad Boy Records — and her debut

Most of the stuff we write about in the music section is stuff we enjoy and we think you, our dear readers, would enjoy, too. Now we’ve decided to dedicate a new column to the bad tunes — the kind of songs that you should avoid at all costs because life is too short for bad music. We call this column simply, “Worst Song Ever,” and our second victim is Michael Jackson’s “The Girl is Mine.” By Kelly Clements • kclemen4@mscd.edu

The lyric: It’s kind of a combination of logos — It’s from a photo of the [GAWR] logo itself that’s from whenever they were putting out a bunch of movies, like “Nitro Burning Funny Bong.” It’s kind of one of the many logos they’ve had that’s popped around. And then the lettering is from a flyer for an event they had, the “Art of Gwar.” It was a huge event full of all the old props they’d used and comics they’d drawn [throughout their career].

Why so permanent? Because music is my life, and thrash and metal and punkrock all sit in the center of my musical world. I had my Slayer tattoo already and I was like, “Now I need GWAR.”

Jackson’s Mistake

EP, Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase) was a perfect example of conceptual hip-hop. Last year, Monae released her first, full-length, The ArchAndroid (Suite II and III). This 18-track album solidified Monae’s niche for SciFi-related concepts, featured a few memorable guest stars and produced two amazing singles, including “Tightrope.” Every thing about “Tightrope” seems right. The horn, the funky bass line, the drumline style back-beat and even the obligatory rap cameo — furnished here by Big Boi — makes the song all the better. But, if Monae’s song does not have you dancing by the time it ends, you should just stay home. A night out will do you no good. And, frankly, no one came out to hear you complain, anyhow. Janelle Monae

It has been nearly two years since the death of Michael Jackson and he continues to be regarded as the King of Pop. Celebration of super hits like “Billie Jean” and “Beat It” is instinctive as well as fair, but we have conveniently forgotten all of his terrible mistakes. His absence in death has now opened the door wide enough to take a glimpse at one of the most pathetic songs in his musical body. In remembrance of the King of Pop: a reflection on “The Girl is Mine,” one of the most horrific blunders of his catalogue. If you are unfamiliar with the song, it can be summarized with little risk as an airy argument between Paul McCartney and Jackson over a “doggone girl” — who has committed herself to both of them, apparently — countered by sighing wind chimes and a frolicking meter. However, the unconvincing instrumentals and lyrical shortcomings express only the smallest annoyance of “The Girl is Mine.” The song presents an exhausting difficulty to understand. Yes, it is decidedly bad that Jackson’s lyrics — lacking the emotional vigor associated with sensitive matters like infidelity — skew this adult situation through a confounding whimsical al lens. It could be the unwarranted assault this song delivers to the album Thriller that makes it so awful. It could even be the disappointment arising from the failure of these two superstars with such deep pedigrees in pop. However, it is their perception of “the girl” that presents a flaw so profound that it cannot be covered up by star power and well-tutored voices. Why, for example, is it at no point even an option to ask “the girl” why she lied? Or, obligingly inquire whom she would rather be with? Jackson and McCartney are quarreling over who gets to call her “mine,” deciding for the object of their affection — and, in doing so, they objectify her. In a bigger sense, however, their neglect combined with her absence is too confounding and belittling for “The Girl is Mine” to be considered anything less than a friendly argument between two slave owners. We can hope McCartney was only participating in this duet out of his friendship — maybe he even thought he had the patience and imagination to collaborate on such a song. Perhaps the song in only a hypothetical situation playing itself out in Jackson’s head as he is singing — trying to feel like he means it. If this is the case, then we can forgive “The Girl is Mine” as the fatal weakness of Thriller and forgive its innocent insincerity and objectification. We can be spared the annoyance of feeling bewildered and go straight to compassion — every hit-maker has misses.

Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney’s disastrous duet.

14 • METROSPECTIVE • FEBRUARY 4, 2010 • THE METROPOLITAN

On the record

Tom Murphy gets ‘Closer’ to Joy Division By Tom Murphy Released two months to the day after the suicide, at age 23, of iconic singer and lyricist, Ian Curtis, this album sounded like an epitaph before anyone other than those involved in its recording ever heard it. The starkness of its sound is akin to the somber dignity of the cover art featuring the Appiani family tomb in Genoa, Italy. Some might say this was prophetic, but Curtis himself did not design the artwork. The prophetic moments are heard in the harrowing, dreamlike songs themselves. Like many people, I first heard Joy Division because someone played “Love Will Tear Us Apart” on the radio. There was something so curiously upbeat yet desperate about the song and the lyrics that it solidified this impression. This mysterious band beckoned me to seek out their other work. And in 1992, I picked up a copy of the compilation Substance because of that, and that lead to me following Joy Division down the dark garden path to their masterpiece, Closer. Some prefer Unknown Pleasures and its closer ties with the punk that inspired Joy Division; it is an outstanding record on its own merits. But Closer was the album that provided me solace at a time in my life where I felt like everything in my psyche was coming apart with a resultant, desperate mood that constantly coursed through me. I had internalized those

feelings, much as it seemed obvious in the case of Ian Curtis, and feelings those strong eventually come out if you don’t properly process them. For Curtis, those emotions came out of his conflicted feelings about his personal life: from being a young father on the verge of being a famous musician in an important band. Then, with the temptations and personal development that come from actualizing one’s creative ambitions. You can hear Curtis’ tortured psyche on every track of Closer. I didn’t have the same situation, I just felt like my life had reached something of a meaningless dead end at age 26. Curtis articulated that desperation, hopelessness and its internalization so perfectly on Closer that it felt like this guy, dead some 16 years before I listened so intently to his final record, was the only person in the world who understood what it was like to want so badly to live a life free of anguish and the limitations of life’s immediate demands without knowing how to make that happen. “This is the crisis I knew had to come, destroying the balance I’ve kept,” sings Curtis in “Passover,” seeing ahead to all the things in life that seem to crash into even the best of plans — conveying the weight of the clarity of such an unfortunate vision. In the same song, he

Joy Division • Closer sings, “wondering what will come next” and synthesizes a disheartening certainty with a discomforting doubt. This is not the stuff of saccharine pop songs and the whole album is one brilliant piece of expertly executed personal darkness. Bernard Sumner’s slashing, noisy guitar presages the more interesting noise rock of the future as Stephen Morris’ expressive percussion underneath Peter Hook’s urgent, melodic bass all come together with Curtis’ nakedly emotional vocal delivery to create an example of undiluted human psychic trauma and ca-

16TH & BLAKE

tharsis. Many have since tried to capture the sound of Joy Division. Without the requisite, and real, desperate attempt to break free of personal demons, it all sounds like so much weak sauce in comparison to anything this band ever did — especially the austere, majestic attempt at personal exorcism that is Closer.

As a writer for the Westword, Tom Murphy is special to The Metropolitan. Check out his writing at www.westword.com

15 • FEBRUARY 4, 2011• THE METROPOLITAN

PORTS

“Having the [Ski Industry America] show in Denver is better for business. There’s less debauchery here. In Vegas, people were drunk half of the time. Here, they actually show up for early-morning appointments.”

—DAVID KENNEDY, SKI SHOP OWNER • METROSPECTIVE • 9

Metro dodges Mavs ’Runners keep composure; hold on to 1st Place

This Week

2.04

Women’s Basketball

6 p.m. @ Colorado Christian

Men’s Basketball

By Matt Hollinshead mhollin5@mscd.edu The Metro men’s basketball team came home Jan. 28-29 with the urge to get back on track, following their loss at Adams State College Jan. 22. In doing so, they defeated Western State College 60-46, and a 5754 thriller with Mesa State College. “We’ve been pretty good on our three losses on coming back and getting things tightened up,” Head Coach Derrick Clark said. The Roadrunners improved to 16-3 this season, including 13-2 in the conference. Against Western State, Metro kicked its offense into high gear early on by taking a 9-1 lead with 13:33 left until halftime. The team blocked a season-high nine shots, including six from senior reserve center Shakir Johnson. “We provide ourselves in our defense and I’m just trying to do my best to do my part in helping us get a win tonight,” Johnson said. The ’Runners stretched their lead to 17 points in the second half as Metro’s top-ranked defense — 7th in the nation for points per game — held the Mountaineers shooting to just less than 31 percent from the field. Junior guard Reggie Evans led Metro with 21 points, but no one else scored more than nine. Next up was Mesa State, where it was déjà vu from the Jan. 2 game in Grand Junction. From start to finish, it was a hard-fought battle to the end. Early on, Metro couldn’t find the range, missing six of its first seven shots. Their defense made up for the early failures of the offense by allowing the Mavericks only two points in the first seven minutes and forcing four turnovers. Metro’s six-point halftime lead evaporated in an instant as Mesa went on an 11-0 run and took a 3328 lead. Neither team could build a lead of more than five the rest of the way. “It was a game where somebody will make a play or two to decide it,” Clark said. “It was a good old-fashioned, bare-knuckle brawl.” With less than 90 seconds remaining and Mesa down three points, Mesa’s junior forward Michael Bear hit a jumper and was fouled by Metro sophomore center

SIDELINE

8 p.m. @ Colorado Christian

Track and Field @ N.M. Invitational

2.05

Women’s Basketball

6 p.m. @ Colorado School of Mines

Men’s Basketball

8 p.m. @ Colorado School of Mines

Track and Field @ N.M. Invitational

RMAC Awards Junior guard Reggie Evans was named RMAC Offensive Player of the Week for the week of Jan. 31. During the two games, Evans scored a combined 41 points shooting 55 percent from the field. Evans also added seven rebounds and three assists.

They said it: “I JUST HAPPENED TO BE ON FIRE.” - METRO WOMEN’S BASKETBALL GUARD ALYSSA BENSON ON HER CAREER HIGH 24 POINTS JAN. 29 VS MESA STATE •16

Sophomore center Jonathan Morse battles for possession on the rebound against Western State College in a 60-46 win Jan. 28 at the Auraria Event Center. Photo by Floyd Brandt • fbrandt@mscd.edu Jonathan Morse. It was only Morse’s fourth foul, but the Mesa bench had miscounted it as his fifth. The Mavericks bench received a technical foul after Associate Head Coach Andy Schantz directed profanity toward the official scorer. “It was huge. They were going to the line for the and one (free throw) and all of a sudden we’re going to get two points,” Clark said. “That’s my point to my team: learn from other

peoples mistakes.” Mesa still had a chance to tie the game, but junior guard Kalonji Paschal missed a free throw with less than five seconds to play. Evans got the rebound and made the two free throws as Metro held on for the three-point victory. Evans had a team high 20 points on the night. It was a balanced offensive attack for Metro, as every player that touched the ball scored for the ’Run-

ners. Metro still has a one-game lead over Fort Lewis and Colorado School of Mines for the top spot in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The team remains unranked in the latest National Association for Basketball Coaches Division II poll, which was released Feb. 1. The Roadrunners will open up a four-game road trip that includes a game in Golden vs. Mines Feb. 5

Is Peter Forsberg back for real? Assistant Sports Editor Cody Lemon talks about his possible return and explains what it’s going to take for the Colorado Avalanche to make the 2011 playoffs. themet.studentmedia. com/sports

16 • SPORTS • FEBRUARY 4, 2011 • THE METROPOLITAN

DID YOU KNOW? Shakir Johnson’s career high for blocks in a game is 30.

Nothing like home cooking Women’s basketball ups winning streak to 16 games at Auraria By Matt Hollinshead mhollin5@mscd.edu The Metro women’s basketball team seemed relieved to return home, following last weekend’s tough road trip. They continue to share the No. 1 spot in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference with Fort Lewis College. The Roadrunners improved to 18-1 this season, including 14-1 in conference action. After beating Western State College 70-61 Jan. 28, and Mesa State College 66-53 the following night, at the Auraria Event Center. “You want to be able to defend your home floor; [I’m] very pleased,” Head Coach Tanya Haave said after the game. Western State College started off hot on offense, hitting three of its first four shots. Turnovers were an early dilemma for Metro, but their offense eventually ignited, resulting in a 33-25 lead with 2:50 left in the first half. Western State was able to stay within that margin for the remainder of the half, courtesy of solid all-around shooting and capitalizing on turnovers. “We were a little careless with the ball,” Haave said. “We let their pressure affect us.” Metro started the second half on an 1810 surge by aggressively attacking the paint,

Junior guard Emily Wood looks for a pass against Western State College on Jan. 28 at the Auraria Event Center. Metro won the game 70-61. Photo by Floyd Brandt • fbrandt@mscd.edu along with hitting free throws and outside shots. Junior guard Alyssa Benson drained two crucial 3-pointers in the first nine minutes, shifting the game’s direction in Metro’s favor. “That was our momentum right there,” junior guard Jasmine Cervantes said. “Alyssa was the spark-plug, [and] we give her a lot of credit.” Western State cut the deficit to three, 64-

61, with 2:32 left in the game. Those would be the Mountaineers last points as Metro scored six straight, sealing the victory. Senior forward Cassondra Bratton celebrated her 25 had 21 points and six rebounds, while Cervantes was three assists short of a triple-double, compiling 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists. “We were able to move the ball,” Cervantes said. “We were able to cut and get open spots,

and that’s what really helped us.” The following evening, Metro welcomed Mesa State. The last time these two schools met, Metro held on for a 58-53 victory. At first, it was a sloppy contest for both teams, especially from a ball-handling standpoint, as both teams combined to turn the ball over 10 times in the first 10 minutes. Metro took command of the game late in the first half, going on a 15-3 run to stretch the halftime lead to 11. Alyssa Benson sparked the Roadrunners’ off the bench, scoring a career-high 24 points on 9-10 shooting, including 6-7 from the perimeter. “My teammates were finding me, setting great screens, and I just happened to be on fire,” Benson said. The Roadrunners did a great job containing Mesa standouts Sharaya and Katrina Selsor, inside and out, limiting them to only 14 points combined. “One of our goals was to stop them,” Benson said. “We did all of our concepts right, and we held up to what we needed to.” Metro is now ranked No. 13 in the latest the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Division II poll, which was released Feb. 1. This is the highest ranking in school history for the women’s program. The Roadrunners play their next four games on the road, starting with Colorado Christian University Feb. 4.

Tennis checks out of Auraria courts By Ryan Ward rward19@mscd.edu Metro’s tennis teams have more obstacles to climb this year due to the recent demolition of the tennis courts. Metro is going to build the Hotel Learning Center where the nets once stood. This semester, both teams will be practicing at the indoor courts at Meadow Creek. Their home competitions will be held at Gates Tennis Center in Cherry Creek. One of the most shocking parts of this new development, is the teams have to set away five hours of time a day during the school week because of the demands of the tennis team and their traveling. “By not having the courts on campus, we are trying to get extra time in,” third-year head coach Beck Meares said “The hardest part is getting the athletes on schedule.” Ideally, every school would like to have their own courts on campus. By the beginning of Spring ’12, Metro hopes to have eight new courts on campus but the location has yet to be determined. For this season, coach Meares said he will deal with the inconvenience. “It’s not ideal but we are going to make the best of it,” Meares said. Sophomore Nicole Herrmann is not the biggest advocate of the traveling, but like her coach, she plans to make the most of it.

“To be honest, I don’t think anyone likes it,” Herrmann said. “I like Gates. The courts are good and I think it will be nice even though we have to drive there.” The timing of the relocation makes little sense. The tennis team does not play yearround, and it seems as if doing the relocation right before the spring season puts Metro at a disadvantage. Building the hotel in the fall would have helped avoid such a hectic schedule for the players and everyone else involved. The women’s tennis team will be opening their season at Gates Tennis Center in Denver against Colorado University Feb. 13. The men’s team opens their season against Abilene Christian at U.S. Air Force Academy Feb. 25.

Metro’s Ross Gelina returns a ball last season at Gates Tennis Center in Cherry Creek. File photo by Steve Anderson •

sande104@mscd.edu

DID YOU KNOW? Americans will spend around $55 million on food for this Super Bowl

Metro catcher Lauren Hainlen swings for the fences during their game Feb. 7, 2010 against Fort Hays State. The Roadrunners won the game 10-2. File photo by

Luke Powell • lpowel18@mscd.edu

Softball ready to swing away By Mark Babish mbabish@mscd.edu After a record-setting year last season, the 2011 Metro softball team looks to build on the experience of going to the College World Series. “With the pressure of being in the world series — that will help this season, because it shows we can do anything,” senior shortstop Amber Roundtree said. The team is coming off a year in which they set a school record for most wins in a season along with taking the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular and postseason titles. They also set the NCAA Division II record for home runs in a season, 112, as well as leading the nation in slugging percentage. After star pitcher Christine Robinson graduated, the reigns were given to junior pitcher Brittany Moss. Last season, Moss led the RMAC in opponents hitting percentage and was second in earned run average behind her teammate Robinson. Moss, however, will have to wait a year. She is taking a medical redshirt because she is pregnant. That leaves senior Julia Diehl as Metro’s No. 1 pitcher. “I’m going to do the best that I can, whether coach needs me to be No. 1, No. 2 or even No. 3, as long as I can do my best and support my team,” Diehl said. With Moss out, sophomore Aubree Maul, who did not pitch a single inning last year, will be Metro’s No. 2 pitcher. First-year Head Coach Vanessa Becerra knows there will be a lot of hard work, but the main thing is to have both pitchers, Diehl and Maul, build confidence on the mound. “They both are very confident in their hitting, and we just want them to get to the same confidence in their pitching as they are in their hitting.” Becerra took over the program after former Head Coach Jen Fisher took the same job at Colorado State University. Becerra, who is new to the head coach ranks, said she is focusing on team chemistry right now.

“It was nice last week; we got to get out with the 60 degree weather. We got some good quality time outside,” Becerra said. Metro returns five starters and three reserves this season. Among the starters returning are senior outfielder Jennessa Tesone and senior catcher Lauren Hainlen. Maul replaced first baseman Jessica Haab late last season after Haab broke her wrist. Maul’s performance in the final games earned her respect in the RMAC as coaches voted her a unanimous selection to the preseason team. The ’Runners welcome eight new players, including five freshman, to the team. Freshman utility player Tori Esparsen was named the Pueblo Chieftan’s Playmaker of the Year her senior season of high school. Becerra said this year’s team needs to make their own goals and focus on what they can do as a team. This year also marks a special occasion as Roundtree, Hainlen and Danni Hedstrom will be the first players to graduate who played all four years with Metro. “It’s pretty awesome just to be part of a program and start it and then finish off in four years. Making history — it’s pretty cool,” Roundtree said. Becerra has a special connection to the graduating players as they have been with her through all the stages of her career at Metro. “Its something that I don’t want to end. I’ve seen them grow up so much and they’ve seen me go from student to a coach to a mom to now a head coach,” Becerra said. “It’s definitely a bittersweet thing.” The team is picked first in the RMAC East and second overall. Mesa State was chosen first in the preseason poll. The ’Runners get their season started Feb. 13 and don’t play a road game until March 4 and 5 at Fort Lewis College. Metro opens the season ranked 15th in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association NCAA Division II preseason poll.

THE METROPOLITAN • FEBRUARY 4, 2011 • SPORTS • 17

CROSSWORD

IMEOUT

18 2.4.2011 THE METROPOLITAN

SUDOKU

BEST OF ONLINE Texts from last night

Across 1- Woman who killed Sisera 5- Match up 9- Move suddenly 13- God of Islam 15- Blue hue 16- Comics canine 17- Resembling a web 18- I could ___ horse! 19- Make-up artist? 20- Large body of water 21- Cat sound 23- Aden native 25- Treater’s words 26- Diacritic mark 27- River in S Africa 30- Also 31- Siouan speakers 32- Deducing 37- Crowd sound 38- Farm bird 40- Ashtabula’s lake

41- Short note 43- Harvests 44- Blame 45- Most proximate 47- Ship apartments 50- Galoots 51- Round of voting 52- Feminist Lucretia 53- Alias letters 56- Black-and-white treat 57- Children’s author Blyton 59- 1961 Heston role 61- ___ account (never) 62- Exchange for money 63- Lasso 64- Abound 65- Ad word; 66- One hunted

Down 1- Mouth bones 2- “Hard ___!” (sailor’s yell) 3- Exile isle 4- Test area 5- Sound investment? 6- 365 days 7- Writer Hentoff 8- Scottish broadsword; 9- Stuffed savory vine leaf;10Farewell 11- Cheerful 12- Actress Hatcher 14- Greek god of sleep 22- Diamond authority 24- “The Time Machine” race 25- Musical drama 26- Salt Lake City hoopsters 27- Bereft 28- Langston Hughes poem 29- Castle ring 32- Put on

WEEK {PREVIEW} Friday/ 2.4

Monday/ 2.7

Saturday/ 2.5

Tuesday/ 2.8

Sunday/ 2.6

Wednesday/ 2.9

African American Leadership Conference 10 a.m. Tivoli A special one-day event that brings Auraria students and high schoolers together for workshops and discussions.

The 7th Annual Mustache Festival 5 p.m. Vesta, 1822 Blake St. This year, 10 percent of Vesta’s sales for the night will go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Free

Zine Library Super Bowl Chili Cookoff 1 p.m. 2727 West 27th Ave. An alternative community event to the usual Super Bowl party. $3

Pen & Podium: Eric Schlosser 7 p.m. Newman Center for the Performing Arts Schlosser speaks on his controversial 2001 book, “Fast Food Nation.” $30

Lunch with Lawmakers 11 a.m–12 p.m. Tivoli 320 An hour-long forum featuring a local lawmaker. Lunch is provided.

The Race to End Homelessness 1 p.m. Tivoli Commons Get a team together to enter into the “bed races” to win prizes like hotel stays and event tickets.

33- Swerves 34- Dies ___ 35- Bites 36- Adventurous exploit 38- Very large woman 39- “My fault!” 42- Small combo 43- Roof timber 45- Dried strip of egg dough 46- Absorb, as a cost 47- Chili con ___ 48- Coeur d’___ 49- Plant flower 51- Rubber overshoe 52- Factory 53- Rent-___ 54- Bird of prey 55- Forever’s partner 58- PBS benefactor 60- Back talk

We are possibly on our way, unless we see the limo full of strippers. Isn’t it statistically impossible for THAT many ugly people to be in one place at one time? We found you under the sink... we opened up the doors and you told us to go away because you were playing indian in the cupboard. I don’t know. He sent me the following, “techno kitty adventure” about 10 minutes ago. So, he could be anywhere. Not sure if jager bombs can cure tuberculosis, but its a theory im testing as we speak. Hey just to warn you theres a really fat guy passed out in front of our front door snoring. Don’t touch him, he’s in god’s hands now.

My life is average Today, I got a biology quiz back. I had drawn a dinosaur on the back of the page, asking for extra credit. When my teacher handed it to me, I turned it over to see that he had drawn a caveman shooting arrows at my dinosaur. It was bleeding. Profusely. I didn’t get the extra credit. MLIA Today, I was in the car with my dad and sister. My sister asked “Do you think God loves me?”. I immediately pointed out the billboard in front of us. What did it say? “I know. I care. -God” MLIA. Today I was walking backwards down the sidewalk, when I turned around and almost bumped into a statue right in front of me. I shouted out “Jesus Christ!” It was a statue of Jesus Christ. MLIA. Today, I saw a man walking down the street with a paper bag over his head. The thing that seemed odd to me was that it didn’t have any eye-holes. MLIA. Note: Best of Online entries are not edited.

LAUGH OF THE WEEK