Volume 34, Issue 34 - June 21, 2012

June 21, 2012

Volume 34, Issue 34

www.metnews.org

Serving the Auraria Campus since 1979

TheMetropolitan MetNews

InSight

RunnerSports

MetroSpective

Attorney General finds tuition rate unlawful 3

For a change, Metro does the right thing 6

55 Athletes named to Honor Roll list 12

Da Vinci’s designs grace 16th Street 8

New university logos unveiled Metro track star finishes third at nationals

• Page 12

Metro hurdler Darius Reed finished third at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships May 26 in Pueblo. Reed holds the 19th fastest hurdling time Photo by Rachel Fuenzalida • rfuenzal@mscd.edu

TheMetropolitan MetNews June 21, 2012

MetNews

3

New tuition rate sets precedent at Metro Colorado High School/GED Tuition Rate makes waves

Metro’s Board of Trustees voted 7-1 to approve a new category of non-resident tuition June 7. The Colorado High School/GED Tuition Rate would address financial needs of undocumented students. According to the trustee members, no taxpayer money would be used, no U.S. citizen would be displaced, and no state or federal benefit or subsidy would be applied. To qualify for the rate, students must have attended a Colorado high school for three years, graduated or received their general equivalency diploma, and state that they are seeking lawful residency. Instead of paying the out-of-state tuition of $7,992 per semester, these eligible students would pay $3,358 per semester. Instate tuition per semester is $2,152. Recent events have challenged the legality of the matter. (See Attorney General below).

Attorney General says rate unlawful Nikki Work nwork@mscd.edu Metro’s proposed tuition break for undocumented students is unlawful, according to an opinion issued June 19 by the Colorado Attorney General’s office.

“After carefully reviewing the state and federal law in this area, my office has concluded that Colorado’s state-supported higher-education institutions cannot create discounted tuition categories for students who are unable to prove their lawful presence in the United States,” Attorney General John Suthers said in a press release.

Metro’s Board of Trustees voted June 7 to approve a reduced tuition rate for undocumented immigrants who graduated from Colorado high schools or earned their general equivalence diplomas in the state.

“Discounted tuition is a ‘public benefit,’ which under current state law may only be provided to individuals who prove their lawful presence in the United States,” Suthers said.

The opinion was requested by the Colorado Community College System.

According to Cathy Lucas, Associate to the President for Marketing and Communications, the board looked into their statute to decide their authority before making their decision.

“The board does indeed have the authority to set tuition for both in-state and out-of-state,” Lucas said June 18, before the opinion was released. “So, given the fact that this is an out-of-state nonresident tuition, these types of students were already a part of

a nonresident tuition, but they just created a different tuition category.”

Metro’s Colorado High School/GED Tuition Rate was approved following the defeat of the ASSET bill, or Senate Bill 15, in the Colorado House of Representatives earlier this year. The bill would have created a new category of tuition, lower than out-of-state, but higher than in-state.

In his statement, Suthers said that in the last 10 years, the General Assembly considered and rejected legislation such as the ASSET bill six times.

“I believe that Metro State definitely has overstepped its bounds considering that the legislature has voted the bill down,” said At the Board of Trustees meeting June 7, Fanny state Rep. Jon Becker, R–Fort Morgan. “I Garcia reacts to a ruling over slashed tuition rates think that if they want to be a state college and they want to receive state subsidy, they should follow the legislature.”

Suthers said that this issue may be further considered by the General Assembly.

“The decision is one that under existing law must be made by the legislature, he said, “not individual institutions of higher education.”

The crowd at the board meeting reacts to the 7-1 vote to approve the lowered tuition rate. Photos by Seth Baca • sbaca22@mscd.edu

Proposed tuition rate sparks widespread community response Maalikah Hartley mhartle8@mscd.edu The Board of Trustees approval of Metro’s lower tuition rate for undocumented students sparked debate and a variety of initial responses at Auraria.

“I think it’s a positive step, because it’s going to contribute to our community in general [by] allowing people to better their education,” said Stephanie Campbell, a continuing senior at Metro.

“A lot of the people that are benefitting from this are not coming at age 22 from Mexico, or any other country, to here. They grew up here, so they should really have the benefit of college education like any of the

other students that grew up here.”

Other students, like business management major, Bradford Adragna, oppose the move.

“I don’t agree with it,” said Adragna, a Metro senior. “The regular, desired students don’t quite have that same advantage as students that aren’t from the U.S. I just think that concept’s a little weird. We go to any other country, they don’t treat us like that.”

However, for others, the proposed tuition rate has raised questions and concerns about the state of education funding in general.

“I don’t really understand [the different tuition levels] to be honest. I think everybody should have help for education — in-state, out-of-state, illegal alien, whatever

it may be — because it’s something that’s important,” said Jaime Reis, a Metro sophomore. “I am actually paying out-of-state tuition, so I wish I could get a fifty percent decrease.”

Christy Wilt, a Metro junior, agrees with the need for aid for undocumented students, but still said she understands why there has been so much discord.

“I am all for the underprivileged getting an opportunity for education,” said Wilt.

“Granted, I would love a 50 percent decrease in my tuition as well, so I can see why people say it’s unfair. I feel like there should be more help for education all around in the United States.”

HSI status could bring big money Nic Keith nkeith1@mscd.edu More than just undocumented students could have benefited from Metro’s lower tuition rate, according to university administration.

Part of Metro’s 2012-2017 Strategic Plan is to become designated as a Hispanic Serving Institute (HSI) by 2017.

“We anticipate [with HSI status] we could double our grant dollars coming in from [approximately] $17 million to $35 million,” said Vicki Golich, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Metro.

To qualify as an HSI, Hispanic enrollment needs to reach 25 percent. Metro’s spring census shows Hispanic students currently make up 17.8 percent of total enrollment. “[The year] 2017 is actually a good time frame for us to achieve Hispanic Serving Institution status. Our overall enrollment has held steady — aligned with both the Colorado and national trends — in the last couple of years,” said Golich. “We believe that the Colorado, and in particular the sevencounty region that we serve, demographics will now find us enrolling Hispanics at a quicker rate.”

Colorado Attorney General John Suthers released a formal opinion June 19, saying The Colorado High School/GED Non-Resident Tuition Rate was unlawful. This ruling could affect Metro’s plan to become an HSI. Upon reaching HSI status, a school may be eligible for the Title V grant, a five-year grant funded by the federal government to assist HSIs. The average grant awarded is estimated at $775,000 per year.

Metro currently has 120 undocumented students enrolled. Those students would have to meet eligibility requirements to qualify for the new tuition rate.

Metro estimated about 300 new students from the Metro Denver area could potentially take advantage of the new tuition rate in the 2012-2013 academic year.

4 June 21, 2012 MetNews TheMetropolitan

Phoenix Center reopens to Metro Board chooses MSU Denver Kelli Heitstuman-Tomko ktomko@mscd.edu Metro students once again have access to the services of the Phoenix Center, after the Board of Trustees voted to reinstate funding.

Students voted 991-640 on the 2011-2012 SGA referendum for a $2 fee per semester to help finance the Phoenix Center. Still, the board proposed removing the fee from the budget, a move that would have prevented Metro students access to the center.

According to Dean of Students Emilia Paul, the administration rejected the vote because it had not gone through the proper channels before making it onto the ballot.

Internal policy, she said, was based on the state policy concerning student fees.

“The work was not up front,” Paul said.

“There was no collaboration process.”

After hearing statements from students who have used the center, the board agreed June 7 to allow the $2 fee for the next two semesters. They will review the issue again at a later date, and have asked for more information regarding the difference in services between the Phoenix Center and the Health Center at Auraria.

Paul, who sits on the Phoenix Center’s board, said that the center’s original $500,000 grant was funded by the U.S. Department of Justice and backed by both Metro and UCD. As part of that grant agreement, neither college had monetary obligations, but they did make commitments of time and support staff.

The grant was to be renewed in October

2011, but the federal government opted out.

“I’m not sure why the grant was not renewed,” Paul said. “Other similar centers had their grants renewed, but the Phoenix Center was denied.”

The fee will provide roughly $96,000 to the Phoenix Center over the next year. Paul said she finds this funding excessive, as 85 students used the center in 2011.

“It’s a lot of money for services that you’re already paying student fees to receive in the [Health Center’s] counseling office,” she said.

“This was the administration’s decision,” SGA President Laura Noe said. “The students clearly want access.”

Noe said that the SGA will continue to promote the Phoenix Center to the board to prevent Metro students from losing the services that the Phoenix Center offers.

“This is an expensive campus,” Paul said. “President Jordan is trying to keep fees down, understanding that tuition is going to go up.”

A Metro junior, who wished to remain anonymous due to the nature of the Phoenix Center’s services, disagrees that the Health Center is a substitute for the services available at the Phoenix Center. “[The Health Center has] all kinds of people with all kinds of problems. The Phoenix Center specializes in people like me,” they said.

As someone who utilized the center’s services, she said she did not hesitate to vote for the fee and is glad the Phoenix Center will again be available.

Nikki Work nwork@mscd.edu

The Board of Trustees approved Metro’s new shortened name, logo, and seal at their meeting June 7. With the official transition to university on July 1, Metro will officially be known as MSU Denver.

A survey was sent out to Metro students, staff, faculty, and alumni asking which shortened name they preferred. The results showed a close race between MSU Denver and Metro State. MSU Denver was more popular among students and alumni, whereas Metro State was preferred among staff and faculty.

“When we looked at the overall goal of the name, [we wanted to] have something that represents our geographical location, something that indicates that we are a four-year university, and the shortened name of MSU Denver seemed to be the best fit,” said Cathy Lucas, Associate to the President for Marketing and Communications.

MSU Denver will be on all official paperwork, and the new domain name for the school will be msudenver.edu. Metro State, as well as MSU Denver, will continue to be used on uniforms in the athletic department.

“For now, we have a very strong brand as Metro State. That’s what we’re known as, so that’s what we’re going to stay as,” said athletic director Joan McDermott. “We will have the new logo and MSU Denver on our uniforms, and a year from now, that will go on the gym floor.”

The new logo still has the roadrunner head with the same colors, but differently stylized.

The new seal features multiple symbols, including the torch of knowledge and several buildings from the community and campus. In addition, the new seal has the date 1965 to represent when Metro opened its doors, rather than 1963 when it gained leglislation. The school has been celebrating its anniversaries based on the 1965 date, with the 50th anniversary set for 2015.

“Metro State is part of our heritage and MSU Denver is part of our future, so I think you’re going to have a blended use,” Lucas said. “Dr. Jordan continues to say we want to keep one foot in our past and remain true to our heritage but then put one foot in our future.”

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MetNews

June 21, 2012

Camping ban impacts Denver homeless Maalikah Hartley mhartle8@mscd.edu

The Denver camping ban went into effect May 29, prohibiting unauthorized camping on public property. According to Mark Jones of the Auraria Police Department, Auraria has not been affected.

“Before the camping ban that Denver passed, we still had the state statute for the camping ban on campus — because you can’t camp on state property. We don’t have more homeless people down here than before; we don’t have any less,” he said.

However, according to Brittany Randall, a homeless woman, there are now more homeless people seeking shelter at Auraria.

“I’ve seen more people coming on the campus because of the camping ban. There’s more places to hide,” she said while standing in the food line at the St. Elizabeth’s Church on campus.

Randall used to camp out with Occupy Denver before the camping ban. Now, because she is a single woman with no kids and no mental condition, most shelters turn her away. Also, most shelters in Denver are often at maximum capacity. She is allowed to stay at the Samaritan House located in downtown Denver but still prefers to sleep outside.

“It’s just drug-ridden. I would never stay there. I feel safer [outside] than in the shelters absolutely,” she said.

The Denver Police Department has told the public that few arrests would be made

5

for people camping out and they would assist the homeless to find human services or give warnings. Still, Randall says she has so far been threatened once with an arrest and a fine if she did not leave her sleeping spot immediately.

According to their website, Occupy Denver finds the police department’s statements to be untrue, and speakers at Occupy told The Metropolitan they think the camping ban is inhumane.

A 25-year-old homeless woman who goes by the street name “ShortStack” explained that every other morning city officials sweep through Civic Center Park and are usually met with On June 5, a homeless man, who declined to give his name, shared his views on Denver’s new camping ban from his bed in Civic little resistance.

Center Park. Photo by Melanie J. Rice • mrice20@mscd.edu “There’s also the people that honestly Short-Stack said she sleeps outside of “We have people that come down here, don’t know any other way of life other than shelters as well as at the park, because she they’ll fall asleep, start setting up camp,” he being on the streets,” she said. “They’re and her husband get turned away for not said. “We don’t arrest them for it, we just taking that away. Who’s going to go to the having their marriage certificate. give them a warning. We try to inform them mountains when they can come down here At Auraria, Jones says that the problem where the shelters are and where they can and make money?” is not severe. go.”

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METROPOLITAN

6 June 21, 2012 TheMetropolitan

InSight

Metro merits praise for doing the right thing Regular readers of The Metropolitan, including the half dozen or so who follow this space, know that accolades for Metro’s administration are almost as rare in these pages as a National Basketball Association referee calling a foul on the L.A. Lakers’ Kobe Bryant during the NBA playoffs.

It nearly never happens — no matter how flagrant Kobe’s fouls are, and especially when the Lakers play the Denver Nuggets in prime playoff time.

That said, and not withstanding Colorado Attorney General John Suthers’ June 19 opposing opinion, Metro’s board of directors and president Stephen Jordan deserve high praise for their June 7 decision to cut tuition for undocumented students by better than half. In a 7-1 vote, Metro’s board approved a new tuition rate of $3,358 per semester for eligible students — higher than the $2,152 Metro charges in-state students, but lower than that charged out-ofstaters, who pay $7,992.

As always, certain conditions apply; none crippling. But the new rate may go into effect this fall and could initially ease the financial liability of an estimated 320 Metro students, according to Jordan. This year, 18 percent of Metro’s 24,000 students are Latino.

In noting that the board’s action was consistent with Metro’s mission as Colorado’s “school of opportunity,” Jordan didn’t have to say the decision – that quckly became controversial – took courage. This was in sharp contrast to the board’s recent caving in to University of Denver objections to Metro’s name change.

In the tuition move, Metro’s heart was in the right place – as was President Obama’s June 15

executive order that created a temporary reprieve from the threat of deportation and the chance to get work permits for as many as 800,000 children of undocumented immigrants. Those people must have arrived in the U.S. before turning 16, completed high school, committed no crimes and not have reached the age of 30.

With the executive order, Obama acted on his own and didn’t wait for action from the U.S. Congress, where the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM ) Act path to citizenship has been repeatedly torpedoed by Congressional Republicans, most recently two years ago.

As with Obama’s recent support for same-sex marriage, the deportation reprieve – immediately attacked by Republicans as a political ploy to curry favor with Latino voters this November — called for courage and is risky in an election year. But it was the right thing to do, as were other recent actions by Obama, in support of ideas whose time has clearly come.

Like their brethren in the U.S. House of Representatives, Republicans in the Colorado statehouse didn’t get the memo, email or tweet. In the Colorado legislature, Republicans last spring voted down for the sixth time – SIX! - an ASSET bill. It would offer lower tuition at all state-supported schools in Colorado for undocumented students who’ve been state residents for three years and who’ve attained a Colorado high school or GED diploma.

Ignoring that the state-support investment in Colorado higher education has become a bad joke, with funding down by $216 million, or 31 percent, during the last

three years, Republicans didn’t even scream the familiar mantra of “SOCIALISM!” when scuttling the ASSET bill. Everybody knows Republicans don’t like welfare.

But, by defeating ASSET and opposing Obama’s stay of deportation action, they’re also waging a rearguard action to keep people from earning legal wages to move out of an exploited and underpaid underclass. Naysayers, mostly Republicans, evidently want it both ways. But logic seldom enters their arguments.

Look for even less logic, as in none at all, this fall when the billionaire-funded big-gun batteries of conservative super-PACs begin blasting the broadcast landscape with distortions and outright bleepin’ lies, delivered by irritating voices, as November draws closer.

Thanks to the 5-4 (it’s always 5-4) U.S. Supreme Court “Citizens United” decision in 2010, superPACs don’t even have to disclose who is paying for those shrieks.

Even as Obama’s executive order on deportations was blasted by conservatives as “amnesty” for illegals – it does nothing of the sort – Metro’s June 7 tuition decision for undocumented students was quickly vilified.

From Boulder, where the University of Colorado talks a great game about “diversity” but actually has less than most locales, CU president Bruce Benson — a Republican — weighed in first.

Benson argued that the state legislature’s most recent rejection of the ASSET bill should have been the final word on the matter, and that Metro had no legal right to take action on its own. Other Republicans, including state representative Cheri Gerou (R-Evergreen), agreed. Gerou, who chairs the

Editor-in-Chief Brian T. McGinn: bmcginn3@mscd.edu Managing Editor Megan Mitchell: mmitch46@mscd.edu News Editor Nikki Work: nwirk@mscd.edu Assistant News Editor Nic Keith: nkeith1@mscd.edu

J. SEBASTIAN SINISI sinisi2@msn.com Colorado legislature’s Joint Budget Committee that holds the purse strings for Colorado higher education funding, said Metro was undermining the will of the state legislature.

There were other frissons, pro and con. But, to their credit, Metro and P-resident Jordan remained unfazed. Jordan issued a rebuttal to Republican Suthers’ “political beliefs cloud[ing] his legal reasoning” while citing legal precedents to support Metro’s lowered tuition rate.

Far be it for us to suggest how you ought to vote in November, if only because the super-PACs and their anonymous hundreds of millions of dollars worth of attack ads, have that locked. But the repeated evidence of recent events, votes and decisions in high places again point to a picture that Ray Charles could see, were he still with us. The pattern clearly points out who does and doesn’t give a rat’s ass about students, young people, old people, women, gays, minorities and “illegals.” You can add veterans to that mix, as well.

So pay attention and try to get beyond the bullshit of attack ads to see the real issues and who is supporting — and opposing — what.

It has something to do with your life, and your future.

Local farmers’ markets serve up fresh produce I’ve been a self-described “farmers’ market junkie” since about 2003, when I was living in Evanston, IL, Kate Rigot krigot@mscd.edu which I was told had one of the best farmers’ markets in the country. I spent many enchanting Saturday mornings browsing for exotic ingredients like wild chanterelle mushrooms, salsify,

duck eggs, and fresh huitlacoche, as well as deals on more common produce. I would then spend many more evenings leafing through library cookbooks for ideas on what to do with all the stuff I’d scored.

Fortunately, I found a whole network of smaller but substantial farmers’ markets here in Denver to feed my fresh-local-produce habit I brought with me when I moved here. There’s even a market going on somewhere in the Denver area on almost any given day. I’ve been somewhat disappointed with the relative lack of produce and the

fairly high prices at some markets I’ve been to, but I’m generally quite pleased with the Sunday market at the City Park Esplanade. The large farmers’ market in Boulder can also be worth a trip up there (use your student ID to take the bus), for the sheer variety of vendors, the great selection of ready-to-eat food, and the fabulous performances.

For details on more local farmers’ markets, check out the list online at metnews.org. To find markets in other Colorado cities, go to http://www.coloradofarmers. org/marketfind.htm.

MetStaff

City Park Esplanade Market Sundays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

E. Colfax Ave. & Columbine 5/13 – 10/28

Boulder Farmers’ Market Wednesdays 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Saturdays 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

13th & Canyon St. 4/7 – 11/17 Accepts SNAP

MetroSpective Editor Caitlin Seivers: csievers2@mscd.edu Assistant MetroSpective Editor Kayla Whitney: kwhitne2@mscd.edu Sports Editor Angelita Foster: amayer1@mscd.edu Assistant Sports Editor Josh Gaines: gains8@mscd.edu Copy Editors J. Sebastian Sinisi

Kate Rigot

Photo Editor Ryan Borthick: rborthick@mscd.edu Assistant Photo Editor Christopher Morgan: cmorga37@mscd.edu Web Editor Steve Anderson: sande104@mscd.edu Adviser Gary Massaro: gmassaro@mscd.edu Webmaster Drew Jaynes: ajaynes1@mscd.edu Director of Student Media Steve Haigh: shaigh@mscd.edu Assistant Director of Student Media Marlena Hartz: mhartz@mscd.edu Administrative Assistant of Student Media Elizabeth Norberg: enorbert@mscd.edu Production Manager of Student Media Kathleen Jewby: kjewby@mscd.edu

The Metropolitan accepts submissions in the form of topicdriven 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 600 words. Letters to the editor must be submitted by 5 p.m. Mondays to be printed in that week’s edition. There is a 500-word limit for letters to the editor. The Metropolitan reserves the right to edit letters for formatting and style.

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8 June 21, 2012 TheMetropolitan

MetroSpective

Da Vinci’s genius brought to life

The Renaissance man’s designs on display downtown Caitlin Sievers csiever2@mscd.edu Robotic soldiers and a mechanical lion might seem like objects out of a futuristic movie, but they were both designed by Leonardo Da Vinci more than 500 years ago and are on display in Denver.

Da Vinci made money selling his design talents and painting portraits of the rich and famous. Having no particular loyalties, he worked for the highest bidder. More than 60 of his designs, hand-built by third generation Italian artisans, are on display as part of the “Da Vinci Machines” exhibition at the 16th Street Mall.

“He contracted out his design talents to dukes and lords,” museum curator Ali Rodgers said.

One such commission was called the “Scythed Chariot.” This war wagon, made to be pulled by horses, was designed for the Duke of Milan. It had an interlocking gear system that turned deadly looking scythes meant to mow down opponents.

Although he designed war machines for pay, Da Vinci led a peaceful private life.

“He’d buy caged birds and set them free,” manager of the exhibit Mark Rodgers said.

Mark works in partnership with Niccolai Teknoart of The Artisans of Florence, the group that built the machines.

Because his commissioned designs and personal feelings about war were so conflicting, Da Vinci created wind-up robotic soldiers.

“He envisioned robots fighting each other so men didn’t have to lose their lives in battle,” Ali said.

Of his estimated 44,000 original drawings, only 14,000 survived. The exhibit contains more than 60 recreations of Da Vinci’s designs. Many of them are interactive with moving parts. Visitors to the exhibit learn that Da Vinci invented everything from the double-hulled boat to the life preserver.

Each display includes a copy of Da Vinci’s original sketches and facts about the design.

“The design has withstood the test of time. It’s just the material and manufacturing process that has changed,” Mark said.

Some visitors to the exhibit were amazed by how many contraptions Da Vinci created.

“I can’t imagine that he ever slept,” Susan Downey Louisville resident said.

A replica of a wooden bicycle is one of the many hands-on displays. No one knew that Da Vinci had invented a bicycle until 1966 when a monk was going through the inventor’s design books. He noticed some of the pages were stuck together and discovered the bicycle design.

“More important than inventing the bicycle, he invented the chain that powered the bicycle,” Ali said.

Da Vinci’s bike has no steering or brakes, and a sloped wooden seat. Metal casting was not advanced enough at the time to make a metal chain, so he probably made his from leather.

“He invented things he couldn’t even make,” Mark said.

Da Vinci had a passion for flight and tried to mimic animals that could fly with his inventions.

His “Bat Wing Glider” hangs from the ceiling of the museum. Similar to a hangglider, Da Vinci’s glider is made of wood and canvas. He was probably the first to theorize that a flying machine’s wings must be parallel to the horizon for it to stay in the air, according to Mark.

“Leonardo thought of human flight before the Wright brothers,” Denia Lindsey Fort Collins resident said. “That was so long ago.”

Da Vinci’s designs were so prolific that many are used every day by millions. General Motors has 3,000 patents on the internal combustion engine. Every part in the engine comes from one of Da Vinci’s ideas except for the spark plugs, according to Mark .

“We’ve been embraced by the whole community and we just love that,” Mark said. Mark encourages young guests to be creative and to find the Da Vinci inside themselves.

Above: A re-creation of Da Vinci’s original bicycle design with the modern addition of a metal chain.

Below: A hand crafted model of Da Vinci’s war wagon with interlocking gears to turn the scythes.

Photos by Mike Fabricius • mfabrici@mscd.edu

Da Vinci Machines Information Located in Denver Pavilions on the corner of 16th St. and Welton Admission is $14 for adults and $11 for students, military, and seniors.

Will be in Denver through September.

TheMetropolitan

The Colorado Convention Center experienced its first ever Comic Con this last weekend.

MetroSpective

June 21, 2012

9

Although costumes were not mandatory, they were awesome!

Many cosplayer took over the streets surrounding the conww, startling unaware pedestrians.

Also red u t a fe Con c i om at C Darth Vader

Ms. Freddy Krueger

The Comedian & Silk Spectre

Kickass

Aquaman

Colorado shows off its super-nerdy side Kayla Whitney kwhitne2@mscd.edu This last weekend, anyone near the Colorado Convention Center, probably had an unexpected encounter with a superhero, comic book star, or someone dressed completely outlandishly. That’s because, for the first time ever, Denver hosted a Comic Convention.

The Comic Con was a three-day event that featured local shops, artists and celebrities, such as “True Blood” star Kristin Bauer, “Futurama” voice actor Billy West, and “30 Days of Night” artist Ben Templesmith.

The convention began on Friday June 15, with fewer attendees than Saturday June 16, but plenty of fans eager to check out the hundreds of booths around the exhibition hall.

Saturday attracted the biggest crowd of the weekend with thousands of attendees packing the center and taking part in the jam-packed itinerary, which included workshops, celebrity panels, and events, such as Sci-Fi speed dating, Jedi Training with Nick Gillard, a costume contest, and Khary Payton and Eric Hayden screening of their emotional space journey “The Last Push.”

“This was the first time we screened the fi lm in Denver,” said Hayden. “We were so excited to see people attending the screening and excited about the fi lm.”

By Sunday June 17 the convention was winding down, but there were still fans exploring the festivities and plenty still sporting their costumes. Attendees were played a special pre-recorded message of Spider-man and X-men creator, Stan Lee, announcing his appearance at the 2013 Denver Comic

Con, which confirmed the convention’s return next year. The crowd responded to the announcement with booming cheers and applause, excited that although the last day was coming to a close, there would be another convention.

The best part about the convention was not the celebrities-it was about the acceptance of all personalities. Whether you’re decked out in a costume that took months of preparation or if you’re just with the family carrying a camera and bag full of really awesome swag you discovered; no one judges.

“Denver Comic Con was one of the most awesomely crazy weekends I have ever experienced,” said attendee and Metro student Charlie Hanson. “I believe a big part of the awesome was due to wearing a costume.

Nothing beats walking down the street as Mario and Luigi with your friend in the middle of June.”

Everyone is just a fan of something they deem awesome, whether it’s totally nerdy (such as Fez-o-Rama’s 20-sided die fez), something artistic (like Mother Mind’s comics and movies), or something completely random (such as Geek Chic’s Mustache Monocles).

Comic Con is an open display for all sorts of artistic presentations-comic books, action figures, Steampunk items, movies, trading cards, clothes, and so goes on. With hundreds of booths placed throughout the centers, there is plenty to satisfy any geek desires.

Above: “Batman” producer Michael Uslan shows off his new book “The Boy Who Loved Batman.” Right: Charlie Hanson and Jaymes Lopez cosplay as Mario and Luigi. Photos by Christopher Morgan • cmorga38@mscd.edu

Left: Two Comic Con attendees show off their modded, yet outdated, “steampunk” attire, which included old suits and hilarious mustaches. Photo by Kayla Whitney• kwhitne2@ mscd.edu

10 June 21, 2012 MetroSpective TheMetropolitan

Beat the heat with cool summer activities The Denver area is full of fun things to keep busy in warmer months

Coloradans can watch movies or work out by running the many steps at Red Rocks.

Photo by Kailyn Lamb • klamb6@mscd.edu The Taste of Colorado is just one of the many festivals taking place in Denver this summer.

Photo by Caitlin Sievers • csiever2@mscd.edu

Kailyn Lamb klamb6@mscd.edu

In Denver Every day, there is plenty to do in the Denver. The Denver Art Museum has a free day the first Saturday of every month, if you are willing to brave the crowds. Adult tickets for Colorado residents are $10, $8 for college students, and $3 for resident children.

The current exhibition is Yves Saint Laurent: The Retrospective. Tickets are $22 for adults, $18 for college students, and $14 for children.

For more activities and museum free days, visit denver.org, also available as a free mobile application. The website has more information on the festivals, as well as other day-to-day things in Denver.

Festivals There are several parades and festivals in the summer months. The Cherry Creek Arts Festival — featuring a combination of culinary, visual and performing arts — will take place in July in Cherry Creek North.

The Colorado Gay Rodeo is an otherwise-traditional rodeo with a “goat dressing” and a “wild drag race.” Finally, celebrate everything Irish with the Irish Festival in Clement Park in Littleton with traditional Irish music, dancing and storytelling. The Underground Music Showcase is happening July 19-22. The UMS takes place in various venues across south Broadway.

August brings the Denver County Fair, to be held at the National Western Complex, as well as the Colorado State Fair at the Pueblo Fair Grounds. The Taste of Colorado fair in Civic Center Park finishes the festival season.

At Red Rocks

In the mountains

In addition to two trails, the park amphitheatre’s stadium seats bring a crowd of people doing their daily workouts. From 7a.m. to 8a.m.ion Saturdays until June 28, the park is closed for the HealthONE Red Rocks Fitness Challenge personal workouts.

Some upcoming shows at Red Rocks include Wilco June 22-23, Foster the People July 3, the String Cheese Incident July 5-6, and Florence and the Machine July 25.

Film on the Rocks is also a popular event at the amphitheatre. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the opening band for the night (usually every Monday) starts at 7p.m.

Movies begin at dusk. Prices are $12 for general admission or $35 for VIP. Some of the movies coming up are “The Notebook,” “Wayne’s World,” “Bridesmaids,” “E.T.,” “Anchorman,” and “Spirited Away.” All information on these events can be found at redrocksonline.com.

There are a total of 53 mountains in Colorado with peaks that are at least 14,000 feet above sea level. Mount Elbert is the tallest, standing at 14,433 feet. Mount Elbert is in the San Isabel National Forest, southwest of Leadville.

Perhaps the most popular of the fourteeners is Pikes Peak near Colorado Springs.

Pikes Peak stands at 14,110 feet and is rated as a pretty easy hike or you can drive to the summit of the peak. For a more interesting trip, the Cog Wheel Route is a train that will take you from Manitou Springs to the top of Pikes Peak in a three hours and ten minute round trip.

Rates for the train are $35 for adults and $19 for children ages 3 -12. For schedules and coupons, visit cograilway.com. For more trail information on all of Colorado’s fourteeners, visit 14ers.com.

Taos artists show true colors at CVA Show features 57 artists exclusively from Taos, N.M. Kailyn Lamb klamb6@mscd.edu

Christina Sporrong’s “Nine Beating Hearts” is part of Metro’s Center for Visual Art’s Taos exhibit, Photo by: Kailyn Lamb • klamb6@mscd.edu

A big red button pulls you in and asks for attention. It’s sitting in front of an art piece, another item that calls for admiration.

The tall pedestal that Christina Sporrong’s “Nine Beating Hearts” sits on is frequently surrounded by people looking at the welded metal where small hooks clang on hollow hearts when that inviting red button is pressed. From across the gallery people can hear the melody of the hearts over the babble of the exhibition onlookers.

Sporrong’s piece is one of 57 in the Taos Contemporary Exhibition at Metro’s Center for Visual Art. The exhibition includes only pieces from artists who live and work in Taos County, N. M. The center was “looking for work that really fit the contemporary field,” said Cecily Cullen, assistant director and curator at the CVA. The artists’ hard work shows. There is a wide array of media, colors, and textures, as well as several 3D pieces.

Of the 57 artists in the show, 18 were present at the opening.

The stories behind the artwork are as fascinating as the artwork itself.

Barbara Zaring’s piece, “Terrible Beauty,” is an acrylic painting of several layers with darker colors and some lines on the bottom that look like streaks of lightning. Zaring says that she has always had a fascination with storms, and describes her work as dark and ominous. Even with the feel of a coming storm, the colors have a strong luminosity.

She attributes the brightness of the colors to the layering of her paint.

Mimi Chen Ting’s painting, “Wendy’s Groove” is inspired by her previous studio partner who died from cancer. Ting says that the winding, curvy shapes represent her partner’s bravery and generous spirit.

When looking at Ting’s piece, onlooker Betsy Delaney said that she sees cell towers.

She also says she is “very impressed with the quality of the art” in the show overall, and encourages everyone to see it.

Artist Lee Lee also has very strong feelings for the show. Lee Lee lives and works in Taos where she says the “community is highly educated and cultured and has stepped out of the mainstream.”

The CVA is located at 965 Santa Fe Drive where Taos Contemporary is showing until Aug. 11.

TheMetropolitan

MetroSpective

June 21, 2012

11

Best Thrice Albums

A fond farewell to Thrice

Vheissu 2005 The Alchemy Index Vol III-IV Air & Earth

2008

Major/Minor 2011 The members of Thrice go on hiatus after 13 successful years as a band.

Photos courtesy ofw thrice.net

Kayla Whitney kwhitne2@mscd.edu For 13 years, alternative-rock band, Thrice, has saturated the airwaves with their creative serenades. From the punk drums and raw vocals of Identity Crisis, to the artistic maturity and flawless flow of Major/ Minor, time has been kind to the band’s sonic progression, as well as its fans — until now. Thrice is currently touring the country and saying goodbye to its fans.

Over the last decade, the band has been on countless tours, produced numerous singles, and released eight full-length albums. On top of their work as musicians, the home lives of the band have grown, as well.

On Nov. 21 of last year, frontman Dustin

Kensrue announced on the band’s website that they would, “be taking a break from being a full-time band” so that he and other members can dedicate more time to their families. According to Kensrue, Thrice isn’t breaking up, but going on hiatus.

At one point during his announcement Kensrue said, “I do know that I would love to make more music in the future with [Thrice], as well as play some shows or short tours, but for the time being, I need to step out of the role of a full time touring [and] recording musician.”

As a celebration of the last 13 years, Thrice put together a “Farewell Tour” with bands O’Brother and Animals as Leaders.

The band also conducted polls and allowed fans to vote for the songs they would play on

the tour.

When Thrice visited Denver June 6, the floor of the Summit Music Hall was bustling with a sold out crowd.

After Animals as Leaders was done shredding on stage, the crowd went crazy at the sight of Thrice. As far as they knew, this could quite possibly be the last time Thrice would be playing in the Mile High City. They played classics like “Image of the Invisible” and “Red Sky” from Vheissu, a majority of Major/Minor, and many songs from masterpiece album The Alchemy Index Vols. I-IV. For the entire show, the band’s high energy spilled from the stage. The crowd responded with raised fists, applause and screams. The fans were rewarded with not one, but two encores and nearly two hours

of music.

“The show was awesome, but bittersweet since it was their farewell show,” said Thrice fan Shannon Shumaker.

By the end of the second encore, a handful of fans strained to try and catch one last glimpse of the band behind the stage curtain.

Before stepping outside, one last look at the empty stage sent a tinge of disbelief through my stomach. Deep down there was hope that this wasn’t a true “farewell” and Thrice would allow their Denver fans an another mesmerizing performance. But for now, thank you Thrice, for an amazing decade of captivating tune, inspiring lyrics, and beautiful art. Until next time, I guess this is farewell.

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12 June 21, 2012 TheMetropolitan

MetSports

Building a brand through recognition

dedicated athletes.

“Even though our season is over it still takes planning toward the next season and that’s where I am at right now, ” Supsic said.

“For a new team to be successful it needs to have athlete’s qualify for national meets.”

Supsic said that he is encouraged for the coming season as he has some good athletes with a lot of potential to make it to nationals – just what this young team needs to grow its brand.

Angelita Foster amayer1@mscd.edu

Metro’s cross country and track and field teams are young – in the sense that they just finished their sixth season.

Gaining respect in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is not an easy thing to do as a new team, but the Roadrunners are making an impression with accomplishments by hurdler Darius Reed and distance runner, Kylee Schuler.

Metro junior, Reed, placed third at the Division II, track and field NCAA championship. Senior 10K runner, Schuler, placed 11th at nationals.

Reed came to Metro to rebuild his track career, and with every success he gains recognition for Metro teams.

“Next year was supposed to be my comeback year,” Reed said. “I am happy about how well I did this year but I am also excited that I can be here next season to be a part of branding this team.”

“I didn’t expect to run as fast as I did this year,” Reed said.

Schuler became the first female track athlete in Metro history to compete at nationals. She was 15th going in to the race after finishing second at the RMAC Championships.

“I was really happy with how well I did

Metro State hurdler Darius Reed finished third at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships earlier in the summer. Photo by Rachel Fuenzalida • rfuenzal@mscd.edu

this year,” Schuler said. “I think what we do on the track and any accomplishments we make there can bring the recognition we need to our teams.”

Reed and Schuler both came to Metro from Division I schools. They experienced firsthand the benefits that can come from having winning teams – school support.

“I saw how much we did this year with

Making the grade Zee Nwuke anwuke@mscd.edu

Fifty-five Metro athletes were named to the spring Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, including 12 who graduated this spring and seven more that will graduate this summer.

Student-athletes are required to maintain a 3.5 grade point average or higher during a semester to be eligible.

“It’s good because it gives the students something to work for academically as well as athletically. It’s nice that our hard work in the classroom is acknowledged as well as on the field,” sophomore soccer forward Karisa Price said.

The women’s soccer team excelled on the field and in the classroom this spring, with the most honorees in the athletic department at 11.

“Soccer is a window in their life, but their academics and their education is going to get them to where they want to go in the long term,” head coach Adrianne Almaraz said.

The Metro softball team had seven names on the list, the second highest number of honorees, giving the team a cumulative GPA of 3.35. Metro State’s average GPA for all student-athletes was 3.08 for the spring semester, with six teams holding higher than a 3.0 average. The softball

team’s average GPA was 3.35, women’s basketball was 3.33, women’s soccer was 3.28, women’s tennis was 3.27, men’s basketball was 3.21, and volleyball was 3.19.

Students work hard to make the AD’s honor roll, balancing life between sports, class and everyday activity. Athletics is part of what keeps them so motivated.

“What motivates me is not letting down my coaches and my teammates,” sophomore tennis player Kelly Vu said. “I don’t want to be ineligible and have to let them down.”

Athletes with 4.0 GPA • • • • • • • • • •

Alyssa Carter (softball) Desiree Collins (women’s basketball) Caley Dow (women’s basketball) Mark Herschberger (men’s soccer) Taylor Huyett (baseball) Ryan Joyce (men’s tennis) Nicholas Kay (men’s basketball) Shayne Kovach (volleyball) Mitch McCarron (men’s basketball) Bri Morley (volleyball) Nikky Sapp (volleyball) Sam Schall (women’s tennis) Lauren Schaedig (women’s soccer) Kylee Schuler (women’s cross country and track)

very little, and who knows what we could do with more,” Reed said.

Metro head coach John Supsic agreed that having a new track program is challenging, and that the teams need to win meets and have positive exposure to gain school support. Supsic said the building blocks for a successful team are planning, recruiting developed and undeveloped talent, and

Metro women’s 10,000-meter runner Kylee Schuler goes for a run June 12 at Auraria Field. .

Photo by Rachel Fuenzalida • rfuenzal@mscd.edu

Camp is slam dunk Josh Gaines jgaines8@mscd.edu

Every summer, Metro hosts men’s high school basketball camps at the Auraria Event Center. The Metro State Team Camp brings together teams from nearby states, where players not only get tips on how to improve their game, but also participate in one of the best basketball tournaments in the state.

“Every year, the best teams in Colorado always make it a point to come to Metro the first weekend of June,” Metro assistant basketball coach Tyler Harris said. “We take a lot of pride in running one of the best team tournaments in the state.”

Senior forward/center Jonathan Morse was one of the Metro players at the camp. He shared his experience with the campers and his own piece of advice.

“You don’t get better sitting on the couch at home,” Morse said.

The varsity camp on June 1 was the destination for about 160 squads from Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska and New Mexico, each competing against nonconference opponents in tournament play The summer camps at Metro bring exposure to the university’s basketball program by allowing prospective recruits to meet current Roadrunner players and see what the facili-

ties are like. The scale of the camp allows for coaches to network and teach the players how to raise their game.

“We are building relationships,” Fountain-Fort Carson high school head basketball coach Greg Williams said. “It’s definitely a privilege and a great opportunity to play in this tournament. I appreciate that it is well run, and the officiating is really good.”

Although some of the athletes who attended the camp tournament may be recruited to play college sports, others are more likely to enroll as a student at one of the three colleges on Auraria.

“There are about 10 percent of the kids here who will end up coming to Metro, not for basketball, but to be a student,” Harris said. “About 30 to 40 percent of our teams are from outside of Denver. You talk to some of the coaches, some of these kids have never been to downtown before.”

Morse thinks the experience of the basketball camp will inspire young people to choose Metro as a place to play college ball.

“A lot of these kids are having fun playing ball,” Morse said. “It gives experience to those who are considering college basketball, and this is very important for them to have the chance to have that feeling of playing good competition in tournament style.”

TheMetropolitan

MetSports

June 21, 2012

13

Trade or not to trade that is the question

What the Rockies need to do to turn their season around

Nick Ohlig nohlig@mscd.edu Warning: The Colorado Rockies are about to become irrelevant, again. And unless their pitching gets better, sports fans in Denver will be talking about Peyton Manning rather than a home team that is in last place.

The Rockies have no pitching, and the last time I checked, pitching still wins the World Series. So what can the Rockies do to fi x their pitching woes? They could hope their young pitchers Alex White, Drew Pomeranz and Christian Friedrich turn out to be aces. But, I have my doubts.

These pitchers might be young, but so far this season they have looked more bad than strong. So, what can the Rockies do to win

the National League West and a World Series title? I have a solution: trade Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez.

Now, I get it. Trading the faces of the Rockies organization might be too much for loyal fans, but I have a question for them.

Would you rather watch a team with two superstars that only wins 75 games a season, or a team that might not have a lot of star power but is a lock for 92 victories and a shot to win the NL West and World Series?

That’s what I thought.

Here is the way the trade would work: Tulo would get sent to the Tampa Bay Rays for two young pitchers and a top shortstop prospect. The Rockies would get Chris Archer, a left y who can strike people out and become a ground-out type of pitcher. Then, the Rockies would get another left y, Matt Moore, although Moore’s record with Tampa is only 2-5.

Moore has been plagued with poor run supports and has been battling the tough American League East hitters.

The third piece of the trade would be shortstop Tim Beckham, the first overall pick in the 2008 draft. Beckham has all of the makings to become a great shortstop.

He might not have the bat power like Tulo,

but he can use his speed to become a force on the bases and his bat is starting to wake up. However, Beckham is serving his second suspension with the minor league drug prevention program for testing positive for marijuana.

As much is I enjoy watching Carlos Gonzalez play the outfield, he has been inconsistent when it comes to batting. Gonzalez can go from hitting four homeruns in four at bats to hitting four homeruns in 122 at-bats.

However, he has the potential to be a star in this league, so that is why he would be perfect trade bait to fi x the back end of this rotation.

I think CarGo should be traded to the Miami Marlins for Chad James – a young left y who has a high strikeout ratio and good command of the strike zone. I also think the Rockies would want another outfielder who isn’t a streaky hitter.

That is why I think the Rockies should get Giancarlo Stanton. I like Stanton’s game.

He is more of a constant hitter compared to Gonzalez and has more power.

Yes, I understand trading two players who are talented and adored by Rockies fans is risky. And yes, I also understand these prospects are unproven, but we have already

seen what the Rockies’ scouting department has done. It’s been average to below average at best. I have more faith in the Rays and Marlins organization to find a good pitcher than I do in the Rockies.

If the trade was to be made, one argument against it is that the Rockies would become offense-challenged like the San Francisco Giants. All I have to say is this: Coors Field is a hitters ball park.

The Rockies can still score four runs with this new lineup. They might not have the homerun power, but you can still manufacture runs from hitting singles and doubles. Another argument is that the Rockies would have no “star power.” But remember, everybody was a no-name at one point in their career. Before 2007, nobody had heard of Troy Tulowitzki. Before 2009, nobody had heard of Carlos Gonzalez. These new players might be no names at first, but if they can produce, Rockies fans will be talking about Chris Archer, Tim Beckham and Giancarlo Stanton in no time.

The sirens are loud, the warning signs are blinking. The Rockies are at a crossroads.

Continue this path toward irrelevancy, or take a more controversial path that I believe will lead to them to a brighter future.

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14 June 21, 2012 MetroSpective TheMetropolitan

TimeOut This Month 6.23-24

Cherry Blossom Festival

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Across: 1- Thin soup; 6- A Musketeer; 11- Donkey; 14- Eagle’s home; 15- Jeweler’s magnifier; 16- Jockey Turcotte; 17- Petty; 19- Genetic messenger; 20- Gestures; 21- Impressionist Pierre; 23- Having four sharps; 24- Subscription continuation; 25- Voicebox; 29- Dull surface; 30- Eight Days ___; 31- Hoist; 32- Govt. property overseer; 35- In spite of; 39- Draft choice; 40- Panama and bowler;

41- Chilean pianist Claudio; 42- Long lock of hair; 44- Remove silt from river; 45- In proportion; 48- Former nuclear agcy.; 49- Italian sausage; 50- Part of the shoulder joint; 55- Candle count; 56- Answerable; 58- Meadow; 59- Intimidate; 60- Icon; 61- AOL alternative; 62- “The Zoo Story” playwright; 63- Unit of weight in gemstones; Down: 1- Catch some rays; 2- Do followers; 3- Algerian seaport; 4- Mah-jongg piece;

5- Capital of Finland; 6- Wonderland girl; 7- Heaps; 8- 1963 Paul Newman film; 9- Romberg product; 10- Seated; 11- Shaft shot from a bow; 12- Actress Braga; 13- Growl angrily; 18- Flirtatious girl; 22- Maiden name preceder; 24- Floating platforms; 25- Actress Turner; 26- Mil. truant; 27- Nerve network; 28- Evergreen tree; 29- Thin fogs; 31- Potala Palace site; 32- Encircle; 33- Catch; 34- Shivering fit;

36- Positive; 37- Addictive substance; 38- Dr. of rap; 42- Song syllable; 43- Open shelter; 44- “Jurassic Park” actress; 45- Sacred song; 46- Fads; 47- New York city; 48- Sharp; 50- First-class; 51- Baby’s cry; 52- Support beam; 53- Gymnast Korbut; 54- Nair rival; 57- Young bear;

Texts From Last Night It’s kind of like, standing in a garage and pretending you’re a car. Except you’re naked.

Please tell me you’re in jail and for some reason they have wifi I’m in Starbucks carrying the boxes wine and the hubcap. So many judging looks.

You asked me if you could throw up in my shoe.

Denver Battle of the Bands

Featuring Lamia Of The Pool, Birch Street, Sudaka, Dirty/Heavy, Bushmeat, The Broken Blue, Big Thirsty Girl, Gross Grove Tree-Oh, Wastin’ Daylight, We’s Us and Blood Fueled Machine.

Cervantes’ Other Side, 4:00 p.m. $8 pre sale $10 day of show

My Life Is Average

6.24

Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Bond Park in downtown Estes Park Free admission

7.3

Civic Center Independence Eve

8-10 p.m. at Civic Center Park, Broadway and Colfax free

7.2

Film on the Rocks: Wayne’s World

With School of Rock National All-stars at Red Rocks ampitheatre General admission: $12

Today in History 6.21

Today, I went to the grocery store. While I was waiting in the checkout line, an old man that was standing next to me started making this creepy quacking noise. We ended up having a quacking war for about 10 minutes. The looks we got were priceless. MLIA

1779 - Spain declares war against Great Britain, becoming allies with Americans in the revolution.

A while ago, me and my friends were driving around wearing mustaches and sombrero’s blowing bubbles out of the car window, when we turned around to wave at the girls in the car in back of us.

A minute later we turned to wave at them again, and they were all wearing mustaches. OLAA

1947 - First post-WWII Mille Miglia race is held in Brescia, Italy.

Today I was walking down the street when a squat man in a tuxedo came and asked me if I had seen his penguins... MLIA

1965 - The Byrds release their debut album, Mr. tambourine Man, kicking off the folk-rock revolution.

1788 - United States constitution is ratified.

1956 - Arthur Miller, the author of The Crucible, refuses to name communists in court, is charged with contempt of court.