Volume 35, Issue 34 - June 20, 2013

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June 20, 2013

www.metnews.org

Volume 35, Issue 34

Serving the Auraria Campus since 1979

TheMetropolitan

PrideFest covers Denver in rainbows and glam

The float for the popular Mexican resteraunt and nightclub El Potrero enters the parade during Denver’s PrideFest June 16. PrideFest occupied the streets around Civic Center Park this past weekend for its annual celebration. The first Denver PrideFest occurred in 1976. Photo by Melanie J. Rice • mrice20@msudenver.edu

MetNews Black Forest Fire destroys more than trees

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MetroSpective

Rants+Raves

MetSports

Second Comic Con hits Denver full force

Superman soars

Athletics adds women’s golf, Portie new head coach

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2  June 20, 2013  TheMetropolitan

MetNews

Hopes high in the face of fire evacuations Nikki Work nwork@msudenver.edu It’s afternoon, and the news in on the television. Images of a raging wildfire flash on the screen along with warnings of pending evacuation notices. The area is safe, but the wind outside is shifting. There’s a knock on the door — it’s the sheriff. It’s time to go, and it’s time to go now. Since the Black Forest Fire started on June 11, nearly 40,000 people have been evacuated from their homes. As the fire consumed much of the Black Forest area – more than 14,000 acres and 500 homes – residents were forced to take refuge in the evacuation shelters around Monument and Colorado Springs or with friends and family around the Denver Metro area. Two people died in the blaze while attempting to escape from their home. “Yesterday afternoon [June 12], a policeman knocked on the door and said, ‘you’ve got to leave,’” said Eldon Wright, 81, who has lived in Black Forest for more than a decade. “When we first left, we took my file cabinet drawer that had all my filed hard copies and stuff like that, and the dog and my wife.” He laughed. “We finally decided to take her.” As Wright waited at the edge of the evacuation zone trying to gain access back to his home to gather his hard drive containing important documents, his mood was hopeful. “It hasn’t been a pleasant experience, but it’s been as good of an experience as you could have given the circumstances,” Wright said. “I don’t have any complaints about what the officials have done and all that. They’ve done fine. I have a lot of respect for what they did. The truth of the matter is they’ve done the best they knew how to do.” For others, like Wade Zimmerman and Jay Peterson, the respective owner and caretaker of 100 head of cattle in the Black Forest area, the interactions with the authorities were the most tenuous part of evacuating. “So far, the thing that we always fear is the authorities not understanding our business enough to let us do what we need to do,” Zimmerman said. Despite their concerns, though, he added that, for the most part,

the authorities had been very thoughtful and helpful. As the fire raged south of Walker Road, Zimmerman and Peterson sat near their horses, ready to continue to push the cattle away from the danger. They had already moved the herd three miles north in two days. When they heard the news that they needed to start moving, Zimmerman said his first thought was, “Oh poop. Oh heck. Vacation’s over.” Rather than letting the gravity of the situation immobilize them, though, both men said they turned to optimism rather than panic. “We’re trying to not be serious, because if it gets real far, it’s going to be real serious,” Zimmerman said, casting a glance out toward the cattle that grazed in the nearby open space. The livestock weren’t the only animals in serious danger from the fire as the mandatory evacuation notices spread and families hurried to vacate chancy areas. At the evacuation shelter set up by the Red Cross at Palmer Ridge High School, approximately 80 people and their pets had sought refuge in just the first three days of the fire. “We provide food, shelter, housing, emotional support [and] what are called comfort kits, and those are to assist people and give them more comfort during this crisis time that they’re going through,” said Chip Frye, the public affairs office with the Red Cross at Palmer Ridge High School. The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region set up a temporary shelter in the back of the school so that pets could stay close to their owners. At the main location of the area’s Humane Society, more than 200 animals, both domestic and livestock, were taken in while their families were being evacuated. “Obviously, with things like this, it’s very chaotic, there’s smoke in the air, people are stressed, the animals are very stressed out,” said Gretchen Pressley, the communications specialist at The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region. “That’s why we have to have our trained staff and volunteers there who can manage stressed out animals that are a little unhappy.” Among the evacuees at Palmer Ridge High School was Shelley Bath, owner of Littleton German Shepherds, a breeding company. She and her ten adult shepherds

Wade Zimmerman, left and Jay Peterson wait for evacuation evacuation orders to move their cattle to safety June 13 near Black Forest. Photo by Melanie Rice • mrice20@msudenver.edu

and six five-week-old puppies were battened down in the art room of the school where the spooked and protective dogs could finally be at peace. “It’s been really awesome,” Bath said. “The Humane Society was very helpful for whatever we needed. They’ve been awesome, very supportive.” She and her dogs were given their own room at the school so that the closely-knit pack could relax, instead of being on high alert around other animals and unfamiliar people. For an area that is no stranger to wildfires, this year’s early entrance into fire season seems reminiscent of both 2002’s Hayman Fire and last year’s Waldo Canyon Fire. “It’s getting old,” said Sean Gilbreath, 36, who was helping his girlfriend and her sister move important items from their parent’s house since they were out of town. “You’re going to have problems whereever you go, I guess. It’s either tornadoes or hurricanes or tsunamis or wildfires, which we get here.” Gilbreath had been helping another friend prepare their home for evacuation June 12, when the sheriff approached the home with warnings of the impending fire. “The police came by when we were over there off [Highway] 83 yesterday and they suggested we leave,” Gilbreath said. “We told them we weren’t going to, and it was funny. He asked for your full name and your dentist’s name, and he was serious and he wrote it

Above: Dogs from Littleton German Sheperds rest in kennels in a Palmer Ridge High School Classroom turned evacuation shelter June 13 after being evacuated during the Black Forest Fire. Photos by Melanie Rice • mrice20@msudenver.edu Below: Yellow tape on a mailbox in the Black Forest evacuation area shows that a home as been evactuated during the Black Forest Fire. Photo by Nikki Work • nwork@msudenver.edu

down.” Gilbreath was evacuated for both the Hayman and the Waldo Canyon fires, and now feels that helping others is the best way to combat the disasters that he says are inevitable. “I can’t imagine what some of

those people are going through. Thankfully, I’ve just had to pack up when I’ve had to evacuate a couple of times,” he said. “You can’t do much about it, just help other people, I guess.”


TheMetropolitan  MetNews  June 20, 2013 

Helping homeless students Kelli Heitstuman-Tomko ktomko@msudenver.edu It started with a homeless student. Ismael Garcia, CCD human services specialist said that he was stunned when a student came to him and told him that he was homeless and needed a place for the night. Garcia found the student a place, but the event left an impression on Garcia. “The living situation can be the difference between a student staying [in school] and a student leaving,� Garcia said. in this case, the student stayed. He served as the president of CCD’s SGA for two years during which time a position was created on the assembly for one person to focus on poverty issues and homelessness among students. An anonymous poll by the SGA revealed that 19 percent of CCD’s students fit the federal definition of homeless. “The results of the poll made the administration realize just how much of a problem we had,� Garcia said. Stephanie Morris, a CCD human services peer mentor, said that it can be difficult for a student to admit homelessness to a counselor or administrator due to the stigma attached to homelessness. “There’s this perception that if you’re homeless it’s because you’re a drug user,� she said. CCD has been proactive about the reality of homelessness at CCD.

A group of students started a student organization called Auraria Students Against Poverty to address the issue of poverty on campus. They also voted to set aside $257,000 of their student fees to help those in need each year. Homeless students or those on the verge of homelessness can go to the student life office to apply for various forms of aid from a one-time payment of $300 to help them out of a rough spot to $800 per semester payable in four payments to help them find or keep a safe place to stay. “We’ve referred a lot of students to Colorado Heights,� Garcia said. “You have to be a student to live there, but you don’t have to be a student of Colorado Heights University.� Morris said that outreach for students in needs includes helping them find resources, dental care, eyeglasses and offering peer support. The outreach also includes a food bank and lending library where students can find textbooks that they may not be able to afford. “We have students who are unaccompanied youth,� Morris said, referring to students who are phasing out of foster care. “They tend to be less likely to ask for help, but they are referred to us by the financial aid office. We can get $100 gift cards through a nonprofit organization called Family Tree to help them buy some basic things like toothpaste, toothbrushes and

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deodorant.� Garcia said that colleges all over the country are beginning to realize the need for aid and outreach for student s on their campuses. “Oregon State University has a fabulous food bank,� he said. “UCLA has crisis identification teams to help them identify students who may be struggling or homeless but are afraid to come forward.� While MSU Denver will be offering the class Homelessness and Community Response this fall, the university has “no concrete plans to conduct a study� like CCD’s study on homelessness, according to Emilia Paul, MSU Denver’s associate vice president of student engagement and wellness. The class on homelessness will be taught by Chris Connor who works for Denver’s Road Home, an initiative to end homelessness on the streets of Denver. Garcia said that in November— Homelessness Awareness Month—the three Auraria schools are planning a DENVER tri-institutional committee to meet in and discuss homelessness and hunger awareness. He hopes that what CCD has been doing will bring a wider awareness of hunger, homelessness and poverty to the campus. “The ball has started rolling,� he said.

Stephanie Morris, left, and Ismael Garcia, right, pause for a portrait in front of the flags representing the three colleges on campus June 10. Photo by Courtland Wilson • cwils104@msudenver.edu

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4  June 20, 2013  MetNews  TheMetropolitan

Alley remodel proposed By Maalikah Hartley mhartle8@msudenver.edu

Remnants of the morning’s food line littler the alley June 18, behind St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church. Photo by Scott Lentz • slentz@msudenver.edu

Not many people choose to walk down the alleyway that sits between St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church and Central Classroom, even if it provides them a shortcut. But MSU Denver’s Neighborhood and Social Dynamics class wants to reconstruct and integrate this historic, overlooked alley back into the campus community. Sociology professor Dr. Linda Marangia and her classroom have led the charge to have the Auraria Higher Education Center reconstruct the alleyway, which was originally neglected in the Auraria Master Plan—which will remodel the entire campus by the year 2020. “That church has been there since the late 1800’s and that alley is part of the historic site,” Marangia said. “I’d like the alleyway to have a mixed use by time of day so when the homeless are served in the alley and leave, another population can come in.” St. Elizabeth’s feeds over 150 people a day with soup and sandwiches. A community meeting hosted by Marangia’s class back in spring, which brought together all stakeholders of the alleyway, revealed that students and faculty over utilize the bike path in order to avoid the pedestrian path near the alleyway. Marangia and her class would like to change the dynamics of the alleyway in the future and incorporate art projects by the homeless and students, set up a history walk, provide lighting at night, have street vendors and plants, and maybe start a sponsored cobble stone project for the road. Along with AHEC, St. Elizabeth Church members now support the project after having suspicious views on what was actually going to happen to their alleyway, according to Marangia. Her class donated $500 of student fees to the church and volunteered at the soup kitchen. Student and project intern, LaQueta McCauley, wants to create a comfortable environment between the homeless and campus members and hopes the rear doors at Central Classroom will be used more along with a pedestrian path next to the alley’s fire lane. She is currently working with AHEC to incorporate the alleyway into the budget and not have it forgotten within the next few years. “But I immediately want to make an impact next semester by having student organizations volunteer and donate food and clothes for the population that comes through [the alley],” McCauley said. “[St. Elizabeth] really does need volunteers. They feed over 150 people a day sandwiches and soup.” The project is still in its idea and concept stage and inexpensive elements will be faster to implement than the expensive reconstruction, according to Jill Jennings Golich, AHEC’s campus planner. “Before, I really viewed it as a traditional alley used for service and emergency access only,” Golich said. “After, I really started to think more of how the alley is a place and a part of the overall campus fabric and needs the attention and treatment to make it more a part of the campus and less service oriented.”

Smart card study to test tracking ability of ID cards By Kristy Chaparro kchaparro@msudenver.edu In the past, not only did the RTD sticker on student IDs allow access to the bus and light rail, but it would also tell certain departments on Auraria campus whether students were current. With this sticker students could access services in Campus Recreation, the Health Center at Auraria and more. With the introduction of smart card technology to Auraria Campus, Director for Campus Recreation at Auraria Tony Price has been working with Health Center at Auraria director Steve Monaco, MSU Denver’s IT department, representatives from Auraria Higher Education Center and Multicard, an off-campus vendor, in hopes of launching a “proof of concept” study starting in July. If all goes as planned the concept study would last 30 to 60 days and would test card reader technology in conjunction with the new smart cards. Campus Recreation would then

track faculty and staff members along with department employees as a way to identify eligibility. In working on a plan for the Campus Recreation facility, Price will continue to meet with other departments to explore ways they can utilize the technology. “There can be a lot of applications built into the card that can assist students from a number of different perspectives,” Price said. Aside from telling certain departments whether students are properly registered, the new smart card technology has the capability to rent and check out lockers, sports equipment, pay for parking, buy a meal in the food court and more. “It’s complex in regards to how RTD, AHAC and the three schools are going to use the informtion,” Price said. After gathering information from the study, Campus Recreation will take that data and generate reports around usage. There are a lot of departments on campus who have an interest in finding out who’s attending their events.

“We want to tie the reporting in to gain continued support for funding and facility space to continue to grow and develop our programs in a sensible way,” Price said. Although figures aren’t definite at this point, Price said they are trying to keep the cost of the study low. “If we go to scale , there could be some significant costs, but we’re working with administration to see if there’s money available for projects like this,” he said. Emilia Paul, associate vice president for student engagement and wellness, requested $75,000 for the “proof of concept.” Paul says that right now it is about the concept and one of the challenges is the tri-institutional nature. “We are far away from a pilot, that’s why they’re testing the concept to see if it’ll work,” Paul said. “Then, later we will be doing the tie-in into the three different databases.” Paul isn’t sure how much funding will be available for the study

and its development because the budget has not yet been solidified, but she expects to know by July 1, at the start of the new fiscal year begins. Before getting access to the money once it does become available, Price said that they must justify through the study that the project is worth investing that type of money. If approved, the funds will then go toward software, hardware, expertise from the vendors and possibly training. MSU Denver personnel have been talking about both making the smart card mandatory and building the cost into students’ matriculation fees. “I believe all students should get a card,” Paul said. “There’s a lot of benefits to getting the card.” Shaqaiq Birashk, assistant director of programs and services with AHEC, said it’s exciting to bring this kind of change onto campus because there are a lot of other campuses that are on the smart system and have been for years.

“For us to be able to take all these different visions from the three different schools and make sure it’s all implemented, it’s challenging but at the same time rewarding because it’s a learning experience for all of us,” Birashk said. AHEC administrators have also been looking at raising the price of the smart cards from $15 to $20, which may go into effect starting July 1. Smart cards are not a requirement at this point, but MSU Denver and Community College of Denver students who go in for a new ID have no option but to get a smart card. UCD will implement the same policy in Fall 2013. Eventually Auraria campus administrators would like to integrate the RTD CollegePass with the three schools’ smart cards, so that students will only have to carry one card. “The whole idea is to limit the number of cards people have,” Price said.


TheMetropolitan  June 20, 2013

InSight Hit and runs unacceptable Kelli Heitstuman-Tomko ktomko@msudenver.edu When did it become acceptable for drivers run people down? My daughter and I were hit by a car in January. We were amazingly lucky. The driver’s tire went over my daughter’s foot after the side view mirror hit her elbow. My arms were bruised from wrist to elbow from coming into contact with the side of the car. Bepe spent a week on crutches. It could have been much worse. Despite the fact that Bepe and I were crossing at the crosswalk when the crossing sign gave us the go ahead, the sheriff’s office and the insurance investigator concluded that she had jaywalked and walked into the side of the vehicle. Because she was 19 at the time of the incident, all the hospital bills were in her name. The driver got off scot free, and Bepe wound up with $5,000 of medical bills she couldn’t pay as a full-time student. Last August, 22-year-old Catherine Bean hit and killed a cyclist in Lakewood. She drove off and left the man lying in the street without stopping to find out if he was still alive and in need of assistance. Her actions constituted a Class 3 felony. Why then did a superior court judge sentence her to only six years probation and two years in a jail work-release program? Is that what a man’s life is worth these days? When I moved to Colorado in 2004, I was amazed not only by

the number of people hit by cars in this state but by how many of them were hit and runs. I used to worry every time my kids walked out the door. The thought that I might be down at the morgue having to identify my kids was made worse by the idea that whoever hit them might have driven away without so much a checking for a pulse. Why would a driver slow down or watch for pedestrians when the worst they have to worry about is a slap on the wrist? Have people really become so inconsiderate of human life that the idea of running a person down doesn’t inhibit reckless driving? I wonder what the family of Catherine Bean’s victim thought as her sentence was handed down. Did that proverbial punch to the gut leave them with enough breath to protest the injustice? Or did the shock leave them without the words to express their indignation? My own experience has shown me that abiding by the rules is no guarantee that I’ll be safe. Crossing streets makes me very nervous and Bepe and I got off pretty easy compared to some who have experienced major injuries or death I have no confidence, though, that anyone is going to start applying the brakes as long as the justice system is only going to give them the legal equivalent to a rap across the knuckles with a ruler. Life only has a second-hand value anymore.

MetStaff Editor-in-Chief Kayla Whitney: kwhitne2@msudenver.edu Managing Editor Nikki Work: nwork@msudenver.edu

The future freaks me out Kayla Whitney kwhitne2@msudenver.edu

MetroSpective Editor Kailyn Lamb: klamb6@msudenver.edu

Google Glasses, smart TVs, stalker gaming consoles and a spying government — say hello to the future. It won’t be long before we all have chips in our brains and have to constantly be updated like the Cybermen from “Doctor Who.” Upgrade anyone? Yay, science fiction is intriguing — cities in the sky, hover cars, spaceships, the whole nine yards — but where are we in this future? I’d like to think we’re fully conscious and still human, but who knows, maybe we’ll all be cyborgs with a “Property of Google and the U.S. Government” plaque welded to the backs of our heads. It’s not the technology that frightens me: it’s the people behind it. Let’s be honest, the premise of Google is a blessing — no more spending hours in a library looking through countless books to learn something. Now, it just takes a quick Google search. Simple, easy and convenient right up until they let the government access their servers and reveal all of your information to the politicians we choose to protect our life, liberty and freedom. Dick move, Washington. Google’s not the only culprit in this craze of leaked information thanks to Edward Snowden. Facebook, YouTube, Apple, Microsoft, and phone companies are apparently just a few of the providers of our personal information to the government. Thanks to technology, we’re no longer people, we’re codes and records that are expendable if the government demands it. The chaos of the leaked National Security Agency (NSA) documents and additional information from Snowden are still unraveling and responses and blame are still coming from all sides of the debates. Until the dust settles and the truth is clear, you may want to think twice before updating your Facebook status.

Wildfires leave destruction, but bring stories of life Nikki Work nwork@msudenver.edu I’ll never forget the smell of loss. It’s a smell that goes further than your nose. It lingers in your mouth and burns all the way down your throat. You feel the smoke in every breath. It’s more than just the scent of trees and grasses going up in flames. It’s the odor of the loss of everything. This is the smell of a house that will never be a home again. At the time of publication, the Black Forest Fire had burned 14,280 acres and was 85 percent contained after burning since June 11. More than 500 homes were destroyed in the fire, and two people were burned alive in their garage as they tried to escape the flames. It is the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history.

The Black Forest Fire is my third wildfire viewed from the journalistic trenches, but it’s the first that I have chased while the flames were active. Photographer Melanie Rice and I drove past police barricades into mandatory evacuation areas and into thick smoke that permeated through more than just our lungs. The two of us did more than find stories — we found ourselves a part of them. We spoke to a woman, her car jam-packed with photo albums and family heirlooms, who had been living out of evacuation shelters since the fire first began. A man left his important business documents in his house, but due to hazard, the police wouldn’t let him go home. We met ranchers who were in danger of losing 100 head of cattle because they couldn’t herd them away from the fire fast enough.

I heard stories of hope, stories of fear and stories of compassion. While one man spent the third day of the wildfire golfing in an evacuation zone, one man helped friends and family pack up their homes to go to safety. More than a dozen German shepherds, including six five-week-old puppies, were huddled in kennels at Palmer Ridge High School, having been forced from their home. What comfort can I offer someone who is on the brink of losing everything? How can I stand there, voice recorder and notebook in hand, while people are picking through their belongings, trying to decide what is important enough to save and what they will leave for the fire? As a journalist, what more can I do? Are my words enough of an obituary to the memories that are now ashes? I’ve been struggling

News Editor Kelli Heitstuman-Tomko: ktomko@msudenver.edu

with my part in these fires since last summer left the state ablaze and my heart in pieces for the victims. I have been a storyteller, but there is so much more left in the rubble than I could ever encompass. Last year, I met a couple in Fort Collins who was digging through the ashes of the home they had built themselves and lost to the fury of High Park. I drove through neighborhoods that were leveled, pieces of rebar and smashed concrete rising like tombstones, marking the lives that were once lived within the ghosts of walls. I shook the hands of people who had nothing left — nothing but their lives, which they were optimistic about rebuilding. I was a confessional for those who wanted nothing more than to share their stories. And this is mine.

Assistant MetroSpective Editor Tobias Krause: tkrause3@msudenver.edu Sports Editor Angelita Foster: amayer1@msudenver.edu Assistant Sports Editor Mario Sanelli: msanelli@msudenver.edu Copy Editor Kate Rigot Photo Editor Scott Lentz: slentz@msudenver.edu Assistant Photo Editor Ryan Borthick: rborthic@msudenver.edu Director of Student Media Steve Haigh: shaigh@msudenver.edu Administrative Assistant of Student Media Elizabeth Norberg: enorbert@msudenver.edu Production Manager of Student Media Kathleen Jewby: kjewby@ msudenver.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. All submissions should be sent by e-mail to themetonline@gmail. com. The Metropolitan is produced by and for the students of Metropolitan State University 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 MSU Denver or its advertisers.

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6 June 20, 2013 TheMetropolitan

MetroSpective

DCC smashes records like the Hulk Kayla Whitney kwhitne2@msudenver.edu The nerds of Denver left their basements, paused their games, and put on their finest costumes for the second annual Denver Comic Con. DCC celebrated its second con at the Convention Center May 31 through June 2. On opening day, the line snaked its way around the Convention Center as patrons waited to receive their prized lanyards and guidebooks. However, many who waited in line for hours were turned away Friday and Saturday from the sold out venue. DCC nearly tripled in size since its debut last year. The hallways and isles of the convention were packed with 61,000 attendees, which meant costumes were in abundance and lines were longer than a stretched out Mr. Fantastic. But as “Star Trek” actor Wil Wheaton said to a packed DCC auditorium, “If there’s one thing nerds know how to do, it’s form a line.” “We are ecstatic about the turnout from Colorado and across the globe and what it means for the city and Comic Book Classroom. We were hoping for an increase of 30 percent from 2012 and instead had a massive growth of 120 percent, making our show a top-five Comic Con,” Charlie La Greca, cofounder of Comic Book Classroom and Denver Comic Con told the website “Broadway World.” People of all shapes, sizes, ages and attire shuffled through the Convention Center going to and from panels, checking out booths and artist, and waiting to see celebrities. Although the disappointment of Stan Lee’s cancellation was still high on opening day, it was quickly forgotten with all the other famous faces in attendance. Stars such as “Star Trek” actors William Shatner and George Takei, “Doctor Who” actor Colin Baker and nerd icon Felicia Day graced the con with wit, charisma and nerdy jokes. There were 250 panels throughout the three-day weekend, covering a variety of topics. From voice acting to “The Guild,” “Doctor Who” to cosplay workshops, there was something for the nerd in everyone. If — for some strange reason — you couldn’t find anything to attend, the main exhibit hall was a maze

of geeky chaos full of booths and arists. “I didn’t hear about [DCC] until a few months ago,” said Valtazar Cruz, who came all the way to Denver from Utah to take part in the con. “I love it. I’ve been to a few comic cons here and there, I’ve

been to San Diego, New York — usually working, but this was my first leisure one to come out to, and this was so much fun. The people here are really nice. I love it.” The future looks bright for DCC, and the lines look long for 2014.

Felicia Day and Wil Wheaton goof around after their panel at Denver Comic Con June 2. Day is the creator of “The Guild” and stars in the hit show “Supernatural” while Wheaton is best known for his work in “Star Trek.” Kayla Whitney • kwhitne2@msudenver.edu

Dale Sciria poses in his Kirito cosplay from the anime “Sword Art Online” during the second annual Denver Comic Con June 1 at the Convention Center. Kayla Whitney • kwhitne2@msudenver.edu

Jen Thomas, left, and Beth Cannon, right, horse around at the Geek Chic Mustache Emporium during the Second Annual Denver Comic Con at the Convention Center Sunday, June 2. Photo by Scott Lentz • slentz@msudenver.edu


TheMetropolitan

MetroSpective

June 20, 2013

7

Lace it up and shake what yo mama gave ya

Photo courtesy of the EXDO Event Center’s Facebook page

Tobias Krause tkrause3@msudenver.edu Eight wheels, two boots and a set of laces are all that separates you from a fantastic evening at the EXDO Events Center. Tucked away at the North end of the River North (RiNO) art district, EXDO features a differently themed roller disco dance party every third Friday of the month. On Friday, May 24, EXDO’s monthly theme was a red, white and blue ‘MERICA EDITION roller disco. People dressed in patriotic garb waited patiently for the doors to open. Attendees draped themselves in American flag patterned clothes, capes and wigs as people really let their proverbial patriotic freak flag fly. The warehouse party was underway as soon as the disc jockey began pumping classic ‘70s disco jams through the 22,000 square-foot building’s state of the art sound system. Skaters made their way through the velvet ropes and

waiver forms to find themselves in a post-modern Studio 54-esque roller disco skating rink full of strobe lights, disco balls and neon lights. “When we originally took over this place, our goal was to feature a number of events ranging from fashion shows, corporate parties, concerts, weddings and sporting events,” said managing partner and owner Andrew Feinstein. Feinstein and his partners took over the old fi lm factory and converted it into one of Denver’s hottest nighttime attractions. As the success from random events like roller disco increased, Feinstein and company decided to make the night a regular thing. Roller disco has been going on around the world since the late ‘60s.

McFly turning that primary drive dial all the way up and blowing Doc’s speakers). People fi ltered in eager to “shake their groove thang” on the dance floor. “We expect anywhere from a thousand to fifteen hundred people throughout the night — this place gets pretty packed,” said Feinstein. As the night drew on, DJ PopAlot had a few events lined up for skaters. The speed skating contest was underway before skaters knew it, while the limbo contest drew quite the crowd — people lined up by what seemed like the hundreds. Connor O’Connell was in town from Ft. Collins and said, “I never miss a third Friday disco party here. My friends and I drive down, get a hotel and really party it up. This place is so awesome and the limbo contest is where I excel.” Although O’Connell was not the limbo winner he noted that it’s always fun either way. “DJ PopAlot really gets the crowd going,” said O’Connell. Feinstein and his staff strive to make patrons feel as welcome as possible. Between 8 and 9 p.m. admission and skate rental is free.

“Everybody is having a blast, it’s obvious. Where else are you going to find this much fun on a Friday night?”

—Colin Ross A solid blend of Curtis Mayfield funk and early ‘90s Naughty by Nature hip-hop bumped through eardrums like in Back to the Future (think back to Marty

And for those novice skaters that might be afraid of taking on the four-wheeled skates, they offer free lessons on how to get your dance floor groove on. Denver native and avid roller skater Colin Ross was ecstatic about how the evening turned out. “Everybody is having a blast, it’s obvious. Where else are you going to find this much fun on a

Friday night?” said Ross. Tickets to the monthly event are $10 ahead of time or $15 at the door. So remember folks, every third Friday of the month, head on down to the EXDO Events Center for a fun fi lled evening. But make sure to check out the website to see what the theme is, and dress for the occasion.

Coming up next at EXDO... BOOTYOLOGY Edition • June 21, 2013 • 9:00 p.m. — 1:30 p.m. • Tickets are $5 pre-sale, $10 at the door • Admission free from 8 to 9 p.m • For more information on the event center, visit their website www.rolldenver.com or www.exdoevents.com


8 June 20, 2013 MetroSpective TheMetropolitan

TheMetropolitan

MetroSpective

June 20, 2013

PrideFest spreads message of love

ABOVE: Sasha Andrews, Miss Gay Pride Colorado 2013, waves to the PrideFest crowds. The Mr. Ms. Miss Gay Pride contest is in its 25th year. TOP RIGHT: Left to right: MSU Denver students Jovan Bridges, Abby VonFeldt, Kendal Holzman and Alida Britt lead the way for the Auraria GLBTSS entry in Denver’s PrideFest parade June 16. BOTTOM RIGHT: Left to right: John Hayden, Joe Echols and David Smith, all of Denver, show their freestyle moves in Denver’s PrideFest parade June 16. The trio is part of the Swimming Queers United in Denver SQUID swim team. Photos by Melanie J. Rice • mrice20@msudenver.edu

There were floats, necklaces and rainbows everywhere as members of Denver’s LGBT community and their allies marched down Colfax for the annual Pride Parade on June 16. Denver’s own The Center and Coors Light paired together to sponsor the parade, which started at 9:30 a.m. at Cheesman Park. After participants walked down Colfax, the parade ended at Civic Center Park where the second day of PrideFest was held. In addition to groups and floats from KS 107.5; a rugby team; churches, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG); and cycling group Outspokin’, representatives of Auraria’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Student Services office were there to support the cause. Director Steve Willich has brought a group to the event for the past three years, and says they usually get a turnout of 15 to 20 students. “I think a lot of the students are celebrating Pride in their own way,” he said. “So they’re not as interested in participating like that, they want to do their own thing and be free for the day.” Colfax was lined with thousands of spectators wearing shirts with various slogans like “straight but not narrow,” “born this way” or “my gay son is my hero,” in honor of the day. The heat of the day was not a deterrent for marchers or spectators. Some marchers handed out popsicles and water, while one group of spectators filled a truck bed with water to splash marchers as they passed by. MSU Denver student Alida Britt was a crowd pleaser as she rode with the GLBTSS office contingent astride a scooter. She got crowd members to dance along with her as she honked the horn cheerily saying, “toot toot, hey!” It was not all about fun and games for everyone, though. “I’m kind of torn between it because being a lesbian and the whole representation of the parade is very detrimental,” said MSU Denver student and Student Government Assembly Senator Christa Darrow. Darrow went on to say that in fighting for civil rights, members of the community are trying to show that they can be like “normal” families, whereas she sees the parade as flamboyant and provocative. Willich says that he can see this perspective, but that the event also helps create a safe place for people to be themselves without being afraid of discrimination. “I think that folks should be able to express themselves however they would like in our society without any kind of fear. On the other hand, [it’s] exactly what she said,” Willich said. “For some trying to incorporate and normalize LGBT folk into society, some of the displays may be a bit detrimental to the movement of trying to incorporate it, but then the other side is that, do we really want to be incorporated? Why shouldn’t people accept us for who we are?” For Willich, the parade was a reason to celebrate, as civil unions were legally recognized in Colorado earlier this year. He also saw it as a call to action to push for full marriage equality. He says that a lot of the next steps hang on the upcoming Supreme Court rulings on Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act. “I’m bisexual, so I think free love is important [and] I support them on a personal level,” said Angie Morell, MSU Denver student of the importance of the event. Overall, Denver’s Pride Parade is about celebrating who you are, bubbles, costumes, feather boas and all. As Darrow put it “I’m not here because I’m gay, I’m here because it’s fun.” Story by Kailyn Lamb klamb6@msudenver.edu

9


10  June 20, 2013  TheMetropolitan

Rants+Raves

“Internship” nothing new New Superman flick is bulletproof Brandon Hart bhart13@msudenver.edu

B

What happens when two guys who lose their jobs and choose to reinvent themselves as “Nooglers.” That’s new Google employees to the layman. Director Shawn Levy’s new comedy, “The Internship” is a feel-good buddy comedy that has the trappings of every single Vince Vaughn comedy. It has the annoying jerk playing the snarky antagonist, the secondary love interest and the classic fast-talking from whatever character Vince Vaughn plays. The movie starts out with Nick Campbell (Owen Wilson) and Billy McMahon (Vince Vaughn) losing their jobs at a dinner meeting sales pitch. Out of jobs and down on their luck, McMahon and Campbell interview for an internship at Google and end up getting it. Undereducated and severely

under skilled, the guys have to navigate their way through various challenges that make no sense to them. The only things they are good at are talking, sales and making various obscure ‘80s movie references. With these skills, they help the team that they are tasked with: the nerdy girl with secret intentions, the “cool guy,” the sheltered momma’s boy and the 23-year-old Google employee who has a mild case of identity crisis and what it’s like to be a team player. The team comes together using all their unique skills to win challenges such as “Create an App,” tech support, and the ever-important “Sales” challenge. It has the basic plot of every Vaughn movie. This movie was not worth the $10 admission price. It was good overall and it kept me laughing, but I would much rather have had something different from Vaughn’s usual comedy stylings.

Kailyn Lamb klamb6@msudenver.edu

B

Zach Snyder combines efforts with producer Christopher Nolan to recreate one of DC’s most popular comic book characters in “Man of Steel.” Snyder is no stranger to directing comic book films, with both “300” and “Watchmen” under his belt, and Nolan’s dark vision of Batman having helped bring the character back to life for many fans. I must say that the duo worked quite well together in bringing Superman to life. Most complaints about Superman is that he is not a realistic character. He is perfect in just about every way from the curl in his hair to his sculpted physique. Clark Kent (Henry Cavill) shows a much more believable side than the comic book character. The beginning of the movie

shows the destruction of the planet Krypton, and how Kent’s father, Jor-El (Russel Crowe) risked everything, along with his mother, to get him off of the dying planet. From there we see Kent as an adult on a fishing boat. Audiences eventually learn that he migrates around the country with no purpose, but to help people whenever they need it. Kent is a lost man with no grasp on his identity. While in the Arctic, he discovers what is left of a scouting ship from Krypton. Convenient, no? A hologram of his father tells him who he is and where he came from. Reporter Lois Lane (Amy Adams) stumbles upon the ship and is blasted by a robot — and so the comic book couple meet. This film is supposedly the first step toward DC crossovers and is a must-see, even though they never say “it’s a bird, it’s a plane­— no it’s Superman!” But maybe that was a Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures good thing.

“Arrested Development” reworked for a fourth season Tobias Krause tkrause3@msudenver.edu

A

After just three seasons of dismal success and low ratings, “Arrested Development” and its narcissistic family, the Bluths were put out of their Nielsen rating misery and cancelled in 2006 by the bigwigs at Fox. There has never been and most likely will never be another show quite like “Arrested Development.” Ahead of its time? Yes. Too hard to follow for the average viewer? Most likely. But the more you watch the show, the more you pick up on to the little nuances that make it such great. The stories were deeply rooted in the obtuse jokes and laughable characters that kept viewers wanting more. So much so, that once the show was canceled, the DVD sales skyrocketed, prompting show creator Mitchell Hurwitz and executive producers Ron Howard and Brian Grazer to figure out what to do with the Bluths. Fast-forward seven years to a new contract with the online streaming company Netflix, and we have ourselves a whole new season of “Arrested Development.” The challenge now was to

create stories for each and every character dealing with the time spent away. Hurwitz called upon actor Michael Cera to assist in coming up with fresh story lines and in-depth complex ideas for each individual character. Instead of one seamlessly flowing show involving every character, each episode would be centered around one of the Bluths while subtly intertwining each and every member in one way or another. With the help of a slew of famous actors like Seth Rogen, who plays a young George Sr., and Kristin Wigg, who plays a young Lucille Bluth, the cast and guest stars are loaded with some of comedy’s best. As the season picks up years later, we find Michael (Jason Bateman) living in his son George Michael’s (Cera) dorm room. He is now $700,000 in debt to Lucille Austero (Liza Minnelli). All hell breaks loose again for the entire family as they slowly find themselves dealing with the subsequent arrest of the family’s matriarch, Lucille Bluth (Jessica Walter). Buster (Tony Hale) still suffers from crippling panic attacks and is finding it extremely difficult to deal with the loss of his overbearing mother and becomes

distraught and looking for a new mother. Michael’s twin sister Lindsay (Portia de Rossi) is trying to better herself by breaking free from her husband Tobias (David Cross). After a few bad decisions, Tobias finds himself a registered sex offender, directing a small theater program in a rehab facility run by Austero’s brother. The family’s patriarch George Sr. (Jeffery Tambor) is desperately trying to get a new investment with the government underway to get his company back on track. The oldest brother Gob (Will Arnett), a failed magician, is desperately trying to find purpose in his life. Attempting to impress not only his father but his brother as well, Gob finds himself trying to sell all the houses on Michael’s failed land development. George Michael, still in love with his cousin Maeby (Alia Shawkat), attempts to start up an Internet company that is the complete opposite of Facebook. Instead of sharing all of users information, George Michael’s software “faceblock,” blocks all information from being shared with everyone. Needless to say, season four of Arrested Development is just as complex as the first three. Regard-

less of the time spent apart from one another, the characters were able to pick up right where they left

Photo courtesy of Netflix

off solidifying “Arrested Development” as one of the best television shows ever created.


TheMetropolitan  Rants+Raves  June 20, 2013

Jimmy Eat World as nostalgic as ever

Black Sabbath reign supreme once again

Nikki Work nwork@msudenver.edu

B

There’s always been something about Jimmy Eat World. Whether it’s the spinning bright “Sweetness” or the powerful lyrics woven through the entire album Futures, as soon as lead singer Jim Adkins’ voice enters my ears, I am entranced. The band’s new album, Damage, dropped on June 7, and in true Jimmy Eat World fashion, contains 10 tracks of mellow, lyrically driven audial-yumminess. Listening to the record is like flipping through an old yearbook and seeing doodles from old friends that you lost touch with, signatures of former crushes and getting that feeling in your stomach that things will never be the same. With lyrics like “I pick you up on a Wednesday night, go out for a secret drive like we were kids” in “Book of Love,” I feel like I’m a teenager again, driving up to Lookout Mountain blasting “The Middle” on blownout speakers and singing along with off-key enthusiasm. Overall the album isn’t much different than anything the band has put out before, but for the trip down memory lane, it’s certainly worth a spin or two. Just be ready to put down the headphones and step back to the real world where life doesn’t harmonize as nicely as in a Jimmy Eat World song. Ah, high school. Photo courtesy of Universal Records

Boards of Canada return with new album, Tomorrow’s Harvest

11

Tobias Krause tkrause3@msudenver.edu

A

After 12 speculating years and a number of “reunion” tours, Black Sabbath have released their nineteenth album, 13. For over four decades, Sabbath have been giving metal fans music

to appreciate and anthems to headbang along to. All these years later, Sabbath have created an astonishingly doomful musthave album for any metalhead. It’s hard to keep up with whether or not Ozzy Osbourne is sober, but his minor forms of genius and incredible lyrics are on display time and time again on 13.

Sober or not, he and two of the original founding members, alongside former Rage Against the Machine drummer Brad Wilk have created something that will go down in rock history forever. Guitarist Tony Iommi is quite possibly the metal guitar riff god, and without him, there would be no James Hetfield or Kirk Hammett of Metallica. 13 is exactly what a Sabbath album made in 2013 should sound like. It’s as close to the monumental sound of 1970s Paranoid that propelled Ozzy and the boys to the top of rock stardom. The record is full of noise that rings true to that forefront sound of a bluesy psychedelic sound that captures the same elemental time/ space concept that caught your attention the first time you heard Osbourne’s voice on “War Pigs.” Sabbath’s strict and fantastic love of the guitar is everpresent on the album’s second track, “God Is Dead?” Rhyming metal’s unholiest of unholy lyrics “gloom, doom and tomb,” Osbourne’s lyrics howl atop Iommi’s satanic guitar licks. Again, Sabbath has proven to its fans that they are as timeless and relevant as ever while establishing their presence in modern day music.

Evil Friends an alternative change of pace for prog rock music fans Tobias Krause tkrause3@msudenver.edu Since its inception back in 2004, Portugal. The Man have solidified their presence in today’s psychedelic alternative rock scene by producing a number of albums chock full of hits that often get categorized by being a part of one continuous album. From 2006 to 2011 the group provided listeners with an album a year, each so consistently produced and similar to its predecessor that the Alaska natives decided to take a two-year hiatus from writing music. Potugal. The Man decided to recruit the help of famed producer and musician Bryan “Danger Mouse” Burton. With the aid and assistance of Danger Mouse,

B

Photo courtesy of Warp Records

Tobias Krause tkrause3@msudenver.edu

A

Before the likes of Skrillex, Bassnectar and Diplo made electronic dance music (EDM) popular, there was a different genre made famous by a number of downtempo artists like Boards of Canada. The Scottish duo of brothers Michael Sandison and Marcus Eoin have picked up right where they left off seven years ago with the release of their new album, Tomorrow’s Harvest. Boards of Canada became an ambient underground music listener’s dream in the late ‘90s by releasing a number of EPs that turned the heads of music critics around the world. On Record Store Day 2013, a number of unmarked vinyl

records were discovered in record stores around the world that were believed to be the work of Boards of Canada. After the band’s record label verified the authenticity of the records, hints were dropping on radio stations and across the Internet left and right. June 11 marked the release of their fourth full length studio album, and Tomorrow’s Harvest is chock full of their ambient analogue sounds that music fans have come to expect. The smooth blend of electronic sounds with conventional instruments complement one another well, and their intelligent dance music (IDM) impresses listeners with a sense of exceptional music being performed by two brothers that really love what they do.

Photo courtesy of Atlantic Records

The Man were able to create a fresh new alternative indie-pop record like nothing heard before. With Danger Mouse behind the soundboard, the new album Evil Friends, is 12 solid tracks that flutter around the iconic sounds that made MGMT and Phoenix popular a few years back. The album’s seventh track, “Sea of Air,” is reminiscent of what indie pop stars Geographer, YACHT and Neon Indian have been doing over the last year or so. As the album’s centerpiece, the solid yet

subtle guitar licks match well with the heartfelt vocals overtop an incredible rhythm section. The only issue with Evil Friends is the fifth track “Hip Hop Kids.” It feels as if Adam Levine of Maroon 5 is about to belt out “I got them moves like Jagger.” I almost gave up on the album at that moment, but decided to push on through. Thankfully, Portugal. The Man pull themselves together and turn something bad into a catchy radioready pop song. The odd chorus selections and lyrical arrangements create a somewhat muddy, loud MTV top-ten hit you might hear at a frat party. The occasionally scatterbrained album comes through in full force after five or six listens. The newly crafted pop-rock sound produced on Evil Friends is a treat for fans. Everything that made Portugal. The Man popular in the first place is present on the new album. Maybe someone should suggest taking two year breaks more often.

More Rants and Raves online Visit www.metnews.org for more coverage on alien show “Falling Skies,” horror flop “The Purge,” comedy “This Is the End,” Dan Brown’s newest novel “Inferno,” and Taking Back Sunday’s acoustic version of Tell All Your Friends.


12 June 20, 2013 TheMetropolitan

MetSports

Portie to coach women’s golf team Angelita Foster amayer1@msudenver.edu Ben Portie is the new head coach for Metro’s new women’s golf team. Portie, a nationally ranked amateur, who has won more than 30 professional events and was named 2011 Colorado Open champion, considers himself more than a golfer – he is a teacher – and he has been preparing for this head coaching job for a while. “The last few years, I have geared away from playing and moved toward coaching, and I have been teaching golf at Meridian Golf Club,” Portie said. “I don’t travel overseas as much or fulltime, and I may play in three or four tournaments this summer just to get my fi x, but my duties rely on coaching and teaching golf.” Joan McDermott, MSU Denver’s athletic director, said that these are the qualities the university was looking for when searching for a coach. “I felt like Ben was the best fit for us and our new program,” McDermott said. “The fact that he was a PGA golf pro and teaches golf was a plus.” Another benefit of Portie as a coach is his local roots, which can help when recruiting. “Ben is from Colorado, so he knows the high schools, he knows the people here, and to have those contacts established helps a lot,” McDermott said. Portie will rely on those connections this first season. High

school seniors have already chosen a college, so Portie is looking at sophomores at junior colleges who want to continue their education as well as golf. Portie said he will recruit most of the women that will play for Metro’s new program, but hopes to pick up one or two more from tryouts. “We can take five athletes to tournaments, but I would like to carry six or seven on the roster,” Portie said. Since golf is not a revenueproducing sport, athletes will only receive partial scholarships. “Golf in general has limited scholarships, so it shouldn’t factor into recruiting much,” Portie said. “Even at the Division I level you don’t have quite as many scholarships.” McDermott said that the new programs budget, including scholarships, was based on what other programs in the conference are doing. “In sports like women’s basketball, there is a lot more funding for scholarships. But with golf, because it is an emerging women’s sport, I think in time that w ill change,” McDermott said. She also said the expectations for Portie are not in where the team finishes in the conference,ut that the program has quality recruits. “Really, the expectation is that he recruits quality student-athletes – students first, athletes second,” McDermott said.

Ben Portie, head coach for Metro’s new women’s golf team. Environmental portrait by Ryan Borthick • rbothic@msudenver. edu

10 Metro’s new golf team makes it the tenth women’s program of the 4 schools in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The University of Colorado-Colorado Springs also has a new women’s program.

2007-08 Portie served as assistant men’s golf coach at University of Colorado, helping the Buffaloes to an NCAA tournament appearance.

3 Portie had three seasons as assistant men’s and women’s golf coach at University of Northern Colorado. He led women to third-place finish in 2012 Big Sky Conference and coached conference female freshman of the year.

For the full story on the groundbreaking for the new athletic complex visit metnews.org

Photos by Cos Lindstrom-Furutani clindst1@msudenver.edu


TheMetropolitan  MetSports  June 20, 2013

Runners place in top 10 Mario Sanelli msanelli@msudenver.edu Metro track and field’s “fearsome foursome” of Darius Reed, Kirk Harvey, Breanna Hemming and Janelle Lincks all had standout seasons, and each took their talents to the NCAA championships. Reed, a junior hurdler, finished second at the NCAA outdoor track championships with a time of 13.91 seconds in the hurdles. His second place finish capped a remarkable year in which he won athlete of the week three times in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, first team all-RMAC, all-South Central Region and All-America honors in the 60 and 110-meter hurdles. “He had another tremendous season that started in indoor track,” said head coach John Supsic. Reed beat the 2012 silver medalist during a meet in New Mexico, and continued to progress throughout the year. “He improved on his times and built upon that success,” Supsic said. “He had incredible meets at nationals.” Reed placed fourth at the NCAA indoor track championships in 7.95 seconds. Prior to that,

he won the RMAC championship in 7.89 seconds. Junior distance runner Kirk Harvey was named the Capital One first team academic RMAC and all-District Athlete of the Year. “Kirk is one of those rare athletes. He’s the complete package,” Supsic said. “He’s a tremendous student and a tremendous athlete.” Harvey broke a school record in the April 18 steeplechase at the Mt. SAC Relays in 9:01.50, and his 9:21.79 time earned him second place in the RMAC championships for outdoor track. Harvey also set a school record in the 2,000-meter steeplechase at the Air Force Relays, April 6. Harvey ran a team-best 3:53.45 April 20 in the 1500 meters at the Beach Invitational, and a seasonbest 1:58.30 in the 800 meters March 16 at the Jerry Quiller Classic. Harvey earned first team academic all-RMAC in both the fall and spring semesters, and was named RMAC runner of the week Oct. 10 after he finished second out of 85 runners at the Metro State Invitational four days prior, with a time of 26:20. “He makes my job easy, and did everything that we expected of him,” Supsic said. “Not only does he have the confidence, he has the

experience.” Breanna Hemming, a freshman distance runner, cleaned up this past season in nearly every individual and team category. Hemming won her first collegiate event during the indoor track season with a 5:06.34 mile, a school record. “She’s the nicest girl I’ve ever coached,” Supsic said. “She always has a smile on her face and she brings that attitude to her game every day.” Hemming landed third in the 1,500-meter race at the NCAA championships with a time of 4:32.21, finishing behind two senior runners and ahead of two other seniors. “Her goal in every race is to go out and win, and that’s awesome,” Supsic said. “She ran with those top-notch girls and didn’t bat an eye.” Named RMAC track athlete of the week Feb. 6, Hemming earned medalist honors six times, twice in the mile and the DMR, and once in the 800 meter and 4x400 meter relay. Her performance this past year awarded her with All-America honors and the title of RMAC freshman of the year. Hemming was bookended by another stellar freshman distance runner, Janelle Lincks.

13

Metro freshman distance runner Breanna Hemming (6) became the first women’s track athlete to earn NCAA All-America honors in school history. Hemming placed third in the 1500-meter race at NCAA Division II outdoor track & field championships in Pueblo, Colo. Photo courtesy of MSU Denver Athletic Department

Lincks broke a school record in outdoor track with a 5K time of 16:55.55 April 19 and ran a seasonbest 4:37.82 in the 1,500 meters a day later at the Beach Invitational. “Janelle is a tremendous competitor and has an amazing work ethic,” Supsic said. Lincks placed seventh at the NCAA championships with a 17:23.89 time in the 5K. Her second team all-RMAC awards in the 1,500 and 5,000 meters accompanied her all-South Central Region and All-America honors in outdoor track. As a member of the distance medley relay team in 2012-13 indoor track, she helped break a

school record by contributing to a team time of 11:55.56 at the NCAA championships. Lincks placed ninth at the RMAC championships with 10:12.97 in the 3,000 meters, a school record, and ran the fourthfastest mile (5:18.43) of the team Feb. 9. Lincks won the distance medley relay RMAC championship in 12:08.94 and was named first team all-RMAC. Lincks kicked off the cross-country season by finishing first for the team in all five regular season meets. “We’re going to build success from this success,” Supsic said. “The future is very bright for this program.”

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12 June 20, 2013 TheMetropolitan

MetSports

Portie to coach women’s golf team Angelita Foster amayer1@msudenver.edu Ben Portie is the new head coach for Metro’s new women’s golf team. Portie, a nationally ranked amateur, who has won more than 30 professional events and was named 2011 Colorado Open champion, considers himself more than a golfer – he is a teacher – and he has been preparing for this head coaching job for a while. “The last few years, I have geared away from playing and moved toward coaching, and I have been teaching golf at Meridian Golf Club,” Portie said. “I don’t travel overseas as much or fulltime, and I may play in three or four tournaments this summer just to get my fi x, but my duties rely on coaching and teaching golf.” Joan McDermott, MSU Denver’s athletic director, said that these are the qualities the university was looking for when searching for a coach. “I felt like Ben was the best fit for us and our new program,” McDermott said. “The fact that he was a PGA golf pro and teaches golf was a plus.” Another benefit of Portie as a coach is his local roots, which can help when recruiting. “Ben is from Colorado, so he knows the high schools, he knows the people here, and to have those contacts established helps a lot,” McDermott said. Portie will rely on those connections this first season. High

school seniors have already chosen a college, so Portie is looking at sophomores at junior colleges who want to continue their education as well as golf. Portie said he will recruit most of the women that will play for Metro’s new program, but hopes to pick up one or two more from tryouts. “We can take five athletes to tournaments, but I would like to carry six or seven on the roster,” Portie said. Since golf is not a revenueproducing sport, athletes will only receive partial scholarships. “Golf in general has limited scholarships, so it shouldn’t factor into recruiting much,” Portie said. “Even at the Division I level you don’t have quite as many scholarships.” McDermott said that the new programs budget, including scholarships, was based on what other programs in the conference are doing. “In sports like women’s basketball, there is a lot more funding for scholarships. But with golf, because it is an emerging women’s sport, I think in time that w ill change,” McDermott said. She also said the expectations for Portie are not in where the team finishes in the conference,ut that the program has quality recruits. “Really, the expectation is that he recruits quality student-athletes – students first, athletes second,” McDermott said.

Ben Portie, head coach for Metro’s new women’s golf team. Environmental portrait by Ryan Borthick • rbothic@msudenver. edu

10 Metro’s new golf team makes it the tenth women’s program of the 4 schools in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The University of Colorado-Colorado Springs also has a new women’s program.

2007-08 Portie served as assistant men’s golf coach at University of Colorado, helping the Buffaloes to an NCAA tournament appearance.

3 Portie had three seasons as assistant men’s and women’s golf coach at University of Northern Colorado. He led women to third-place finish in 2012 Big Sky Conference and coached conference female freshman of the year.

For the full story on the groundbreaking for the new athletic complex visit metnews.org

Photos by Cos Lindstrom-Furutani clindst1@msudenver.edu


TheMetropolitan  MetSports  June 20, 2013

Runners place in top 10 Mario Sanelli msanelli@msudenver.edu Metro track and field’s “fearsome foursome” of Darius Reed, Kirk Harvey, Breanna Hemming and Janelle Lincks all had standout seasons, and each took their talents to the NCAA championships. Reed, a junior hurdler, finished second at the NCAA outdoor track championships with a time of 13.91 seconds in the hurdles. His second place finish capped a remarkable year in which he won athlete of the week three times in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, first team all-RMAC, all-South Central Region and All-America honors in the 60 and 110-meter hurdles. “He had another tremendous season that started in indoor track,” said head coach John Supsic. Reed beat the 2012 silver medalist during a meet in New Mexico, and continued to progress throughout the year. “He improved on his times and built upon that success,” Supsic said. “He had incredible meets at nationals.” Reed placed fourth at the NCAA indoor track championships in 7.95 seconds. Prior to that,

he won the RMAC championship in 7.89 seconds. Junior distance runner Kirk Harvey was named the Capital One first team academic RMAC and all-District Athlete of the Year. “Kirk is one of those rare athletes. He’s the complete package,” Supsic said. “He’s a tremendous student and a tremendous athlete.” Harvey broke a school record in the April 18 steeplechase at the Mt. SAC Relays in 9:01.50, and his 9:21.79 time earned him second place in the RMAC championships for outdoor track. Harvey also set a school record in the 2,000-meter steeplechase at the Air Force Relays, April 6. Harvey ran a team-best 3:53.45 April 20 in the 1500 meters at the Beach Invitational, and a seasonbest 1:58.30 in the 800 meters March 16 at the Jerry Quiller Classic. Harvey earned first team academic all-RMAC in both the fall and spring semesters, and was named RMAC runner of the week Oct. 10 after he finished second out of 85 runners at the Metro State Invitational four days prior, with a time of 26:20. “He makes my job easy, and did everything that we expected of him,” Supsic said. “Not only does he have the confidence, he has the

experience.” Breanna Hemming, a freshman distance runner, cleaned up this past season in nearly every individual and team category. Hemming won her first collegiate event during the indoor track season with a 5:06.34 mile, a school record. “She’s the nicest girl I’ve ever coached,” Supsic said. “She always has a smile on her face and she brings that attitude to her game every day.” Hemming landed third in the 1,500-meter race at the NCAA championships with a time of 4:32.21, finishing behind two senior runners and ahead of two other seniors. “Her goal in every race is to go out and win, and that’s awesome,” Supsic said. “She ran with those top-notch girls and didn’t bat an eye.” Named RMAC track athlete of the week Feb. 6, Hemming earned medalist honors six times, twice in the mile and the DMR, and once in the 800 meter and 4x400 meter relay. Her performance this past year awarded her with All-America honors and the title of RMAC freshman of the year. Hemming was bookended by another stellar freshman distance runner, Janelle Lincks.

13

Metro freshman distance runner Breanna Hemming (6) became the first women’s track athlete to earn NCAA All-America honors in school history. Hemming placed third in the 1500-meter race at NCAA Division II outdoor track & field championships in Pueblo, Colo. Photo courtesy of MSU Denver Athletic Department

Lincks broke a school record in outdoor track with a 5K time of 16:55.55 April 19 and ran a seasonbest 4:37.82 in the 1,500 meters a day later at the Beach Invitational. “Janelle is a tremendous competitor and has an amazing work ethic,” Supsic said. Lincks placed seventh at the NCAA championships with a 17:23.89 time in the 5K. Her second team all-RMAC awards in the 1,500 and 5,000 meters accompanied her all-South Central Region and All-America honors in outdoor track. As a member of the distance medley relay team in 2012-13 indoor track, she helped break a

school record by contributing to a team time of 11:55.56 at the NCAA championships. Lincks placed ninth at the RMAC championships with 10:12.97 in the 3,000 meters, a school record, and ran the fourthfastest mile (5:18.43) of the team Feb. 9. Lincks won the distance medley relay RMAC championship in 12:08.94 and was named first team all-RMAC. Lincks kicked off the cross-country season by finishing first for the team in all five regular season meets. “We’re going to build success from this success,” Supsic said. “The future is very bright for this program.”

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14 June 20, 2013 MetroSpective TheMetropolitan

StudyBreak

Sudoku

Horoscope

By Kayla Whitney • kwhitne2@msudenver.edu

Taurus

Capricorn

April 20 -May 20

December 22 -January 19 If you seriously think mermaids are real after watching a documentary you need a lot more help then a misally horoscope can provide.

The Beatles were wrong, love isn’t all you need — sometimes a camping trip and beer is all you really need.

Aquarius

Gemini

January 20 -February 18 The term “float like a butterfly sting like a bee” is rather pointless — if you sting like a bee, you die like a bee.

Difficulty: EASY

May 21 -June 20 It’s summer time — you really should be outside having fun, not watching “Arrested Development,” no matter how good it is.

Pisces

Cancer

February 19 -March 20 Something strange and terrifying will be waiting for you in your fridge the next time you’re hungry.

June 21 -July 22

Life as you know it will come to an end in four days, nine minutes and thirty-two seconds, when you realize you’ve counted down to absolutely nothing.

Leo

Aries

July 23 -August 22

March 21 -April 19 Sure you may have really enjoyed “Man of Steel,” but please start wearing your underwear inside your pants.

If Grumpy Cat is fi nally starting to make you just as grumpy as he is every time you see him, he’s clearly doing something right.

Virgo

August 23 -September 22 Orange juice is not as healthy when you mix it with vodka every morning, so stop kidding yourself.

Libra

September 23 -October 22 If you’re having a bad day and don’t have anyone to comfort you just remember that the Internet is full of adorable kittens and puppies to cheer you up.

Scorpio

October 23 -November 21 Loads of people eat breakfast during dinnertime. How about you try having dinner for breakfast — live on the edge

Sagittarius

November 22 -December 21 If you get really bored, get some tape and just tape things. Not only is it a stress relieving activity, but your boredom will vanish in an instant.

Difficulty: HARD

Brain Teasers

Denver Comic Con slideshow

.17 6.20-7

This k e e W

Metro Events 7.12 Last day to withdraw full-semester classes and receive “no credit”

Last issue’s answers (top to bottom): Go Up in Smoke, Forgive and Forget, Caught in the Act, Double or Nothing, Summary

7.12 Last day to apply for College Opportunity Fund waiver for Summer 2013

Events Around Denver 6.21 Make Music Denver 16th Street Mall, all day FREE 6.22 Westword Music Showcase Golden Triangle Museum District @ 12 p.m. $20 - $75 6.22-6.23 Cherry Blossom Festival Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple @ 11 a.m. FREE 6.23 Fall Out Boy Ogden Theatre Doors @ 6:30 p.m. $35-$40

Extended coverage @ metnews.org

6.28 Flobots Gothic Theatre Doors @ 8 p.m. $17-$20 7.5-7.7 Cherry Creek Arts Festival PISMO FREE 7.6 Drums Along the Rockies Sports Authority Field at Mile High @ 7 p.m. $15-$80 7.15 Matchbox Twenty and Goo Goo Dolls Comfort Dental Amphitheatre @ 7 p.m. $20-$115


TheMetropolitan

June 20, 2013

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