Volume 36 Issue 15 - Nov. 21, 2013

November 21, 2013

Volume 36, Issue 15

www.metnews.org

twitter.com/TheMetOnline

TheMetropolitan

Metro junior guard Mitch McCarron takes a shot under heavy opposition from Fairleigh Dickinson University defenders during the NIT tournament Nov. 19 at the McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. McCarron impressed spectators from both sides of the court and led the Roadrunners with a career-high 34 points and 10 rebounds.

Photo by Scott Lentz • slentz@msudenver.edu

Runners go 1-1 in NIT D1 tourney • 14 INSIDE: Homeless awareness • 3

Mars project • 9

Ai Kuwabara Trio • 9

“Kong Off 3” • 12

2 November 21, 2013 MetNews TheMetropolitan

!

G N I S A E L W O N

Lauren, Hospitality, Tourism and Events Major, Metropolitan State University of Denver

FREE Shuttle to Campus

Bowling Alley

FREE On-Site Parking

Basketball Courts

Utilities Included

Swimming Pool

Fully Furnished

Computer Lab

Full Service Dining Hall

Secured Access

RegencyStudentHousing.com / 303-477-1950 / 3900 Elati Street, Denver

TheMetropolitan November 21, 2013

MetNews

3

Film screening helps foster awareness

Kelli Heitstuman-Tomko ktomko@msudenver.edu @kelli_themet

Children make up the greatest number of homeless individuals, according to a documentary shown

by UCD’s Women’s Resource Center.

About a dozen students and faculty met Nov. 18 in the Tivoli Multicultural Lounge to watch the film, “On the Edge.” The film told the story of several women who had been homeless and the circumstances that led them to that situation.

Speaking from homeless shelters in Arizona and Louisiana, the women recounted issues with illness, joblessness, addiction and abusive relationships.

The seven women—Beatrice, Julianna, Tonya, Nancy, Antoinette, Angela and Melissa—each had a different tale to tell, but each ended the same way. The women found themselves without homes and looking for shelter with friends, in cheap hotels or in shelters.

Tim Harris, founding director of the Real Change Homeless Empowerment Program, spoke in the film about the number of homeless families and how documented homeless children numbered over a million individuals. He said the number could be higher if families who are homeless but don’t ask for help are taken into consideration.

Carisa Weaver, coordinater of UCD’s Women’s Resource Center, introduces the documentary “On The Edge: Family Homlessness in America” Nov. 18 in the Tivoli Multicultural Lounge. Photo by Amanda Sutherland • asuther6@msudenver.edu

Released in 2008, the film had a clear message — homeless women with children are in danger of losing their children if they don’t have a place to stay. While it could seem that moving the family to a shelter makes sense, the documentary showed that nothing in homelessness is clear cut.

Julianna became homeless when she took her four children and fled from her abusive husband.

She faced being separated from her eldest son, though, when domestic abuse shelters refused to take him in.

“Shelters, and especially domestic abuse shelters, usually won’t take boys over 13,” Julianna said.

Harris said many teens on the street are there as a result of being refused at shelters that took in their mothers and younger

siblings.

A few of the stories spoke of underlying problems that where never addressed when they happened. Both Angela and Antoinette recalled being molested by family members and Melissa’s mother was murdered when Melissa was young. All three women attribute their homelessness in part to these past issues.

“I felt like I had to tell someone,” Angela said of being molested by her step-father. “I told my mother and she didn’t believe. I am her oldest daughter, and she chose him over me.”

MSU Denver student Elizabeth Asscherick, a social work junior, said that, while the film was enlightening, she would have liked to see more about trauma informed care as the shelters dealt with

homeless families.

“Trauma informed care looks at the core problems that are causing homelessness,” Asscherick said.

“It’s like looking past the symptoms to find the real cause and curing the problem at the cause.”

Carisa Weaver, coordinator of the Women’s Resource Center, said the shelters in the film were likely unaware of trauma informed care in 2008.

“It’s a pretty new concept,” she said. “We understand it today, but in 2008, it wouldn’t have been something they knew about.”

Weaver said the Women’s Resource Center is a place for UCD students to come to find a safety, to get resources to help them with social services and to access materials from their feminist library.

The WRC is planning a week full of events, including a two-day resource fair and a Flobots concert.

“The second day of the resource fair is going to focus on gay, lesbian and transgender students,” Weaver said. “Transgenders have a very high rate of homelessness.”

In the film, the women talked about how far they’d come since becoming homeless. Angela had been financially stable for 11 years and spoke of a fear of losing everything again.

“After you’ve been homeless, you will do whatever is in your power to keep from being homeless again,” she said.

Denver area Thanksgiving dinners for the homeless Senior Support Services 846 E. 18th Ave. (303) 832-1622 Nov. 28, 1 p.m.

Homeless and low -income seniors Denver Inner City Parish (College View) 2525 S. Decauter (303) 350-5565 Nov. 25, 6 p.m.

Denver Inner City Parish (Galapago Street) 910 Galapago (303) 629-0637 Nov. 26, 6-8 p.m.

Denver Rescue Mission (Lawrence Street Shelter) 1130 Park Ave. West (303) 313-2456 Nov 27, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week Wednesday: GLBT students resource and education fair 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tivoli 440’540 Thursday: Flobots concert 3:30 p.m. Tivoli Turnhalle Friday: Staff and faculty conference: Hungry and Homeless Students

University considers continuing college policy transitions Nikki Work nwork@msudenver.edu @nikki_themet More than two years ago, Metro dropped a C, picked up a U and changed the face of a school.

With a proposed change to the three schools of study, the legacy of that U is continuing.

Early this month, MSU Denver officials sent a survey to the entire university community asking whether the names of the Schools of Business; Letters, Arts and Sciences; and Professional Studies should be changed to Colleges. The suggested policy has been a year and a half in the making.

“Typically, across the country, if you see an institution that is a university then the next academic unit is a college, not a school,” said Vicki Golich, MSU Denver’s Provost and chair of the Schools

to Colleges transition task force.

“But, we were a college, so we had schools. Well, almost instantly after the legislation [turning MSU Denver into a university] had passed, the hallway question became, ‘well are the schools automatically going to become colleges?’”

President Stephen Jordan tasked Golich with researching this distinction and creating a policy to move forward.

“It’s very interesting, the research that we did,” Golich said.

“We pulled together a task force that included representation from the faculty senate. It included deans, it included some other interested faculty, it included student representation and we did some research. And there’s really very little out there that really defines what a college is versus what a school is.

That’s what inspired us to come up with our own set of definitions.”

The survey outlined the policy for the change, creating definitions for both college and school.

“A college would offer more diverse programming through a collection of related disciplines, programs and departments; this could also include one or more schools,” according to the policy.

“Normally, a school should house a small number of closely-related academic programs and faculty or a single disciplinary academic program.”

The survey period ended last week. Vicki Golich, MSU Denver’s provost and the leader of the Schools to Colleges Transition Taskforce, said that the survey indicated that 77 percent of the roughly 450 responses were in favor of grandfathering in the three

schools and officially changing them to colleges. However, Golich said that no policy will be enacted until it is voted upon by the Board of Trustees.

One of the goals of the proposed change is that different departments within the university will have the opportunity for increased visibility to the community, and therefore more of a chance to increase recruitment.

“Not to show our competitive side, but if UCD and Regis have Colleges of Education and our teacher ed program is buried in another school, then how does the general public know that we have that, even though we are graduating the second largest number of teachers in the state?” Golich said.

“So that visibility would allow us to recruit students, it would allow us to recruit good faculty, because

they would know that we’re here, and staff. They would allow us to be recognized so that we would be able to build maybe more and deeper partnerships with the various school districts in the region.

The smaller unit also makes it more navigable for the student.”

The proposed policy also outlines the suggested steps a department would need to take to become a separate College. These steps include writing proposals and submitting them for review – a process that, as outlined, could take up to a school year.

Golich also said that in the future, depending on if the policy is passed, a College of Education and a College of Arts could be formed. She didn’t rule out the possibility of even more colleges in the future, but said that it would be an “organic” process.

Students prepare for take-off

Group forms to simulate mock mission to Mars next year couldn’t do all of the research,â€? she said. “I thought it would be interesting to see if college students could do it. And if college students ing industrial design, biology and An MSU Denver student is could do it‌maybe we can add a geology — met to discuss what ready for lift-off, destination, Mars piece to that puzzle and eventually the project may look like. Maricle— well almost.

Fitzpatrick presented a PowerPoint sort of push this idea along to get Aerospace and physics major us to another planet.� that included facts about Mars and Taletha Maricle-Fitzpatrick Marcile-Fitzpatrick spent hours basic ideas on what a mission to had the idea to form a group of handing out flyers and spreading the red planet would take. students from around campus to the word about the project to many “I was curious to see what the simulate a mock mission to Mars. students and department around project entailed because as an The group will gather research that industrial designer it’s easier to see campus. A few students, including will hopefully be valuable pieces of Ryan Finely, an MSU Denver geolwhat the needs are for things that information for a future real Mars ogy student, found out about the don’t exist yet since it’s something mission, as well as, offer indepenevent because of the flyers. that hasn’t happened yet,� said dent study credits to students. “I’ve always had an interest in Veronica Contreras, an industrial “You only have so much space assolutions well,� Finely said. “I’m indesign student who attended the Job News print, web, broadcast and job fair recruitment All Ads Appear in control over your own ideas,� will help you connect withgoing the best local for less.

Print AND on the Web! WE WILL terested more in space mining and meeting. “There’s to be a candidates News – Your Door to Better Candidates.

POST YOUR Maricle-Fitzpatrick said. “So, whenJob whole I think that’s kind of the future of plethora of equipment that’s JOB FOR YOU Mars, the I started to think about where we’re going and I’d like to going to need to be created.�

Mars issue, that’s when [the idea] get my foot in the door of that.�

Marcile-Fitzpatrick was inreally Truck D kind of exploded. Thought Maricle-Fitzpatrick stressed spired to create the Mars project rivers processes are really interesting that a mission to Mars would take after visiting the Denver Museum things when you think about it.� more than engineers and scientist, of Nature and Science and saw a The project will begin in but include people from multiple sign-up sheet for a one-way trip Spring 2014 and run a full year fields — including art, philosophy, to Mars through the Mars One into next fall. The schedule for dance, linguistics, psychology and Mission. After that, she claims her meeting times is still to be decided. muse was inspired and questions more.

Top left: Taletha Maricle-Fitzpatrick Students that participate will be “It’s going to take more than started fi lling her head. talks science and space Nov. 18 during asked to conduct different areas To: Jeff Johnson scientist to get man to Mars,â€? “I had all of these questions the first meeting of her independent of research to put the project studies project that will push students Maricle-Fitzpatrick said. “Humans and what I realized was that these JJ Advertising DSN Denver School of Nursing Company: to research a mock mission to Mars. together. are not just scientific creatures. We questions crossed the disciplines 1401 19th Street Nov. 18 was the first meeting of to a point where I realized that I Photo by Charlie Hanson • chanson@ don’t just function on simply the Address: the group where a handful of MSU Kayla Whitney kwhitne2@msudenver.edu Denver students and professors from different fields — includ@kayla_themet

JOBSWeekly

TM

FREE

Featu red

IENCED

Currently seekin g bright motivated , our value individuals to join d team of

JEFFERSONV ILLE, IN UĂŠ " ĂŠ TERMINAL "-/ĂŠ7

-ĂŠU

WE REQUIR E s 6ALID #LA COMPE SS ! #$, s -INIMUM s "LUE #RO TITIVE COMPE AGE OF YEAR SS 00/ DENTA NSATIO N& S OLD L s s 0AID VAC %XCELLENT ASSIGNEXCELLENT BENEF ED EQUIPMENT s ATION ITS HOLIDAYS K W TO INCLUD s ,IFE D 6 , ISABILITY PLANSITH COMPANY MAE: TCH ĂŠ*

Óä£ÓÊ7 9ĂŠ ",ĂŠ -ĂŠfĂˆx]ä E,ĂŠ , ää³Ê* , 6 ,-ĂŠ ĂŠ ĂŠ9 ,

Print & Web Authorization

Adve Cracker rtiser Barrel s Sams Club p 13 FedEx Ground p 13 Galt House p 15 Niemco Fabricat p 11 ors p 10

A PREM BULK CARR IER NATIO IER IS SEEKI NWIDE NG EXPER

FOR OUR

CALL CE NTER AGENTS

Now hiring

s )NBOU for the following ND 2ETEN position: (Per Hour TION Base Salary 3ALES + Month ly Commission)

What we offer you! s !00,9 4 /$!9 W s Visit us WW CALLC s s online for ENTE

Walk-ins

ď …ď śď Ľď ˛ď ƒ

&HUWLĂ€ HG

ď Ąď ˛ď Ľ

RQ &HUW

‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡

V H[SHUL

Monday-

RJOB descriptioS COM n

Friday,

DQG 1

PRQWK

full job

welcome

HQFH UH

TXLUHG

LĂ€ HG

9am-2pm

ÛiÀ >Ài TXDOLÀ HG FDQGLG

DWHV WR À OO LPPHGL

DWH QHHGV

RIĂ€ FH I RU P

RUH LQIR

UPDWLRQ DQG WR D

SSO\

Adverti

msudenver.edu

City:

sing

Info,

Call

organic level. There are many levels to what it means to be human and we’re going to need those things if we want to go out further into the cosmos.�

After the initial presentation on Monday, the members in the room already began brainstorming different ideas for the mock mission. Different things that were discussed included; multifunctional furniture, gravitational and environmental affects on the human body, 3D printers creative pizza and many other areas.

Students that take part in the group are also eligible to receive independent study credits from the internship office. There is paperwork students interested must fi ll out with their adviser in order to receive the credits. “Once people know about the project they can actually find an adviser and then do this as independent study,� Marcile-Fitzpatrick said. “I just need to make sure the students find out.�

Today!

More information Taletha Maricle-Fitzpatrick tmaricle@msudenver.edu For independent study credit, contact your advisor and/or the internship office

Denver

303-997-8366

CO State: 1385 Santa Fe Drive

Walking distance from the campus!

Zip: 80208 Phone:

303-292-0015

Fax:

720-974-0290

Email:

Bachelor of Science Nursing Associate Degree in Nursing

Web:

Just look at a small sample of employers that have hired our graduates:

1 Job Specifics Job Title:

Career Education

Category:

Career Education

Student Meal!

2 Ad Price

Two beef tacos and a small 255.00 Price/Issue: fountain drink for $5.50 plus tax or # Issues: 2 Small smothered fries and aDiscount: small fountain drink for $5.50 plus tax Ad Size: 4.875x6.625 Student Meal Deals (with ID) Run Dates: 8,5, 8/26

50% off one item One coupon per customer per visit

Must present coupon!

Expires December 5, 2013

Â&#x2039; :R` 9P K NL 4 LK P JHS * LU [ LY Â&#x2039; + LU]LY / LH S [ O Â&#x2039; 3\ [ O LYHU 4 LK P JHS * LU [ LY Â&#x2039; 9V Z L 4 LK P JHS * LU [ LY Â&#x2039; :[ ( U [ O V U` * LU [ YHS Â&#x2039; 5 V Y [ O =HS S L` / V Z W P [ HS Â&#x2039; 2HP Z LY 7LY T HU LU [ L Â&#x2039; :^ LK P Z O 4 LK P JHS * LU [ LY Â&#x2039; < U P]LY Z P [ ` / V Z W P [ HS

-VY 4VYL PUMVYTH[PVU!

>>> +,5=,9:*/6636-5<9:05. ,+< PO #:

[O :;9,,; +,5=,9 *6 36*(;,+ )36*2 -964 *669: -0,3+

Jeff-August

3 Payment Method Credit Card Pre-Paid aid x Direct Bill

ACH

Cards hour menu items from 4 â&#x20AC;&#x201C;7 p.m.

Special Accepted happy

Watch for our ads/coupons in upcoming publications.

We invite students to input their cell phone numbers into our database at the restaurant in order to get all of our discounts/specials for the week.

NOTE: This Ad has been developed for the exclusive use of the customer advertising with Job News. Use of this ad outside of Job News is prohibited.

DSN is currently approved to train Veterans who qualify for VA Benefits!

Financial aid available to those who qualify!

For consumer information please go to: www.denverschoolofnursing.edu

Nursing programs are approved by the Colorado State Board of Nursing. .,.!# 0EACHTREE 2OAD .% 3UITE !TLANTA 'EORGIA s 0HONE

D

TheMetropolitan

Changing campus evaluated Alisha Keppel akeppel@msudenver.edu Campus Safe Night held Nov. 12 in the Tivoli Multiculturl Lounge was the place for staff and students to voice their concerns on safety at Auraria.

The event is held annually due to the new shadows and dark areas that are created as building and development grows on campus, according to Leonard Peete, sergeant of community relations. The triinstitutional event invited students, faculty and staff to discuss current and future safety needs.

Peete also pointed out the importance of being aware of surroundings, avoiding dangerous situations and not walking alone after dark.

After gathering in the lounge, those in attendance broke off into smaller groups to walk specified zones on campus. They were looking for any safety issues that needed to be addressed and then ranking them from highest to lowest priority. Some of the issues found included burnt-out street lights, uneven pavement and the need for more emergency towers.

Lighting issues may involve notifying facilities to alert them about the light. If the streetlight belongs to the City of Denver, they will be notified but it may take longer to resolve, according to Valerie Hessler, a neighborhood community officer.

Once the issues were identified for each specific zone on campus, the groups reconvened to discuss the issues found. The

consensus for the highest priority issue was lighting. Dark areas create areas of concealment which are even more dangerous for those on campus, according to Peete.

Lack of police presence was also noted by one of the groups, which a new program within the police department hopes to provide a solution for.

The Neighborhood Community Office Program assigns specialists to specific neighborhoods on the campus. This program will create a higher level of service and more communication between police officers and those on campus, due to increased police presence.

The goal of the NCO Program is to have an outlet for the students not only in case of an emergency, but also to feel safer knowing that there is someone looking out for them, according to Jason Mollendor, sergeant detective.

There are currently 30 police officers within the Auraria Police Department and seven NCOs. Mollendor said he thinks the NCO Program will solve any lack of police presence on campus, despite the seemingly low number of officers in the department.

The final list of safety issues will be compiled and be presented to the Office of the Executive Vice President for Administration for further consideration.

There have already been $1 million in improvements made since the event began in 2006.

“It’s important because the landscape does change a lot over the years,” said Peete.

MetNews

November 21, 2013

Computer professor remembered Longtime MSU Denver adjunct professor Howard Flomberg died Nov. 8 after a long illness. He was 66.

Flomberg was a member of the U.S. Air Force and served in South Asia during 1968-69. He also served at a Boy Scouts of America scoutmaster and in 2006, he received the “Silver Beaver award, which is the highest award a council can give.

Flomberg recieved his bachelor’s degree in computer and management science from MSU Denver in 1974, and his master’s degree in computer and information systems from West Coast University. He began teaching at MSU Denver in 1978.

He is interred at Fort Logan.

Photo courtesy of Howard Flomberg’s Facebook.

School ranks high in report Joseph Rios jrios11@msudenver.edu Every year, US News and World Report rank the top colleges in the nation by putting them into four different categories: national university rankings, national liberal arts college rankings, regional university rankings, and regional college rankings.

This year US News and World Report ranked Metropolitan State University of Denver number 23 on their list of best regional colleges in the West. This ranking is the highest of the regional colleges in Colorado. Among the schools ranked in this section, only three schools had a lower in state

tuition than MSU Denver. The school also has the highest amount of students compared to the other schools that are ranked.

The US News and World Report wrote that the university “follows a semester-based academic calendar and its admissions are considered selective” and that the “school’s mission and unique qualities” are to be a “top quality urban college of opportunity and to fulfi ll our mission by preparing a diverse undergraduate student body to meet the challenges of our rapidly changing multicultural and technological world”.

Carroll College, a small school in Helena, Mont., was ranked as the number one school among regional colleges in the West.

t h e g a m e w i t h i n t h e g a m e

4600 Hale Parkway, Suite 490 Denver, CO 80220

ays & one G i g veaw

D PRIZe RAN

Awesome pri ze

Check out The Met Report for an exclusive interview with survivor Laura Triem.

every week same time

40% off any entrée with the purchase of a drink 303.436.1144 facebook.com/crocs.bar

$3 Coors/Coors Light $3 Miller Lite and $3 Colorado Native Drafts All specials discounted to $2 if you wear your favorite NFL, Ohio State or Metro State gear!

5

MetReport.org

6 November 21, 2013 TheMetropolitan

InSight

Books a treasure in technological abyss Kelli Heitstuman-Tomko ktomko@msudenver.edu @kelli_themet I grew up without a television and, as a result, was an avid reader.

I navigated Dick and Jane’s world of three letter action words in school, but at home, I had books a little heavier on plot and imagination to read to my two younger sisters.

I could get lost in Max’s dream where he became king of monsters who roared their terrible roars.

Harold’s purple crayon led me to far away worlds where a little bear had a birthday party, a hungry caterpillar ate through everything in sight and a little mouse named

Alexander made friends with a wind-up toy.

Reading was life for my sisters and I. Words that spun fantasies were accompanied by imaginative pictures of Frog and Toad, Thing One and Thing Two, Babar and Celeste and passive Ferdinand sitting under his cork tree. We said goodnight to the moon and cried at the end of Tomie dePaola’s “Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs.”

I never lost my love of reading.

I graduated to Agatha Christie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Rudyard Kipling, authors who would forever cause issues as I struggled to differentiate between American and British spelling.

But when I went to the library,

a trip I made at least once a week, I would spend half of my time sitting in the children’s section losing myself in the magic of illustrated storybooks.

As my own children grew, the tradition of a weekly library visits continued. I introduced them to Max and his monsters, Eric Carle’s hungry caterpillar and Frog and Toad. We looked for books with quirky, clever or beautiful illustration, and I would take them to the worlds I had visited as a child. We spent a month reading versions of the Cinderella story from Egypt, China and Arabia.

As we ran out of stories, we turned to illustrated classics and learned the stories of heroes like

Grandparents a gift Kailyn Lamb klamb6@msudenver.edu @kailyn_themet With Thanksgiving comes the great wave of gratitude, with the latest trend being to name something you are thankful for everyday in a status on Facebook.

I have always been one to express gratitude, even for the cliché things that everyone is thankful for.

My grandparents are two of the most important and influential people I have in my life. Jacquie Pedigo is like most stereotypical grammas. She bakes, she knits and she makes baby blankets.

She also religiously watches hockey and frequently told my cousins and I when growing up to “stop being a siss,” if we cried when we fell.

When I was young, going over to my grandparents’ house meant a chance to stay up late and watch movies. Now that I am older, I can better appreciate the gifts they have given me in my life.

I bake more often with my anti-sissy grandmother than anyone else. One of my favorite memories is of my fumbling attempts to learn how to crochet with her and my sister.

But what I most value from Grandma Jacquie is what she taught me about family.

Holidays were always at the Pedigos’. Warm kitchens, small children with grubby fingers, glowing Christmas trees and football — of course — have made up most of my life. Family is always first, even with all the noise, fuss and drama it can bring.

And then there’s Grandpa.

Gary Pedigo Senior is nothing short of my absolute favorite person on this planet. The recently retired Westminster Fire Marshall served the department for 30 years, something that has gained him a little fame in the state of Colorado.

I literally cannot go anywhere with him, without him being recognized by someone.

This man has literally had my previous boyfriends shaking in their boots to meet him after I have told stories about my fire fighting, cigar smoking, hockey refing, dart throwing, army vet grandfather — a fact that would probably make him crack a small smile.

But truly, this tough as nails man is a teddy bear to his family, and a generous spirit to his friends.

When I was going through a rough patch with my boyfriend, my grandfather told me something that I will never forget, partially because I was so shocked to hear something so sentimental come out of his mouth. He told me that part of the reason relationships are so beautiful, is because you have to work so hard at them.

My family may be unconventional, especially with the amount of sports we watch during the holidays and the fact the hockey is more of a lifestyle than a sport, but they are still mine.

It doesn’t matter if your family is “weird” or “out of the box.” Hell, your family could be the perfect cookie cut example of a nuclear family.

But it is always yours.

That is what my grandparents taught me to be thankful for.

Ivanhoe, villains like Captain Nemo and far-away make-believe lands like Neverland, Liliput and Oz. From the illustrated classics, we turned to authors who spun pictures with words—C. S. Lewis, J. R. R Tolkien and Roald Dahl.

Over the years, I’ve noticed a decline in quality storybooks. Fantastic stories have given way to propaganda and political correctness.

Plots are no deeper than the Dick and Jane reading books. There is no more imaginative stories, no wonderful illustrations. The beauty of depth has been replaced by shallow line drawings and meaningless jumbles of letters.

In my apartment, on a section

of shelf in my living room, there is a stack of books that I have been collecting over the past several years. As the new, PC, meaningless picture books fill the shelves, libraries are selling off the old stories, the beautiful stories. Little by little, I buy them.

One day, I will have grandchildren. When I do, I’ll take them to Max’s island to meet his monsters.

I’ll tell them about Alexander and the wind-up mouse. I’ll invite them to Little Bear’s birthday party.

I will teach them to say good night to the moon.

Black Friday a retail nightmare Melanie Moccia mmoccia@msudenver.edu

It’s that time of year again. The time of year where you are supposed to be thankful for what you have and enjoy delicious food with friends and family. After all the soft stuff, comes the dreadful Black Friday, where people are now getting up earlier and earlier to fight to the death for ridiculous price slashes on flat screens and video game consoles.

As someone who has worked in retail for over two years, I absolutely hate Black Friday and I think the shoppers “holiday” has gotten completely out of control. What’s even more out of control is the people who fall for it.

Wal-Mart is telling shoppers to get in line between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Stores are no longer opening on Friday, but instead the night before, or at the latest, midnight. Instead of spending the remaining hours of Thanksgiving around the table, chatting with loved ones, enjoying the remains of the pumpkin pie, deal-crazed mothers are packing hot coffee in canteens and blankets in their minivans to prepare for a campout on the sidewalk because their son needs the new PlayStation 4.

The store I work at hasn’t been so bad on Black Friday in the past. I’ve worked the last two, and since it’s a clothing store with already relatively cheap clothing, we only have a few insane shoppers banging at our doors at 6 a.m., trying to get in. We usually open at 7 a.m., but this year, there’s talk about opening at midnight to compete with our rivalry store next door.

As a person who usually doesn’t turn down extra hours at work, I absolutely refuse to cut my Thanksgiving short to cater to people who believe that our $9 “Black Friday Deal” leggings will sell out. There’s no reason for employees who don’t get paid enough to stay up all night to please people who can’t wait until the next morning to shop because they are too nervous that they won’t get a special deal.

So on Thanksgiving, I will enjoy the rest of my pumpkin pie, have a few beers and sink into a food coma. The outrageous shoppers can wait, and hopefully America gets the hint that Black Friday is starting to ruin the day where we are supposed to be thankful for what we already have in front of us, not what we supposedly “need.”

TheMetropolitan InSight November 21, 2013

Weight never up for judgement Alyssa Davis adavis87@msudenver.edu When people tell me that I need to eat more or could use one of everything, they never follow their comments with an offer to dinner.

And with such comments, they also never offer to donate their gallbladder to me. June this year, I had it removed and have been struggling to have a somewhat normal diet again. Because of this I’ve lost nearly 20 lbs.

Now I understand the snarky, rude comments that other people who struggle with their weight get. I’ve seen some people being told that they don’t need an extra serving and never understood how painful it was to be told something similar to this.

This is where it dawned on me that I was learning to eat healthier than most of the people who make comments about my weight. While

I was getting comments and rude stares for reading out the nutrition guide on a box of Belgian waffles, those same people would just buy the box and disregard the fat and sugar in it.

Weight bias is not just for those whom society deems to be overweight. But really, what is defined as a healthy weight?

According to Health Central’s Ideal Body Weight Calculator, I am underweight and I should be between 138-152 lbs. However if I go to a BMI calculator, I am in a healthy weight class.

With a high obsession with body image and weight, people need to learn to be happy with themselves and eat what makes them happy. If you don’t love who you are then these negative comments about your weight will always haunt you, will always bring you down.

I’ve learned to love the frame that I have become. Sure there are

some days I am defeated and wish I that I could eat a “normal” diet and not have to watch what I eat so I don’t get sick, but in a way I am thankful this has happened to me.

It forced me to watch what I eat more. Before I would just order whatever I thought tasted amazing from restaurants and fast food joints, but now when I look at the nutritional content and see that a Double Whopper has nearly 2000 mg of sodium in it, I make a smarter decision and order grilled chicken strips.

So think before making comments on peoples’ weights. We are completely aware that we are not up to your standards of a healthy weight and so unless you are going to buy us healthy meals or donate working organs to us, bite your tongue. You don’t help motivate us to change but you may motivate me if you take me to a nice dinner.

Thankful for veggies and wine Kayla Whitney kwhitne2@msudenver.edu @kayla_themet The leaves are changing, the cornucopias are fi lling, tiny hands are constructing pilgrim hats, and turkeys will soon be brined — the month of thanks will soon reach its climax on Nov. 27.

All the while I sit feeling like the odd duckling. Why you ask?

Well, I’m a vegetarian on Turkey Day. For those that haven’t stopped reading because they’re thinking, “Oh great, another vegetarian trying to convert everyone to be lettuce eaters” here’s where you can take a deep breath.

On the contrary, please, gobble up all the gizzards, necks and wings your thankful little —depending on the stretchiness of you elastic pants — tummies can possibly devour.

I am not naïve enough to believe that a simple editorial sprung from my exhausted, late night fingertips could ever stop millions of turkeys from ending up in ovens and deep fryers on this single day.

I’m not here to convert, I’m here to edify.

Defiant to popular belief, when Thanksgiving roles around, vegetarians — and vegans — do not scamper to

the shadows and cower until the smell of turkey has left the air and the leftovers have been scarfed.

In fact, our creativity runs wilder then a turkey before the settlers arrived. Spending the day creating a superfluity of unique entrees and sides is far preferable to waiting hours for a bird to roast or deep fry with the extreme calamity that your Thanksgiving will end in a pile of ashes that was once your house.

Experimenting with spices, vegetables, methods and tastes is a thrilling rush in itself.

While most will gather around the platter displaying a steaming, crispy skinned carcass awaiting the pulse of a convulsing electric knife, veg heads swoon over the counter top full of assorted palters with assorted tastes, the best part of the fest — the sides.

Green bean casserole, stuffing (made with vegetable broth of course), mashed potatoes,

asparagus — and we cannot forget, the most heavenly of them all, dinner rolls.

While everyone at the table gorges themselves on the light and dark meats of the deceased gobbler, leaving next to no room to enjoy heaping piles of all the sides, we vegetarians enjoy plate after plate after plate of every side that doesn’t have an animal byproduct.

After the dishes have been cleared and the football game or parade put on the tube, the average turkey eater will zonk out for a nap. Not the veggie enthusiast.

Instead, we break out the pie early and drink all the wine before anyone else wakes up.

I’m thankful that Turkey Day isn’t something to be scared of as a vegetarian. Instead, I enjoy it to the fullest and am thankful for every tasty moment.

Photo from lacakerie.com

Broncos are about Super Bowls, not smoking bowls Mario Sanelli msanelli@msudenver.edu @mario_themet The Kansas City Chiefs’ trip to Denver Nov. 17 came at the right time, especially for their star wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, who roughly a week before the ChiefsBroncos game was arrested for alleged marijuana possession.

Bowe’s alleged drug use translated to a solid performance in the Mile High City, as he led the Chiefs with four receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown.

His acclamation to the devil’s lettuce must have given him an advantage at Mile High Stadium because, as Haywood Bynum III from Topekas News so erroneously said in an article from Nov. 18, “…the high marijuana to oxygen ration inside Mile High Stadium gives the marijuana-trained Broncos an unfair advantage at home against incoming teams from states where marijuana remains appropriately illegal.”

Come on now, Bynum III, what are you smoking? We’re talking about the Kansas City Chiefs here, the “chiefing-bowls chiefs.” If any team could hang with Denver in that thin, rarefied bud-acious Mile High air it should be a team applicably named the chiefs.

Chiefs fan Nadia Botwin said because the Broncos train in “marijuana-laden conditions,” there’s a conspiracy happening that involves the government of Colorado itself.

The only conspiracy, Ms. Botwin, is that your Chiefs were labeled the best team in the NFL because of the 9-0 mark they brought to Denver, and that perfect record went up in smoke.

Nonetheless, shame on you, Bynum III, for claiming Denver Broncos personnel would flood the stadium with marijuana smoke.

There’s a guy in Canada who you would probably get along with very well. His name is Rob Ford, the mayor of Toronto and he smokes crack.

If anything, Broncos Country isn’t in a cloud of puff-puff pass.

Instead we are drinking the koolaid, that Peyton Manning kool-aid, and man does it taste good. It goes great with Papa John’s pizza.

The fact of the matter is the Broncos sit atop the AFC West, and travel to New England before another matchup with Kansas City.

The proof is in the pudding that the Broncos are pound for pound the most talented football team in the league.

Now, there’s something to munch on.

MetStaff

Editor-in-Chief Kayla Whitney: kwhitne2@msudenver.edu Managing Editor Nikki Work: nwork@msudenver.edu News Editor Kelli Heitstuman-Tomko: ktomko@msudenver.edu MetroSpective Editor Kailyn Lamb: klamb6@msudenver.edu 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 Matthew Hofer Alyssa Davis Heather Carnes Melanie Moccia Photo Editor Scott Lentz: slentz@msudenver.edu Web Editor Brian T. McGinn: bmcginn3@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.

7

8 November 21, 2013 MetroSpective TheMetropolitan

Explore, Travel, Learn Study A b

Oaxaca, Mexico

HIS 390: Food History of Mexico & Oaxaca July 19–August 2 Dr. Laresh Jayasanker: ljayasan@msudenver.edu $4,996*

Oaxaca, Mexico

Spanish Language July 5–August 1 Dr. Ibon Izurieta: iizuriet@msudenver.edu $6,286*

Oaxaca, Mexico

Nutrition and Food of Mexico July 5–August 2 Dr. Bruce Rengers: brengers@msudenver.edu $5,209*

Oaxaca, Mexico

CHS 390Q: History and Culture in Oaxaca July 20–August 2 Dr. Ramon Del Castillo: delcastr@msudenver.edu $4,706*

London, England

Study Abroad: British Criminal Justice System March 22–30 Dr. Jennifer Capps: jcapps5@msudenver.edu $4,234*

Costa Rica

Biology Field Experience: Tropical Field Biology January 2–13 Christy Carello: carello@msudenver.edu $2,800*

Caribbean

Caribbean Cruise Culture January 2–13 Helle Sorensen: sorenseh@msudenver.edu $3,925*

Japan

Japan – Culture, Communication and Identity May 27–June 17 Rebecca Forgash: rforgash@msudenver.edu $6,370*

Spain

Place, Space and the Creation of Identity: Understanding Self and Europe through the Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage May 24–June 28 Dr. Lunden MacDonald: mannl@msudenver.edu $8,059*

roa d Italy

ART 3210: Art and Culture of Early Modern Italy ART 1271: Basic Photography Methods May 20–June 18 Dr. Heather Graham: hgraham5@msudenver.edu Greg Watts: wattsg@msudenver.edu $7,434*

Germany

GEL 4500: Applied Geology and Mining History July 21–August 2 Dr. Uwe Kackstaetter: kackstae@msudenver.edu $4,560*

Morocco

PSC390X: SC Contemporary Morocco June 7–21 Dr. Robert Hazan: hazanr@msudenver.edu $5,710*

United Kingdom

EDU 3700: Educational and Cultural Experiences in Great Britain May 17–31 Dr. Peg Fraser: mfraser3@msudenver.edu $4,000*

Costa Rica

MET 390N: Humanitarian Engineering May 19–28 Aaron Brown: abrow118@msudenver.edu $3,000*

Peru

LAS 390: Global Economy and Local Culture: Field Experience in Peru June 2–July 7 Dr. Art Campa: campaa@msudenver.edu $4,695*

Peru

Archaeological Field Research June 16–July 6 Dr. Jonathan Kent: kentj@msudenver.edu $4,624–6,900*

Spain

Spanish Language and Conversation June 28–August 10 Dr. Ignizio Graham: gignizio@msudenver.edu $8,447*

*Estimated Cost

Office of International Studies Phone: 303-352-7236 Located in CN-206

TheMetropolitan November 21, 2013

MetroSpective

Ai Kuwabara (left) and Yusuke (right) perform as part of the Ai Kuwabara Jazz Trio Project, Nov. 18 in the King Center Concert Hall.

9

Photo by Charlie Hanson • chanso12@msudenver.edu

Japanese Jazz Trio makes a stop at MSU Denver

Nikki Work nwork@msudenver.edu @nikki_themet Jazz music struck an international chord Nov. 18 with the Ai Kuwabara Jazz Trio Project.

On the third of their four-stop U.S. debut, the band performed in the King Center Concert Hall to a full auditorium as part of International Education Week.

The trio is comprised of pianist Ai Kuwabara, bassist Yusuke Morita and drummer Shintaro Imamura. They describe their music as “contemporary urban jazz.”

“It was normal jazz stuff, but to the next dimension. It was more modern,” said Hannah Bartley, an MSU Denver senior.

The event was sponsored by MSU Denver’s Golda Meir Center for Political Leadership and the Department of Music, the Consulate-General of Japan in Denver and the Japan Foundation.

Throughout their performance, the jazz trio offered renditions of both Kuwabara’s original songs and pieces from other composers, Sarah Trujillo, a junior at MSU Denver, said her favorite parts of

the performance were Kuwabara’s original songs.

“I like her songs more than anything,” Trujillo said. “I like the ‘METHOD FOR…’ but I like the ‘Iambic 9 Poetry,’ too. But the songs that she does herself are much better.”

“Iambic 9 Poetry,” a song originally composed by Squarepusher, was among the cover songs the band performed. In the program, Kuwabara shared her thoughts on the song.

“This song in particular has a feverish melodic refrain repeated over and over again in which I feel the universal energy of music,” Kuwabara said. “It teaches me that all the words we use to express genre... in truth probably have no meaning.”

All three musicians were energetic throughout their performance, with Morita and Imamura swaying their heads and moving their bodies to the constant changing tempo and Kuwabara consistently rocking and bouncing on the piano seat.

“It’s interesting to see a group so passionate about an American- based art form,” Bartley said.

“They do an excellent job. They should be honorary American jazz players.”

Two songs into the very expressive routine, Kuwabara addressed the crowd through breathless, exerted gasps. She thanked everyone for coming out and supporting her band, and then offered some support of her own.

“Before we start on the next song, I’d like to offer my condolences for the September floods,” Kuwabara said. “Japanese people see the floods on the news and we feel your pain, so we wish your state a quick recovery.”

For Tom Bartley, senior at MSU Denver, the show was a spectacle.

“I thought the performance was excellent, and I thought it was beautiful,” Tom said. “I thought that the intermingling of the two cultures with the different eras of classical and modern jazz and modern pop culture and music was just beautiful and seamless. And I thought that the energy that they brought to their performance as second to none. It was astounding.”

In her message to the crowd that was printed in the program, Kuwabara expressed the impor-

tance of infusing her culture into a style that was born half a world away.

“I do love jazz. I was fascinated by it, wanted to study it, this jazz that originated and developed in America, and I stepped out into its world,” Kuwabara said. “My compositional process always starts by becoming introspective, looking deeply inside of myself – inside of a person who lives in the current situation in Japan and who feels things about various day to day events. In my case, the method which expresses the results of my self-reflection happens to be music, and the music happens to fit the format of so-called jazz.”

Beyond just the quality of performance, many audience members found multicultural significance in the trio’s appearance at Auraria.

“It’s a big thing, just international anything, multicultural everything,” Hannah said. “That’s just kind of the way the world’s become now. To have it on this campus especially, because we do have a diverse group of students on this campus, so to have something like this is amazing. It opens up the

world of opportunities for everybody to learn and grow and see what’s going on in the world.”

In between songs, Kuwabara and her bandmates were all visibly eager to express their gratitude for the chance to perform on campus.

“I am very much interested in how our original music will be received in the homeland of jazz on the occasion of our first U.S. concert tour,” Kuwabara said in her message in the program. “I hope that we can find differences and affinities in our thought processes and musical awareness, and that we may consider the cultural aspects of the globalized world of music in the year 2013 together.”

As the band received a standing ovation both before and after their encore number, “Hiccups,” all three members of the Ai Kuwabara Trio Project were noticeably overwhelmed by the support they received. Before leaving the stage, the trio continually bowed deeply to the crowd, led by Kuwabara repeating, “we love you, thank you very much.”

10 November 21, 2013 MetroSpective TheMetropolitan

Holistic Nia dance classes offered weekly at MSU Denver Regina Vera rvera1@msudenver.edu

Above: The MSU Denver vocal jazz ensemble Sol Phase performed under the direction of professors LaDamion Massey and Paul Romaine on Nov. 14 at the King Center Concert Hall.

Photos by Sara Beets • sbeets@msudenver.edu

Jazz ensembles wow crowds Chelsee Stevens csteve43@msudenver.edu MSU Denver vocal jazz ensembles Sol Phase and The Schwas kept the audience tuned in with upbeat melodies written by various artists on Nov. 14 in the King Center Recital Hall.

After Sol Phase’s first act of just the rhythm section helped set the mood of the show, The Schwas, an all-girls ensemble directed by Julia Dollison, had the audience in their pockets. Dollison is also a jazz voice instructor and who teaches private lessons at MSU Denver.

The Schwas sang songs like “Mr. P.C.” by John Coltrane and Jon Hendricks. Dollison’s husband, Kerry Marsh, arranged both “Mr. P.C.” and “The Luckiest” by Ben Folds.

Then it was time for the swinging main event of Sol Phase, an ensemble directed by MSU Denver alumni and professor LaDamion Massey, as well as fellow teacher Paul Romaine. Massey is also the assistant choir director of the spirituals project community choir.

Sol Phase put a new spin on some famous jazz songs such as “Señor Blues” by Horace Silver and Taj Mahal, arranged by Joe Herbert and adapted by Massey.

Dollison was hired in 2013, in

correspondence with the launch of the first jazz performance major at MSU Denver. She said that the rehearsal times’ for both groups Sol Phase and The Schwas were “more relaxed.”

According to Dollison, The Schwas, in which three of the four members also play in Sol Phase, ended up being “a last minute touch” for the vocal jazz ensemble production.

“We have rehearsed as an entire group once a week all semester,” Dollison said.

A couple of months prior to the show, Dollison wanted the girls to bond more and not just focus on the big group Sol Phase as a whole.

The Schwas consists of Brienna Jarrell, Mina Bradley, Anna RiehReeman and Tania Katz, and the name was thought up by the singers because all their names have an “a-sound” at the end of them.

Aaron Burris-Deboskey, a firstyear bass vocalist in Sol Phase and senior majoring in music composition, discussed how he thought the show went and why he enjoys being in the ensemble.

“Sometimes a really cool energy happens on stage where things fall into place just right and it feels really good.” Burris-Deboskey said.

LaDamion’s father and mother,

Clayton and Louise Massey came to the show to see their son’s ensemble.

“We enjoyed the show very much,” Louise said. “Our favorite songs were ‘Señor Blues’ and ‘One More Time.’”

Louise said she loved the lively feeling between the different singers. Louise and her family have “a big love for jazz,” and she is also hoping to go to a couple of holiday shows at their church. Louise believes that her son LaDamion got his vocal cords from his father, Clayton.

Both groups, Sol Phase and The Schwas, received a standing ovation after the show.

“It was a really awesome show. It is nice to see two vocal jazz groups come from here and I would love to see more vocal jazz groups at Metro,” LaDamion said.

LaDamion has taught at MSU Denver for three semesters and graduated from the university in 2011 with a music education degree. LaDamion came from a musical family.

“It was weird if you didn’t sing in my family,” LaDamion said.

Sol Phase will be performing again at the “Holiday Card to the City,” an MSU Denver Festival Chorus and Wind Ensemble on Dec. 6 and 7.

Weekly Nia classes at MSU Denver give students the chance to move as one in a form of dance fused with martial arts.

On Nov. 19, in St. Cajetan’s a Nia dance instructor, Therese Spears, taught a small group of MSU Denver students and staff how to enjoy the easy exercise.

According to www.nianow. com, the website dedicated to the dance, “Nia is a sensory-based movement practice that draws from martial arts, dance arts and healing arts. It empowers people of all shapes and sizes by connecting the body, mind, emotions and spirit.”

The website also says the dance was founded in 1983 and has branched out to more than 45 countries. Not only does Nia provide a relaxed exercise, but it also provides a workout for your mind.

“Nia is a non-impact aerobic dancing with soft movements where everyone moves as one, like a family,” Spears said. “The Nia community is really great for bonding and having great friendships to arrive.”

Spears helped the class channel mind, body and spirit in order to achieve a state of relief and entertainment, all while getting a workout.

Spears has been expressing herself through dance all her life and discovered Nia in 1992. Nia attracted her for its united style of dance, where everyone is moving together, all while enjoying the music and dance.

Spears then become an official Nia black belt in 1998. She obtained her black belt after years of learning and practicing routines, attending training courses and then eventually receiving her instructor certificate. Since then, Spears has been motivating and inspiring others to join in on the fun and joy she believes Nia has to offer. Besides being an instructor for Nia, Spears also teaches

Zumba, Pilates and yoga. She teaches once a week at Auraria, but she also instructs a class at the Denver Athletic Club as well as a small class at home.

A typical Nia class can differ from week to week and openly welcomes anyone who wants to try it.

The class consists of moving your body to the different beats and rhythms the world has to offer. According to Spears, the co-founder of Nia, Debbie Rosas, likes to use unknown artists and musicians to create the atmosphere for the Nia classes.

Tuesday’s class was an example of the eclectic range. The music went from the beat of drums and singing, then switched to an upbeat Irish bagpipe musical piece and transitioned over to the smooth sounds of raindrops falling in the Amazon, with a soft melody of a harp being played in the background. All the while, the instructor maintained a positive, friendly attitude that made the class smile and focus.

Nia uses the grace often required by ballerinas, maintaining balance while twirling and extending your arms.

“The cool thing about Nia is that you don’t have to dance exactly like the instructor because we want to encourage people that Nia is one of the best dancing fitness exercise to do because it promotes softness of the joints and encourages people to move their way so they don’t have to over do it,” Spears said.

Spears also explained that the dancing incorporates child-like movements with modern dance using ethnic sounds. Nia is a form to express yourself and can help create a channel for your energy in order to feel relief.

“If something bad is happening in your home or life, you can just dance and yell and let everything go. Yelling and dancing is wonderful in Nia — I encourage everyone to try it and feel the wonderful dance of Nia,” Spears said.

Therese Spears (right) shows Porshai Campbell a Nia move on Nov. 19 at the St. Catejan’s Church at Auraria.

Photo by Alyson McClaran • amcclara@msudenver.edu

TheMetropolitan MetroSpective November 21, 2013

11

Roadrunner employees read up in new book club Nikki Work nwork@msudenver.edu @nikki_themet A new club at MSU Denver wants to give employees the chance to let a book change them for the better.

The Roadrunner Book Club is a resource for all members of faculty and staff to read and discuss books that can help them improve themselves in the workplace.

“I love to read, and so the opportunity to read something that I can utilize at work or in my personal life to gain experience or information or tools really appealed to me,” said Erica Buckland, administrative assistant to academic and student affairs and one of the meeting’s attendees.

The club had their first meeting Nov. 14 in the Student Success Building. This month’s reading was called “Critical Conversations,” a book about keeping communication productive, even when it is difficult.

“I feel like on this campus, we’re really good at doing our own job, and sometimes we go into little silos, almost,” said Beth Sandlin, health education and outreach specialist, who also attended the meeting. “We communicate via email or phone but we don’t have time maybe to do anything above and beyond so this is an opportunity to do that and at the same time, this directly relates to how you’re going

to interact with your coworkers.”

According to Jentry Phelan, classification/compensation specialist in human resources and the organizer of the book club, the club was started as an effort to best utilize the resources available to campus employees. Skillsoft, the program from which the books and multimedia for the club are being found, is a free program for any full-time, benefitted employee at MSU Denver.

“This was kind of created in an effort to be able to utilize that program a little more and get the word out and get people more involved,” Phelan said. “We really wanted to help create a kind-of safe, inclusive environment so we could use some of these tools that are available on the program and help benefit employees here at the university.”

According to Phelan, one of the biggest benefits of the book club is the chance for employees to better themselves.

“The professional development opportunity is something that I personally think is awesome to have, and so being able to extend that out to all the employees here at the university is just really great,” Phelan said. “Just to be able to learn something new, better yourself in a way, and the great networking, just to kind of get out of your cubicle or your desk for a little while and meet some more people in other departments and help share ideas, I think that’s a

‘Tis the reading Light your holiday with seasonal reads

“The Polar Express” by Chris Van Allsburg This story starts with a young boy that takes a journey upon a mystery train, aka The Polar Express that wakes him in the middle of the night for a journey to the North Pole. After being hand picked by Santa Claus to receive the first gift, the young boy asks for a single bell from one of Santa’s reindeer’s harnesses. The boy then places it in his pocket as Santa rides off into the night. On the trip home, the boy realizes that the bell had somehow slipped out of his pocket and sulks his way to his bedroom for the rest of the evening. The next morning, the boy opens a special package left

by Santa Claus himself and finds the missing bell. Both he and his sister revel in the bells sound after their parents, unable to hear the bell insist it must be broken.

Flipping through the pages it is easy to be drawn into the story through the vivid pictures and captivating words.

The book is a holiday classic and the story’s spirit will most likely live on forever.

Photo courtesy of www.sturdyforcommonthings.com

By Tobias Krause • tkrause3@ msudenver.edu

neat opportunity.”

Nicole Tefft, director of human resources, originally tasked Phelan with creating the book club. She said that among building and fostering talent, the book club’s purpose is to better the university as a whole.

“That’s why we really are doing that, is helping our employees to be the best that they can be so they can be the best for our students,” Tefft said.

The Roadrunner Book Club next meets Dec. 9 at 10 a.m. in SSB 304, where they will be discussing the book “Strategic Talent Development.”

Though the club is geared toward faculty and staff, Phelan said that if anyone else wants to participate, they would just have to find their own means of acquiring the book outside of Skillsoft.

In addition to the monthly books and meetings, the club also hosts a series of speaker lectures.

The next of the Speaker Series will take place Dec. 10 from 8-10 a.m. in SSB 304 and will feature Adam Grant.

“It’s titled “Give and Take” and discusses different styles of professional interaction and how to better individual and team goals and results,” Phelan said of the next speaker series. “This is yet another way to gain knowledge and learn something new. The speaker series is an opportunity all employees can take advantage of and doesn’t

Jentry Phelan, classification/compensation specialist in human resources, leads the Roadrunner Book Club Nov. 14 in the Student Success Building. Phelan is the organizer of the book club, which is an effort to best utilize the resources available to campus employees.

Photo by Kayla Whitney • kwhitne2@msudenver.edu

involve as much time as the book club might. Employees can listen from their University computers, personal device or join us in the HR Training room for the broad-

cast. If you join us in the training room, we hold an open discussion and talk about key takeaways and how to apply them here at MSU Denver.”

“Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Eve” “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” by

by Robert Frost Charles Schultz The poem was released in book form in 1978 and was illustrated by Susan Jeffers.

Her drawings of an old man in a sleigh taking food and a Christmas tree to the woodland animals played well with the slow rhythm of Frost’s words.

Far from the scary woods of fairy tales, Jeffers woods are indeed “lovely, dark and deep.” The promises the old man has to Photo courtesy of alibris.com keep are wrapped in brightly colored packages in his sleigh he drives off to cover those miles that must be crossed before he can sleep.

The winter scenes and festive colors of the illustrations make the book a great Christmas read even though there are no words to suggest that it was that time of year.

By Kelli Heitstuman-Tomko • ktomko@msudenver.edu

“The Littlest Angel” by Charles Tazewell The Littlest Angel is the clamor of heaven. His halo is tarnished, he can’t hold a tune and his tiny wings can’t lift him off of a cloud. But for all his faults, The Littlest Angel holds something spectacular – a gift for the newborn son of God that will outshine all the others.

The story of the chaotic little cherub was first published in book form in 1946. The edition written by Charles Tazewell and illustrated by Paul Michich is beautiful in both word and image. With intricate paintings showing the adorable nature of the mischievous little one and words capturing the grace of giving and of selflessness, “The Littlest Angel” is a Christmas miracle in and of itself.

By Nikki Work • nwork@msudenver.edu

The 1973 Schultz classic opens with a heated scene featuring the conniving Lucy trying to get the lovable Charlie Brown to kick the football she is holding. Charlie Brown is told that kicking the football is a Thanksgiving tradition and being asked to do so is an honor. As expected, Charlie Brown goes for the kick but ends up on his back as Lucy pulls the ball away at the last second before the story takes off.

Peppermint Patty later invites herself and a select few over to Charlie Brown’s for Thanksgiving Dinner as the dilemmas ensue.

Marcie, Franklin, Peppermint Patty, Sally, Linus, Snoopy and Woodstock gather for a Thanksgiving feast of cold cereal and toast is cooked up as the gang celebrates with a pseudo feast for the ages.

Nothing says it’s the holiday season like Charlie Brown. The classic cartoons and comics are a tradition to be thankful for.

By Tobias Krause • tkrause3@ msudenver.edu

12 November 21, 2013 MetroSpective TheMetropolitan

Old school nerds go bananas at “Kong Off 3”

Rookie competitor George Strain from Atlanta plays “Donkey Kong” at the the weekend-long event “Kong Off 3” on Nov. 16 at The 1Up in Denver.

Photo by Sara Beets • sbeets@msudenver.edu

Melanie Moccia mmoccia@msudenver.edu Nerds united this weekend at the third annual “Kong Off,” hosted by Denver’s own arcade bar, The 1Up, where the top “Donkey Kong” gamers in the world battled to be number one.

The three-day event brought in not only the top 12 “Donkey Kong” players in the world, but also gave non record-breaking players an opportunity to participate by incorporating a Wild Card Division. The crowd full of supporters sat mesmerized behind the players, staring at the television screens

above the row of machines that showed every move they made.

Richie Knucklez founded the competition and held the first one at his arcade in Flemington, N.J., called Richie Knucklez Arcade.

His goal is to bring popularity back to old games. After the first year, The 1Up discovered the event and wanted to bring it to the Mile High City.

“The next thing you know, we own Twin Galaxies and we’re doing big contests like this, just trying to bring back the classic games,” Knucklez said.

He has been featured on “The Today Show” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live” for his competitions.

Recently, he had a gamer play “Q*Bert” for 85 straight hours.

Jeff Willms, of Waterloo, Ontario took home the title as the best “Konger” for the second year in a row, with a score of 1,096,200.

He beat the second place winner, Ross Benziger, of Portland, Ore. by 29,100 points and worldwide “Donkey Kong” champion, Hank Chien, who placed third with 1,056,900 points. As first place winner, Willms went home $3,000 richer.

He was also one of the youngest players in the competition at 23 years old.

Twin Galaxies, an organiza-

tion that tracks video game world records, is the team responsible for hunting down the top joystick jockeys in the world.

“Twin Galaxies was associated with the ‘Guinness Book of World Records’ and so since my score was registered with Twin Galaxies, Richie Knucklez who owns Twin Galaxies, had my contact information and called me on it,” said Steve Wiltshire of Lincoln, Neb., who placed fourth in the competition with 1,058,200 points. Wiltshire has been playing the game for almost three years and practiced several days a week over the summer to prepare for the competition.

Not only were there men in the competition, but three women as well, which isn’t common in the video game realm. Even though they were not selected as the top 12, they were given the opportunity to compete through the Wild Card Division.

Elizabeth Bolinger, from Ottumwa, Iowa, which is known as the video game capital, was one of the three women who participated in the “Kong Off.” She placed 19th out of 20 in the Wild Card Division. She grew up with a passion for video games because of her father and where she was raised. She has over 100 world records on “Just

Dance” and “Dance Central,” and wanted to branch out and learn arcade games.

“This crowd and this game they are really, really nice and encouraging to any new players, whether you’re a girl or guy,” Bolinger said.

Even though she has only been playing the game for less than a year, she is proud of making it to the competition and hopes to improve in the future and prove herself in upcoming years.

“Once I actually learned the basics of the game and how to get past the first screen, I started really enjoying it because I was seeing progress at that point,” Bolinger said.

“Donkey Kong” is one of the earliest video games with an actual storyline, which is what made it so popular. It originated in 1981 and its most recent release of a game was in May of this year.

Throughout the “Kong Off ” other world record happenings were going on inside the bar. Two 24-hour attempts at playing “Tron” and “Pac-Man” took place as well.

The “Kong Off ” competition has brought out many people from all over, and Knucklez plans on bringing it back to the east coast next year.

off 20% FOr aLL auraria

students, faculty

& staff

Open at 11 a.m.

Serving Lunch/Dinner Free WiFi

Located across the street from the Tivoli on Auraria Parkway, next to the Pepsi Center

MSU Denver Students: Need tutoring for your classes?

Try Smarthinking online tutoring!

• Smarthinking is free • Available 24 hours • Log on to ConnectU • Click on the Student tab • Scroll down page to Smarthinking • Use your ConnectU username and password to access • Each student is given unlimited access to online tutoring until MSU Denver's purchased hours are exhausted

Contact the Student Academic Success Center at 303-556-4048 with any questions.

TheMetropolitan

November 21, 2013

Rants+Raves

13

Another smash hit for Vile Tobias Krause tkrause3@msudenver.edu @tobias_themet

a

Kurt Vile is on fire this year. The former front man and founding member of the indie rock band The War On Drugs, released an epic 7-track EP, it’s a big world out there (and i am scared), on Matador Records Nov. 19, just seven months after releasing one of 2013s best albums, Wakin on a Pretty Daze.

The new EP is made up of outtakes and jam sessions from the Wakin on a Pretty Daze album, which Vile recorded alongside his backing band, The Violators. The seven tracks are a solid dose of Vile’s hazy experimental dreamlike ’70s sound — on acid and some anti-depressants.

Vile is a Philadelphia-based singer-songwriter and lyricist that has spent the past several years honing in on an almost patented sound consisting of slow, toneddown, lo-fi reverb that’s not quite Kenny Rogers & The First Edition and not quite Springsteen-esque rock ‘n’ roll. It’s closer to a young, vibrant and excited Lou Reed feeling, which is always something to

smile about.

Vile’s musical persona comes off as deeper and more diverse with the release of it’s a big world our there (and i am scared) as his lyrics explain each song in an intricate, detailed open diary sort-of-way.

Vile’s choices of song structure and rhythmic melody selections have balanced out his Americana genre persona in an eclectic way.

The opening track, “Never Run Away (String Synth),” is a solid extension from the fift h track on Wakin on a Pretty Daze. With the addition of a beautiful string synth

section, Vile expands on an already classic track.

“Feel My Pain,” the album’s third song is a laid back midtempo track, and quite possibly the album’s staple. It paints a vivid picture of Vile’s take on loss and seeking a chance at redemption through an electric-meets-acoustic mashup.

Vile’s infectious way of writing, producing and recording music seems effortless. And even though this is just an EP, it will happily tide me over until he drops his next full-length.

New Metro play a laugh riot Viewers get a glimpse at ‘30s comedy Kailyn Lamb klamb6@msudenver.edu @kailyn_themet

b

Photo courtesy of chartattack.com

New Gap Dream sheds new light foggy, dreamy and noncommittal. Instrumentally, it’s mellow, textured and surreal.

Fulmivar’s voice is hazy and has a tendency to dip Gabriel into monotone, but it has an Fulmivar, aka entrancing element to it.

Gap Dream, The vocals take a backmakes music that seat to the whamming sounds like the and whirring music that result of an aliensurrounds each word. abduction gone Just like the band’s so, so right.

Facebook page With his new features pictures album Shine from “Close Your Light,, the Encounters of the California naThird Kind,” the tive steps into album feels like a blurry, muted an extraterrestrirush of vocal al jaunt through slouch and some grungy and instrumental tie-dyed bong soar. water.

Shine The best song Your Light is on the album is an altogether “Immediate Life listenable blur of Sentence,” a garage-y, multi-tonal dis‘70s-psych-infused tortion, fadeout jam pumped up with and intergalactic Photo courtesy of rollogrady.com the perfect mix of blips and slides. buzz and beat.

Vocally, it’s

Nikki Work nwork@msudenver.edu @nikki_themet

b

Actors from MSU Denver rehearse the fall play "You Can't Take It With You" Monday Nov. 11.

From left to right: Chesney Oxenham as Essie Carmichael, Bryan Anderson as Ed Carmichael, Sam Nicoletti as Paul Sycamore, Cassie Keldo as Penny Sycamore and Rachel Gibson as Mrs. Henderson. Photo by Courtland Wilson • cwils104@msudenver.edu

Though I usually don’t focus too much on album art, Shine Your Light’s album cover is perfect — with rich colors and a big, bright and smeary blur, it captures the sandblasted, high-in-the-backseat feel of the record.

From start to finish, it’s a blurred, smoky daze of beeps straight out of a videogame soundtrack and barrels of awesome. It’s more than a little skip down trippy lane, but well worth the quirks.

Shine Your Light surprised me.

After the first couple of minutes of hallucinogenic bop and bleep, I found myself unable to stop my head from nodding and my brain from syncing up to the mellow mood exuded by the majority of the tracks.

Gap Dream certainly didn’t aim for this album to pump you up, but slumming and slipping along through Shine Your Light seems not only fitting, but ideal.

Beam me up, Gabriel.

MSU Denver Theatre students transport viewers to the melting pot of 1930s New York, in the comedy “You Can’t Take It with You.” With an unconventional family like the Sycamores, things can go hilariously wrong very quickly.

Take Penny for example, the mother of the family. The play opens with her typing away at a typewriter — taking a short break to coo at the family snakes.

Throughout the play, you learn that Penny writes her own plays on things as varied as brothels and her “war play.”

As the show continues, viewers are slowly introduced to the plethora of people living in the household. Penny’s husband Paul makes fireworks in the basement with Mr. De Pinna, an icemaker who came to the house eight years ago and just never left. Paul and Penny’s daughter, Essie Carmichael, dreams of being a ballet dancer and to make candy. She and her husband Ed live in one of the upstairs rooms.

Martin Vanderhof is the owner of the house, he is Penny’s father, but everyone calls him “Grandpa.”

His story is that one day he decided he didn’t like his job, so he quit and never went back to work. His philosophy is that he doesn’t do anything he doesn’t want to. The family maid, Rheba, also lives in the house.

With a zoo in the house, it’s little surprise that Alice Sycamore doesn’t want her new beau to meet the family. It becomes even less surprising when you find out Tony Kirby comes from a tight-laced Wall Street family.

Interactions between the members of the household will leave you clutching onto your sides laughing, especially with the more subtle characters like the slow-talking Mr. De Pinna.

With heavy hearted happenings like ruined engagement parties, a run in with the IRS, explosive fireworks and a family night in jail, the play quickly becomes a comedy of errors with a philosophical end.

MSU Denver’s Theatre Department puts on a professional quality performance with their production of “You Can’t Take It with You.”

Check out The Metropolitan’s review of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and a review of Death Grip’s new album, Government Plates on Friday.

www.metnews.org

14 November 21, 2013 TheMetropolitan

MetSports

Roadrunners lose first round of NIT to R.I. Angelita Foster amayer1@msudenver.edu @angel_themet Division II’s top-ranked Metro men’s basketball team lost 66-63 to the University of Rhode Island Rams in the first round of the National Invitational Tournament Season Tip Off Nov. 18 at McKale Memorial Center in Tucson, Ariz.

The exhibition game does not affect the Roadrunners’ record, which is now 2-0 after defeating Texas A&M-Kingsville 73-44 Nov. 15, and a 65-50 win over West Texas A&M Nov. 16 at the Al Kaly Shrine Classic in Pueblo.

Despite a 40-30 half-time lead over the Division I Rams, and forcing 12 turnovers for the edge, it was the Roadrunners’ rebounding struggles in the second half that let Rhode Island back into the game, getting outrebounded 42-27.

“We pride ourselves on defense so we had to get to them early and created easy baskets for ourselves,” junior guard Mitch McCarron said. “They are a great rebounding team; we knew that coming in, it was probably the area that let us down.”

McCarron started the game with a 3-pointer, and scored a game-high 19 points, hitting 8-of-

11 from the floor, while pulling down 12 rebounds.

“It was good to see where we measure up, but at the same time, we went in thinking we could win.

That was very important early,” McCarron said.

Metro head coach Derrick Clark said his team executed the game plan — which was to give themselves an opportunity to win.

“We competed at a high, high level tonight against a team that is going to be pretty good in the Atlantic 10,” Clark said.

Another part of the plan was to rebound and finish possessions, something Clark said didn’t get done in the second half.

“We just couldn’t finish possessions. There was probably four or five, inside of five, where we got them to miss shots; we just couldn’t get that big rebound,” Clark said.

The Rams opened the second half with a 21-5 run, taking a 51-45 lead in a 10-minute span.

The Roadrunners were able to tie the game with 4:47 left, but never regained the lead.

A bright spot for the Roadrunners was the play of freshman forward/center Harrison Goodrick, who came off the bench for fellow newcomer junior center Will

Metro senior guard Jamal McClerkin fights for a rebound under heavy duress from University of Rhode Island defenders Nov. 18 at the McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz.

Photo by Scott Lentz • slentz@msudenver.edu

Sinclair, who got into foul trouble early on. Goodrick scored 16 points and had four rebounds.

“I think he was aggressive. It’s a good sign for us to see a freshman coming in, playing big minutes, battling with the big boys,” McCarron said.

NIT game two versus FDU Metro beat Division I Fairleigh Dickinson University 87-76 during the west consolation game of the National Invitational Tournament Season Tip-Off Nov. 19 at McKale Memorial Center in Tucson, Ariz. Metro junior guard Mitch McCarron led the Roadrunners with a career-high 34 points and 10 rebounds.

For the full story go to www.metnews.org.

Metro moves to 2-0 with win over Grand View Vikings

Metro senior forward Amy Nelson, right, is defended by Grand View’s Shelbie Beatty during a women’s basketball game against Grand View University Nov. 16 at the Regis University.

Photo by Timothy Hurst • thurst3@msudenver.edu

Scott Corbridge kcorbrid@msudenver.edu The Roadrunners moved to 2-0 as they won their second consecutive game, 67-51, Nov. 16 against Grand View University (Des Moines, Iowa) at Regis University.

To start the first half, the Roadrunners opened up with a 5-0 run before Grand View answered with four points to cut the lead to one with 15:58 left in the half.

Metro was able to maintain momentum throughout the entire game as the Vikings tried every-

thing to slow down the hot shooters, whether with a 2-3 zone or a man-to-man defense.

However, Grand View was only able to cut the lead to six near the end of the half before the Runners’ sophomore guard Elena Velasquez sank a three to lead 3626 at half.

Leading in scoring for Metro was senior forward Amy Nelson and sophomore forward Fawn Brady with 11 points each, while Velasquez was also in double figures with 10 points.

The second half mirrored the first, as Metro kept control of the game and led by five with about 12 minutes left, before going on a 9-0 run to extend the lead to 57-41. The Roadrunners didn’t relinquish it as they came out with the 67-51 win.

“We came together nicely as a team. Something we’ve been focusing on is being cohesive and gelling together and communicating,” senior guard Kya DeGarmo said after the game. “We paid attention

to our scout and followed through with it and came out with the win.”

The Runners shot 40.9 percent (27-66) from the field and 33.3 percent (7-21) from behind the arc as they held Grand View to just 38.8 percent (19-49) from the field for the game.

“I thought we played well.

We’re still buying into the defense and still learning the offense,” head coach Tanya Haave said about the win and opening up the season against the number 24 ranked Minnesota State. “We should be excited to open up our season on our home floor so I’m expecting practice to be pretty intense.”

Grand View was led in scoring

by Mika Rodewald with 15 points and Haleigh Biancalana with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

The Roadrunners will open up its regular season play when it hosts the Mavericks on Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. at home in the Metro State Classic.

Metro State Classic All games at Auraria Event Center 11/22 Neb.-Kearney vs.

UC-Colorado Springs 5 p.m.

11/22 Metro vs.

Minnesota State 7 p.m.

11/23 Minnesota State vs.

UC-Colorado Springs 5 p.m.

11/23 Metro vs.

Nebraska-Kearney 7 p.m.

Compiled by Evan Batten ebatten@msudenver.edu

SUCCESS at yoUR

ConvEniEnCE!

TheMetropolitan MetSports

November 21, 2013

Register for MSU Denver Extended Campus

Spring 2014!

MSU DEnvER noRth: northglenn (n)

MSU DEnvER SoUth: Denver tech Center (S)

Complete your General Studies courses (N,S) Additional core course offerings in: • History (N,S)

• Psychology (N,S) • Human Services (S) • Sociology (N,S) • Women’s Studies (S) • Education (N,S) • Criminal Justice (N,S) • Anthropology (N,S) • Finance (N,S) • Accounting (S) • Business Management (S) • Hospitality (S) • Political Science (N,S) • Marketing (S) • Communications (N,S) • Computer Information Systems (N,S)

For a printed class schedule, call 303-721-1313 EXt. 99 or visit www.msudenver.edu/optionsnow

M S U d E N v E r E x t E N d E d C A M P U S E S

This year’s theme: Liminal Space For this year’s edition, we are looking for art and literary work that expresses the experience of liminal space.

metrosphere

Art and Literary Magazine

Call for Entries

November 30 Deadline Approaching

Liminal space relates to the gray areas of life, the two-ness, double-speak or double-think areas of existence.

Use your imagination when it comes to interpreting this!

For more information or to submit, please visit us online at

www.metrosphere.org

metrosphere

Art and Literary Magazine

15

16 November 21, 2013 MetSports TheMetropolitan

Hendricks and volleyball go hand in hand

Debbie Hendricks has lead the Metro volleyball team for 14 years and entered her 22nd season as a head coach in 2013. She has over 300 head coaching wins at Metro and over 500 for her career.

Photo by Courtland Wilson • cwils104@msudenver.edu

Mario Sanelli msanelli@msudenver.edu @mario_themet “I learned by the hard knocks of being a head coach and doing things wrong enough times that you make your way,” said Debbie Hendricks, the 14-year leader of Metro’s volleyball team and owner of over 500 collegiate career wins.

The modern-day Hendricks is the product of a then-23-year-old who headed an upstart volleyball program in Plainview, Texas and almost went into pharmaceutical sales instead of collegiate sports.

Upon graduating from Lubbock Christian University, where she attended on a volleyball scholarship and held school records in assists and service aces, her infatu-

ation with exercise science took her to Texas Tech.

She became a teaching assistant and volunteered with the Red Raiders’ volleyball team, which eventually placed her as a graduate assistant. Hendricks balanced 6 a.m. team workouts with night classes and earned a master’s degree in exercise science from the university.

Mike Jones, head coach of the Red Raiders, wanted to get Hendricks into coaching, and the small university of Wayland Baptist in Plainview landed her in 1991.

“I was exactly what they needed,” Hendricks said. “Because nobody else was going to take a $17,000 head coaching salary to start a program from scratch.”

Hendricks became a first-year head volleyball coach at the age of 23, at a university predominantly known for its rich history in women’s basketball, and recalled what an intimidating experience that was.

However, she had nobody’s shoes to fill and understood that any success she may have would be more than what was there before.

In her two years at Wayland, she transformed a 12-24 team her first year into a 25-10 team with a national ranking in 1992.

By 1993, West Texas A&M University was hot for Hendricks, but she had cold feet, and initially turned down the job.

“It makes for a funny story

now, but at the time it was kind of embarrassing that I didn’t have the courage to just do it right off the bat,” Hendricks said. “It was meant to be. It fell into place and turned out to be another great experience.”

Hendricks brought an NCAA Division II national championship to the school five years into her tenure and earned the National Coach of the Year honor in 1997.

The day after the victory, the question that circulated around the close-knit West Texas community was “can you do it again?”

Hendricks carried that question into the 1998 season, and after a five-set match to start the year, she reached her breaking point.

“I went home and I just fell apart because I just couldn’t take the pressure anymore,” she said.

“I knew it was time for me to step away [after that season].”

Hendricks had always entertained the idea of attending either personal training or medical school. During her one-year hiatus from coaching, she went back to school and completed courses in organic chemistry and biochemistry.

She was on the verge of taking the Medical College Admission Test, when she had a change of heart.

“I think I was more excited about the challenge of medical school than I was about the profes-

sion,” Hendricks said.

In 1999, her necessary break from volleyball made her miss coaching, and that time away reset her focus.

“That year I took off really helped me fall back in love with it again,” she said.

When Hendricks returned to West Texas A&M to watch her former players play in regionals, Metro Athletic Director Joan McDermott, who Hendricks had served with on a couple committees, was in attendance and told her Metro was looking for a volleyball coach.

The 21st century has seen Hendricks earn the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference coach of the year honor in 2001, 2002 and 2003, notch 300 wins as a Roadrunner, and surpass 500 for her career.

“If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans,” Hendricks said.

She could have been in pharmaceutical sales, a personal trainer or a medical doctor. Instead, Hendricks’ strive for success in life has been the best medicine of all for Metro.

“Sometimes in life, things come your way and end up changing your direction,” Hendricks said. “But until you know what they are, it’s hard to say what’s going to happen. For now, I’m exactly where I want to be. I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. And I’m enjoying all of it.”

Metro makes the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tourney Mario Sanelli msanelli@msudenver.edu @mario_themet Metro volleyball concluded its regular season with a five-set win against the Chadron State College Eagles Nov. 16 on Senior Night at Auraria Event Center.

25-21 and 25-11 set wins by Metro in the second and third were bookended by 23-25 set losses in the first and fourth, as the Roadrunners claimed the decisive fifth set 15-9.

“I’m not surprised that this was this kind of match,” head coach Debbie Hendricks said. “Just en light of the way [Chadron State has] played other teams in the last part of the season.”

With the sets tied 1-1, Hendricks called on her team between sets two and three to respond.

Metro went on to out-block the Eagles 4-0 in the third to accompany 15 kills and zero errors in the set, en route to a 14-point win.

“I feel like when we call on our team for a response, they’re giving it,” Hendricks said. “We’ve just got to be more consistent than we are,

as we go into the postseason.”

Seniors Alex Green and Alysa Heath will continue their Roadrunner careers as Metro earned a spot in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament.

The birth is the 14th consecutive postseason appearance for the Roadrunners under Hendricks’ 14-year tenure at Metro.

Despite the fourth set loss, the win in set three was a tipping point for the Roadrunners’ momentum, and the offense fired on all cylinders in that set.

“Our passing was awesome, we were serving tougher, we were blocking more than we were in the first two [sets],” Heath said. “So, it was much better in the third.”

Heath posted a team-high 17 kills against the Eagles, while Green lead the team with 19 digs. “[Heath and Green] played well tonight, and are very deserving of all the recognition they get because they are leaders for our team, both on and off the floor,” Hendricks said. “We still have quite a bit we want to accomplish for those two seniors before they’re finished.”

Metro finished the regular

season 17-10 overall, 13-6 in conference play, and earned the No. 7 seed in the RMAC tournament, which begins for the Runners at Western New Mexico Nov. 19.

“Tuesday we’ve got to fight,” Heath said. “We can’t come out the way we did in the first half of the game [versus Chadron State].

We’ve got to go out and be ready for a dogfight. [Western New Mexico] is a hard gym to play in, but it’s exciting. A lot of people don’t get the change to keep going on after this game tonight, so I’m excited.”

Metro posted a 7-4 road record this season.

“This year we’ve been a pretty good road team,” Hendricks said.

“So we’ll find ways to win.”

The Metro volleyball team celebrates a hard-earned five-set match victory against Chadron State Nov. 16 at Auraria Event Center.

Photo by Courtland Wilson • cwils104@msudenver.edu

Volleyball defeats Black Hills State 3-0 Metro volleyball defeated the Yellow Jackets of Black Hills State in straight sets Nov. 15 at Auraria Event Center.

The Roadrunners won 25-17, 25-21 and 25-11. The win improved Metro’s record to 16-10 overall and 12-6 within the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

Metro’s offense was very balanced in the match. Sophomore outside hitter Kylie Haun led the team with nine kills, while senior outside hitter Alysa Heath had nine.

To read the full story of Metro’s game against Black Hills State University, visit metnews.org

TheMetropolitan MetSports

November 21, 2013

17

½ KEGS

STARTING FROM

$59.99

Mention this ad and get 20lb ICE for free!

1333 W. Alameda Ave. in Denver

303.777.SUDS

Wednesday

tch

eli

Healthy Pursuits

A Full Spectrum of Fitness and Wellness Fall 2013 Class Schedule Resumes Dec. 2, 2013 Monday 11–11:50 a.m.

Abs & Back PE 104E • Julie

Tuesday 11:00 –11:50 a.m.

Yoga for Stress Management PE 103 • Svetlana

Wednesday Thursday 11–11:50 a.m.

Abs & Back PE 104E • Julie

Friday

11:00 –11:50 a.m.

Yoga for Relaxation

Fall break schedule

Ripped in 30

Ripped in 30

Fitness Center Nov. 25–27: 11 a.m.–6 p.m.

Nov. 27 – Dec. 1: Closed Pool Nov. 25–27: 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

Nov. 27–Dec 1: Closed

PE Green Room • Jeremy

noon–12:50 p.m.

noon–12:50 p.m.

noon–12:50 p.m.

noon–12:50 p.m.

Indoor Cycle

Pilates

Indoor Cycle

Pilates

Hatha Yoga

12:30–1:20 p.m.

12:30–1:20

12:30–1:20 p.m.

12:30–1:20 p.m.

noon–12:50 p.m.

Total Fitness

Warrior Women Total Fitness PE 111G • Maureen

PE 201 • Jody

PE 104W • Will

PE 103 • Beth

PE 111G • Maureen

PE 201 • JD

12:30–1:20 p.m.

12:30–1:20 p.m.

noon–12:50 p.m.

Hydrobix

Hydrobix

Aqua Zumba®

PE 102 • Rachel

PE 102 • Rachel

1–1:50 p.m.

1:45–2:15 p.m.

1–1:50 p.m.

Ripped in 30

Nia

Ripped in 30

Bollyfit®

PE Green Room • JD

PE 103 • Derik

Warrior Women Total Fitness

1:45–2:15 p.m.

PE 103 • Therese

PE Green Room • JD

PE Pool • Liat

PE 103 • Lakshmi

3:30–4:20 p.m.

3:30–4:20 p.m.

3:30–4:20 p.m.

3:30–4:20 p.m.

Vinyasa Yoga

Flow Yoga

Vinyasa Yoga

PE 103 • Derik

4:30–5:20 p.m.

4:30–5:20 p.m.

Belly Dancing

Belly Dancing

PE 103 • Lia

5:15–6:05 p.m.

5:30–6:20 p.m.

5:15–6:05 p.m.

Hatha Yoga

Zumba

Hatha Yoga

Zumba

PE 103 • Cathy

Personal Training

PE 103 • Derik

®

PE 103 • Cathy

Stop by the office of Student Media (Tivoli 313) and enter your name into a drawing for a chance to win a $10 gift card to either Brooklyn’s, Croc’s or Rio Grande.

This 8 week weight management program includes group exercise training (advanced and beginner) and nutrition coaching.

Mind/Body

5:30–6:20 p.m.

Tivoli 640 • Derik

One-on-one training custom designed for people with disabilities.

Want Free Food?

Strengthened at Auraria

PE 103 • Kyra

PE 103 • Lia ®

Adaptive Fitness (free for students)

A high intensity class. You must be able to run 1 mile, perform 20 push-ups and have no current joint issues.

PE 103 • Steven

PE 103 • Kyra

Available for a fee

Boot Camp

Qigong

PE 103 • Derik

Premium Programs

One-on-one or buddy trainer designed to fit individual or partner goals.

2–2:50 p.m.

Flow Yoga

.

3825 Tennyson (303)477-1633

No classes over fall break

PE 103 • Svetlana

noon–12:50 p.m.

PE 104W • Will

ded

t inclu n e m p i u Eq

11:30–noon

PE 103 • Beth

$1

GAMES, CORN DOGS, DRAFTS

pus rrent Cam have a cu Group Fit classes. st u m ff attend and sta * Faculty n membership to o ti a e cr e R

11:30–noon PE Green Room • Jeremy

PE 201 • Jody

Free

*

Lanes 8PM TO CLOSE,

COLLEGE NIGHT

Group Fit

Outdoor Adventure

Offering canyoneering, hiking, rock climbing, ice climbing, avalanche forecasting, skiing, mountaineering, camping and canoeing.

ard

ift C G 0 1 $

For more information about a program please call 303.556.3210

Fall 2013 Drop-in Schedule Resumes Dec. 2, 2013 Fitness Center – PE 110

Monday–Thursday 6:30 a.m.–8:50 p.m.

Friday 6:30 a.m.–5:50 p.m.

Saturday 9 a.m.–3:50 p.m.

East Court – 104 E

Monday/Wednesday 9:15–10:45 a.m.

Tuesday/Thursday (drop-in soccer) 12:30–1:45 p.m.

West Court – 104 W

Monday/Wednesday 9:15–10:45 a.m., 1:30–6 p.m.

Tuesday/Thursday 12:15– 3:45 p.m.

Friday 1– 5:50 p.m.

Fitness Loft – PE 201

Monday– Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Pool – PE 102

Monday/Wednesday 6:30–8 a.m., 12:15–2 p.m., 5–7 p.m.

Tuesday/Thursday 7–9 a.m., 12:15–2 p.m., 5–7 p.m.

Friday 7–9 a.m., 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

Saturday 10 a.m.–1 p.m.

Racquetball/Squash – PE 111 Dance Studio – PE 215

To reserve the court or studio please come to PE Room 108 or email Mary Kay McCue at ballma@msudenver.edu

Contact us at: 303-556-2507 www.metrostudentmedia.com

18 November 21, 2013 TheMetropolitan

StudyBreak This Week

You know, turkey contains an amino acid that causes drowsiness called trypto...

I’m gonna have to stop you right there.

As a vegetarian who just ate three whole pecan pies, that is the dumbest thing I have ever heard.

Now if you’ll excuse me. I have a food coma I must be getting back to.

Metro Events 11.21 Great American Smoke Out Tivoli Multicultural Lounge @ 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

11.21 Concert for Hunger and Homeless Awareness Tivoli Turnhalle @ 3:30 p.m.

11.22 You Can’t Take It With You Studio Theatre, King Center @ 7:30 p.m.

11.23 Opera Theatre Ensemble and Early Music Ensemble King Center @ 7:30 p.m.

11.23 Fall break begins 12.2 Classes resume 12.2 World Aids Day Tivoli Multicultural Lounge @ 11 a.m.

Around Denver 11.27 Tennis (the band) Bluebird Theatre @ 9 p.m.

Sudoku

Horoscopes Capricorn

Cancer

June 21 -July 22

Grab a Fresca after class tonight, because it’ll be the last time you get the chance. Not because they are going out of business or anything, but because a bear will rip your limbs off.

Before you ask, yes. Macaroni and cheese omlettes really are as good as they sound.

Aquarius

If you fi nd yourself needing to say YOLO in concordance with studying, you’re not doing it right.

Pisces

February 19 -March 20 Who knows what the future holds? Who are we kidding. We do and we are not telling.

Aries

March 21 -April 19 Whoever said a watched pot never boils was wrong. It does, but it takes F-O-R-E-V-E-R.

Taurus

April 20 -May 20 Some days, you’ve just got to roll up your sleeves, stare the future in the eyes, eat a bunch of enchiladas and go to sleep.

Gemini

May 21 -June 20 As Hemingway once said, “You’ll never know if quotes from the Internet are true.”

Brain Teasers Last issue’s answers (reading from right): black eyed peas, jumbo jet, minimize, decide, spaceship, multiple choice, floor model

Difficulty: HARD

Overheard on campus

December 22 -January 19

January 20 -February 18

Comic created by Robert Shea • rshea5@msudenver.edu

12.5 11.21-

Leo

July 23 -August 22 You will poop your pants this Friday night and learn a valuable lesson.

Virgo

August 23 -September 22 Your current dividend is at $1.24 and can be expected to grow at 10 percent for the next three years.

Libra

September 23 -October 22 The question is not, “where’s Waldo?” The question is, “where’s Waldo going?”

Scorpio

October 23 -November 21 Something might be wrong with you if the only thing in life you fi nd comical is YouTube videos of people going through fast food restaurant drive thrus..

Sagittarius

November 22 -December 21 If taking vitamins on an empty stomach gives you a stomach ache, consider yourself lucky as this will be the least of your problems this holiday season.

“I only have two types of conversations in the bathroom — compliments and politics.”

“Butterflies, man.”

“Yay, I went to see Loki 2— I mean, the second Thor movie.”

“Are you really referencing Kenny Rogers?”

“There’s just something about those trees that makes me super emotional and stuff.”

“If you’re not wearing glitter, you’re not doing winter right.”

“Subway’s new Sriracha dressing is from heaven.”

Hear something that makes you laugh? Shake your head? Roll your eyes? Tweet it to @nikki_ themet with the hashtag #overheardoncampus and you may see it in next week’s paper.

TheMetropolitan StudyBreak November 21, 2013

19

INVITE YOU AND A GUEST TO ATTEND A SPECIAL 3D ADVANCE SCREENING

VISIT “SEEITFIRST.NET” AND ENTER THE UNIQUE CODE 711412 TO DOWNLOAD AN ADMIT-TWO PASS TO THE SPECIAL ADVANCE SCREENING. USE THE UNIQUE CODE TO DOWNLOAD TICKETS WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. ONCE ALL ALLOTTED TICKETS ARE REDEEMED THE CODE WILL NO LONGER BE VALID. SUPPLIES ARE LIMITED. RATED PG FOR SOME ACTION AND MILD RUDE HUMOR. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Limit one (1) admit-two pass per person. This film is rated PG. Must be 13 years of age or older to receive pass.

The screening will take place on Monday, November 25 at 7:30pm. Seating is first-come, first-serve basis. Employees of all promotional partners and their agencies are not eligible. Void where prohibited. Refer to screening pass for further restrictions.

SEATING IS LIMITED, SO ARRIVE EARLY. PASS DOES NOT GUARANTEE A SEAT AT THE SCREENING.

©2013 Disney

IN THEATERS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27 IN

AND

Disney.com/Frozen •

.com/DisneyFrozen

.com/DisneyAnimation • #DisneyFrozen

e c n a h c t s La a Hero Honor

THE METROPOLITAN THUR: 11/21 orld? g a better w n ti a e cr e n o 5”eX 7” SS r the som Do you know ALL.FZN-P.1121.METROPOLITAN your hero fo te a in m o ard.

N . n reakfast Aw dedicatio

Honor Peace B ther King, Jr. Lu in rt a M 4 201

3 1 0 2 , 2 2 r e b m e Deadline: Nov

Nominations MSU Denver students, faculty, staff and community members are eligible.

Nominations should address the following points: community activism, advocacy and depth of involvement.

For nomination forms and information:

www.msudenver.edu/mlk/ Contact Donelyn Jones at jamesd@msudenver.edu or 303-556-4023 for more information.

Tickets go on sale December 9, 2013

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Plaza Suite 150 303-556-2525 LIKE US, FOLLOW US @BeWellAuraria /HealthCenterAtAuraria www.msudenver.edu/healthcenter

• Low-cost, student-focused medical services • Blue Cross Blue Shield approved provider • On-site physicians and mid-level providers • Specialist physicians in psychiatry, gynecology & orthopedics • Primary care medical services • Management of acute and chronic illness • Urgent care medical services • Walk-in and appointment availability • Campus emergency response

• Laboratory and X-ray services • Infectious disease management • Sexually transmitted disease testing • Annual physical examinations • Woman’s health care • Contraception resources • Prescription medications • Health education • Immunizations

24/7 Auraria Campus Emergency Phone Numbers Protocol to Contact the Auraria Police Department

Campus phones CALL 911 Cell/off-campus phones CALL 303-556-5000 Auraria After Hours Mental Health and Victim Assistance For after hours Crisis Line, staffed by Metro Crisis CALL 303-352-4455.