mymetmedia.com
The Student Voice of MSU Denver
Volume 39, Issue 26
March 15, 2017
Denver DIME blossoms with Wildflowers
“There is always more to learn, and students need to know the life-long skill of teaching themselves. They need to know how to find resources and to creatively make a career for themselves.”
– Peter Schimpf
Story on page 7 >> Photo by Mikala Redel • mredel@msudenver.edu
jbauma17@msudenver.edu MSU Denver is facing a sexual misconduct lawsuit, filed on March 8. Former senate president Kamran Sahami and former lecturer Kristin Watson allege that a high level member of the university’s marketing department is guilty of sexual impropriety in the workplace. While the lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages on behalf of the plaintiffs, it doesn’t explicitly name Marketing Chairman Gregory Black as
the defendant. The U.S. Department of Justice issued a right-tosue notice on Dec. 5, 2016, which was followed shortly by a determination from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, that there was reasonable cause to believe that retaliation occurred targeting Sahami and created a sexually-hostile work environment towards Watson. Court documents state that after three separate reports of sexual misconduct, Black, either directly or through
a subordinate, retaliated against the three people who had filed the reports. Watson claims she was also denied further employment after discriminatory hiring practices were used to retain a less qualified peer. Percy Morehouse, who was responsible for the school’s Title IX and equal employment opportunity compliance and Business School Dean Ann Murphy are named as the superiors to whom Watson reported incidents that were allegedly not investigated.
The lawsuit also claims that the accusations originally made against Black by Sahami were never investigated, which catalysed President Stephen Jordan to hire a relative of CSU’s general counsel to investigate Sahami. MSU Denver issued a statement regarding the suit. “MSU Denver denies the allegations contained in this complaint, and we assert there are many factual errors and statements in the claim. The university will dispute these allegations in court.”
Met
Opinion
Met
By Joella Baumann
PAGE 3 >>
African culture through BaoBao lens
PAGE 5 >>
Trip hazards, morning rush
Features
Met
Claims of a sexually hostile work environment
News
PAGE 7 >>
GrowHaus, oasis in food desert
Sports
Met
Faculty file lawsuit against university
PAGE 12 >>
Globetrotter “El Gato” at MSU Denver
2XX
Mile Review Break High Events Marchxx, 15,xxxx 2017 Met Date Sports Features Insight
mymetmedia.com f: themetropolitan @themetonline
Student Housing Designed for You! All inclusive Studio Rates starting at $750/month!
RegencyStudentHousing.com
Met @themetonline f: themetropolitan MyMetMedia.com
News
March 15, 2017
3
BaoBao Festival celebrates West African culture By Angela Cho acho@msudenver.edu The BaoBao Festival was held on March 10 at the King Center to honor traditional West African culture through music, dance and storytelling. The festival began with the echoes of a Ghanaian drum called the Kpanlogo mi. Shortly after, the Mokomba Ensemble made their entrance. The booming acoustics harmoniously intermingled with each skip, shimmy and sway, enchanting the stage. Every eye was glued to the vibrant pinks, greens and yellows woven through each garment; captivating all as the music and the motion came together in unison. The Mokomba are a West African dance and drum ensemble made up of multinational members. One member of the ensemble, Akramah Cofie, describes being a part of this festival as, “The opportunity to celebrate your culture with other people. Celebrate our differences.” Adjei Abankwah founded the BaoBao Festival in Boulder in 2004. He hopes to encourage people who have little knowledge of West African culture to immerse themselves in this experience. The name BaoBao comes from the Baobab tree in Ghana. Abankwah recounted how this tree is a meeting place for family and friends.
MSU Denver affiliate faculty member Adjei Abankwah leads a dance as the audience follows in the finale of the BaoBao Festival at the King Center on March 10. Photo by Daniel Day • dday16@msudenver.edu
He said that everyone gathers under this tree to sing, dance and tell each other stories for entertainment. Instead of teaching in a traditional sense, Abankwah said he wanted to make everyone in the audience feel the experience; and make it fun so that people would be moved to learn more. “When you open your heart, you will feel it,” Abankwah said.
Abankwah says that the Baobab tree is their therapy; a place of solace for the Ghanaian community. Anyone can bring their troubles here and leave with encouragement and guidance. According to The World Bank, Ghana’s gross domestic product has risen to $37.5 billion USD, but a large portion of the country still remains impoverished, with little
access to mental health care and therapy. When another member of the Mokomba Ensemble, Nii Okai Aryeetey, was asked why music and dance was important to their culture, he said, “We dance to happy our souls, sometimes for sorrows too.” Although the festival was created to enhance awareness for West African culture, Abankwah and his colleagues soon found a higher purpose. Dai Kato co-established the Mokomba Ensemble and works closely with the BaoBao Foundation. After working as a psychotherapist with inner-city children on the East Coast, Kato said he believes music has the potential to heal. Kato also revealed that there are still communities in Ghana that do not provide any form of education. There are many children in Ghana that begin working at the age of eight. The BaoBao Foundation has set out to change this situation and create a new direction for the future of Ghana. The BaoBao Foundation will finish the construction of its first library in Santa Maria, Ghana this summer after years of hard work. This is a tremendous accomplishment for the foundation’s members, but they will not be stopping there. The foundation will continue to build and promote education in Ghana, as well as enlightening others of their culture and their cause.
Latina blogger empowers women to ‘dream big’ By Erika Foster efoste12@msudenver.edu Auraria Campus hosted “unapologetic” leaders during the 21st Annual Women’s Leadership Conference in the Tivoli Turnhalle on March 10. The keynote speaker of the event was Prisca Dorcas Rodriguez. Rodriguez is a writer and blogger who founded the online organization Latina Rebels, which empowers young Latinas. Her speech recognized some difficulties of being a person of color and how difficult it was to get to where she is today. Rodriguez attended public schools in Miami and lived in a neighborhood of immigrants. She had a learning disability and went to public schools that didn’t have the resources to help her. “I didn’t have anyone to build me up and tell me to dream big,” Rodriguez said. Counselors and teachers advised her against joining Advanced Placement classes in high school because her parents were not fluent in English and wouldn’t be able to help with the homework. Rodriguez said they thought she wasn’t going to succeed. Many young Latinos have experienced similar barriers to educational opportunities in the U.S., despite being the fastest growing
ethnic group in the country. This crisis is multifaceted. Lack of funding for English as a second language classes is cited as the primary educational barrier according to the National Education Association. Language and socio-economic differences tend to lead to inferior education and, according to a 2005 study by the NEA, only 11 percent of Latinos went on to receive a Bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 34 percent of their white peers. The growing Latino population, specifically in states like Texas and Colorado, underscores the importance of improving their educational opportunities. MSU Denver announced its initiative to become a Hispanic Serving Institution in 2005. As of 2015 the universityhad increased Hispanic enrollment from 12.5 percent to 20.3 percent and hopes to continue supporting Hispanic students’ educational success through degree attainment. Despite her struggles, Rodriguez fought to do well in school. Proving naysayers wrong, she was able to go to college. “The sense of displacement is real when you’re a woman and you’re brown,” Rodriguez said. “It took a lot, and I cried a lot, and it’s a miracle I made it out alive.” Eliam Mendez, an attendee of the event, had a lot to say in response to Rodriguez. Mendez is bilingual in Spanish and English.
She is currently working towards becoming a court interpreter. “The only thing I feel like I’m useful for are my bilingual skill,” Mendez said. “I love what I chose as a career, and I’m glad I can be successful by speaking two languages, but there is so much more to me than being bilingual.”
Like Rodriguez, Mendez highlighted the struggles she faces in the world as a person of color. “As a woman of color, Prisca makes me feel empowered,” Mendez said. “It’s hard to be taken seriously when you are a minority trying to make it in the educational and professional world.”
Prisca Dorcas Rodriguez speaks to the Turnhalle audience on March 10. She was the keynote speaker for the 21st annual Women’s Leadership Conference. Photo by Esteban Fernandez • eferna14@msudenver.edu
4XX
mymetmedia.com f: themetropolitan @themetonline
Mile Review Break High Events Marchxx, 15,xxxx 2017 Met News Date Sports Features Insight
Humanizing the face of Islam; Muslims welcome community By Jonson Kuhn jkuhn2@msudenver.edu
show up and express her support. “I feel like the political climate in this country right now is really unsafe for a lot of people,” Majerus said. “As a queer woman I feel like my liberation is connected to the liberation of all people in this country and so I feel very tied to making sure that all people
are safe in this country, not just people from my own community.” On March 6, President Donald Trump signed a second executive order concerning immigration from Muslim countries, after the first was blocked in federal appeals court. The most recent order continues to impose
On March 12, the Colorado Muslim Society hosted an open house, welcoming anyone from the community or elsewhere to come and join in on civil conversations regarding the Muslim faith. The first speaker, Nabeeh A. Hasan, was a certified representative for the Colorado Muslim Speakers Bureau. “You are our advocates in giving voices to the voiceless,” Hasan said. “That is so important right now because a politician might see me and be quick to disregard, but when he starts to see you and the number of people grows, they can no longer dismiss us as a marginalized group being disenfranchised and angry.” A number of guest speakers took turns addressing the crowd and everyone was given a chance to ask questions or address any preconceived notions they may have had toward the religion. There were roughly 200 people in attendance, all gathered within the Colorado Muslim Society mosque, Masjid Abu Bakr. Many were devout Muslims, however, there were many people in attendance of other faiths and creeds as well. One of those Imam Shafi answers questions about the Islamic faith to attendees of the Colorado Muslim Society’s open house in Aurora. The open house was held to educate people about Islam. people was Denver resident Jessica Majerus, who felt it was important to Photo by Taelyn Livingston • tliving4@msudenver.edu
a 90-day ban on travelers, but removed Iraq from the list and makes an exception for permanent residents and green card holders. The order also dropped language offering preferential treatment to members of religious minorities in the original seven countries where the travel ban was imposed. Despite the change in language, some of the original order’s critics are referring to the revised version as “Muslim Ban Lite,” according to The New York Times. The event on Sunday gave attendees a chance to voice concerns about how the recent Islamaphobic rhetoric may affect the Colorado community. Though the event was a special occasion, the doors are always open to the public at the CMS. They want the Mosque to remain a safe place for whoever would like to come and educate themselves on Islamic beliefs. As explained by the CMS spokesperson, Iman Jodeh, the overall goal is to spread awareness in a peaceful, respectful manner. “I think it’s important to have our doors open to the community, as they always are, but in a more formal setting to allow our non-Muslim community as well,” Jodeh said. “A day like this is very much about awareness and education and to allow for further avenues or platforms for our non-Muslim community to learn about Muslims.”
INVITE YOU AND A GUEST TO A SPECIAL ADVANCE SCREENING OF Visit in Suite 313 starting today, after 10AM, to pick up your advance screening passes. Must show valid student ID While supplies last.
RATED R FOR DRUG USE, LANGUAGE THROUGHOUT, STRONG SEXUAL CONTENT, GRAPHIC NUDITY AND SOME VIOLENCE. Passes received through this promotion do not guarantee you a seat at the theatre. Seating is on a first come, first served basis, except for members of the reviewing press. Theatre is overbooked to ensure a full house. No admittance once screening has begun. Screening is on 3/21 at 7:30pm at a local theater. All federal, state and local regulations apply. A recipient of tickets assumes any and all risks related to use of ticket, and accepts any restrictions required by ticket provider. Tri-Star Pictures, Allied-THA, Ticktbox, Metro Student Media and their affiliates accept no responsibility or liability in connection with any loss or accident incurred in connection with use of a prize. Tickets cannot be exchanged, transferred or redeemed for cash, in whole or in part. We are not responsible if, for any reason, recipient is unable to use his/her ticket in whole or in part. All federal and local taxes are the responsibility of the winner. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. NO PHONE CALLS!
IN SELECT THEATERS ON MARCH 24 /T2TrainspottingMovie
@T2Trainspotting
/T2Trainspotting #T2Trainspotting
Met
Opinion
@themetonline f: themetropolitan mymetmedia. com mymetmedia.com f:themetropolitan @themetonline
March 15, 2017 August 21, 2014
Multi-tasking gone awry in transit tasking, which led me to one of the most embarrassing and horrible events that has yet to happen to me in my short 23 years. That morning was extremely bright and the sun blinded me to the point to where if I squinted anymore my eyes would be shut. The elevator hit the ground floor. I ambled
By Kelli Holum kholum@msudenver.edu
I had my cup of good ol’ amazing 7-Eleven coffee, I’d barely missed hitting one of the suit-wearing targets in the Lincoln Station parking garage with my Beamer and was making my way to the elevator to get down to the light rail platform. As an experienced multi-tasker, I was balancing my car keys, cell phone, coffee, credit card, sunglasses and wallet when I stepped onto the elevator. But, there is such a thing as too much multi-
“It wasn’t a metal pole or a twig that I had harshly stumbled over. It was a blind man’s walking stick.” off and was only half paying attention to where I walked but was cognizant enough that I didn’t run into anybody. A train had just de-boarded its passengers and I played one of my favorite games, - dodge the human - all while trying not to drop any of the six items I was juggling. I was doing a pretty damn good job of it, too, when all of a sudden a long metal twig materialized out of thin
air. I tried to hit the brakes on walking, but I wasn’t quick enough. I tripped and stumbled over this foreign object. My first thoughts were, “Who in the hell just waltzes around carrying a metal pole?!” Followed by, “Holy crap, I didn’t drop one thing that I was holding!” A huff escaped my lungs, nearby was a sizable group of people who saw what happened. My indignation immediately turned into mortification. If this were a cartoon, this would be the part where my mouth would’ve hit the floor. It wasn’t a metal pole or a twig that I had harshly stumbled over. It was a blind man’s walking stick. My second thought was, “I’m seriously going to Hell.” In an instant I had a heartfelt apology spewing out of my mouth like vomit. I felt awful for what I had accidentally just done to this poor man. I at least expected some sort of mollification from him to stem my growing hysteria. Instead, he turned his head just slightly and “Hmphed” at me. Th ese days, I’m only juggling my hot coff ee as I jump out of my beamer, with my backpack clad for my full potential. Now, instead of playing dodge the human, I play dodge the human and the walking stick.
By Esteban Fernandez eferna14@msudenver.edu
Nothing betrays an individual’s intellectual myopia more than disparaging the inherent worth of the space program. To be sure, there is merit in approaching any government program with a healthy amount of skepticism. Like in any human
MetStaff Editor-in-Chief Joella Baumann • jbauma17@msudenver.edu Managing Editor Esteban Fernandez • eferna14@msudenver.edu News Editor Madison Lauterbach • mlauter1@msudenver.edu Features Editor Cassie Ballard • cballar7@msudenver.edu Assistant Features Editor Erika Foster • efoste12@msudenver.edu Sports Editor David Schaut • dschaut@msudenver.edu Assistant Sports Editor Jake Howard • jhowar50@msudenver.edu Photo Editor Lauren Cordova • scordo22@msudenver.edu Assistant Photo Editor Lindsey Milburn • lmilburn@msudenver.edu Director of Met Media Steve Haigh • shaigh@msudenver.edu Assistant Director of Met Media Ronan O’Shea • roshea3@msudenver.edu Production Manager of Met Media Kathleen Jewby • kjewby@msudenver.edu Office Manager Elizabeth Norberg • enorbert@msudenver.edu
Gazing skyward: NASA’s value endeavor, government can be guilty of waste, fraud and abuse. Case in point: the air force’s $1.5 trillion boondoggle, the F-35 Lightning II. As an aviation connoisseur, that strike fighter is a marvel of aerospace engineering. As a student of economics, it is unfathomable mess. Plagued by cost overruns and beguiled by technical problems, the United States has sunk over a trillion dollars into the plane and not one has even been deployed into active service. For the price tag, the United States could have probably reached Mars by now. NASA is also not innocent when it comes to waste. The asteroid redirect mission was scrapped by Congress after review. The plan to launch astronauts toward a near earth asteroid and bring it back to orbit, they found, would be too much cost and risk for little gain. However, to dismiss NASA’s mission is to let banal human nature risk our common destiny to the stars. There’s always the economic arguments. During the Apollo era, the space program
5
returned $14 for every dollar spent on going to the moon. Even those struck down by simple pre-school math can’t argue such a stark benefit. Nevermind the technological breakthroughs. The Facebook-addled masses would have to feed their addiction to selfies and celebrities some other way without the constellation of satellites that makes global telecommunications possible. Weather satellites save lives by tracking dangerous storms. The only reason our species stands a chance in combating climate change is because of the work NASA does observing our own planet from space. Google Maps. But the call to space is more than sundry material goods. The sea of stars over our heads is an ocean for human imagination to be free. Something stirs the soul. Every potential, every possibility is open to us. It represents the open road. And it’s time to get moving again.
Have a view on current events you’d like to share? Want to voice your thoughts on a subject that has been covered in the paper? Send your pieces to themetonline@gmail.com or Managing Editor Esteban Fernandez at eferna14@msudenver.edu
Sales and Marketing sales@mymetmedia.com marketing@mymetmedia.com Preston Morse • pmorse3@msudenver.edu Caitlin Monaghan • cmonagh12@msudenver.edu
What we do The Metropolitan accepts submissions in the form of topic-driven columns and letters to the editor. Column article concepts must be submitted by 1 p.m. Thursdays and the deadline for columns is 9 p.m. Sundays. Columns range from 500 to 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 email 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 Wednesday during the academic year and monthly during the summer semester. Opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of MSU Denver or Met Media’s advertisers.
Submissions Themetonline@gmail.com
6XX
mymetmedia.com f: themetropolitan @themetonline
Mile Review Break High Events Marchxx, 15,xxxx 2017 Met Date Sports Features Insight
INVITES YOU AND A GUEST TO A SPECIAL ADVANCE SCREENING OF
SAVE $50: Bring this Ad for a One Free Application Fee
1 & 2 Car Garages Fitness Center Washers & Dryers Pet Park Granite Countertops Fitness Center Stainelss Appliances
VISIT
1, 2 & 3 Bedroom Apartments in Cherry Creek Call Now: 303-222-1380
1755 S Beeler Street Denver, CO 80247
IN TIVOLI 313 STARTING TODAY AFTER 10 AM TO RECEIVE YOUR COMPLIMENTARY PASSES! STUDENT ID MUST BE PRESENTED AT TIME OF TICKET PICK UP.
RATED R FOR CRUDE SEXUAL CONTENT, GRAPHIC NUDITY, PERVASIVE LANGUAGE, SOME VIOLENCE AND DRUG USE. Please note: Passes are limited and will be distributed on a first come, first served basis while supplies last. No phone calls, please. Limit one pass per person. Each pass admits two. Seating is not guaranteed. Arrive early. Theater is not responsible for overbooking. This screening will be monitored for unauthorized recording. By attending, you agree not to bring any audio or video recording device into the theater (audio recording devices for credentialed press excepted) and consent to a physical search of your belongings and person. Any attempted use of recording devices will result in immediate removal from the theater, forfeiture, and may subject you to criminal and civil liability. Please allow additional time for heightened security. You can assist us by leaving all nonessential bags at home or in your vehicle.
IN THEATERS MARCH 24 ChipstheMovie.com #ChipHappens
METROPOLITAN THURS, 03/16/17 BLACK & WHITE 5” x 7” RM ALL.CHP-P.0316.METRO
ACCEPTING CHALLENGES IS STRONG. SEEKING THEM OUT IS ARMY STRONG.
There’s strong. Then there’s Army Strong. Find your path to success as a Soldier in the U.S. Army. You’ll not only learn leadership skills and
goarmy.com or call 1-800-USA-ARMY.
For more information about opportunities in the U.S. Army, visit the Denver Career Center-Auraria Campus or call 720-904-2174.
©2015. Paid for by the United States Army. All rights reserved.
Met
Features
@themetonline f: themetropolitan mymetmedia.com mymetmedia.com f:themetropolitan @themetonline
March 2017 August 21,15, 2014
Wildflowers rock the basement of the Tivoli By Lauren Gombas laurengombas@gmail.com Take the long hallway toward the Tivoli brewery and follow the half-hidden staircase to the right. Walk down one fl ight of stairs, past the door to the billiard’s room, down another fl ight of stairs and you’ll fi nd a brightly decorated sign that reads, “DIME DENVER.” Th is basement studio is home to the Wildflowers, a band that lead singer Siddy Bennett described as the free wheeling bastard children of Fleetwood Mac. “It’s got that earthy, folk kind of hippie vibe mixed with rock n’ roll,” Bennett said. The band consists of three main members and a manager. James Ashbury is head of recruitment and the lead guitarist. Kit Bennett, Siddy’s sister, is the head of facilities and the accordion and piano player. Matthew Shurben is the lead manager. Bennett also organizes events for the band. As of August 2017, the MSU Denver music department, the Wildflowers and the Detroit Institute of Music Education will be opening a second location for DIME in Denver. DIME brings industry professionals to students in
order to make studying music a real world experience. Th is second opening will allow MSU Denver music students to take classes with DIME at either of DIME’s two locations, Detroit or Denver. Department Chair and Associate Professor of Musicology Peter Schimpf and Bennett explained what the partnership between MSU Denver, DIME and the Wildflowers needs to be so this generation of musicians is ready to enter the music industry. “There is always more to learn, and students need to know the life-long skill of teaching themselves. They need to know how to find resources and to creatively make a career for themselves,” Schimpf said. “In the field of music, there are rarely any career guarantees, so graduates need to be prepared to make their own way, so to speak.” One of the most helpful aspects of the program is to bring in mentors like the Wildflowers, who have already found success in England. According to Bennett, the Wildflowers were created when Bennett met guitarist Ashbury while attending school in England. The school was run by DIME founders Kevin Nixon and Sarah Clayman.
The interior of DIME Denver in the basement of the Tivoli, which is home to the Wildflowers. The decorations show off their roots with British flare. Photo by Mikala Redel •mredel@msudenver.edu
“We met and started a band immediately. And they actually took a special interest in us. They liked our music and they always supported us,” Bennett said. Shortly after they left the school, Nixon signed the Wildflowers and became their manager. According to Bennett, Nixon instantly decided to have them start the new school in Denver. “We’ve been working with
them through music for four years and they thought we were the best people for the job,” Bennett said. Bennett explains that
“In the field of music, there are no guarantees, so graduates need to be prepared to make their own way.” – Peter Schimpf
Kit Bennett plays her keyboard on stage at the DIME in the Tivoli basement on Feb. 21. Bennett is the facilities manager of DIME Denver and pianist for the Wildflowers. Photo by Mikala Redel • mredel@msudenver.edu
Nixon appreciated how well the band marketed for themselves and created a music scene in England. He realized their sound was perfect for the American music scene. This made them the ideal band to open the DIME Denver location. Since Bennett and Ashbury both attended a school with a similar focus, they would be the best to guide others through it. “You go because you want to learn how to market yourself. How to go on tour,
how to do promotions,” she said. “You have access to so many different things like this master class where you have people come in and ask Stevie Wonder’s band how they started and you can ask these people tips.” Promoting is still what the band does for DIME and themselves. They get the opportunity to show their abilities while starting fresh in Denver. Making new connections on a fresh slate also helps them guide students on how to make their own path. DIME’s focus is on making musicians successful enough to make a living off of either performing or managing. The Wildflowers are the poster children for DIME’s goals. Having the band at the school let’s students see behind the scenes of a real example that’s found success in the music world. “It would have been a completely different world, but through going to this school I met so many people in the music industry and you know you are always representing yourself. It’s an amazing opportunity for someone who is serious about it,” Bennett said.
7
8
mymetmedia.com f: themetropolitan @themetonline
March 15, 2017 Met News
Red Bull Sound select ends the season with Flaurel By Cassie Ballard cballar7@msudenver.edu Concerts seem to have two different kinds of people who attend: People who show up just to see the specific band they paid for and miss the acts beforehand, and then those who show up early to learn about new bands. Of course there is a third kind. The people who just don’t care. Red Bull Sound Select aims to get each of these kinds of people to take interest in the openers. Sound Select sells tickets on a first come-first serve basis at the door to make people show up at the beginning and stay for the headliner. No advance purchasing is available. This creates recognition for the lesser known bands and generates support for the headliner. “The whole idea is built on helping bands move to the next level as well as providing a platform for music discovery for the fans,” said Kendal Smith, event director of the Underground Music Showcase in Denver. On March 9, Red Bull Sound Select hosted Dan Deacon as the headline with the Oyster Kids and local band Flaural as the openers. Flaural was recognized by Smith as a hard working band in the local music scene and was asked to do their second Red Bull Sound Select. “Running the UMS, we are pretty tuned in to a lot of stuff going on in the local music scene. Those guys are working really hard, doing a lot of shows and getting out on the road and touring. They are trying to go to the next level as artists,” Smith said. Flaural is made up of four members: singer and bassist Collin Johnson, guitarist Noah Pfaff, drummer Nick Berlin and multi-instrumentalist Connor Birch. Almost all the members are Denver natives beside Berlin, who has lived in Denver for a while, but was born in San Francisco. They mention how touring from Denver is somewhat of a struggle because Denver is kind of an
island from the other major cities. “It’s really important actually taking that first terrible drive to get out and then the rest is just city to city,” Birch said. The band talked about how touring is the hardest, yet, one of the most fun aspects of being in the band. The van they travel in is a 1994 Chevy G20 named Chevroleny von Falcon or Chevromini von Falcon and they love her like a lady. “She’s our lover,” Birch said. Johnson and Pfaff joke about how she got a “Nicki Minaj,” or rear suspension lift. For a short time Pfaff did attend MSU Denver, but was unable to continue due to lack of money or free time. Birch studied music at CU, but felt he learned more from real experience as a musician rather than study. “The most valuable learning moments of my life have been since leaving school and just trying to do it. There’s definitely valuable information there but I think there’s kind of just the school of the hard knocks. When it comes to things likes this, you kind of just have to fail and learn from it and fail again,” Birch said. Red Bull Sound Select offers that real life experience Birch looks for, while also giving the musicians a chance to succeed in a larger scale venue with bigger names. “Ultimately my expectation for tonight is for people who came here for Dan Deacon to walk out thinking, ‘oh my god, Flaural and the Oyster kids, those are two great bands that I want to check out,” Smith said. Smith has been working with UMS for seven years, starting as a volunteer and now the director of the program. A job he used to think was easy, has definitely become an equation he hopes to solve. “Art is a subjective thing yet there’s also metrics that can be used in judging whether you’re investing in something big or not. I think my biggest challenge or the biggest thing I have learned is that that’s a hard problem to solve,” Smith said.
Collin Johnson, lead singer and bassist for Flaural, and keyboardist Connor Birch play an opening set during the Red Bull Sound Select at the Marquis Theater on March 9. Photo by McKenzie Lange • mlange4@msudenver
UMS Festival July 27-30 “We are a festival built on discovery. A few local artists and a few compelling national artists.” -Kendal Smith
Liveliest people attend Frozen Dead Guy Days By Maria Muller mmuller4@msudenver.edu Every year, the small town of Nederland celebrates death with one of the liveliest festivals in Colorado. The event, called Frozen Dead Guy Days, brings in people from all over to watch crazy competitions, listen to live music and have a good time. This year’s event brought in its biggest crowd in 16 years. “This year we blew it out of the water,” said Amy MacDonald, the event’s coordinator. “Last year we had 20,000 people, and this is our biggest year ever. On top of last year, there’s another five thousand to 10 thousand.” The festival is the town’s unique way of paying tribute to its oddest occupant, Grandpa Bredo Morstoel, whose corpse lays in a Tuff Shed covered in ice. In 1993, Morstoel’s grandson, Trygve Bauge, had his grandfather’s cryogenically frozen body brought to Nederland and placed in a shed behind their house. Bauge was deported and his mother took over responsibility of the body.
She was later evicted for not having electricity or running water in her house. When she feared her eviction would cause the body to thaw, she told a local reporter about her father’s body, and the story created a sensation. The result was the annual Frozen Dead Guy Days festival, usually held the first weekend in March. The event is host to competitions such as a coffin race, a costumed polar plunge, snowy human foosball and a frozen T-shirt contest. Some of the competitions have prizes, but most are just for fun. Kevin Farnan and his wife came from Colorado Springs. Every year they get the VIP pass, which includes a bottomless cup of any beverage, entry in all three music tents and entry to the VIP catered lounge bus. This is their fourth year attending and they stay all day to watch every event. “The Polar Plunge is just for fun, but I think I might do the frozen T-shirt next year,” Farnan said. “They wet them and then they’re folded and frozen. You gotta break them and then get into them.” Saturday evening, all three tents had live music and were full
to the point that organizers had to turn people away. “We hire a lot of musicians,” MacDonald said. “A quarter of them are from Colorado.” Bracelets are sold to patrons 21 and older for $10. They allow access to all three music tents. Kevin Hammond stood in front of one tent dressed as a unicorn. He debated whether he would come back Sunday. “I got the wristband so I might come up tomorrow,” he said. “I’m going to jump on the last bus to Boulder tonight.” The festival encourages those in attendance who plan on drinking to drive safe. Coordinators teamed up with Bus to Show to provide transportation. Sarah Gregorey and her boyfriend caught the Bus to Show from Boulder. “We’re from Lincoln Nebraska, so it’s a little different here,” she said. Gregorey met her boyfriend at the Frozen Dead Guy Days celebration last year. “Our anniversary is on the 21st. We came for our anniversary thing. I know we picked a strange thing to do, but it was fun,” Gregorey said.
Steven McMillian “skrutches,” what he calls the act of skating on crutches, down First Street during the Frozen Dead Guy Days in Nederland on March 12. Photos by McKenzie Lange • mlange4@msudenver.edu
mymetmedia.com f: themetropolitan @themetonline
March 15, 2017
9
Annual Seed Swap event cultivates community connections By Joella Baumann jbauma17@msudenver.edu Over the hills and through the woods, under the I-70 overpass we go. While the Elyria-Swansea neighborhood sits only 15 minutes from downtown Denver, the landscape and demographic changes drastically over the short trek. This neighborhood, which has always been a hub for dirty industry, is the most polluted neighborhood in Colorado. The GrowHaus, a converted garage covered in a vibrant artwork display, is the crystal gem of the neighborhood and held its seventh annual Seed Swap event on March 11. Furry and Fang, two 8-monthold goats, beckoned patrons, bleating and
beekeeping. The event also showcased the many offerings of the GrowHaus to a community classified not only as a food desert, but also as a food swamp. Development Officer Nathan Mackenzie, explained what made Elyria-Swansea an even more at risk zip-code than others. Not only does this neighborhood lack access to fresh, healthy food, but also has a proliferation of quick, cheap and likely unhealthy fast food. “The GrowHaus has taken a lot of time by word of mouth to get people here and learning what we are about,” said Mackenzie. “Seed swap is a good example to bring people to this space and surrounding the community with food, but it’s really all about the community.” GrowHaus’ programs surround three programmatic pillars which encompass all of their outreach. Food production,
GrowHaus’ service learning coordinator, Meme Loftin, crafts rock paintings with Eduardo Molina at the seventh annual Seed Swap in Denver on March 11. Photos by Daniel Day • dday16@msudenver.edu
“This is a celebration of the 2017 gardening season and we have a lot of seeds donated so people can get them and trade them.” – Meme Lofton
A GrowHaus volunteer scoops and inspects varieties of seeds to be picked up by Denver gardeners.
noshing on pieces of hay served up by the plethora of kiddos at this family friendly event. Once inside the Haus, the vibrance of the community created in this space to foster it was apparent. Meme Lofton, executive assistant and service learning coordinator for GrowHaus, talked about the most crucial parts of the event. “This is a celebration of the 2017 gardening season and we have a lot of seeds donated so people can get them and trade them,” she said. “We also have seedlings, baby chicks, soil, gardening guides specific for Colorado. All the garden essentials.” The event went from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and also offered a day full of classes. Novices could satiate their gardening queries with classes like herb growing and tinctures, while seasoned gardeners could learn about the advanced art of
distribution and education. Mercado De Al Lado is the GrowHaus Neighborhood market offering fresh local produce, meat and dairy of which most items are locally sourced, grown and sold. The market accepts SNAP and prices are tiered to make food accessible to all. Cosechando Salud is the food pantry where cooking classes are also provided teaching the community how to make healthy meals from food found at the market and the pantry. The GrowHaus’ most important mission is to also engage the community to learn the inner workings of their farming production and get residents running the food farms. Benjamin Tregembo, a former intern and education coordinator grew up in the neighborhood and now works on creating sustainable landscaping.
Community resident Amina “This is the fifth seed swap I’ve Syammach and her daughter Rebekah attended,” said Tregembo, who said he twirled on the dance floor. continues to return because he enjoys “This place is like a second home for engaging with the community and us and our community. We love it here,” watching the work they do with the Syammach said. young people. The GrowHaus takes, community inclusion to the next level, touting themselves as the voice for the community. The community is a majority low-income, largely immigrant Latino community and Seed Swap is geared for them. Son Trés, a live band, play Salsa, Merengue, Son Cubano and more. Seven local vendors served up the works for patrons from pupusas to Emma Katz, 5, has her face painted by GrowHaus volunteer Elyse Skinner during her family visit at the event. tamales and enchiladas.
“This place is like a second home for us and our community. We love it here.” – Amina Syammach Denver gardeners look around the event and enjoy the seed display.
mymetmedia.com f: themetropolitan @themetonline
March 15, 2017
10
Colorado’s hidden gem is just a Johnstown away By Avery Anderson aande133@msudenver.edu Up north in Johnstown, there are two distinct theater cornerstones. The first is the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse. This unique theater has brought joy and entertainment for almost 10 years to the Colorado theater community. The second is the fierce and talented skill of Beth Beyer inside the playhouse. Beyer grew up in Colorado Springs and attended the University of Colorado Boulder, where she studied opera, a skill she admits she has not used since graduating. Like many up and coming actors do after graduation, she began her search for stardom or any job that could provide a living. “I worked on a cruise ship right out of college for a year. When I got off the cruise ship I had to decide. Was I going to L.A. or New York? I couldn’t decide,” Beyer said. In the end, New York City was the direction the young actress chose. In the Big Apple, Beyer continued to discover her talent, herself and her passion for the theater. “I got my music degree in school but we didn’t focus on acting at all,” Beyer said. “I was like a decent singer, but I was probably not the best singer in the room. But what I think booked my job was the acting.” After spending 14 years away from Colorado, she knew it was time to come home. So when she saw that the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse was holding auditions for one of her favorite parts, that of Adelaide in ‘Guys and Dolls,’ she jumped at the opportunity and was offered the part. “There’s like a kindred spirit. I connect with her really easily and she’s got so many different facets to her and she’s very vulnerable. She’s very naive but she’s also very wise and funny, just funny,” she said. Since her first encounter with the Candlelight, Beyer has become a staple for almost every production. She has performed in six productions including Dolly Levi in ‘Hello Dolly’ and The Witch in ‘Into the Woods’. Even after all that time, she still says that Adelaide is the role she would always come back to. When taking on any sort of a role, Beyer admits, it is not easy. While she looks so graceful on stage, Beyer said that without research none of these roles would come to life. “A lot of research, whether
Candlelight Dinner Playhouse actress Beth Beyer during an interview. Photos by Andrea Herrera • aherre38@msudenver.edu
it’s watching other productions of it, obviously going through the script. I studied acting in New York for four years with this teacher called Penny Templeton and she’s got a very precise process, I guess. And so, I get my book out, I get my tools out and I go through. And I have very specific things I do when I break down a script. So, I spent a lot of time going through the script and breaking it all down,” Beyer said. Stealing bits and pieces from others, memorization, and surrounding yourself with good people are all things that Beyer mentioned when talking about how she approaches a role. “I worked a lot with Don Berlin at the Candlelight, he’s the main director I worked with there, I worked with Pat Payne too, but mostly Don Berlin who I adore. He always thinks so much before he gets there which, I really appreciate, Beyer said. Not all roles come easily. One stood out for Beyer as being a bigger challenge. “Dolly was really hard. I don’t know if it’s just because of the Carol Channing, Barbra Streisand facet. But I think any time you take on something that it’s been such an iconic thing you don’t want to be that person. You don’t want to go out there and do an impression of Carol Channing doing ‘Hello Dolly’ or Barbra Streisand. And so, I think it was
a little daunting because of those two people. I didn’t want to be them,” she said. Beyer is not just an actress. She is a mother of two boys and runs her own business. Between family, business and her acting career, life can get a little hectic, so she decided to cut down on her stage time. Melanie Townsend remembers seeing Beyer as Dolly Levi and was impressed in her talent, commitment to her craft and her ability to juggle both work and family. “I remember talking to her after the show and how she said she’s has little ones waiting for her back at home and how she had to get them up in the morning for school. Granted, this was at 11 o’clock at night. If there’s one thing I like more than an awesome performer, whose reach extends far beyond a small dinner theater, it’s a kick ass mom who can do it all,” Townsend said. Beth Beyer is a true diamond in our vast Colorado theater community. She has brought many memorable roles to life on stage across the country and right here in our backyard. “At this point where I am right now with my family and everything, that’s all I need. I just need to be able to stretch my muscles every once in awhile,” Beyer said.
Beth Beyer as The Witch in ‘Into the Woods’ at the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse.
tan 5”
f: themetropolitan
mymetmedia.com
Date xx, xxxx
Met March Break Sports Events15, 2017 Review Features Insight
XX 11
YOU AND A GUEST ARE INVITED TO AN ADVANCE SCREENING OF
Image: Shadi Ghadirian, Like EveryDay,#9 (detail), photograph, 2012
@themetonline
ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29TH VISIT GOFOBO.COM/RSVP AND ENTER CODE GITSMETRO FOR YOUR CHANCE TO DOWNLOAD A PASS! WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. ONE PASS PER PERSON. EACH PASS ADMITS TWO.
Feb 3 – Apr 8, 2017 This exhibition of photo-based works reflects
E VENTS
the tension inherent in the presence, or absence,
Artist talk with Golnar Adili Wed 3/29, 5pm
of people in a place, whether in their native land or abroad.
GHOST IN THE SHELL HAS BEEN RATED PG-13 FOR INTENSE SEQUENCES OF SCI-FI VIOLENCE, SUGGESTIVE CONTENT AND SOME DISTURBING IMAGES. PLEASE NOTE: PASSES RECEIVED THROUGH THIS PROMOTION DO NOT GUARANTEE YOU A SEAT AT THE THEATRE. SEATING IS ON A FIRSTCOME, FIRST-SERVED BASIS, EXCEPT FOR MEMBERS OF THE REVIEWING PRESS. THEATRE IS OVERBOOKED TO ENSURE A FULL HOUSE. NO ADMITTANCE ONCE SCREENING HAS BEGUN. ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL REGULATIONS APPLY. A RECIPIENT OF TICKETS ASSUMES ANY AND ALL RISKS RELATED TO USE OF TICKET, AND ACCEPTS ANY RESTRICTIONS REQUIRED BY TICKET PROVIDER. PARAMOUNT PICTURES, METROPOLITAN MEDIA AND THEIR AFFILIATES ACCEPT NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY IN CONNECTION WITH ANY LOSS OR ACCIDENT INCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH USE OF A PRIZE. TICKETS CANNOT BE EXCHANGED, TRANSFERRED OR REDEEMED FOR CASH, IN WHOLE OR IN PART. WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE IF, FOR ANY REASON, RECIPIENT IS UNABLE TO USE HIS/HER TICKET IN WHOLE OR IN PART. ALL FEDERAL AND LOCAL TAXES ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WINNER. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. PARTICIPATING SPONSORS, THEIR EMPLOYEES AND FAMILY MEMBERS AND THEIR AGENCIES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. NO PHONE CALLS!
First & Third Fridays Open Late 6–8pm
IN THEATRES MARCH 31 GhostintheShellMovie.com | /GhostInTheShellMovie @GhostInShell | @GhostInTheShell
965 Santa Fe Drive · msudenver.edu/cva
KARAOKE
THE METROPOLITAN (DENVER, CO)
ENTER FOR THE CHANCE TO WIN AN ADMIT TWO PASS TO SEE
Never a cover charge! Daily from open til close 5” X 7” FS Over 60,000 songs to choose from ALL.GIS-P.0315.MET #1 WEDESDAY 03/15
PROMO AD
FULL MENU Kitchen open til midnight
S.I.N.g MONDAYS 8 p.m.–12 a.m. Service Industry Night $4 Drafts, Mixed Drinks, & Shots
LATIN NIGHT THURSDAYS 9 p.m.–12 a.m.
STOP BY THE METROPOLITAN'S OFFICE AND FILL OUT AN ENTRY FORM. All entries due April 1 at noon. This film is rated PG-13 For sequences of Sci-Fi violence, action and destruction, language, and for some crude humor. The passes will be good for two. The screening is on 3/23 @ 7pm in South Denver. Limit one entry per person. Duplicated entries will be disqualified. Sponsors and their dependents are not eligible to receive a pass. Supplies are limited. All federal, state and local regulations apply. A recipient of prizes assumes any and all risks related to use of prize, and accepts any restrictions required by prize provider. Lionsgate/Summit, BIC, Metropolitan and their affiliates accept no responsibility or liability in connection with any loss or accident incurred in connection with use of prizes. Prizes cannot be exchanged, transferred or redeemed for cash, in whole or in part. Not responsible if, for any reason, winner is unable to use his/her prize in whole or in part. Not responsible for lost, delayed or misdirected entries. All federal, state and local taxes are the responsibility of the winner. Void where prohibited by law. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. NO PHONE CALLS!
IN THEATERS EVERYWHERE ON FRIDAY, MARCH 24!
#Toge the rWe AreMore
# Its MorphinTime
#Powe rRan gersMovie
VOTED DENVER’S BEST KARAOKE 2013-20142015-2016
Bud Light, Margarita, & Svedka Vodka Specials
HAPPY HOURS
SUNDAY thru THURSDAY 4–6 p.m. & 8–10 p.m.
$3 Coors Light drafts & well drinks $4 craft/import drafts, house Chardonnay, Cabernet, & White Zinfandel $5 select appetizers
FRIDAY & SATURDAY 4–11 p.m.
Buy a bucket of ice for $20 & get 5 FREE Corona, Corona Lights, Tecate or Modelo’s $4 beer of the month & liquor of the month
Open 4 p.m.–1:30 a.m. DAILY! 840 N. Lincoln Street Denver, CO 80203 303.837.8921 www.armidas-karaoke.com
Met
Sports
12
mymetmedia.com f: themetropolitan @themetonline
March 15, 2017
Nationwide News
“El Gato” Melendez carries on the Globetrotters legacy
» DeMarcus Ware announces retirement 12-year veteran linebacker DeMarcus Ware announced his retirement from the NFL on March 13. Ware spent the last three years of his career with the Denver Broncos, winning a Super Bowl in 2016. He was with the Dallas Cowboys for the first nine years of his career. Ware is a nine-time Pro-Bowler. He led the league in sacks twice in his career and was named the NFC defensive player of the year in 2008. Ware is eighth on the NFL all-time sack leaders list, and all of the inactive players ahead of him on the list are in the Hall of Fame. Julius Peppers is the only active player ahead of DeMarcus Ware in sacks.
» Nuggets maintain control of playoff seed The Denver Nuggets’ 129-101 rout of the Los Angeles Lakers on March 13 maintained their position as the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoff race. Since Jan. 12, the Nuggets are 18-12 and have the best offensive rating in the NBA at 114.2. Nikola Jokic has been a production machine for the team and is averaging 15.3 points, 11.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game since the all-star break. The Nuggets are currently 32-35 and two games ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers for the final playoff seed in the west.
» NCAA tournament brackets announced The NCAA announced the National Championship brackets on March 12. Defending champion Villanova was named the nation’s No. 1 overall team. North Carolina, Kansas and Gonzaga were the other three regional No. 1 seeds. The ACC led all conferences with nine teams in the field. The Big 10 and the Big East each had seven teams earn a spot in the tournament. The Big 12 had six, the SEC five and the Pac 12 four. The play-in games for the No. 16 seeds were completed on March 14 and 15.
Orlando “El Gato” Melendez prepares for a one-handed, backward half-court shot at the Auraria Event Center on March 14. He made it. Photo by McKenzie Lange • mlange4@msudenver.edu
By David Schaut dschaut@msudenver.edu Orlando “El Gato” Melendez is many things. He’s a former North Carolina Tar Heel. He’s a former professional basketball player. And now, he’s the first native Puerto Rican to play for the Harlem Globetrotters. Melendez started playing basketball at a young age in Puerto Rico. He used to walk two miles to the local basketball court just to get some playing time in. Endeavoring to find a better way to get to the court, Melendez eventually asked his father for a shortcut. On his new route, an encounter with some local felines became a lifelong nickname. “I asked my dad for a shortcut and he said to cut through the sugar cane fields,” Melendez said. “One day I go fix a ham sandwich, and I’m walking through and drop some of the ham. Next thing I know there’s a bunch of cats following me all the way to the basketball court, and then my friends started asking me, ‘Hey, what’s going on with the cats?’ and they started calling me ‘El Gato,’ which means the cat in Spanish.” After Melendez took part in an exchange student program that
allowed him to play his senior high school season at McDowell High School in North Carolina, the University of North Carolina Tar Heels offered him a basketball scholarship. While in college, he was a member of the 2000 Tar Heel team that reached the Final Four. After college, Melendez played professionally in many different countries and leagues. He eventually found his way to a Harlem Globetrotters tryout, where he impressed recruiters and was granted a spot on the team. It was a move that made him the first Puerto Rican-born Globetrotter ever. “It’s something amazing. It goes beyond the Puerto Rican part, now I’m representing Hispanics and Latinos,” Melendez said. “I’m the only Latino on the team right now. It’s something amazing when you represent your land and your country to do the great things we do as Globetrotters. It’s a privilege and an honor to do so.” For those uneducated about the Globetrotters, they are a group that merged athletics and entertainment. They perform seemingly impossible feats with a basketball and incessantly clobber their unfortunate opponents the Generals.
They do all this with microphones attached so they can perform like actors on a Broadway stage and produce funny and interesting storylines for attendees to follow throughout the night. Sometimes they even bring attendees on the court to take part in the performance. Like any other player, Melendez had to undergo a transition from competition to entertainment. Players don’t emerge out of college with the tools that are needed to make a successful Globetrotter. “The hardest part was going from being competitive to showmanship,” he said. “At first it was so hard because you want to compete, and then, ‘Hey, hold on, slow down, we need to do this.’ At first it was so hard to do that transition, but thankfully I’ve got great teammates, great coaches, and we made it.” The history of the Globetrotters and the social role that the team has played throughout its existence is not lost upon Melendez. He recognizes his responsibility to carry on the name of the Globetrotters and its socially conscious history. “We were transcending history, from following Martin Luther
King back in the day to his rallies, to playing a game where one side of the stadium is white and the other side is black and through the whole integration. It’s just something that will never be erased from the books of history, and for us to keep doing it all around the world, for 122 countries and territories, it’s just something amazing. Melendez went on to elaborate on the value he places on the conversation he’s had with Globetrotter great Curly Neal. He said that comparing where society is at now to how it was when Neal was playing was a testament to the progress that’s been made. Melendez knows that the history of the team is a burden to bear for the current members, albeit a positive burden. He is prepared to carry the Globetrotter legacy forward. “We have played for 91 years around the world, not just in the United States. Now, we are representing the United States all over the world in the right way. It takes more than 30 guys to do that, but for us, it’s something to go out there and tell people what we have done and the reasons we did it.”
@themetonline
f: themetropolitan
mymetmedia.com
March 15, 2017
Broncos fail to make a splash early in free agency By James Burky jburky@msudenver.edu The NFL free agency period has begun, signaling the start of the new league year. Blockbuster trades accompanied by potentially franchise changing signings flooded the headlines but a notable team hasn’t made the news: the Denver Broncos. John Elway and the rest of the Broncos front office have made it a priority to upgrade their porous offensive line from a year ago. To do this, the Broncos signed two veteran free agents in tackle Menelik Watson and guard Ronald Leary. However, the signings are underwhelming from a team with Super Bowl aspirations. Leary, who primarily plays left guard, is an interesting player. In 2014 Leary played great. In 2015, he saw limited action thanks to a nagging groin injury and was replaced by La’el Collins. In 2016, Collins suffered an injury. Leary took over, started 13 games and played well. However, he’s coming to a broken offensive line. His struggles could have been masked in Dallas, but that won’t be the case now. This is a step in the right direction for Denver, as any addition is an improvement over what they had in 2016, but by no means is it a franchise changing move.
Vegas has been home to some of the best head-to-head sports matchups in history: Tyson vs. Holyfield, McGregor vs. Diaz and now Virtus Pro vs. Astralis. The last one may not sound familiar, but in the world of eSports and Counter Strike: Global Offensive, this is one of the most exciting professional gaming matchups a fan could hope to see. DreamHack Masters, a premiere Sweden-based eSports tournament
Roadrunner News conference competition
Newly signed Denver Bronco Menelik Watson speaks at a press conference while a member of the Oakland Raiders. Photo from Flickr.
Watson plays primarily right tackle. He’s a physical blocker with a 6’5”, 315 lb frame, but has a history of injuries. Since being drafted in the second round in 2013, Watson has played in just 27 games and started 17 games. He had first round potential coming out of Florida State and could still be a good guard, but he’s 28-years-old and playing with less experience than a number of second year linemen. He
SK Gaming plays on the main stage during the semifinals of DreamHack Masters Las Vegas. The tournament was hosted by MGM. Photo by Matt Stefanski • mstefan@msudenver.edu
mstefan@msudenver.edu
13
» Softball dismantling
showed in the postseason that he has no business playing left tackle against more athletic edge rushers like Jadeveon Clowney. Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack and Justin Houston would probably do much of the same. The Broncos need to make more moves. Elway doesn’t have the same touch in free agency as he did in 2013 and 2014 and the team could struggle because of it.
The offensive line needs serious help and with two middle-ofthe-road signings, the line is only in slightly better shape. It’s okay to be frugal in this period if the talent isn’t there, but being frugal for the sake of being frugal has prevented many teams in the past from taking that next step to championship contenders and could keep the Broncos from doing the same.
DreamHack Masters kicks off North American tour
By Matt Stefanski
Met Sports
series, descended upon Vegas from Feb. 15-19, pitting the top 16 teams in the world against each other for a prize pool of $450,000. The four-day CS:GO tournament hosted teams and players from countries such as the United States, Canada, England, Sweden, Poland, Denmark and China, all vying for a chance to take home the $200,000 first place finish and the Master’s cup. Fans from around the world flocked to Vegas to cheer for their home country’s teams. “We went to school with Nicolai [Reedtz],” Christian Andersen said
of one of the Danish players, who goes by the in-game name Device and plays for Astralis, the current top team in CS:GO. “We talked with him a bit. It’s just interesting, you gather all of these top pros in a casino, and they’re just sitting at the tables like it’s nothing and anyone can walk up to them.” DreamHack Masters Las Vegas kicked off a five-event tour in North America, spanning across the entire 2017 calendar year, and will visit cities such as Atlanta, Montreal and Denver. DreamHack is known as the world’s largest digital festival, and holds the official world record as the largest Local Area Network party. DreamHack events consist of a LAN party, DreamExpo – a trade show for gaming hardware and software companies – concerts, parties and both amateur and professional eSports. CompLexity is a Los Angeles based team, but their CS:GO team resides in Aurora, Colorado. According to team member Michael Stappels, it’s not necessarily a love for the mountains or the Broncos, but instead a strategic advantage. “It’s in central America, and servers are based in central
America about 90 percent of the time, and we get a great ping advantage,” Stappels said, “it’s not like playing on LAN at all, but it’s as close as you can get.” The geographic advantage he speaks of is of the midwestern U.S. The ping advantage Stappels speaks of is the latency between the server and the player’s computer. The lower the ping, the faster the server and player communicate. This means that if a player has a low ping their actions are received sooner than a player with a higher ping. Stappels and CompLexity look forward to the October DreamHack event in Denver. “I feel like it’s North America’s home turf,” said Stappels of the Denver event, “If there is a Counter Strike event, we’d have to qualify, obviously, we probably wouldn’t get an invite, but that wouldn’t stop us, definitely not.” DreamHack Denver will be the fourth DreamHack event in the U.S. and wll be hosted Oct. 20-22 at the National Western Complex. DreamHack Denver is confirmed to be host to the Halo Championship Series North American Fall Finals and is also confirmed as a stop on the world Hearthstone Grand Prix.
The MSU Denver softball team continued their conferencedominating play March 11-2 with a four-game sweep of the Fort Lewis Skyhawks. Three of the games ended in five innings after the mercy rule was applied. The Roadrunners outscored the Skyhawks 60-12 in the four games. Junior Carissa Terry led the team in RBIs over the weekend with nine, while senior Colissa Bakovich finished with eight. Pitchers Cassidy Smith and Hayley Fields both recorded two wins in the four total games. Fields is now 5-1 on the season and Smith is 7-4. The Runners have not lost a game since they began conference play on Feb. 26. They have won 12 in a row and are in first place in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
» Baseball continues winning ways The Roadrunner baseball team won three games of a four games series with New Mexico Highlands March 10-12 to improve their overall record to 9-9. The weekend continued a streak of good play for the team, which has won five of its past seven games. Junior Cale O’Donnell has batted in the most runs for the team thus far in the season and has 18 RBIs. Junior Hunter Donaldson is right behind him with 15 of his own. Junior pitcher Beecher Strube has the most wins on the team and has a 3-2 record with a 5.55 ERA. The Runners are currently fourth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. They travel to Golden March 17-19 to take on Colorado School of Mines.
» Tennis teams sweep the weekend The women’s and men’s tennis teams had undefeated weekends March 10-12. The women’s team had three matches. They beat Colorado Christian, CSUPueblo and Hastings College to improve their record to 8-4. They are currently in first place in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The men’s team beat Colorado Christian and CSUPueblo to improved 5-2 overall and maintained their position at the top of the RMAC standings.
14
Mile High March 15, 2017
Auraria Events 03.15
Visiting Artist Masterclass: Dave King Open to everyone
Location Price Time 03.16
Location Price Time 03.16
Arts Building, 295 Free 2 p.m. MSU Denver Symphony Orchestra Featuring Concerto Competition Winners King Center $8-$12 7:30 p.m. RoadRunners Give Back Monthly Volunteering Event
Location Price Time 03.17
Denver Rescue Free 4:30 p.m. Third Friday Art Walk
Open to everyone Location Price Time
Center for Visual Art Free 6 p.m.
Politically Direct, MSU Denver’s only show dedicated to politics, airs Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Catch Devyn Deeter discuss the week’s news with a guest. Mymetmedia.com
Other News >>Trending • Gamer dies after a 22 hour -streaming session on Twitch, leading a debate on the side effects of live-stream gaming. • “DoNotPay”, the world’s first robot lawyer, helps refugees and asylum seekers in both the U.S. and U.K.
Events
mymetmedia.com f: themetropolitan @themetonline
Concerts 03.15 Location Price Time
Enter Shikari Summit Music Hall $16-$18 7 p.m.
03.16 Location Price Time
Big Gigantic Fox Theatre $42.50 9 p.m.
03.17 Location Price Time
Excision 1STBANK Center $20-$75 6 p.m.
03.15 Location Price Time
Ann Wilson Paramount Theater $34.50 8 p.m.
03.16 Location Price Time
Joey Fatts Roxy Theatre $15 6:30 p.m.
03.17 Location Price Time
Oliver Heldens The Church $20 9 p.m.
03.15 Location Price Time
Slothrust Larimer Lounge $10-$12 8 p.m.
03.16 Location Price Time
TEQNiK G The Black Sheep $15-25 7 p.m.
03.17 Location Price Time
Panic! at the Disco Pepsi Center $29.50 7 p.m.
03.15 Location Price Time
Atlus Genius Fox Theatre $18-$20 9 p.m.
03.16 Location Price Time
The Griswolds Marquis Theater $18-$20 7 p.m.
03.17 Location Price Time
Whiskey Myers Grizzly Rose $12 8 p.m.
03.15 Location Price Time
Cedric Gervais Belly Up Aspen $20-$35 9:30 p.m.
03.16 Location Price Time
Trentemøller Bluebird Theater $22.50-$25 9 p.m.
03.17 Location Price Time
TAUK Ogden Theatre $15-$20 9 p.m.
Other News
Met Sports
• Video of a smoking iPhone 7 goes viral, raising questions about smartphone safety.
SPORT Baseball
SPORT Softball
03.17 Location Price Time
03.18 Location Price Time
vs. CCU Denver varies 12p.m.
•U.S. Forest Service crews are trying to revive habitat for Mountain Plovers and other prairie species by burning 785 acres on the Pawnee National Grassland in northern Colorado. • Scientists have been finding evidence that loud noises — from rock concerts, leaf blowers, power tools and the like — damage our hearing in a previously unsuspected way. It may not be immediately noticeable, and it does not show up in standard hearing tests.
vs. Mines Golden varies 4 p.m.
Pro Sports 03.15 Location Price Time
Avalanche vs. Detroit Pepsi Center varies 8 p.m.
03.18 Location Price Time
Nuggets vs. Rockets Pepsi Center varies 7:30 p.m.
03.16 Location Price Time
Nuggets vs. Clippers Pepsi Center varies 7 p.m.
03.18 Location Price Time
Rapids vs. Minn. United Commerce City Varies 7 p.m.
Met
Break
f: themetropolitan
mymetmedia.com
Horoscopes
Overheard this week
Capricorn
For centuries, great thinkers have contemplated the purpose of life. It’s best to just relax and assume they’ve figured it out.
You’ve been pre-gaming for spring break since the semester started, which seemed like a dumb idea to the rest of us until right about now.
If you’ve ever regretted not pursuing a career in bullfighting, this week may bring an accidental chance to start over.
July 23 - August 22 Try to remember that what happens at spring break DOES NOT stay at spring break. Except your dignity.
Virgo
Pisces
“No it’s fine, I didn’t throw up, I just
“The sooner you fall behind, the more
Your spring break plans may have come up rather quickly, but your grades won’t after your midterm scores are added in.
There’s a price to pay to the party gods for people who spend their spring breaks studying. Remember that.
Aries
time you’ll have to catch up.”
Though you’re planning on using spring break to relax, that’s just not going to happen. Might as well comes to terms with it now rather than later.
Except for the twerking.”
You’ll actually have a really good time this spring break, the stars foresee, which is funny because you’re generally an unlucky duck.
Scorpio
Taurus
Did you really think you were going to do anything but sleep and work over spring break? No? Good, the stars didn’t either.
telling you, she’s cool as hell.”
Across 1. Gawk 5. Pang 9. Piece of land 14. Very proper 15. Bank transaction 16. Firearm 17. Wristwatch info 18. Uncover 19. Korean, e.g. 20. Appetizers 22. Fashion’s ____ Cardin 23. Oscar Wilde, e.g. 25. Chow down 26. Tell again 29. Poetic work 30. Confess (2 wds.) 31. Part of TLC 32. Spider’s creation 35. Pod dwellers 36. Group of rooms 38. Toothed wheel 39. Psychic ability (abbr.) 40. Comic ____ Carvey 41. Rub out 42. Terminate 43. Commanded 45. Bunny’s jump 48. Discontinuance 50. Flowering shrub 52. Audience member 56. Defeated one 57. Bad mood 58. Certain nobleman
The stars say it’s best to cut ties with everyone over vacation if you want any chance of restoring your sanity before the semester restarts.
59. Start 60. Revered person 61. Slender 62. Prophets 63. Window glass 64. Neckwear items
“Sleeping.” — Cassie Ballard “Traveling to Glenwood Springs.” — Madison Lauterbach “Getting as far away from Esteban as possible.” — David Schaut “Not sh*t.” —Joella Baumann
At some point over break, you’re going to get tattoo fever. Follow it, and don’t listen to anyone that tells you not to get “YOLO” tattooed.
Sagittarius
“Listening to Weezer with my cat.” - James Burky
November 22 - December 21
May 21 - June 20
you try hard enough.” Hear or see something that makes you laugh? Shake your head? Roll your eyes or say WTF? Tweet it to @themetonline with the hashtag #overheardoncampus
October 23 -November 21
Gemini
“Any bag of chips is one serving if
— Andrew Crosthwaite
September 23 - October 22
April 20 - May 20
“She introduced me to hummus. I am
“I am getting a cavity filled.”
Libra
March 21 -April 19
“Everything you did was perfect.
— Esteban Fernandez
August 23 - September 22
February 19 - March 20
cried a little bit.”
“I will be outside of time and space.”
Leo
Aquarius
normal in this class?”
What are you going to do over spring break?
June 21 - July 22
January 20 - February 18
“Why don’t we ever do anything
15
Met Picks:
Cancer
December 22 - January 19
March 15, 2017
No one will have more good, unclean fun over spring break than you, so be careful who you drag along on your vacation adventures.
Down 1. Makes a choice 2. Sand 3. South American capital 4. Professor ____ 5. Although 6. Not fine 7. Stern
8. Vane letters 9. Apprentice 10. ____ and shine! 11. Flaming 12. Santa ____ 13. Doctrine 21. Pitfall 22. San Diego athlete 24. Defensive trench 26. Lasso 27. Sheep mamas 28. Finger sound 31. Spy org. 32. ____ and tear 33. Alleviate 34. Brought up 36. Yule visitor 37. Take apart 38. Most environmentally friendly 40. Abandons 41. Rim 43. Alternative 44. Infant’s toy 45. Angelic symbols 46. Atmosphere layer 47. Old-fashioned 49. Chinese mammal 51. Malicious look 53. Painter Salvador ____ 54. Famed canal 55. Stately trees 57. Small drink
Source: http://www.onlinecrosswords.net
Sudoku
Difficulty: Medium
Difficulty: Hard
Answers:
@themetonline
Rachel B. Noel Distinguished Visiting Professorship Featuring: Aishah Simmons March 26–27, 2017 For more information visit msudenver.edu/noel.
SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017
Community Keynote Speech 3–4:30 p.m. Location Shorter Community AME Church 3100 Richard Allen Court Denver, CO 80205
MONDAY, MARCH 27, 2017
Campus Keynote Speech 12:30–1:45 p.m. Film Screening and Q&A 2–3:15 p.m. Location St. Cajetan’s, Auraria Campus 777 Lawrence St. Denver, CO 80204