Volume 39, Issue 18 - January 18, 2017

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The Student Voice of MSU Denver

Volume 39, Issue 18

January 18, 2017

A peaceful gathering amid political tensions

Bridget Johnson closes her eyes in an intimate moment during the national anthem at the MLK Marade on Jan. 15. in Denver. Photo by McKenzie Lange • mlange4@msudenver.edu

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

– Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Coverage of Denver’s MLK Day marade can be found on page 3 >>

Features

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Opinion

Women work toward bipartisan legislature

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Retrospective of the Obama era

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Sports

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News

The force behind sci-fi cinema’s most iconic costumes

Familial bond through basketball

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Women push past partisan barriers

By Esteban Fernandez Eferna14@msudenver.edu

State legislators came together as friends and coworkers instead of partisan opponents at the annual Colorado Legislative Women’s Caucus at the Warwick Hotel Jan. 12.

Held every year on the second day of the legislative season, the event is sponsored by groups such as the Colorado Women’s Bar Association and Xcel energy. The event also invites male state representatives and senators, as well as members of the Colorado Supreme Court and Governor’s office.

The reception provided an opportunity for lawmakers to gather in an informal setting for food and drinks where they can better get to know each other.

“If I know you a little better outside the Capitol, I may work better with you inside the Capitol,” said Amy Stephens, co-chair of the caucus and former Republican representative for Colorado House District 19.

Colorado continuously ranks high when it comes to the number of women serving in the state legislature. The caucus is composed of both Democrat and Republican representatives, and any woman elected to Colorado’s General Assembly is automatically made part of the group.

“It provides an atmosphere of congeniality among the women of the house and senate. That environment that the women create in the house and the

senate provides a better working - I think environment for all of the legislature,” said Suzanne Williams, outgoing co-chair and former state senator. “Many of our men leaders have told publicly and privately that they appreciate the women who are part of the legislature because they bring in a tone of working together and that’s what the legislature’s about. Working together for best policies.”

Freshmen legislators also have the opportunity to meet their new colleagues at the reception. Donald Valdez, representative for House District 62, said, “It’s an honor to be here and represent southern Colorado.”

Leslie Herod, freshman legislator for HD-8, said that although she was excited, she still found the experience of being a new legislator chaotic and praised her new colleagues for their support.

“The support of the Colorado House members and Senate members on both sides of the aisle, Democrats and Republicans, to kind of help us get our feet wet and jump right in has been phenomenal,” Herod said.

This year, the caucus is in the midst of a leadership change. Former state representative Dianne Primavera is taking over from Suzanne Williams as co-chair of the group along with Stephens. Williams has led the caucus for the past five years while Stephens is a relative newcomer.

Williams said that the group changes every year as do its goals and that it’s possible that the group may take a greater

advocacy role when it comes to sponsoring or promoting legislation. However, Stephens denied that the caucus gets involved in pushing any agenda. She stressed that the primary purpose of the group is to create an atmosphere conducive for bipartisan cooperation. Williams said that in future years the caucus may want to sponsor legislation and that the caucus was a good way to ensure women had a voice in state politics. To the knowledge of both Stephens and Primavera, the caucus has never taken an active role in politics.

Primavera said that although there may be a difference of opinion on the role of the caucus going forward, anytime that communication and goodwill can be fostered it helps get more things done. The caucus holds a board meeting a month after the start of the legislative session where members determine the direction of the group for the year.

“Maybe with Amy being new blood and me being new blood we’ll have a different direction than they had in the past, or maybe it’ll wind up being the same. I don’t know,” Primavera said.

However, Colorado Democrats and Republicans found unanimous agreement on the importance of having women participate in politics.

“Woman add a really well rounded perspective. We see things differently.

We gather around issues differently,” Stephens said.

Fight is on for healthcare in Denver

By Cassie Ballard cballar7@msudenver.edu

Protesters came together to endure the cold and risk their own health to fight for health care.

On Jan. 15, protesters huddled at the state capitol for the Save Health Care rally. Th is followed an earlier rally Congresswoman Diana Degette-D held a to save the Affordable Care Act. Protesters flew signs that read “stop ACA repeal” and “don’t make America sick again” while Rep. Salazar opened as the speaker.

“Health care is a right. It is not a privilege,” said Salazar. “I mean my god. Th is is a human right. How many industrialized countries throughout the world provide affordable healthcare to their constituents?”

The crowd chanted back “all of them.”

Salazar replied the United States does not.

While the ACA is still intact, the Republican congress made moves to repeal it with no replacement. The action could leave many with little ability to pay for more expensive coverage.

One speaker, Brian Andersen, told the crowd that he was once a soft ware developer in equity trading on Wall Street.

He chose computer science over music school because he knew he had to afford healthcare for a pre-existing diagnosis of Crohn’s disease, which he said was only

made affordable by the ACA. “I have been successful at getting good jobs, climbing the corporate ladder.

I’ve never been poor and I have never even been involuntarily unemployed, but I still can’t make enough to pay for my healthcare,” said Andersen.

January 18, 2017

MetStaff Editor-in-Chief Joella Baumann • jbauma17@msudenver.edu Managing Editor Keenan McCall • kmccall3@msudenver.edu News Editor Esteban Fernandez • eferna14@msudenver.edu Assistant News Editor Cassie Ballard • cballar7@msudenver.edu Features Editor Chris Bjork • cbjork1@msudenver.edu Assistant Features Editor Becky Thompson • rthompson@msudenver.edu Sports Editor David Schaut • dschaut@msudenver.edu Assistant Sports Editor Jake Howard • jhowar50@msudenver.edu Web Editor Devyn Deeter • ddeeter@msudenver.edu Photo Editor Lauren Cordova • scordo22@msudenver.edu Assistant Photo Editor McKenzie Lange • mlange4@msudenver.edu Page Layout Madyson Smarr • msmarr@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 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 State Rep. Joseph Salazar speaks at the Save our Healthcare Rally in front of the Colorado State Capitol on Jan. 15. Photo by Lauren Cordova • scordo22@msudenver.edu

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Rain or Snow, Martin Luther King Marade takes Denver

By Keenan McCall kmccall3@msudenver.edu

Despite inclement weather and political tensions, Coloradans turned out for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day marade.

Amid falling snow and below freezing temperatures, participants surrounded the MLK memorial statue for the 33rd annual march and parade. Activist groups of all stripes came out with signs calling for unity and awareness of social issues, while Colorado residents made small talk and listened to the many speakers for the event around the MLK memorial statue in Civic Center Park.

“Despite the snow, despite the cold, we’ve never needed this more,” -Rep. Diana Degette Though the organizers were worried the current political climate and weather would discourage attendees, the event saw decent attendance and remained largely peaceful.

During her speech, Rep. Diana Degette spoke on the importance of taking time to come out and show support for social progress.

“Despite the snow, despite the cold, we’ve never needed this more,” she said.

The crowd only became restless when Colorado Rep. Mike Coff man took to the podium for a pre-march speech. Facing criticism for voting to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Coff man’s speech was drowned out at times by booing and calls from protesters of “No repeal.”

Past this however, attendees were happy to attend the celebrated event. Long time supporter Maria Alaniz, carrying heart shaped balloons and a portrait of MLK Jr., was glad to continue a long time tradition.

“I’ve been coming for 20 years now,” Alaniz said. “I come every year almost.”

Other attendees braved the cold to show a desire for solidarity with groups seeking progress. Ryan Campbell, program manager for the Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Breakfast at MSU Denver, brought together students and alumni to show their support for peaceful demonstrations.

“In the recent election, people realized we need to come together,” Campbell said.

He also saw it as a good way to celebrate the life and accomplishments of MLK Jr. “To commemorate a great leader from our country,” Campbell said.

Austin George, a member of the activist group Boomer’s Needing Change, was impressed with the overall turnout for the event and glad residents didn’t let the weather deter them.

“Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean we can’t come together,” he said.

Maria Alaniz celebrates Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday during the MLK Marade in Denver on Jan. 15. Alaniz has been attending the Marade for nearly 20 years. Photo by McKenzie Lange • mlange4@msudenver.edu

News Briefs MSU Denver >> MSU Denver President Search MSU Denver interviewed the first of three finalists for position of University President. Louis Caldera is a West Point graduate and former Secretary of the Army in the Obama Adminstration. He served as President of the University of New Mexico from 2003 to 2006. The other finalists names have not been released.

National >> Presidential Inaguaration

James Wood carries a 10 foot cross through the crowd during the MLK Marade on January 15. Wood is with Cross-Walk Ministries in Denver.

Photo by McKenzie Lange • mlange4@msudenver.edu

Donald Trump will be inaugurated as the 45th president of the United States on Jan. 20. Among the audience in Washington, D.C. will be outgoing president Barack Obama as well as several ex-presidents.

The Women’s March on Washington will be one of several protests in response across the country on Jan. 21. Look for coverage on the Denver protest from The Metropolitan next week.

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Opinion

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January 18, 2017

Met Opinion

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Reflecting on eight years of Obama As the Obama administration transfers their power to Trump and his cabinet, we reflect on what the past eight years meant for us and how we changed along the way

By David Schaut dschaut@msudenver.edu It seems like much more than eight years since we saw the end of the George W. Bush’s terms and the beginning of the Obama years. Back then, I was just a wee high school junior with the world on a pedestal. What a difference eight years makes. I remember the Iraq and Afghanistan headlines of the Bush years

like yesterday. News like, “No WMD’s found in Iraq”, and “More troops to be deployed to Afghanistan” was rampant.

Those headlines were replaced with news of Osama Bin Laden’s death, troops returning home and non-violent resolutions that keep nuclear material out of the hands of our enemy. While the debate about whether we’re better off after the Obama years or worse will rage on, I’m just glad that fewer American men and women are dying overseas.

By Philip Warburton pwarbur2@msudenver.edu Eight Years ago, I was just a middle schooler. Everything seemed so simple and innocent. My friends and I didn’t care what each other thought. We were content just hanging out during recess. As I grew older, things naturally became very different. I

By Keenan McCall kmccall3@msudenver.edu

By Esteban Fernandez eferna14@msudenver.edu Eight years ago when Barack Obama was sworn into the Oval Office, I was one year away from graduating from CU Boulder. That fall semester, the Great Recession hit.

Despite that, I was still a young, bushy tailed college kid putting off responsibility and having fun. Although I was aware of what was happening, it all seemed so far away. Global events were fun, but didn’t impact me.

Time shattered that attitude. After graduation, it was a struggle to find work. Even living at two dollars above minimum wage was still not a living wage.

Everywhere that paid well required two

By Joella Bauman jbauma17@msudenver.edu I’ve never been one to find infatuation in movie stars or boy bands. Nor could I understand people’s sheer excitement at meeting any of those aforementioned people. Yet as a bright-eyed 19-year-old high school graduate meeting my future president gave me all the feels. I remember being frisked by secret services and nudging my way as close as I could to the stage with my younger sister and my mother. I remember being in awe of this amazingly eloquent black man, so different from the ones I had met in my lifetime,

years experience for entry level. Radio and news became an escape to a world that seemed at times realer than the banality of everyday life.

Two years into Obama’s second term, I resolved to become a journalist. I’ve realized the importance of making the most out of opportunities. I returned to school to begin a career. And yet, the rough years working with people I would never have interacted with as a rich kid from Massachusetts taught me humility.

I know who I want to be, but I still have much to learn and do before becoming that person. Donald Trump enters office as my 20’s end. And yet, the rough years behind me gave me the experience I need to make my 30’s count.

telling me that my voice and my vote mattered and that I should put my hope in him. I can’t describe how lucky I felt that I got to shake his hand and my notions of grandeur when I turned out in the cold to vote for our first black president. I voted for him again four years later and I felt just as proud. There hasn’t been a moment of doubt in my head once in the last eight years that this man has lead our country in the right direction. As he leaves office a different feeling grips my heart. A feeling of uncertainty and fear for the future of our country, the future of my boy. I have a different kind of hope now. A hope that my son grows up in the same America I did.

Have a counter opinion to the ones published this week? Have a different topic you’d like to present your view on? Submit your piece to Managing Editor Keenan McCall through kmccall525@gmail.com or themetonline@gmail.com.

It’s crazy to think it has been eight years since Obama became president.

It was my freshman year of highschool when he was first elected and no matter where I looked, there was someone talking about how monumental it was for him to win. They talked about how groundbreaking his presidency would be and how much the world was going to change moving forward.

Looking back now, there certainly were ways my world was changed. In his first term, the great Recession hit in full force and my parents lost most of their money in the market. They’d talk with me about how rough it would get once I started job searching, convincing me to apply for college and pursue it in earnest.

The conflicts between Obama and the GOP showed me how imperfect government

By Chris Bjork cbjork2@msudenver.edu Following the recent polarized election and the stir that accumulated in America’s political spectrum after the race, I’ve begun to do some reflecting revolving my life as an American citizen. In the past eight years I have been fortunate enough to live during the first African American president and witness the impact his two terms made on a global level as well as a personal level for me. Even today, I often overhear and

By Cassie Ballerd cballer7@msudenver.edu Eight years ago, on election day, I was scrambling to place my first vote as a legal-aged citizen. I was in a small town between Aspen and Glenwood Springs called El Jebel, Colo., anxiously reading up on the laws while sitting in the front lobby

became very conscious about the state of the world, and I began to change many of my own perspectives about how things are. Even with my own demeanor, I made friends with all different types of people. It was nice to see all different kinds of people coming together and just having a good time enjoying each others’ company.

really is, and how colliding opinions can leave those in need unhelped.

When the Affordable Care Act, part of Obama’s namesake, was passed, it became easier for my brother to afford life saving medications. Race became a less subtle undertone to discussions with my friends and parents, leading to big revelations about the world around me.

I won’t say that the past eight years were great. They had ups and downs, and Obama wasn’t the man who would come and save the country. But then, a man like that doesn’t exist. He was a normal human being, and considering that, he did a damn good job with the hand he was dealt.

He still changed the lives of many Americans, myself included. I grew up in the Obama presidency, and I’m glad for all the good and the bad that came with it. Thank you for the last eight years Mr. President. You will be missed.

participate in conversations that revolve around what makes a good president. In my relatively short life, President Obama has made the the biggest impact for me.

I could ramble on about why I believe this, but the bigger topic is how people are reacting to our upcoming 45th president, Donald Trump. I personally feel that this transitioning period in politics feels like I’m participating in a very poignant moment in American history and I’m grateful to be able to live through it.

of an elementary school. Unfortunately, I had applied for a mail-in ballot in Denver without remembering. When I got to the front of the line, they informed me I was registered in a different county, as though I was an idiot or something. It turned out to be OK because I was going to vote for Ralph Nader. Apparently that is a throw away vote. In 2012 I did everything right and voted for Nader… for real.

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Denver Art Museum plays with the power of creation

By Kayla Klein kgash1@msudenver.edu The Star Wars: Power of the Costume exhibit at the Denver Art Museum greeted intergalactic travelers with George Lucas’ famous words: “You can’t do it unless you imagine it.”

Those words symbolize the imagination that everyone behind the scenes of Star Wars exerted to make what reads as effortless on screen.

“You’re not coming just to look at costumes,” said project lead, Stefania Van Dyke. “We want you to think about all the creativity that went into it.”

The exhibit began with an elevated display of Jedi Knights battling Sith Lords who represent

“You can’t do it unless you imagine it.”

– George Lucas

good and evil respectively. The rough fabric used in the Jedi robes symbolizes purity, while the Sith are adorned in sleek, black ensembles.

Following a trip through the art studio, the next room paid homage to the queens. Queen Amidala’s costume from Episode I: The Phantom Menace came to fruition from costume designer Ian McCaig’s mistake. According to Van Dyke, after sketching the initial costume idea, McCaig crumpled the paper and threw the drawing away. When the designers gathered to present their ideas, McCaig took the drawing out of the trash and smoothed it, so he would have more drawings.

He traced the wrinkles in black ink, and from the wrinkles, a textured fabric was born and used for the costume.

In the Outlaws & Outsiders room, guests viewed the sketches of famous creatures like Jabba the Hutt, who didn’t always look like the stumpy, round galaxy gangster the world recognizes today.

Much like Jabba the Hutt, another beloved character didn’t originate as the world now knows

Visitors filter through the Star Wars Costume Exhibit at the Denver Art Museum.

Many admire the orginal costumes of iconic figures, such as Bounty Hunters Boba Fett and Jango Fett. Photos by Karson Hallaway • cgonza88@msudenver.edu

him: Chewbacca. Lucas wanted the Wookiee to take after his dog, so the first drawings depicted him as a lemur-like creature, Van Dyke said. However, since Chewbacca transformed into a hairy beast, his costume followed suit, consisting of 15 pounds of yak hair that constituted a cooling suit in some of the fi lms.

“You’re not coming just to look at costumes. We want you to think about all the creativity that went into it” – Stefania Van Dyke The military costumes brought up yet another hidden gem: Greeblies. Costume designers found and reimagined everyday objects onto the costumes to make them look more complex and futuristic. For instance, the food capsules on Luke Skywalker’s belt are actually pen caps.

The next room was home to C-3PO, R2-D2 and BB-8. Despite looking robotic on screen, C-3PO was actually a costume worn by an actor. R2-D2 had two models: A robotic model that glided on wheels and a human-inhabited model that scuffles. He was originally imagined to roll, but technology at the time was not advanced enough to see that dream to maturity. Instead, BB8, the droid from the 2015 fi lm “The Force Awakens,” rolled as fi lmmakers would have liked for R2-D2.

As viewers passed through the Galactic Senate, they viewed costumes from the galaxies’ governing bodies. Each costume was meant to represent the state of a particular galaxy. Thus, the representative of the water planet had tentacles.

Next was Padmé’s Journey, which showcased eloquent and complex costumes worn by Natalie Portman’s character, Padmé Amidala. Van Dyke explained that one costume designer quit the profession after spending eight months on a costume that aired for roughly 30 seconds.

Darth Vader overlooked the final room. Lucas wanted the dark character to resemble a Japanese samurai warrior. The movies used two different helmets: one

Thursday, January 12th, 2017, the Star Wars Costume Exhibit at the Denver Art Museum provides an in-depth study to the mediums used to construct the functioning costumes. The First Order Stormtrooper here (front) is made of polyurethane.

for most scenes and one for stunt scenes. The stunt helmet had a translucent bottom to allow the stunt actor a better range of sight.

After Vader and before the exhibit’s end sat Yoda, the Jedi Master. Yoda was supposed to be played by a monkey, but instead was cast to a puppeteer. Despite his small stature, his 900 years of

wisdom were etched in his worn robe and wrinkled forehead.

With over 70 costumes from all but the most recent Star Wars fi lm, the Denver Art Museum shared the power of creativity with all of its visitors, and the force with just a few of the chosen ones.

If you go Star Wars and the power of Costume will be on display at the Hamilton building at the DAM until April 2 To purchase tickets go online at tickets.denverartmuseum.org

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January 18, 2017

At Helikon art is anything but exclusive

By Keenan McCall kmcall1@msudenver.edu

At the Helikon art gallery, art is something everyone can enjoy and support.

Sitting in the middle of downtown Denver, Helikon isn’t like most other galleries around it. Commissioning local artists, it displays pieces related to science fiction, fantasy and other pop culture topics, drawing in a wide array of people that usually wouldn’t be interested in attending or shopping at art galleries.

For Cayce Goldberg, the director of Helikon, this is exactly what he wants the gallery to accomplish.

“I think that we’ve been led, in so many cases, to believe that art is this untouchable, almost ivory tower kind of thing where if you don’t have a degree in art, you don’t get it,” Goldberg said. “The goal in these entertaining pop culture shows with locals is to show people what’s going on and secondly to show them that art is something that you can just get into.”

To this end, Goldberg has stayed committed to hosting shows with themes that those outside of the art community could be engaged by. The most recent Gallery director Cayse Goldberg waits for guests to arrive at Helikon Gallery and example of this was Gameplay: A Tribute to Video Games. Opened Studios in Denver’s RiNo district on Nov. 4. Goldberg has his own art studio at his family-run gallery. Photo by Taelyn Livingston • tliving4@msudenver.edu Nov. 3, the exhibit accompanied

the gallery’s yearly Muses of Mount Helikon event, an exhibition of art from big name artists across the country. It offered works from local artists inspired by the history and culture of video games. Paintings, tapestries and woodcarvings lined the walls of the studio space, each piece referencing popular games like “The Sims,” “Super Mario Bros.” and “Sonic the Hedgehog.”

The majority of the art offered at the exhibit was made by local artists and illustrators. Many of these artists attended during Gameplay’s opening night and the First Friday art walk to meet with the gallery’s patrons. Nicole Grosjean, an illustrator who created works based on the indie games “Bastion” and “Transistor,” was happy to see the positive reception by patrons.

“A lot of people come in and they’re really excited to see pieces from video games,” Grosjean said.

“People are talking about a certain game and how it reminds them of that.”

Attendee Brian Ibeling was glad to see an exhibit dedicated to video games and their culture.

“I think it’s really awesome Denver has something like this,” Ibeling said. “I don’t think a lot of cities would.”

Shaina Kumar, another attendee, was impressed by the quality of the pieces provided and appreciated the inclusion of pieces

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on obscur games.

“A lot stand out,” Kumar said. “I like the one of ‘Jet Set Radio.’”

Goldberg hopes these exhibits will draw in a new audience of art collectors and supporters through fans of different areas of pop culture, providing them with art they want to buy and exposing them to other types of art in the process.

“These are the kinds of pieces that gamers might actually want to put on their walls,” Goldberg said.

“Then they can start collecting art and start to even maybe broaden their horizons and realize ‘Wow, I’ve seen some stuff here that’s not even video game related and I love it.’”

If you go Location: 3675 Wynkoop St., Denver, CO 80216 Contact: (720) 502-5635 email: info@ helikongallery.com Website: helikongallery. com

Camaraderie and competition collide at 1 UP pinball tournament

By Cassie Ballard cballar7@msudenver.edu M Insert quarters, pull the plunger, release and watch the steel ball shoot through the course. Rejoice, as every boisterous collision is beneficial and the board begins to explode with sound and color.

The only control comes from the flippers and the sporadic hipbump that the tilt will hopefully not heed to. Some plan the course they will take while some take it spontaneously. All hope for the glorious finish.

Most people have experienced the pleasure of playing the age-old game of pinball. Whether they played it in an arcade or on their computer, while they patiently wasted time until their mother’s phone call ended and they could get back to chatting on the dial-up internet. Some Colorado children may have even had their first try in the arcade room of Casa Bonita. No matter what age or background, nearly every person can nostalgically think back to playing it at least once.

For some, this nostalgic joy has returned to a current reality.

Recently, pinball arcades have grown in popularity in Colorado

and around the world. Fanatics not only play, but compete in a small yet growing community.

There are leagues, rankings and tournaments. A gamer’s sport that can be appreciated in many locations across the state and world.

Helena Walter, now Higgins, is the number one ranking female pinball player in the world. Higgins was born in Sweden and on her first visit to the United States, she won first place in a B division competition in New York. She was the first women to do so.

She recently married Adam Higgins, Colorado pinball competitor and moved to Denver.

“It’s like a family, the pinball people all over the world are family, like, almost instantly.

Always nice people for some reason. All gamers, computer

Sunday, January 15th, 2017, highest ranked Swedish competitor Helena Higgns (front) competes in the once a month pinball tournament at The 1UP Arcade and Bar on Colfax Avenue. Denver’s local pinball community encourages players of all genders to compete. Photo by Lauren Cordova • scordo22@msudenver.edu

gamers, arcade people are always nice people,” Higgins said.

Belles and Chimes is an all women’s pinball club created by Andrea Bastien, or Farmer Jane as many of the other pinheads call her. Bastien has only been playing for a short while, but is excited to bring more females to the community while encouraging easy learning a fun environment.

Bastien even mentioned wanting to do a pinup pinball photoshoot with the ladies.

“Anyone can beat anyone,” said Donavan Stepp, the number one ranked pinball player in the state encouraging more players to join.

The Denver metro area currently has two main pinball locations which are most popularly known for celebrating a night of drinking and gaming. These locations are both called 1UP and each contains an entire section devoted to pinball. The man responsible for providing and maintaining most of the 1UP’s relic and even younger machines is Dan Gutchess. Gutchess also organizes the many of the Colorado tournaments.

“Go out and pinball it, have some fun. Don’t feel that you have to compete against other players.

Play with your friends,” Gutchess said.

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January 18, 2017

Roadrunner Briefs

»Women’s basketball remains sixth in RMAC The Roadrunners did enough to maintain the sixth place position in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference over the weekend. The Runners began their games in Pueblo where they took on the undefeated CSU-Pueblo Thunderwolves. The Runners were unable to contain the Thunderwolves and lost by a score of 49-66. Sophomore guard Jaelynn Smith led the Runners with 17 points in the game.

The team then traveled to New Mexico where they beat the New Mexico Highlands Highlanders 72-58. Junior guard J’Nae Squires-Horton tallied a gamehigh 28 points in the game. The Runners are now 10-8 overall and 6-5 in the RMAC.

» Regis jumps MSU Denver in RMAC standings The Roadrunner men’s basketball team won one and lost one over the the weekend which enabled the Regis Rangers to overtake the sixth place position in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The Runners lost their opening game of the weekend against CSU-Pueblo 7089. The team then traveled to Las Vegas, New Mexico where they bounced back and pummeled New Mexico Highlands 86-69.

Senior guard Brian Howard had his highest scoring output of the season against Highlands and led the Runners with 25 points.

Junior guard Sunday Dech was perfect from the three-point line and finished the game six-forsix. The Runners are now in seventh place in the RMAC with an overall record of 11-6 and a conference record of 7-4.

» Indoor track teams compete in Gunnison The MSU Denver men’s and women’s track teams participated in the Western State Shootout on Jan. 14. Sophomore Robert Carlson made a provisional mark in long jump when he jumped 7.11 meters on his first jump. The jump is the 17th best in Division II and was good enough for first place. They next compete Jan. 20.

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Broncos choose to advance with Vance

By David Schaut dschaut@msudenver.edu The Denver Broncos have found their successor to Gary Kubiak in the University of Colorado alumnus Vance Joseph.

Joseph, the first black head coach in Broncos history, is a first-time head coach and the 16th overall for the franchise. He was the defensive coordinator for a 2016-2017 Miami Dolphins team that finished the regular season ranked 29th in total defense. He takes over a Broncos team that won Super Bowl 50 but failed to reach the postseason in the 2016-2017 year after finishing the season 9-7.

Joseph was the last of three candidates interviewed by the Broncos for the vacancy.

Kansas City Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub and Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan were also considered, but ultimately passed over in favor of the 44-year-old Joseph.

Joseph attended CU from 19911995 but rarely saw game action.

He was recruited as a quarterback and spent the majority of his career backing up Buffaloes great and eventual NFL quarterback Kordell Stewart. He sometimes doubled as a running back, but never exceeded more than 139 yards in a season.

Joseph transitioned to the cornerback position when he played in the NFL, spending one season with the Jets in New York and one in Indianapolis with the Colts. He had two interceptions in his two year NFL playing career.

After his playing days were over, Joseph returned to Boulder and began his pursuit of a coaching career by becoming a graduate assistant for the Buffs. He stayed in that position for two years until he took the defensive backs coach job at the University of Wyoming.

He continued on in the same position at two more schools: CU and Bowling Green University. The NFL was his next stop.

After one season as the assistant defensive backs coach, Joseph was promoted to defensive backs coach for the San Francisco 49ers in 2006. He then proceeded to take a secondary that was ranked dead-last in passing yards allowed per game and improved his unit to 20th in two years.

It was a similar story when

The Denver Broncos hired former Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph on Jan. 11. This will be his first head coaching job. Joseph became the 16th head coach in Broncos history and the first black head coach the team has ever had.

Joseph has named former San Diego Chargers head coach Mike McCoy as his offensive coordinator.

Photo from Flickr

Joseph took the same position in Houston under a familiar face: Kubiak. In the year before Joseph arrived in Houston, the Texans ranked dead last in passing yards per game. The next year he brought the Texans secondary from worst to first in the league.

After a brief stint in Cincinnati, Joseph’s track record of success eventually led him to the sunshine of Miami to become the defensive coordinator of the Dolphins. In the 2015-2016 year before his arrival, the Dolphins defense ranked 25th in total defense and allowed 24.3 points per game.

However, the defense did not see marked improvement under Joseph. They ended the 2016-2017 regular season ranked 29th in total defense and surrendering 23.8 points per game.

Despite the regression, many people across the NFL believe that the decision was a great one

by General Manager John Elway.

Kubiak is among the plaudits. The Denver Post compiled various reactions from across the league.

“Vance has been in preparation for this opportunity for many years,” Kubiak said. “He is a leader of men who gets the most out of his players. V.J. is demanding, yet passionate in his relationships with them. He is a tremendous addition to the Bronco family.”

Marvin Lewis, Joseph’s former boss in Cincinnati, believes that Joseph’s thorough research and willingness to share his opinion will serve him well in his new post.

“When you sit in staff meetings and in game plan meetings and his ability to interject and have

an opinion on things — a well thought-of and researched opinion — I think there’s no question in my mind that he has the ability to lead the room and lead men and get them pointed in the right direction and take those steps to be a head coach,” Lewis said.

However, not everyone is thrilled by the hire. Prominent Denver sports journalist and ESPN contributor Woody Paige has a different view. Before Joseph was hired, Paige shared his opinion on the then-candidate in The Gazette newspaper of Colorado Springs.

“You want truth? Vance Joseph has been a defensive coordinator for one season, and the awful Dolphins of 2015 allowed fewer yards to offenses than the 2016 Dolphins,” Paige said. “Sure, the Dolphins had injuries this season, but the Broncos’ defense also did (Vance Walker, Brandon Marshall, Derek Wolfe, T.J. Ward, DeMarcus Ware). Yet, Wade Phillips’ defense was third in yards allowed and ranked No. 1 in the NFL overall

by Football Outsiders, fourth by Oddsshark and in the top five in every respected rating.”

As for Elway’s reasoning behind the hire, he agrees with Kubiak’s assessment that Joseph gets the most out of his players.

“Vance is a very good football coach and teacher who is ready for this opportunity,” Elway said. “His leadership qualities, his vision for building a championship team and his ability to get the most out of players are off the charts. In talking with Vance, the culture that he believes in and the culture of our organization are closely

aligned and focused on one thing: Winning. He understands the high expectations this franchise has always had under Pat Bowlen, and he embraces them.”

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Joseph’s contract is for four years. He has already begun to rebuild a staff that has lost their defensive, offensive and special teams coordinators. On Jan. 13, the Broncos hired former San Diego Chargers head coach and previous Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy to the offensive coordinator, and hired Bill Musgrave, who was also a candidate for their offensive coordinator position, as their quarterbacks coach.

The Broncos are still looking to replace former defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, who took the same position with the Los Angeles Rams, and former special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis, who took the same position with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Do you have story ideas for the sports section?

Email dschaut@msudenver.edu for the chance to get your story published in the Metropolitan

@themetonline

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J’Nae Squires-Horton’s basketball journey

By Levi Waddell lwadel3@msudenver.edu

MSU Denver is the second Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference program that junior guard J’Nae Squires-Horton has played for. She previosly played at Adams State University for one year. This year she has started every game and is averaging 11.8 points per game. Photo from MSU Denver Athletics

From Colorado Springs to Alamosa to Denver, J’Nae SquiresHorton’s basketball career has brought her all across Colorado.

Despite MSU Denver being her second college in three years, Squires-Horton’s love for the game hasn’t wavered.

Even though she is the older sibling, it was Squires-Horton’s younger sister who brought her to basketball.

“She was younger than me, and I was doing soccer when I was younger and she was playing already,” SquiresHorton said. “I thought, ‘Hey, why don’t I just get into it with her?’ and then my dad started coaching us together and from then to now I just kept playing.”

Basketball seems to be the sisters’ forte. Oliana Squires, was a standout player in high school, and is currently a freshman on the Montana State basketball team.

Despite saying they didn’t play against each other much, SquiresHorton said there is still a low-key sibling rivalry.

“We’ll check each other’s stats

Date xx, January xxxx 18,Met 2017Sports Break Events Review Features Insight Met News

and stuff, and I’ll check in to see how she’s doing, but it’s never been hardcore competition,” SquiresHorton said.

After completing her high school career at Sand Creek in Colorado Springs, SquiresHorton played one season at Adams State University but was looking to transfer.

“Adams just wasn’t the right coaching staff and fit for me. I’m more of a city girl and Adams State was completely opposite of what I like,” Squires-Horton said.

“Coming to Metro was closer to home because it’s only an hour and a half away from Colorado Springs, it’s right in the city, and I really appreciated the coaching staff.”

In Squires-Horton’s first season as a Roadrunner last year, she averaged 10.4 points, two rebounds and one assist per game coming off the bench. She’s again off to a strong start this season with her three-point shooting and strong defense helping the Roadrunners to a 10-8 record. As far as after college, Squires-Horton wants to continue her basketball career.

“My hopes are that I can play overseas and keep playing for as long as I can until I can’t play anymore,” she said.

XX9

Nationwide Briefs »Antonio Brown live streams Tomlin’s speech After the Pittsburgh Steelers 18-16 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Jan. 15, wide receiver Antonio Brown used Facebook Live to stream head coach Mike Tomlin’s post game speech from the locker room. In the speech, Tomlin can be heard calling the Patriots, “a bunch of assholes”.

Tomlin also ironically stressed the need for the team to keep a low profile in the days leading up to the game. After Tomlin was informed of the stream, he said it was selfish of Brown.

»NFL conference championship games set The teams competing for championships in the American Football Conference and the National Football Conference are set. Both games are on Jan. 22.

The Atlanta Falcons will host the Green Bay Packers at 1:05 p.m. and the New England Patriots will host the Pittsburgh Steelers at 4:05 p.m.

Graduating this semester?

YOU AND A GUEST ARE INVITED TO A SPECIAL ADVANCE SCREENING!

Here’s what you need to know: VISIT

IN TIVOLI 313 FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A PASS! One pass per person.

Each pass admits two.

While supplies last.

A DOG’S PURPOSE HAS BEEN RATED PG FOR THEMATIC ELEMENTS AND SOME PERIL. Sponsors and their dependents are not eligible to receive a prize. Supplies are limited. Passes received through this promotion do not guarantee a seat at the theater.

Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, except for members of the reviewing press. Theater is overbooked to ensure a full house. No admittance once screening has begun. 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. Universal Pictures, Allied Integrated Marketing, The 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 JANUARY 27! www.adogspurposemovie.com

THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT THE APPLICATION FOR GRADUATION IS 5 P.M., FEBRUARY 3, 2017. APPLY TO GRADUATE ONLINE THROUGH YOUR STUDENT HUB.

1. All students wishing to graduate must apply for graduation.

Applications are available online at www.msudenver.edu/studenthub/.

Click Apply for Graduation link under Graduation.

2. You must meet the following requirements by the end of the semester you apply for graduation:  Minimum of 120 semester hours  All requirements for your major and minor  All General Studies requirements  Minimum of 40 Upper Division credit hours  Multi-cultural requirement  Cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher

3. Walking in the commencement ceremony does not guarantee that you have graduated.

4. It is your responsibility to report any repeated courses to the Office of the Registrar. Failure to do so may negatively affect your ability to graduate as planned.

5. Diplomas are not provided at Commencement. Your diploma will be mailed upon degree conferral.

For additional information, visit:

www.msudenver.edu/registrar/student/ graduationevaluation and www.msudenver.edu/commencement.

Office of the Registrar

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Mile High Events

January 18, 2017

Auraria Events 1.18: is Emancipation This book is a 21-year anthology of the Institute of Sociometry by Peter Miles Bergman and edited by Zoe Larkins.

Location: Center for Visual Art Price: Free Time: 7 p.m.

1.20: Thrid Friday Art Walk Art District on Santa Fe’s Third Friday Art Walk.

Location: Center for Visual Arts Price: Free Time: 6 p.m.

1.23: General MSU Denver Coaches’ Corner Join MSU Denver coaches to discuss thie season’s athletics.

Location: Tivoli Taphouse Price: Free Time: 5:30 p.m.

1.24: Job Search Meet-Up: Exploring the Hidden Job Market Graduating soon? Looking for a job? This drop-in group is for you.

We’ll meet each Tuesday morning to energize your job search and help you tap into your unique strengths for job search success.

Location: Tivoli 215 Price: Free Time: 10:30 a.m.

Seven-Day Forecast

1.18: Deorro Location:: Ogden Theatre Price: $35 Time: 9 p.m.

10

1.22: Georgia Motor Location: Larimer Lounge Price: $8-$10 Time: 9 p.m.

1.18: The Floozies Location:: Aggie Theater Price: $20 Time: 9 p.m.

1.23: Starset Location: Marquis Theater Price: $15-$18 Time: 6 p.m.

1.19: Terravita Location:: Aggie Theater Price: $12-$20 Time: 9 p.m.

1.23: The Denver Jazz Orchestra Location: Dazzle Restaurant and Lounge Price: $10-$15 Time: 7 p.m.

1.19: John Paul White Location: Bluebird Theater Price: $15 Time: 8 p.m.

1.24: Dorothy Location: Larimer Lounge Price: $12.50-$15 Time: 9 p.m.

1.20: Josh Abbott Band Location: The Grizzly Rose Price: $18 Time: 8 p.m.

1.20: Hazel Miller Location: Boulder Theater Price: $12 Time: 8 p.m.

1.21: Machine Gun Kelly Location: Fillmore Auditorium Price: $20 Time: 7:30 p.m.

1.21: Speakeasy Soiree Location: City Hall Price: $20 Time: 8:30 p.m.

1.24: Electronic Tuesdays Location: The Black Box Price: $10-$15 Time: 9 p.m.

1.22: Mogwai Location: Boulder Theater Price: $25 Time: 9 p.m.

1.24: Ellyn Rucker Location: Local 46 Price: Free Time: 5 p.m.

The Met’s Top five anticipated movies for 2017

Met Sports

1. The Fate of the Furious

MEN’S BASKETBALL 1.28 Vs. Westminster College

2. Star Wars Episode VIII

Location: Auraria Event Center Time: 7 p.m.

1.18: Sunny

51º/28º

3. Justice League

1.19: Sunny

54º/29º

4. Beauty and the Beast

1.20: Partly Cloudy

44º/23º

5. The Lego Batman Movie

1.21: Cloudy

44º/24º

1.22: Partly Cloudy

46º/25º

1.23: Sunny

50º/28º

“Vladimir Putin says people smearing Donald Trump are ‘worse than prostitutes’” (Time)

1.24: Chance of Snow

38º/21º

“Moon Express raises $20 million for 2017 voyage to the moon” (The Guardian)

Have a pitch for a new radio show?

Interested in getting hands-on experience in radio work? stop

by Tivoli 313 to get started on producing your own radio program for Met Radio.

n

Trending News “Obama commutes bulk of Chelsea Manning’s sentence” (New York Times)

Useful Facts • Donald Trump’s presidential inaguration will be held Jan. 20, 2017 at 10 a.m. MST. • The Women’s March on Denver will be held Jan. 21, 2017 at 9 a.m.

MST. The event will start at Denver’s Civic Center Park. Stay tuned for more coverage of the march in next week’s issue

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL 1.28 Vs. Westminster College Location: Auraria Event Center Time: 5 p.m.

Pro Sports 1.21 Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers Location: The Pepsi Center Price: $25+ Time: 7 p.m.

1.23 Colorado Avalanche vs. San Jose Sharks Location: Pepsi Center Price: $15+ Time: 7 p.m.

1.24 Denver Nuggets vs. Utah Jazz Location: The Pepsi Center Price: $25+ Time: 7:00 p.m.

Met

Break

f: themetropolitan

mymetmedia.com

Horoscopes

Overheard this week

Capricorn

Continue to make good choices, like paying your bills on time and maybe try eating a vegetable with dinner, like, at least once.

“I saw some song lyrics and

Spend some time in nature, but don’t look the wildlife in the eye. You aren’t prepared for the consequences.

movie.”

“I’m on the 6-year track. It’s almost a game: see how long I

The stars say that you will go about experiencing life, having emotions and doing things.

“I have to down this iced coffee

Gemini

and go cry in the shower for a few

ACROSS 1. Start of an actual question to a Roman tour guide 7. Pinnacle 11. Rally feature 14. Colorless gas 15. Chestnut, for one 16. White House nickname 17. Mantillas and rebozos 18. Slippery things?

19. Refusals 20. Question, part 2 23. “Pity” 26. 2001 sports biopic 27. Sponsorship 28. Great service 29. Slow start?

31. Old-time 33. With 71-Across, actor who played both subjects in the question 36. Parent, e.g.

39. Tiller opening 40. Voltaic cell terminal 42. Record, in a way 43. “Foundation” author 45. Question, part 3 47. Local cinemas 49. Leaves in a bag 50. Prefix with atomic 51. Actress Hasso 53. Supporting word 55. Common sense?

57. End of the question 60. Small punch 61. Stick __: treat unfairly 62. Brute

Stop pretending to understand things that you don’t. You think when you smile and nod that nobody can tell that you don’t know what’s going on.

Everybody can tell.

66. Part of a cote tale?

67. Camaro option 68. Cracker flavoring 69. W-2 datum: Abbr.

70. Cravings 71. See 33-Across

“May the 4th.”

—Philip Warburton

Libra

“I am above holidays and happiness.”

—Esteban Fernandez

September 23 - October 22

A break is what’s needed after the start to this week that you’ve had. It sure is tough to work a normal work week like everyone else.

“Holy Experiment Day.” — Cassie Ballard

Scorpio

October 23 -November 21

“A Moroccan Christmas.”

— Chris Bjork

Cups of tea and coffee will start to rack up around your desk today as you try to get everything done under the heady influence of a bucket of caffeine.

“Easter.”

Sagittarius

May 21 - June 20

hours, so I’ll see you later.”

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

Laugh and the world laughs with you. Sing and you clear the room. Talk and everybody rolls their eyes. It may just be best to stick with laughing quietly in the corner.

April 20 - May 20 You’re either going to lose a tooth today or make an important scientific discovery. Maybe both?

“Esteban’s birthday.”

— Keenan McCall

August 23 - September 22

Taurus

force me to graduate.”

— David Schaut

Virgo

Aries

can stay an undergrad before they

“4/20.”

In your many journeys through this life, skip Ohio.

March 21 -April 19 Step back and look at the big picture of your future. It’s drawn in crayon. What does that tell you?

— Mady Smarr

July 23 - August 22

February 19 - March 20

But then I realized it was actually

“The Puppy Bowl.”

Leo

Pisces

thought they were Lana Del Rey. a Cheetah Girls song from the first

Th is is the year you stick to your resolutions, mostly because you didn’t make any.

January 20 -February 18

because I was so bored.”

Met Picks:

June 21 - July 22

Aquarius

“I started flossing over break

11

What’s your favorite pointless holiday?

Cancer

December 22 - January 19

January 18, 2017

— Joella Bauman

November 22 - December 21 Live as you like and you will part this world a happier person. Although, you may spend a good deal of your life in jail.

DOWN 1. Blokes 2. Not prescribed, briefly 3. “Huh?” 4. Skin layer 5. Unbeliever 6. Heir: Abbr.

7. Spinning 8. Border __ 9. 1950s Peggy Wood TV title role

Sudoku

10. Lure successfully 11. Eulogists 12. Levi’s “Christ Stopped at __” 13. Guadalajara green 21. Is decked out in 22. Trattoria treat 23. Back bones 24. Figure-eight steps, in an Argentine tango 25. Wedding reception concern 30. Avert, with “off” 32. Mountain ridge 34. Cheese made from ewe’s milk 35. Eggy drink 37. Onetime Goolagong rival 38. Riveter of song 41. Discourage 44. What the drug phentermine is used to treat 46. Kind of idol 48. Lenient toward 51. Attempts 52. White Cloud’s people 54. Yo-yo tricks 56. Off 58. Cigar butt?

59. Muddle 63. Where to see some pins?

64. Noted trio member 65. Actor Cariou

Difficulty: Medium

Difficulty: Hard

Answers:

@themetonline

Source: http://www.christianbiblereference.org/

The Student Voice of MSU Denver NOW HIRING:

General Manager Responsible for all content and operations of the 24/7, student-run Met Radio internet station, including its website content, podcasts and social media channels. Duties include overseeing production and programming, and leading the training of a diverse group of sportscasters, DJs, talk-show hosts, producers and board operators. The general manager keeps regular office hours (minimum 20 hours weekly) and hires and manages a team of assistants, typically a music director, sports director and news director. The general manager reports to the director of Met Media.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

FEBRUARY 6th

Preference will be given to applicants majoring or minoring in Journalism, Speech Communications, Technical Communications, English, Communication Design or IDP. Upload your materials at www.mymetmedia.com/leaders or drop off your application in person at Tivoli 313.

All applicants must be enrolled in at least six credit hours at MSU Denver, maintain a 2.75+ GPA and have leadership skills. Please include a résumé and cover letter, official transcript or most recent grade report, two letters of recommendation (one must be from outside Met Media) and samples of your work. The Interviews will be scheduled on Friday, Feb. 17, 2017, in SSB 330C, starting at 2 p.m.

ALSO HIRING: — Met TV General Manager — Metrosphere Editor–in–Chief — Metropolitan Editor–in–Chief For more information, contact Elizabeth Norberg at 303-556-2507 or enorbert@msudenver.edu.