The Student Newspaper of MSU Denver
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VOL. 40
NO. 34
@themetonline
AUGUST 15, 2018
themetropolitan
I-70 reconstruction begins amidst debate
Photo by RJ Sangosti | rsangosti@denverpost.com
Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper and other dignitaries break ground on the Central 70 Project on Aug. 3, 2018 in Denver. Central 70 is CDOT’s largest project ever; delivering the first safety and capacity improvements to this stretch of I-70 since the highway was constructed in the early 1960s. Originally published by The Denver Post. Interstate 70 expansion project, Aug. 4.
Boulevard. The project, which will expand
date, will be moved 40 feet below ground
the highway to six lanes, including tolls, will
level with a four acre park placed above
Central 70 project began over a decade
cost around $1.2 billion and the construction
it. For Rebecca White, communications
ago when CDOT officials acknowledged
will be headed by contractors Kiewit
manager Central 70 project.
outside assistance, mitigation and public
the deteriorating condition of the highway,
Meridiam Partners. The 10 mile stretch is
resistance, the Colorado Department
and took action to renovate a 10 mile
currently elevated with a viaduct beneath
of Transportation broke ground on the
stretch from Chambers Road to Brighton
it, but by the estimated 2022 completion
By James Burky jburky@msudenver.edu
With protesters in attendance, the
After over a decade of planning,
INSIDE
OPINION
| pg. 5
Why we should keep National Park land
FEATURES
| pg. 6
SPORTS
| Continued on pg. 2
| pg. 9
What to expect from the first week
Facing frightening tides, Rockies’
of school (map inisde)
ship stays afloat.
NEWS
2
AUGUST 15, 2018
Central 70 groundbreaking controversy persists protesters Friday, is that the construction
Continued from cover
will add further pollution and diminish The sight of the first shovels
the quality of life for the zip code with the
ceremoniously displacing dirt was
highest rate of cancer patients in the state.
one that brought relief, having worked
“My family has suffered so many health
on the project since its infancy.
issues, it’s not even funny. I cry every day
“I’ve been on this project a long time,”
because I’m in-and-out of hospitals with my
White said. “Getting to this point and being
family” said Mary Hernandez, a member
able to move forward feels really good.”
of Ditch the Ditch, and who lived in the
White wasn’t the only one to
area when the highway was first erected.
see a goal fulfilled, though.
When Hernandez was little, her family
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock
began digging a basement. The ground
promised to reunite the communities
they turned up held arsenic, which was
of Globeville and Elyria-Swansea, who
the primary chemical used in the area’s
were separated during the construction
smelters in the past. The World Health
of the highway in the 1950s and 60s.
Organization calls arsenic “highly toxic.”
Hancock referred to the project as
The project exposed the Hernandezes
one that “works to stitch the Denver
to these and a cocktail of other pollutants,
community back together and eliminate
which affected Mary’s children in
barriers for our neighborhoods.”
utero, and has left her family members
The addition of the park above the
to fight cancer and her grandchildren
highway, as well as a “lid” to keep pollutants from harming the air, is seen as a way to
afflicted with rare forms of blindness. “That happened because we dug into
rebuild bridges that were burned when the
our basement, now they’re going to dig
highway was first built, but some are wary
40 feet into that soil,” Hernandez said.
of that claim. As it stands, the project has more than its fair share of controversies.
And that’s where the opposition believes they still have a leg to stand on. In the early
Synonymous with the Central 70
2000s, the neighborhoods were designated
1-70 Construction Map, image obtained from CDOT.
expansion is the impact it will have on the
as superfund cleanup sites, where the
neighboring communities of Globeville
federal government visits, compensates the
and Elyria-Swansea, who are just a
residents and, in this case, replaced two
was discovered beneath the playground
stone’s throw away from the freeway.
inches of contaminated soil. While the two
of Swansea Elementary when KMP was
the end of Ditch the Ditch, as the group
moving it further from the construction site.
remains optimistic that the fight isn’t over.
The opposition has been aided by
inches were removed, the soil remained
the grassroots organization Ditch the
tainted with arsenic in areas untouched
Ditch and the Colorado Sierra Club, the
by the initiative for over 100 years.
latter of whom has engaged in three
Another cause for concern the detractors
The groundbreaking doesn’t mean
According to the American Lung
Deb James, another protestor, noted
Association, children with increased
how one Sierra Club lawsuit is still
exposure to traffic pollution, especially
active and claims that gubernatorial
separate lawsuits against the project in
hold onto is concern for the health of
within a third of a mile from a highway,
candidate Jared Polis sided with the
the past two years. Not one of the three
children at Swansea Elementary School
have an increased risk of developing
group before the Democratic Primaries
have successfully stopped the project.
and Garden Place Academy, who are
“the onset of childhood asthma,
but has yet to make a position public.
already at risk of the pollutants that have
impaired lung function, premature
become predominant in the area. Asbestos
death and cardiovascular morbidity.”
Among the common criticisms, which were echoed by the small group of
New EMT program offered on campus By James Bofenkamp
upon completion of the program.
dean of the College of Professional
jbofenk1@msudenver.edu
Due to this, students studying
Studies, said that due to interest in
emergency services careers are
the program, the school was likely to
able to earn a certification which
expand the program in the future.
MSU Denver and Denver Health coordinated with each
advances their career progress and
other to create a new EMT
is useful to their field of study.
certification last semester. The program, which had its first
She also said that there is somewhat of a shortage of
“A lot of fire departments
EMTs in Colorado, as well as
require having an EMT certification
growing areas of employment
class over the summer semester,
before applying,” said Brian
for those with the certification.
is designed to give students credit
Bagwell, associate professor in the
With more opportunities for EMT
hours in return for earning their EMT
department of human services.
employment than traditional
certificate. Denver Health provides
He added that the Denver Fire
emergency response, a point which
the instructors and materials
Department has been considering
Zeiler echoed, the certification
while MSU Denver supplies the
the idea of adding 5 extra points to
is only growing in usefulness.
classroom space. Students who
the entrance exams of applicants
earn the certification will be
who have the certification.
prepared not only for appropriate careers, but every-day life. “A family picnic, a hike
While Bagwell comes from
one, and had contacts with Denver Health which he used
unexpected happens. The EMT
to help in the formation of
is prepared for the unexpected
the partnership between the
and is trained to respond.” said
hospital and MSU Denver.
The partnership ensures eligibility for 12 credit hours
She said this would allow
Zeiler comes from a paramedic
beach can all be places that the
of health professions.
certification,” Capps said.
a firefighting background,
in the woods or a day on the
Kevin Zeiler, associate professor
“It doesn’t require too many courses to get the
Zeiler was confident in the first
interested students to quickly get into the field and gain Obtained from Denverhealth.org
real world experience. Capps stressed that the program
In a new partnership with MSU Denver, Denver Health will provide EMT training on campus. Students can earn credits toward their major in addition to the certification.
semester of the class, which had
would address imbalanced demographic landscapes involved in healthcare. Capps said that most people involved in healthcare are
positive student feedback. However,
nature of the class, only 24 spaces
While the first run of the class
white, while Denver and MSU
due to size constraints and the
are available for the fall semester.
just finished, Jennifer Capps, interim
Denver are far more diverse.
MSU Denver’s student-run television Filling all positions, including editors, reporters, anchors and writers.
All Auraria Campus students welcome.
Work-study positions available for MSU Denver students.
s w e i v r e Int
August 31
9 a.m.–2 p.m. Auraria Media Center
(Doors on the east side of the library)
Work with one of our many student shows A ONDA R T O EL S H O W
www.MyMetMedia.com/ApplyNow/
For more information, contact Yahaira Hernandez: yherna13@msudenver.edu
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AUGUST 15, 2018
OPINIONS
5
The need for more National Park Land I was in position and made the shot. Looking around and cementing
553 million acres to the land
staff
As reported by The New York
designated as national monuments
Times, there are 300 uranium mining
the moment in my brain, I thought
throughout both terms, according
claims on the lands that have been
of what my uncle Tim had told
to The National Parks Service.
reclassified. From 1944 to 1986 more
Ali Watkins awatkin9@msudenver.edu
than 500 uranium mines were leased
Managing Editor Isaac Banks cbanks17@msudenver.edu
me on one of my first hunts in
National monuments are just a
Editor-in-Chief
Maryland when I was 14. We had
step below national parks in terms
from the Navajo nation in Arizona,
spent a long day hiking and had
of protections. Both prohibit mining,
Utah and New Mexico. They were all
crested the top of a hill, looking
drilling and building new roads, but
abandoned following the wind-down
down into a valley of forests.
unlike national parks, monuments
of the Cold War, but their effects are
Kaileigh Lyons klyons9@msudenver.edu
allow hunting and fishing as well as
still felt by the Navajo people and
Assitant Photo Editor
a few other recreational activities.
the surrounding land to this day.
I would have still been able to hunt
Ground water has extremely high
brushed his words off and thought
that buck on a national monument,
levels of contamination and birth
Assitant News Editors
By Forest Wilson
he was just being sanctimonious.
however I would have been
defects and cancers are rampant.
James Bofenkamp
fwilso10@msudenver.edu
As my ears still hummed, covered in
guaranteed that the same deer was
History does not bear out the
sweat and the mixture of dust and
not drinking water contaminated by
argument that business interests
My rifle snapped back into
grass from the hill, I looked around
brine — a byproduct of fracking — or
use public lands sustainably
my shoulder and my ears began
the valley as I made my way toward
mining waste. This is not necessarily
and without serious impact,
to ring. I saw through the scope
the buck. I’m not a religious man,
true on the BLM land that he was on.
especially in mineral and fossil
Megan Webber mwebber6@msudenver.edu
that the buck had gone down and
but in that moment, I understood
fuel extraction. These companies
Assitant Features Editor
immediately a wave of emotion
what my uncle had meant.
“This is where you find the heart of God.” At that age, I had nodded and
came over me. As I stood up from
Being in the natural world and
On Feb. 2, President Trump’s
Photo Editor
Joel Mathew jmathe19@msudenver.edu
jbofenk1@msudenver.ed Forest Wilson fwilso10@msudenver.edu Features Editor
orders to shrink the area of both
continue to lobby and spread
Bears Ears National Monument and
the idea that reclassifying public
Hilal Bahcetepe hbahcete@msudenver.edu
the crest of a scraggly hill in the
taking part in it was as close to
Grand Staircase-Escalante National
lands is good for everyone. CEO’s
Sports Editor
Eastern Montana badlands, I felt a
a religious experience as I had
Monument took effect. This is
and the president perpetuate
strange sense of elation. It wasn’t
ever come. This was the effect
not the first time the monuments
the lie that protections are anti-
James Burky jburky@msudenver.edu
a macabre joy from taking this
of being in the “sanctuary of
have been shrunk, but these
business and hinder the prosperity
animal’s life, or the feeling of pride
nature” as my uncle often put it.
orders shift from the precedent
and economic independence of
Steve Haigh shaigh@msudenver.edu
set by the past two presidents
America. To date, the uranium
Assistant Director of Met Media Ronan O’Shea roshea3@msudenver.edu
that I had expected would come
The particular sanctuary that
from my first successful solo-
this buck had been standing on
of expanding the sanctuary of
mines have cost the U.S. taxpayer
hunt. Instead, this not-entirely-
was public land managed by the
nature and ensuring that future
over $465 million in costs
unfamiliar feeling was a primal
Bureau of Land Management,
generations have the right to
associated with cleanup, according
sense of gratitude and appreciation
made available for multiple uses
experience it uncontaminated.
to the Justice Department.
for the entire experience.
including hunting and recreation.
I was 22 and had been casually
As of 2015, more than 248 million
Mining and drilling will now be
Let us instead increase the
possible on the portions of these
area and protections of these
Director of Met Media
Production Manager of Met Media Kathleen Jewby kjewby@msudenver.edu Office Manager
hunting with my uncles for the
acres of public land is managed
national monuments that have
sanctuaries. Experiences like
Elizabeth Norberg enorbert@msudenver.edu
better part of a decade. This was
by the BLM, comprising the lion’s
been reclassified. Proponents
mine will not be possible in the
Sales and Marketing
the first time I had truly been out on
share of the total public lands in
tout the sustainable measures
future if these lands are allowed
my own, putting in the legwork and
the U.S., estimated to be more than
that these companies use along
to be destroyed and turned into
sales@mymetmedia.com marketing@mymetmedia.com
applying every skill I had. On day
610 million acres or 27 percent of
with the fact that the lands are still
a temporary profit. Protecting
three I had spotted the buck across
the total area of the United States,
federally owned and managed by
and expanding these lands is not
a long valley, about three miles from
according to the Congressional
the BLM and the National Forest
only necessary for the benefit of
where I was positioned at the top of
Research Service. The acreage
Service. Under scrutiny this
humans, but for the ecosystem
a pair of hills. Sparing the minutiae
of public land has almost surely
argument falls apart, with the bleak
that is slowly being destroyed and
of my agonizing sneak up to
grown since 2015 as President
history of uranium mining in this
will never be the same again.
shooting range from him, eventually
Barack Obama added approximately
area illustrating the problem.
The U.S. supports war crimes By Forest Wilson
much higher. This is a continuing
2016, according to Stockholm
in 2017, according to SIPRI Trends
fwilso10@msudenver.edu
human rights tragedy that the U.S.
International Peace Research
in International Arms Transfers.
fails to address, both in media
Institute. The U.S. itself has
Europe supplied 38 percent and
coverage and from the government.
conducted drone-strikes against
the rest of the world supplied
in 2015 after the Shia-led rebel
The Saudis have conducted brutal
al-Qaeda and ISIS targets in Yemen
the final percentage point.
group, the Houthis, took over
airstrikes with a brash disregard
since 2002, leading to hundreds
the government of Yemen led by
for civilian life. Their bombs
of civilian casualties, a reality
the U.S. since 1945, spurred by the
President Abdrabbuh Mansour
have killed thousands of civilians
that has failed to halt or slow the
Saudi’s opposition to Communism
Hadi. As the Houthis advanced
and wounded many more.
bombings. In fact, President Trump
and America’s need for oil, has
has ramped up airstrikes, from
pushed the U.S. to overlook the
about 44 in 2016, to 131 in 2017.
massive human rights violations
The Yemeni Civil War began
throughout Yemen, a coalition
Furthermore, a Saudi blockade
The alliance of Saudi Arabia and
of Saudi-led forces, with the
of aid to civilians exacerbated
intelligence and logistical support of
the famine that has killed more
the U.S., began bombing campaigns
than 50,000. A cholera outbreak
sells to Saudi Arabia in enormous
This needs to change. America has
to restore Hadi’s government.
in 2017 affected 200,000 people
quantities are being used in the
tacitly supported the human rights
and has killed 1,300 so far.
indiscriminate killing of children.
violations of the citizens of Saudi
fighting between the Saudi-led
Human Rights Watch and other
And I mean that, literally. On Aug.
Arabia’s regime, and has directly
coalition and the Hadi government
groups have accused Saudi
10, an airstrike lead by Saudi forces
supported the horrors in Yemen.
on one side, and the Houthi
Arabia of war crimes, wantonly
killed around 30 school children in
Without pressure from the U.S. and
rebels — allegedly supported by
bombing civilian camps during
a school bus in northern Yemen.
the U.N., Saudi Arabia will continue
Iran — on the other, the number of
their 2015 raids and preventing
While it is unknown if the bomb was
to commit war crimes, human rights
civilians directly killed by the war
aid from reaching civilians.
supplied by the U.S., the odds are
violations and fund terrorism.
After more than three years of
has surpassed 10,000, although some believe the number to be
The U.S. supplied Saudi Arabia with almost $2 billion in arms in
The very bombs that the U.S.
high. The U.S. supplied 61 percent of Saudi Arabia’s imported arms
throughout the Saudi’s history.
Brady Nelson bnelso73@msudenver.edu Caitlin Monaghan cmonagh12@msudenver.edu
Want to voice your thoughts on a current event or subject that has been covered in the paper? Contact Managing Editor Isaac Banks at cbanks17@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.
FEATURES
6
AUGUST 15, 2018
Welcome Week offers opportunities for students to engage on campus By Ali C. M. Watkins
The week’s events will be open
with officials over coffee and
more community I feel, and just
all three schools’ student
awatkins9@msudenver.edu
to all three institutions.
donuts provided by SGA.
a better school experience.”
governments, it’s a vital resource
The festivities are meant to As new and returning students
This year, involvement is a
Courtney Jones, MSU Denver
for all students to utilize.
help students find their way
common theme of Welcome
representative for the Student
finalize their schedules and
around campus, meet other
Week for SGA. Though they
Advisory Committee to the Auraria
commuter student for a long
collect their school supplies,
students and to find out how
will be active during the entire
Board, urges students to seek
time and I think that if I would
Student Government Assembly
their voices can be heard, said
week, Monday is the designated
out involvement, whether it be
have known that I could have
and Student Activities work
SGA President Justin Darnall.
SGA day on Lawrence Street.
during Welcome Week or later in
gone to student government and
“And of course a couple
“My college experience
their academic careers. As a non-
ask any question, regardless
transformed dramatically from just
traditional student, taking around
of what it was, it would have
getting involved,” Darnall said.
four years off from school, she
helped me out a lot,” she said.
diligently to make the first week as helpful as it is exciting. Auraria Higher Education
of games and fun.” Darnall encourages students
“I served eight years in the
described her experience changing
“I had the perspective of a
Center, SGA and Student
to meet the SGA members at
Activities are teaming up for the
the first Coffee Monday on
Marines and I was like, ‘Oh student
from night to day whenever she
which will be held Tuesday Aug.
The Student Activities day,
annual Welcome Week, where
Aug. 20. Starting with Welcome
orgs, why would I get involved in
joined student organizations.
21, will have physical activities
the first four days of the fall
Week, students can come into
that?’ Then I got more and more
Jones said that since the
and games, like kayaking on a
semester provides activities
the SGA office every monday
involved, and the more I loved it
Tivoli Student Union houses
built-on-site pool, in the Tivoli
and resources for students.
and discuss changes on campus
and the more I loved school, the
several organizations and
Quad from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Aug. 22, freshmen, transfer or returning students can browse the Involvement Fair for an organization, club or Greek life that might interest them. Meet the Greeks is also on the itinerary for Welcome Week. Starting at 5 p.m. in the Tivoli Turnhalle on Aug. 23, the campus’ fraternities and sororities will introduce themselves to any interested students. Student Activities will also have a helping hand with the rest of the week, including a showing of “Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War” on Thursday from 8 to 11 p.m. in the Tivoli Quad, where students can enjoy free snacks. “It’s something that they’re not used to in a regular theater, you know instead of paying $25 plus food, we provide all that for free,” said Event Programmer for Student Activities Juan Gonzalez. “We’ve noticed that a lot of students usually don’t get to go watch these big movies so we want to try to bring it to them on campus while they’re here.” Gonzalez wants students to know about the various and frequent events on campus by checking the Student Activities website. He said that students can be ensured that there is something to do whether the first week or the last. The school offers more than 120 student clubs and organizations to choose from. If there’s not a group that interests an individual, they can create their own through Student Activities. “Get your foot in where you can and leave a milestone when you graduate,” Gonzalez said. Student Activities and SGA can be found in the Tivoli Student Union in suites 305 and 307.
AUGUST 15, 2018
FEATURES
7
Mamma Mia 2 fails at plot, but excels musically By Megan Webber
guess at. Perhaps she had little
her seemed empty. James’ role
mwebber6@msudenver.edu
interest or time for a “Mamma
served as a nostalgic glimpse
Mia!” reunion, or perhaps the
into Donna’s early life, which
screenwriters wanted her to
was healing not only for Sophie,
released on July 18, 2008, it
appear for a grand finale, hoping
but for the audience as well.
skyrocketed to fame with its
to earn a few extra dollars in sales.
When “Mamma Mia!” was
hit cast and popular feel-good
In the 2008 film, one of the first
However, her famed, gentle
scenes features Sophie reading
ABBA songs. The movie, while
smile is featured throughout the
from her mother’s journal in which
internationally acclaimed for
last few scenes of the movie,
she recounts the nights she met
its beloved characters and
bringing the joy and carefree spirit
Sam Carmichael (Brosnan), Bill
soundtrack, received critiques
of Donna Sheridan back to life
Andersson (Skarsgard) and Harry
on its flawed plotline and use
as she joins the rest of the cast
Bright (Firth), respectively. The
of inexperienced singers.
for a finale rendition of “Super
journal entries date months apart,
Trouper.” Along with “Mamma
meaning logically, Donna should
the day, “Mamma Mia! Here
Mia” and “Dancing Queen,”
have been able to do the math to
We Go Again” was released on
“Trouper” was one of the only
figure out which of these three
July 20 and received similar
returning musical numbers. But
reviews from critics. The film
the magic of ABBA was not lost
Photo obtained from imdb
was carried by a strong cast
with new hits like “Angel Eyes”
including Amanda Seyfried, Meryl
and “Why Did It Have to Be Me?”
Left to right: Cher, Dominic Cooper, Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Lily James.
Ten years later, almost to
Streep, Lily James and Cher,
men was Sophie’s father. Yet in the
While Streep, Seyfried, Dominic
Bill, and then Sam, with only hours in between each encounter. While it helps the film move along in a
who each took a turn to play the
Cooper, Pierce Brosnan, Colin
graduated college and set off to
heroine and tug at the hearts
Firth, Stellan Skarsgard, Julie
build a life for herself in Greece.
of viewers around the world.
Walters and Christine Baranski
While James brought the
Streep returns at the end of
2018 film, she meets Harry, then
were not filled in the sequel. Flashback scenes of Donna’s life pre-Sophie were interlaced
timely manner, these differences in time almost create a whole new story from the familiar.
return for the sequel, they are
perfect balance of liveliness,
with modern day scenes of Sophie
the film to sing a bittersweet
joined by a group including James,
romance and soprano beauty to
struggling to balance her romantic
aside, the new film has already
Plot holes and critiques
duet with Seyfried, who plays her
Jeremy Irvine, Josh Dylan and
the film, her role only added to
life, work life and honor the
made more than $280 million
daughter, Sophie, in the movies.
Hugh Skinner who play younger
the confusion of the plot. Young
memory of her mother. The death
in box office sales. Sometimes
Although Streep was the leading
versions of the characters. This
Donna did not live her life quite
of Donna came as a surprise to
a movie is worth seeing just
lady in the first film, she only
new cast takes viewers back to
the way it had been described in
many Mamma Mia! fans, as Streep
for the jokes, good music
appears at the end of the sequel,
the years of leading lady Donna
the first movie. There are several
carried much of the first film on
and hot shirtless actors.
for reasons viewers can only
Sheridan’s youth, when she
holes from the first film that
her shoulders. A sequel without
BlacKkKlansman reflects on today’s tensions By Isaac Banks
officers to his romantic relationship
cbanks17@msudenver.edu
with Dumas that buckles under the racial tensions between the
People often use movies to
police and the black community.
escape from the world’s problems.
Stallworth takes the middle
“BlacKkKlansman” does not
road, believing that things can
provide that cathartic release. It
change from the inside without
faces racial issues head on without
the need for a race war, unlike the
blinking or pulling punches. Even
KKK and black student union.
though the movie is set in the
Lee also succeeds in showing
1970s, it still has plenty to say
the division between blacks and
about today’s race relations.
whites. About halfway through
A Spike Lee joint, the movie is
the movie, Lee juxtaposes a
based on ridiculous real events,
black college meeting and a KKK
giving meaning to the saying,
meeting. Both end with the college
“Truth is stranger than fiction.”
students chanting, “Black power”
The story follows the first black
and the KKK members chanting,
cop in the Colorado Springs Police
“White power.” By doing this,
Department, Ron Stallworth, played
Lee shows lines being drawn
by John David Washington. In an
between the races, especially
effort to get out of record duty,
when the black students originally
he convinces the police chief to
said, “All the power to all of the
let him go undercover. Due to his
races” earlier in the movie.
skin color, his first assignment
When it comes to portraying the
Photo obtained from focusfeatures
Right to left: Adam Driver and John David Washington. more believable by showing them
have said those exact words, Lee
out he was talking to a black man,
goofing off. Some of the best laughs
takes liberties to make a point.
and more serious ones like the
was to monitor a rally held by the
KKK, Lee makes sure to add a little
come from a phone conversation
black student union of Colorado
demission to the members. Yes, they
between Stallworth and David Duke.
College, led by Patrice Dumas, who
are still racist, homophobic, Jew-
is played by Laura Harrier. After
hating people, but not all of them
proving himself, he then infiltrates
believe in killing non-Aryan people.
the Ku Klux Klan with the help
The movie falls under the crime/
To drive the story home, the
police chief closing Stallworth and
movie ends with video clips from
Zimmerman’s investigations due to
the 2017 Charlottesville protests,
budget cuts. This gave the movie a
that allude to present day race
where a white supremicist drove his
feeling of multiple endings and left
tensions. Some examples include
car through a crowd of protestors
me with a bit of emotional whiplash.
Duke, played by Topher Grace,
and President Trump’s tepid
There are lines in the movie
BlacKkKlansman is not for
of fellow undercover officer Flip
drama genre but it is not without
saying, “Let’s make America great
response. Lee is claiming nothing
everyone, but it is a well-acted and
Zimmerman, played by Adam Driver.
its comedic moments. There is
once more,” scenes that hint at
has really changed over the years.
directed movie that tells a true story
no set-up to a joke, yet the humor
the 2016 election results and the
Stallworth’s motivations and
flows naturally throughout the
college students talking about
stumbles to stick the landing. Lee
struggles with portraying a black
movie. This is a welcome relief
black people being shot in the
tries to put a nice bow on the film,
cop. The depicted struggles range
from the emotionally heavy scenes
back by police officers. While the
but instead switches between
from dealing with racist police
and made the characters a little bit
real-life counterparts may not
humorous scenes like Duke finding
The movie successfully shows
As the movie wraps up, it
of a ridiculous series of events.
SPORTS
8
AUGUST 15, 2018
Opinion: Perversion of our influence BRIEFS
By James Burky jburky@msudenver.edu
Basketball fills vacancies
A theory exists called the seven spheres of societal influence.
MSU Denver basketball has hired assistant coaches Jeremy Johnston and Brandon Cole have been hired to fill the holes left by Lucas Gabriel and Kenny Tripp. Johnston spent three of the last five seasons as the head coach of Northwest Kansas Technical College, where he compiled a record of 50-43 and produced 19 Division I recruits. Cole spent one season as an assistant and recruiting coordinator at Central Wyoming College.
Developed by evangelical Christians in the 1970s, it establishes a number of realms that functional societies possess: government, religion, family, education, media, business and arts, entertainment, and sport. Religion and, perhaps more noticeably, sport are the most sacred to the United States. With its placement on a pedestal, the key players in the structure of sport leagues are invincible.
Soccer to begin Thursday
Penn State officials ignored three decades worth of boys sexual abuse by famed football coach Jerry Sandusky. Michigan State University did the same for the gymnasts abused by Larry Nassar, and perhaps most prominently, Photo by James Burky | jburky@msudenver.edu
the NFL ignoring the reality of destructive brain injuries in football. Last December, while investigating injuries in sports as
Former NFL quarterback Mike Boryla sits at a table at Stella’s coffee shop in Denver on December 9. Boryla suffered multiple concussions in his career and said that he has no doubt that the league knew of the dangers of sub-concussive hits in the 1970s.
part of a reporting class, I spoke with Mike Boryla, a former quarterback who played five seasons in the
for someone who doesn’t play
and the people’s money in their
NFL football is probably 75.”
pockets. But as the NFL’s value
fathers and sons that were lost. The NFL seems to refuse the
grew more prosperous, former
notion of removing full contact
has no doubt that league officials
players Junior Seau, Dave Duerson
practices, a move that the Canadian
became aware of the dangers of
and Mike Webster only suffered.
Football League took to combat
sub-concussive blows, which are
All three committed suicide and
head injuries. Considering that
glorified age of pro football, an
the common collisions between
were found to have advanced
the most dangerous hits are the
era of the sport that glorified
two players’ helmets that are part
chronic traumatic encephalopathy,
small ones, eliminating hundreds
violence and where playing through
of the fabric of the game. But if
or CTE, which is a degenerative
of hours worth of them isn’t just
concussions was as common
they did know — and it’s plausible
brain disease commonly found in
a step forward: it’s a leap.
as each team fielding 11 men.
that they did — why would they
the brains of football players.
NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1976. Boryla played in the most
Boryla, who remembers
This is also the era when Boryla
do anything about it? The NFL
It is admirable that the league
There are few activities as blissful as playing a game of pick
just four plays in his five-year
had exploded as the country’s
is stiffening up on their safety
up football with friends or family,
career, was lucky to leave when
premiere sport. The Super Bowl
policies, or at least attempting
and in the bleakness of reality,
he did. At 66-years-old, he has
had become a massive success and
to, as it does show some basic
seeing homegrown athletes
successfully outlived the average
the people valued the escapism
concept of decency. But it wasn’t
succeed against the world is a
from everyday life the game held.
their first choice to do so.
reasonable source of pride, but in
teammate from his era. “The average lifespan has
Like televangelists,
Let’s not forget that when the
this satisfaction of their success
pretty consistently been stated
commissioner Roger Goodell,
horrors they swept under the rug
and our love for the games we were
at 53 by the NFLPA,” he said.
and his predecessors, had the
came to light, Penn State, the NFL
never too good at, we’ve allowed
“Whereas the average lifespan
people like putty in their hands
and Michigan State University
the greedy to rise to immunity.
were reactive, never proactive.
those who disagree with the NFL’s
performance has taken priority
actions, like myself, still watch the
over a basic code of ethics and
games because the players are the
morals, as long as the rug hasn’t
greatest football athletes in the
been lifted, they’ve shown us that
world. It’s the game responsible for
they are not capable of anything
countless memories we hold close
more. This corporate apathy is a
to our heart, and to see it performed
conscious perversion of the most
at the most elite level is remarkable,
integral sphere of influence.
to say the least. Assuming that
Like Bernie Madoff and
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell speaks at an event at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York to raise awareness about tramautic head injuries in football on Aug. 30, 2012. The NFL has come under public scrutiny for downplaying the severity of chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
a majority of Americans feel
numerous other Wall Street elite
the same, a complete boycott is
that profited at the expense of
unlikely. But a boycott of useless
unsuspecting Americans, officials
merchandise and overpriced gear
like Goodell and former Penn
is a step in the right direction, as
State athletic director Tim Curley
is starting a conversation about
earned while men lost their sanity
the apathy of these officials.
and boys were abused. Sandusky Photo obtained from Wikimedia Commons
So, what can be done? Even
For entities like the NFL, job
Combine these, however, and
will die in prison. And the NFL is
we attack what athletic executives
cooperating with players for a
hold most near and dear to their
safer game to clean their image,
hearts — their public image. In
but they only did so after public
doing so, the absent-minded
opinion shifted on the issue, and
sports officials will know that
these reactionary measures can’t
their power can be broken, too.
undo the lives ruined or revive the
MSU Denver women’s soccer will begin their season Aug. 16 with a home match against Laramie County Community College. Last season saw regression for the Roadrunners, finishing their season with an early exit in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament, cementing their 8-9 record has a step back from 2016’s 8-6-4. Despite the struggles, they had four players named to AllConference teams, and two to the RMAC Honorable Mention list. Four of those who were honored — Makenna Brassard, Jordan Lewis, Reigna Banks and Erica Torres — return, cementing a core of players to for the team to lean on.
Seniors named all conference Stallwarts for MSU Denver Volleyball Stephanie Laraway and Santaisha Sturgis have been named to the preseason Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference All-Conference team. Laraway and Sturgis were both named first team all-conference at the conclusion of the 2017 campaign, which saw the Roadrunners go 22-9 and make it to the second round of the NCAA tournament. The team will have an exhibition match against Colorado State University Wednesday, Aug. 15 and against Alumni Aug. 18. Their season kicks off with against California State University San Bernadino on Aug. 23.
Broncos demote Lynch Following another poor performance, this time against the Minnesota Vikings, head coach Vance Joseph has chosen to relegate Paxton Lynch to third string quarterback from the backup spot, promoting former seventh round pick Chad Kelly. The decision seems to solidify Lynch’s status as a draft bust, and puts his spot on the team in jeopardy.
SPORTS
AUGUST 15, 2018
9
Miraculously, Rockies are afloat By Rich Allen
extended stretches several
If the question of the team’s
rallen57@msudenver.edu
times this season. By Baseball
ability to create talent from the
Reference’s calculation of wins
bottom up is any question to you,
above replacement, the fifth best
look up clips of Arenado in high
the Colorado Rockies are
hitter on their roster is German
school. The Rockies organization
closer to a division title
Marquez — a starting pitcher.
transformed him from a sluggish
than they’ve ever been.
By the league-adjusted statistic
and overweight slugger to
OPS+, only four players in
one of the greatest, most agile
on their schedule, they’re less than
their starting lineup are above-
defenders the game has seen.
two games behind the National
average producers at the plate.
Somehow, someway,
With only 43 games remaining
League West leader. They just
The new Rockies are built
A team that has always been
on a system to supplement
dealt the biggest gut punch
trusted to hit the ball simply
their developed rotation. Where
imaginable to the Los Angeles
isn’t. On top of that, seemingly
the team has missed in free
Dodgers, the heavy favorites, by
every major free agent contract
agency, they’ve recovered in
taking three out of four at Coors
they’ve signed in recent memory
development — especially on the
Field with two walk-off victories.
is blowing up in their faces. Ian
pitching side. Before the current
The first was a come-from-behind
Desmond, the largest contract
three-run home run from rookie
they’ve ever given to a position
Ryan McMahon, down to their
player off the market, is struggling
final out. The second twisted
to produce at a replacement-player
the knife of an injury to closer
level. The “super bullpen” they
Kenley Jansen, drawing a walk-off
supposedly built by spending
walk to close out the series. The
$106 million across three pitchers
Rockies? Their starting pitching.
development” methodology
team is anchored in 100 percent
Dodgers left Denver wounded
has turned in the worst ERA
Denver native Kyle Freeland
has bailed him out. Four out
Rockies-bred talent, on both the
and are now tied with the Rockies
by a relief corps in baseball.
has emerged as an ace among a
of the five pitchers taking the
mound and in the batter’s box.
for second place in the division,
Yet, they’re a winning streak
young staff that is compensating
mound in the first inning for
with Colorado a game back of
and some luck from being in
for a lackluster offense and
the Rockies were drafted by the
writers, notably Mark Kiszla,
the Arizona Diamondbacks.
the driver’s seat in the west.
It doesn’t really make sense. A franchise that has been
staff, the team struggled to field Photo by Rich Allen | rallen57@msudenver.edu
Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado throws a fielded ground ball to first for an out during a spring training game against the Milwaukee Brewers on March 20.
any decent starting pitching, with the top homegrown arms being Ubaldo Jimenez and Jason Jennings, both of whom burned out quickly. Now, the
Longtime Denver market
often counterproductive
club. The last, Marquez, was
have claimed developing talent
How did we get here?
bullpen. Importantly,
acquired as a minor leaguer and
in-house is not viable option.
It’s likely no coincidence
they’re all homegrown.
came up through the system.
But, for a highly-competitive
synonymous with offense over
that the roster closest to their
their quarter-century history
first pennant looks nothing
Jeff Bridich has gotten in his
— Nolan Arenado, Charlie
only thing keeping them not
has struggled to post more
like many of their past ones.
own way on the open market, the
Blackmon and Trevor Story —
just in the race, but afloat.
proverbial “draft and
were also Colorado draftees.
than three runs in a game for
The best piece of the 2018
As much as general manager
The lineup’s big successes
Rockies team in 2018, it’s the
student organizations need an advertisement?
offers a free ad
The Metropolitan offers all MSU Denver student organizations per semester one free sixteenth-page ad (2.5” width by 3.5” height) with design included.
contact SalesAtMyMetMedia@.com or 303-615-0155
3.5”
2.5”
10
EVENTS
EVENTS AT AURARIA
CONCERTS
08.17
Third Friday Art Walk
Location Center for Visual Art 965 Santa Fe Drive
08.15
TV on the Radio
Location Red Rocks Amphitheatre
AUGUST 15, 2018
ROADRUNNER ATHLETICS 08.15
Father John Misty
Men’s Soccer
Women’s Volleyball
Location Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Price Varies
Price Varies
Time 7:30 p.m.
Time 7:30 p.m.
08.15 VS. Northeastern Location Denver
08.30 VS. CSU Location Denver
Price $0
Price $0
Price $5
Time 6 p.m.
Time 6 p.m.
Time 6:30 p.m.
Women’s Soccer
Women’s Volleyball
08.15 08.18
Pink Progression Poetry Reading and Closing Reception
Gipsy Kings
Location Devner Botanic Gardens
08.15
Beach House
Location Ogden Theatre
Price Varies
Price Varies
Time 6:30 p.m.
Time 8 p.m. 08.16 VS. Laramie Conuty
Location 965 Santa Fe Drive,
Location Denver
Denver, Colorado, 80204 Price $0 Time 1 p.m.
08.16
Joe Russo’s Almost Dead
Location Red Rocks Amphitheatre
08.16 My Body Sings Electric
08.18 Alumni Location Denver
Price $0
Price $0
Time 3:15 p.m.
Time 5 p.m.
Location Levitt Pavilion Denver
Price Varies
Price Varies
Time 7:30 p.m.
Time 6 p.m.
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS 08.20
MSU Denver Music Convocation
Location King Center Concert Hall Price $0
08.16
Rumours Follow
Location Levitt Pavilion Denver
08.16 The Unlikely Candidates
Price Varies
Price Varies
Time 6 p.m.
Time 6 p.m.
Time 2 p.m.
08.21
LouiInclusive Yoga
Location PE Building
08.18 Location
Slayer Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
Rockies
08.18 Location
08.15 vs. Astros Location Houston Price Varies
Price Varies
Time 6:10 p.m.
Time 7:05 p.m.
Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
Price $0
Price Varies
Price Varies
Time Enter time
Time Enter time
Outlaws 08.18 MLL Championship Location Charleston
08.21
Welcome Week
Price $0 Time 10 a.m.
08.18 Location
Behemoth Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
08.18 Location
Lamb of God
Price Varies
Price Varies Time 4:30 p.m.
Price Varies
Price Varies Time 8:00 p.m.
08.21 vs. Padres Lake Clarity: For an immersive audio drama check out “Lake Clarity” at MyMetMedia.com
Location
Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
08.19 Location
08.19 vs. LAFC Location Denver
Time 5:00 p.m.
Rockies
Rose Sremmurd
Rapids
Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
Time 4:30 p.m.
08.19
08.18 vs. Chicago Bears Location Denver
Testament
Time 3:30 p.m.
Location Lawrence St. Mall
Broncos
Location Levitt Pavilion Denver
Lil Baby Cervantes’ Masterpuece Ballroom
Price Varies
Price Varies
Time 5:30 p.m.
Time 8 p.m.
Location Denver
Rockies 08.24 vs. Cardinals Location Denver
Price Varies
Price Varies
Time 6:40 p.m.
Time 6:10 p.m.
TRENDING NEWS Colorado and California Wildfires
Earthquake
Turkish currency crisis
Italy bridge collapses
The Bull Draw Fire has burned more than 25,000 acres in Colorado, as of Aug. 14, blanketing the state in smoke in unison with multiple smaller wildfires. 12 miles northwest of NuclaIt, it is the largest fire currently burning in Colorado and is 19 percent contained. The Silver Creek Fire is 5 percent contained and has burned more than 2,000 acres 16 miles northwest of Kremmling. The other fires have been more contained than silver creek, but continue to burn and fill the skies with smoke. The Mendocino Complex Fire in California is currently the largest fire in state history.
350,000 people have been displaced after a 6.9 magnitude earthquake devastated the Indonesian island of Lambok Aug. 5. Authorities in the Indonesian government have cited the death toll at more than 430. Aid workers, including the Red Cross, are struggling to provide aid to those affected in the dense jungle to the north of the island. Lambok was still trying to recover from a 6.4 magnitude earthquake that hit a week before. Aftershocks continue to shock the island, numbering more than 500 as of Aug. 14.
The United States has issued sanctions on Turkey after the state failed to comply with the release of an American priest convicted of terrorist and espionage charges. President Trump issued high tariffs on imported steel and aluminium, causing the Turkish lira to drop more than 20%. In response, President Recep Erdogan has accused the United States of “stabbing Turkey in the back” and called for a boycott on American goods. Turkey has been a long-time partner to the United States, and resides in a geographically strategic region to monitor Russian activity.
A bridge outside Genoa, Italy collapsed during a violent storm on Aug. 14, killing at least 26 people. The bridge, suspended at least 150 feet in the air, dropped vehicles into buildings below when the structure gave way. The incident required more than 240 firefighters to respond. For some, it is highlighting the need for Italy to update its infrastructure, much of which was developed as early as the 1950s.
Catholic archdiocese pedophilia
Following a two year investigation, a Pennsylvanian grand jury released a 900 page report detailing rampant pedophilia in the state’s six Catholic archdiocese, dating as far back as the 1940s. The report, which counts over one thousand victims, echoed many accusations the church has faced worldwide, but offered unique horrors, such as a pedophile and pornography rings, including whipping, in Pittsburgh in the 1970s.
BREAK
AUGUST 15, 2018
Horoscopes
“Is polygamous the one where you believe in more than one god?” “No, I was talking about... what was I talking about?”
Capricorn
Cancer
It’s fortunate school is starting back up again. Over summer you started to forget how to speak and spell.
Don’t. You seriously don’t want to do that.
Aquarius
Leo
You’ll mess up your introduction in front of the whole class. There is no bright side. Sorry.
The overheard section is back, so speak softly, or you’ll wind up in print.
Pisces
Virgo
No, going to the brewery and talking at the bar isn’t basically the same as that interpersonal communications class.
Despite what the internet taught you, communicating in memes isn’t as cool as you think. Stop it. Don’t say never gonna give you up. It’s a dead meme. Just stop it.
Aries
Libra
Someone is going to say, “That explains a lot,” after they learn your sign. You’ll want to object, but don’t. Then they’ll win.
Someone in your class will mess up their introduction in front of the whole class.
Taurus
Scorpio
“It’s, like, right here on this lumpy part.” “I’m almost accepted by society!” “Would Harrison Ford do that if he was straight?”
Top 5
Stupid Conspiracy Theories 1. Qanon 2. JFK Assassination 3. Flat Earth 4. Fake Moon Landing
“I can sleep when I’m dead,” sounds good, but like... have you tried sleeping now?
There is no sorting hat at MSU Denver. You can stop worrying about ending up as a Hufflepuff.
Gemini
Sagittarius
You, on the other hand, need to stop sleeping so much. These classes aren’t free.
Beware goats and cliffs. Individually, they’re fine. But together, your fear of heights will finally be justified.
5. DIA/NWO headquarters Do you have a funny quote you overheard on campus or an interesting photo you just have to share? Submit to Managing Editor Isaac Banks at cbanks17@msudenver.edu
Brain games ACROSS
DOWN
1. Mentally prepare
37. Principal
1. Rate
31. Food thickener
6. Faucets
38. Internment camp
2. Kill
33. Affaire d’honneur
10. Part of an ear
39. Region
3. Bygone era
34. Diva’s solo
14. Hello or goodbye
40. Propagandist
4. Grub
35. Cleave
15. The original matter
42. Smell
5. The largest flatfish
36. Wild Tibetan oxen
(cosmology)
43. Pasture
6. Fastening
38. Laminated metamorphic
16. Infamous Roman
44. Beseeches
7. Balm ingredient
rocks
emperor
45. A pungent stew
8. Church benches
42. Roomette
17. Christmas song
47. Compete
9. Very good (British)
44. A sizeable hole
18. Hawkeye State
48. Prompts
10. Downplay
45. Good-looker
19. Let go
49. Solemnity
11. Mix together
46. Throw with effort
20. Spectator
56. A D-Day beach
12. Sweep
47. Valleys
22. Prima donna problems
57. Travel on water
13. Klutz’s cry
48. Wads
23. Mire
58. Turning point
21. Not bottom
50. Lack of difficulty
24. Seraglio
59. Plunge
25. Former boxing champ
51. Effort
26. Connect or link (2
60. Feudal worker
26. Monotonous sounds
52. 3 times 3
words)
61. Colonic
27. Iridescent gem
53. Nights before
30. Buckets
62. Clairvoyant
28. Hodgepodge
54. A few
32. Lit to a higher degree
63. Collections
29. Kookaburra
55. Immediately
33. Important person
64. Adjust again
30. Stacked
41. Suffer
Answers:
Overheard
11
BECOMING ARMY STRONG WILL OPEN DOORS, INCLUDING THOSE ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES.
There’s strong. Then there’s Army Strong. As a Soldier, education continues long after basic training. college scholarships. Learn more from your local recruiter, goarmy.com or 1-800-USA-ARMY.
To learn if you qualify for the $40,000 Enlistment Bonus, visit your local Campus Recruiting Center or goarmy.com/metro18.
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