Volume 41, Issue 15 - Nov. 28, 2018

The Student Newspaper of MSU Denver

mymetmedia.com

VOL. 41  NO. 14

@themetonline

NOVEMBER 28, 2018

themetropolitan

Bipedalism to no-pedalism

AHEC nearing licensing deals with motorized scooter companies Auraria Campus is preparing to deal with e-scooters and e-bikes for the long haul, closing in on licensing agreements with five ride-sharing companies. The contracts are expected to be completed before the spring semester begins. | Continued on pg. 2

Graphic by Ali C. M. Watkins | awatkin9@msudenver.edu

INSIDE

OPINION

| pg. 4

Why we published a letter from an anti-gay hate group member

FEATURES

| pg. 7

Students grab a slice of Auraria at iPie

SPORTS

| pg. 8

Men’s basketball has bright future, murky present

NEWS

2

NOVEMBER 28, 2018

Little green scooters invade Auraria Campus

By Rich Allen

and this just makes it easier,

rallen57@msudenver.edu

affordable and convenient.”

As it stands, Auraria is

The e-scooter invasion

technically a no-ride/no-park

of Auraria Campus will

zone, meaning rental scooters

likely be complete come

and bikes are prohibited, even

the spring semester.

if enforcement is lenient. The

Students will see dockless

only places on campus where the

scooter and bike parking stations

scooters can be legally parked

throughout the campus, thanks

are at the designated zones near

to new rules about their usage.

the two light rail stations, which

Auraria Higher Education

are owned by the city of Denver.

Center anticipates finalization of these deals with five ridesharing companies during winter break. Once terms are reached, operators will be able to deploy their vehicles in designated areas within Auraria’s borders. AHEC officials believe these agreements will make the campus more

“We want to just make sure these things get put in place the right way.

We’ve had increased medical calls related to the scooters.”

– Michael Phibbs

environmentally sustainable and internal traffic more efficient, affordable and safer.

“To get people out of cars

Denver outlined its own set of rules for ride-share operators in June, following

is always one of my goals,”

the nearly overnight arrival

said Carl Meese, AHEC senior

of Lime and Bird in May. The

campus planner. “This increases

Denver Dockless Mobility Pilot

our sustainability and reduces

Program created guidelines for

greenhouse gas emissions. We

operators, which Meese said

is state-owned, it can set its

“self-inflicted” and did not

e-bikes could prove essential

have a limited number of parking

the city had to “shoehorn” into

own rules through licensing

involve collisions with others.

for some Auraria students.

spaces. We need people to use

its current legal framework.

agreements. Before students

He said some injuries required

return in mid-January, the

ambulance transportation.

ulterior modes of transportation,

Because Auraria Campus

Photo by Isaac Banks | cbanks17@msudenver.edu

Romeo Rubio rides a Lime scooter onto campus from the Auraria West light rail station on Nov. 26.

campus believes it will have such

Electric scooters have been tied to deaths in some headlines,

basically,” said MSU Denver

Bird, Spin, Jump and Lyft.

but deeper digs make it hard to

Student Government Assembly

attribute blame to the vehicles.

representative to the Student Advisory Committee to the

between Auraria’s licenses and the city’s pilot program will be the classification of rental scooters and bikes. In Denver, they are classified as “toy vehicles,” meaning they are limited to use on sidewalks, clustering pedestrians with motorized vehicles that can travel up to 15 mph. On campus, they won’t follow that classification, and

“We have a limited number of parking spaces. We need people to use ulterior modes of transportation, and this just makes it easier, affordable and convenient.”

– Carl Meese

The hope and belief is

Auraria Board Courtney Jones.

“One of the main reasons I think it’s so important is we’re a commuter campus. We don’t have student housing right on campus, so people have to walk.

They have to commute here.”

Jones said the price tag will make e-scooters valuable for students leaving, coming to and traveling on Auraria

will be relegated to bike lanes.

On Nov. 24, it was reported

Campus. A Lime scooter costs

that this will make traveling

that a St. Louis man died following

$1 to unlock and then 15 cents

across campus safer for

a collision with a tree while

for every minute of use.

pedestrians and riders alike.

riding a Lime scooter. It was later

“We want to just make sure these things get put in place the

Other potential benefits are

revealed the man suffered cardiac

less apparent. Meese said the

arrest before the accident.

companies are being forthcoming with offering GPS data. He

right way,” said AHEC Chief of

Meanwhile, a rider in Dallas

Police Michael Phibbs. “We’ve

asked his roommate via phone

said this can be used to better

had increased medical calls

call to get him a Lyft to the

understand how students travel

related to the scooters.”

hospital following a crash on

on campus and parlay that into

Sept. 3, and was discovered

more efficient planning with bike

traffic, particularly with disabled

unresponsive. His cause of death

lane and sidewalk development.

pedestrians having to share a

wasn’t released, but his family

space with high speed vehicles.

publicly requested the incident

agreements are expected to be up

However, he highlighted security

be investigated as a hit-and-run.

for renewal when Denver’s current

Phibbs noted safety concerns in

concerns with blocking Americans

Lime-S Segway scooters launched in Denver in May of 2018 and can be found all over the metro area. The electric scooters are used by many people around the city. Lime is one of the five companies bringing ride-sharing services to Denver and Auraria.

which will help with everything,

contracts in place with Lime, One of the biggest differences

Photo obtained from Lime.

“It’ll be an alternative and quicker form of transportation,

Nearly all rental electric scooter

The anticipated licensing

pilot program expires in summer

with Disabilities Act compliant

deaths involve automobiles. The

2019. Meese’s hope is that the

ramps or bringing the scooters

only multi-lane road that passes

city’s new rules will follow AHEC’s,

inside buildings. The lithium

through Auraria is 7th Street.

streamlining the regulations and

batteries in the scooters have

To quell the few safety

been recorded catching fire.

He acknowledged the

concerns, AHEC is hoping for voluntary cooperation in dismount

overall experience for Auraria students and the general public.

“Whatever way people can

majority of medical reports

zones. If utilized properly, the

get to class faster is going

related to the scooters were

consensus is e-scooters and

to work,” Jones said.

OPINIONS

4

NOVEMBER 28, 2018

staff Editor-in-Chief Ali C. M. Watkins awatkin9@msudenver.edu Managing Editor Isaac Banks cbanks@msudenver.edu Content Manager Rich Allen rallen57@msudenver.edu Assistant News Editor James Bofenkamp jbofenk1@msudenver.ed

Staff editorial: Addressing the letter to the editor policy

Features Editor Megan Webber mwebber6@msudenver.edu Sports Editor James Burky jburky@msudenver.edu Assistant Sports Editor Deicy Luevanos dluevan3@msudenver.edu Photo Editor Kaileigh Lyons klyons9@msudenver.edu Assistant Photo Editor Joel Mathew jmathe19@msudenver.edu Copy Editor Daniel Sutton dsutton3@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

By The Metropolitan staff For just shy of 40 years, The Metropolitan has been the student voice for MSU Denver, Auraria Campus and the greater Denver Metro area. It’s also been home to aspiring journalists, preparing students for a career in an often brutal field.

Shortly after we covered the 2018 Colorado midterms, our editor-in-chief received a letter in response to our lead story on Jared Polis’ win, which made him the first openly gay person to be elected governor in the U.S. The letter’s author is the founder of Heterosexuals Organized for a Moral Environment, an antigay organization that the Southern Poverty Law Center — a nonprofit legal advocacy organization that focuses on civil rights — has labeled as a hate group. HOME is based in Downers Grove, Illinois, but the writer responded directly to our story via

mymetmedia.com. We had to ask ourselves where we draw the line and how printing this letter would impact our audience.

Our letter to the editor policy is straight forward: Everything is published. Censorship would only apply if a response incites violence or uses slurs — something that the HOME letter writer did not do. Any opinions or ideology within a letter belong to the writer, not The Metropolitan or any of its staff members.

More responses followed this letter’s publication, bringing up conversations about inclusivity and free speech. As a publication for one of Colorado’s most diverse universities, we have to balance our responsibility to the community with our civic duty as journalists. So we fell back on our version of the bible, the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics.

Kathleen Jewby kjewby@msudenver.edu Office Manager Elizabeth Norberg enorbert@msudenver.edu Sales and Marketing sales@mymetmedia.com marketing@mymetmedia.com Brady Nelson bnelso73@msudenver.edu

The First Code To seek the truth. Opinions in letters are not necessarily factual, but to keep the cornerstone of democracy from slipping, we must present an individual’s opinion as is even if it does not reflect our personal beliefs. Whenever we enter the newsroom, our personal identities simmer on the back burner while our jobs as journalists are at a complete boil.

The Second Code 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.

Want to voice your thoughts on a current event or subject that has been covered in the paper?

Send your pieces to Managing Editor Isaac Banks at cbanks17@msudenver.edu

To minimize harm. This refers to treating our sources in a humane and respectful way.

The Third Code To act independently, which means that how we report cannot be paid for or persuaded.

We don’t answer to a group, political party or business. Our jobs are to inform the public, hold those in power accountable and give a voice to the voiceless.

The Fourth Code To be accountable and transparent, encourage civil dialogue, explain journalistic practices and to own up to our faults—a code presented in this editorial. We run corrections when mistakes are published and take measures to avoid inaccuracies. You’ll notice that outside of the Opinions section, we never celebrate or condemn others in our stories. We state the facts and let the sources’ voices ring out in direct quotes and paraphrases.

The letters presented in this issue of The Metropolitan disagree with our decision to publish the original letter. We appreciate the feedback and encourage any and all

readers to join in on the conversation or to start new ones. If you send us a letter that abides with our policy, it will be printed.

Our doors and ears are always open.

Send The Metropolitan your letters Do you have a concern for the readers of The Metropolitan?

Send a letter to the Editor-in-Chief Ali C. M. Watkins at awatkin9@msudenver.edu.

NOVEMBER 28, 2018

OPINIONS

Letters to the editor

In response to a letter The Metropolitan published in Vol. 41 Issue 13

By Brandi Scott and Steve Willich Opinions in letters to the editor reflect the authors’ views and are presented as is.

We are writing this letter to express our concern with the Letter to the Editor that was published in The Metropolitan the week of November 12th, from the founder of Heterosexuals Organized for a Moral Environment (HOME), a group that is openly identified as a hate group. While we understand the principles and importance of freedom of speech, and therefore, freedom of the press, we want to communicate the harm this has caused to students, staff, and faculty on our campus who are members of the LGBTQ community.

Hateful rhetoric and violence against marginalized communities have been tacitly emboldened in our current political climate. We are seeing the rise of white supremacy across the nation, including our own campus. Every day, we hear about acts of violence against people of color, women, the LGBTQ community, the undocumented community, and those who practice faiths other than Christianity. This year alone, 369 transgender people have been murdered due to their gender identity, a 13% increase over last year.

This is not who we are at MSU Denver. These are not the values of this campus, this city, or this state. We are extremely proud that Coloradoans elected a governor that just happens to be gay. We’ve come a very long way since 1992, when the citizens of Colorado voted to discriminate against gays and lesbians, earning the moniker of the Hate State. It is imperative that our campus continues to affirm that we are a community that values the identities and experiences of those we serve and who work here. The publication of the hateful beliefs of the HOME organization caused our students to question their existence and safety on this campus.

MSU Denver has made a strong commitment to diversity, stating it as one of our core values. President Davidson released a statement last year in which she communicated “Hate has no home at MSU Denver”. Our intent is to create a campus community where individuals of all identities are welcomed, valued, and celebrated.

The Auraria LGBTQ Student Resource Center celebrates that it was the first LGBTQ college resource center in Colorado and has existed for over 25 years. The LGBTQ SRC, within

the Center for Equity and Student Achievement (CESA), provides space for students to feel affirmed and welcomed and educates the campus community about the experiences and needs of the LGBTQ population.

To our LGBTQ students and allies: we see you, we hear you, and we value you and your contributions to the University and campus community.

If you are not already connected to our LGBTQ Student Resource Center, please consider this an open invitation to visit the Center or participate in one of our many events. Learn more at https://msudenver.edu/lgbtq/ It is our hope that this letter informs the staff at The Metropolitan of the harmful impact of publishing hateful ideology and rhetoric. We hope to work with you in the future to support the values of diversity and inclusion that our campus aims to uphold.

Brandi Scott is the associate dean of Equity and Student Achievement.

Steve Willich serves as director of the LGBTQ Student Resource Center.

By Alexander Sweetman I was appalled to open the Metropolitan this week to find a letter written by HOME, an Illinois organization that has been rightfully categorized as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, in the opinions section of the paper.

Differing opinions is one thing, but to have an outright hate group given a platform at a university that prides itself on inclusive policies is deplorable.

The writer openly uses logical fallacies (“Those paying attention can see that the ‘logic’ of heterophobic homosexuals is rapidly leading this society down a slippery slope to a more aberrant, disordered, and irrational society.”) and had Wayne Lela’s opinion been put through any standard of

editorial review it would have been discarded outright.

I strongly urge the Metropolitan to use their platform responsibly, and do not give platform to hate groups.

In a time that Colorado has taken a step forward, the Metropolitan has chosen to take a step backwards by platforming bigotry against our new Governor Jared Polis, and a step backwards in advocating for the diverse population of the Metropolitan State University of Denver.

Alexander Sweetman graduated from the Aviation and Aerospace Sciences department in 2016 and currently lives and works in Littleton, Colorado.

By Kaiba Linthicum My name is Kaiba Linthicum and I am sending this email to you regarding the last issue of the Metropolitan. I’m curious as to why the letter from Wayne Lela was published? On top of that, why was there no statement perhaps rebutting their response, or even stating that the Metropolitan doesn’t support their views. MSU is dedicated to diversity and inclusion, and having an office under MSU that essentially

dehumanizes non heterosexuals isn’t inline with the values of diversity and inclusion. I would love schedule a meeting to discuss more in depth or just to grab coffee.

Kaiba Linthicum is currently the LGBTQ Student Resource Center at Auraria Student program assistant and LGBTQ Competency training coordinator.

Send The Metropolitan your letters Do you have a concern for the readers of The Metropolitan?

Send a letter to the Editor-in-Chief Ali C. M. Watkins at awatkin9@msudenver.edu.

5

FEATURES

6

NOVEMBER 28, 2018

MSU Denver’s wacky show is still extraordinary

By Megan Webber

their memories. Without their

mwebber6@msudenver.edu

coats, they cannot remember who they are or where they come from.

At a glance, Steven Dietz’s

The main character, Iris, was

“Still Life With Iris” looks like

played by Addy Himle. When

a theatrical take on a drunken

Iris takes her coat off so she can

nightmare, something no busy

travel to another realm, all she

college student would ever

knows is that she must find the

take the time to see onstage.

little girl it belongs to so she can

Madstage.com describes

return it. Thus, she sets off on

the play as, “A young girl’s

an adventure through the Land

quest to regain her memory

of the Forgotten and through the

and with it, her home.” How

Goods’ Castle, meeting friends

can that be entertaining?

along the way who help her.

Madstage’s summary does no

Himle was supported by Sam

justice to the MSU Denver Theater

Bishop and Nicholas Battaglia,

Department’s production of the

who played her friends Annabel

show, which opened on Nov. 8.

Lee and Mozart. These three

The first thing I saw when walking

characters could only ever

into the theater was a brightly-lit

appear together in a dream, but

stage with rainbow fairy lights, a

the story showed that they all

wooden balcony with a staircase

had something in common: they

and a ladder, and a round wooden

were all searching for something.

structure on the floor with a sign

Mozart needed to figure out how

post that had arrows pointing

to end his new symphony, Annabel

Bennett played the villains, Gretta

with one leg cut off, and half of

venue was small, bringing the

in all directions. It looked like

was looking for her ship and Iris

and Grotto Good, the rulers of

Schraeder’s dress was cut on one

audience closer to the journey.

a playground or the cover of

needed to find her way home.

the fantastical world. They were

side to show off their best sides.

a children’s book, somewhere

Photo by Megan Webber | mwebber6@msudenver.edu

Libby Hunter as Hazel, Addy Himle as Iris and Will Hunter as Elmer cheer in excitement to see the sun be woken up at daybreak. The “Still Life With Iris” rehearsal took place at the King Center on Nov. 8.

The MSU Denver community

The trio of actors worked

hilarious, speaking in posh British

The show had a childlike,

well together, conveying a bond

accents and carrying themselves

“Alice in Wonderland” feel to it.

department’s ability to go

of friendship that felt deeper

in an outwardly kind and gentle,

Kids in the audience were riveted

beyond musicals, beyond

Nocturno, where the townspeople

than just the lines being said

yet secretly vicious manner. The

by the fantastical characters, the

Shakespeare and beyond the

raise the sun every morning and

onstage. Battaglia also spoke

Goods’ principle is that they

bright colors and the simple jokes.

classics. Everyone remembers

create the flowers, the bugs,

in a German accent the entire

must have the best version of

While the show is very youth-

their favorite childhood movie or

the animals, the weather and

show, never wavering from the

everything: the best chair, the best

friendly, it was also entertaining

book, and “Still Life With Iris” lets

everything that makes the real

sharp consonants and straight

table, the best photograph and

for the adults in the room, and

us relive the way we felt when

world come to life. The people all

composure of his character.

so on. This even bled into their

the acting was vivid, humorous

Mom tucked us in at night and

costumes. Bennett wore pants

and touching. It helped that the

cracked open a picture book.

I’d want to be for story time.

The play is set in a land called

wear patched coats, which hold

Megan Schraeder and Bobby

should be proud of its theater

Tetris Effect is as addicting as it is beautiful

By Isaac Banks

blocks hours after they played,

four categories that the different

cbanks17@msudenver.edu

usually right before falling asleep.

modes fall under: classic, relax,

Even though I could not The level starts off in a desert

focus and adventurous. Marathon

take advantage of its PS VR

and sprint mode can be found

with a close-up of a camel train.

capability, the game still took

under the classic category. Relax

The subtle tones of music are

me on a ride filled with beautiful

game modes were pleasant to play

just noticeable as I begin to stack

visuals and marvelous music.

when I did not want the stress of

tetrominos. As I clear lines, the

The main attraction of “Tetris

an increase in speed of the falling

speed increases and a gentle

Effect” is journey mode. This mode

bassline comes in. My controller

is a tour of all of the different stages

vibrates to the beat as the view pulls

of the game. It is pretty forgiving,

similar theme levels. Focus brought

further away and a melody begins

and showcases a new feature called

puzzle solving, like all clears and

to mateialize. Before long, the level

Zone. In place of a game over, my

combos, to the table. The highlight

reaches its climax and everything

score will reset if I fail. The Zone

of the game, besides journey

is in sync as I am taken to the moon

feature allows me to stack multiple

mode, was the mystery game type

with the Earth in the background.

cleared lines without counting

under the adventurous category.

This is just one of the many

them toward the level progress.

In this mode, random things like

unique levels of “Tetris Effect.”

“Tetris Effect,” for the

I enjoyed this feature, but in

blocks and a game over screen.

There are also playlists of

the game area inverting or a giant

my time playing the game I did not

tetromino taking up most of the

PlayStation 4 — created by

come close to using its full potential.

screen, added extra challenge

Tetsuya Mizuguchi, known for

Unfortunately, Zone is only in

while I chased the high score.

“Rez Infinite” — is a new take

journey mode and none of the other

on the classic game. It takes its

modes. Upon completion of the

for everyone. It does not have an

name from the Tetris effect, a

journey, a theater mode unlocks

adversarial mode for people to test

the visuals are breathtaking, at

the classic game. But it provides

phenomenon discovered by Harvard

that has no gameplay but allows the

their skills against others online.

times they can block the view of

a rare combination of music,

psychologists in 2000. In the

progression through the level just

Instead, it has community events

the playing area, making it hard to

gameplay and visuals, and an

experiment, people played classic

focusing on the music and visuals.

focused around a different category

see the tetromino coming down

experience that I will keep coming

where people who participate can

or where a piece is going to land.

back to over and over again.

Tetris for an extended period of time and reported seeing tetromino

Effects modes house all of the other game types. There are

This version of Tetris is not

earn different avatars. Even though

Photo obtained from Tetris Effect

Tetris Effect is a tile-matching puzzle video game that was released on Nov. 9.

“Tetris Effect” will not replace

NOVEMBER 28, 2018

FEATURES

7

iPIE has served up five years of dough to Auraria

By Dorothy Harris

about their environment.

get monotonous, so our crew kind

dharr108@msudenver.edu

Inside, there are signs urging

of changes that. We like to sing, we

customers to recycle the iPIE

like to dance, we like it keep it light

boxes. General Manager Russ

and joke around to let people know

with a great atmosphere, friendly

Tearny said it is very important

that we’re cool,” Daniels said.

staff and good food between

to them that they are doing

classes, Infinitus iPIE is the place

their part to save the planet by

and the restaurant’s popularity

to be. Located on the second floor

lessening our carbon footprint.

mean there is often a lot

For students looking for a place

iPIE’s music playing habits

of the Tivoli Student Union, the

iPIE is more than just a place

happening at once inside, so

pizza restaurant is a pinnacle of

to grab food. It’s a restaurant with

it can get a bit loud at times.

Auraria Campus culture, and has

different personalities and uses

been for the past five years.

music to create an expressive

names mumbles. It’s just loud

“Inspiring via mouth

“The person who yells out the

atmosphere. On the back wall

yelling on top of all the other

watering iPIE coupled with

hangs a Jimi Hendrix painting that

noises and I’m questioning if they

our passionate dedication for

compliments the green, orange

are yelling my name,” said MSU

community, education and

and purple hues of the restaurant,

Denver sophomore Julia Holmes.

humor is the mission statement,”

adding to the retro aesthetic.

said manager George Lowry. iPIE is based in Colorado and

everything else on campus

has two other locations besides

with the different colors,

Tivoli, but the customers are

music and design of the

what make this one different. iPIE

establishment, making it feel

serves the students of Auraria

like a different environment

Campus in more ways than one,

from the rest of Tivoli.

offering a place to lounge after

She said it is often crowded, Photo by Kaileigh Lyons | klyons9@msudenver.edu

The restaurant offsets

She added that she might have to ask someone if she can sit with them in an effort to avoid ordering her food to go.

Denver student Anahi Quintana. iPIE also offers scholarships

keep the vibe light while working

Despite the foot traffic, Holmes

by playing music and giving

said she still comes in, sometimes twice a week just for the pizza.

to students every year. Half of the

people a show by flipping the

class, do homework, hang out

people here, in the food court

tips earned go to a scholarship

dough. They want to keep

with friends and eat pizza.

there’s a lot of people and there’s

fund that helps students go to

everyone laughing and having

food tastes good and we’re in

MSU Denver senior Luke

“Even though there are a few

Manager George Lowrey prepares the dough for a personal pizza at iPIE on Nov. 26. iPIE opened in the Tivoli Student Union five years ago and is a popular place for students to eat and hang out on campus.

making it hard to find a seat.

“Every day we’re full. The

so much movement and I can’t

school. It’s their way of giving

a good time, especially when

here having fun and people are

Dowdy said he goes to iPIE twice

concentrate on doing homework,

back to the college community

most of the customers are

curious,” Tearny said. “They see a

a week, because it’s the best

whereas when I’m here, I feel

in which they work, according to

just getting out of class.

line out the door and want to come

place to get food on campus.

relaxed in my little booth and I

kitchen manager Michael Daniels.

The pizza joint staff care

can get stuff done,” said MSU

The crew says that they like to

“Whenever you’re doing something 40 hours a week, it can

and check it out. I’m impressed with how popular we are.”

8

SPORTS

NOVEMBER 28, 2018

New faces lead optimistic Roadrunners

MSU DENVER NEWS

After close losses, men’s basketball upset top team in region

Women cross-country headed to nationals

By James Burky

almost 90 percent of our team

jburky@msudenver.edu

next year. These victories go

With 184 points the MSU Denver women’s cross-country team placed fifth at the NCAA South Central Regional Championships and qualfied for nationals, while the men finished 12th and fell just short of joining the women. Sam Berg led the men placing 26th with a time of 32 minutes 5.9 seconds and behind Berg was Jacob Link placing 32nd. Sabrina Rautter lead the women, placing ninth and with a new personal record of 21 minutes, 59.8 seconds. Erica Ruiz placed 29th with her personal best of 22 minutes, 42.4 seconds. This was enough to get the women a spot in the NCAA National Tournament in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Dec 1.

a long way for the future, they The MSU Denver men’s

The driving force for the

mixed results three games

Roadrunners has been their

into the 2018-19 season. At

defense. Though their 72

1-2, the young roster has been

points-per-game allowed

built to sustain early bumps in

commands little more than a

hopes for a smooth future.

shrug and a neutral face, their

The Roadrunners have taken opponents into overtime twice and both of their losses came

Coaches voted Reigna Banks to the Division II AllSouth Cetral regional team.

In 2018, Banks starred for the MSU Denver women’s soccer teams.

The senior scored 13 goals on the season and was named RMAC Player fo the year for her effort.

She finished her collegiate career with 20 goals and six assists over three seasons.

The Roadrunners failed to match a strong first half of the season, starting 6-1-1 and finished 10-7-1.

They lost 2-1 to Dixie State in the opening round of the RMAC tournament.

jaw dropping performance came against Commerce.

The Lions entered the

by four points each. After three

match 5-1 with five 80-plus

straight sub-20 win seasons and

point games to their name. The

four without an NCAA Tournament

Roadrunners not only held them

appearance, the pressure has

to 70, but also 43.8 percent

been on head coach Michael

shooting — seven points below

Bahl to bring the Roadrunners

their season average — and

back to the success the team

27.3 from three-point line, nine

had just five years ago.

points below their average.

MSU Denver’s 76-69 win over

Banks named to All-Region team

also go a long way right now.”

basketball team has found

It was the coming-of-

Texas A&M-Commerce — the

age moment for a young

best team in their shared South

team determined to return

Central Region — provides

to their winning ways.

quantifiable evidence that things

“We knew turnovers beat

Photo obtained from MSU Denver Athletics via Twitter

Marcus Williams dribbles against Reggie Reid of Texas A&M-Commerce in the second half of the Roadrunners’ 76-69 win on Nov. 24 at the Auraria Event Center.

The Roadrunners are 1-2 to start the season and begin conference play on Dec. 1 at Chadron State College.

At 5-foot-11, defenses will

and Carter, two transfers who

often try to overwhelm Marcus

led their schools in scoring a

are looking a little brighter. It

us down the stretch. We knew

with press defenses. He wears

season ago and brought their

doesn’t erase the first two losses,

free throws beat us down the

the same blank, but determined,

propensity for draining shots

but Commerce was the best

stretch,” said Marcus Jefferson.

expression no matter the situation.

with them to the Mile High City.

team MSU Denver has played

“So, if we just limit those things

Rush him while he takes the

But beyond those three, on

and the team they beat. Such a

and hit our free throws, the odds

ball on the inbound pass and

the other side of the ball, is a

performance can do wonders

are going to be in our favor.”

crosses half court? He’ll just lob

soft-spoken redshirt freshman

to Druce Asah or Garrett Carter.

off the court, and a magnet

young crop of talent looking to

Cover him on the wing? He’ll juke

on it — Elijah Straughter.

usher in a new era. He was a

to one side and find a hole to the

to a young team’s confidence.

“You can’t live in just one year. We want to be really good

Jefferson is a member of a

Straughter, a 6-foot-4-inch forward, is 10th in the Rocky

now, and I think we will be really

redshirt freshman a year ago

good,” Bahl said after their

and though he sat on the bench

upset of Commerce. “But when

the entire season, he never

point guard role to senior Enrique

defensive rebounds-per-game

we sit behind closed doors, me

complained. The guard from

Cortéz-Zotes, Jefferson is third on

with five. His habit of elevating

and coach Johnston look at the

Lewisville, Texas is also the

the team in points-per-game with

himself and keeping balance

white board and say, ‘He’s only a

younger brother of Brandon

10.7 and tied for first in assists

to inhale missed shots kept the

freshman, he’s a sophomore, he’s

Jefferson, one of the most

with eight. His points increased

Roadrunners alive in the overtime

a junior.’ We’re going to return

dynamic scorers in school history.

steadily from six on opening night

period against Commerce.

top of the key for an easy three.

Despite ceding the primary

against Stanislaus State University

Volleyball players earn national honors Santaisha Sturges and Taylor Duryea were named honorable mention All-American by the NCAA. The two first-team All-RMAC selections had phenomenal 2018 seasons as the team leaders in kills, and capped their illustrious era by passing the 1,000 career kill milestones.

The Roadrunners were runnerups in the RMAC tournament this season, and Duryea and Struges were named to the all-tournament team.

MSU Denver was invited to the NCAA tournament where they lost to Colorado School of Mines three sets to one in the opening round.

to 11 against Northwest Oklahoma State University, then up to 14

Straughter said. “Last year, it

against Commerce. He’s shooting

was tough watching, but it’s fun

58 percent from the field and is

to be back out there. I missed

5-of-9 from beyond the arc.

it and I’m enjoying it a lot.”

The Roadrunners aren’t out

coach to Brandon, said he believes

of the woods, they are 1-2. Bad

Marcus is the better defender of

teams upset good ones. It’s a

the two, and he has to be when

part of the fabric of competitive

Cortéz-Zotes is on the bench and

sports. The free throw percentage,

the Roadrunners lose three years

worse than 289 teams a season

of experience and four inches.

ago, is still an ugly 60 percent.

Marcus is perhaps one of

Bahl knows that their work

the more modest high-octane

has only begun, but there’s

players. He acknowledges

something that the Roadrunners

the positives in his game, but

did not have in the first year of the

deflects over-admiration.

post-Derrick Clark era — certainty

“I’ve been playing OK. I need to be a better leader

that things were getting better.

“Now, don’t think for one

on the court with my voice,

second that it’s smooth sailing

but it’s a long season. We’ll

from here out. There’s going to

get it together. We just keep

be ups and downs,” Bahl said.

building from here,” he said.

“To play the games we played,

Marcus has been

Enrique Cortéz-Zotes drives to the basket against the Commerce defense

overshadowed by the

in the second half of the Roadrunners 76-69 win on Nov. 24 at the Auraria

performances of scorers Asah

Event Center.

“My teammates believed in me, coach believed in me,”

Bahl, who was an assistant

Photo taken by Ed Jacobs Jr. | Obtained from MSU Denver Athletics

Mountain Athletic Conference in

two overtime games, it’s going to do wonders for our guys.”

NOVEMBER 28, 2018

SPORTS

9

Haave’s milestone arrives after slow start for women’s basketball NATIONAL NEWS

By James Burky jburky@msudenver.edu

Chapel Hill partying like it’s 1997

Head coach Tanya Haave’s

The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill has hired Mack Brown as their new head football coach. Brown, who won a national championship in 2005 with the Texas Longhorns, previously headed the Tar Heels from 1988-1997. He began his career 1-10 at Chapel Hill, and ended it with a No. 4 AP ranking. The Tar Heels were just 5-18 in the last two seasons under Larry Fedora, who drew criticism this summer for blaming liberal values for softening football.

record-tying 159th win came with a delay that is unprecedented for the MSU Denver women’s basketball team.

The ninth-year coach needed just one victory to match the mark set by Darryl Smith — who coached from 1990-1998 — but the Roadrunners are stumbling out of the gate, losing four of their first five games. It is MSU Denver’s worst start under Haave, who has led the team to four NCAA tournament appearances.

Troubled linebacker claimed off waivers

The first win came on Nov. 24 against Winona State University. But there’s a slim margin of error for a team that’s shooting just 40.7 percent from the court and grabbing a Rocky Mountain Athletic ConferencePhoto by Darral Freund | Obtained from MSU Denver Athletics

worst 32.8 rebounds per game.

The winless skid is over, but

MSU Denver’s Jaelynn Smith drives the lane against West Texas A&M on Nov. 17 at the Auraria Event Center.

urgency will shadow the coaches and players as they begin RMAC

by Minnesota State University -

nabbed six steals, the most by a

have way more. We weren’t

play against Chadron State College.

Moorhead 62-41, a match where

Roadrunner since 2010, and Lewis

getting people open, we were

“It’s gotta be there for the rest of

they shot a collective 30.8 percent.

had five defensive rebounds.

playing more one-on-one.”

the season,” Haave said. “We’ve got

Their inexperience isn’t helping

Offensively, however, the

And therein lies another issue on

them overcome a tough schedule,

newcomers have done little to

the offense — the bulk of the assists

but their freshmen are starting to

make their presence known in

have come from Smith. The guard

sporadic five games in. They turn in

adapt. Opponents won’t go down a

support of the Jaelynn Smith and

is proving to be dynamic beyond

a dominant defensive performance

notch because you’re new. It’s sink

Emily Hartegan dynamic duo.

her scoring ability and has made a

while shutting down offensively.

or swim in collegiate athletics.

Abbigail Juozapaitis and Losalini

name for herself as a dime dropper.

Katia’s six-point performances in

Smith’s 30 assists not only lead

to convey that message to them.”

At best, MSU Denver has been

The Roadrunners nearly beat the

Defensively, that seems to be the

No. 7 West Texas A&M 66-63 and

case. Jaiden Galloway and Morgan

the second game of the season,

the team — by 22 — but is also top

had a 32-29 rebound advantage.

Lewis both had their first impact

a 73-66 loss to Texas A&M-

of the RMAC. Her effort to spread

In their win over Winona, they

performances of their MSU Denver

Commerce, are the only instances

the scoring has been the driving

allowed just 55 points. On the

careers against Winona State.

of a newcomer scoring more than

factor behind the Roadrunners

flip side, they were embarrassed

The shifty, 5-foot-6-inch Galloway

four points thus far. The bulk of the

ranking no worse than a below-

scoring has come from the usual

average 11th in the conference

suspects — Smith and Hartegan.

in assists per game with 12.4.

The offense flows through the two like a violent river, and with good reason. Smith is a one stop shop at guard, she can stop on a dime and nail a stepback jumper, slash through the

“It’s still early, and it’s never ideal to lose or start this way, but this is just the beginning.”

– Jaelynn Smith

defense like a hot knife meeting a stick of butter and if asked to hit a three, she can come through.

Hartegan, meanwhile, is the

to run. After their nail-biting loss

creme de la creme of close scorers

to West Texas A&M — the team

in the RMAC. Her 17.2 points-per-

that knocked MSU Denver out of

game is second in the conference

the NCAA tournament a season

while her 61 shooting percentage

ago — Smith was firm in her belief

is 23rd in the nation for those with

that things were going to be OK.

two or more games played.

Collectively, Smith and Hartegan 146 of the Roadrunners’ 281 points.

The selfless stars reiterated after the win over Winona State that the underlying issue for the shooting problems has been a lack of teamwork.

Photo by Ed Jacobs Jr. | Obtained from MSU Denver Athletics

Emily Hartegan high steps into the Winona State defense in the second half of the Roadrunners’ 58-55 win on Nov. 24 at the Auraria Event Center. MSU Denver’s 1-4 start is their worst under head coach Tanya Haave.

The Roadrunners aren’t fading, yet, but their colors are beginning

“Last night we had five assists,”

“We’re just getting started,” Smith said. “It’s still early, and it’s never ideal to lose or start this way, but it’s just the beginning.”

Two games later, perhaps the urgency has settled a bit.

The Roadrunners were picked to finish second in the RMAC this preseason, but their play

Hartegan said, in reference to

through five has jeopardized

their loss to Moorhead. “We

2018-19 before it really began.

shouldn’t have that. We should

The Washington Redskins claimed troubled linebacker Reuben Foster off of waivers from the San Francisco 49ers on Nov. 27, two days after the second-year player was released.

Foster was arrested for probable cause of misdemeanor domestic violence charges. The 31st overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft was released by the 49ers the next morning before their 27-9 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Redskins are 6-5 and slightly behind the Dallas Cowboys for first place in the NFC East.

World Chess Championships in extra play The World Chess Championship is entering a series of increasingly quick extra matches after world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen of Norway offered No. 2 Fabiano Caruana of the U.S. a controversial draw. It left the 12 game match with 12 draws, and the players tied at 6 points. Fellow grandmasters have questioned Carlsen surrender of a significantly superior position in the 12th game. A tie-breaker rapid chess match starts Nov. 28, with potential to move to blitz and eventually “Armageddon” play if the first round proves inconclusive.

LOCAL NEWS Stages set for state football championships This week marks the beginning of state championship week for Colorado high school football.

Four champions have already been crowned: Kit Carson High School won the 6-man title, Sedgwick County won the 8-man championship, while the victors for 1A and 2A were Limon and La Junta, respectively.

The remaining 3A, 4A and 5A championships will feature matchups of: Palmer Ridge and Pueblo West, Loveland and Skyline, capped off by the much-anticipated Valor Christian vs. Cherry Creek game.

10

SPORTS

NOVEMBER 28, 2018

Sturges finishes decorated career

Four-year Roadrunner surpased 1,000 kills with MSU Denver

By Isaac Banks

team behind Taylor Duryea. This

cbanks17@msudenver.edu

season also saw Sturges pass 1000 career kills at MSU Denver.

Santaisha Sturges spent her

Before Sturges’ arrival at MSU

the final clinch in her decision.

She took a vocal leader role and was a pillar that the team could depend on to put away balls.

last year with the MSU Denver

Denver, she played for Regis

Self-described as a composed

volleyball team helping them

Jesuit High School, where she

player that used to never call the

get to a second place finish

racked up multiple awards. She

ball, it took some time for her

in the RMAC Tournament and

added several more in her time

to start using her voice to lead

reach the first round of the

at MSU Denver. Her accolades

the team. She said head coach

NCAA Regional Tournament.

are highlighted by a spot on the

Jenny Glenn saw the potential

2018 Rocky Mountain Athletic

for her to be a leader but had to

when she was 13 years old

Conference all-tournament

convince her that she could do

because two of her friends started

team and being named NCAA

it, saying that it was like pulling

playing club. She never got to

Division II honorable mention

teeth for her to be a vocal leader.

play on their team because she

All-American by the American

was placed on the team above

Volleyball Coaches Association.

leads by example. Composed, that

them. It was not something that

She set her sights on getting 16

is a word that we have always used

came naturally to her. She said

awards. Instead, she said that she

for Santaisha. She does not let

that she is a quick learner so the

is a competitive person and wants

things get to her and you cannot

coaches saw potential in her.

to be the best that she can be.

tell if things are getting to her. She

She first found volleyball

“I literally had no idea what I

Sturges said that her brother

“She is the type of player that

always has her game face on,” said

Photo by Kaileigh Lyons | klyons9@msudenver.edu

Santaisha Sturges hits the ball over the net in the Roadrunner’s match against CSU-Pueblo on Oct. 13. MSU Denver won 3-0.

was doing. I did not know what

running track and field for the

Glenn. “She is not super vocal, she

an approach was,” Sturges said.

university and former MSU

is kind of vocal off the court but

both athletically and mentally,”

Denver outside hitter Michaela

on the court, she is in her zone.”

Kelling said. “She has that

An approach is a term used to describe how a hitter approaches

Smith, who she played with at

a ball to spike it. If the spike is

Regis Jesuit, contributed to her

successfully scored, it is called

coming to the school. Meeting

a kill. Sturges ended the season

the volleyball coaching staff and

with 332 kills, second on the

seeing the downtown campus was

Alyssa Kelling, middle

on a block ready to cover.”

Sturges finished the season

composure and confidence

with 339 digs and 31 aces

blocker and one of Sturges’

that you never have any doubts

addidng to her kills. She is

best friends, described playing

in her. You know that she is

considering playing overseas

with her as amazing.

going to put a ball away or get

after she graduates.

“She is such a strong player

you a pass or be behind you

MSU Denver doesn’t belong in DI, and that’s OK In summer 2018, the Western Athletic Conference reached out to MSU Denver to look at

support of MSU Denver Athletics

Baptist students and the Riverside

on campus, buy food from

is below average at best.

community catch a Lancers

the same food truck vendors.

game, and on Saturday nights in

The ease in which two distinct

As it stands, MSU Denver

the possibility of transitioning

students paid $39.20 in fall 2018

Florence, North Alabama devotees

generations mesh together at

into Division I. As a result, the

athletics fees. The numbers

pack Braly Municipal Stadium to

an affordable price is something

school hired the firm Collegiate

Collegiate Consultants are using

see their beloved Lions compete.

I fear MSU Denver will lose if

Consultants to conduct a

to conduct its feasibility study

feasibility study, assessing the

suggest that the school could see

usually spend their weekends

viability of the theoretical jump

anywhere from a 91 to 219 percent

at their parents’ houses,

athletes come here specifically

from Division II. Those results,

increase in that required payment.

bar hopping downtown or

for the sports. But of the 19,258

supporting their families.

students enrolled at MSU Denver,

according to Russell Wright of Collegiate Consultants, are due back in early December.

While the prospect of joining the country’s highest level of collegiate sports is tantalizing, the

When investigating other

By James Burky jburky@msudenver.edu it, and the student-athlete.

The guaranteed fee increases

theoretical move could do more

of transitioning to DI inherently

harm than good to MSU Denver.

undermines the value of serving

“Second-chance university”

schools that have recently

MSU Denver students

According to the NCAA,

we pursue a transition to DI. Yes, a number of student-

less than 250 play for one or more

made the leap, I spoke with

MSU Denver’s total home men’s

athletic directors Micah Parker

basketball attendance last season

of California Baptist University

was a generously counted at

DII school. We’re not Boulder,

and Mark Linder of the

5,568 across 14 games. That is

we’re not the University of

University of North Alabama.

11th out of the 16-team Rocky

Denver, and that’s OK. We’re

Mountain Athletic Conference.

Metropolitan State University of

Cal-Baptist is the WAC’s newest

of the competitive sports teams.

There’s no shame in being a

these students. We chose

member, and North Alabama has

is intended as an insult to this

MSU Denver for a chance at

begun its inaugural season in the

not given a chance by other

heart of the Mile High City that

institution, one that has become

an affordable education.

Atlantic Sun Conference. I was

universities. It’s the school for

makes the innate right of higher

looking for similarities the schools

first-generation students to start

education available to students

synonymous with the school

We can expect student fees

This is the home to students

Denver, a public institution in the

among the local community. But

to increase as President Janine

had with MSU Denver for some

a family tradition, for those who

of all economic standings,

it gives MSU Denver an Ugly

Davidson helps restructure our

indication that the school would

struggled in high school to right

races, religions, genders and

Duckling-like beauty. At the sake

academic options and hire new

survive this theoretical leap.

the ship and for those at a financial

orientations. A transition to DI

of generalizing, it’s fair to say

professors, but these fees directly

Instead, Cal-Baptist had

disadvantage to avoid being in an

means we stray from who we are.

that there are five primary types

affect all of us — they give our

private funding and basketball

unethical amount of student debt.

of students at MSU Denver: the

degrees a meaning behind them.

teams with recent success that

nontraditional who is coming

Who benefits from an athletics

sold boosters, while North

school so beautiful. Someone 60

convergent journalism major with

back to school or finally getting

fee increase for Division I? The

Alabama has a devoted group

years young attending college

a minor in sport media. He is the

a higher education and the one

current athletes will be phased

of fans in the local community

for the first time and an 18-year-

sports editor for The Metropolitan.

who didn’t get into their first

out as DI recruits join the

who supported the move.

old can be in the same English

choice or simply couldn’t afford

programs and the community

On weekend nights, Cal-

And that is what makes this

1010 class, walk the same path

James Burky is a fourth-year

BREAK

NOVEMBER 28, 2018

Overheard

11

Horoscopes

“I cut my Indian mane.”

Capricorn

Cancer

This semester has instilled a robust sense of ennui in you, so own that eyeshadow.

Things will be hectic for this next stretch. Get organized now to pre-empt befuddlement later.

Aquarius

Leo

Look out for all the little opportunities coming your way this week.

You’ve been feeling pretty chipper, and for good reason. Let that positivity channel into your work.

Pisces

Virgo

Sorry, I ain’t got nothing for you this week.

Be mindful of your purchases this week.

Examine things with a more critical eye, and avoid disappointment.

Aries

Libra

You’re feeling buried under your responsibilities this week, but don’t let the pressure rush you.

Recent setbacks have left you livid. It’s not the time to let your temper simmer. Step back, and regroup before moving forward.

“A hot stick of butter is just liquid.”

“Fire does not beat rock.”

“I’m white. I turn red at unpredictable moments.”

Top 5 Procrastination tactics 1. House Cleaning 2. Cooking 3. Gaming 4. Sleeping

Taurus

Scorpio

It’s always difficult to accept the costs of your mistakes, but now is the moment for contrition.

Extra effort at work right now will pay dividends, so take the time to knuckle under for a little bit.

Gemini

Sagittarius

It’s not easy right now, but that’s not all on you. Make sure not to take other’s shortcomings onto yourself.

The changing of the months will leave you in a tizzy. So, you know, look up what “tizzy” means.

5. Inebriation 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

Medium

41. “L.A. Law” actress on a brief

1. Kind of dancer

Music”

1. Prattles away

excursion?

2. Soviet salt lake

33. They’re shown to a novice

5. What Betty Grable was

44. One of the Four Hundred

3. Indonesian island

34. Calendario starter

famous for

45. Shakespearean instrument

4. Bulgars and Croats

35. Kentucky attraction

9. Heavy-footed dance

46. Belgrade resident

5. Cattle drive hazard

37. Pro ___

14. Type of exam

47. Back breakers of sayings

6. Auction site

39. German statesman von

15. Award given by The Village

49. Whale schools

7. Little lady?

Bismarck

Voice

51. Type of sauce

8. Be responsible for

42. Capital of India

16. Capital of Vietnam

52. Ice cream scoop

9. Chinese metropolis

43. Oklahoma-Texas border

17. Splashy party

54. Pooh’s friend

10. To-do list item

48. Doberman command

18. “I couldn’t ___ less!”

56. Encore by a “Saturday Night

11. Not repeatedly

50. Part of the Holy Trinity

19. Fashionable necktie

Live” comedienne?

12. Scene of many a werewolf

53. American felines

20. Crude carrier for Popeye’s

64. “Lonesome” George

tale

55. Arctic, for one

girl?

65. Sportscaster Albert

13. Service area for Jeff Gordon

56. Big shock

23. Proverb

66. “On the Waterfront” director

21. From whence to lug a jug

57. In a competent manner

24. The “O” in NATO (Abbr.)

Kazan

22. “___ Poetica”

58. Patricia of “Hud”

25. Word with hour or eater

67. God of Islam

25. Biblical lawgiver

59. Carry on

28. Comedian Foxx

68. Fever and chills

26. 21-year-old, by most

60. Test response, perhaps

31. Passed around

69. Energy source

accounts

61. She’s deep

36. Gardenia or lilac, e.g.

70. Record needles

27. Military response, sometimes

62. Bert Lahr role

38. Continental cash

71. Crystal ball gazer

29. Slap aftermath

63. Unconvincing, as an excuse

40. Flying solo

72. “And then there were ___”

30. Desiccate

64. It makes an Impala run

DOWN

32. Setting for “The Sound of

Hard

Answers:

Easy

ACROSS

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