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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