Jan. 27, 2014

Since 1966

Vol. 38, Iss. 16

Monday, January 27, 2014

NEWS

City for Champions

Funding approved to move ahead 2

Academic building

Several departments plan to move into new building Fall 2014 3 SCIENCE & BUSINESS

Spice

Synthetic drug poses threat to students 4

Online programs UCCS among top national engineering programs 4 CULTURE

‘The Weir’

Theatreworks new production explores camaraderie 5

Dueling Pianos Tasteful tunes accompany sassy singers 6 OPINION

Winterim classes

University unprepared for middle term 9

Space Camp

Preping for Houston in Huntsville 9

SPORTS

Women’s basketball

UCCSScribe.com University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Recreational marijuana still sticky issue despite law Dezarae Yoder

dyoder@uccs.edu

Although smoking recreational marijuana is now legal in Colorado, neither Colorado Springs nor UCCS endorse the concept.

Still, student’s right to smoke on campus remains a contested issue.

As long as the university continues to receive federal funding, and marijuana is not legal on the national level, it will not be allowed on campus.

“Marijuana remains illegal on campus. It remains illegal because we’re a public university and because of the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act,” said UCCS Chief of Police Brian McPike. “[M]any could argue that it should be legal since other recreational substances are allowed,” stated Meral Sarper, president of Students for Sensible Drug Policy. “Possibly within five to 10 years optimistically, and within 20 years

BOGDAN | WIKIMEDIA

Recreational marijuana became legal Jan. 1 for those 21 and older.

conservatively.”

“I understand where they’re coming from since it’s a public university and they don’t

want to have those issues with the federal government,” said Will Smith, chair of the Young Americans for Liberty.

IT installs 772 new computers in library, around campus April Wefler

awefler@uccs.edu

In the Digital Age everything demands to be upgraded. Everyone must have the newest model with the latest software.

UCCS is not immune to this drive for more technology.

Recently, campus computers were replaced with Windows 8.1 compatible, touchscreen computers prior to spring semester. In addition to the other new features, the new computers also include Office 2013.

According to Kirk Moore, director of Computing Services for IT, 772 computers were changed in the library, labs, excel centers and various classrooms.

According to Moore, after four years the computers needed to be upgraded.

“There was wear and tear, too many failures and problems with the computers. That’s why we go on a schedule like that.”

Moore stated the cost of the new computers was approxi-

JAMES SIBERT | THE SCRIBE

Juliana Tuck, a junior in psychology, uses one of the new touchscreens in the library.

mately $845,000. However, he was unsure of the exact amount and said the figure includes the library’s additional order, which will be paid for with library funds.

Jayne Lloyd, assistant to

the dean of Kraemer Family Library, said the money for the additional order will come from the library tech fee, but was unsure how much each student pays for the fee.

The bulk of the cost for the

Team strives to maintain pre-season record 11

Safety rules New rules degrade contact sports 11

“Personally I’d like to see the school saying… this is the law we’re going to treat it just like Continued on page 2 . . .

TEXT "THELODGES" TO 313131 FOR MORE INFO

new computers came from four years’ accumulation of the IT Technical Fee that every student is required to pay.

The IT Technical Fee is comprised of $6 per credit hour Continued on page 2 . . .

nEWS

Jan. 27, 2014 | 2

(Continued from page 1) IT overestimates for running technology and $2 per credit hour for student information system, per student.

Moore said the IT technical fee also covers things like upgrading the computers and upgrading the wireless system.

Moore stated the university tries to refresh the computers every three years and repurpose the old computers. They planned on upgrading them last year, but with Microsoft preparing to release their 8.1 operating system, the change would be premature. Instead, they postponed the upgrading project until this year.

“We always like to stay current with the technology, otherwise the equipment and the operating system get very stale,” he said.

“We work around the labs; we run statistics. There’s a lot of use on those lab computers, so there’s a lot of students still using them,” Moore said.

He added with the new computers, students can start learning the Windows 8.1 data interface so they’ll be better prepared for the job market upon graduation.

“It’s the way Windows 8 has been designed. Right now,

there’s gonna be a little bit of getting used to how [the students] actually use it,” Moore said.

As with most new forms of technology, some students appear hesitant to transition away from what they are accustomed to using.

Juliana Tuck, a junior psychology major, likes the new computers but isn’t sure how often she’ll use the new features.

“They’re pretty cool. I don’t know how often I’ll actually be utilizing the touchscreen because I’m pretty old-school.”

Tuck said she doesn’t have a touchscreen phone or laptop. However, appreciates that students “have the option to choose what’s gonna work better for you.”

“Microsoft is putting a lot behind touchscreen. I think this is going to become the norm and people will get used to the whole touchscreen environment,” Moore said. “[The students] can use touchscreen if they want. It’s all touchscreen-enabled. We’re providing a keyboard and mouse if you don’t want to use the touchscreen,” he added.

The old, non-touchscreen computers are distributed throughout campus and repurposed in various labs or departments, such as Financial Aid, Admissions and Records or Housing.

According to IT, the computers already in those departments are usually old. The departments either keep them, or give them to Facility Services.

“We’re just excited to get the students out there using them and we’re grateful that they still want to use them and that they’re excited to use them.”

(Continued from page 1) Marijuana sticky issues alcohol.”

Even with the new law, authorities on campus don’t anticipate a large increase in drug violation citations, but rather look to alcohol and awareness as the larger issues.

“We haven’t seen any major impact… and I don’t anticipate a spike,” said McPike.

“I tend to believe that alcohol will continue to be one of the more prevalent issues that our police department will deal with,” said McPike.

However, McPike stated finding out where the marijuana is coming from is a concern. “We really have no ability to track it.”

McPike also stated that UCCS Police will not be conducting searches specifically for marijuana. He indicated instead that they will have a proactive

educational role.

“We will actively be looking for opportunities to interact with the campus community to help educate everybody about the law,” continued McPike.

Choices, a marijuana-specific awareness class, was introduced last fall to promote smart decisions It is similar to the long-running alcohol specific Choices class.

“The program is designed to show the adverse health effects,” said McPike. “They’re both educationally based.”

Marc Pino, a UCCS Police sergeant, further explained the differences between the two classes.

“With the alcohol [program] we condone the use of alcohol but only under certain circumstances.” Pino said that one of the major conditions was that

students only drink once they are 21.

“The marijuana choice is more we don’t condone consuming marijuana and here are the health and other reasons why,” he continued.

Lower blood alcohol levels found in offenders and less repeat offenses have led the police department to create the marijuana program in hopes it would have similar success.

A first time alcohol violation ticket may, under some circumstances, be deferred if a Choices class is taken. The same option will not be given to first time marijuana violators on campus.

The price of the product has also become a concern for supporters of legalization.

Recreational marijuana carries a 25 percent voter approved

tax, which is far higher than the current alcohol tax.

Like the university’s stance on the drug, many students feel the tax is unjust.

“It’s pretty crazy high,” stated Smith, who thinks the tax rate should be similar to alcohol.

“I think that would be reasonable.”

“It is too high,” stated Sarper of the tax, “It is taxed way higher than alcohol and cigarettes, which makes no sense. The people voted those taxes in because they are that sick of prohibition.”

Others see the prudence of the sales tax.

“I’m happy that we’re going to have a tax like this that’s going to help increase funding for education,” said Riley Coltrin, chairman of College Democrats. “Otherwise we wouldn’t

see money going towards that.” $70 million in tax revenue is anticipated and the initial money will be spent building public schools.

There are other caveats to the legalization laws.

While the law allows for recreational marijuana to be sold, it still requires individuals to be at least 21.

The law also seeks to limit the amount of recreational marijuana that can be purchased at one time. The current daily limit per purchase location is one ounce for state ID holders and a quarter ounce for out-of-state ID holders.

However the law does not require stores to track purchases. This means an individual can make several purchases in a day.

City for Champions: Bach to the future

JESSE BYRNES | THE SCRIBE

City of Champions was approved Dec. 16 at an announcement at UCCS.

nEWS

Jan. 27, 2014 | 3

Multiple departments to move into new academic office building Samantha Morley smorley2@uccs.edu

Up to six departments will move into the university’s new office building on Austin Bluffs Parkway when construction finishes. While the move is designed to alleviate congestion in several areas on campus, some are concerned it will impact accessibility for students and teachers.

The history, sociology, women’s and ethnic studies, economics, public affairs and political science departments are set to move into the building some time near the end of summer 2014.

“One of the primary concerns for our college was the overcrowding in Columbine Hall,” said Peter Braza, dean of the College of Language, Arts and Sciences.

According to Braza, he has the final say on what departments are moved.

The political science,

sociology, WEST and English departments share the space on the bottom floor of Columbine Hall.

The space is overcrowding, resulting in multiple faculty members per office. Braza said relocating the other departments would allow English faculty to spread out.

The WEST administrative offices on the bottom floor of Columbine will become English administrative offices.

When asked why the English department won’t move to the new faculty building, Braza said the department would take almost two floors of space.

“The university would be better off moving some of [the] other departments and keeping English whole [at Columbine].”

The history department will be relocated from the second floor of Columbine, providing space for the visual and performing arts and geography departments. Philosophy, which is also on the second floor, will

move to the first.

“The second floor will be much better off, too,” Braza said.

While the move may be considered beneficial for several departments, some faculty members are questioning the positives of the relocation.

“I’m kind of concerned because there are no classrooms – at this point, there are no classrooms in that building,” said Andrea Herrera, a WEST professor. “I’m worried that it’s going to be harder for people to get down there.”

Herrera predicted WEST’s relocation could disconnect faculty from students.

“I really like the current WEST offices because I use that space to study,” said Shelby Shively, sociology and WEST double major. “I’m just worried that there won’t be a similar space in the new building.”

Shively, who frequently studied in the Columbine

WEST area, got to know the faculty there and feels she may not have the same easy access in the new building.

“One concern that all the departments moving into that building have is that it is sort of separated from everything else,” said Abby Ferber, director of the Matrix Center.

“But it’s also right across from the parking garage and because there’ll be quite a number of departments moving there, hopefully students will be going over there often.

It’s not like we’ll be the only people there.”

Braza doesn’t predict there will be an issue. “As a matter of fact, that new building will be very attractive for students,” he said. “It will have some nice features in it that Columbine does not have.”

Features will include conferences rooms, atriums and general open space for students and faculty. However, they may not be able to attract all students.

“I think [the new building] would discourage students from going over there just because people don’t usually go over there unless they have an appointment,” Shively said. “So I worry that even if they do provide those kind of spaces that it won’t be the same.”

The $14.5 million building is scheduled to complete at the end of summer 2014 with the departments moved in before fall 2014 semester.

Gary Reynolds, executive director of Facilities Services, stated the project will finish on time, but the construction was delayed slightly because of weather conditions.

“The contractor is confident that they’ll have the building done on time for us to move in next summer,” he said.

Editor’s note: Shelby Shively is a former reporter for The Scribe.

COURTESY | UCCS

Academic office building to allow departments adequate space.

Check out our website!

uccs

.com

SCiEnCE & BUSinESS SPICE is not RIGHT

Jan. 27, 2014 | 4

The substitute for marijuana is more dangerous April Wefler acollett@uccs.edu awefler@uccs.edu

In Frank Herbert’s science fiction novel “Dune,” spice is a drug that causes extra-sensory perception and a change of pigmentation in the eyes, enabling space travel.

But beyond fiction, spice is a dangerous substitute for marijuana and belongs to a group of synthetic cannabinoids.

Andrea Tully, a junior forensic chemistry major, is researching synthetic cannabinoids with the El Paso county toxicologist, Werner Jenkins, in collaboration with Dr. Janel Owens, a UCCS analytical chemistry professor.

“What I’m doing is trying to develop a method for not just this toxicology lab, but any toxicology lab, to detect these compounds in post-mortem samples,” Tully said.

Jenkins said he and Tully have analyzed various tissues, including blood, brain and bile. “[We’re] trying to extract the drug out from those samples and then analyze those using the GC/MS methodology,” he stated.

Gas chromatography mass spectrometry detection, or GC/ MS, is a standard forensic test for identifying substances in samples.

Synthetic cannabinoids are known as spice, K2 and black mamba, among other names.

Several news outlets linked the use of these compounds to three deaths last year in Colorado.

On Jan. 21, the Denver 7 News reported that the Colorado Attorney General’s office

SCHORLE | WIKIMEDIA

UCCS students work to create new spice detection methods.

filed a lawsuit against an Aurora convenience store. The store was “accused of selling synthetic cannabinoids…that are linked to an August 2013 outbreak that sent more than 260 people to Colorado emergency rooms.”

Barbra Roach, special agent in charge of Denver’s Drug Enforcement Administration division, told the Huffington Post, “It’s just the perception that kids think it’s okay – because it’s usually the younger kids that are using it, and I think the average is age 12-29 in the users.”

Jenkins said he thinks he’s seen a total number of three deaths over three years, two in El Paso County.

Jenkins’ work on the spice cannabinoids began with a young man’s mysterious death.

“There was no reason for him to be dead, no cause of death was found.”

Jenkins said that routine toxicology didn’t find drugs in the young man’s system, so they sent the samples to a special lab in Pennsylvania.

“One of his friends had apparently told one of our inves-

UCCS ranks nationally for online programs The Scribe Staff scribe@uccs.edu

U.S. News & World Report’s 2014 Best Online Programs ranked UCCS’s online engineering graduate program as the 40th best in the nation. The online business graduate program ranked 82nd out of 100.

Last fall semester, U.S. News reported UCCS as the nation’s 13th top school for veterans. The publication also placed the university within

the top 10 Western regional public universities in undergraduate engineering.

The Scribe reported Dec. 9 on several new online graduate engineering programs with certificate options in electric drivetrain technology and specialization in battery controls and vehicle power electronics.

UCCS is also now offering a unique Masters in Engineering, Mechanical Engineering degree.

tigators that he liked using the synthetics,” Jenkins said. The results came back positive for compounds found in spice.

According to Jenkins, in the last six or seven months a local woman went into the emergency room with seizures. Her results also came back positive for chemical compounds found in spice.

After these events Jenkins started researching deeper into the detection of synthetic cannabinoids.

Tully developed the procedures for extracting compounds from the woman’s sample.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy reports the University of Michigan found synthetic marijuana was the second-most common drug used by high school students in 2012. Marijuana was at 36 percent, and the synthetics came in at 11 percent.

The synthetic cannabinoid problem isn’t getting better, according to Tully. “One of the original [synthetics], JWH 018, was pretty low toxicity, it wasn’t too bad,” she said. “But now, a lot of the compounds that are coming out have

extreme side effects: seizures, hallucination and death, even.”

“Basically what happens is as the drugs are found out by the government and banned or restricted. The producers, in order to worm around those laws, will add little bitty things, little tweaks to the original structure itself,” she explained.

Last semester, Tully studied two compounds: XLR-11 and UR-144. “The only difference between them is that XLR-11 has a fluorine added onto it.”

“

It’s just the perception that kids think it’s okay - because it’s usually the younger kids that are using it, and I think the average is age 1229 in the users.

“

Aaron Collett

—Barbra Roach

That may not seem like much, but according to Tully, it matters a great deal. “[When] halogens get added onto [other compounds], it increases the toxicity of those drugs immensely,” she said. “Those are really not good to have in the body.”

“The problem with these drugs is that once you work one of them up, the chemists making these drugs have actually moved on. Once you’ve validated a method, it’s already antiquated,” Jenkins said.

Despite concerns by many, not everyone is convinced spice is directly responsible for the number of fatalities it has been linked to.

“Probably there was a lot of hysteria about how dangerous these drugs were; they’re dangerous, but you don’t necessarily die from them,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins mentioned that they looked at the parent drugs last semester and may look at the metabolites this semester. “We find companies that produce the metabolites, purchase those and develop [detection] methods [to] produce the standards.”

“Usually we take the standard and spike it into a negative sample, replicate what it would be in real life, see if we can identify and quantitate, see how much is there,” he added.

Synthetic cannabinoids are popular partly because they don’t show up in most standard drug screenings. Typical screenings test for THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.

As synthetics, these compounds do not contain any THC. Tully added that the compound are popular “especially [in the] military, because they can get away with getting high but not be detected. The military will look for THC, but not whatever is in those compounds.”

While screening kits for synthetics exist, they tend to only look for a few compounds at most.

Advocates are hoping that the legalization of marijuana in the state will lower the demand for these semi-legal synthetic compounds.

Mark Kleiman, the leader of Washington’s legalization program said to The Daily Beast, “This is a pure side effect of prohibition. It may not be a good enough reason for getting rid of it, but it is a reason.”

COURTESY | WIKICOMMONS

UCCS engineering programs catch the eye of U.S. World & News Report.

CULTURE

Jan. 27, 2014 | 5

Long TV season breaks are a blessing in disguise

Attiana Collins

acollin2@uccs.edu

Imagine sitting on the couch, waiting for your favorite show to come on. Then you slowly realize you won’t get to enjoy your cherished television world for weeks. Devastating, I know.

Well prepare yourself; that horrible scenario is now a reality. ABC has decided to take a longer hiatus with some of its shows. “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scandal,” “Revenge,” “Once Upon A Time,” “Once Upon A Time in Wonderland” and “Nashville” aired their winter premieres in December and are all on break until the second week of March.

There are obvious downsides to these shows being on

break. You can’t watch them and you won’t know what’s going to happen next for three whole months. There were some serious cliffhangers in the last episodes of almost every show. I don’t know about you, but I am dying to know if April picks Jackson or Matthew and how Alice plans on getting Knave out of the Genie’s bottle.

College can be hands-down the most stressful time in a person’s life. Between going to class, studying, writing papers and having a job there is scarcely time to do the things that we enjoy. TV fantasy provides a much needed reprieve from the oft overbearing real world.

There are upsides to a break in between episodes of the shows we love oh so much –

the first being that when they return most of them will have a new episode every week for around 12 weeks. This means they’ll skip the usual threeweek breaks.

Since you can’t throw yourself into the never-ending drama and ridiculous plot twists in your shows, you can do the next best thing: get involved in the drama and plot twists of another show. One of the most exciting things to do when you can’t watch the show you want is to start another show. If you can’t watch the one you want, watch the one you’re with.

Be warned however, starting a new show is a blessing and curse rolled up in one. The blessing: you have a new show to occupy your time. The curse: once your other shows come

back the new one you’ve grown attached to will be most likely be on break. Sadly you’ll still be missing something.

I recently just started “90210.” It is most definitely not as great as my other shows; the acting is sub-par and the story line is really not believable. Still, it’s better than having about 10 hours free every week.

Soap operas are another alternative. These shows are run daily, so if you decide to start watching you will likely have a ton of episodes to catch up. With so much to watch, you won’t have time to miss your old shows.

If you’re too attached to your shows to form new attachments you can always use the extra time you have to do

those things you never had time for. Say for instance studying?

Most shows on break run for an hour on their designated nights. You can now use that extra hour studying for a class that you’re having trouble in.

Or perhaps clean your place for a change.

Make sure to pick an alternative to your shows quickly.

The semester just started and you don’t want it to get off on the wrong foot. If I hadn’t found a new show I don’t know if I’d have the motivation to write this column.

So remember, this ridiculously long break won’t last as long as you think, provided you fill your time with new characters, fresh drama or productive activities. Stay strong until March.

lame jokes that can be seen a mile away on this otherwise flat stretch of road.

To prepare for Ben’s lack of skill and judgment, James decides to take all calls marked 126 behind Ben’s back. A dispatch code for strange incidents, 126 is usually given to rookies on the force.

During these abnormal calls, Ben’s antics are sometimes enough to keep the audience chuckling, but more often are a bit too much. Ice Cube’s performance as a no-nonsense street cop and thug attitude dwindle down the chemistry made by these two on screen.

During the fake emergencies James is surprisingly able to use Ben’s tirades and cluttered focus to help match clues and pursue a dangerous mastermind he’s been hunting for three

years.

A dramatic twist and unfortunate betrayal puts James and Angela in danger, leaving Ben to see if he truly has what it takes to protect, serve and save the day.

“Ride Along” is a decent enough story that almost provides enough action to make up for the bad timing of Hart’s predictable jokes. The potential that these two have is what makes “Ride Along” a disappointment; these entertainers are funny, just not together.

What promises to be a funny movie through clever trailers and funny lines simply falls short (insert Hart height reference here). It’s funny in moments but “Ride Along” is definitely not a movie I suggest you ride shotgun for; maybe the third row seat instead.

‘Ride Along’ not a smooth ride with a plot full of detours

Alexander J. Nedd anedd@uccs.edu

Rating:

Universal Pictures’ newest action-comedy “Ride Along” should be a hit, given the inclusion of actors Ice Cube and Kevin Hart. While it might be the funniest comedy of the year, we’re less than a month into 2014.

There is plenty of time during the next 337 days for other movies to step it up from this dramatically low bar. The two top billing actors are proven when it comes to entertaining and acting. So what went wrong on this ride along?

The film starts off strong.

Director Tim Story delivers the action right when the curtain falls. A robbery, gun battle and high speed pursuit put you right in the heat within the first five minutes.

Atlanta detective James Payton (Ice Cube) chases and arrests one unlucky criminal through excellent choreography and expert movie timing.

Unfortunately, it’s the comedy that seems to crash and burn throughout this hour-and-a-half flick.

After the opening we meet Ben Barber (Hart), a high school security guard and aspiring cop. Ben wants nothing more than to prove himself worthy of a badge and marry his longtime girlfriend Angela (Tika Sumpter).

When Ben is finally accepted into the academy, he

COURTESY | UNIVERSAL

Viewers should take the bus.

attempts to gain the approval and blessing of James, Angela’s over-protective brother. To see what he’s made of, James invites Ben on a ride along on the hard, cold streets of Atlanta.

What ensues is a myriad of

‘The Wier’: spectors, spectators and spirits

Nick Beadleston

nbeadles@uccs.edu

Rating:

“The Weir” is an intimate Theatreworks play which takes place in a small, warm Irish pub. A stoic, earthy wit pervades the blacker nature of the character interactions, who eventually pour out their dark pains like pints. Ghostly tales mix with spirits, and provide a means for the cast to collectively share in each other’s troubles.

Written by acclaimed Irish playwright Conor McPherson, “The Weir” received the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play in 1999.

A local dam for which the play is named comes up only

briefly in conversation, but seems to have little relevance to the story. However the argument could be made that it symbolizes the ebb and flow of one story to another.

The play has a small cast, only five characters, but each member is integral to the performance.

“There’s just a wonderful rich life that the characters have,” said Joseph Discher the production’s director.

Discher, a 23 year veteran of the play scene, is based out of New Jersey but has directed productions at UCCS in the past. He has also worked with several members of the current cast in previous plays.

Discher also plays Finbar Mack a local establishment owner, with not-so-subtle designs on the fiery red-head

Valarie.

Mandy Olsen plays the part of Valarie, a woman who hails from Dublin and is fleeing her guarded past.

“I feel very connected to her and her journey,” says Olsen of her character. “Although she feels a great lonelyness she is ready to move forward and carve out a new life for herself.”

“She tells a beautifully haunting story, that in universal themes of in its loss and love, confusion about what is real and imagined and ultimately what to believe.”

Michael Augenstein portrays Jack, whom he describes as “old, grumpy, pissed off, angry, resentful guy.” Despite Jack’s curmudgeonly nature, Michael seems to think the events of the play resonate within the charac-

ter. “He has a bit of an awakening in this play, and a bit of a cracking of that façade.”

Andy Sturt embodies Brenden, the establishment’s publican. While Brenden doesn’t tell a haunting tale like his friends he still contributes to the overall ambiance, and provides a laugh in all the right places.

Patrick Toon plays Jim, who, while middle aged, still lives with his “mammy.” “He’s sort of quiet, and introspective and a little awkward.” In fact with the introduction of Valarie, Jim almost becomes a wall fixture for a time.

Jonathan Wentz and Jan Avramov were responsible for set and costume design respectively.

Matthew Adelson ran the lights lighting masterfully, drawing the house down dim when nec-

essary to match the mood.

Thought there are many humorous moments in the play, laughter always abruptly gives way to attentive silence as the audience hangs on each haunting word. Themes of loss pervade each tale, but the solidarity between the five friends serves to stave of the chill of tragedy. At least until the last glass of the night.

Following each performance audience members are invited onstage to join cast and crew in a few free pints and shots courtesy of Distillery 291 and Smiling Toad Brewing Company Reservations are strongly advised. No children under 5 years old are allowed, and the show is not recommended for children under 13 years old.

The play is sponsored by the Bob Johnson Memorial Fund.

CULTURE

Jan. 27, 2014 | 6

Dueling Pianos: soulful sass and tasteful tunes at Clyde’s

Samantha Morley smorley2@uccs.edu

Two white pianos on a blue lit stage, adorned by cowbells, water bottles and a disco ball on top. Soon the pianists assume their positions with their fingers at attention above the keys. The house lights dim and focus shifts towards the stage.

The base amps up and the soulful strike of the pianos snaps the concert into action.

Dueling Pianos on Jan. 23 – a comedic sing-along, clapalong, dance-along production – consisted of performers playing the piano while singing. It was a very entertaining, although rather crass, evening for UCCS students, the group dropping numerous F-words throughout the show.

Songs ranged from “Spongebob Squarepants” to the Cheers theme to songs from the band Macklemore.

The evening began slowly with audience apprehension weighing down the mood.

Performers Jami McNeill and Gordon Von started with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts’ “I Love Rock N Roll,” then transitioned to Taio Cruzs’ “Dynamite.” But it was Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” that smashed the shyness of the crowd and brought the evening to life.

McNeill, a feisty rocker chick, added the sassy spark to many of the mainstream songs while Von brought more of a soulful jazz flair. Each had their own style of comedy and when flipping through suggestion papers would offer quips like “I’m a black guy, by the way.

Don’t give me Miley Cyrus.”

It was Caz Bzdek, however, that brought the perverse comedy into play.

Bzdek slung around curse words like adjectives and nouns and used every chance he could

NICK BURNS | THE SCRIBE

Perverse and terse until the last verse, Dueling Pianos a hit.

to make anyone blush. Christyne Merritt, senior history major, for instance, was called up to the stage as a harmonica assistant to Bzdek. She was instructed to slide behind Bzdek on his piano seat and hold the harmonica to his mouth. This required her to reach around his body. He also encouraged her to scoot as close to him as she could.

BEYONCE: explicit, visual album reinvents standard for new music

Alexander J. Nedd anedd@uccs.edu

Rating:

While most of the U.S was sleeping on Dec. 13, 2013, Beyoncé dropped an eponymous album that forever changed how new music is released. No promotion, no warning – nothing.

The entertainer once again proved to the world her true domination on the charts. Her fifth studio album soared to number one in over 100 countries.

Even with her huge Super Bowl success in early 2013 and a world tour, many thought Beyoncé was losing her reign on pop music. She hadn’t released any new music since early 2011. Never have people been more wrong. With her secret release, Beyoncé solidified her position as the queen of pop music, and did so in an unparalleled manner.

Although “Beyoncé” is already full of hits, Beyoncé continues to one-up the competition by releasing a music video with every song. The self-titled album consists of 14 songs and 17 videos on DVD with bonus content. The songs range from catchy hip-hop numbers like “Yoncé” to sexy ballads and R&B tracks like “Jealous.” It also includes anthems like “Flawless,” which are dripping with the feminism Beyoncé has modeled since her early stages.

The album includes collaborations with her husband Jay-Z, as well as the talents of Drake, Pharrell and Frank Ocean. Each music video is beautifully pieced together and escorts you into her world. This feat makes the hush-kept production even more extraordinary.

Beyoncé fans will not be disappointed. The opening track “Pretty Hurts” elucidates the cost natural beauty has on women in society. She sings “perfection is a disease of a nation.” The innocent, girlish vibe comes through on tracks “XO” and “Superpower,” but quickly transcends in to a more seductive tone.

This is especially apparent on the track “Drunk In Love,” which features Jay-Z. From there, Beyoncé dives into territory not usually expressed in her other albums: sex.

“I don’t, at all, have any shame in being sexual,” reported the 32-year old singer during her self-titled documentary on her album release. “I’m not embarrassed about it all; I do feel that sexuality is a power we all have.”

Beyoncé is able to prove this as a solid bulk of her album is devoted to many promiscuous acts and situations.

The songs “Blow” and “Rocket” are easily some of her most explicit content.

However, she doesn’t overdo it (meaning it’s not your average Nicki Minaj piece).

The lyrics are sophisticated and poignant. The songs express human emotion, attraction and natural curiosity in a manner that makes it relatable for any mature audience to understand.

A guilty pleasure off the album is the bass-driven track “Partition,” a song so steamy that the singer admits she hasn’t even played it for her mom. It’s a daring and revealing side that shows fans it’s OK to pursue their feelings. Beyoncé’s album highlights a new age of feminism that makes you pause and reflect while listening. It’s explicitly well-done.

The album finishes with a touching tribute titled “Blue” in support of her two-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy. The music video follows the couple on vacation and gives fans a look at her relationship with both Blue and Jay-Z. When it comes to remodeling yourself, few artists are able to do exactly what they want without distorting their image and compromising their values.

Beyoncé’s newest album does exactly that.

An interlude between each track details Beyoncé’s early years as a singer, providing a road map of her life and ends with who she is today. It’s bold, unique, and yet true to herself. Beyoncé is back, ultimately proving that she never left.

“It was an awkward situation, but it was fun,” said Merritt. Her friend, Cody Eden, senior psychology major, was also pressured up to the stage to be Von’s harmonica assistant and had the same reaction.

At one point, six females were called up to the stage.

They were then instructed to turn around and participate in “Colorado Springs’ first booty

shaking contest.” Sir Mix-alot’s classic “Baby Got Back” began and, after a few apprehensive glances to the other ladies on stage, the women started to get in the groove. Rachel Hunt, sophomore psychology major, and Mariah Walker, junior communication major, were two of the participants.

“It was very fun and liberating,” said Walker.

“It was also very hot up there and a little nerve-wracking, but still very fun,” said Hunt.

The two hour event came to a close with songs like Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” and ‘N SYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye.” Based on student reactions, the group – and their antics – would most definitely be welcomed back.

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EDiTORiAL

Jan. 27, 2014 | 8

Students first, growth second XVLIII a prime time for FFF (family, food, fun) Staff Editorial

scribe@uccs.edu

Winter is here, and so is another semester. Work extra hours over break?

Here are 15 credit hours and your three regular part-time jobs. Drink too much eggnog and eat too many sugar cookies?

Have some more homework to keep you busy and unable to go to the Rec Center.

The beginning of anything is a good time to reevaluate one’s capabilities, needs, desires and goals. As students, we must do this evaluation with ourselves to potentially redefine our individual courses and realign our actions to meet our goals. If you liked your GPA last semester, it’s time to do it again. If not, it’s time to make changes.

As a school, it is necessary to constantly allow for input from students and faculty, as well as evaluation of previous agenda, before making decisions that affect everyone. When a select number of people make decisions based on too few consultations, the results usually are at best a surprise and inconvenience and at worst downright unsatisfactory.

Whether dealing with high enrollment numbers, impossible parking situations, health insurance changes or new student fees, it’s vital that those impacted the most be the ones with whom the administration consults the most.

To a large extent, higher education is no longer just about classes, students and professors. It’s morphed into an institution that hires new people with creative responsibilities to perform work

created for them to do.

Fortunately for this school, the focus has been so heavily centered on growth in its enrollment numbers that the exponential institutional “support” that has sprung up has gone largely unnoticed.

Last fiscal year, of $111 million, about half (48 percent) went to teacher salaries and benefits while 25 percent ($27.5 million) was used for institutional and academic support. Compare this to the money spent on scholarships and fellowships ($6 million) or research ($255,915). Granted, teachers and students can and do operate outside of university funds on research and projects.

People are any organization’s greatest asset, of course, but aren’t students people too? And these students that you might have heard of, might they be pressed for cash and maybe, say, unable to afford even a little more?

On paper, grand plans can make a lot of sense. In reality, it’s just a matter of time before the interest and growth taper off and the school faces an identity crisis. If the focus shifts from students to community members, and from teachers to project directors, the possibility exists that those first invested in - students - may look elsewhere for a higher education.

As everyone ramps up for classes, over the next several weeks The Scribe will work to shed light on several strategic changes, policy announcements and administrative initiatives that will impact everyone, students most of all.

COURTESY | WIKICOMMONS

Satisfying students more than just checking a box.

Jesse Byrnes, editor-in-chief scribe@uccs.edu

A new year means new knowledge, new experiences and new relationships. For students, this ushers in fresh goals, desires, expectations and disappointments learning opportunities. For me it means speaking up.

For the entirety of the spring semester I’ll be writing a column here each week highlighting interesting stories, offering feedback on university developments and weighing in on certain issues, policies and topics of interest to students.

Two topics perennially of interest to today’s UCCS student? Broncos and selfies.

It’s been 15 years since half the country has had a legitimate excuse to throw orange paint in their hair; 15 years since the Mile High city has been home to a recent champion; 15 years since the Broncos have played in the Super Bowl.

Some are painting their chests orange for the big day, Feb. 2; others are getting big D’s of the old-school Broncos logo tattooed on their biceps and trying not to giggle; and at least one person is taking a selfie every day for two full weeks leading up to the big day: this guy.

The selfies appear on Gazette.com, where I’m currently interning, in a gallery that I might have titled something clever. (You’ll have to look there for why I have so much orange in my closet.)

For a guy who was uncomfortable saying the word “selfie” until it was named Oxford Dictionaries’ word of the year for 2013, this is big. And it’s public, so there’s that.

But it’s not every day the Broncos are preparing to be world champions. I mean, I have the mindset of a champion every day, as I’m sure they do too, but this time it’s for real. We can’t mess around.

Not since Tim Tebow threw lefthanded strikes to defensive players has Colorado seen this much excitement in professional sports. (Sure, Tebow wasn’t a great thrower, but who will openly admit they didn’t feel an adrenaline rush when he trotted onto the field?)

And how about that Super Bowl spread? A smorgasbord of cheeses, crackers, meats and drinks that can only compare to a Thanksgiving feast, or maybe a snack at the White House.

A win for the Broncos against the Seahawks is a win for America. A recent Public Policy Polling survey found that the Broncos are Americans’ favorite football team, so even science agrees.

Of all the days to go crazy and have fun, this Super Bowl is the day. So spend it with your family or friends and have a good time, and don’t be afraid to snap a selfie or two.

Jesse Byrnes Editor-in-Chief

Nick Beadleston

Managing/News Editor

Taylor Hargis Copy Editor

Eleanor Skelton

Science & Business Editor

April Wefler Culture Editor

Crystal Chilcott Opinion

Christopher Schmidt Video Editor

April Wefler

Life on the Bluffs/Social Media Editor

Jonathan Toman Sports Editor

Nick Burns Photo Editor

Samantha Morley Layout Editor

Edwin Satre

Website Manager

Reporters

Dezarae Yoder Alexander Nedd Attiana Collins Ryan Adams Megan Moyles

Samantha Morley

Graphic Designer, Reporter

Photographers James Sibert Joshua Camacho

Business Manager Hussain Albahrani

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Advisor

Laura Eurich

Letters to the Editor: scribe@uccs.edu

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Opinion

Jan. 27, 2014 | 9

Lack of preparation for winterim classes appalling

April Wefler awefler@uccs.edu

While most students were enjoying their winter vacation and preparing for spring semester, others were waking up for 8

a.m. classes. Despite this motivated group’s desire to further their education, the university seemed unprepared for winterim courses.

There were issues with the food available to the students during the lunch hour. Jazzman’s only had one lunch item, two if you include the fruit. Most of the items at Jazzman’s were snack food.

Café 65 was closed to students due to a conference and the Columbine coffee cart was also closed for the week.

Not having a decent midday meal is almost

guaranteed to make you fall asleep in class.

Since winterim classes have a two hour lunch break, the administration likely assumed students would all leave and find cheap, maybe decent, fast food off-campus. However, not every student left campus during that period. Some remain on campus for the entire duration of the daily class.

Winterim classes still require writing papers and researching for assignments. However, these needed to be accomplished on a much shorter timeline. Since IT was replacing computers

across campus, students were left without access intermittently during the term. Additionally, the equipment overhaul meant Columbine lab had issues with their printing capabilities.

There was also the little matter of the power going out in Columbine on Monday. None of the teachers in Columbine had any idea of what was going on with the outage.

While there may have been the short term upside of a longer break, the power outage disrupted classroom productivity.

In a class that tries to cram a semester’s worth

My mom sent me to Space Camp

Samantha Morley smorley2@uccs.edu

I’ve dreamt about going to outer space since elementary school. The Internet has spoiled me with glorious photos of the fabulous mysteries that only a select few have seen firsthand. With every picture my desire to jump into a rocket and go into space increased. The only next logical step was

to attend Space Camp.

Huntsville, Ala., is known as the location for construction of rockets and other machinery that have aided in space exploration. This industrial popularity sparked the interests of thousands, and resulted in the creation of Space Camp in 1982. Since then, more than 600,000 students have attended. There they received a glimpse of what it is like to operate mission control and be an astronaut.

When I learned that I was going to the camp, by way of a very generous Christmas gift from my mother, I had the image in my head that most people do – camp is for kids, not for adults.

I feared that the education would mediocre and boring.

Instead, I went through an intense and loaded weekend full of information and experience even adults had difficulty keeping up with.

The instructors didn’t waste any time. Check in time was at a sharp noon. Once everyone was processed, my group of 18 was led to our first information session which summarized the course rules.

Our first training for a mission followed directly after. Our positions were chosen at random and each person proceeded to their appropriate stations.

There were three areas of command: mission control, the orbiter and the space station. Each posed unique challenges.

My first assignment was in the orbiter as the pilot.

As the pilot I sat beside

the commander and did almost everything short of landing the spacecraft.

The scene was overwhelming at first with switches and buttons to my left, right, front, back and above my head. I couldn’t fight the urge to flick and push everything in my sight. After calming down and listening to the instructions, we were given our mission.

Everyone in the space station and the orbiter went into a room and suited up in the special space suits that had been previously worn by hundreds of students. I slid back into the very awkward pilot seat, put on the headset and established a link to mission control.

The commander and I had checklists to complete. The task proved to be somewhat compli-

of material into one week, there can’t afford to be any outside obstacles.

How can students earn the same amount when the university isn’t prepared for their attendance?

Why weren’t the new computers installed before the winterim classes began? Didn’t the university have adequate time to work out this and other logistical issues before reopening their doors to student?

These issues were still present during the second week of winterim. One would think that by the second week, the uni-

versity would be better prepared for winterim students.

My professor said that more and more students are enrolling in winterim classes. If this is the case, then the university needs to make sure that they’re prepared.

Granted, the university is usually not prepared for the students enrolled in the regular semester, but then again, students have an entire semester to learn to contend with any inadequacies. Winterim students only have a short time to cram in several months’ worth of higher learning.

cated. We were overwhelmed with instructor, switches and confusing acronyms. Our simulator had to be rewound or fast-forwarded several times. Still I enjoyed filling the role of pilot immensely.

The other jobs I had were in mission control as the electrical generation and integrated lighting systems engineer and the as the capsule communicator.

I found the first incredibly slow and boring.

The second was a joy.

CAPCOM is the only line of communication between the orbiter and mission control. I had to quickly switch between channels to hear everyone and make sure to keep track of my checklist.

At the end of the second day, we braved

a gauntlet of astronaut training devices such as the multi-axis machine and the 1/16th gravity chair. The multi-axis device locked me in a chair and spun me around violently. It was surprising fun and did not disturb my ability to hold down food.

The 1/16th chair was meant to simulate the amount of gravity on the moon. The experience was very awkward.

Overall, the experience was something to be cherished and I encourage space enthusiasts to attend the camp. It is not an easygoing experience.

Still it gives campers a rough idea of what it is like to work in space and at NASA. I had a lot of fun but was very exhausted when I left.

We’re sorry to disappoint...

We’ll have an opinion to put here next time.

LiFE on the BLUFFS Campus Chatter Samantha Morley, smorley2@uccs.edu

What team are you rooting for at the Super Bowl?

Latisha Colburn, sophomore, elementary education “Steelers are usually my team. I’ll be rooting for the Broncos, though.

I just moved here and they seem like a good team. I don’t want the Seahawks to win.”

Cash Longbattle, freshman, electrical engineering

&

Sweet Salty Tweets “Two different professors that used to teach me saw me today and gave me a hug. I must be one hell of a student. #UCCS” @Gatorboy333

“@UCCS I paid $1000 to take this

class and u can't even give me a seat bc u dont have ur s#*t figured out #ALLaboutthe$$$$$$$ #NOTtheSTUDENTS” @SUNSHINEaMILEhi

“I’m a Broncos fan. I want them to win.”

Ashley O’Brien, junior, psychology

Jan. 27, 2014 | 10

“Teacher made cupcakes for the first day of class. #winning @uccs” @dandandabomb

“I’m rooting for the Seahawks because the Broncos beat my Patriots.”

“It’s either a battle trying to get a

parking spot or you’re trying to stalk someone who just got out of class to their car #UCCS” @aaroncassio

Puzzle 1 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.52)

This week at UCCS General Jan. 27 - Feb. 24 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Advising Main Hall 208

Feb. 1 - March 22 Noon to 5 p.m.

PROTEST! Art Exhibit GOCA 1420

Tuesday, Jan. 28 3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Education Abroad 101 UC 126

5-6 p.m.

Karako Night Clyde’s

5 8

2

1

3

Noon to 1 p.m.

Yoga for Stress Reduction UC 303A 5:30 - 7 p.m.

STEM Scholarship Showcase Cragmor Hall 008 5 - 9 p.m.

PROTEST! Opening Reception GOCA 1420 7 - 9 p.m.

Resistance & Rebellion GOCA 1420

10 9

The actual North Pole

8

Quantanamo Bay

7

Detroit

6

Trapped in a refrigerator

5

Hiding under ex’s bed

4

Cleveland sex cave

3

On campus

2

Criminal Justice Center

1

Jalalabad (look it up, kids)

6

4

1

9

9 5

2 1 8

3 8

Parents’ home

7

6

Friday, Jan. 31

Noon to 1:15 p.m.

THHC Brown Bag Presentation: Fourteen Months in Darfur Osborne Center A-343

Nick Beadleston, nbeadles@uccs.edu

5

Thursday, Jan. 30

10 - 11 a.m.

Legislative Council UC 303

Worst places to spend Winter Break

3

5

Wednesday, Jan. 29

Top Ten

5

4

7

6

8 9

2 1 5

SpORTS

Jan. 27, 2014 | 11

OPINION: Safety rules in American pro sports retards action

Dezarae Yoder

dyoder@uccs.edu

It has been unfolding gradually on our screens and in our stadiums: Professional sports in the United States are being stripped of their former glory. These once proud gladiatorial games are subtly being replaced with coddled versions and pop warner, play nice platitudes.

There was a time when the harder the hit a player could deliver the better they were doing their job. Or when blasting into home base was commendable since players were weighing the risks and deciding to go for it.

Now this try or die attitude is being reviewed and removed from sports.

Of course, in certain ways this makes sense. Many retired football players are stepping up and claiming the way they

played led to serious medical issues.

They are also claiming the league is at fault.

No, it’s not the league’s fault. You signed the contract; you got paid ungodly sums of money. What did you think was going to happen after years of playing a professional contact sport?

And yet, in the face of commonsense and personal responsibility, the league caves and creates new rules. One of the newest for the National Football League is the defenseless player rule.

Are you kidding me? Defenseless? Is this not football, our acknowledged, hard hitting pastime?

I know, I get it; we want to protect the players from substantiating injuries like broken necks and compounding concussions. However, we’re talking about professional football and players who should understand their bodies are on

the line every play by their own choice.

The risks they take while receiving millions of dollars are ultimately up to them.

The effectiveness of this new rule can also be argued. From what I can tell, all we’re doing with these players who get hit is sit them out and pay them money for being on injured reserved.

Consider another pro sport: Major League Baseball. One of the least aggressive limited-contact sports is set to remove home plate collisions, pending a player approval this year.

It will probably pass, and, for all the right intent behind it, implementation will be difficult and the logic is off.

Catchers, who are normally to blame for intervening with the runner, incur the majority of injuries so it seems to me they get what they deserve.

Bear in mind also that it’s ultimately

up to the umpire what gets called and what doesn’t, and consistency of calls is every fan’s eternal mourning.

Gone are the days of hard hits and tremendous steals smashing into home plate. Now is the time for countless committees designed specifically to overlook the “safeness” of the game, add rules, place more medics on sidelines and sap the enthusiasm from loyal fans.

All this adds up to a reduced experience. And what’s worse is that is that it only seems to be spiraling further out of control. Eventually we’ll be forced to pay ungodly amounts for tickets to the Bubble Wrap Bowl sponsored by the National Safety Council and Mother’s Against American Fun. It’s simply a matter of time.

way.

“We play video games as a house, 2K [basketball] is my game,” White said.

When asked who the best player is, White doesn’t hesitate. “Oh yeah, I’m the best in the house.”

As basketball is such a large part of what White does, it is difficult for him to imagine doing anything else. But White also couldn’t imagine a life without some kind of sport.

“I’d probably be fat, first of all,” he said. “But I’d try to play a different sport like baseball. I enjoyed it as a kid.”

As to his plans after college, White would like to continue his passion for

basketball and athletics.

“I’d like to play basketball somewhere,” he said. “If that doesn’t work out, I’d like to work with players and be a personal trainer.”

Weirdest situation White has ever been in?

“When I was in New York when I was little, like 8, there were two guys brawling in front of me,” White said.

“I stood there and watched, and my parents were freaking out trying to pull me away.”

You can catch White in action at the upcoming Downtown Classic on Feb. 8, as well as home games on Feb. 14 against Adams State and Feb. 15 against Fort Lewis.

Men’s basketball player Derrick White wins, naps, repeats

Jonathan Toman jtoman@uccs.edu

Derrick White is a sophomore guard on the UCCS men’s basketball team. He was the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the week at the beginning of January and has been selected three times as the Colorado Springs Orthopedic Group Player of the Week.

He also takes a lot of naps.

“I take a lot of naps,” he said. “That’s a lot of my days: practice, class, and a nap.”

The sport management major is the leading scorer for the team, but he is also the leading scorer in a more virtual

COURTESY | DERRICK WHITE

White, from the courts to the couch.

Women’s basketball team looks past pre-season expectations

Ryan Adams

radams3@uccs.edu

With a spotty record this season, the women’s basketball team has had a tough time living up to their No. 1 preseason conference ranking.

Despite sitting at 5-10 (4-7 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) entering the games on the weekend of Jan. 24, the team is far from giving up.

“It’s been a challenging season for lots of reasons,” said Head Coach Corey Laster. “We have had a lot of different personnel come in and play as a result of injuries, the league [RMAC] is better, teams are deeper, and it’s proven to be a challenge.”

Starting the regular season on Nov. 15, the team has experienced its share of close losses. Seven of the ten losses have been in the single digits.

“We’re trying to find that hump to get over and hope to be that hot team down the stretch,” said Laster. “Losing [sophomore] Tori Fisher and [freshman] Anna Hubbell to injuries hurt us early on and we got off to a slow start.”

“With all that’s happened to us though, I still think we’re talented enough to cause problems for other

JOSH CAMACHO | THE SCRIBE

Women’s team huddles to plan for hurdles in the upcoming games.

teams.”

Of the next seven games, starting on Jan. 24, the Mountain Lions play five in Colorado Springs; one being the Downtown Classic. The Downtown Classic, in its second year, will be played Feb. 8 in the newly renovated Colorado Springs City Auditorium against RMAC rival CSU-Pueblo.

Junior Abby Kirchoff, who has become the eighth athlete in Mountain

Lion history to reach 1,000 points, believes the team can get hot by first getting hot on offense.

“We’re stagnant at times,” she said.

“Our offense needs to improve and that’s hard sometimes because not all the shots go our way. Yet, if we can get better at things like cuts, our speed, and defense, it will definitely get better.”

Senior and team captain Jeri Pikul also believes the team can improve in

Upcoming home games Feb. 8

CSU-Pueblo 5:30 p.m.(W) 7:30 p.m. (M)

Colo Spgs City Auditorium

Feb. 14

Adams State 5:30 p.m. (W) 7:30 p.m. (M)

Feb. 15

Fort Lewis 5:30 p.m. (W) 7:30 p.m. (M)

several key areas.

“Our biggest weaknesses right now are having consistent post play, rebounding and our transition play,” she said. “We’ve yet to play our best basketball though so I think if we can dig ourselves out of this hole, we will have a good outlook.”

When asked if the No. 1 pre-season rank may be affecting their play, Laster didn’t appear to think so.

“It doesn’t mean much to us,” he said. “If you look at the pre-season rankings for the first, second, third, fourth and fifth spot, they are all different now that we are well into the season. We just have to learn to win from the front, show up, and play.”

Pikul and Laster agreed that every game is important.

“Every game matters from here on out,” said Pikul. “I’m really looking forward to playing much better and much more together as a team too.”

“All of our games are big because there are only a couple of games separating us from being in the playoffs,” said Laster. “We have a lot of pride as a team, we’ve been in every game as a team and will bounce back.”

The Lowdown What:

The Downtown Classic

Where:

Colorado Springs City Auditorium

When:

Feb. 8 Women: 5:30 p.m.

Men: 7:30 p.m.

How much: Adult: $10 Child: $5

UCCS students, faculty and staff are FREE and can be picked up at the UC info desk

SpORTS

Jan. 27, 2014 | 12

Men’s basketball rebounds from 2013, looks ahead ing. Counting the home games on Jan. 24 and 25, UCCS is at home for seven of its last 11 regular season contests. They were at home for just six of 15 games to start the season.

Jonathan Toman jtoman@uccs.edu

“

It still sorta stings.

— Jeff Culver on close loss to Colorado Mesa

“

Sitting at a 9-5 record entering the weekend games on Jan. 24-25 against Black Hills State and Chadron State at the Gallogly Events Center, the UCCS men’s basketball team has been streaking recently. After a back and forth start to the season, the team won five games in a row from Dec. 14 to Jan. 9. Since then they have lost three in a row.

“We’ve come together pretty well,” said Jeff Culver, the team’s head coach. “We’re still very young but we are taking a step forward, we need to be more consistent overall from game to game.”

“We started out hot, but our losing streak really brought us together, we stick together as brothers,” said sophomore forward Alex Welsh. “We come back and work twice as hard.”

“We try to stay one game at a time,” added sophomore guard Derrick White.

An important win, according to Culver, was a victory in Alamosa against Adams State on Dec. 7, which was part of the first weekend with conference games.

JAMES SIBERT | THE SCRIBE

UCCS men’s basketball plays Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m. downtown.

“It was on the road, and we didn’t beat them last year,” he said. “It was a key way to start our conference season.”

A key setback Culver characterized as “frustrating” came in the loss in Grand Junction to Colorado Mesa. UCCS was defeated at the buzzer, as a CMU

player was able to go coast-tocoast with only four seconds remaining.

“It still sorta stings,” said Culver.

The rest of the season will be filled with something the Mountain Lions haven’t had a lot of recently: home cook-

“Travel in this conference can take a toll on both the body and mind,” said Culver. “We’re excited about the prospect of students getting back to campus.”

“It’s much more advantageous than the first half,” Culver added. “It’s huge – we sorta survived the first half of the year.”

After finishing last season 5-21, the Mountain Lions were picked to finish ninth in the conference, a prediction Culver thought surprising considering last year’s record.

“The conference respected our young talent,” Culver said.

“You can only fly under the radar for so long, so everyone

can see what we’re doing. But teams are definitely playing us differently than they did last year.”

The second annual Downtown Classic between UCCS and CSU-Pueblo will be held Feb. 8 at the Colorado Springs City Auditorium.

“I love it,” said Culver. “We are bringing the game to the community, and that has to be a two way street.”

“We can’t sit back on campus. The historic overtones with the building are great, and we get a different crowd. It will be bigger and better than it was last year.”

“I like the old venue, and it’s cool for our parents,” added Welsh. “Last year the students were on break, we’re glad to have them back for this one.

And it’s a huge game against our rival.”

This year has been a rebound from a 2012-13 season filled with “heartbreak losses”, according to Culver.

“The group this season expects to win,” he said. “Our goals, hosting a first round playoff game and winning the RMAC, are still very intact.

Both of those are still very doable for us.”