Feb. 3, 2014

Since 1966

Vol. 38, Iss. 17

Monday, February 3, 2014

NEWS

VA grant Programs for vets 2

UCCSScribe.com University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Defense and research contractor Northrop Grumman partners with UCCS Nick Beadleston

Zuckerberg Former Facebook executive visits 3

SCIENCE & BUSINESS

Professor spotlight

For Janel Owens, science a curiosity 4

Online classes

Comparable to traditional classes 4 CULTURE

‘Girls’

Good show but disjointed plot line 5

Fashion

Getting ready in 30 minutes or less 6 OPINION

BuzzFeed

Writers should sit down, shut up 9

Satisfying technology New technology won’t satisfy Americans 9

Samantha Morley nbeadles@uccs.edu smorley2@uccs.edu

Northrop Grumman Corp., a leading global security company, officially announced its partnership with UCCS Jan. 28. It will be funding engineering scholarships in addition to providing education and jobs.

The collaboration will “include expanding opportunities for the internship opportunity for our company,” said Russ Anarde, corporate lead executive with Northrop Grumman.

Anarde also spoke about scholarship opportunities for science, technology, engineering and math students, as well as outreach to student activities, workshops and seminars.

“There are a variety of things we envision and are underway and made possible

NICK BURNS | THE SCRIBE

Corporate executive Russ Anarde announces Northrop Grumman partnership with UCCS.

through this partnership,” said Anarde.

Northrop Grumman will also gain more than just a fresh

Higher student health fees, integrated system proposed Dezarae Yoder

dyoder@uccs.edu

The Student Health Center and other UCCS facilities are planning to revamp how wellbeing is addressed on campus.

The current system will be replaced by an “integrated wellness model,” combining several aspects of student life.

“It will incorporate [the Rec Center], the Student Health Center and Counseling Center along with some dining service component or nutrition component,” said Stephanie Hanenberg, executive director of Health Services.

Hanenberg said this will allow the university to look at “student wellness” as a whole instead of in different areas.

Higher fee A Rec Center expansion is expected to open fall 2015, pending the approval of a new $35 student health fee set to

be voted on by students this spring.

The new fee would more than double the $25 each student pays per semester for health fees to total $60 per student per semester starting next fall.

Officials argue that the center has had the same fee since 1997 when it originally opened, despite the campus size and population nearly doubling since then. It has also maintained the same number of providers since its opening, and proponents argue the new fee would go to cover most services available except for labs.

When the project is complete, Public Safety will take back the space currently occupied by the SHC. The estimated cost of the expansion is $3,553,000 not including equipment. This is financed by issuing bonds to be repaid by the fee increase.

The bond payment on the estimated cost varies by year

and averages at $229,000 annually. The bond documents require the university set aside the equivalent of 25 percent of the bond payment, about $57,250, for refurbishment and maintenance so the debt-holders or investors who buy the bonds know the equity continues to have value.

“If the students do not pass the fee, then we’re building the space and showing it [to investors] and we’ll probably convert it to some other use,” stated Susan Szpyrka, vice chancellor for Administration and Finance.

Several new positions will become available for both students and professionals outside of the CU System including a new part-time psychiatrist position.

Additionally, the Rec Center plans to hire a health promotions coach as well as a part time nutritionist to help guide the executive chef on campus.

“This is simply us respond-

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Bobsledding Teacher to Sochi 11

supply of future workers.

Continued on page 2 . . .

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ing to what students have been asking for, for years,” said Szpyrka. “The students at UCCS are really going to have a unique opportunity… if the fee goes through.”

Without the fee, no staffing changes will be made and there will be no integrated model accessible to students, Szpyrka said.

In contrast to what’s available currently, the new center would integrate health offices and professionals in one location as opposed to several.

Growth, waitlists and outreach Planning has been underway for the building for the past two years and is urged on by increased enrollment numbers with students who are in need of health services.

“The University Counseling Center has a huge waitlist of Continued on page 2 . . .

NEWS

Feb. 3, 2014| 2

(Continued from page 1) Northrop “[The partnership] will involve opportunities to tap the university’s research development capabilities to support ongoing Northrop Grumman work,” said Anarde.

The company currently has 1,000 Colorado Springs employees and 2,200 in the state.

Anarde was less able to ensure Northrop Grumman would work to keep UCCS graduates in-state.

“In fairness if you look at the hiring our company has done within the state of Colorado it includes many, many students who did not go to school here,” he stated. “Conversely there are going to be some number of students who are a great match for our needs outside the state.”

“In the end this promotes, this enriches the development

of aerospace and defense in the state of Colorado,” said Anarde.

“The state has an aggressive laid out… and we believe that this partnership is going to be part of the engine that allows that growth and development.”

“To say that I am excited about this is an understatement,” UCCS Chancellor Pamela Shockley-Zalabak said of the partnership, “I am more than pleased with what we’ll be able to accomplish.”

Faculty from the physics, mechanical and aerospace engineering, electrical and computer engineering departments were also present.

Shockley-Zalabak briefly explained the historical importance of engineering at UCCS. Hewlett-Packard co-founder David Packard, a Pueblo native, told state officials his company

Hewlett-Packard would support a university in Colorado Springs provided it focused on engineering and business.

UCCS opened in 1965.

Since then, the university has grown and attracted the interests of technology companies, like Northrop Grumman.

“The DNA of this campus has been connections to partners,” Shockley-Zalabak said. “We are so, so gratified, humbled and proud for this announcement.”

Northrop Grumman has already begun to recruit UCCS students. Austin Ventura, who has nearly completed his master’s in mechanical engineering, has interned for Northrop Grumman since last June. He also won at the research based The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

(Continued from page 1) Higher students who are waiting to get in and speak with someone,” said Chris Richey, member of the Student Health Advisory Board. “[They] really need to utilize that service but they’re not able to in a timely manner just because it’s not staffed appropriate to the amount of students at the university.”

“The wait-list there is demanding a change for a more stream-lined approach to health,” Richey continued.

At the end of last semester, 55 students were on the waitlist for the Counseling Center.

Jason Adams, also a member of the Student Health Advisory Board, believes this new model along with the new

Grumman partnership undergraduate competition. The competition is research-based.

“It’s very exciting,” he said, “We’ve had a number of our students who have done very well at the regionals but it was exciting to be able to do it at international – to be able to win that.”

Ph.D. students Carlos Maldonado and Jacob Graul and master’s student Stephen Sloan are part of the MAE department, which collaborates with Northrop Grumman.

“We’re doing cutting-edge research,” Graul said. “I think it’s partially because we do such quality research that they kind of wanted to collaborate with us.”

Maldonado helped developed a space simulator, Graul is working with a laser based gas heating technique and Sloan is

health fees

building and added staff would resolve the waitlist issue.

“Now, the health center is starting to feel the strain of extra students and staffing isn’t adequate the preferred wellness modalities on campus,” stated Adams. “Having that complete wellness model including the Rec Center expansion emphasizes a lot more preventative

rather than trying to play catchup.” “[The waitlist] would almost be eliminated because there will be enough staffing,” stated Hanenberg.

As apart of the proactive approach of the new model, outreach programming will be included when the building is complete.

Programs aimed at veterans go into motion Samantha Morley smorley2@uccs.edu

Last month The Scribe reported on two planned programs to benefit the campus veteran community: Boots to Suits and Peer Mentorship.

This semester, Amanda Sanchez, the Office of Military and Veteran Affairs success coordinator, was able to put both of these programs into motion.

The programs are the result of research into how the university can assist veterans in their transition and education.

At the beginning of the year, during a veteran-only orientation, Sanchez distributed a survey to the attendees. The survey asked if the student would like a mentor and if they would like to join the Transitions course or if they would be interested in joining the Student Veteran Organization.

“If they say yes then I send them an email,” she said.

Through the email, Sanchez confirms the veteran’s interest in the program and then goes through the process of setting up a mentor with a mentee.

She uses the student’s major, their areas of weakness, strength and their overall per-

sonality to find an ideal mentor.

Eventually Sanchez and the veteran meet and they discuss options. “That’s another way I try to get them on board with a mentorship,” she said.

Around 30 students have indicated interest in becoming a mentee. However, so far not as many as have followed through with the program.

“Sometimes they might email me back but it’s never a concrete yes,” she said, “[But] I know the need is out there.”

Sanchez reported there are at least 14 current mentors that are “excited and ready to be a mentor for another student.”

Mentors are all veterans and most are upperclassmen.

Brett Cheatham, junior in business management, is a mentee. He currently has a work study at the Veteran Affairs office. His mentor is junior GES major, Johnny Garcia.

“I’m excited to see where it goes,” Cheatham said. “I heard about the opportunity and pretty much any opportunity that they’ve pointed out to me I’ve taken advantage of. That’s why I have the job here.”

“It’s very much in the beginning stages of the program, but I look forward to getting

JAMES SIBERT | THE SCRIBE Amanda Sanchez works to put the grant to good use for veterans.

to know my new friend Brett and helping him to fit right in with life here at UCCS,” Garcia said.

Garcia explained that he is a big outdoor enthusiast and that he would like to show Cheatham how being outside can manage stress and help him be successful in school.

To keep this program on track, Sanchez received a grant of $3,000 on Jan. 9. According to her, the money is dedicated

toward “mentor training and professional development, program marketing, and a story release event at the end of the semester.”

Upon completion of the program, mentors receive money that goes towards their success as a student, such as professional attire, seeking employment and other costs that come with completing school and finding a job.

Also available for veterans

working with beamed energy concepts (wireless transmission of energy between two points).

In a prerecorded video statement, Lt. Governor Joe Garcia thanked Northrop Grumman and stated he is “confident this collaborative partnership is going to pay huge dividends for Colorado”

“At least once a month we want to do health screenings, health promotion events in collaboration with the Rec Center,” said Hanenberg.

Healthy cooking classes for dorm room students are one of the expected events.

is Transitions, a course meant to educate veterans how to repurpose their military skills for civilian life, had an expected turn out last fall and will resume again this semester.

Phillip Morris, director of the Office of Military and Veteran Student Affairs will co-instruct the class.

Nine students are currently enrolled for the course. “I hope the students get a lot out of the class,” Morris said, “My expectation is that we go over a lot of the content that we want to in terms of career development and understanding professionalism and transitioning skills.

I think it’s going to be a great class.”

Morris will co-teach with Military Outreach Specialist, Michael Reyes. “He’s great and he’s been doing this awhile and he understands college transition,” Morris said. The two intend to approach the class like a freshman seminar course.

NEWS

Feb. 3, 2014 | 3

Former Facebook executive Randi Zuckerberg to speak at UCCS Jesse Byrnes jbyrnes@uccs.edu

Time to be meta and share with all your Facebook friends: a former executive from the social media company will be this year’s special speaker at UCCS. Randi Zuckerberg, sister of Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, will speak April 15 at 7 p.m. in the Gallogly Events Center.

The former Facebook spokeswoman and marketing executive, who has spoken on women in business, entrepreneurial marketing and consumer behavior, will focus her speech on Dot Complicated – her book and website of the same aimed at social media and technology as well as lifestyle and relationships.

Zuckerberg will be the fourth spring speaker at UCCS, previous speakers including Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s, Bill Nye (the Science Guy) and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson.

COURTESY | WIKIMEDIA

Former Facebook executive Randi Zukerberg at the World Economic Forum.

“We were looking for females, not necessarily science related,” said Lauren Burgess, a junior GES major and University Center employee.

Burgess was part of a group of five UCCS staff members and three student employees who began the search for a speaker last summer, aiming for diversity in the topics, genres and cultures from previous years, according to Stephen Cucchiara, assistant director,

Office of Student Activities.

OSA is one of several departments funding the project, including Auxiliary Services Marketing, Residence Life, Student Life & Leadership and University Center.

The list of speaking candidates ranged from former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice to HBO star Lena Dunham.

“I wanted Lena Dunham because I really like that show ‘Girls’ and ‘Tiny Furniture’ and

because she’s a good representation of most girls our age,” said Burgess. She noted on the other hand “Zuckerberg will bring in a lot of people from the community too.”

Of 1,125 tickets sold to last year’s speech by deGrasse Tyson, 47 percent were purchased by students, compared to 38 percent the previous year to see Nye, according to Cucchiara, highlighting a large portion of community and faculty attendees.

A survey circulated by OSA that garnered about 200 responses showed the majority of support among students for either Zuckerberg or British anthropologist Jane Goodall, Burgess said.

The decision to pick Zuckerberg compared to other candidates came down to price – as some want hotel accommodations or include fees like health insurance – and the genre of the speech, according to those involved in the process. The group kept the price “well under” the Regents’ $40,000

threshold for speakers, Cuchiarra said.

Tickets go on sale Feb. 10 at the UC info desk and are $2 for those with a student, faculty, staff or military I.D. General admission tickets can be purchased for $5 on TicketsWest by mid-March.

The Lowdown Who:

Randi Zuckerberg, former Facebook marketing executive

Where: Gallogly Events Center When: April 15 How much: Students, faculty, staff, military: $2 Pick up tickets at UC info desk starting Feb. 10 General admission: $5 Buy online at TicketsWest starting mid-March

UCCS slowly adjusting for growth with more parking, housing Ryan Adams radams2@uccs.edu

Parking and housing concerns have escalated at UCCS in recent years due to an expanding population. Many in the administration feel new construction and permits will alleviate some of the congestion on campus.

Parking Jim Spice, executive director of Parking and Transportation, feels his department has improved parking problems on campus.

“So far, it’s been a little bit better than last fall,” said Spice.

“We sell the same number of permits every year and in the fall we filled up Lot 15 down at Four Diamonds.

“This spring, there seems to be more spaces there and we are seeing less of a demand for a spot.”

Spice and his department also hope the new parking garage, slated to open during spring break, will alleviate the frustration that comes with finding a spot to park on campus.

“Hopefully, we can exhaust the entire garage and that will allow for 174 more stalls that will be available for those with HUB permits but having trouble finding a spot to parking spots.”

Another part of parking that has caused concern for students, staff and faculty is parking off-campus. Because of

JOSH CAMACHO | THE SCRIBE

School expects to alleviate many parking woes with new garage, which will have 174 more stalls available to students.

the expensive nature that comes with purchasing a parking pass, many students haven chosen to park in the Cragmor neighborhood in the past.

Restrictions set by the city of Colorado Springs now require a permit to park on the streets closest to campus. This has pushed students farther into the neighborhood or into the neighborhood surrounding University Hall.

Spice stated the city is currently holding meetings for the neighborhood surrounding University Hall and inviting neighbors to give their thoughts about restrictions.

“If the feedback is good like it was for the Cragmor neighborhood, a restriction could be implemented sooner rather than later,” said Spice.

To be helpful to students who are not able to afford a HUB permit or who don’t want to walk to school in the cold winter months, Spice said the school is offering a more efficient shuttle service as well as a new “P” permit.

“We noticed that students, staff, and faculty were complaining about the wait times, so we split the service into two parts; one serving the north side of campus and one serving the south,” said Spice. “Another option for students is the “P” permit which allows students to park in HUB spots after 4:15 p.m. and is cheaper than the “N” permit.”

Housing Housing this semester has

proved to be less of a concern for the administration than during previous semesters.

Ralph Giese, Director of Residence Life and Housing, stated there are plenty of spaces available for students still interested in living on campus.

“We can’t promise the students interested it will be their first choice, but the fact that we have spaces available is great for someone who likes the convenience of living on campus.”

Giese also addressed the future of off-campus housing.

Currently, UCCS has a lease with the apartment complex Sunset Creek north of the school.

Re-named Timberline Village at Sunset Creek, the complex has provided UCCS students with another option

besides Alpine and Summit Villages on campus.

“Timberline has allowed us to meet the current demand for housing while construction on the new housing village is underway,” stated Giese.

On-track for opening in fall of 2015, the Village at Alpine Valley will be added to the array of housing options available for students.

“By then [fall 2015], two out of the three residence halls and a dining hall will be ready to use for student housing,” said Giese. “There will be a total of 515 beds available and half of those will be open to students in the fall of 2015 and the remaining balance in fall 2016.”

SCIENCE & BUSINESS

Feb. 3, 2014 | 4

Analytical chemistry professor passionate about research April Wefler

awefler@uccs.edu

As a young girl, Janel Owens often attempted to decipher ingredients on the backs of household products.

“I would read it and I wanted to know what that language was,” said Owens, now an assistant professor in the department of chemistry and biochemistry. “What is that? I wanted to know.”

“So that’s really how I got interested in chemistry from the beginning; it was a language issue. Even as a child, I wanted to know what those ingredients were,” she said.

Owens received her bachelor’s in chemistry at Southwestern University, a private liberal arts college in central Texas.

“I really enjoyed the classes in particular in analytical chemistry and I think one of the reasons that many women go into science and one of the good ways of breaking girls into STEM disciplines is by showing [its] relevance,” she said.

“By using analytical chemistry, I could start measuring interesting compounds that may have a health significance, so that in particular was of interest to me,” she added.

Owens received her Ph.D. from the University of California-Davis and conducted her post-doctoral fellowship at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, Cali.

Owens teaches classes rang-

ing from environmental chemistry and forensic chemistry to mass spectrometry and chemistry senior capstone, as well as general chemistry. Her favorite class to teach is environmental chemistry.

“I think it’s the greatest opportunity I have to educate students about processes in the environment and environmental issues and the chemistry of those issues,” Owens said.

She decided go into academia rather than industry because she enjoyed it. “I enjoyed mentoring and working with students. I loved college so much, I never wanted to leave, so I came back,” she said.

“I enjoy seeing [the students] grow as scientists and individuals, as writers, as thinkers, as scholars. We’re helping to train our future colleagues,” she added.

In addition to teaching, Owens also serves on committees, works as a reviewer for scientific journals and reviews fellowships for the National Science Foundation.

“One thing I’m passionate about, especially in service, is doing outreach with students.

I think it’s exciting to get young people to get themselves excited and passionate about science,” she said.

Owens has worked with the UCCS Center for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Education which is geared toward K-12.

“We’ve done a lot of fun outreach programs, like Choco-

late Science Investigation: The Case of the Recipe Rip-off,” Owens said. “We did a different camp entirely that was focused on environmental forensics: The Case of the Croaking Chinchillas.”

Additionally, the camp also did the Case of the Crooked Circuit, dealing with sports doping in cycling.

“So in any of these camps, we’re developing and helping CSTEME build scenario-based experiences to get kids excited about science,” Owens said.

Owens is currently coordinating research with El Paso County toxicologist Werner Jenkins and forensic chemistry student Andrea Tully to determine the effects of spice cannanabinoids (reported in the Jan. 27 issue of The Scribe).

“Werner and I started a project together looking at fentanyl initially, which is a synthetic opioid…you can get a lot of these opiates from poppies, but fentanyl is totally synthetic and it doesn’t even look like the other opioids,” she said.

“We had fun working together and combining our various expertise,” she added.

When Tully became interested in an internship, Owens and Werner decided it would be interesting to do an analysis on synthetic cannabinoids because of the recent media epidemic.

So far, her favorite study was an analysis of beers, “determining the concentrations of folate.” one of the watersoluble B vitamins.

NICK BURNS | THE SCRIBE

Chemistry professor, Janel Owen, has a natural curiosity.

Owens and two UC Davis professors, Andrew Clifford and Charles Banforth, published their findings in the Journal of the Institute of Brewing.

“We were interested in knowing if beer had good levels of folate; turns out, it does,” Owens said.

She said a study she’d be interested in would be “analyzing concentrations of brominated flame retardant,” typically engineered chemicals added to electronics and other products to suppress fires.

In particular, she’s interested in learning the environ-

mental and health implications of Tetrabromobisphenol. “[TBBPA] may have potentially adverse health effects.

And there have been preliminary studies finding it in food, but a more comprehensive understanding would be of interest,” she said.

In her free time, Owens likes to hike, play with her two dogs and garden. “I really enjoy spending time with family and friends over a good meal; the simple life, you know.”

Online classes comparable in cost to traditional education, not cheaper Scribe Staff scribe@uccs.edu

At first glance, students may appear to pay more for online classes than traditional lecturebased classes.

Students can estimate tuition cost for online and traditional classes through the Bursar’s website, the Campus Wide Extended Studies website and using the 2013-2014 Bill Estimator.

The only major difference is the $100 Blackboard fee attached to the total cost for each online course a student takes.

Homer Wesley, vice chancellor of student success and enrollment management, said the fee only applies to students who take 100 percent of their classes online. A portion of the Blackboard fee goes to the college for developing courses.

He also added these onlineonly students are not charged for some fees charged to students who attend on-campus

courses.

“The fee allows for UCCS to develop a more robust range of on-line courses and to provide access to a broader range of students who might not otherwise be able to receive post-secondary educational offerings,” Wesley said.

The Office of the Registrar stated traditional classes generally use Blackboard to submit papers, but online classes are heavier data users.

Kirk Moore, director of Computing Services and Information Technology, stated, “The $100 fee was just a carryover from when we had eCollege, and this fee was kept from eCompanion as our funding model for Blackboard.”

“Blackboard is an expensive program,” he included.

He also stated the technology fee added to student tuition each semester covers the cost of Blackboard for on-campus students.

Previously, seven different learning management systems

were being used on campus.

A junior or senior Colorado resident in the Letters, Arts and Sciences or School of Public Affairs taking 12 credit hours the Fall 2013 semester pays $3,984.20 for tuition and $524 in mandatory fees.

This totals $4,508.20, subtracting the Colorado Opportunity Fund stipend of $64 for each eligible credit hour or $768 for 12 eligible hours, bringing the total semester cost to $3,740.20.

However, this same student in the Online Completion Program would also pay $3,740 in the end.

Tuition for the Online Completion Program student would owe $4,508.20, but there are no mandatory fees charged.

Subtract the same COF stipend of $768 and the student gets the same total.

These figures do not include the program fees for Visual and Performing Arts, Professional Golf Management or Sports Management business courses.

It also does not include the Education Air Force Cohort program along with housing, meal plan and student health insurance costs.

Last semester the school offered 226 online classes, 41 more classes than the previous fall semester. Academic year 2012-2013 listed 526 online classes offered while 20112012 listed 463.

UCCS is offering 561 online classes this academic year.

“I would anticipate that growth continuing for three to four more years before it levels off somewhat,” said David Moon, vice provost and associate vice chancellor.

Currently, master’s degrees in business, education, engineering, health sciences, nursing, public administration and criminal justice have online programs.

Bachelor’s degree programs in nursing, allied health, business, criminal justice, communication and sociology are also available online.

Other high-demand classes, like those in English, communication, psychology and sociology have been available as an online class for the last five years.

“We may start additional degree-completion programs later, but at this time our next intended area to expand is to increase offerings in general education and other lower-division courses,” Moon said.

Faculty of each college and department decide on which courses and programs are available online.

During the last three years, the Campus Online Task Force has been recommending online programs and courses. Venkat Reddy, dean of the College of Business, leads this task force.

“UCCS’ philosophy is to integrate our online programs with our on-campus programs, so generally speaking, the same faculty teaches in both formats,” Moon said.

CULTURE

Feb. 3, 2014 | 5

MOSAIC director stresses importance of education at any stage April Wefler

awefler@uccs.edu

Anthony Cordova, the director of MOSIAC and the CU Opportunity Program, has proven non-traditional students can become a pivotal part of campus life.

Cordova, an Avondale, Colo., native, was a first-generation student who attended UCCS at the age of 40.

“I grew up where people had a good job and took care of their family,” said Cordova.

“Nobody that I was close to really encouraged their children to go to college.”

“Out of six siblings, I’m the only one in my family who ever got a degree,” he said. “I had a brother and sister who had gone [to college] and hadn’t made it past a year.”

Cordova, 59, graduated from Pueblo County High in 1973. He immediately took an apprenticeship as a heavy equipment operator, a position he kept for the next 20 years.

“It was a good living; I was able to raise four kids.”

“I was always willing to

JOSH CAMACHO | THE SCRIBE

Cordova breaks tradition.

learn, but it didn’t mean people were always willing to teach,” he added.

When his contract concluded, Cordova decided to end his employment and explore new options.

“The more years I was there, the more frustrated I became because I knew I needed an education to really help me out,” he said.

Cordova indicated higher education seemed impossible due to family obligations and employer constraints. Still, he knew furthering himself would be dependent on pursuing that goal.

“I think I did realize the value of education and I could see how people who had an education had a lot more opportunities and were respected in a whole different way,” he said.

Only when Cordova suffered a back injury did he decide to go to college.

“I had an orthopedic surgeon who told me that the best thing I could do was go to school,” he said. “He told me that he would help me retire from the union with my disability, if I went to school.”

Cordova applied to UCCS in 1994 and was accepted as a CU Opportunity student, a program he has run since 2005.

“When I started, I was very afraid, nervous and unsure of myself, but the single piece of advice that I used and always held on to was: ‘The only way you can fail is if you fail to ask for help.’”

“I learned that everybody that works on a college campus is basically there to help students get an education,” he added. “If you’re willing to do the work and you ask for help, almost everyone will bend over

backwards to make sure you get that help,” he added.

Cordova quickly became infatuated with education, double-majoring in psychology and communication.

“I was falling in love with every discipline I touched, so I figured early on that if I double-majored, it would give me more of a focus,” he said.

Cordova became a student employee and worked multiple jobs ranging from University Center maintenance manager to assisting with freshman seminars. He was also a peer advisor for Student Success, a geography proctor and taught workshops for pre-collegiate students. Cordova was a student senator in Student Government his senior year.

Cordova received his bachelor’s in 1997 and his master’s in counseling in 1999. He spent a year as a full-time academic advisor at UCCS and was responsible for the UCCS Connection program. This required him to visit community colleges and advise transfer students.

Following, he worked as the assistant coordinator for

pre-collegiate for two years.

Cordova became the full time program director for what is now the MOSAIC office in 2003.

Today, Cordova is responsible for the MOSAIC Gateway Program and the LGBT Resource Center. In addition, he and his wife work with the Pueblo Hispanic Education Foundation.

Cordova was awarded the President’s Diversity Award in 2012 and the NAACP Freedom Fund Education Award in 2011.

According to Cordova, working with the students “brings me back and reminds me of how I wonder why no one ever encouraged me to go to college when I was still in high school. I wasn’t a self-motivated student in high school; all I wanted was out.”

“Every time I run into a high school student whose caught on to the fact that they need to go to college, I feel really, really good and really proud of everyone who’s made sure they get there,” he added.

‘Girls’ Season 3: Good so far, but somewhat disjointed Megan Moyles

mmoyles@uccs.edu

Lena Dunham’s acclaimed HBO TV show, “Girls,” is back for its third season. Rarely does one find a show with such raw, hilarious (and sometimes grisly) truth to it.

Hannah Horvath (Dunham) tells her parents she might be the voice of her generation (in an opium tea-induced stupor).

Despite poking fun at the concept, “Girls” does seem to be a sorely needed new voice in media. The show is not flawfree, but one can appreciate how boldly it diverges from most television.

To recap season two, Hannah has officially broken up with her oft-shirtless boyfriend, Adam (Adam Driver). She scores a book deal, a huge accomplishment, but the first draft is due in a month. She finds herself in a downward spiral of stress, worsened by her OCD and crippling isolation.

Jessa (Jemima Kirke), who has been Hannah’s rock, disappears after an emotional reunion with her dad. This also

“

contributes to Hannah’s poor mental state.

Marnie, played by Allison Williams, is pathetic as ever.

She crashes Charlie’s work party and sings a sad cover of Kanye’s “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” as a “special treat” for Charlie’s employees. She then gets back with Charlie (Christopher Abbott) when it is revealed he is still in love with her.

Shoshanna and Ray (Zosia Mamet and Alex Karpovsky) break up when she is finally done with Ray being the exact opposite of a “ray” of sunshine.

Season three is decent so far, but it feels disjointed from the past season. Previously, Hannah’s editor threatened to sue her if she didn’t come up with her pages by the established deadline.

Miraculously, he has forgiven her by season three. So she’s either been granted an extension or has to come up with the entire book in one day like she was supposed to.

Somewhat predictably, Jessa is in rehab. She is in and out by the second episode and so far it isn’t really addressed again.

COURTESY | HBO

‘Girls’ entertaining but plot leaves something to be desired.

It seems to serve the purpose of explaining her disappearance, but it also seems a weak attempt to make her appear edgier.

Marnie and Charlie, who is no longer on the show, have broken up again. At this point, Marnie’s pointless, whiny character should be written out as well.

Shoshanna and Ray aren’t too involved in the season so far. One of the worst things in season three is, out of nowhere, Hannah’s editor dies. It isn’t entirely unbelievable, but it seems like the only reason that would happen is to address the topic of death within the show.

“Girls” can throw all sorts of curveballs, but it’s odd this would occur out of nowhere.

Currently, season three is funny and engaging as usual, but it almost seems to erase everything that happened in the previous season.

However, I wasn’t terribly fond of season two but ended up loving it upon re-watching the entire series, so I hope “Girls” continues to be fresh and interesting as it runs its course.

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson to speak at UCCS Imagine covering that story.

Apply as a reporter for The Scribe and learn all sorts of interesting things.

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CULTURE

Feb. 3, 2014 | 6

2¢ on Common Sense dressing tips Tips to get ready to go in 30 minutes or less

Attiana Collins acollin2@uccs.edu

Your first semester in college should teach you how to get a million things done and still have time to get some shuteye. However, it can often seem like there aren’t enough hours in the day.

One of the worst delays? Getting ready for class in the morning. It takes me about an hour, but sleep has become more important than taking extra time to get ready.

In the half hour I have in the morning I need to shower, pick an outfit, do my hair and make sure that I have all my stuff. To get all this done, I have developed some simple time-saving habits.

Choose outfits for the whole week Saturdays are my laundry days.

After I spend my day washing, drying and packing away clothes I spend about 10 minutes picking out outfits for the entire week.

I put a pair of bottoms, a pair of jeans, some shorts or a skirt, near a few blouses that would look good with them. I then repeat the process so I have options during the week. I don’t assign specific days to wear the outfits I pick because I don’t know what I’ll feel like on that day.

This one step saves me so much time in the morning, and keeps me from settling for jeans and a hoodie. If I don’t have outfits pre-picked, I can spend up to an hour trying to decide what to wear.

Prep hair the night before

Another thing that saves me tons of time is prepping my hair the night before. If my hair is moisturized the night before, styling it in the morning is a breeze.

Keep in mind ladies I’m black, so this might not work the same for everyone. Instead of moisturizing your hair, you should try choosing your hairstyle the night before and do everything you can to save time in the morning.

For example, I love curls, but curling my hair takes way too much time. Then I found Flexi-Rods. They are amazing. All you do is put them in your hair the night before, spray it your hair with hairspray (I like Aussie) and wear a satin cap to bed. In the morning you take out the rods and your hair is full of curls.

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Shower, pack and do as much as possible the night before For those of you who like longer showers or don’t like showering in the morning, especially when it’s cold, you should shower the night before.

This saves you a ton of time in the morning.

Another simple thing you can do to save time is to gather all of the things you’re going to need the next day and put them in your bag. This will save you the stress of trying to find your Calculus notebook and your keys in the morning.

These tips work great for me, but you might need to tweak them to fit your morning regimen. Remember: If you get it done the night before, you can sleep longer in the morning.

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EDITORIAL

Specificity key when highlighting university successes Scribe staff scribe@uccs.edu

10,598 – that’s the number of oncampus students were enrolled at UCCS last semester.

61 – that’s the number of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees offered at UCCS. 25 – that’s the number of Olympic athletes who attend UCCS, or so the university claims.

The school markets many of its successes to audiences in and outside the university. Not of little significance is its proximity and ties to the United States Olympic Committee.

Colorado Springs is well known for being a training hub for Olympic athletes, a legacy the city and university hope to expand with the City for Champions project, a regional tourism bill that hopes to bring in $120 million in state sales tax revenues over the next 30 years.

That money would go fund an Olympic museum, downtown stadium and events center, Air Force Academy visitor’s center and – of course – sports medicine center at UCCS. But how much is known about the specifics of UCCS’ role in the project, including the $13 million it would receive from the state? (Those involved will need to raise public funds, and some private investment has already been secured.)

For simple facts – the number of

Olympians that attend UCCS – the details can get murky.

The definition for those 25 Olympic athletes is based on the number of tuition waivers given for Olympic hopefuls.

As far as the school can track, only one UCCS student, ice skating for Team USA, is competing at the Winter Olympics this year.

“The U.S. in general has many more athletes participating in summer than winter,” said Tom Hutton, university spokesman, based on conversations with staff at the U.S. Olympic Committee downtown. “Most of the athletes in Colorado Springs are training for summer.”

Still, what are the chances that out of those 25 students labeled U.S. Olympic athletes, only five or six actually make it to the Olympics in their individual sport?

Of course, advertising the school and reporting about the school are two different jobs.

But when everyone is focused on sharing details about the school they love and want to promote, shouldn’t they at least be completely accurate?

If definitions need to be changed, so be it. If the numbers suddenly become less impressive, so be it.

It’d be better to have a single Olympic athlete that we could all promote enthusiastically than a dozen or so that we’re unsure exist.

COURTESY | ROALD BRADSTOCK

‘Struggle for Perfection,’ 1998.

Corrections IT employee Grace Owino, pictured studying in the library in our last issue, was misidentified in the photo caption for “IT installs 772 new computers in library, around campus.”

The photograph accompanying “Women’s basketball team looks past preseason expectations” was incorrectly attributed to a staff photographer, but was courtesy of UCCS Athletics.

Something on your mind?

Email the editor at

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Feb. 3, 2014 | 8

Everyone’s essential

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

Last week’s snowstorm and 2-hour delayed start on Friday got me thinking: Am I essential?

Sure, I’m not an astronaut, and if I fall off the face of the earth someone in need of brain surgery probably won’t die. A few grammatical mistakes might slip by without being corrected (OK, a LOT) and the newsroom would have to endure without a handful of solid jokes, but life would go on.

So I’m not essential, right?

Every time heavy snowfall occurs or cold weather takes over campus the university issues an alert notifying students, faculty and staff of the delay. (I don’t mention closures because we all know the situation there.)

In these conditions, all classes and activities are canceled and offices are closed until the start time, usually 10 a.m. No one is expected to show up – and shouldn’t – with the exception of essential personnel.

So am I essential?

According to the Department of Public Safety, essential personnel include deans, chairs, senior university officials and directors as well as laboratory and facility managers.

While I don’t occupy any of those positions (depending on who you ask), I always think to myself: But I am essential.

And why not?

(On most days I don’t mind being told I don’t need to come into work until 10 a.m., but on Fridays – the production day for the paper when all the pieces come together – every hour and minute counts.)

More than being a student employee in my role as editor of this newspaper, I’m a student and a member of the Mountain Lion community.

Whether one of more than 10,000 students or one of 1,700 employees, everyone should feel essential. Everyone is essential, if they choose to be.

Musician? Essential. Educator? Essential. Journalist? Take a guess.

Do you consider yourself an important member of this community? Do you feel like you’re playing a role to advance the shared goals of this campus, including promoting higher education, business collaborations and community initiatives?

Adapting a popular quote from John Quincy Adams, if your work helps others be more imaginative, thoughtful, impactful and transformative, you are essential.

If you challenge yourself to work, create, succeed and push others to reach higher like none other, you are essential.

If you utilize your skills and perform to the best of your abilities, you are essential.

If you know you’re essential, only one thing remains – action.

Will you act?

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

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Life on the Bluffs/Social Media Editor

Jonathan Toman Sports Editor

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Samantha Morley Layout Editor

Edwin Satre

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Dezarae Yoder Alexander Nedd Attiana Collins Ryan Adams Megan Moyles

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OPINION

Feb. 3, 2014 | 9

BuzzFeed writers should be sitting down, shutting up

Megan Moyles mmoyles@uccs.edu

A recent trend in social media seems to be sharing arbitrary lists of social norms and advice for college kids written by – you guessed it – college kids.

Here are actual lists I’ve seen on my own Facebook newsfeed: “The 50 Things Every 20-Something Girl Needs to Stop Doing,” “23 Things to Do Instead Of Getting Engaged Before You’re 23,” and the worst, “23 Trends Guys Hate (But Women Love).”

These innocuous lists are simply other people’s opinions.

Still, it begs the question: Who

the hell do you think you are?

I can’t even imagine the thought process to constructing these lists (and why they pick prime numbers; I am cringing). Perhaps this is the internal monologue: “Huh, I hate duckface-selfies. Those girls are sluts. I’m going to complain about it and also list other things that annoy me because I am so much better than them.”

In reality, these posts allow “writers” (social media-savvy bloggers) to find other people to agree with them.

And that’s the worst part: they are just a bunch of pretentious dweebs pontificating about their judgmental, policing opinions that often have nothing to do with them anyway.

Even though these articles are written like they’re designed to advise, I highly doubt the point is to positively change behavior or to empower anyone.

Now, if these lists are more or less written for and by college-aged individuals, there is actual potential for useful advice.

For example, I’m sure a lot

of us are graduating soon and moving away, kicking off our post-collegiate, adult lives.

I’m slightly freaking out about how to do this. There is a whole list of issues I will have to address. I will need to find a place to live before I move or I’ll have to scramble to find lodging when get wherever it is I’m going.

And what about a job? I’ll have to become a barista and play in a band. More importantly how am I supposed to meet hot local singles?

A lot of my questions go unanswered in spite of any creative Google search combinations. I would so appreciate a list that addresses this topic.

Better that than “advice” about how I shouldn’t wear bright pink lipstick because some fedora nerds don’t find it attractive. (I’m not going to stop, and frankly, it makes me want to wear it even more.)

I don’t care about these idiotic, amateur opinions but I’d love to read about people’s own life experiences. Nobody wants to be patronized and talked down to; they just want actual, honest human content.

Examples of arbitrary BuzzFeed lists: 145 Things To Do To Relieve Your Existential Crisis

17 Ways to Develop A Grown-Up Palette So You Can Be A Beer Connoisseur Because Right Now It Tastes Like Bitter Bread-Water To You And Coffee Isn’t That Great Either 2 Jobs You’ll Be Able To Get After Graduation (Hint: They’re “Administrative Assistant” and “Exotic Dancer”) 5 Reasons You Should Totally Go Out Tonight And Not Talk Yourself Out Of It Even Though Your Cats Are Cuddly And The Office Is So Funny

iQuit

New technology will never satisfy American consumerism

Alexander J. Nedd anedd@uccs.edu

When Apple Inc. releases their next generation iPhone – reported to have a larger screen, among other features – sales are expected to hit the roof, along with most people’s sanity.

Buyers will flock en masse to get their mitts on the latest portable rock some people are known to talk into.

In a society where having the latest is celebrated, why is the latest technological “revolution” so revered? What are we gaining – what are we losing?

What used to be cause for huge celebrations, major advancements have now been replaced with semi-annual sales of models with mediocre changes. This often leaves the public in a frenzy to get the newest and brightest off the shelf.

What’s worse is that most have a fully functioning rock right in their pocket.

I have to admit, I’m guilty like the rest. I want the latest gadgets. I want to show off the shiny things valued in my society. I want to prove I’m a fully independent adult who has the means to buy what he wants. It wasn’t until recently that I began to ask myself why this was so pivotal to my sense of self-worth.

Maybe it has to do with American consumerism. We live in a country where stores open on a Thursday holiday for a Friday sale. We sacrifice time with our families for gadgets capable of “bringing us closer together.”

An equally important query: why have we let rampant consumerism get this far?

This “new” problem might actually be linked to our oldest thinking. Studies show it’s natural to want new things. According to researcher and freelance writer Belle Cooper, our brains are attracted to novelty, to new stimuli. Our brains use novelty, much like the chemical dopamine, to satisfy the craving for potential rewards.

Things such as new clothes, phones or fresh surroundings can release this chemical and motivate us to want to multiply this effect. Combined with the social need to be accepted and you can see why people are standing outside, queued up, for days.

The solution? A little selfcontrol and foresight. If we waited for two full turns of the technology wheel instead of one or even a half, our consumption as a country would go down considerably. By realigning our collective priorities it might even help boost our collective low morale.

Consider the benefits to holding on to your tried and true device. Keeping the model you have allows for better lifetime usage, a device with familiar functioning and, most importantly to college students, more money in your pocket.

Perhaps it’s not cool to have a 2012 or 2010 model, but aren’t you an individual?

Shouldn’t the product be about you, not what your friends have? Is “I know how to be happy with what I have” such a horrible statement to make?

Americans are perpetually unsatisfied and our culture pushes us toward a constant “have it” mentality.

If we are always looking for the latest, we will never be content with what we have.

It’s time to appreciate what’s already ours.

What values do we hold as a nation if we are judged by what we have, not who we are? Continuing to uphold these illogical perceptions will continue to keep Americans mired in a never-fulfilled state.

So think before your next upgrade, and realize it may not upgrade your iHappiness.

9 Ways to Recognize Political Satire Because A Lot Of You Don’t Seem To Get It ALEXANDER J. NEDD | THE SCRIBE

LIFE on the BLUFFS

the Scribble

Campus Chatter Samantha Morley, smorley2@uccs.edu

How well are you sticking to your New Year’s Resolution?

Holly Fleming, sophomore, commucation My resolutions were to get outside more and just, like, not get on social networks...as much. I’ve been doing really great so far.

Elias Roybal, senior, English literature

My New Year’s resolution was to show up to class. I missed the first week of one class because I was sick but I’ll try to attend the rest.

Barbara Bedford, senior, English secondary education I want to do the Pikes Peak Ascent [in August]. I’m definitely going to keep my resolution.

This week at UCCS Feb. 5 - March 22 Noon to 5 p.m.

PROTEST! GOCA 1420

UCCS posts more online about local K-12 school than itself Junear Repotter Those in charge of social media at UCCS post nearly 10 times more about the University School of Colorado Springs (USCS) than they post about the school they work for, a Scribe analysis shows.

A review of Facebook and Twitter posts between Dec. 1, 2013, and Feb. 1 revealed that UCCS posted 35 times about USCS, compared to four posts mentioning UCCS. The majority of the posts about USCS occurred during or around snowstorms and on days where the

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Way to wake up your housemates Attiana Collins, acollin2@uccs.edu

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Blast your “Glee” playlist at the crack of dawn

9

Jump up and down on their beds

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Set off the fire alarm (just not on campus)

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Air horn, slap face, RUN

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Pour ice cubes down their pants

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Inform them their favorite show has been cancelled

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Make food, waft delicious smells in their direction

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Put your phone next to their ear and prank call it

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Tell them their new adoptive parents have shown up for a surprise visit

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Sweet Salty Tweets “Teachers in college with passion

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temperature dipped below freezing.

“We have an opportunity to educate our online following about a K-12 school that no one knows about,” said Peter Denim, who helps with social media. “That’s not an opportunity that you get all the time.”

Officials at UCCS say that the two schools, whose similar names have confused many students and some local news media during snow cancellations, are completely different.

“Only one of us closes during cold and snow,” Denim said, “and it isn’t USCS.”

scribe@uccs.edu

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Education Abroad Fair UC 116

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Disclaimer: The contents of the Scribble are completely fabricated, peppered with inconsistencies and laced with lies. Any resemblance to the truth found herein is a matter of sheer luck. The Scribble should be approached with a healthy dose of skepticism, and its claims should be taken - if they are taken at all - with many grains of salt.

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SPORTS

Feb. 3, 2014 | 11

OPINION: Fans will still attend Olympics, World Cup despite terror Ryan Adams

radams3@uccs.edu

It seems more and more evident that the Olympics and World Cup don’t espouse the same values to everyone. To most, it’s a time to watch the world’s best compete in our favorite winter events or battle head to head in the globe’s biggest sports in soccer. To a few, it’s a time to send a message about the hate they have for those who participate in and enjoy these events.

What these fear mongers fail to realize, however, is these events, and what they represent, cannot be stopped by acts of violence. Athletes, fans, and the world as a whole will not allow un-

derhanded tactics to end their celebration.

Still, it seems like many extremist have not gotten the message.

By the end of this week, the world will have its eyes on Russia, where the 22nd Winter Olympic Games will take place.

In five months, Brazil will host the 20th edition of the FIFA World Cup; a first for the South American country that is also prepping for the 2018 Summer Olympic Games.

Although these two global events may be the most popular on the planet, both have recently drawn rather alarming, unwanted attention.

With global events like the Olympics or World Cup there are bound to be security issues; having

so many people at one place and one time is hard to manage. We’ve been lucky that over recent years nothing has happened, however a terrorist attack this year seems more plausible than in the past.

According to Yahoo!

News, Bill Rathburn, director of security for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, feels “it’s not a matter of whether there will be some incident, it’s just a matter of how bad it will be.”

Rathburn attributed his concern for Sochi’s safety to Russian terrorist Doku Umarov. The Chechen rebel leader has urged Islamic separatists to cause disruption at the Olympics. In the past, several

have answered his call.

Since the leader’s threat six months ago, two suicide bombings took place in Volgograd, about 500 miles northeast of Sochi. 34 people were killed and many more were injured in the attacks.

More recently, Sochibased security forces have been on the lookout for three potential suicide bombers calling themselves “black widows.”

They are, evidently, carrying out the “duties” of their slain insurgent husbands. One of the bombers has allegedly made it into Sochi, which is a major concern for those traveling to the Olympic site.

Brazil also has their hands full with possible

safety issues. The country’s largest drug cartel, First Capital Command (PCC), was wire tapped

by Brazilian police last October and threatened a series of attacks during the World Cup if some of their members were sent to prison.

Although the World Cup is farther out than this week’s Olympic Games, the terror threat is still strong. The PCC was formed in Sao Paulo; the same city that will host most of the games during the month-long event.

Scary isn’t it? It’s unbelievable and shocking that there are people out there who think it is right to cause such violence at events that are looked at as peaceful. The Olympics and World Cup have

always been a time when our world can leave the violence, problems and hate behind; not when we should be the most worried.

What those “black widows” in Russia and drug lords in Sao Paulo don’t understand is that the Olympics and World Cup will never end. It might be canceled here and there, but the spirit of sport brings together the world like nothing else does.

It’s more than just a gold medal or a World Cup trophy; it’s the solidarity we experience as a human race during these events. And no terrorist attack, large or small, will ever take that from us.

Growing UCCS, RMAC sprint programs look to add to history Jonathan Toman

jtoman@uccs.edu

Members of the UCCS Department of Athletics are working to develop a comprehensive sprint training strategy, despite the prevalence of long distance running in the region.

Eighteen of the last 22 Division II National Championships in men’s cross country have been won by teams in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. A current RMAC team won every women’s cross country National Championship between 1992 and 2009.

Granted, most of these championships have been split between two RMAC schools, Western State and Adams State. Despite this, the RMAC is a perennial power when it comes to cross country.

Yet, no current RMAC team has won

a Division II National Championship in either indoor or outdoor track and field save the Adams State women in indoor in 2008, their men’s indoor team in 2010 and their men’s outdoor team in 2012.

Jason Shaver is in his second year as the graduate assistant coach for Sprints and Hurdles at UCCS. He competed on the team from 2007-11 as a sprinter while getting his degree in sports conditioning and training. He knew he wanted to try and coach, so when UCCS cross country and track and field coaches Mark Misch and David Harmer asked if he would like to come back, he said agreed.

Shaver explained that previous graduate assistant coaches had to deal with not only the sprinters, but also hurdlers and throwers, as well as athletes considered “multi-event.” According to

Shaver, this was an uphill task. Now, the target has been limited to sprinters and hurdlers.

“Our bread and butter in the past was sprints and hurdles,” Shaver said.

“Focusing on that, we were able to build up more in terms of recruiting. It also enabled Coach Misch and Coach Harmer to just focus on distance.”

Despite its history, Shaver believes the RMAC is changing. He looks to the recent success of Adams State as proof.

“The conference is shifting to be more even throughout,” he said. “My job is to bring in people competing in the shorter stuff. When I ran here, anything above a 400 [meters] was our forte.”

For UCCS, the challenge lies not only in history, but also in the current venues available to athletes.

“The biggest challenge we face is

the facility,” Shaver said. “Kids coming from high school are used to having their own track, even if it is dirt.”

The team currently practices at the Grace Center, a facility at St. Mary’s High School in Colorado Springs.

“We have St. Mary’s, which is a fine facility, but it’s not ours particularly,” Shaver said. “But we do lots of stuff not on the track as well, which helps you be an all-around better athlete.”

So how do you get athletes to come to UCCS without a proper track?

“I compensate it with the area we are in,” said Shaver. “We do the Incline, Monument Valley Park, Palmer Park.

We don’t need to be on the track every day, especially as they ramp up the volume in college, they really shouldn’t be anyways.”

“The track isn’t the end all,” he stated.

UCCS teacher, Ph.D. student headed to Olympics with bobsled team Jonathan Toman jtoman@uccs.edu

UCCS will be represented at the Olympics this year not only by an athlete, but a lecturer in the College of Business and the Sport Management Program.

Darrin Steele is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Education and has taught at UCCS for three years. He is also the CEO of the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation and is headed to Sochi as a consultant to the USA bobsled team.

“I can be involved in a number of things,” Steele said.

“It will be sort of as needed; I’ll get involved as things come up.”

In the 2010 winter games in Vancouver, Canada, Steele worked directly with coaches and the High Performance Director. Additionally, when a luge athlete was killed during a practice run, Steele spent time with the media as a spokesperson. At the time, Steele was

the vice president of communication for the International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation.

“The less I have to do, the better things are going,” he said of his time in the position.

Steele competed in track and field as a decathlete, hoping to make the Olympics in that sport. When that didn’t pan out, he was encouraged to try out for bobsled.

“Bobsled does a lot of recruiting from other sports,” Steele said.

As a result, he was able to compete in both the 1998 and 2002 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan and Salt Lake City.

After a brief retirement, Steele helped to resurrect the U.S. Bobsled Federation and was invited to interview to be their chief executive officer.

Steele was able to take his experiences and apply them teaching. He explained he uses academic and theoretical knowledge as a starting point,

COURTESY | DARRIN STEELE

Darrin Steele heads to Sochi as bobsled team consultant.

and then expands to applied issues.

“The practical experience of going through it – you know what skill sets come into play,” Steele said. “It gives a very practical perspective to sport.

We put them in the shoes and make a case study out of it, and then walk them through what actually happened.”

“I try and get them to think

about key stakeholders, such as athletes and their families, as well as international federations,” said Steele. “There are lots of things you have to keep in mind when making tough decisions.”

Steele identified the unique security concerns for the 2014 Sochi Games, but also spoke optimistically about said concerns “The Olympics take on a life of their own, there’s a lot of talk. And there’s always an element of the unknown,” Steele said. “But it’s such a huge event; a lot of those things don’t come into play.”

“I’m most looking forward to the actual competition and preparing,” he added. “When everything comes together and you win a gold medal, it’s pretty magical. But if they do their best and they get beat, that’s sport and we can live with that.”

Steele’s current role gives him a different perspective.

“I get more nervous in this role than as an athlete, there’s a lot less control,” Steele said.

“I get to stand with the nervous coaches.”

Steele does not see the role of the Olympics changing, despite issues that may arise.

“There are certainly a lot of critics,” Steele acknowledged.

“It’s easy to get pulled into the political side of it. But the Olympic values are still alive, and the main goal of peace through sport, and you can put all that other stuff aside.”

According to Steele, the positive impact of the Olympics will never fade.

“There’s something about having a level playing field and watching human beings from all over the world put it on the line. There’s something about the human struggle, and seeing how great we can be.”

“The Olympics remind us that we’re really not that different.”

SPORTS

Feb. 3, 2014 | 12

UCCS student Jason Brown headed to Olympics in ice skating Alexander J. Nedd anedd@uccs.edu

Things are heating up for one UCCS student this semester despite performing on a stage that’s well below freezing.

Freshman Jason Brown, 19, is a National Figure Skating Champion who has won multiple medals during his young career. And now he’s headed to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Late last year Brown earned a silver medal during the World Junior Championships, while completing his first semester of college. Brown and 229 other athletes from the United States

will look earn gold medals in front of a global crowd.

“It is an absolute honor,” said Brown. “My parents were so excited; I have never seen my dad cry.”

After a silver medal finish in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in January, Brown was nominated for one of two open spots for U.S Figure Skating in the Olympics.

Brown has been figure skating since he was 6. What was once a hobby has now transformed into a full-blown career.

Brown was the 2011 Junior Grand Prix Final Champion and 2010 U.S. national champion.

Asked about his next challenge, Brown is still in disbelief.

“I can’t even put it into words,” said Brown on his way to train at the Colorado Sports Center in Monument. “It’s so surreal; it’s something I have dreamed for my whole life.”

Already accustomed to making history, Brown plans to continue life as usual in preparation for the Olympics. He left Sunday, Feb. 2, for Germany, where he will train with Team USA for a few days before heading to Sochi.

“I practice for about 3 hours a day on the ice,” said Brown.

“I’m keeping my practice schedule the same.”

In the days leading up to his departure, Brown’s world has been rushed by media and interviews. However, he doesn’t expect to become unfocused by those constantly vying for his time.

“At the moment the media has not been a distraction, it’s been really fun,” Brown said.

“It hasn’t taken away from my training, I use it to practice because they will be around [during my performance].”

It’s the first time Brown will be in an international spotlight, with thousands watching in person and millions watching on TV and online. He’s anxious but ready.

“I’m looking forward to the opening ceremonies and actually walking with the other athletes onto the rings,” said Brown, commenting on the famous Olympic ritual. “I have no idea what it’s going to be like but I’m excited.”

“I just want to perform and do the best that I can,” said Brown. “I want to put on the two best shows I can do.”

The Olympics start Friday,

NICK BURNS | THE SCRIBE

Brown laces his skates (left) then gives his best at practice (above).

Feb. 7. Brown is set to compete in two events on Feb. 13 and 14. Look for Brown to represent the rest of the nation and UCCS as he and his team try to bring home the gold.