Feb. 25, 2013

Hit and runs, page 3

the

Vol. 37, Iss. 16

Monday, February 25, 2013

Inside this

Issue news FAFSA page 3 Before the March 1 national priority date, the Financial Aid Office is helping students file applications.

culture Jason Lewis page 6 The first person to circumnavigate the world previews his talk on campus, discusses sustainability and what’s next for him.

cribe UCCS Student Newspaper

Self-defense tips spark national controversy in concealed carry debate Sara Horton shorton@uccs.edu Amid heated debate over gun rights, UCCS’ Public Safety website has made headlines for its tips on how to deter an attacker, suggesting women vomit, urinate, fake a disease or claim to be menstruating.

The 10 tips, which have since been removed, have spread from social media to local, state, national and international news outlets.

On Feb. 18, while researching campus safety policies for an editorial, Jesse Byrnes, managing editor for The Scribe, sent two tweets with a link to the tips, “What To Do If You Are Attacked.”

Byrnes’ second tweet referenced the sixth tip, “Tell your attacker that you have a disease or are menstruating.”

UCCS Emergency

Screenshot by The Scribe Public Safety’s tips have been featured on various news outlets, including Fox News.

Management tweeted back, “Can’t imagine any of those things would make for an ‘attractive’ victim…Thanks for sharing the information.”

Conservative local blogger and nationally syndicated columnist Michelle Malkin then retweeted the link to her nearly half a million followers, citing the advice

as what women are being told to do to defend themselves without a concealed weapon.

According to Tom Hutton, university spokesperson, he began to see many tweets the next day relating the tips to Rep. Joe Salazar, D-Thornton.

While the Colorado House debated House Bill 1226, legislation

seeking to ban concealed carry on college campuses, Salazar had said call boxes, safe zones and whistles could prevent sexual assault on campus.

“Rightly or wrongly, people were making that connection,” Hutton said.

In response to backlash, Public Safety made

an addendum to the website and said the tips were used “in a context supplemented with additional information during the in-class training covered in the Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) class.”

The website was updated at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 18, hours after HB 1226 passed by a 34-31 vote, spurring reports linking the two.

Hutton released a statement, explaining the tips had been taken out of context. He said they were published in 2006 for the RAD course, not in response to the Colorado General Assembly.

Similar information was also included in an email sent to students and faculty from Jim Spice, UCCS chief of police and director of Public Safety.

“This site was intended Continued on page 2 . . .

Marijuana illegal on campus despite Amendment 64 Dezarae Yoder dyoder@uccs.edu

opinion Birth control page 9 Men and women use birth control. Some think religious employers should provide it, but others disagree.

sports Softball page 11 Scott Peterson, head softball coach, has returned to lead his team after surgery.

Gov. Hickenlooper signed an executive order on Dec. 10, 2012, making controlled home-growing, personal use and possession of marijuana legal in Colorado.

Marijuana continues to be illegal on campus, however. Steve Linhart, dean of students and director of judicial affairs, sent an email Jan. 30 notifying students of the university’s unchanged position on Amendment 64.

The email reads, “… on all University of Colorado campuses, to include the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, possession and/or use of marijuana remains prohibited.”

Colorado institutions of higher learning ban marijuana on college campuses. “I wanted to make sure that students understood that it was still illegal,” Linhart said.

“Because even despite Amendment 64 – and Amendment 64 still [only allows] 21 years and older – there’s also language in Amendment 64 that states there’s nothing that prohibits a person,

Photo by Alex Gradisher A UCCS student smoked a bowl of marijuana in his room. employer or school from prohibiting or otherwise regulating the consumption, use of marijuana on their property,” Linhart said.

“It has to do with the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989,” he said. “You cannot have illegal drugs on college campuses.” “[U]niversities that fail to comply with this act are subject to losing

federal funding [meaning] student financial aid dollars,” Linhart added.

Not only would the university’s research funding be affected, but also federal funding, such as grants, loans and work study money, could be cut.

Cutting funding could result in students being pressured to attend a university that did continue to comply with the Drug

Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989.

While Linhart sent the reminder, the decision to maintain the ban on marijuana on campus came from higher up.

“Marijuana procedures came from a legal review done by our legal counsel,” said Patrick T. O’Rourke, vice president, university counsel and secretary of the Board of Regents, in an official

statement.

CU President Bruce Benson sent a message in December echoing Linhart. “Marijuana threatens to cost the university nearly a billion dollars annually in federal revenue, money we can ill afford to lose,” he wrote.

“Our campuses bring in more than $800 million in federal research funds, Continued on page 2 . . .

News

Page 2

(Continued from page 1)Self-defense as a reminder for graduates of the RAD program, an intensive self-defense program, and part of a larger discussion of lastresort tactics,” the statement read.

While the tips were removed Feb. 19, they have received attention from local, state, national and international news outlets, including Fox News, CNN and MailOnline, among others.

The incident has also prompted a response from the Student Government Association. Steve Collier, SGA student body president, and April Coffin, vice president, sent a letter to Vice Chancellor Susan Szpyrka expressing their concerns.

“As a woman, I know the real and present danger of sexual assault,” Coffin wrote. “I know that college campuses are not inherently safe, and I know of one reliable defense that I can use to keep myself safe: that is access to a concealed

firearm.”

She referenced HB 1226 and the tips, explaining both were out of line with UCCS’ general respect for student rights.

The letter requested an explanation on why the university “believed this was the best approach for students to defend themselves from an attack” instead of a concealed weapon for students 21 and older.

During a Feb. 20 board meeting at Berger Hall, the Board of Regents voted 6-2 to indefinitely postpone a discussion about concealed carry.

Regent Stephen Ludwig made the initial motion, which was seconded

by Regent Irene Griego.

Regent Michael Carrigan abstained.

Regents James Geddes and Sue Sharkey opposed and said they disagreed with not taking action.

Neither Ludwig nor Griego provided a public explanation.

“I don’t understand

students express dissent with the ban.

“I think it’s natural for them to not allow it on campus but only because it is newly legal,” said Cosette Cornwell, a junior philosophy major who lives off-campus.

“Otherwise, it is silly to not give people their right to smoke on cam-

tips spark national controversy

Screenshot courtesy of KWGN Public Safety has since removed the tips, “What To Do If You Are Attacked.” why we wouldn’t take a vote on something like this,” Geddes said afterward.

“Since we had a vote, it seemed like three years ago, the courts have really been determining what happens on our campuses, and I think this debate is raging nationally and locally. The whole country is looking at us to see what will happen … The fact that we would table it indefinitely, I find it repulsive.” S

(Continued from page 1) Marijuana not to mention nearly an additional $100 million in funding for student financial aid,” Benson continued. “The loss of that funding would have substantial ripple effects on our students and our state.”

Despite funding driving CU’s challenge to Amendment 64, many

February 25, 2013

Photo courtesy of CNN UCCS has also received coverage on CNN about the tips.

continues to be illegal on campus

pus. That is like banning cigarettes,” she said.

Another student on campus, who wished to remain anonymous said, “I understand the financial side of this issue, but that doesn’t mean the policy should stay this way.”

“The state has spoken – shouldn’t the schools speak up for the many vot-

ers within it that helped pass the amendment? I feel like it’s my right to smoke on campus,” the student said. “This campus is a part of the state.”

Violations of the policy haven’t been seen in the numbers of arrests or calls since Amendment 64 passed in December.

“Numbers have stayed

fairly consistent. There’s been some fluctuations but not drastic,” Linhart said. He does not anticipate this to change.

It is uncertain whether the present policy concerning marijuana at UCCS will change, according to Linhart.

“I don’t know. That’s a tough one,” he said. “I

do know that the state is still trying to figure out from a state perspective how to enact [this], so I see there’s going to be changes.”

Linhart said that revisiting the policy in the future is probable as more information comes through from the state level. S

News

February 25, 2013

Page 3

Financial Aid Office helps as FAFSA priority deadline approaches April Wefler awefler@uccs.edu The rush to apply for financial aid begins every year on Jan. 1.

Students are reminded to send in their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) applications before March 1, the national priority filing date.

“I believe everybody should apply for FAFSA. You don’t know what you qualify for until you actually fill out the application,” said Jevita Rogers, director of Financial Aid. “As long as you’re a U.S. citizen or resident alien, you haven’t defaulted on a student loan and you’re accepted into a degree program, you’re eligible for financial aid,” she added.

She said FAFSA was created in 1965, but was not free until 1993 – and anyone can apply because it is a free application.

“You can always turn down anything that my office offers, but it’s a nice thing to have; essen-

Photo by James Sibert The Financial Aid Office can answer questions students may have about FAFSA applications. tially, a back-up plan,” Rogers said.

“It’s the only way that we can have a uniform way that students apply for financial aid and are treated the exact same way,” she said. “It’s universal, so every school in the United States and a couple of foreign schools that use FAFSA will all have the students being treated under the same formula.”

In order to get as many students as possible to file their FAFSA early, the national priority filing date for FAFSA is March 1.

FAFSA renewal can take between 5-10 minutes because the only thing the student is changing is income information. If a student is filing for the first time, the FAFSA application can take between 35-40 min-

utes.

If a student or parent has yet to file his or her taxes, there is an income estimator built within the FAFSA. The student or parent can take their W-2 or last pay stub and use that to estimate the tax information. Once the person files his or her taxes, then they can go in and update the tax section.

The FAFSA is processed by the federal

government within 2448 hours, and the Financial Aid Office receives the information in about four business days after it’s been processed by the Department of Education.

“It’s a real quick process,” Rogers said.

The Financial Aid Office offers several opportunities to help students file their FAFSA. One opportunity was the national annual College Bowl Sunday. This year, Financial Aid had about 90 students and parents who attended.

Financial Aid also had a FAFSA Fest, where the office had computer labs open and students could come in to ask questions.

This year’s FAFSA Fest was Feb. 15 and 22, but services are still available.

The office sees students on a walk-in basis, so those that have questions can come in and meet with a counselor.

Additionally, “they can email, call, fax – pretty much anything but

smoke signals, we’ll respond to,” Rogers said.

“I’m still working on the smoke signals.”

She added, “We’re trying to find different and more interesting ways because people find financial aid boring sometimes.”

The office also has several websites: facebook.com/UCCSFinAid, twitter.com/UCCSFinAid and can be reached at 255-3460, finaidse@uccs. edu or uccs.edu/finaid.

The office also has a YouTube page, youtube. com/UCCSFinAid, which includes videos about applying for financial aid and scholarships.

“The biggest thing is knowing that applying for financial aid is easier than it’s ever been, so the key is applying, and when in doubt, we have many resources available to us,” said Rogers.

“Hopefully, between the videos and newsletter we make and the updates on Facebook, students will respond to us and not think we’re that boring.” S

Hit and run on senior instructor’s car highlights safety concerns Peter Farrell pfarrell@uccs.edu Earlier in February, Senior Instructor Margaret Mistry’s parked car was hit by another car while Mistry was attending to business on campus. The offending driver fled the scene.

Mistry’s car expenses are equaling approximately $1,000 dollars.

Since no report was filed, she is left to pay out of pocket. Mistry’s car still functions but currently has a dent in the rear left fender.

“It’s unfortunate that people are in such a hurry,” said Mistry.

In 2012, UCCS had 17 reported hit-and-run accidents on campus, according to Brian McPike, director of Public Safety Services and police lieutenant.

There are currently about 10,000 students on campus, making the accidents per person a larger percentage compared to Colorado.

According to the latest published statistics from the Colorado State Patrol, there were 27,213 total accidents in Colorado in 2008, 23,028 of which only resulted in property damage.

Colorado’s total state population is roughly more than five million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This means that there was one car accident per every 5,000 people in 2008.

Compared to UCCS accidents, there was one hitand-run per every 1,700

students.

“Perception and awareness are key to avoiding an accident,” said McPike.

The campus-wide speed limit is 10 miles per hour, but Colorado drivers consider five miles per hour over as the unspoken norm.

Although a large number of factors play a role in car accidents, hit-andruns are typically the most common accident on campus. McPike said that “a majority of accidents are in the [parking] garage.”

Public safety does have its own measures in

place to moderate road safety but cannot ensure completely accident-free roads on campus.

The parking enforcement officers (PEOs) will also report accidents on campus. PEOs are stationed at Four Diamonds and also write parking citations.

Photo by James Sibert Hit and runs resulting in damage may be expensive when no reports are filed.

Although PEOs do not have any formal authority to write police reports, their presence on campus may decrease the likelihood of unreported accidents.

“A lot of times a witness will call, saying, ‘Hey, I just witnessed this [parking accident],’” McPike said.

Since the university averages about 1.5 hitand-runs per month, some have asked about the feasibility of security cameras for parking lots.

While there are cameras located at the top of the clock tower and Centennial Hall, neither are within the jurisdiction of Public Safety.

Given current economic strains, Public Safety does not have the resources to spearhead a security camera network, relying instead on the public call boxes across campus.

“I think that if we could incorporate cameras into the various parking lots for safety issues, it would be extremely helpful for us,” McPike said.

Mistry echoed McPike’s remarks in a separate interview, saying, “I see nothing wrong with security cameras.” S

News

Page 4

February 25, 2013

Housing warns students about plastic bags, recycling policy Samantha Morley smorley2@uccs.edu Advocates for campus sustainability believe plastic bags in recycling bins are causing more harm than good. They require a different recycling method than other items.

Sustainability initiatives began in 2002 with the creation of the Campus Sustainability Committee. Over the last 10 years, students and faculty have been taught how to recycle and compost.

People are recycling more on campus, which has resulted in a 34 percent recycling rate.

Still, many are unaware that plastic bags go through a different kind of process.

“Plastic bags will contaminate our recycling stream and will get stuck in the machines,” Residence Life and Housing said in an email sent to oncampus residents.

“If UCCS does not comply with this rule, we

may get fined or have our recycling refused at the recycling facility.”

“If we put them in the recycling while the other stuff is being recycled, it gums up the machine and slows it down. It costs the recycling place more money to process them, and that costs us more money,” Residence Hall Manager Chris Mellott said.

Recyclables go into blue dumpsters, which are picked up by Waste Management. The items then go to Bestway’s Material Recovery Facility.

The company uses single-stream recycling, which sorts the items into different sources. Sources include PET(E) bottles, such as soda bottles, aluminum cans, paper, cardboard and glass.

Eric Basco, the zero waste coordinator, explained in an email that “aluminum cans are a quick and easy item to recycle, and create a new

item from a new one. Items like plastic are harder to recycle, as plastic resins become brittle or crude when melted down.”

The issue with plastic bags is that they get stuck.

They can be recycled but not at the main facilities.

The bookstore has a location to drop plastic bags for recycling purposes.

The bags then get sent to a separate facility to be made into new plastic bags.

Plastics that can be put into blue bins and recycled effectively are numbered one through seven. These can include soda bottles and caps, oven-ready meal trays, water bottles and milk bottles.

One can determine the number of an item by looking for a symbol with three arrows formed in a triangle and a number in the middle. If between one and seven, it is usually good for the blue bins.

“It’s about training ourselves about what’s best to be green and what’s

best for our planet. As we grow and learn about being green, we need to train ourselves, and that training sometimes is hard,” Ralph Giese, director of Residence Life and Housing, said.

To educate on-campus residents, Mellott and the Office of Sustainability put stickers on all recycling bins and announcements on suite doors.

Events such as UCCS Unplugged, Campus Conservation Nationals, Recycle Mania and the Spirit of Sustainability are also intended to educate residents.

The Spirit of Sustainability is an opportunity for individual residents and entire floors to dedicate volunteer hours to green activities on campus. The floor with the most volunteer hours will get to have a celebration.

“If we don’t start taking better care, we won’t have the resources for the future,” Giese said. S

Photo by Josh Camacho Recycling stations are prevalent on campus, but understanding how to recycle can be as important as recycling itself.

UCCS ROTC to honor WWII prisoners of war with march Nick Beadleston nbeadles@uccs.edu Some people celebrate victories with relaxing parties. But the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps would rather endure a hard march for charity.

On the morning of March 17, UCCS’ ROTC teams will be stepping off from the starting line to complete the 71st Commemorative Bataan Memorial Death March in White Sands, NM. The march will cover a course of 26.2 miles and will include both paved terrain and steep dirt and sand trails.

The first Bataan Memorial Death March in 1989, initiated by the New Mexico State University ROTC, involved 100 participants. In recent years, participation has expanded to over 5,000 strong.

According to MS4 Jordan Orechwa, the cadet in charge of the ROTC’s efforts for the event, the university will be sending 16 cadets as part of two teams: one in the heavy division and one in the light. Additionally, they are currently attempting to put together an all-female heavy team.

According to Lt. Col. Mark Thompson, professor of military science,

“We saw [a female team] as a way to enter another category of the event, and we felt our team would have a good shot at winning,” he said.

“It is completely unrelated to the SECDEF’s recent announcement about expanding women’s roles in combat and previously closed positions in the combat arms. While I remain hopeful, the all-female team may not happen. It is a voluntary event, and some of the interest has waned since the fall.”

The light division will be equipped with hydration packs, or CamelBaks. The heavy division team will be carrying a minimum of 35 pounds in their rucksacks.

In keeping with the march tradition, the sacks will be filled with nonperishable food items to donate after completion of the course.

“It’s a real nice way to get precise weight in the rucksack ... and it’s just a real great contribution,” Orechwa said.

The history of the Bataan Death March began on Dec. 22, 1941.

Fifteen days after their attack on Pearl Harbor and subsequent assault on Filipino-American military targets, Japanese invading ground forces began

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons UCCS ROTC will be fielding a team for the upcoming 26.2 mile Bataan Memorial Death March in White Sands, N.M. their march into Manila.

Filipino and American forces retreated onto the Bataan Peninsula on the island of Luzon.

There, the combined forces made their stand against the Japanese in what would become known as the Battle of Bataan.

On April 9, 1942, three months and two days after it had began, the Battle of Bataan officially ended with American Gen. King’s surrender to Maj.

Gen. Kameichiro Nagano of the Imperial Japanese Army.

The result of this surrender was the transfer of some 60,000 Filipino and 15,000 American soldiers and civilians to Japanese custody.

They embarked on an approximately 80-mile forced march to Balanga, the capitol of Bataan. During this march, between 100-650 Americans and 2,500-10,000 Filipinos were executed or died as

a result of the harsh conditions. The march would become known as the Bataan Death March.

In order to prepare for the event, said Orechwa, members of the light team have focused on endurance running and have followed a training schedule similar to that of marathon runners.

Meanwhile, the heavy team’s training has been a combination of weight training targeting their lower backs and shoul-

ders, and extended ruck marches every other week.

Thompson stated that “since [the march] is put on by a private organization, we cannot spend any Army money to train, travel to/from or participate in the event.

Our cadets do fundraising throughout the year to support several of our events, including our Fall Awards Breakfast, Spring Military Ball/Awards Ceremony and Bataan.” S

Culture

February 25, 2013

Page 5

Theatreworks audiences asked to board bus bound for death Alexander Nedd anedd2@uccs.edu “Thou must take a long journey. Therefore thy book of accounts with thee bring, for turn again thou canst not by any way.”

Everyone is on a journey. Just who is with us during the darkest hour, though? That question sets the premise for “Everyman on the Bus,” Theatreworks’ newest production, which opened Feb. 21 and runs through March 17.

Audiences, instead of attending the Dusty Loo Bon Vivant Theater, will board a bus to take a ride with God, Death and Everyman.

Brought from medieval times, the contemporary play offers modern flair but keeps its old English dialect.

The production involves the audience from the beginning. Starting at The Mining Exchange: A Wyndham Grand Hotel, patrons will receive their tickets and wait for the stage to arrive. The play

is set on an actual bus, and audiences take part in a journey as they witness the wrath of Death.

Everyman, the main character, is played by several actors – each with the common goal to enlist the help of allies as they travel to their ultimate fate. From family to friends, riches to poor, characters travel across the land to get help during the journey.

The bus drives around town to set locations, picking up actors who guide the story along.

One scene is a stop at the local McDonald’s, where Everyman’s friends meet to discuss his plans and if they will follow them.

Each contemporary bus stop marks a poignant part of the play, including the hotel, a hospital and a cemetery at the end.

The play is under the direction of Murray Ross, artistic director of Theatreworks.

“It takes quite a while,” said Ross in reference to putting together a play of this nature. “Everybody we asked said yes, which

The Lowdown What:

Everyman On the Bus

When:

Though March 17 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Wednesdays-Saturdays 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Sundays

Where:

Mining Exchange: A Wyndham Grand Hotel, 8 S. Nevada

How much:

$45 reserved $15 for children younger than 16

More information: theatreworkscs.org

was really cool,” he said, describing the community when he took the play to settings downtown.

Despite unfavorable weather and road conditions during the production’s dress rehearsal, the show “drove” on.

Each actor delivers emotional dialect, and the cast features the faces of many here on campus, both students and instruc-

Photo courtesy of Theatreworks “Everyman On the Bus” opened Feb. 21. tors.

The bus departs from The Mining Exchange at 8 S. Nevada St. Tickets are sold out for most shows, but returned tickets are available for pur-

chase 10 minutes before the show starts.

“If you’re around downtown around six or eight and really want to see the play, we suggest coming in; there is usu-

ally an empty seat or two and that’s usually free,” Ross said.

The play lasts just under an hour and a half and sticks to a tight schedule, so don’t be late. S

UCCS appeals to prospective students in different ways Alexander Nedd anedd2@uccs.edu Despite the hundreds of majors or career paths students choose, those on campus have at least one thing in common: They are Mountain Lions.

While natives may take the campus for granted, it may not be easily forgotten by visitors and prospective students who help keep enrollment at a record high.

UCCS has been ranked one of the best universities in the West, according to U.S. News & World Report. But what keeps the university attractive to a growing number of students? How does the campus look through the eyes of new scholars?

Ralph Giese, director of Residence Life and Housing, weighed in on why enrollment is at an all-time high. “I think that UCCS is becoming a first-choice school for many,” he said.

“There is excellent teaching and opportunities for involvement. It’s small enough to be a part of the community and large enough to be a large university.”

Last semester, a record 9,850 students attended the university, a 6 percent

Photo by James Sibert Prospective students tour the UCCS campus on a daily basis. increase from the previous year.

The class that continues to grow the most is students attending UCCS for the first time: freshmen.

Almost 1,500 new faces were added for 2012, an 8 percent jump from 2011.

It’s a trend that doesn’t show signs of slowing down as the campus adds

two additional dorm halls for freshmen. Construction has already begun, and the residence halls are expected to open their doors next fall.

“It will add 192 beds to campus inventory,” Giese said. “This is in addition to the 148 added at Sunset Creek. It’s really exciting.”

One department that leads the recruitment of students is the Student Service Center. Joey Gargaro, who has been a student ambassador for three years, helps guide students during one of the most important steps of gaining students: the tour.

“It’s really important; I don’t believe people

should choose a college until they see it,” Gargaro said. “I try to give as much personal background for students to get a good feel.”

The tour proves vital, as first impressions are important and hard to forget, said Gargaro.

The tour highlights some of the best aspects of

UCCS and visually helps differentiate the campus from other universities.

Claire Rafgusin, a prospective student from Highlands Ranch, enjoyed the tour. “I really liked how [UCCS] was environmentally friendly – that was my favorite thing,” she said.

Rafgusin also plans on touring Pikes Peak Community College but has not ruled out attending UCCS. “I could see myself here,” she said.

Jonna Castronas, a nutrition major hopeful, was impressed with her desired program on campus. “I really liked their nutrition program, and lot of my classmates and friends go here already.”

Jared Cohn flew from his hometown of Carlsbad, Calif., to tour local universities. “I’m really outdoorsy and thought the mountains would be a cool place and thought Colorado would be a good fit,” Cohn said. “I really liked the Recreation Center.”

For many, UCCS fits their lifestyle.

“I think it’s just great for the people that go here,” Giese said. “[There are] so many different experiences here; it really enriches our campus community.” S

Culture

Page 6

February 25, 2013

Adventurer Jason Lewis to speak at UCCS about sustainability nbeadles@uccs.edu On Oct. 6, 2007, British native Jason Lewis completed the first humanpowered circumnavigation of the globe.

The trip, which took more than 13 years, covered 46,505 miles. In addition to inline skates, bikes and kayaks, Lewis completed his expedition utilizing a one-of-a-kind pedal powered wooden vboat.

Lewis and his partner Steve Smith, who completed the Atlantic leg of the voyage together, began the journey without comprehensive funding.

This proved to be a boon to the expedition, however, as it allowed Lewis to connect with local communities to secure funding and promote a message of sustainability.

While skating southeast of Pueblo, Colo., Lewis was struck by a drunk driver. He suffered serious injuries, including two broken legs.

After a nine-month recovery period, Lewis continued his expedition.

Upon completing his journey, he moved back to Colorado and currently resides southeast of Pueblo.

Lewis wrote about his travels and conservation efforts in a three-book se-

ries titled The Expedition.

The first book, “Dark Waters,” is currently available from BillyFish Books.

Lewis will speak at UCCS on Feb. 27 from 7-10 p.m. in Berger Hall.

Here he answers questions about his lecture, work and what’s next for him.

So first tell me a little about the lecture you’re coming to give at the campus.

It should be about an hour, with about hopefully 10 minutes of Q-and-A. And I want to try and get a balance between talking about this adventure and the expedition, some of the stories that people like

Photos courtesy of Kenny Brown Jason Lewis, the first person to circumnavigate the globe on human power, will be speaking at UCCS on Feb. 27. Lewis used a pedal boat, kayaks, inline skates and several other methods of transportation to travel around the world over a period of 13 years.

to hear, but also going off onto mini little tangents talking about sustainability, which is my personal passion.

What are some of the biggest things students can do to help the sustainability movement?

It’s just critical thinking about “Do I have to [or] do I need to consume these items?” whether it’s fuel for your car or fuel for your house, or can I get away with not using it or using less, and I think this is the bedrock of the program we’ve started … it’s individual people taking ownership of their own decisions and not just doing what everyone else does.

The first book in your trilogy was well received.

The New York Times called it a “a heady blend of stinging wit, unflinching honesty, and headstrong badassery.” The Dalai Lama liked it, even Bear Grylls said it was “Epic.” Did the book meet your expectations?

It’s really hard because we’re doing it organically … Even though we’re never gonna get rich off of it, which was never the intention, I think it has been important to give an authentic rendition of the story ‘cause it wasn’t just me doing it, because we didn’t have funding there were lots of people who invested time and money into this thing, and it really was a grassroots effort from the very beginning … So I felt in some way responsible to all these people.

What ended up being more difficult, chasing that dream for 46 and a half thousand miles, or actually trying to put it down on paper?

In some ways, the journey was really slow and tortuous, and the writing process has been slow and torturous, but I like to think that the journey kind of prepared me for the writing of it.

Do you have a release date for the next one – I think it’s called “The Seed Buried Deep”?

April 4 in North America.

Throughout your book, you wrestle with some abstract concepts like truth, freedom – you talk about purpose. These are topics that everyone can relate to, especially col-

“

I’ve always found the most interesting [places] to be are the places people would advise you not to go to.

- Jason Lewis

lege students trying to get their foothold in the world. Did you come to any enlightening conclusions during your expedition?

I got a better idea of who I was underneath … These perceived differences between people are just imaginary, like kind of illusions, and once you see that, then it doesn’t mean to say that you as a person cease to exist – it’s just that you’re a little more able to embrace different ideas, different religions, different belief systems, differences in the world, because you see that they’re not inherent like a lot of physical attributes are.

Current economic conditions are forcing people to reexamine the traditional model of “go to school, get a degree, get a job, buy a house and have a creepily incomplete 2.5 kids.” You also seemed to have issues following “the plan.”

Any advice on peddling your own current?

I think there’s a middle ground there. I think we’ve swung too far in the opposite direction, which has made everyone very selfish . . . You only have to go to a poorer country and you just see how that sense of community hasn’t yet been dismantled, people look out for each other … This sense of career has gotten out of control and is certainly not consistent with a sustainable future.

During your time abroad, you traveled through more countries than most people can even name. If possible, could you sum up the overall perception of America outside our own comfy, fluffy boarders?

Well the good news is – and you may have had this experience as well – when I traveled through Muslim countries like Sudan and through the Middle East and Indonesia and I would ask them, “What do you think of Brits? What do you think of Americans?”

And they would say, “We don’t have anything against Brits or Americans; we just have an issue with the foreign policy of your government”… [While]

“

Nick Beadleston

they had really quite limited access to the Internet and media, they were actually quite well informed about America and foreign policy, but they had actually made a distinction between Americans and the government. And I found that quite refreshing.

Any advice for students planning to travel or study abroad? Any tips on how to handle culture shock or homesickness?

I’ve always found the most interesting [places] to be are places people would advise you not to go to … Just keep away from somewhere where tourists congregate – you’ll probably be better off.

During your expedition, at many points you discuss being faced with opportunities to “lighten the load,” as it were – cheat, quit. What would you say is the real benefit of choosing the hard right over the easy wrong?

At the end of the day, you have to sleep at night … I could have put the sail up and no one would have known, but what would be the point in doing something like that when I had invested so much in it already? I think if I had been doing the expedition just for money or for fame, I probably would have compromised in some way, but that wasn’t why I was doing it … In the hard way there is a pain, but I do feel good within myself.

You’ve indicated in other interviews that you don’t have any more grand expeditions planned. Are you ever tempted to head back out into open waters? Maybe only a halfdecade this time?

I only managed to keep going because of people I met along the way, especially here in Colorado, and commercially it’s very, very hard to get anything longer than about six months … My ideal thing would be like two or three months if I ever did anything again. S To read more about Lewis, visit jasonexplorer.com and follow him on Twitter, @explorerjason. Visit uccsscribe.com to read the complete interviev.

Culture

February 25, 2013

Page 7

GOCA invites drinking and deep thinking about Hitchcock’s works Nick Beadleston nbeadles@uccs.edu The combination of classic suspense noir and wellcrafted cocktails will swirl together to form a blend of delicious discourse.

It all aims to leave attendees with a respect for both the works of one Alfred J. Hitchcock and the pouring talents of local alcohol aficionado Frank Frey.

Hitchcock and Cocktails will be one of several combination lectures hosted by UCCS’ Galleries of Contemporary Art. GOCA calls the events ChitChat, which is “a series of mash-up talks on contemporary culture and DIY topics. Each night features two speakers, handson learning (often edible learning!), and a whole lot of lively conversation.”

George Butte, an English professor at Colorado College, will deliver the Hitchcock portion of the lecture. Butte teaches several courses on both literary and cinematic topics, including a class devoted entirely to Hitchcock’s works.

Additionally, several chapters of Butte’s first

The Lowdown What:

ChitChat

When:

Feb. 27, 6:30 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. program

Where:

GOCA 121, 121 S. Tejon St.

How much:

Free for students, $5 suggested donation

More information: uccs.edu/goca

book, “I Know That You Know That I Know,” are devoted to Hitchcock. The book delves into various narrative topics in movies and novels.

The book was hailed as a “decisive accomplishment in its own right” by Garrett Stewart, the James O. Freedman Professor of Letters at the University of Iowa.

Stewart went on to say that “Butte’s exemplary study should generate ongoing work in these convergent theoretical veins.”

Butte’s lecture, tentatively titled “When Nothing is Actually Something,” will cover, among

Photo by Bobby Lane This ChitChat will feature clips from Hitchcock films and cocktails that have been enjoyed by famous writers. other themes central to Hitchcock’s films, the notorious MacGuffin.

The MacGuffin is a plot device that drives the story but isn’t essential to it. One of the most recognizable examples in recent cinematic history is the suitcase in “Pulp Fiction.”

Butte has summed up the word by referring to it as “a null set, to use a mathematical term. It’s a thing

that you’re looking for but what’s inside that thing is really unimportant.”

However, Butte’s lecture will be intended to shed light on what significance the seemingly irrelevant MacGuffin can have.

Due to time restrictions, Butte will only be playing select clips from Hitchcock films that will expound on his lecture.

He has specified that

these clips will be from some of Hitchcock’s most notable films, including “Notorious,” “North

by Northwest,” “The 39 Steps” and “The Lady Vanishes.”

The cocktails portion of the evening will be conducted by Frank Frey, a bartender at Nosh – a restaurant and bar located in the same building as the GOCA’s satellite gallery.

Frey has been pouring for eight years, and worked previously at 15c and the Blue star, where he was the bar manager and wine buyer He indicated via email that for his portion of the lecture, “we are going to make cocktails that have been enjoyed by famous writers. There is a whole history of drinking and writing.” S

Student challenges others through art, poetry and preaching Cynthia Jeub cjeub@uccs.edu In his 2001 book “Safely Home,” Randy Alcorn used the question “Is this the day I die?” to describe the Christian life.

Tyler Hill, owner of the website isthisthedayidie. com, uses the same question to challenge the people around him to live life to the fullest.

Hill, a senior in leadership and communication, uses the question often. “I wouldn’t think of that as a morbid thing, but something that pushes myself towards reaching my fullest potential,” he said.

“If this is the day I die, did I reach my fullest potential today? Did I love people like Jesus did? Would people know by how I treated them that I was a Christian? Would God know I was a Christian by the things I did behind closed doors?”

Prior to college, Hill was involved in high school baseball. He was touring other schools in the area when he stopped

by UCCS “for kicks and giggles,” though it didn’t have a baseball team.

Photo courtesy of Mike Lyon Tyler Hill seeks to challenge people through his words and actions to live their lives to the fullest potential.

“I wouldn’t say that I often clearly hear the voice of God, but I really felt like He told me that I was going to go to school here. And I so clearly heard it, that I dropped my baseball scholarships to come here,” Hill said.

“It was the hardest decision I ever had to make,” he said. “It’s crazy because I’d only traveled to Japan before I came here,

so I never did much global preaching. Then I came here, and all of a sudden I got connections, and I’ve been traveling all over the globe. I never performed poetry before I came here.

I never made art before.”

Hill said that he wasn’t very creative until he came to UCCS. “Then I took an art class from Eric Steen, and he really pushed the envelope as far as what

art was.”

Art, poetry and preaching have been his focus during his time in college. Hill has preached in prisons in Honduras and to street gangs and has visited Kenya, Egypt and Germany.

Poetry is his second platform. Hill said his approach to poetry is “not like a normal poetry reading. It’s pretty loud, pretty

in-your-face. Not necessarily aggressive but pretty exciting.”

He calls it poem noise and stresses honesty in his poetry. “I think if we shared our stories with other people more often, there would be a lot less hate, there would be a lot less bullying in high schools, there would be a lot less racism.”

Hill said his poetry re-

flects his experiences.

“I share a lot of the things that I’ve gone through. For example, my mom has been sick my entire life … I have a poem about that and how much I questioned God,” he said.

“Everybody always says, ‘When I get a million dollars, I’m going to be really generous with my money.’ And what I like to ask them is, ‘Do you have $10? Are you generous with it?’ Because the chances are, if you’re not generous with the $10 you have now, you’re not going to be generous with the million dollars you have later,” he said.

“I think it’s the same thing with your life. If you don’t live your life to the fullest potential now, when you retire, are you really going to change?”

On his plans for the future, Hill said, “I’ve already arrived ... I want today to be my arrival. I arrived this morning when I woke up. And if I get to wake up tomorrow, I don’t know, is this the day I die?

Maybe. But if not, I arrive tomorrow. And that’s success.” S

Opinion

Page 8

Women should have access to concealed weapons Staff Editorial scribe@uccs.edu The controversy over the Public Safety attack-prevention tips list highlights the broader debate at the state level concerning the right to carry a concealed weapon on college campuses.

Everyone from Sean Hannity to Cosmopolitan recognized the tips as impractical, ridiculous and demeaning. And it would be equally demeaning to limit a woman’s options when it comes to deterring attackers, namely taking away her right to carry a weapon.

Women should not have to resort to physical selfdeprecation or focus on making themselves feel less “attractive” in order to protect themselves.

After all, the attacker is the one who should be facing consequences, not the woman he targets.

“The 10 tips were considered last resort options when all other defense methods have been exhausted,” the website now reads.

Despite its exclusion, having a concealed weapon is one of those other defense methods – one that should be recognized by the university as well as those state legislators

the

considering a policy change.

The context for this as a practical defense method lies in the fact that in the vast majority of cases, the criminal is deterred after someone brandishes a firearm or fires a warning shot.

While the number of incidents can be exaggerated, a paper from the CATO Institute published last year shows that even in the most conservative of estimates, guns are used as means of self-defense in hundreds of thousands of cases a year.

According to one study, nearly 10 percent of selfdefense cases involve women defending against abuse or sexual assault.

It’s the classic selfdefense argument for a reason – it works.

A report from the FBI, Secret Service and the Department of Education shows that since 1900, all types of crimes are on the rise on college campuses.

The more students who attend, the greater the number of incidents.

The CATO paper also shows that in 2008 there were 3,287 rapes, 5,026 assaults, 4,562 robberies and 60 killings across college campuses in the U.S. Combined across all colleges nationwide, there

are an average nine sexual assaults per day.

Women need access to concealed weapons in order to protect themselves against such attacks.

One of the most widely reported instances involving a concealed carry owner was in December 2007 when Jeanne Assam shot a gunman at New Life Church in Colorado Springs.

The gunman, who intended not to sexually attack but to kill, had two handguns, an assault rifle and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, according to CSPD. He had killed two people the day before and two others in the parking lot.

Uncontested, he could have caused mass casualties.

Many, like Rep. Joe Salazar, D-Thornton, think women should not be allowed access to such life-saving measures.

During the debate over concealed weapons on college campuses, Salazar sparked backlash after saying, “It’s why we have call boxes, it’s why we have safe zones, it’s why we have the whistles.

Because you just don’t know who you’re gonna be shooting at,” he said, according to The Denver Post.

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“And you don’t know if you feel like you’re gonna be raped, or if you feel like someone’s been following you around or if you feel like you’re in trouble when you may actually not be, that you pop out that gun and you pop ... pop a round at somebody,” he added.

(He later issued a formal apology.)

Unfortunately, while rape whistles and call boxes are useful, they are nowhere near as effective as a concealed weapon – especially when a woman feels like she’s going to be raped.

And as a study from the 1990s showed, only in about 8 percent of cases where a law-abiding citizen brandishes a weapon or fires a warning shot is the attacker injured.

The debate over allowing concealed weapons is not about safety but about power, and women should not feel powerless in this debate but should be respected enough to be given access to concealed weapons. S To report a crime or safety concern, call UCCS Police at 255-3111. A link to fill out an anonymous online report and numbers for other local resources can be found at goo. gl/3bmNH.

Contact us: On campus: UC 106 Phone: (719) 255-3658 Email: scribe@uccs.edu

February 25, 2013

Letter to the Editor: Exclusively online Scribe isn’t practical Dear Scribe,

Transferring to an exclusively online format may be the worst thing you could do in my opinion.

I appreciated the tangible newspaper that I could grab on my way to class and read during breaks. I can tell you that I have zero interest in going out of my way to stop, open my QRC app, scan it and then try to navigate a site that doesn’t attract me in the slightest.

Even though I do care about campus news, one thing I won’t do is read news online – and I can almost guarantee that I am not alone.

Thanks for ruining my news reading experience. I really appreciate it.

Deeply saddened, Justin Gibson As mentioned in our Feb. 4 issue, The Scribe has incorporated at least one online-only issue every month in order to reduce printing costs. While this is not ideal, it represents a general news shift to online-only formats.

With our news app expected to be released soon in the Apple Store, students, staff and faculty will be able to have a more enjoyable and convenient way to stay updated on the latest news affecting the university.

Thanks for your continued support as we continue to develop and implement a comprehensive publishing strategy moving forward.

The Scribe Staff

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Opinion

February 25, 2013

Page 9

Dueling Opinion: Birth control and religious institutions Religious institutions should provide men and women birth control

Religious freedom should be protected for religious institutions

Birth control has become a need for women. AcReligious employers should not be forced to cover cording to the Guttmacher Institute, 99 percent of birth control. By agreeing to practice a certain reliwomen between the ages of 15 and 44 who have had gion, individuals are typically expected to follow cersex at least once have used some form of contraceptain rules. tive.

Catholics, for example, usually adhere to the mindIt isn’t just for safe sex, though. According to the set of being against birth control. They believe it was University of Florida, more than 726,000 women who God’s will that a woman got pregnant and that she are on birth control are not even sexually active. should carry through with what has been decided.

Those women use birth control to help regulate Since America is a country that promotes religious menstrual cycles, ease cramps and help reduce the freedom, Catholic churches should be exempted from pains of migraines. having to provide birth control. Only women who Whether it is for sex or health reasons, birth control aren’t employed by religious institutions should be can become expensive without health insurance, with covered.

Samantha Morley Taylor Eaton prices ranging up to $200 depending on the brand and In late 2011, the Obama administration set forth smorley2@uccs.edu teaton2@uccs.edu form of birth control. guidelines requiring nearly all health insurance plans This is why religious institutes, like private schools to cover the total cost of birth control methods. Acand workplaces, should be forced to make birth control available. cording to the Guttmacher Institute, 89 percent of women at risk of unintended Making religious institutions provide birth control or the insurance for birth pregnancy use birth control. control does not have to compromise how one practices religion.

By requiring health insurance companies to cover contraceptives, we are benReligious work environments and schools should have to follow the same efitting our country by lowering the odds that a child could be unintentionally policy as non-religious workplaces and schools. conceived and not treated properly after birth, which could harm overall quality That being said, making these religious places follow the new policy does not of life. mean the religions and their leaders have to change their views on contraceptives Religious organizations are a different matter. and sex – it’s just not allowed to affect the people working for them.

What it comes down to is a choice. If a Catholic woman chooses to be emAbort73.com reported that in 2008 alone, 1.21 million women had abortions. ployed by a religious employer, then she should accept that the organization may More than 7 in 10 of those women reported a religious affiliation. not support the choice to use birth control.

Contraceptives keep unwanted pregnancies from happening, which means that Other companies that do not have a designated religion and employ a melting those abortions don’t have to happen. pot of religions should cover their employees.

Many churches have criticized Institutions like the Cathopoliticians about abortions. For inlic Church should not be forced stance, the Catholic Church attacked by the government to go against former Speaker of the House Nancy their religious beliefs. That, in Pelosi for making a statement about and of itself, would violate the the moment when life starts for the First Amendment. fetus. Pelosi continued to say that it Besides, just because a womdid not matter when life started; it an is employed by a religious was the woman’s right to handle her institution doesn’t mean that pregnancy. she can’t go ahead and use her Churches would not have to individual right to use birth conchastise women about abortions if trol, as the majority of females different forms of birth control were already do. available for both men and women Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, to obtain. chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ That means the churches need to Committee on Pro-Life Activibe equitable in allowing their memties, said, “Pregnancy is not a bers and employees to have access disease, and children are not a to contraceptives. ‘health problem.’”

Whether it is for health reasons The use of contraceptives is a or to prevent pregnancies, people choice. Sex is also, most times, a need easy access to all forms of choice. Where you choose to be birth control. employed can also be a choice.

Religious institutes need to be fair If a religious employer doesn’t and follow the same policy as other cover birth control because it workplaces and educational institugoes against its faith, then don’t Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Commons work there or expect coverage tions by making birth control availMany women use birth control, but not every employer is required to pay for it. able to protect men and women. S for contraceptives. S

Makers should add more options to reduce racism in video games

Shelby Shively sshively@uccs.edu With shootings frequenting headlines, the debate over whether or

not video games cause violent behavior has been revived.

However, violence is not the only potential side effect of video games.

Some video games are obviously racist, like “Grand Theft Auto.” Some are a little more subtle, and one has to take a step back and forget the story just for a minute.

For example, “Resident Evil 5” is a standard zombie-killing game. Pay attention to what’s on the screen, though, and you’ll

see your character killing masses of mindless, deceased African villagers.

Other video games are more subtly racist.

To see it, one has to look at who’s missing. Take Pokémon as an example.

In “Pokémon Black and White,” only three trainers throughout the game are not white. All three are black. One is a gym leader, one is a dancer and the last one is a basketball player.

In the sequels, “Pokémon Black 2” and “Pokémon White 2,” the black

gym leader has been replaced with a white gym leader.

It is ironic that the title colors for this generation are black and white, considering those are the only two racial groups the games include, but they are still not providing nearly enough representation for non-white races.

The Mass Effect series does not deserve much praise after the way it ended, but it certainly did one thing well when it offered a fully customizable

character for players.

Each player could create an avatar that approximated his/her own features or at least his/her own skin tone, hair and eye colors.

There is a significant amount of programming that goes into this feature of the series, so I wouldn’t ask that all video games begin allowing players that level of customization. However, they could all offer a little more.

Three skin colors, all with the option of brown hair and brown eyes,

would be an improvement for most games.

Though the Mass Effect series does a beautiful job of allowing players to customize their character, it is still lacking in representing non-white characters throughout the series.

In this age of fully fleshed-out video game worlds, there is no reason that video games can’t include more heroes, more allies, more villains and more random people to chat with of all racial backgrounds. S

Life on the Bluffs

Page 10

Campus Chatter Aaron Collett, acollett@uccs.edu, photos by Bobby Lane

There are more than 20 million students in America, and more than 10,000 of them are at UCCS. Their opinions matter.

February 25, 2013

Top Ten

Steps to get safely from your car to class

by Aaron Collett, acollett@uccs.edu

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Prepare yourself mentally. Safety starts with your mind.

Open the car door and check for hidden wires or sharp edges.

Alyssa Thomecdec, freshman, undecided Have you ever had any contact with campus safety?

Yes, I actually have. My friend hit a curb and popped her tire.

Someone saw it and called the police, and they helped us change the tire.

How effective do you think campus safety is?

I think they’re pretty effective, as far as I know.

How do you think that campus safety could be improved?

They could be more prominent – you don’t really see them, ever. I saw them at night once.

In Four Diamonds, that’s iffy to me, especially at night.

Anthony Becerra, junior, communication Have you ever had any contact with campus safety?

Yes, I have. I was jaywalking across the street because I was parking in the neighborhood. He saw me at the top of the hill. I was walking across both streets; at the top, he stopped me. I thought he was going to write me up, but he did give me a warning, which was nice, but still a little ridiculous, I think.

But he was just doing his job.

How effective do you think campus safety is?

I guess it’s pretty effective – I haven’t heard of too many people dying. I haven’t really heard of anything; it should be working.

How do you think that campus safety could be improved?

Well, they’ve got those blue lights (the emergency lights) already. I see them patrolling all the time, like the security police cars. I don’t know, I think we’re good with that.

We’re not in disaster mode.

Brian Torres, senior, political science Have you ever had any contact with campus safety?

Not personally. I’ve probably seen them around.

How effective do you think campus safety is?

I haven’t experienced it so probably a good thing. I’d say pretty effective then.

How do you think that campus safety could be improved?

Maybe more presence – police officers, etc. I’ve only seen them around a few times; maybe they could be around more often. S

Amendment 64

Start toward class, stepping quickly to avoid ninjas.

Make a detour around the huge free speech riot, helpfully contained in the free speech zone.

Stop to put in earplugs to protect yourself from the tower noise blasts.

Work through the obstacle course of frat boys, minding the Frisbees.

Walk directly through the construction zones – those are completely safe.

Avoid or fight the pirates. (Not sure how they got here…)

Open the classroom door, looking for splintery edges and more wires.

Sit down in your class and check for sparkles – some teachers are vampires.

Sudoku

Bring your completed sudoku to The Scribe Office (UC 106) for a prize! Last week’s sudoku Puzzle 1 (Very hard, difficulty rating 0.85) answers can be found at uccsscribe.com.

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6 Comic by Steven Fenczik, sfenczik@uccs.edu

This week at

UCCS

Tuesday, Feb. 26 “American Meat” Clyde’s 5 p.m.

Scandalous Messages in Media: A Closer Look University Center, Room 303 7 p.m.

Speaker: David Lacks Berger Hall 7 p.m.

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Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/~jdhildeb/software/sudokugen/ on Tue Feb 19 17:02:25 2013 GMT. Enjoy!

Wednesday, Feb. 27 ChitChat: Hitchcock and Literary Cocktails 121 S. Tejon St. 6:30 p.m.

Speaker: Jason Lewis Berger Hall 7 p.m.

“Everyman On The Bus” Dusty Loo Bon Vivant Theater 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 28 Workshop: Study Smarter, Not Harder University Center, Room 122 Noon

Sustainability Movie Night The Lift 6 p.m.

Friday, March 1

Financial Aid Priority Date Financial Aid Cragmor Hall, Room 201 SGA Karaoke Night Clyde’s 6 p.m.

Saturday, March 2

“Tough Love” Film Screening Clyde’s 6 p.m.

Battle of the Sexes Clyde’s 6 p.m.

Sports

February 25, 2013

Page 11

UCCS student athletes, teams continue to make the grade Seth Polich spolich@uccs.edu Finding ways to balance schoolwork and participating on a collegiate athletic team can be a challenge.

Practice, games and travel can not only conflict with classes but also consume valuable study time. Still, UCCS student athletes have managed to excel at both classes and sports.

During the 2012 fall semester, Mountain Lion athletes earned an average GPA of 3.28 – the highest recorded by athletes in school history. Each of the 14 Division II-sanctioned teams at UCCS held a team GPA of at least 3.0.

Men’s golf and women’s basketball led the way in the classroom with

each team registering a 3.41 GPA. The campus GPA for all students was 2.98.

“For us to be ahead of our campus is quite an accomplishment,” said UCCS Athletic Director Steve Kirkham.

Fall 2012 marks the 17th consecutive semester the GPA for UCCS athletes was above 3.0.

According to Kirkham, the 17-semester streak has not been by accident.

There has been a great deal of work put in by both the student athletes and faculty to assure success is maintained in the classroom.

“It’s all about expectations,” said Kirkham.

“Our coaches know [academics] are part of their job, and therefore they pass it on to student ath-

letes.”

Making sure the right people become part of UCCS athletics is also important in ensuring academic success.

“We recruit kids that are capable,” Kirkham said.

“When new kids come in, getting good grades is the accepted thing to do.”

David Olson, a freshman cross country runner majoring in accounting, is one of those students.

Olson was one of 23 athletes to earn a spot on the dean’s list for having a GPA between 3.75 and 3.99. Fourteen athletes were also honored with the President’s Award for having a 4.0 GPA last semester.

“Balancing running, school, a job and a social life is actually pretty easy if you know how to man-

Photo courtesy of UCCS Sports Information The women’s basketball team has a 3.41 GPA. age your time well,” said Olson.

“Just focus on the important tasks, one at a time,

and be determined enough to get them done.” S

Softball coach Peterson battles back after bout with illness Jonathan Toman jtoman@uccs.edu After his last round of testing, UCCS Head Softball Coach Scott Peterson has been fully cleared by his doctors.

Last April, after having severe headaches, Peterson was diagnosed with a brain tumor. It turned out to be benign, but an MRI last November showed the tumor had grown.

Though surgery to remove the tumor was successful, he was further diagnosed with an acute case of bacterial meningitis after the surgery. “That really set me back,” Peterson said.

While Peterson battled for his life, everyone around the softball program stepped up to help out. “We had great help from everyone in the department. It was just won-

derful, sensational,” said Peterson.

“The athletic staff has been fully supportive,” said Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information Jared Verner in an email.

Athletic Director Steve Kirkham served as firstbase coach for the team through the first two weekends of games, thereby limiting the time Peterson would be on the field.

Various people, including Verner, have stepped in to Peterson’s other role as public address announcer for home UCCS basketball games.

Assistant Coach Don Pettrow was also key to get everything ready for the start of the season, as he took on additional responsibilities.

Former players and trainer Brian Hardy, who played baseball in college,

also helped out during practices.

“I mean, look around,” said Peterson, referring to the army of helpers he had to clear snow from Mountain Lion Field for the games the weekend of Feb. 22.

Coach Peterson informed players before he went into surgery, and the goal during the whole process was to “minimize the impact on the athletes,” ac-

cording to Verner. “[The players] stepped right up,” said Peterson.

“They made it very, very easy on us.”

Fully cleared, Peterson is now ready to take on both the challenges of wintry early season softball and his coaching duties.

“I’m really proud to work with this school,” Peterson said. “I’ve been here for 13 years, and I’ve never been prouder.” S

Students go to Recreation Center to socialize, waste time

Nick Burns nburns@uccs.edu Today, few dispute the physical and mental benefits of working out regularly. According to a study conducted by Gallup, Colorado is the fittest state in the Union for the second year in a row.

If you look at the Recreation Center on campus, any athletic novice can believe it. The gym is packed after classes let out in the afternoon and students make their way to the weights, treadmills and mats to work out.

But the majority of them

is wasting time. Worse, they are wasting the time of the small percentage of people who are there for a real workout.

Look around carefully at the groups and you will not see many people actually doing purpose-driven workouts, but a veritable social Serengeti plain.

There are flocks of flamingo girls chattering and gossiping. There are men by themselves and packs of guys puffing their chests and posturing. Both genders of this flaunting species try to use the floorto-ceiling mirrors to best display their physiques.

In reality, the gym is where people worship the temples that are their bodies. It is a place of hard work and sacrifice. Goals are met daily by those who strive to push their physical and mental limits.

When the New Year’s resolution optimists, selfdelusional “gym goers” and the treadmill talkers

take up space and claim they went to the gym, the dedicated are forced to wait for equipment and spend more time on their daily workout.

Super-setting? It’s impossible at the Recreation Center. Want to stretch on the mats? You have to ask the pack of friends just sitting on them to move.

The Recreation Center reported on its website that it had 73,000 patrons last year and that the center currently has 0.6 square feet per student, which is half of the recommended space for a student population the size of UCCS. The Recreation Center expansion cannot come fast enough. Until then, what is the solution?

The half-hearted should quit or re-evaluate. Be honest with your goals and your performance in the gym. If you are not getting results, go be “active” somewhere else. Or bring a workout plan and

quit the social hour.

The gym is the one place where lies do not exist. No one can cheat the weights or fake fitness.

Use the mirrors to look into the windows of your soul and tell yourself the truth.

If you realize that the gym does not offer you anything or that you are happy with yourself… good. Now go be happy with accepting yourself and your fitness level.

If the truth you see is upsetting, if it makes you feel driven to be better or if all you see is self-consciousness… we are ready to work out.

The basic formula to any fitness goal is a good routine, a good diet and the right motivation. Learn from the personal training staff about the right exercises and programs for you and how to do them correctly. Motivate yourself with the right reasons and the goals that are im-

Photo by Nick Burns The only way to get results is to push your limits. This student knows how to work. portant to you.

To be productive in the gym takes two things: ef-

fort and time. Put in the hours and make your daily routine worth your time. S

Sports

Page 12

February 25, 2013

Four to be honored in second UCCS Athletic Hall of Fame Peter Farrell pfarrell@uccs.edu The athletic department announced its second annual UCCS Athletic Hall of Fame class earlier this month, marking a growing athletic program.

The four inductees for the second class include women’s basketball player Stephanie Leasure, golfer Marc Hocking, volleyball player Audrey Nelson and the late philanthropist Glenn Williams.

Athletic Director Steve Kirkham recognizes every athletic department eventually reaches a point where it honors outstanding athletes.

“If you start too soon, you don’t have enough people to recognize,” he said.

The department anticipates inducting between three and four candidates per year. The 2013 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees are all “firsts” in their respective ways.

Leasure’s accomplishments include being the first UCCS player to earn all Rocky Mountain Ath-

letic Conference honors in women’s basketball and recording the only triple-double – doubledigit numbers in any three statistics of the game – in program history.

Hocking was the 2002 RMAC golf champion.

He was also a member of the RMAC All-Century men’s golf team in 2009.

Nelson currently holds sixth place in volleyball records with 975 career kills over two seasons.

Williams, added posthumously, was an advocate for women’s athletics on campus and helped create the Glenn D. and Joan R. Williams Endowment for Women’s Athletics.

To be considered for the Athletic Hall of Fame, an athlete must first be nominated. Nominations can be submitted “pretty much by anybody,” Kirkham said.

Once nominations have been received, athletic department administration acts as the committee for deciding which candidates are accepted.

Students only need to have graduated to be

Photo courtesy of Jared Verner Glenn Williams helped create the Glenn D. and Joan R. Williams Endowment for Women’s Athletics. considered for induction.

Outside of graduation, the athletic performance of a nominee is the most critical component of the committee’s decision.

Jared Verner, assistant athletic director for sports

information, said the historical context of nominees is also significant for consideration.

“Even in the last 10 years, there are more all-American teams than there were,” Verner said.

“The coaches association, [sports information directors], media and websites have their own all-American teams.”

Currently, the department has a backlog of athletes to recognize for

upcoming years.

The 2013 induction ceremony is set for April 4 in Berger Hall. “It’s fun for [inductees] to come back, see old friends, see old teammates and old coaches,” said Verner. S