March 1, 2011

sounds of

revolution page 7

editorial

Page 2

Once, I hallucinated a unicorn named Shorty.

Editor-in-Chief Avalon Manly Last Thursday, a friend of mine pulled an all-nighter preparing for a midterm, and sent me some rather unique texts. They said things like, “I’m sitting in the library. I don’t remember getting here,” “I think I’ve been incepted,” and, “I stood in the shower for what seemed like two hours only to come out and only 10 minutes past [sic].”

Poor guy.

Understandably, I began to think about how none of us college kids sleep much, regardless of how important sleep is to, you know, being alive.

The longest I’ve ever managed to stay awake was a straight run of about 52 hours.

It was awful and I implore you from the bottom of my soul never to do that.

I think my body was subsisting almost entirely on caffeine by that point. Every movement was robotic, and I was way beyond being aware or reflexive enough to operate a car. Or walk in a straight line. Or use real people words to speak.

When a small purple unicorn (which my sleepaddled brain immediately dubbed Shorty) showed up in my doorway at about 4:30 in the morning on the tail end of that wakeful marathon, wispy around the edges and making clopping sounds that were uncannily similar to the late-night noises of the water heater, I decided that it was probably time I went to bed, and to hell with my still-unfinished term paper.

It took me about four days to recover from the havoc Iʼd wrought on my body and mind by that terrible period of sleeplessness. My motor reflexes were diminished, I struggled to retain new information as it was presented, and I couldnʼt, for the life of me, pay attention when people spoke at me.

Sleep deprivation is one of the worst things a human body can undergo. In some parts of the world, itʼs used as a form of torture; in lab experiments, extended periods of sleep deprivation have proved fatal. Not sleeping can have significant physiological effects, ranging from mild aches and pains to memory loss, hallucinations and psychosis. It reduces our ability to handle stressful situations or respond effectively to the demands of daily life; it hinders our working memory from processing and retaining new information. It places us, so to speak, squarely on a lower plane of existence.

Humans need sleep. Face it, love it, embrace it: You need sleep to live. Sleeping helps you not die.

We all heard growing up that everybody needs a solid eight hours a night to consider themselves wellrested, no?

Well, that’s still true.

Human sleep cycles are controlled mostly by the circadian rhythm, otherwise known as the biological clock; it depends heavily on levels of light and variations in temperature.

Melatonin – a hormone produced by the pineal gland that responds to light – is largely responsible for the day/night variations in the biological clock (it peaks in darkness and recedes during daylight). The human brain, then, is programmed to become more awake as light levels increase around us – thatʼs why those vastly overpriced alarm clocks that simulate sunrises are so popular.

There is a school of thought that suggests sleeping only long enough to complete a couple of rapid eye movement (REM) cycles – so, about three hours at a time – and doing that three or four times throughout a 24-hour day to get the proper amount of sleep. That theory, though, is thoroughly debunked by most sleep experts who suggest that adults over the age of 18 require between seven and a half and nine hours of sleep each night to function optimally.

Now, I donʼt know about you, but itʼs been about a century since I got a consistent eight hours per night. I think I average five or six. Most days, though, I function just fine.

Sure, I get a little tired

in the afternoon and occasionally doze in a couple of my longer, more boring classes – if any reading this are my current professors, the aforementioned classes arenʼt taught by you, I swear – and hit the snooze button as many as seven times on any given morning, but who doesnʼt? My brain runs just fine.

Except for the time I stayed up for two days and a passing unicorn warned me about my impending psychosis.

The thing about sleep, though, is that itʼs not, as many think, a time when our brains just shut down to rest. In fact, during REM sleep (the deepest level of sleep), when our limbs are paralyzed in slumber, our minds are veritable rainbows of activity. Our brains light up like neon signs as we respond emotionally to the dreamscapes constructed from our memories and subconscious. Dreams help us process stress, solve problems, manage feelings, cement new information and maintain perspectives of the waking world.

We may not remember many of them, but dreams are one of the most important aspects of life; they are certainly one of the most important aspects of sleep in general, and REM sleep in particular.

Sleep is what repairs our bodies and revitalizes our minds. Without it, weʼre just slaves to Starbucks and Rockstar. Catching four hours a night Monday through Thursday and sleeping for 12-hour installments on the weekends isnʼt enough to set our bodies straight.

Napping, though, is a wonder, and the magic number there is 90. Every 90 minutes or so, our “sleep architecture” (the changing levels of sleep according to the passage of time each night) brings us up from REM to a shallower layer of sleep, which makes it easier to wake up.

If youʼre exhausted every single morning and would rather punch a grizzly than get out of bed (like me), try scheduling your bedtime according to when you have to get up, so that you awake on the edge of one of those 90-minute cycles.

So catch some Zʼs, UCCS. Remember: it helps you not hallucinate and die. S

March 1 to March 7, 2011

the scribe The official student newspaper of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

Editor-in-Chief.........................................Avalon Manly Managing Editor........................................Jessica Lynch Business Manager..........................................Matt Baatz Advertising/Sales Manager..........................Luis Hidalgo News Editor.............................................Joesph Ruffini Culture Editor.........................................Brock Kilgore Athletics Editor......................................Matt Crandall Opinion/Scribble Editor...........................Cherise Fantus Photograhy Editor.................................Ariel Lattimore Copy Editor.............................................Cherise Fantus Web Master.............................................Dorian Rogers Layout Designers..........................................J.D. Osorio ..................................................................Emily Olson Reporters...................................................Alex Cramer ............................................................Ryan Piechowski .................................................................Sara Horton ....................................................................Matt Sidor ...................................................................Ryan Adams Photographer.........................................Michelle Wood Junior Reporters.....................................Jeremy Lengele ........................................................Heather Templeton Junior Photographer...................................Brett Owens Contributors...........................................Steven Farrell Cartoonist............................................................Arno Distributor...........................................Donald Trujillo Advisor.....................................................Laura Eurich ---------Cover Photo Illustration by Avalon Manly-------The Scribe UC 106 (719) 255-3658 | (719) 255-3469 | (719) 255-3600 www.uccsscribe.com | scribe.eic@gmail.com

Information Letters to the Editor The Scribe strongly encourages letters to the editor. Letters intended for publication must not exceed 350 words, must be legible and include the writer’s name and contact information. Letters must be submitted to The Scribe via email at scribe.eic@gmail.com by 5:00 p.m. on Thursdays before publication.

The Scribe reserves the right to reject letters to the editor that are libelous, obscene or anonymous and has the right to edit as necessary due to space limitations, spelling or other grammatical errors and AP style guidelines.

Distribution Policy The following conducts are prohibited by The Scribe: Publication and news rack theft. A person commits the offense(s) of publication and/or news rack theft when he or she willfully or knowingly obtains or exerts unauthorized control over more than one copy of any edition of a publication distributed on or off campus (a “publication” is any periodical that is distributed on a complimentary basis). Any person who commits these offences is responsible for compensating The Scribe for any reasonable costs incurred, including, where appropriate, the refunding of advertising fees.

Archives Additional copies of the current publication volume are available in The Scribe’s office. The Scribe keeps issues from the past five volumes for internal use only. The Office of University Records will handle any request for additional issues from the past five years and before.

Advertising If you, your club, organization or business wishes to advertise with The Scribe, please call (719) 255-3469 or email scribeadvertising@gmail.com.

CORRECTION The article, “Lady Mountain Lions successful on ‘Senior Night,’” on page 12 of Volume 35, Issue 20 of The Scribe, was written by Ryan Piechowski.

March 1 to March 7, 2011

student life

all aboard

the

failboat

Making the Transition to College Life This Thursday, March 3 at noon, the University Counseling Center will host a workshop discussing the most common stressors that college students encounter, as well as provide tips and tried methods for adjusting to and surviving in college.

The workshop will be held in the UC 116a, and all students, staff and faculty are welcome.

Page 3

Deathly humor Some people consider funerals to be cause for celebration, and while the services themselves are serious and heartfelt, they are still a commemoration of life.

Last week, at Saint Margaret’s Church in Rottingdean, one mourner hit a nerve when his phone began ringing during the service. The song played was “Staying Alive” by the Bee Gees, and apparently most attendees found it quite amusing.

According to Reverend Martin Morgan however, “earthly communication” is no longer permitted. It is still safe to assume then that all psychics, mediums and oracles will be allowed to attend. This is because the Reverend doesn’t want to take all the fun out of it. “I don’t want to be one of those people who say, ‘no phones,’ ‘no cameras’ and ‘no confetti.’” Thankfully he understands that sometimes death is worth throwing pieces of colored paper in the air for.

Yes, she’s only five, but she’s still not going to marry you While the popularity of shows like MTV’s “Sixteen and Pregnant” is both unsettling and disturbing, thankfully the need to get knocked up before puberty isn’t for everyone. In one of the cutest recent videos, one five-yearold understands the importance of landing a job in our struggling economy. In this 46 second video, she continually claimed, “This is my life!” and she’s unwilling to tie the knot and settle down before she has a steady career. Not only that, but she’s okay with refusing every man, or never even getting married if she doesn’t have a job first. She’s simply not going to marry you yet, so stop asking. Say hello to the 21st century’s newest role model.

FTW

Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.

–Albert Einstein

Fill out the sudoku puzzle below so that each row and column contain the numbers 1 through 9 with none repeated.

Return it to the Scribe office when finished, along with the adjacent crossword; if you’re the first one done (and they’re done right), you’ll be rewarded with a Scribe T-shirt.

So You're a _____________ Major 1 2

3

4 5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12 13 14

15

ACROSS 2 They say organic chemistry is the hardest class you'll ever take, but we say it'll be harder to find a job after you graduate.

5 Sure, you can dissect frogs until the cows come home, and then dissect the cows. But can you sell them in grilled patty form?

6 Be careful that you don't accidentally create Skynet or the Matrix while doing your homework, or none of us will be able to find jobs.

8 In the real world, you can't wear baseball caps and popped-collar Polos to work everyday. Well, maybe *you* can.

10 You can ask, "Would you like fries with that?" while interpreting the cultural significance of the fast-food phenomenon.

12 You will make money someday, and the rest of us hate you for knowing how.

13 You can explain the past behind the phrase, "Would you like fries with that?" Eventually, though, your manager will ask you to stop it.

14 You were that weird kid in high school that actually enjoyed calculus.

15 After you graduate, you'll be able to build something new and exciting that might kill us all.

DOWN 1 You can wax existential about the question, "Would you like fries with that?" But you still won't make money.

3 You can say, "Would you like fries with that?" fluently in four different languages.

4 You can say, "Would you like fries with that?" with great interpersonal significance.

7 Your industry is dying. You should have majored in film, so you could say, "Would you like fries with that?" convincingly.

9 Sure, you can quote Shakespeare and Poe, but can you say, "Would you like fries with that?"

11 If you survive clinicals, you'll never want for employment. If.

news

Page 4

March 1 to March 7, 2011

CU system mourns student death

The news in brief

jruffini@uccs.edu

This Friday, at 9 p.m., the Office of Student Activities (OSA) will host a Black Light Party in Berger Hall. It’ll be the first party of its kind to hit UCCS, and OSA has publicized it in a number of ways, from an ad in the Commode Chronicles to a Facebook event. The night will feature a dance competition, DJ, free food, a black light canon and a station to decorate T-shirts (bring your own) with black light-sensitive markers provided by the Student Government Association. The event is anticipated to attract at least a couple hundred students, and will last until approximately midnight.

-AM

Joseph Ruffini

Friends and collegues across the CU system mourn the death of Samantha Kay Taylor, a CU Boulder graduate who was among those who died when a Vietnamese tour boat sank in the Ha Long Bay. UCCS sophomore Maral Sarper was a friend of Taylor. “She was the type of person that would make a fun time more fun,” Sarper explained.

“She would make a good time great, and she just lived an extraordinary life. I wish I knew her better than I did – I was just a friend that got to hang out with her; I didn’t get to know her on that deeper level.

“She just changed lives without even trying. By just being who she was, she changed the world. What’s powerful and peaceful for me now is that she is still going to change

the world even though she is no longer on this planet – just [through] the legacy she has left behind. “ Taylor graduated last May with degrees in physics and mathematics. When she was not studying, she spent her time in the community.

She was instrumental in the creation of The Partnership for Informal Science Education, a group that traveled to local area schools trying to interest young students in the sciences.

Taylor was also heavily involved in CU’s Environmental Center. She turned CU home football games into entirely zero-waste events.

The Environmental Center is planning a memorial in Taylor’s honor, although a date has not been set.

“She would put on her Facebook status, ‘I like to play in trash,’ Sarper explained, “If she saw something that was recyclable in the trash she would dig in and take it out.”

After graduation, Taylor went abroad, teaching science to children in China and exploring Eastern Asia.

“She just wanted to drink up life; she just wanted to get every drop of life she could.” Sarper said. “I guess that was her plan” Taylor leaves behind her parents and many friends, including George Fosmire, a CU physics graduate who was on the boat with Taylor when it sank. S

S

Bush bails on Denver visit, citing Assange’s invitation as cause

Photo Courtesy of Facebook.com

Kay Taylor, alumnus of CU Boulder, passed away in a boating accident.

Students encouraged to partake in religious dialogue Jessica Lynch jlynch@uccs.edu In a town that has been historically recognized as the Mecca of evangelical Christian organizations, finding a safe place to discuss other religions can be a difficult task. On Tuesday night, UCCS hosted an inaugural event through the Center for Religious Diversity and Public Life. The event saw great turnout, and seats were filled ten minutes before the event started, forcing many viewers to sit in the stair wells, on extra chairs and on the stage itself. The center’s director, Jeff Scholes, believes the center will provide “a religious platform” that will encourage students and members of the community to exercise their right to freedom of speech – even if it’s controversial.

Scholes, who is also an instructor of religion at UCCS, hopes events like this will encourage people to “bring private issues into the public square.”

The evening’s event included keynote speaker, Mark George, and six experts in the religions of Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Shamanism and Hinduism.

Mark George, an associate professor of Hebrew Bible at Iliff School of Theology in Denver was chosen to speak because of his expertise in social space. He began his address by noting that most students who take religion courses are less interested in religion and more fascinated about spiritual-

ity. This, he explained, is because spirituality does not have “religious trappings.”

George hopes to continue to erase this trepidation and help students become more aware of their own understandings of sacred time and space. He then urged the audience to either visualize or write down thoughts on what it means for something to be sacred.

Even though there is a plethora of definitions in the dictionary, these terms are still not easily defined.

This is due in part to the highly debatable nature of sacred time and space.

As explained by George, two men, Mircea Eliade and his successor, Jonathan Smith, were both scholars at the University of Chicago interested in the idea of sacred space and time.

Eliade believed religion manifested itself in space and time, and sacred space occurred when the sacred had broken into the world, e.g. act of creation. Rituals, he furthered, allowed for reconnection to this original event.

Alternately, Smith believed the sacred is not the eruption of the divine but it is something a group constructs. Humans are meaning makers, and religion plays a major part in that process. Smith sought to prove it as a socially dynamic process and one that allowed individual cultures and sects of people to decide which spaces would be sacred to them.

This idea serves to explain why a room where someone dies changes after they are gone and becomes sa-

OSA to host UCCS’ first Black Light Party

cred. This is because the moment when one passes from life to death is universally deemed sacred.

With these two ideas in mind, George urged the audience to reconsider previous concepts of sacred time and space. “Remember, it’s okay to be an observer and a guest and learn what makes each of the spaces sacred,” he said. It’s also important, he furthered, to pay attention to what you see, hear, how things are arranged and what you do with your body in that space.

Six individuals were then introduced as the presenters of their religions ,and after brief introduc-

tions, the audience split into groups to explore classrooms in the University Center designated to each space. Each expert shared their sacred practices and offered viewers a chance to both ask questions and take part in the religious ceremonies if they felt comfortable.

Although each religion believed different places and activities to be sacred, patterns were still visible among them and served to remind the audience that having an open mind and being willing to both accept and respect each other’s beliefs is the most important thing we can do. S

Former President George W. Bush reneged on his attendance of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) “Global Leadership Summit” in Denver last weekend, purportedly when he discovered that Julian Assange, founder of the controversial website WikiLeaks, had been invited to the same event. Assange is currently tied up attempting to avoid extradition to Sweden in a sex crimes inquiry, according to the AP, and would not likely have attended the event in person, though the Denver Post reported he made an appearance via video link. David Sherzer, a spokesman for the YPO, suggested that Bush did not wish to appear alongside someone like Assange, who has “willfully and repeatedly done great harm to the interests of the United States.” Bush is anticipated to reschedule his trip to Denver to fulfill his obligations at later date.

-AM S

UCCS offers new primary healthcare option for the disabled A new health care facility, Peak Vista Community Health Centers, with Health South Rehabilitation and the Resource Exchange Inc. has opened with the sole purpose of providing primary care for physically disabled adults in the community.

The Developmental Disabilities Health Center (DDHS) was conceptualized with the help of Sara Qualls, Kramer Family professor of gerontology, who in addition to assisting with the development of the center has also prepared doctoral psychology students to assist with the center.

BJ Scott, President and CEO of Peak Vista commented on Qualls’ involvement in the program in a recent interview with Communiqué, a UCCS staff publication.

“We all appreciate Dr. Qualls’ commitment to this effort. We can do so much more when the community partners on significant efforts such as this new Developmental Disabilities Health Center. Patients, their families and the medical community will now have an invaluable resource to tap for the specific needs of people with developmental disabilities. It is a wonderful example of best practices.”

The DDHS has filled a need experienced by the community for a long time. The facilities include mountain view exam rooms, state of the are equipment, and artwork created by developmentally delayed artists. -JR S

Sushi joins with entertainment for good cause

Photo courtesy of iliff.academia.edu

Mark George is an associate professor of Hebrew Bible at Iliff School of Theology in Denver.

The third annual Bonanza of Aspiring Talent (B.O.A.T) event will be hosted by The Asian Pacific Islander Student Union (APISU) in their attempt to continue to build a strong, inclusive community at UCCS. All money raised at the benefit concert will go to Relay for Life and will be held in the University Center’s Berger Hall on March 3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is expected to showcase many local musicians, artists, dancers and poets and free food will be provided. With a fee of only $1 and free sushi, additional donations are greatly encouraged and would be much appreciated. An auction will also take place for art and gift cards, so students and members of the community are invited to join in and have fun donating to a worthy cause.

-JL

March 1 to March 7, 2011

news

Page 5

The gangs of the Springs Cherise Fantus cfantus@uccs.edu Gang violence has been a prevalent part of popular culture since the advent of gangsta rap in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Tupac, Snoop Dog, Ice-T, N.W.A. and countless others began rapping about violence and dislike for authority, especially the police, in places like Compton.

When most people think of gangs, cities like Compton and Oakland usually come to mind. What many people don’t realize, however, is that there are multiple gangs right here in Colorado Springs.

A gang is defined as, “A group of individuals, juvenile and or adult, who associate on a continuous basis, form allegiance for a common purpose, and are involved in delinquent or criminal activity,” according to the Colorado Springs Police Department.

That includes the gangs that people commonly know, like the Bloods, the Crips and the Latin Kings. A gang, though, could be as insignificant as two or more people conspiring to commit crimes continuously. That means that if, say, two roommates in a dorm room are working together and selling marijuana out of their room that could be considered gang activity.

A general conception of gangs is that they are just hoodlum kids trying to make trouble. In fact, only about 20 percent of gang members are juveniles. Most gangs are not simply trying to cause trouble; they actually tend to be more like businesses, these days. Most gangs make their money through drug and prostitution rings.

Members are encouraged to get college degrees in order to be able to provide funding for the group. Sometimes it is hard to pick gang members out of a crowd because they have started dressing like average people in order to blend in.

In the Springs, the most prevalent gangs are the Crips, Gangster Disciples, Surenos, Sin City Disciples and Sons of Silence. Here are some things to look out for if you want to avoid these gangs.

The Crips are an extremely violent gang that originated in Los Angeles in the late 1960s.

They have migrated throughout the United States to become the second-largest street gang in the U.S., and the largest street gang in Colorado Springs.

Their main revenue comes from drug sales, including cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana. Members usually wear

blue, especially blue bandannas; they are symbolized by the six-pointed star and may have tattoos of such. They wear British Knights (BK for Blood Killas) shoes and they call each other “Cuzz.”

The Gangster Disciples are comprised primarily of African-Americans and originated in Chicago in the late 1960s. It is the largest street gang in America and the second-largest street gang in Colorado Springs. They are allied with the Crips, Latin Disciples and Simon City Royals.

Their revenue comes from drug sales, robbery, burglary, gun sales, prostitution and protection. They are also identified by the six-pointed star. They wear North Carolina blue and black and dress to the right. This means they may hike up their right pants legs or cock their hats to the right.

The Surenos are the largest Hispanic street gang in Colorado Springs. They align with the Mexican Mafia and are extremely violent and territorial. They are comprised of Mexican-American and Hispanic members. Their revenue comes from the gun and drug trade. Members are very tattooed. They are identified by the number “13” and “Sureno,” and they wear the color black.

The Sin City Disciples are a new motorcycle gang that just moved into the area from Indiana. Though they just moved in, they are already about 125 members deep. Their revenue comes from drug sales. They can be identified by their black and gold colors. They are in cahoots with the Crips, even allowing them to hang out at their club house. This is a strange alliance, since most members of the Disciples are middle-aged, while the Crips tend to be younger.

The Sons of Silence are a motorcycle gang that originated in Niwot, Colo. in the late 1960s. They have chapters in 10 states, with their headquarters in Denver.

Their membership is at about 200 to 300 members. They can be identified by their leather jackets with “Sons of Silence” embroidered on the back. They can be seen riding their hogs just about anywhere throughout the Springs.

These gangs, along with several others are spread all over the city. Be vigilant when you are out, especially if you are drinking. Look for gang identifiers, and steer clear of those people if you are able to identify them as members of a gang.

Even though there is plenty of gang activity around town, it fortunately has not affected UCCS. According to Chief of Police Jim Spice, the most gang activity he has seen on campus is a few gang symbols spray painted on our stop signs. S

Photo Courtesy of connect.in.com

The Sons of Silence originated here in Colorado, and remain to date one of the more prevalent gang chapters in the state.

The Scribe is HIRING! Are you interested in WRITING or PHOTOGRAPHY? The Scribe is seeking photojournalists and reporters.

The Scribe provides a learning workplace where students can obtain skills that transfer readily and well into the working world.

If you’re interested, please send a cover letter and resume to scribe.eic@gmail.com.

Visit the Scribe online at uccsscribe.com.

It’s epic.

We promise.

news

Page 6

March 1 to March 7, 2011

Tuition rates continue to rise across the board, UCCS included Matt Sidor msidor@uccs.edu Last January, CU Boulder student Nic Ramos made national headlines when he strolled into the Bursar’s Office to pay his tuition. He carried with him a 33-pound duffel bag stuffed with 14,309 one-dollar bills, to pay his spring tuition bill. It took three staff members nearly an hour to count out all the money.

Ramos was trying to make a statement about the price we pay for higher education, and he’s not alone in expressing his discontent: from the protest rallies in California to the full-blown riots in London, students across the globe are making their voices heard as their pockets continue to be drained at an ever-increasing rate in the name of educational prestige.

The rise in tuition prices has outpaced inflation by a substantial margin for many years now, but the current economic recession has put those prices in the limelight as many public universities struggle to cut costs and increase revenue in order to keep their services afloat.

UCCS is no exception: for the 20102011 academic year, tuition at UCCS rose by an astounding 7 percent over the previous year, equating to an additional $420 to $450 per year for the average undergrad.

The outlook for next year isn’t looking particularly rosy either, as the University of Colorado system expects a $77 million budget gap they will need to fill; directors have already requested permission to raise our tuition beyond the 9 percent-per-year cap mandated by the state legislature.

So why is the cost of higher education suddenly so…high?

With the economic recession and the dramatic rise in unemployment came a sudden drop in tax revenues, which had long been seen as a reliable source of funding for public universities. Both federal and state dollars for higher education institutions have dropped precipitously since 2008. When administrators used bonds to purchase new facilities and equipment before the recession, they may have been counting on certain funding rates to last through the foreseeable future in order to pay those bonds back while still maintaining the rate of rise in tuition costs.

The recession can explain the sudden jump in prices, but tuition has risen at a faster rate than other goods and services over a thirty-year period, even when inflation is taken into account, and the explanations there aren’t so transparent.

Since 1980, the average cost of attendance at a four-year public university has risen by a whopping 259 percent. Much has changed in the average university in the last 30 years, not the least of which is the increase in student services on campuses.

Many public universities have been channeling more of their funding into extra student services and facilities in order to meet the rising expectations of students – think of the Office of Student Activities, the ROAR Office, and the different Excel Learning Centers as examples of the kinds of services on campus that simply didn’t exist 30 years ago. Some might argue that these kinds of services aren’t critical to the academic experience; others will tell you that they’re absolutely essential to the whole learning process. Institutions like Uni-

Image Courtesy of trends.collegeboard.org

This graph measures the increase in tuition and fees from 1980-2010.

versity of Phoenix provide a strict, nofrills classroom experience; universities like UCCS can argue that they are adding value to your degree by providing the extras outside of the classroom.

Additionally, more and more revenue is being diverted into nonacademic services, which many believe are used primarily to attract prospective students to a campus. Examples of such nonessential “perks” at UCCS include the giant pendulum art exhibit in the Science and Engineering Building, the state-ofthe-art Recreation Center, the athletic facilities in the Gallogly Events Center or the newly-renovated Clyde’s Bar in

the University Center. These features can successfully bring more students – therefore, added revenue – into a university, but many would object to seeing their tuition rates go up in order to fund these kinds of projects. Indeed, this is what is happening now as our institutions pay back the debts for these kinds of construction projects that were started before the recession.

The issues surrounding the rising costs of higher education are not anticipated to be resolved overnight, especially as the CU Board of Regents convenes over the next several months to map out the budget for the 2011-12 academic year. S

Student Robert Zanzig makes difference in lives of vets at UCCS Heather Templeton htemplet@uccs.edu UCCS is one of 50 colleges benefiting from a new Department of Education grant-based program that will ensure veterans, active duty military, military dependents and spouses receive proper educational assistance. Helping these individuals earn a degree and find success outside the military is of utmost importance.

The catalyst for UCCS’ Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) program was Robert Zanzig, a transfer student from Pikes Peak Community College who spent eight years in the Marine Corps and served three tours in Iraq. Zangig was first involved with the program at Pikes Peak, but with the backing of his director, Kevin Walda, brought the program to UCCS. The program, Zanzig believes, is an important stepping stone because it provides military

students the additional help they need to be successful.

It’s important, he furthered, to help veterans finish college with a degree. “As long as people make progress in my program, then they can stay as long as they need,” he explained. “This is a self-paced program, and everything remains free to the veterans.

The only cost to them is pen and paper.”

This is the first semester the grant has been offered at UCCS and a wide range of services are provided to increase the chances that enrolled vets will graduate with a degree in their desired field.

These services also ensure that vets are able to effectively transition from the military life to one focused on academics.

Among their services, VUB offers tutoring, prep classes, core curriculum classes such as math and English, books for

these classes and many community and external services and referrals.

The prep classes are free and help veterans get a firm grasp

on basic course material.

VUB focuses greatly on communication between vets.

By sharing experiences and stories, issues can be worked through and greater success can be achieved by all.

According to Zanzig, all one needs to do is come to his office, sit down for an interview of about 45 minutes, discuss the policies and procedures, and set up an individual education plan.

Student interest will determine the program’s longevity.

One of the most important aspects of the program is the one-on-one assistance. Many struggles, Zanzig stressed, should not be dealt with alone.

Zanzig has experience helping soldiers, as he was involved with the Wounded Warriors Project, where he gave

those on base the ground work they needed to apply for and attend school. He also works with homeless veterans, providing them equally beneficial resources. Some of these include bus passes so they can commute to school, free prep and core classes, books, and pens and paper. All they need to do is continue to attend class and take it seriously. Referral services are also free and work to improve the veterans living situations.

Zanzig stated, “You served your country, so we work together to move you forward.”

Zanzig is on campus every other Tuesday and will be here today, March 1 in Main Hall 103. His contact number is (719) 502-4545 and students are welcome to call or go sit down and talk to Zanzig or his director, Kevin Walda, for more information. S

Image courtesy of colostate-pueblo.edu

March 1 to March 7, 2011

culture

A new song

Page 7

Story and photos by Avalon Manly

Leftmore’s Joe Ziegler shares the ideology behind his life on the road UCCS alumnus Joe Ziegler, known on the stage as Leftmore, believes that the youth of America stand on the brink of a choice between perpetuating the cycle of socially acceptable progress (from college to job to family to retirement), and choosing to do what they love to survive.

“It’s a series of mini-revolutions in ourselves that demand a different experience for the whole,” he said, “People are less concerned about saving a nest egg because they know that if they hone their skills and find what they love, they aren’t going to want to retire. …It’s what they’d be doing when they retired from a job they hated anyway. They’ll be doing what they love.”

Ziegler is a poster boy for his own philosophy. Since June 2008, he’s been touring off and on as Leftmore, first with band mate Matt Shaw, then, in 2009, as a solo act. The music and the friendships Ziegler’s built in his travels are the defining aspects of his life, and touring has provided him an opportunity many don’t receive: the chance to make a living doing what he loves.

The music

Leftmore’s music blurs the lines between indie, folk and alternative rock, and exhibits a wide range of musical daring, from a traditional bounce to darker narrative arcs to the occasional painful-sounding yell from Ziegler.

The band began in 2004 in UCCS’ own Vail residency hall, when Ziegler and Shaw discovered their shared passion for music. Ziegler graduated in 2007 with a degree in communication; Shaw followed suit a year later, and that summer, they hit the road on Leftmore’s first tour. The two parted ways about a year later in what Ziegler describes as a “breakup;” Ziegler kept the Leftmore billing and proceeded to nourish the musical style he and Shaw had created together.

The most recent Leftmore album, “For Every Tree, A Seed,” was released last fall and is Ziegler’s first solo work, bearing such singles as “Fall,” “Paint” and “Don’t You Go.” Ziegler released the CD at the start of his 12th national tour last year, and is now on the verge of yet another cross-country musical trek.

This Saturday, Leftmore is headlining a show at the Black Sheep (2106 East Platte Ave., 80909) to kick off his next tour.

Taking the stage with Ziegler will be fellow indie rockers Tango Red Tapestry, The Myth of Modern Medicine, and Hudson Grace. The show starts at 7:30 p.m.; tickets are $7 at the door.

This next tour will last through the end of June. “It’s daunting to think that the next five and a half months of my life are pretty booked up,” Ziegler said, laughing. His route will take him, after his stop at the Black Sheep, up to Denver’s Marquis Theater on March 10. Then, he’ll travel through the Midwest, stopping in Minneapolis, Chicago, Nashville and Pensacola before winding his way back along the Gulf Coast, playing in Kansas and Arizona before rounding out to the West Coast.

The life

Touring isn’t just a job for Ziegler; it’s a lifestyle. He spends days behind the wheel of his tour van and nights on the couches and spare beds of those kind enough to offer him lodging along the way.

“I’m not worried about [where I’ll stay while touring] in the slightest. Through touring, I’ve learned that crashing on a couch is an incredibly easy thing to do. …Maybe I’m just super lucky, but I feel like everyone who’s put me up for a night would do more for me if they could. That hospitality goes with me everywhere.

Maybe it’s just the youth, this generation, the 18-to-30s [that are so hospitable],” he said.

The people Ziegler has come to know in his travels have formed a nation-wide network of friendship for him. “I know so many awesome people that I once likened them to twigs,” he explained, “If all my friends were twigs, I’d have the coolest [sic] nest in the world.”

Ziegler remembers that the touring lifestyle wasn’t an easy one to adopt. Before he took Leftmore on the road the first time, he sat down with his dad, a successful businessman, and discussed the logistics of surviving as a travelling musician. His dad gave him advice on monitoring his finances and cuts from shows – and then, Ziegler recounts, “He came back in and said, ‘Forget everything I just said. If you want to be happy and not spend every day miserable, forget all that.’”

Ziegler’s parents once asked him, when he came back from a tour, what he was going to do next. “I had to say, ‘I’m touring. This is a career choice. I’m trying to make this my life.’ Then they’d say, ‘Do what makes you happy.’ It was a huge boost for me, to have parents who are so supportive.”

The ideology

Ziegler’s life as Leftmore on tour is a microcosm of what Ziegler feels is happening in all the hearts of America’s young adults.

“The economy blows. It does,” Ziegler said. “More and more people aren’t going to college because they’ve realized they don’t need a degree to be happy, and [having a degree] isn’t a guarantee of finding a job anymore. …People are finding that they can do what they want to be happy. You have all these kids saying, ‘No, mom and dad, I’m not gonna go to college and go into this industry that I hate, I’m gonna go do this.

This is what I’m gonna do, because it makes me happy.’”

Ziegler believes that the widening social acceptance of various kinds of art allows more people to exercise their passions in such a way as to attempt to make a living by them. “People are focusing their creative energies more positively and more directly,” he said, “and that doesn’t show in the national dollar. But we’re working toward the first American Renaissance. …We’re in the first seconds of a renaissance where more people become tattoo artists than dental surgeons, where it’s easier and more okay to become heathens and social degenerates,” Ziegler explained, laughing.

Ziegler hopes that society will shift in such a way as to make it easier and more acceptable for people to live while doing what they love, like he does as Leftmore; if enough people choose to follow their passions rather than social expectations, he says, the youth generation will be able to provide its children with something experiential, rather than something monetary.

Living on the road and couch-surfing across the country as a way of life isn’t always easy, but it’s what Ziegler loves to do, and it’s what he plans to continue doing. Sometimes it’s hard to book gigs; some days, he doesn’t know where he’ll lie his head that night. Ziegler, though, retains his optimism and his passion. “I’ve got no reason to be hopeless,” he said. S

culture

Page 8

March 1 to March 7, 2011

A Series of Local Escapes: Story and photos by Brock Kilgore, bkilgore@uccs.edu

A Mini-Vacation in Pueblo

Pueblo. Everyone knows about our southern neighbor, and we subconsciously include it as part of our region, but how many of us have actually considered it a vacation destination?

The reality is that Pueblo is about 1500 feet lower and, according to the National Weather Service, has a dryer, warmer climate. These gaps also widen significantly in the summer and winter. Think about it, a sunny day in February or March where Pueblo is a balmy 68, instead of 60 and windy in the Springs could make for the perfect pre-spring mini-vacation.

What exactly is a mini-vacation? Well, in this case, Pueblo fits the description. It is close (only 40 miles south on Interstate 25), has several outdoor areas perfect for early spring exploring and has a downtown that is a great walk. It is also chalk full of museums, shops and interesting eateries.

Take Interstate 25 south about forty miles to the 1st Street exit in downtown Pueblo and turn right toward the mountains. Hang another right immediately on North Santa Fe Avenue and park at the Sangre de Cristo Art Center one block north on 2nd Street.

Perhaps Pueblo’s premier attraction is its quaint and recently refurbished old downtown area. Take a stroll around the four or five block radius encompassing 1st and Main, making sure to check out all the artwork on the street and the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk to the southwest. There are many shops, restaurants and pubs to explore but it is best and safest to eat downtown before heading to the outskirts of town to hike or bike. After, you can return downtown for a beer.

UCCS students can easily make a day trip with a designated driver or grab a cheap hotel near downtown without one. The activities listed below are by no means all inclusive, but any combination will guarantee a few laughs, provide an opportunity to stretch the legs and just might provide a pre-spring tan.

Bingo Burger

Lake Pueblo State Park

101 Central Plaza Pueblo, CO Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Located one block west of 1st and Main, Bingo Burgers are made up of homemade patties of beef, chicken or lamb with roasted green chilies mixed in. These patty variations are then made into specialty sandwiches like the Peppersauce Bottoms ($6.25) with a beef patty, Thai peanut sauce and caramelized onions or the Goat Hill ($7.50) with a lamb patty, goat cheese, mushrooms and lemon-rosemary aioli (mayo). They also have hand-cut sweet potato and french fries and Colorado craft beer, so enjoy.

From downtown, head west towards the mountains on 4th Street, which becomes Lincoln then Thatcher and is actually Highway 96. The park entrance is about eight miles west of downtown. Lake Pueblo (actually a reservoir) is the closest real water sports recreation area to the Springs in the summer, but the land surrounding the lake has the best winter mountain biking in the state. Admission to the park is $7, but the brand new, challenging dirt trails are well worth it.

Shamrock Brewing Company 108 West 3rd St. Open daily 11 a.m. to bar time and at 7:30 a.m. on St. Patrick’s Day

Just north of 1st and Main, this bar has been in operation under a similar name since 1946. All of the homebrews are tasty, but make sure to try the Scotch Strong Ale which is thick and rich like a barley wine, and is actually quite strong at 7.8 percent alcohol.

The staff T-shirts, which they sell and I now own, read “Irish today” on the front and “hungover tomorrow” on the back.

Nature and Raptor Center of Pueblo Located about four miles closer to downtown than Lake Pueblo, follow the same directions from downtown or head back towards downtown on Highway 96, then head north on Pueblo Boulevard about a mile to Nature Center Road across from North 11th Street. The Nature Center has many hiking trails, an education center, a nice café and riverside area, and is located along the Colorado Front Range bicycle trail

which transects the state.

The Raptor Center is especially cool. Where else can you wander amongst cages filled with bald eagles, golden eagles, red tailed hawks, peregrine falcons and stare into the eyes of a great horned owl?

They specialize in rehabilitating injured birds of prey and only the birds that are too hurt or too old to be let back into the wild are on display. A playful turkey vulture and a loudly purring cat will greet you and Arthur, the ex-Air Force mascot who flew away a few too many times, comes out to visit at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

March 1 to March 7, 2011

culture

Page 9

Visit The Scribe online at uccsscribe. com for an online exclusive on Dr. Seuss.

VISIT UCCSSCRIBE.COM and

THE SCRIBE FACEBOOK PAGE FOR WEEKLY PRIZES AND GIVEAWAYS

culture

Page 10

Now that it’s warm,

Now that winter is beginning to wane, and the weather is getting warmer, it’s time to come out of hibernation and work off that winter blubber store. Here are a few ways to enjoy the balmy temperatures.

Take an afternoon stroll

March 1 to March 7, 2011

by Cherise Fantus cfantus@uccs.edu

go play outside.

Head downtown, to Old Colorado City or to Manitou Springs. Spend an afternoon checking out the shops. You can pick up a statue of a dog smoking a cigar that you will forget to even take out of the box once you get home. You can stop by Mountain Shadows in OCC, Adam’s Mountain Café in Manitou or any such breakfast place and enjoy a quiet breakfast and/or steaming cup of joe on the patio. Swing by one of the chocolate shops and indulge in a little treat for yourself. I realize that this won’t help you get rid of the winter weight, but hey, you’re just getting started.

Go for a hike

Gather all of your pals and your dogs, pack plenty of water and a stash of Clif Bars and trail mix, and head out for an afternoon hike. Hiking can be as easy or as challenging as you want it to be. For an easy hike, head to Palmer Park or Red Rocks Canyon, which has been described as “Garden of the Gods without the traffic.” If you are looking for a more heart-pumping, leg-burning challenge, try Cheyenne Canyon, Waldo Canyon, the Incline and Barr Trail. If you are really a glutton for punishment, go ahead and hike Pikes Peak. No matter where you go, you will be guaranteed plenty of fresh air and spectacular views.

Take the dogs to the dog park

Photos courtesy of livestrong.com and honeymoons.about.com

You’re not the only one who’s put on a few extra pounds over the winter. The pooches are dying to get out and run around. When was the last time they had a chance to get their noses up another dog’s butt? There are several dog parks in the Springs, including Palmer Park, Rampart Park and Bear Creek Park. Bear Creek is a wonderfully large park where both you and your pooches can get some exercise. There is a creek running through it for those dogs that like to drag lots of mud into your nice, clean car. You can chase them all over the 25-acre park while they have a contest to see who can sniff the most butts.

Go rock climbing

Colorado is full of rocks. As humans, we cannot just let them lie around with no use, so we climb them. If you are a novice, it’s best to start with an experience guide or practice at a rock climbing gym first. Once you’ve successfully popped your rock-climbing cherry, you have a plethora of big rocks to play on.

Make sure to check regulations and ownership to make sure you can actually climb whichever rock you choose. You can always just go to Garden of the Gods, where you simply fill out a form at the Visitor Center before climbing. Since so many people climb it, there are usually climbing holds left stuck in the rock. That makes it easy for you to get to the top faster and enjoy the view.

Five ways to resolve difficult Fashion proves important roommate situations to few students at UCCS Matthew Crandall mcrandal@uccs.edu Typically, a college experience has the potential to bring along and incorporate many new and different infrastructures into a person’s life. Everything changes from the food you eat, the people you hang out with and the things you do on a daily basis. Change is the foremost constant in a college student’s life.

One way to restore serenity and peace of mind is to maintain relationships with those you live with. The home, niche, nest, cave or whatever place you claim as home should be the one area where daily reprieve and soul regeneration assimilate to restore equilibrium to one’s life.

Still, conflicts are bound to happen with roommates. Luckily, however, any situation can be resolved through a series of steps and peaceful resolutions. The following tips are five ways to work through those moments.

Some of these moments might be, for example, when that music is just too damn loud or your roommate continues to pile garbage into the 10-gallon trashcan when clearly it’s about to burst, and they expect “someone” else to empty it.

Talk and be vocal about the issues or concerns

Exposing the problems and bringing to the surface what exactly is going on will lead to better understanding. Listen to what the others have to say and remember to act accordingly with honesty and open-mindedness.

Devise a set of rules or goals to implement into daily living

Make sure to keep an open mind and consider everyone’s perspective on a proposed set of rules. Everyone has to give in order to take and equality is the most important thing.

If tension becomes too much to handle, avoid each other at all costs

Separation can be an effective tool for people to calm down and regroup.

At some point, we all get angry and frustrated to the point where words are exchanged impulsively, and situations can quickly climax. Taking the occasional timeout is always a safe play.

Reach out for help from others or seek advice from campus mediators

For most people, asking for help is like trying to pick up a car—it’s just not going to happen. But in the event fellow peers or colleagues aren’t able to help, professionals or at least more qualified people should be contacted.

There’s no shame in asking for help when you truly care about your roommate.

If all else fails, move out and move on Sometimes situations arise where people simply cannot function together. If it becomes too difficult to live under the same roof, it might be wise to move out. Unfortunately, sometimes things are just not meant to be. S

Heather Templeton htempleton@uccs.edu

Fashion is always on the rise and takes many forms while serving a multitude of purposes. For students at UCCS, fashion is not always at the center of their priorities; with that said, it is still influential and can pave the way for self expression.

For Cherrie Liu, a sophomore at UCCS, being fashionable is not necessarily indicative of following the latest trends. “I have no specific place that I prefer to shop, I just go into stores I find interesting.

I change my style from day to day, so I don’t have one set store I shop at.”

Two juniors at UCCS, Amanda Edwards and Kelly Jenkins, said they both prefer to dress for comfort while maintaining an appropriate level of cuteness. Edwards said she likes to find the newest trends at Target and Aeropostale because “they have good deals” and looks forward to this season’s influx of dresses. “I like to wear springy dresses, paired with flip-flops.” Jenkins said, “I don’t really follow trends, I wear what I want to. I do like to look nice though, but I don’t think about what I wear on a daily basis. I like to shop at American Eagle and Kohls.”

Still, there are some students with a real eye for fashion. Sophomore Chandni Gopal explained, “Fashion is definitely something I incorporate into my daily life and I keep up with the trends all the time.

This spring, I am looking forward to wearing leather biker jackets, lace, long pleated skirts are also back in fashion and bright colors that make you think about spring.”

Gopal believes “American Eagle, Charlotte Russe, Forever 21 and Nordstrom” are the best places to shop for the trendiest items. “My one-stop shop is Nordstrom; they have all the current fashions and great customer service.” In terms of accessorizing, Gopal said, “Simple is eloquent, less is more in fashion.”

Her main accessories are handbags and different styles of sunglasses.

According to Glamour fashion magazine, there are a few fashion trends to try in 2011. These include oversized sweaters, fringed bags, “the great white shirt,” and widerlegged jeans.

One website students should check out is, Smashion.com. As explained by marketing assistant Jennifer Hartin, “it’s a fashion marketplace that caters to fashion-conscious students on a budget.” Students can join at no cost, and “can use Smashion to follow fashion trends, new designer lines and bargain shopping tips in daily posted blogs.” They have a wide variety of trendy apparel and accessories, at very competitive prices that would be a steal for any college student.

Fashion continues to be of differing importance to UCCS students; and whether one is willing or able to splurge at the mall or not, there are ways to stay in style without going hungry for a month. S

March 1 to March 7, 2011

athletics

Page 11

Tryouts successful for first ever club soccer team Ryan Piechowski rpiechow@uccs.edu The newly established UCCS men’s club soccer team held preliminary tryouts to establish the squad they will take into battle for their inaugural season this spring. The team has been granted representation by the Office of Student Activities (OSA) and is well under way setting up for their first season.

Junior Marc Obando, former member of the UCCS varsity soccer team, has organized this new club team from the ground up with help from vice president Dylan Tyboroski. What initially started as a group of guys getting together to knock the ball around has led to a full blown movement to get a soccer team on campus that can compete above an intramural level.

Obando sent the word out via social networks and got over 25 passionate attendees to try out. The try out was set to be held at the Four Diamonds soccer field but circumstance and miscommunication made it so the field was locked and the lights were out. With no where else to go, the try outs were held in the

UCCS Recreation Center. In a much warmer indoor atmosphere, the large number of participants showed what they had in hopes of being selected for the first UCCS club soccer roster in school history. According to Obando, “We had about 25 people come out. There were some real quality players out there.”

The indoor rec. center session served only as a preliminary tryout with final cuts coming Friday, March 5 and will hopefully be held down at the Four Diamonds turf field. Looking for the right group of players to bring together may be a key factor as the club team will jump straight into competition over the next couple weeks.

UCCS will compete in the Colorado Springs Division-I Spring Men’s League and will hopefully look to be moved into the Semi-Pro Continental League in the near future.

As soon as next fall, the club team may possibly compete in the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Soccer League against teams such as the defending national champions CU-Boulder Buffaloes, CSU-Fort Collins, Wyoming, and Mesa State. S

Despite tryouts being moved from Four Diamonds to the UCCS Recreation Center due to a miscommunication, 25 passionate soccer players showed up to show their stuff.

interest while New York put together a half dozen packages to grab Anthony.

Eventually, Denver’s procrastination and reluctance to lose Anthony had them nearly accepting scraps for their superstar forward.

Despite most of Denver’s leverage being taken away, the Nuggets organization were able to reignite talks with the New York Knicks who agreed to send more than they would have liked to Denver. The Nuggets made out of the barter with a respectable package that included four players, all of whom started for New York, as well as draft picks for Carmelo, Chauncey Billups, and a handful of reserves.

New York fans were elated, erupting at the first glimpse of Melo in the blue, orange and white. Anthony talked about how nice it would be to go back to play in his birth state, saying, “I feel like I’m still dreaming right now. I feel like it’s a dream come true for myself and I’m ready to get down to business.”

With Melo, Billups, and Amare Stoudemire, the Knicks are set to make noise

in the East for several years to come. can be a threat to win in the playoffs.”

The Nuggets, who have dropped out of The Nuggets currently hold the seven championship contention by this move, seed in the Western Conference and will are satisfied with the pieces they got. The look to incorporate their new talent as overall feeling in the Denver front office quickly as possible to avoid dropping was relief; relief that the rumors, whis- out of the playoffs during the second half pers and distractions will finally stop, of the season. S allowing the team to focus on winning with the new look roster.

“When we get the players here, there’s going to be a refreshing attitude, a regrouping,” head coach George Karl said. “I might be crazy, but I think we Photo Courtesy of sports.espn.go.com can make the After playing in Denver since his NBA arrival in the fall of 2003, Carplayoffs and I melo Anthony is officially a New York Knick. also think we

Photo Courtesy of uccs.edu/~campusrec

Anthony hits the ‘Big Apple,’ Nuggets aim for playoffs Ryan Piechowski rpiechow@uccs.edu The soap opera known as the Carmelo Anthony trade talks has reached its finale. As of Feb. 21, three days before the trade deadline, Carmelo Anthony officially became a New York Knick.

Since August 2010, Anthony’s representative had made it very clear that Carmelo would not sign a contract extension in Denver and wished to take his talents elsewhere. These trade requests launched a seven-month saga filled with trade rumors, requests and a rollercoaster of emotions from fans around the league.

The Denver Nuggets reportedly listened to offers from teams all over the league and as the notion of actually moving Carmelo became a serious one, that list narrowed down to the New Jersey Nets and the New York Knicks, who waged negotiation battles against one another over the past few months.

Throughout this time, New Jersey entered, pulled out, and re-entered their

athletics

Page 12

March 1 to March 7, 2011

Lauren Graham captures RMAC Indoor title in pole vault Alex Cramer acramer@uccs.edu Time management is what separates the great from the good and anyone in need of an example can look no further than UCCS’ own Lauren Graham.

A traditional college student has the task of balancing schoolwork on top of a part time job. Graham is no different, managing schoolwork, a job and Divi-

Photo by gomountainlions.com Lauren Graham’s incredible performances over the last few weeks proved why she is the top pole-vaulter in Division-II.

sion-I college athletics.

Being a nursing major (widely considered the toughest major on campus), however, makes the schoolwork aspect a bit more challenging. Her job is not in your typical work place either. Graham pays for the majority of her schooling with an Army ROTC scholarship that requires her to take extra classes and spend numerous hours training to become an officer in the military.

“Army ROTC is really nice about letting me do track right now, because I miss ROTC class for nursing class and I miss physical training for track practice,” said Graham.

After Graham graduates, her goal is to continue to pole vault for the Army.

“I want the mark to compete for WCAP (World Class Athletes Program), which is the Army’s track team.”

Ever since she’s put on a UCCS uniform, though, Graham has done nothing less than excel at every meet, posting a provisional qualifying mark or better.

“We’re fortunate to have her come to the program; she’s a gal who really improved a lot her senior year outdoor after we signed her and were just fortunate this place fit well for her,” said UCCS coach Mark Misch. “She’s a hard worker, it’s going to be very exciting to see what she does over the next three years for us.”

Graham posted a career high earlier this season of 4.06 meters (13 feet, 3.75 inches) at the Air Force Invitational.

This mark made her the top DivisionII pole vaulter in the country and automatically qualified her for nationals.

Graham was also named RMAC athlete of the week for the third time in her career after this meet.

Last weekend Graham continued her domination of indoor track, winning the RMAC indoor Championship, while in

the process setting a new conference record at 3.83 meters—the previous conference record was 3.71 meters.

Graham will look to become the first NCAA Indoor Track and Field National Champion in UCCS history, when she heads to the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships March 11-12 in Albuquerque, NM. S

Got Free time?

Monday Tuesday 5am

Wednesday

Wake Up

6am

Wake up Practice

7am

Practice

8am

“

9am

“

Wake up

Thursday

Friday

Wake Up

Practice

“

Class Class

“

All Class

Day

10am

Study

“

Physical Therapy “

Track

11am

“

“

Workout

Meet

12pm

“

“

“

1pm

“

“

2pm

“

“

Class

Class

3pm

“

“

“

“

4pm

“

“

“

5pm

“

6pm

Class

7pm

“

8pm

“

9pm

“

Study

Study/Free time

“

Track meet Travel

“

“

“

“

Study

“

“

10pm

“

“

“

11pm

Bed

Bed

Bed

Bed

“

Bed

Chart by Alex Cramer

Graham’s weekly schedule consists of a little more than the typical student, to say the least. When she isn’t in class, she’s training, working, competing or studying.

Around the

Lion’s Den Salient sports shorts notables

by Matt Crandall

Men’s Basketball (9-16, 7-14 RMAC)

Women’s Basketball (10-16, 8-13 RMAC)

Feb. 25 at Lakewood, Colo.

UCCS 71, Colorado Christian 69 Feb. 26 at Golden, Colo.

UCCS 64, Colorado Mines 96

Feb. 25 at Lakewood, Colo.

UCCS 73, Colorado Christian 60 Feb. 26 at Golden, Colo.

UCCS 70, Colorado Mines 58

Senior Brent Jones’ game-high 23 points and Luke Hristou’s career-high 13 rebounds led the men to a 7169 victory over Colorado Christian on Feb. 25. Seniors Rob Howe and Ben Feilmeier scored 17 and 12 points, respectively. Jones was the leading scorer of the game and connected on 9-11 shots from the field. The men were able to trump the 20 turnovers they gave up by shooting an impressive 54.8 percent from the field.

The lady Mountain Lions managed to win their last two games of the regular season, which may be enough to suffice a postseason berth. Sophomore Lauren Wolfinger scored 19 points and five assists, while sophomore twin sisters Danielle Brown and Jessica Brown each added 12 points as UCCS defeated Colorado Christian 73-60 at the Cougar Events Center on Feb. 25.

Women’s Softball (4-7, 1-1 RMAC) Feb. 26 at Mountain Lion Field UCCS 8, Fort Lewis 5 (Game 1) UCCS 6, Fort Lewis 9 (Game 2) Sophomore Caitlin Connelly went a combined 4-for-4 with six RBIs, including an exciting three-run pinch hit as UCCS claimed victory in the opener against conference rival Fort Lewis. Sophomore Marrissa Wallace finished 4-for-7 and scored three times, while sophomore Erin Milburn, freshman Jessica Belsterling and junior Christina Blanton supplied immense offensive firepower by each recording three hits.

Photos Courtesy of gomountainlions.com

(From left to right) Luke Hristou pulls down one of his career-high rebounds against Colorado Christian. Ashley Miller spots up for two of her 16 points in Saturday’s win. Caitlin Connely swings and connects on a fastball pitch as UCCS won the opener against conference rival Fort Lewis in Saturday’s double-header at Mountain Lion Field.

opinion

March 1 to March 7, 2011

Page 13

Patients shouldn’t be punished Tantrums are here to stay, just for taking their medication like haters will always hate

Cherise Fantus cfantus@uccs.edu Medical marijuana is a touchy subject across the state of Colorado. Since it is a relatively new advent, especially in Colorado Springs, it comes with a lot of strings attached. People carrying legal medical marijuana licenses can still be fired, removed from school or banned from housing foster children for using the prescription drug.

It’s easy for many people to say that marijuana users are drug users and should face these consequences. Marijuana has been illegal for so long that it’s a natural and easy conclusion.

The fact is, though, that it is legal, and should be treated like any other legal prescription drug.

In early February, a 16-year-old Colorado Springs boy was told he couldn’t return to school because he was under the influence of medical marijuana. The boy, who suffers from hiccup-like seizures, was prescribed medical marijuana lozenges to help alleviate the symptoms.

The school would not allow him to use his prescription medication on school grounds, so when he had an attack, he had to go home for his medication.

“We got a phone call that he was not allowed to return back to school because he was under the influence of medical marijuana,” Shan Moore, the boy’s dad, told ABC 7 News, Denver.

Before being prescribed medical marijuana, doctors prescribed Moore’s son Xanax, Valium and morphine, none of which worked nearly as well as the marijuana lozenges.

Though two of those drugs are psychoactive drugs (which act on the central nervous system and can affect behavior and cognition) and the other is a narcotic, the school nurse still administered them, and he was allowed to use them on school grounds.

The boy was not abusing the drug. He was not even smoking it; he had it in lozenge form. He was using a legal prescription drug for a valid medical purpose, yet the school still wouldn’t allow it. In these situations, a school nurse could easily administer the drug in a controlled environment.

In 2009, a Michigan man tested positive for marijuana on a drug screening mandated by Walmart, his employer. Since Walmart has a zero-tolerance policy for drug use, the man was fired. The man, whose name is Joseph Casias, had a valid medi-

Comic by Arno

cal marijuana license. He was prescribed the drug after traditional painkillers failed to kill the pain from an inoperable brain tumor.

As Wal-Mart spokesman Greg Rossiter told MSNBC, “We have to consider the overall safety of our customers and associates, including Mr. Casias, when making a difficult decision like this.”

Safety in this situation was not a question. Casias said he never used the drug while on the job, nor did he come to work high.

He was totally within his legal rights and was responsible with his use.

If he had been using the more traditional pain medications, this never would have been an issue.

The pain medications usually prescribed to cancer patients are hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (Percocet), morphine, methadone and Fentanyl, according to WebMD – all of which are narcotics.

Generally, narcotics have much more serious effects on a person’s ability to function than marijuana has. It also has more severe legal consequences for users and dealers. But many employers would still rather have you using morphine than marijuana when a prescription is concerned.

Some concerns regarding the use of medical marijuana at work or school are valid. Obviously, we don’t want our kids sharing their prescription drugs with their friends.

That is why they should be held and administered by a school nurse, just as prescription narcotics are now.

Employees working with heavy equipment, or who are responsible for the safety and care of others, cannot be impaired at work. It is reasonable to fire someone if they are under the influence of any impairment-inducing drug, whether prescribed or not, on the job. It is not reasonable, however, to fire someone for using a legal prescription drug outside of the workplace.

It is time that the stigma is removed from medical marijuana. Doctors choose to prescribe that particular drug for a reason, and the patients should not be punished for trying to feel well. S

Photo courtesy of parentdish.com

Transpose my staff photo over this precious little girl’s face, and then read the article. It will all make sense in the end, I promise.

Jessica Lynch jlynch@uccs.edu The beauty of life is that no matter how wonderful, fulfilling or joyful it is there will always be things that annoy the hell out of you and make you want to throw yourself on the ground and throw a tantrum.

I have not personally thrown a full-fledged tantrum in a little over two years, but I remember the experience just as I remember the anticipatory feeling of an early morning pee.

And just to clarify, when I say “throw a tantrum” I mean I literally crumbled to the ground and kicked my arms and legs while making a wailing I-think-this-is-whatdying-feels-like sound. It happened on the floor of my apartment in Alpine Village and my utter frustration had stemmed from a boy.

For the sake of the article, and for no particular reason, let’s call him Franklin. Franklin, you see, had this tendency to never, ever stop talking. I think if he had tried to stop talking, he would have choked and died. Not that I would have mourned him or anything.

What was interesting

about Franklin was that before the day I pummeled the ground with my fists, I had never met him. Two hours with Franklin was equivalent to two weeks strapped to a table having water dripped on your forehead. Actually, I think Franklin was worse.

The thing about Franklin was that I don’t think he was trying to send me to a mental institution; I think he genuinely thought he had many worthwhile things to say.

Unfortunately, it was that innocence that ultimately drove me mad. I still feel bad for the people who lived below me and had to hear me lose my mind that night.

I am reminded of this story because a couple days ago I felt the stirring of a tantrum. Tantrums, you see, have a very distinct feel to them – kinda like if a bee were to sting you in the face. First, you feel hot and sweaty. Then, just as you think, maybe this is just a sucky case of early menopause, your arms begin to tense and your fingers curl into ‘eye clawing form.’ If I could draw you a picture they would resemble those of Cruella de Vil or any other Disney bad guy.

Fortunately, I rarely let myself move past this stage and into toddler fury.

This comes from years of experience and much embarrassment since the last time I acted as if I were three.

The thing is, though, there really are very few things that irritate me this much. And if everyone could be cognitive of my hot buttons the world

would be a much better place. In descending order, they are Franklin, the valley girl proto-type and people who both interrupt and suck at listening. This is not to say that I haven’t interrupted a few people in my day, but I’m fairly positive they didn’t need to be talking in the first place. And to be fair, I used to say “like” a lot in high school, but my dad wouldn’t let me speak unless I eradicated it from my vocabulary.

The other day, a dear person in my life decided that repeatedly interrupting me would be a good idea. Perhaps he wasn’t really doing it on purpose, but like with Franklin, my incessant annoyance had me strategizing. And by strategizing I mean I wanted revenge. I share this story because by focusing on revenge rather than my anger, I was able to avoid the tantrum all together. I’m actually really proud of the growth I’ve made in this area, and I think my improvement is applicable to most people’s lives.

Initially, I tried to speak louder, enunciate more and slow down. I said things more than once in hopes he would catch on.

I even told him to stop interrupting, but it was to no avail. Due to this and the likelihood that I might throw a tantrum the next time, I have decided to utilize my passive aggressive qualities.

I’m going to quit speaking all together. Say hello to Hellen Keller, folks. I’m glad to finally be acting my age. Actually, scratch S that, maybe you shouldn’t

opinion

Page 14

March 1 to March 7, 2011

Now why in the hell do I have to press one for English?

“For English, press one.” Not too long ago I called my cell phone’s automated payment system only to get that option as the first one presented to me by an automated female voice that sounded a lot like my perfect 10 model ex-wife from Stephen Farrell the future. It also sfarrell@uccs.edu briefly reminded me of the time I named my GPS’s female voice Rachel, as well.

But even though I have called many times to pay my bill over the years, and have also received that same option many times before, for some reason it only bothered me just this last time.

As the great American icon, John Wayne, said before he died, “Now why in the hell do I have to press one for English?” Well Mr. Wayne, wherever you are, I happen to have the same question. So since you cannot, I’ll address it.

According to a study done by the Public Reference Bureau in 2006, nearly 50 million people in the U.S. speak a language other than English at home. Granted, this study is five years outdated, but it still paints a fairly recent depiction of the country’s diversity.

Also, according to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2004, about 22.31 million Americans spoke a language oth-

er than English, 14.64 of those speaking Spanish.

The fact that we have people speaking foreign languages in this country is not the problem. It becomes an issue when normal, routine things, like making a phone call insists you press one to hear our de facto national language.

Now I can already see it; here in a little bit I’ll check my email and there will be messages accusing me of being a bigot and a racist. Yes, I am choosing to forego the political correctness illusion because in my opinion, it has made this country soft. And to be quite honest, I do not much care at this moment, so since most people won’t say it then I will: If people want to live in the United States they need to learn English!

I mean really, is it so much to ask? Hypothetically, would I not be expected to learn French if I chose to live in France? I would love to see the reactions of Russian citizens if I demanded that their cell phone companies’ automated payment platforms come with a “For Russian, please press one” preamble to it, I really would.

Another thing that is absolutely outrageous is the foreign language speaking families that refuse to teach their children to speak English.

Consequently, those same children go back to school, fall far behind their classmates on test scores (because the tests are written in English), and then ultimately wind up dropping out of high school only to find themselves working the same less than admirable job their parents once held for the rest of their lives. Now thankfully there aren’t many of these kinds of families out there, but they still exist. The

DEAR DEVI US DU

point is, one can barely even survive here without knowing English.

Going back to the numbers above, if we assume that there were 300 million people in this country in 2004, there were still only about 7 percent speaking a foreign language. And going off of my hunch that the number has not increased substantially since, I’m going to finish off by boldly stating that if you only speak one foreign language and do not have a desire to learn English, do the rest of us a favor and don’t move to the United States. That was for you, John Wayne.

Photo courtesy of web.bv.edu

John Wayne is incredulous as to the evolution of the bilingual touch-tone telephone option.

Dear Devious Duo, The other night, I slept with a guy I’d known before as a onenight stand. It was the first time I’d been with him while sober, and it wasn’t nearly as great as I remember it being. He’s under the impression that we’re going to keep up this no-strings-attached sex thing, but I don’t know how to feel about that - seriously, not that great under the sheets. What should I do?

Dear Stringless Sleeper,

Dear Conflicted Lover,

The way I see it, you have two options. One, every time you’re going to have sex with this guy, get really drunk so you can’t remember how bad it actually is.

Or you can go with option two, which is to just stop it now before you get in too deep.

Is this guy a friend of yours, by chance? If you have a deeper relationship than just having sex a couple times, I can see where it might be tricky to just cut him off. However, if all this guy is to you is a couple of lousy sessions of boning, then don’t think twice about ditching him and finding someone who can actually give you what you want.

If you don’t cut this guy off, things are going to get pretty nasty later on down the line. The way I see it, if a girl were giving it to me pretty regularly, only to cut me off suddenly without a good reason, then I’d be pissed. I’m pretty sure that sentiment is universal across most guys.

Though, I do have one question: Why is he under the impression that you’re going to keep tossing some his way? Did you give some sort of hint that it was going to be a regular thing? Because if that’s the case, then you definitely need to shut this down sooner rather than later.

Or, there is the extreme opposite: continue sleeping with him. You never know, maybe it was nerves that got the better of him last time. It’s a possibility, since he had booze as his crutch the first time around. Or maybe the thrill of a one-night stand had you thinking the sex was better the first time, when in reality the sex has always been the same quality.

So your choice is actually pretty simple, if you think about it. Do you want to have some semi-decent sex with a previous one-night stand, or cut your losses and play the field? One guarantees you sex, the other guarantees you hordes of horny guys and the fact that you’ll probably end up right where you are now. Lucky you!

Before throwing in the towel, let’s consider the possibility that maybe it’s just been awhile. He could be rusty. Maybe all he needs is a little practice and guidance from a hot chick like yourself.

On the other hand, if after three more rolls in the sheets he has shown no signs of improvement, you’re going to have to consider your options. There are two ways of handling this. 1.) Refuse to have sex unless you’re inebriated 2.) Cut your losses and get out.

There’s also the possibility that you are simply not string-less sex caliber.

Maybe the reason he’s “not that great under the sheets” is because you’re not that kind of girl.

There was a time when I thought I could handle a relationship that consisted solely of sex. I was busy; I had a lot on my plate both with work and school, and the idea of a full-fledged relationship sounded far too time consuming.

I believed that having someone I could call up at a moment’s notice was the perfect solution to my hectic life. The problem, of course, was that the only reason I could consider a hook-up based relationship with the guy was because I didn’t actually like him very much. I was ready and willing to use him for sex because I knew he wasn’t dating material.

That should have been a red flag; because here’s the thing, if you don’t like someone enough to even imagine eventually calling them your boyfriend or girlfriend, your sex is going to be about as passionate of an activity as watering your house plants or shoveling snow.

Passion and enjoyment stem from genuine feelings for a person. So, if this guy isn’t someone you can see yourself legitimately dating, maybe you should move on and find someone with that kind of potential.

Then again, he might be a good number to keep on layaway, just in case.

-JD Osorio

- Jessica Lynch

Have a question about relationships, love or...sex? Email your query to the Devious Duo at scribeonsex@gmail.com.

the

Scribble

“Still, if a statement cannot reasonably be interpreted to be one of express or implied fact, it cannot be libelous. This means that humor columns, spoofs, cartoons and satire are protected as long as readers understand that the material is not intended to be taken seriously.”

-Student Press Law Center

Boomer the mountain lion gets attacked by real mountain lion, kicks its furry ass Stephen Farrell sfarrell@uccs.edu On the night of Feb. 19, the men’s basketball team lost their game 82-79.

After the game, Boomer casually picked up his bag and walked to his car, according to student Brian Von Brent.

Just after reaching his car and lifting his key fob to unlock it, a mountain lion pounced on him from out of the darkness. Von Brent continued, “I couldn’t believe it, here just as I was beginning to wonder, ‘Why is this guy still in his full Boomer suit, is he really going to drive home like that?’ some mountain lion just pounces on him and starts mauling him.”

To the beloved mascot’s advantage, his suit and full headwear served as ex-

tra padding against the ravenous claws and fangs. However, it did not end there, and after what seemed like only seconds Boomer grabbed the vicious cat by the throat and began repeatedly smashing its head into the pavement until it died.

Von Brent added, “He just starts bashing the thing’s brains in; it went limp, just motionless. Next thing I know he pops his trunk, and just stuffs it in there, I mean he just stuffs it in there in such a way like ‘eh, all in a day’s work.’

The whole time he has his full suit on, I mean, there was no way I could identify the guy it was just… Boomer. It was so surreal. I asked him if he was okay and he just stuck a thumb up.”

As further explained by Von Brent, Boomer then opened his back door, pulled out a Coke, got into the driver seat and then casually drove off. S

The news in brief IQ test required to obtain driver’s license

In an effort to make driving less of a headache, the State of Colorado passed a law requiring an IQ exam as part of the driving test. In order to obtain a drivers license in the State of Colorado, and IQ of at least 120 is required.

“We find that many traffic incidents and traffic jams are caused by sheer stupidity,” said El Paso County Sherriff Terry Maketa. Lawmakers decided that if there were fewer stupid people on the road, there would be fewer stupidity-related incidents. “I just want to be able to go skiing without hitting traffic caused by idiots who don’t know how to drive,” commented Representative Doug Lamborn.

S

World to run out of oil within the month

Geologists realized last week that they had grossly underestimated the amount of oil that was left in the world. The amount that is actually left underground is only enough to last about a month. Car manufacturers are desperately trying to produce enough alternate-fuel vehicles to meet the rush. Scientists are also working diligently to come up with better alternative fuels. “We need to come up with something,” said scientist Paul Hubbard, “People are going to start to revolt without their precious cars.” There is a legitimate fear that people have forgotten how to walk, therefore making it difficult to get from place to place without a car.

S

Student shares cookies with class A student got a care package from his mom over the weekend and decided to share with his class. Freshman Tim Rowland received a package from his mother that included homemade chocolate chip cookies. He brought them to his psychology class on Monday morning and passed them around. “It was so nice of him! My mom doesn’t send me anything. I’ve been eating Chips Ahoy! for months, so it was nice to have something homemade,” said classmate Melissa Powell. His act of kindness has prompted people across campus to share their treats.

S

Best friends fight, world may end Two BFFs enrolled in the nursing program got into a huge fight over the weekend. Sophomores Sarah Nichols and Jennifer Howell had an argument that may leave their friendship in tatters. They moved in together last week, because as Nichols said, “We thought it would be, like, totally awesome!” But they quickly began to get on one another’s nerves. Then, on Saturday, Howell asked Nichols if she “really needed that” as Nichols took out a box of Girl Scout cookies. “She knows I’m sensitive about my weight,” said Nichols. The pair are currently not on speaking terms.

-Cherise Fantus

PhotoIllustration by Avalon Manly

Okay, so it doesn’t really look like a dead cougar’s been stuffed into Boomer’s trunk, like I meant it to. I really suck at Photoshop, okay? Lay off.

TOP TEN

debate-winning slams

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

You’re a buttface.

I know you are, but what am I?

Nuh-uh!

Make me.

Shut up!

Yeah, well... You have cooties!

I’m telling!

*Storm off; stomp feet; slam door

I’m rubber, and you’re glue. Whatever you say bounces off of me and sticks to you.

Your mom.

-Scribe Staff

Holy Grail is actually a bagel Cherise Fantus cfantus@uccs.edu For centuries, man has been on an endless quest for the Holy Grail. Last week, archeologists in Israel finally uncovered the most sought-after relic in history. It was discovered in Jerusalem at a site that has been determined to have been the location of the Last Supper.

It has long been believed that the Grail was a cup, which is why it has been called “grail,” which means “cup.” Last week’s discovery proves, however, that it was not actually a cup nor a bowl. It was a bagel.

While Jesus was said to have turned blood to wine, historians say he never actually touched the stuff.

“The wine in Israel at that time was horrid,” said historian George Nesbitt, “It was kind of like the wine they make in the Midwest region of America now – just completely awful.”

He did, however, love bagels. “He was Jewish, after all,” commented Nesbitt. Historians now know that though he didn’t drink a glass of wine at the last supper, he did enjoy an everything bagel with a schmear of cream cheese and a few capers. The half-eaten remnants of that bagel

are now in the hands of world-renowned historians.

The bagel was discovered during a routine dig by a team of American and British archeologists.

While they were hoping, as all archeologist who dig in that region are, to find the Grail, they were in fact looking for regular historic artifacts. The dig had been going on for more than a week before they discovered anything.

“I was hoping to see some old pottery or something. I never expected this,” said Katie Miner, a student of archeology.

Miner was the one who actually discovered the Grail. The seven more experienced archeologists on the trip were irked.

“I’ve been digging for over twenty years, and on her first dig, the little brat discovers the freaking Holy Grail! This blows,” said American archeologist Henry Buster. Shortly after commenting, he dug himself a hole and has been sitting in it ever since.

Along with the bagel, archeologists found silverware, pieces of plates, a few napkin rings, a petrified wishbone and a piece of what appears to have been a beer mug. As Nesbitt stated, “Jesus was more of a beer guy.” S

Firefox has crashed.

Report

Make your life suck less by visiting Quit uccsscribe.com