April 22, 2013

SGA Special Elections page 6

the

cribe Vol. 37, Iss. 22

Monday, April 22, 2013

UCCS Student Newspaper

Inside this

Issue news

Bruce Benson page 2 CU President Bruce Benson spoke at Berger Hall about upcoming funding challenges for the CU system.

culture Spring Music Fest page 3 The Office of Student Activities will host a free music festival to help students relax before finals.

Neil deGrasse Tyson spoke at Gallogly Events Center April 17. Read more on page 7.

Man questioned, escorted from campus after revealing BB gun Sara Horton shorton@uccs.edu

opinion Constituents page 9 Elected officials must represent their constituents, but those constituents do not always make their voices known.

sports Rec Center page 11 Even though student employees at the Rec Center receive training, it’s not always enforced.

Photo by Nick Burns

A man was escorted from campus after showing a BB gun to a UCCS police officer.

According to a press release issued after the incident, on April 16 at about 12:30 p.m., 49-year-old Robert Cordts stepped off a city bus and approached Officer Joe Dilwood outside University Center.

He asked Dilwood if he could carry a gun on campus and then removed what appeared to be a firearm from his jacket pocket.

Cordts obeyed Dilwood’s command to put the weapon on the ground, which was later identified as what Tom Hutton, executive director of media relations and internal communication, described as “a very realistic-looking BB gun.”

Officer Larry Darnall assisted on the call.

Hutton confirmed Cordts was not a student and apparently unrelated to UCCS at any capacity.

Cordts was questioned before he was issued an exclusion notice and escorted from campus.

“We didn’t handcuff him.

We didn’t take it to the extreme,” said Interim Police Chief Brian McPike. “The officer just felt that it was a

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Commons Robert Cordts came to campus and showed what was described as a “very realisticlooking” BB gun, similar to the one pictured, to Officer Joe Dilwood. safer situation and was able to deal with it, and I think it went down really well.”

McPike said the exclusion will ban Cordts from the campus for one year and that no further action will be pursued at this time.

“I think it’s important students understand that Airsoft guns and BB guns are made to look like a real weapon,” said McPike.

Accordingly, he added, officers are trained to respond

like they are real firearms until they can be identified.

“It takes an extreme amount of training and a lot of restraint on an officer’s part to deal with a subject with any kind of weapon like that,” McPike said, “and I felt like the officer did an excellent job of representing the school and representing himself and doing the right thing while protecting himself at the same time.”

While some students

have taken to UCCS’ Facebook page and commended the university’s response, others have questioned the incident.

“He approached the officer and asked if he could have it on campus, and not only did they escalate the situation, rather than keep it at the same level, but they kicked him off campus for a having BB gun. A toy,” student Chris Priddy wrote. “My pencil is more dangerous. Why did this

happen?”

Student Eric Robinson commented he was glad Cordts had been removed from the campus, but also that he couldn’t “believe a BB gun called for this much press.”

While UCCS allows concealed carry, Hutton said the man violated university policy when he openly displayed his weapon.

He also explained the incident’s location at a crowded bus stop and the April 15 Boston attack resulted in heightened awareness and influenced the university’s decision to issue a press release.

“This was in a very public area, and tensions are a little high after what happened in Boston,” Hutton said. “We’re just going to over-communicate, if you will, about this and not wait for questions to come in.”

Similarly, McPike said in the press release, “I understand the heightened sensitivity of campus community members. I assure you that Campus Police officers are actively patrolling the campus to ensure a safe learning environment.”

Students, staff and faculty are encouraged to report any suspicious activity to Campus Police, which can be reached at 255-3111. S

News

Page 2

April 22, 2013

Benson talks tuition increases, international recruitment Dezarae Yoder dyoder@uccs.edu With Gov. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., submitting a 3.6 percent increase in classified pay as a part of his budget plan, state schools must formulate ways to fund these increases.

“We came up with a 3.1 percent salary pool,” CU President Bruce Benson stated April 15 at Berger Hall during a town hallstyle meeting.

“It costs a lot more to replace those good people than it does to keep them on with a little more salary increase.”

Benson spoke of the special Board of Regents meeting held earlier this month.

“They approved all of our tuition and fees that we recommended to them,” Benson stated.

CU Regents endorsed a 6 percent increase in tuition rates for UCCS students, both undergraduate and graduate resident students. Non-resident students will see a 4 percent tuition increase coming into effect next fall.

“Who wants to raise tuition? Nobody does.

But you don’t want to lose your great people,”

Benson said.

Funding of higher education could also be affected by a lawsuit currently being viewed by the Colorado Supreme Court.

The plaintiffs involved in the Lobato case state that the current financial system for education is not congruent with the Colorado constitution’s requirement of “thorough and uniform” public education system.

If the plaintiffs win, the state would either have to raise taxes by at least 50 percent or have to devote 89 percent of the general fund budget to K-12 funding.

Medicaid, transportation, public safety (including the State Patrol, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and prison system) and higher education would be a few of the most affected areas.

The case was first filed in 2005 and is now at the Colorado Supreme Court following many appeals.

With a seven-member court and one recusal, Benson is “very nervous” about the situation.

“If it goes the wrong way, the state is going to have to come up with another several billion dol-

lars to cover.” He added, “It will be interesting to see how they handle all of that.”

Benson also quoted a past University of Denver study that stated the University of Colorado would be out of money in eight years.

CU’s flailing financial health would be in part due to Amendment 23, which promotes minimum funding for K-12 schools.

Benson cited the state’s polled percentages in financing higher education in comparison to other public interests.

“Positive for K-12 education is at about 55 percent, for health it’s 23 percent, for transportation and higher ed, it’s about 11 percent each,” Benson said, adding that higher education “just does not sell well.”

Benson referenced money-saving issues that have been “cut” and “cleaned out” since he has taken the role of president.

“You need international students on your campuses if you’re going to be an international university,” Benson said.

He noted it is important to learn about other cul-

Photo by Nick Burns CU President Bruce Benson held a town hall-style meeting at Berger Hall to discuss the state of the CU system. tures.

With new measures in the works, Benson claimed Boulder could be receiving $70 million a year, and Colorado Springs could be receiving $10 million a year if UCCS gained 1,000 international students.

“This is why we’re pushing ahead,” Benson continued. “The campuses are actually working together, talking about how we can do more to help each other find more international students.”

Benson also suggested that the idea of sequestra-

tion wasn’t all that bad of an idea in handling the higher education part of the budget.

“I think we could go through and do a lot of things that would be simple, easy and not hurt people.”

Benson’s address also touched on enrollment growth. “When we have that kind of enrollment growth and we have to continue to hold things down, it gets a little tougher on the rest of us that are here,” he said.

According to the Office of Institutional Research,

transfer student numbers increased by 8 percent in Spring 2013.

Homer Wesley, vice chancellor, Student Success and Enrollment Management, said earlier this year regarding spring enrollment, “I believe these increases are the result of the diligent efforts of many people.”

Under Benson, CU has increased fundraising with a record high of $213 million in 2010-2011, but as further cuts to higher education are made, some fear this effort falls short of necessary help. S

UCCS works to comply with new city water restrictions April Wefler awefler@uccs.edu In an effort to end drought conditions in Colorado Springs, new water restrictions went into effect on the campus April 1.

UCCS is working with the city to comply with the restrictions, but less water may mean a shift in the watering schedule and browner lawns on campus.

“I’ve seen the data that shows where the reservoirs are up in the mountain and been up there and seen how unbelievably low they are,” said Gary Reynolds, executive director of Facilities Services.

“The Arkansas River Basin, which supplies southern Colorado, is at 76 percent of normal,” KOAA reported March 19.

“For this time of year, it should be right around 70 percent of capacity.

Instead, it is just below 50 percent. In order to make up the difference,

we would have to have 8 to 10 feet of snow between now and the middle of April,” reporter Bill Folsom said in the same broadcast.

According to the April 29 online issue of The Gazette, Colorado Springs is not the only place in Colorado with new water restrictions.

Woodland Park, Monument, Fountain, Manitou Springs and Cherokee

Metropolitan District also put new restrictions into effect.

Last year, city water requirements allowed UCCS to irrigate three days a week. Now, according to the new city water restrictions, the campus is only allowed to irrigate two days a week.

“Obviously, since we were on three days a week last year and now we’re only on two days a week,

our lawns are gonna be browner,” Reynolds said.

“We need to readjust to all the clocks and set on days we’re allowed to water and water between times that we’re allowed to,” he added.

Also according to the April 29 online issue of The Gazette, the new city water restrictions are as follows: • Residents will be able to water lawns and turf

Photo by James Sibert UCCS is expected to irrigate two days a week due to new water restrictions.

no more than two days per week.

• Even number addresses will be able to water Sundays and Wednesdays.

• Odd number addresses will be able to water Tuesdays and Saturdays.

• Businesses will be able to water on Mondays and Fridays.

• Watering will be prohibited between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

• Residents will be restricted to watering for a maximum of three hours per day.

• Outdoor watering with a drip irrigation system, handheld hose with a shutoff nozzle or handheld container is allowed for trees, shrubs and plants at any time.

Reynolds said some of the restrictions pose a problem for the university. “We’re supposed to water on Mondays and Fridays, and that’s a challenge for us on Fridays because of an event Friday night on the West Lawn or Saturday.”

Reynolds said that in the past that the university has tried to schedule the sprinklers for a time when people aren’t walking across campus so they won’t get wet. He said that this might not be possible now.

“We’re working with Colorado Springs Utilities to stay within restrictions and honor restrictions but ask for some variances on things,” he said.

Specifically, UCCS is asking if it can irrigate on a day other than Friday.

Currently, the university is in negotiation with Colorado Springs Utilities and still in the formal stages and application process.

“I’m sure they’re getting a lot of questions for variances,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds said he understands the need to work together as a community to support the water restrictions and make sure that there is water for everybody, especially when headed into another summer wildfire season. S

Culture

April 22, 2013

Page 3

Office of Sustainability promotes Earth Week events Alexander Nedd anedd@uccs.edu UCCS prides itself as one of Colorado’s greenest colleges. Environmentally friendly buildings and new solar systems showcase the power of saving energy and recycling on campus.

On April 22, UCCS and the world will be celebrating Earth Day. The Office of Sustainability has scheduled a week full of eco-friendly events to capture the student body’s attention.

Kevin Gilford, assistant sustainability director, aims to bring creativity and sustainability knowledge to campus and is excited for their annual event.

“The theme for the week is Acts of Green and Blue,” Gilford said.

“Our big focus is on water because of the drought we have in Colorado and the fires that we had last year.”

David Maxon, a sophomore biology major, helps coordinate the events at the Office of Sustainability.

“My favorite thing about Earth Week is the Clean the Stream [project],” Maxon said. “We have about 30 to 40 volunteers come and help

Photo by Alex Gradisher A look at any stream in the Springs area may show trash that degrades Colorado’s natural beauty. clean the Templeton Gap floodway. We get to meet a lot of people and have free food.”

Earth Week kicks off Monday, April 22 with Earth Day. Office of Sustainability will be celebrating the day from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the El Pomar Plaza with a variety of information, music, games and of course, free

food.

“We have solar cookers, we’re giving away seeds and potted plants,” Maxon said. “It a good way to show a lot of information and figure out what’s going on at UCCS in terms of sustainability.”

The week continues with a showing of “Finding Nemo” on the West

Lawn on Wednesday, April 24, at 8 p.m.

“Water is important and it goes with our theme,” said Gilford.

To finish out Earth Week, the semi-annual Clean the Stream will be held Friday, April 26.

UCCS has adopted the Templeton Gap floodway that runs parallel with Union by Austin Bluffs.

Each semester, student and staff volunteers to pick up trash around the stream. The project has been done for four years.

All students are welcome to join.

“We ask them to bring water and appropriate clothes, and recycle,” said Gilford.

The Clean the Stream project is partnered with

Colorado Springs Utilities.

Over the past couple of years, Colorado has seen an increase with droughts.

With respect to last year’s Waldo Canyon Fire, Gilford hopes to promote awareness on the importance of water in Colorado.

Gilford urges students and faculty to remember the tips learned at events and to have them be applied throughout the year.

“What we are looking for is for people to be more aware of their habits,” Gilford said. “We need to change some of these so we aren’t using as much of our natural resources.

Don’t buy it in the first place; recycle, watch what we throw away and watch what we purchase.”

“All the [events] are going to be pretty exciting,” Maxon added. “A good way to figure out what you want to do to help is to come to the El Pomar Center this [Earth Day] and spend five minutes.”

All the events are cosponsored with the Office of Student Activities and Sodexo. To learn more about the Office of Sustainability and to register for the Clean the Stream project, visit uccs.edu/ sustain. S

OSA to host free spring music festival on West Lawn April Wefler awefler@uccs.edu The end of April usually indicates the start of studying for finals. More people pour into the library, and the weeks of stress and cramming a semester’s worth of curriculum begins.

For students who need a break from studying or enjoy listening to music and eating free food, the Office of Student Activities is hosting the UCCS Spring Music Fest on April 27 from 4-8 p.m. on the West Lawn.

The free spring music festival includes free food, such as turkey legs, hot dogs, hamburgers, and the Colorado Springs Cupcake truck.

Additionally, there will be a mechanical bull, a rock climbing wall, games and prizes.

Performers for the music festival include The Martini Shot, Tyler Hilton and Preston Pugmire.

According to the band’s

website, martinishotband.net, The Martini Shot, whose members include several local music teachers, “is a cover and original six-piece PopRock based out of southern Colorado.” The band was created in 2000 and is influenced by Barenaked Ladies, Reel Big Fish and 311.

The band consists of Andy Clementi on lead guitar/vocals, Ryan Walter on lead guitar/vocals, Brook Mead on bass/ vocals, Greg Trujillo on drums/vocals, Rob Smith on sax/keyboards/vocals and Brian Person on trumpet/vocals.

“The name, ‘Martini Shot,’ refers to the Hollywood slang term for the last shoot of the day,” the band’s page stated.

Another performer, Tyler Hilton, who starred on the WB’s and CW’s “One Tree Hill,” thought the spring music fest sounded like a good time.

“I love playing colleges,” he said in an email.

Hilton first became involved with music because of his family. “My dad played a lot and he taught me guitar. I loved the original songs my dad and my uncles wrote and I wanted to do the same thing,” he said.

Hilton said his inspiration comes from Bob Dylan, Muddy Waters and Woody Guthrie. “I love roots music like blues, folk and country. I love the rock ‘n roll that comes out of it, too.”

He added that his best experience was playing shows with Keith Urban and John Mayer. “That was just insane; those guys are so cool and really fun to hang with.

Those shows were just surreal and the crowds were so into it.”

Preston Pugmire is another performer. Pugmire, who was recently named Campus Activities Magazine’s 2013 Best Music Artist, has a unique show. According to campusactivities-

The Lowdown What:

Spring Music Fest

When:

April 27, 4-8 p.m.

Where:

West Lawn

How much: Free

magazine.com, the show involves “an interesting technique called ‘looping.’”

Looping, according to the site, is Pugmire recording “what he’s playing live, then loops it over again so he can play other parts on top of it simultaneously. This allows him to play his own backup, sing his own harmonies, and by the end of the song, he sounds like a full band.”

Additionally, Pugmire’s music “is upbeat, melodic, and soulful.

His style has been compared to Jason Mraz and Ed Sheeran, with a bit of

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Commons Tyler Hilton is one of three performers scheduled for the Spring Music Fest.

Justin Timberlake.”

For students wanting more information about the music festival, UCCS

made a promo on YouTube. The video can be found on the uccsOSA channel. S

Culture

Page 4

April 22, 2013

High-heel event aims to bring awareness to sexual violence Alexander Nedd anedd@uccs.edu

Photo by James Sibert ROC’s Walk a Mile in Her Shoes will have male volunteers walk a mile in women’s high heels.

Get ready to check your shoe size.

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, to be hosted by UCCS’ Respect on Campus April 27, allows for students and staff to come together and walk a mile for a special cause.

But if participants expect to use their Jordans or Nikes, they might be in for a surprise. The mile will be walked in high heels.

Carrie Horner, education specialist for ROC, oversees the education and outreach components of the program.

According to ROC’s mission statement, the group aims to “[e]nd a culture of violence.”

“We believe education is the most powerful tool we have to prevent violence,” Horner said. “We spend our time training and educating students, staff and faculty around the issues of relationship and sexual violence and ways to intervene safely if someone needs help.”

ROC has many other events to help promote sexual violence aware-

ness.

“In addition, we host many awareness events, including Take Back the Night and Walk a Mile in Her Shoes this month in order to share information with the community and give voice to survivors.”

The event is not just limited to women. “Men and women can participate in the walk by registering at the UC information desk,” Horner said.

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is a creative event that asks men to walk one mile in women’s high heels to demonstrate support for gender and sexual violence.

The event is expected to attract many students and people from the community.

“I am most looking forward to seeing many people come together to support people who have survived sexual assault,” Horner said.

“Planning this event has been an adventure.

I have had an amazing team of people from UCCS and TESSA.” The cost for registration is $15, which includes a T-shirt, and all

proceeds will be given to TESSA, a local agency dedicated to helping survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.

The event will take place at Bancroft Park in Old Colorado City. Signin and registrations will start at 12 p.m. and the opening program will begin at 12:30 p.m.

Horner encouraged those participating to come early. Registration the day of the event will cost $20, and cash or checks are accepted.

“I think they will gain, perhaps for the first time, an appreciation for what survivors go through and an awareness of the power of their own voice,” Horner said. “We can all change our culture.” S

The Lowdown What:

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes

When:

April 27, noon

Where:

Bancroft Park 2408 W. Colorado Ave.

How much: $14-$20

First annual Nursing Olympics to be held April 23 Monika Reinholz mreinhol@uccs.edu Food, fun and games will greet students at the first annual Nursing Olympics, held April 23 from 1-4 p.m. on the West Lawn.

The event was thought up

by Beth-El Student Nursing Association (BSNA) secretary and newsletter editor Nancy Phelps and lead faculty advisor Susan Davis.

BSNA fundraising director Lexie Lichvar, a senior nursing student, worked closely with Phelps and Davis to make the event happen. “It was a team effort to create this event,” said Lichvar.

The club was able to obtain funding for the event as well as advertising around campus with the help of the Student Government Association, Student Life and Leadership Assistant Director Sabrina Wienholtz and Residence Life and Housing Director Ralph Giese.

The nursing association has been around for years and is using this event to get more recognition,

encourage involvement among students on campus, promote activity and relieve the stress of finals.

Many Beth-El students feel left out and disconnected from the events on the main campus, as many of their classes are in University Hall, which is approximately a mile from main campus.

BSNA is hoping this will become an annual event and be the first of many future events it will host on campus. It is hoping to see student and faculty interest and involvement increase among all majors.

“After attending BSNA meetings for four years and being an active member for two, I am amazed at how much progress BSNA has made just in these last couple months,” said Lichvar.

“I am sad to be leaving, but I have no doubt that BSNA is going to do some really big things in the coming years.”

Everyone is welcome to attend the event. Participants are encouraged to arrive early and sign up to compete in various events,

Photo by Josh Camacho Beth-El’s Nursing Olympics will have a crutch obstacle race. which include a crutches obstacle course, bed pan races, three-legged restraint race and gown up/ gown down relay, among others.

Prizes, such as $25 bookstore gift cards and apparel donated by student housing, will be awarded to the winning teams, and everyone who signs up gets a free T-shirt.

Students can hang out while feasting on healthy food options, listening to music and playing other games like volleyball or Frisbee.

BSNA club meetings are the first Monday of every month in University Hall Room 141. Membership is free and open to anyone. Lunch is provided while key speakers discuss

a variety of topics related to the health and medical field.

Anyone thinking of going into the medical field is encouraged to attend the club meetings to network, learn of community service opportunities, connect with current students, get advice on entering the nursing program and meet faculty members. S

The Lowdown What:

Nursing Olympics

When:

April 23, 1-4 p.m.

Where:

West Lawn

How much: Free

Culture

April 22, 2013

Page 5

Fagbug rolls onto West Lawn, encourages LGBT tolerance Monika Reinholz mreinhol@uccs.edu Usually, when a car is vandalized, the owner’s first thought is to repair the damage. Erin Davies, however, is parading her vandalized car across the country.

Passersby had the opportunity to stop and look at Davies’ rainbow-colored VW Beetle, otherwise known as the Fagbug, parked on the West Lawn April 11.

The Fagbug display began after a vandal spray painted the word “fag” on her driver’s side windows and “U R gay” on the hood April 18, 2007 while it was parked in downtown Albany, NY. She had a rainbow bumper sticker supporting the 11th Annual National Day of Silence.

Instead of refinishing the car body and glass, Erin decided to leave it as a way to start a conversation with whoever did it and get the person’s attention.

“I think this is great,” said junior health sciences major Juliana Zavodsky.

“I think that there needs to be more awareness spread on gay and lesbian rights.

I never heard of anything like this, so I’m really excited to see something like this at our university.”

The Fagbug and Davies stopped by the campus at as part of her trip to the West Coast. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the colorful

Photo by Nick Burns Erin Davies stopped by UCCS on her travel to every state in the United States. car sat on the West Lawn to bring awareness to the LGBT community.

“I’m really excited that we’re able to bring it to campus,” said Vanessa Delgado, LGBT program director and student support at MOSAIC. SPECTRUM, the UCCS LGBT club on campus, hosted the car and the conversation that Erin Davies had at 6:30 p.m.

“I think it is very cool that it is here. It hasn’t

been here. She has been here before but the car wasn’t, so I think it’s really cool that the car is here this time,” said Nakeesha Conley, a sophomore business information systems major and vice president of SPECTRUM. During the discussion, Davies showed clips of her documentary called “Fagbug” and had a Qand-A session.

She drove her VW Beetle untouched for a year.

Dared by a friend, she took a 58-day road trip around the country with it, and on the last day of the year, she modified it into the rainbow car it is today.

She had gotten a variety of reactions, good and bad, along the way, including tickets from police officers pulling her over and notes left for her on the car by passersby.

“I’ve seen the film before, so I really liked it,”

Delgado said. “I think it’s really cool to be able to meet her and see the car.

I think it’s a huge part of visibility, which is very important here, not only in Colorado Springs, but at UCCS.” “I think it’s a really good way to get word out about the LGBT community and the queer community that is actually here at UCCS; it is pretty large. People don’t realize that. And so I think it’s an awesome

piece to see.”

Erin has gone to 48 of the 50 states with her car to spread awareness. She made an appearance here at UCCS as one of the stops on her way to California, where she will be shipping her car to Hawaii and then to Alaska in order to obtain her goal of all 50 states.

Erin’s documentary is hosted online at fagbug. com and bit.ly/sharefagbug. S

Facebook and Android don’t create an inviting Home Robert Solis rsolis@uccs.edu Rating: There is no denying Facebook has become a part of its users’ daily lives. Their latest foray into social media is Facebook Home.

Currently, it’s an app only available to select Android phones, but that is expected to grow and eventually arrive on the iPhone.

At first, I thought Facebook Home was going to be just another launcher.

For those who may not know, an Android launcher is how you navigate through your apps and widgets.

Think of a desktop on a PC; desktop equals a launcher. I was mistaken, however; Facebook Home is a new, dynamic launcher and clever lock-

screen replacement.

Most appealing is that Facebook Home attempts to differentiate itself from the rest of the pack by bringing its user dynamic content.

Turn on your phone, and your lock screen has a photo from your news feed, as well as information regarding recent posts from yourself or friends.

Also, the little circle you drag to unlock your phone is made from your profile picture. You can drag that handsome little circle to go directly to your apps, Facebook messenger or the last app you had open. Very simple yet effective interface.

Directing the circle to the apps button leads the user to a page where favorite apps can be displayed as well as allow you to post quick statuses, photos and check in with Facebook. You can

still view your entire app catalogue by swiping to the left of your favorites page.

One thing I honestly do not like, and I must say that this is just my personal preference, is Facebook Home’s insistence I use Facebook Messenger.

I think Facebook is trying to make it so all my text messages go through its app. Granted, if I message people a lot through Facebook, this may be handy, but I greatly prefer my own messaging app.

If I had the ability to change what this shortcut did so I could use my own app, I would be ecstatic.

As it is now, I feel it is inconveniencing my texting capabilities.

I also did not realize how much I loved my widgets until I used Facebook Home. I have my weather, stock, deliveries and navigation widgets on my normal home screen

displaying information I need on a daily basis.

Whether this is a choice

by Facebook to simplify its user experience or this feature will be implemented later is unknown to me, but I need my widgets.

The level of polish and dynamic content presented to the user is astounding. I would not have expected it from an app that has only been released for less than a month.

Regrettably, I will uninstall this app because it lacks or restricts certain features I value. If you see yourself as a heavy Facebook user, then I encourage you to try this app.

You may find that it not only suits your needs but allows you to stay more in tune with Facebook.

For everyone else used to Android’s common layout and design, or just a casual Facebook user, take a pass. S

Screenshot courtesy of Google Play Facebook Home launched April 12.

Feat

Pages 6 and 7

Student Government Association special election questionnaire The respondents:

Story by Sara Horton, shorton@uccs.edu, photos by Nick Burns

President and Vice President

The Scribe emailed a questionnaire to each individual candidate running for office in the April 22-26 Student Government Association special election.

President-vice president team Jasmine Caldwell and Donald Apelo, representative-at-large candidate Jamar Anderson and senator of College of Business candidate Kyle Lee did not respond and were not present at the April 10 election panel.

Students can vote outside Jazzman’s or check their UCCS emails for voting instructions and a link to the ballot. Editor’s note: Replies are included as they were received.

What is one change you would like to make on campus?

Keegan Shulz: The biggest change I think that needs to be made is the creation of an incoming student tshirt program. Why do I think this is important? It gives the incoming student a sense of being a part of the university from the start.

I have attended 2 other universities that have similar programs and they are a HUGE success. This program will also get the SGA name out to the new students which will hopefully increase the amount of student traffic SGA gets which will increase the amount of student feedback we will get.

Aaron Collett: I’d try and make the campus more welcoming to commuter students. Right now, there are two distinct groups of students. There should be more mixing there.

Laura Schreiner: I want to help make people feel more connected to their school and have spirit. I want to change how people view this school.

Taylor Eaton: I would change how the campus is ran, especially by SGA. The student body needs a real voice, not something scripted.

Janine Cantrell: One change that I would like to make on campus would be improvement of the bulletin and various advertising boards and mediums.

We have many clubs and events on campus that needs promotion. Right now, I don’t think we have enough space for everyone. Also, I think we could improve these mediums’ appearances to attract more readers.

Do you think SGA could be improved? If so, how?

KS: Outreach. This has to be tackled from 2 points of view. The first approach is for the students who follow or have a slight interest in what is going on in SGA. Monthly townhall meetings will provide a time and space for students to provide feedback to SGA on what they want or disapprove of.

This will also allow us to inform the student body and give updates of what we are doing and what is going on. The second approach is for the students who don’t know or would never set foot in or near the SGA office.

This involves actively going around campus to get student feedback, whether it is setting up a table with a sign that says “What [d]o you not like about UCCS” or walking around and starting up conversations with students. This would also include going around and talking to clubs and student support offices.

AC: SGA needs to be more visible. Right now, the Student Government is more like a shadow government.

There’s very little information going either way. That needs to change.

LS: For starters I want to have it become more known; and I want to have a program set up where we give out T-shirts to incoming students and during roar daze/club fairs. It also needs to go back to a unicameral system, so I want to start having that transition happen.

TE: SGA could be improved by using a more natural, normal voice to represent not only the student body, but SGA as well. Being an opinion writer gives me the ability to express myself without hesitation.

JC: I believe that SGA will always need improvement. UCCS is a growing community. It moves forward together with the society, technology, and increasing diversity.

How we could improve SGA is a question that I have yet to answer. I will only know the answer to this once I become an actual member, then I would truly know what issues there are within SGA.

Keegan Shulz Junior, computer security

Laura Schreiner Junior, business, finance/ economics

Aaron Collett Junior, communication

Taylor Eaton Sophomore, English, professional and technical writing

House of Representatives Janine Cantrell (not pictured) Freshman, business, marketing

What makes you more qualified than your competition?

KS: Though I may have not been in UCCS’s SGA for very long, I have been involved in student and state politics for the last 3 years.

I have worked with student governments from around the state and across the nation. I have been in charge of a non-profit organization and have managed a student department with a limited budget. So in short, diverse experience.

AC: I and my running mate are the only candidates not already a member of SGA. That gives us a unique perspective that the other candidates will lack. We don’t have the “this is the way it’s always done” crutch to fall back on when something doesn’t work.

LS: What makes me more qualified is that I have been in SGA for about two years now and have served on both the House and the Senate.

With that being said, I will be able to help [members] with their duties and with questions they have regarding SGA. I also am very involved in campus and their for an outlet for info for students.

I love [serving] on University committees and knowing what is going on in the University and want to continue.

TE: My inability to be brainwashed. Just kidding- My leadership and outspokenness. I’m not afraid to try to make changes that SGA might not agree with. S

Green Action Fund lobbies projects during special election Nick Beadleston nbeadles@uccs.edu In keeping with the spirit of Earth Week, running April 22-26, students will have the opportunity to voice their opinions on the Green Action Fund during a special election.

Unlike the SGA special election, the GAF election will not involve voting in new members. Instead, students will be deciding whether or not to continue the $5 solar fee for each student every semester.

The solar fee, which is charged in addition to each student’s tuition bill, is the GAF’s main funding source for student-proposed sustainability projects.

While the GAF does receive grants, according to Drew Johnson, GAF chair, the solar fee is its primary source of revenue.

“It means one less beer on

some random night or one less latte some day during the week,” Johnson said.

As of Spring 2013, fulltime students who live on campus pay a total of $16,338.40 per year including tuition and housing fees.

In 2011, students voted to repurpose the fee, allowing funds to be allocated to students, whose project proposals are reviewed and accepted by the Green Action Fund Committee.

The GAF’s past projects have included swapping out of traditional light bulbs for energy-efficient ones, restoring the bluffs and trails on campus property, planting trees for Earth Day and creating the Heller Student Garden.

Additionally, the GAF has been responsible for the installation of water bottle hydration stations across campus, part of the Take

Back the Tap Initiative.

This project, according to the GAF website, stipulates that UCCS would not sell bottle water on campus by 2014.

Johnson went on to indicate that the popularity and the cost of the hydration station initiative may have raised the question “are we really the funding mechanism for that, or have we proved the need for it, and now we should pass it off to the administration to find the money?”

The GAF is currently working on several projects, including the Wind Purchase, which is a oneoff payment plan for energy Columbine expends from the power grid, as well as the installation of wind turbines supplementing existing electricity to Osborne within the next year.

The installation of

screens in the dorms displaying the consumption rates of water and energy are also in progress, an example of what the GAF refers to as a “three-way match.”

This is when the GAF, the Office of Sustainability and the company providing the material – Lucid in this case – each provide a third of the funding.

Future projects include installing high-efficiency showerheads and sinks throughout the dorms, a concept purposed to the GAF by Jonathan Toman, a GAF committee member, and installing solar panels on the equipment shed at the Four Diamonds fields.

The solar panels will be donated by Sunshare, a Colorado Springs-based outfit and the “nation’s first community solar company.”

According to Johnson,

the energy produced by the panels will allow UCCS sports and intramural teams to post live updates of their activities.

The GAF is also considering a project proposal by former engineering student Scott Miller, which would involve erecting one or more solar trees – freestanding structures with multiple solar panels – on existing or future buildings on campus.

Due to the amount of funding Miller requested, Johnson stated that further review of the plans would be necessary before a decision to finance the project could be approved.

The GAF breaks project proposals into small, intermediate and large, depending on the funding requested. Projects at $5,000 or less are categorized as small, while those above $25,000 are categorized as

large.

In reference to the Solar Fee, the SGA senator of sustainability, Tyrone Thibou, stated, “I believe it’s a great way that students can [change] their campus …

It’s one more option that we have. We’re quite limited in our say as far as the university goes, and I think that it gives us a chance to put our own voice out there.”

For students interested in participating in the GAF next semester, several positions, including secretary, treasurer and several committee members positions, will be vacant.

For more information on GAF committee members, past or present projects, or information on how to request funding for a project, visit the GAF’s website: uccs.edu/sustain/takeaction/green-action-fund. html. S

ture

April 22, 2013

For Neil deGrasse Tyson, ‘science is an activity of discovery’ Nick Beadleston nbeadles@uccs.edu Prior to speaking at Gallogly Events Center April 17, Neil deGrasse Tyson sat down for a Qand-A session in Gallogly’s skybox. The Scribe had an opportunity to ask deGrasse Tyson a range of questions: It was our understanding that along with the stool you were beginning this with a poetry reading.

I can. Would you like me to?

More than almost anything.

On canvas we paint in the artist’s school. It is red that is hot and blue that is cool.

But in science we show that as heat rises higher, a star will glow red, like the coals of a fire. Raise the heat some more and what is in sight? Behold a star has turned bright white.

But the hottest of all, I say unto you, is neither red nor white – if a star has turned blue.

If there is one thing [connecting] astrophysics and economics, it’s the nearly incomprehensible numbers involved – – incomprehensibly large.

There are incomprehensible numbers, but they can be either large or small.

Sorry to interrupt.

No, I’d like to be as accurate as possible. It’s 40 trillion miles to Alpha Centauri, and people can visualize that almost as well as the $16 trillion debt. How can understanding – – I think it’s closer than that actually…more like 22 trillion miles. Where did you get 40 trillion?

From the Internets, not having a background in astrophysics myself. …

How can understanding the macro working of the universe benefit people in the more micro concepts of their day to day life?

A number when it’s applied to something, a metric, is reference to some other thing … In my experience as one who is in love with the universe, and is often asked to communicate some of this love, you don’t give numbers; you give comparisons … so it’s four light years to Alpha Centari, it’s a hundred thousand light years

across the galaxy.

So if you wanted to cross the galaxy in our fastest-ever space ship, give it up. Go back to your science fiction stories and enjoy them.

It’s kind of hopelessly in the future right now, particularly given any direction that our engineering or space funding is going.

In fact, my whole talk tonight is about stakes, and the delusional thinking, the discussions that people have about space…

Colorado Springs in particular has very close space ties, with the Air Force, and NORAD, and the Space Foundation and the National Space Symposium.

This town is many things, but one of the jewels in its crown is what role it plays in our present and future of space. So I felt duteous tonight to speak on that topic.

I don’t want to step on what you’ll be covering tonight, but I do want to ask about “Space Chronicles” in the face of decreased funding to NASA. Do you feel that that’s tantamount to a step forward for the democratization of interstellar exploration; making it available to more people?

That would be the capitalization, there’s nothing democratic about capitalism. Private enterprise does it … No, it’s business, I don’t think of democracy when I think of capitalism. It should have happened decades ago. It’s long overdue.

[Samantha Morley] So then you’re a supporter of that proposition for that colony of people to go to Mars?

I don’t support anything.

It’s a personal deep outlook I have. I don’t tell people what to think, I don’t tell people who to vote for, I don’t tell people how to spend their taxes.

All I do is highlight for you the consequences of your actions and the consequences of your inactions on one topic or another.

[SM] Do you think it’s a good thing to do to send people up there, I mean it’s a one way adventure.

What are your thoughts about that?

I think it’s the kind of forward-thinking dream state that I grew up with com-

ing out of the 1960s and 70s, and everyone was thinking about the future.

It was pervasive, it was in the culture in spite of the challenges we had in that decade…it’s always good to get people to think about tomorrow, otherwise we wallow in the present …

I applaud the dream state; I’m not convinced it will work as successfully as what the planners have imagined for it. Consider the environment, considers that the environment in which you would have

Photos by Nick Burns Top: Neil deGrasse Tyson spoke for a large audience on April 17 in the Gallogly Events Center.

Bottom: One of the world’s leading astrophysicists, Tyson spoke about his work to a packed audience. to imbed people, that environment would have to be so earthlike, oxygen, air pressure. By the time you have done this, are you still on Mars.

So what I foresee, which I think would be much more fun, would be a Mars vacation. I don’t mind slightly unrealistic dreams, because out of that come some nugget of reality that we can then embrace.

Would you consider endorsing Dennis Rodman’s 2023 plan to be an emissary to Mars?

It would be interesting if he got there and everyone looked like him.

In “The Perimeter of Ignorance” you caution against the logical fallacy of the thinking [such as] “I can’t explain it, it must be the result of a superior being –” OK, so I never used those two words ever together in the same sentence. So that is invoking sort of logic and philosophical arma-

ment to assert that someone else is wrong, and I’ve never used those words.

It’s a heavy hammer, and it does, in my experience, nothing to convince anybody of anything to say you’re making false statements.

So the actual argument I made was: If your concept of God is such that if you, when you reach the limits of your understanding … and then you assert for yourself that no one ever born after you who might be smarter than you will ever figure this out … and no one horizontal to you, among your colleagues, will figure it out, therefore God did it. If that’s your understanding of God, then you are not participating in an activity of discovery, and science is an activity of discovery.

That as expressed is an activity of ignorance; you reach the point that you don’t understand something so you assign a reason to it.

That’s not discovery, that’s not explanation and therefore not science.

Therefore this activity has no place in a science classroom … People say are you this-kind-of-an-ist or that-kind-of-an-ist, and I say, no, I’m a scientist.

Well this one is so short, I feel like there is no room for errors. Even though you don’t give endorsements, Kirk or Picard?

Definitely Kirk. There’s no contest there of who knows how to act better.

Patrick Steward is a better actor. There’s no debate there. The question is if I had to pick what kind of captain I would be of a ship, I thought about it, and I think it would be Kirk.

Kirk – I like the way he makes decisions from the seat of his pants, ‘cause he has a gut that it is the right thing to do, and I like that.

I like thinking as well, but there’s split seconds and the Klingons are ready to fire, I would pick him and put him as head of the ship.

You applied yourself in college, yet you found

time to wrestle, row and hit the dance floor. Do you have any advice for any students who are trying to balance academics and extracurricular?

Every extracurricular activity I ever engaged in, it was against the expectations of the system, the academic system in which I was imbedded.

The professors wanted me to spend more time on the homework, in the lab. And the dean wanted more and, and so there was tension; it was never in balance, ever.

And not to over simplify things, but at the end of the day I did what made me happy, and as a happy student the learning became that much more fun, and the discoveries became that much tastier… all the rest of what I did contributes to the construct of who and what I am as a human being. S Due to space limitations, some questions and responses were omitted. Visit uccsscribe.com to read the complete interview.

Opinion

Page 8

April 22, 2013

Controlling spending, not raising tuition, key to budget shortfalls Staff Editorial scribe@uccs.edu Between 2001 and 2014, tuition and fees in the CU system have increased a whopping 136 percent. Regent Jim Geddes referenced this number when he opposed raising tuition yet again this year, but his concerns were overridden.

On April 10, the University of Colorado Board of Regents voted 6-3 to approve a 8.7 percent tuition increase for CUBoulder and a 6 percent increase for CU-Denver and UCCS. This latest tuition hike has prompted a chorus of voices to demand accountability – students are demanding accountability from the CU system, and the CU system looks to the state government to bail it out.

While the state has cut funding for higher education, Colorado universities must look to themselves to keep college affordable if and until state funding can rebound.

Students, expected to carry the financial burden, ask the CU system how they’re expected to pay even more for their education in a tough economy.

The CU system, in turn,

the

then asks the State of Colorado for increased funding in higher education.

Kelly Fox, CU-Boulder senior vice chancellor and chief financial officer, wrote about the tuition hike and noted the “state of Colorado has, over the last four decades, cut its support for higher education down to the lowest level of support per student in the nation for CUBoulder.”

Historically, Colorado hasn’t been the best advocate for higher education.

According to the Denver Post, full-time enrollment in Colorado continues to increase, and state funding for higher education has decreased 31 percent over the last two years as of 2012.

Approximately 5.3 percent of CU’s $2.9 billion budget is currently from state funding, and that may decrease even further.

Todd Saliman, CU vice president and chief financial officer, has said state funding would be gone by 2023 if state budgeting exclusively focused on higher education.

When that state funding shrinks even further, the CU system must find the money somewhere other than just students’ pock-

ets.

Consistently having students shoulder the burden is a short-term solution that is making a college education less attainable with every passing year, especially for middle-income students not eligible for financial aid.

A report from the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO) has reached the same conclusion.

While it Graph courtesy of Robert Solis does detail Tuition in the CU system has been rising each fiscal year. less state funding for higher $63 million remodeling tinue to be a lower prior- contribute to crippling education, it also notes offsetting state project at the CU Recre- ity than amenities and fa- tuition hikes unless some cilities, then CU campuses sacrifices are made – and cuts with increased tuition ation Center.

While having an up- are well on their way to quickly. If that means oldis far from a sustainable dated workout space and becoming all looks and no er gym equipment for the model. sake of quality education, Instead, NASBO’s outdoor pool is nice, stu- substance.

Granted, the CU system so be it. report suggests a novel dents don’t go to college Looking to students for idea: Universities should based solely on what kind must accommodate costs control their spending. It of gym membership it of- they can’t always control, money is only a tempolike state-required merit rary solution. If these turecommends that colleges fers.

A university’s stand- salary increases for classi- ition hikes continue, there track their state funding will soon be no students based on operating costs, alone appeal should be the fied staff.

Regardless, rising costs to shake down for spare not on one-time, unnec- quality of its education. If essary amenities like the curriculum and staff con- for employee benefits will student loans. S

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Opinion

April 22, 2013

Page 9

Legislatures: touting their expertise with ignorance

Nick Burns nburns@uccs.edu We vote for officials that represent us in our system of government. We put faith and confidence in their abilities to judge an

issue based on facts and the rule of law.

We should be appalled, though, that decision affecting us personally are being made out of complete ignorance.

It’s not just one issue – several different issues over the last several months have been made a mockery of supposed experts clearly showing their ignorance.

On April 2, Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Denver, stated at a public forum hosted by the Denver Post Editorial Board that a gun magazine, once shot, was

useless.

“These [magazines] are ammunition, they’re bullets, so the people who have those now, they’re going to shoot them, so if you ban them in the future, the number of these high-capacity magazines is going to decrease dramatically over time because the bullets will have been shot and there won’t be any more available,” she said.

Magazines can be reloaded as many times as the materials they are made from will last.

There are no clear esti-

mates on how many “highcapacity” magazines there are in the U.S., but according to a the Congressional Research Service, in 2012 there were 310 million AR-15-style weapons in civilian circulation.

Assuming there is even one magazine per weapon, there is a large number of “high-capacity” magazines in the population – and that is only one magazine type.

It’s not just DeGette and other Colorado lawmakers, either – the federal government has its own ignorant “experts.”

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., made a fool of herself when she talked about “imploding bullets.”

Feinstein’s experience of studying and looking at firearms has been popularly compared to the young adult who, after years of looking at porn, is somehow being called a sex expert.

Republican Congressman Todd Akin’s infamous comments on “legitimate rape” are still another example of a legislature irresponsibly voicing its own ignorant opinion.

Sometimes legislatures should just know when to stay away from a subject.

These statements should be an eye-opening realization to the folly these legislatures have chosen to believe on many of the subjects they make decisions about.

Uninformed legislatures are some of the most dangerous people on earth. Without the ability to make an informed decision, what else can they base the laws that affect you on except for party lines and their own ignorance? S

Representatives should represent their constituents

Shelby Shively sshively@uccs.edu I know how frustrating it can be when a politician you don’t agree with gets elected to Congress.

It’s worse if it’s the Senate, since you won’t get a chance to pick some-

one new for another six years.

The good news is, representatives can put you before his or her own political party and personal interests. Representative should do just that: represent their constituency.

Our representatives are not mind readers. If you would like your representative to vote a certain way, you have to tell them so.

There are plenty of ways to do just that. Most of us have phones and computers, and if you don’t, there are definitely computers all over campus.

Look up the contact information for your rep-

resentatives. Call them a few times, and leave messages asking them to vote a certain way. Email them, too.

They can’t represent our interests if they don’t know what those are. If their constituents don’t take the time and effort to remind them of their actual jobs, they have no choice but to represent their own interests.

Maybe you don’t want to look up what bills are on the floor as often as you’d need to in order to keep up with all the laws in your own state and in the whole country.

I realize that can be time-consuming. If you

get access to the actual bills, they can dock in at more than a thousand pages.

Still, there are ways to stay informed without wading through all of them. You can join a political organization with interests similar to your own, and it will email you when bills harmful or helpful to its cause are brought to the federal government.

Many of them keep track of state governments as well. They summarize the bill and its consequences.

If gun control scares you, get on the NRA’s mailing list. You can

email and call your representatives when they are considering ridiculous gun-regulation bills, actually helpful gun regulation bills and bills that regulate too much.

If you’ve read any of my other articles, it’s clear that I am a feminist.

I joined the mailing list for the National Organization of Women, and it always lets me know what’s new in the War on Women. During the election, it even had a list of candidates from different states it was endorsing.

Keeping up with bills that are important to you is easy. Just find an organization that lobbies for

issues that are important to you.

Exercise your right as a citizen to call, email and even write a physical letter (or six) to your representatives.

We have become an apathetic country, and many of us are too happy to sit back and let our lawmakers make decisions for us while we complain that we don’t like elephants or asses.

Our representatives have to represent us, even if we have different political views than them.

However, they can’t do that if we are not letting them know what we want. S

Feminism is an outdated movement, becoming a joke

Taylor Eaton teaton2@uccs.edu Feminism is outdated.

In the 21st century, feminists are finding more and more ways to play victim. Instead of promoting women’s rights, they’re just making us laugh.

Recently, President Barack Obama was chastised for complimenting the intelligence and looks of California Attorney General Kamala Harris.

“She’s brilliant and she’s dedicated. She’s

tough,” he said, but that was ignored when he then called her the “best-looking attorney general.”

The feminist movement took it upon itself to publicly scold Obama and make Harris and, by extension, all women out to be the victims.

While women have always had it hard, things have drastically changed for the better.

Don’t misunderstand me – I am pro-equal opportunity for both sexes in all capacities. However, I strongly disagree with the way many feminists go about things. They play victim to everything: men, the media, the workplace and even in education.

So when will the feminist movement be happy enough to back down and let the rest of us peacefully continue on with our lives?

If she feels as if she

is being treated unfairly, a strong woman knows how to put up her fists and fight the good fight whether it is against men, the media or whomever.

She does not play victim while screaming and crying. She plays smart and determined. Burning bras is not necessary anymore.

Feminism started in the 19th century, a time when it was vital to help women be seen as individuals. It became the most effective around World War II in 1942 when women were finally able to prove they were just as capable as men. Feminism was at its strongest during 1973 with the victory of Roe v.

Wade.

The movement helped turn around women’s lives and make everyone equal. However, in 2013, feminism has proven to be more controversial

than beneficial. It has grown to stand for the exact opposite of what women in the 1800s had in mind.

The feminist movement was brilliant at a time.

But now that women have finally become equal to their male counterparts, feminism is lacking in its original value.

It is an obsolete movement that most women nowadays abuse to gain power and attention.

Women need to help make feminism a serious topic again because without that help, feminism will continue Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Commons to be exactly what President Barack Obama called Attorney General Kamala Harris it is today – an outbrilliant, dedicated and tough. But feminists don’t seem to hear that. dated joke. S

Life on the Bluffs

Page 10

Campus Chatter Taylor Eaton, teaton2@uccs.edu, photos by Nick Burns

April 22, 2013

Top Ten

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

Out-of-context Neil deGrasse Tyson quotes

Dalton Velasquez, freshman, political science What do you think Earth Day is?

A day where we all come together and give back to the environment.

Have you ever participated in any Earth Day events? Why or why not?

I have. Back in high school last year, I spent the whole day cleaning up campus, planted plants all around campus, created a new eco garden and went around town and picked up trash.

What kind of difference/impact do you think Earth Day activities have?

It depends on how many people are aware about it. For the people who know about Earth Day, it creates a large impact, but our community isn’t really aware about [Earth Day], so it doesn’t make an impact.

Matthew Dally, senior, accounting

David Tomlinson, senior, accounting

What do you think Earth Day is?

An environmental day basically saying how you should protect the earth and stuff like that.

What do you think Earth Day is?

Earth Day I believe is supposed to be a celebration of the earth and a commitment to make it sustainable and uphold it.

How important is Earth Day? I think it’s fairly important.

Honestly, we’ve probably screwed up the earth so much at this point that there’s nothing we can really do to fix it.

Have you ever participated in any Earth Day events? Why or why not?

Not really, no. I just don’t have time.

What kind of difference/impact do you think Earth Day activities have?

I think they get awareness out there for the problems, but I think our overall impact on the planet is nothing compared to the long run.

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“ Kirk, I like the way he makes decision from the seat of his pants.”

“The tsunami has got me, oooh.”

“We derive pasteurized milk from Louie Pasture… well, I mean, not directly from him.”

How important is Earth Day? I think it’s important to the people who follow it. It’s just as important as any other holiday. If that day helps people be more environmentally conscious, then good for them.

“You don’t have to kill your mother; you can kill your great-great-great grandmother.”

“I assert that it is Apollo necrophilia.”

Have you ever participated in any Earth Day events? Why or why not?

No, I haven’t. It’s not something that’s really interested me. I haven’t been aware of any events around me.

“Even Hawking was worried about aliens coming and sucking our brains out.”

“It looks like an anaconda swallowed a pig.”

What kind of difference/impact do you think Earth Day activities have?

I’d say people planting trees will be giant trees years from now, but I think compared to the other 363 days of the year it’s probably not all that much. But hey, if people want to plant trees or pick up trash on the side of the road, then good for them. S

Austerity

“Yeah, he’s getting dates with that thing.”

“And I said that right to Buzz Aldrin’s face.”

“I’m not a f--king architect.”

Sudoku

Bring your completed sudoku to The Scribe Office (UC 106) for a prize! Last week’s sudoku Puzzle 1 (Very hard, difficulty rating 0.80) answers can be found at uccsscribe.com.

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7 Comic by Steven Fenczik, sfenczik@uccs.edu

This week at

UCCS

Tuesday, April 23 Pancakes University Center 7:30 a.m.

ROAR Awards Clyde’s 6 p.m.

Yoga for Mindfulness and Stress Reduction University Center, Room 309 Noon

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Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/~jdhildeb/software/sudokugen/ on Wed Apr 17 18:56:03 2013 GMT. Enjoy!

Wednesday, April 24 Exhibit: Senior Visual Art Majors GOCA 1420 Noon The Wild Duck Dusty Loo Bon Vivant Theater 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 25

Friday, April 26

The Wild Duck Dusty Loo Bon Vivant Theater 7:30 p.m.

University Choir Centennial Hall 7:30 p.m.

Education Abroad 101 University Center, Room 126 3:30 p.m.

Exhibit: Senior Visual Art Majors GOCA 1420 Noon

Adopt-A-Waterway Lot N 10 a.m.

Sports

April 22, 2013

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Lack of safety oversight continues to persist at Rec Center

Nick Burns nburns@uccs.edu After a series of articles criticizing the patrons and lack of safety at the Rec Center, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Annette Biggs, associate

director of Aquatics and Fitness, to ask about safety regulations at the Rec Center.

My stance remains that students and student employees are the greatest risk in our gym.

To our community’s detriment, the burden of responsibility may be falling short, landing at the feet of the culture that either fails to recognize the need to help others or is too lazy to just do the right thing.

All employees are required to receive training that is held yearly and per semester.

Biggs informed me

that standards set forth by federal and state law, the American Red Cross, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) are built into the daily, monthly and yearly responsibilities for employees and the facility itself.

She elaborated on the importance of expanding student employee knowledge base to maintain a safe gym environment in all sections of the gym by “not only introducing them to training – not only longterm training, semester

training – then we also try to incorporate them into on campus training, workshops or sessions.”

Biggs stated that the student employees also had “checklists for maintenance that are based on American College of Sports Medicine facility standards and those are the tasks that they execute. Once an hour, every hour something is being cleaned.”

The problem is that the well-intentioned and wellexecuted training plans may not be translating to the actual gym floor.

For supposedly having

received continual training on safety-conscious subjects, including kinesiology, to help with proper and safe lifting techniques, staff has a lack of supervision and assistance in the gym.

Regarding the checklist for cleaning equipment, there is only a number of occasions that I can recall seeing an employee touch a disinfectant to any equipment or instructing a patron on the need to wipe down his or her sweaty mess.

Several months ago, I proceeded to ask about 10 different facility student employees if they know

how to use the AED machines that sit behind the desks on each floor. Ten for 10 did not know how.

One unidentified employee stated he should have gone to the training.

Hopefully this has changed since then.

With safety on the line, it may not be for lack of training that inexperienced students do not know what or how to do things in the gym.

An easy paycheck and a place to talk to friends or do homework may be keeping student staff from actively preventing hazards in the Rec Center. S

Technology aids Rutgers coach removal in questionable move

Dezarae Yoder dyoder@uccs.edu The story of Mike Rice, the recently removed coach of the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights men’s basketball team, has taught fellow instructors across the country the cost of video cameras and the Internet.

Throughout the years,

Rice has been seen as a trainer who would openly display his intense coaching mannerisms. At times, it would even end with his removal from games.

In reality, different coaches have different methods, and while some may take a softer approach, there are those like myself who take a harder line when placed into positions of power within competition.

There is no reason that a more difficult type of coaching cannot be a positive one. It has been proven through coaches like the great Bear Bryant that somewhat aggressive instruction leads to victory – both in win-

ning seasons and in character building.

Recently, Rice’s antics have been viewed in greater depth. A video of the coach’s instruction during practices shows Rice throwing basketballs at players’ heads, pushing players around the court and using slurs while addressing them.

“You’re a f------ fairy,” Rice screams during one of the video clips.

“You’re a f------ f-gg-t.”

Tim Pernetti, the athletics director for Rutgers University during these incidents, suspended Rice in December.

Only recently, with the public interest and millions of hits on posted clips of this coach’s

behavior, has Rice been fired.

“When it becomes personal, when it becomes threatening, that’s just not right,” said Steve Kirkham, UCCS athletic director, of Rice’s motivation techniques.

“Once you leave the realm of what you’re trying to accomplish athletically, then you’ve crossed the line as far as I’m concerned.”

A recent Monmouth University and Asbury Park Press poll shows that the majority agrees Rice needed to lose his job over the incidents seen in the videos, which span from 2010-2012.

Yet 52 percent of the polltakers also think that

this type of behavior is normal with more notable college basketball coaches.

Rice’s conduct undoubtedly warranted the loss of his position, but better yet, a pushback by one of the players that he harassed.

“Young people are afraid in today’s society to stand up for themselves,” Kirkham said.

“I’d rather have a student athlete come to my office … rather than someone sending me a videotape online.”

There have been and are coaches all over the nation who are perhaps more aggressive motivators than many would like to see. But where

will we draw the lines for behaviors that should result in loss of job and ones that do not?

Even though Rice was fired from his position as head coach of the Rutgers men’s basketball team, he has not given up coaching.

Rice will continue to coach his daughter’s seventh-grade basketball team, according to tweets from hoopscritic.com.

The parents of the team have voiced their support of Rice, engaging in conversation on Twitter in defense of the shamed coach.

A word of advice for Coach Rice: Don’t kick the girls. One of their fathers might kick back. S

Sports

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April 22, 2013

UCCS Club Inline Hockey: Division II national champions Jonathan Toman jtoman@uccs.edu

Photo courtesy of UCCS Inline Hockey’s Facebook page The UCCS Inline Hockey Club beat Northeastern 3-2 to claim the national championship on April 14.

The UCCS Club Inline Hockey team defeated Northeastern University 3-2 in overtime in the April 14 national championship game, becoming the 2012-13 National Collegiate Roller Hockey Association Division II national champions.

After defeating the University of Denver in the regional final in March, the team earned a berth to the national championships, which took place April 10-14 in Fort Myers, Fla. After three games of pool play, and a round of

16 8-0 win over Kansas State, UCCS defeated Cal State Fullerton in double overtime to move to the final four.

Once there, the team beat Kennesaw State University 5-3 and from there got the chance to take on Northeastern.

The overtime goal, scored by Ryan Pedersen against Northeastern, clinched the national title for the Mountain Lions.

“The feeling after the winning goal was put in was unbelievable,” said Club President Taylor Gebhart. “A feeling I will never forget.”

“This team has become my family,” he added.

“It was just the biggest

accomplishment that I’ve ever been a part of. “ The win means that the team has the potential to compete at the Division I level next year, and the team will continue to look to expand and improve.

In the mean time, the team is enjoying its time in the local spotlight.

“We are gaining awareness throughout the city, with articles in newspapers, recognition by El Paso County and [being] filmed by KOAA,” said Gebhart. S Look for a full story on the team and the national championship in the May 6 issue of The Scribe.

Rugby demanding; club members look to leave mark kmarino@uccs.edu The men’s club rugby team is having a successful season thus far, even though most of the guys on the team don’t have a lot of experience playing rugby.

Rugby, considered by many to be a difficult sport, has a steep learning curve. This makes it a mentally draining sport, not to mention the physical toll it has on one’s body.

“Rugby is a rough sport,” said Austin Bowman, the club president, on the sport’s physical demands.

“I tore my PCL and meniscus and haven’t been able to play,” he said. “I would be lucky to be back for the playoffs.”

Even though rugby is a rough sport and may seem unorganized, the rules governing the game are very rigid and are aimed at protecting the players.

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I want to give this school something to have for the future. I want to leave them with something to be proud of.

- Austin Bowman

“The rules are really strict,” Head Coach Nick Abbott said. “The rules are set towards maximum player safety. There is no blocking, no forward passing and even rules for tackling.”

Rugby came onto campus about five to 10 years ago when Jer Poth created the team. Subsequent people took the torch thereafter, and the team is currently in the hands of Bowman.

“I didn’t start the rugby club here at UCCS,” Bowman said. “It was just passed down to me, and I wanted to keep the tradition going on here at UCCS.” The club has been getting so big at UCCS that the team hosted a sevens tournament at Four Dia-

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Kyle Marino

monds Sports Complex on April 6.

In a sevens game, each team fields seven players instead of the usual 15. UCCS played against teams from the Air Force Academy and Red Rocks Community College.

The club hopes to expand in the future through advertising and sponsorships and become even more prevalent on campus. Bowman will pass on the torch to someone else after the season is over.

Bowman hopes he and the rugby club can forever leave their mark on the UCCS campus.

“I want to give this school something to have for the future. I want to leave them with something to be proud of.” S

Photo by James Sibert Club rugby has hosted a tournament at Four Diamonds Sport Complex.

UCCS athletic recruiting process looks at all facets Jackson Rowland jrowlan4@uccs.edu Coming across as a talented, athletic person doesn’t guarantee a position on one of the UCCS sports teams. A durable and confident academic mindset continues to be one of the defining aspects of UCCS’ athletes.

As the spring semester comes to a close, UCCS sports coaches are further examining the players who will be recruited to play for

their teams next year.

Recruiting players has been a key task for coaches. With specific criteria, the coaches strive to gather players who have a combination of skill and personality traits that they deem will best fit their team.

Mark Misch, head coach for the men’s cross country team, knows the precise qualities he is looking for in a recruit.

“Number one, the recruit must feel confident academically about the

institution,” Misch said.

“You’re going to spend four to five years here, so you need to like the environment. Second, you have to want to be at the school; some kids want a big city and others want a small one.”

Misch added, “Being part of the team is a different lifestyle than that of a regular student; they put in a lot of commitment. I don’t recruit the guys with big, haughty egos that feel entitled.”

Women’s soccer Head Coach Nicole Ridenour will be going into her sixth season this fall, and she knows exactly what she wants to see in athletes as well.

“Players have to fit the personality drive. I look at the attitude of the person rather than the skill, which specifically is a willingness to work hard and a positive mentality,” said Ridenour.

“It’s a team sport, so I consider what aspects of

the player will benefit the team best instead of honing in on the skill alone,” added Ridenour.

The number one focus for Misch and Ridenour is recruiting in-state students, pointing to the talent in the state and the cheaper tuition rate for in-state students. For example, 90 percent of the men’s cross country team is comprised of in-state runners.

Typically, the coaches go out to tournaments and high school games search-

ing for recruits. When they find a player that fits their criteria, they look into their GPA and inquire about the player’s attitude.

They then contact the player through an email or phone call.

“We bring them on campus to see if they procure a likeness for it,” said Ridenour.

Misch will bring his recruits to campus to meet the team. “I have them talk to all the guys on the team because they live it.” S