Nov. 2, 2015 by The Scribe

the

Since 1966

scribe.uccs.edu Vol. 40, Iss. 10

Monday, November 2, 2015

IN BRIEF

cribe University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Fourth Downtown Classic basketball game coming Nov. 6

NEWS

Counseling Center $15 counseling fee explored by chancellor 2

Illegal Downloading

Consequences for students who download illegal content 3

CULTURE

Dia de los Muertos

Altar honors late Gabriel Garcia-Marquez 5 COURTESY | SPORTS INFORMATION

The men’s basketball team prepares for the Downtown Classic at the Colorado Springs City Auditorium.

Student artists work with local organization to create mural 5

OPINION

Veterans

Suicide rates show help is needed for veterans 9

Etiquette

Learn manners, be polite to others on campus 9

SPORTS

Men’s Soccer

Kim Catlett

Volleyball player enjoys hiking, line dancing 12

jtoman@uccs.edu

For the fourth year, the men’s basketball team will make a trip down to the Colorado Springs Auditorium to play one of their regular season games. UCCS will take on Northern New Mexico in the Downtown Classic on Nov. 6 at 5:30 p.m. The team has won two of the previous three games held at the auditorium, with the lone blemish coming in the inaugural game against CSU-Pueblo. Athletic director Steve Kirkham thinks the event has been positive for both UCCS and the community. “It’s kind of old school,” he said. “The reverberation, the noise level, I don’t know it’s just something about playing in an old-school gymnasium that’s fun.” “I think it’s been a good deal, I think we’ve had good crowds, a lot of people have had good feedback from it,” he added. Kirkham sees the game as a win for both UCCS athletics and downtown Colorado Springs, with UCCS serving as a marketing tool for the city, and vice-versa. “I think we attracted new fans that came up here to our gym, I know we did,” he said. “So as long as that continues to be part of what happens and we get some people who never get to see us play otherwise, and they can come to a game

downtown and they like us well enough to come watch us play elsewhere, that’s a good deal.” In a change that started last year, the game is now a part of the non-conference schedule for UCCS, instead of against an RMAC opponent. The home court advantage of Gallogly Events Center is critical for conference games, Kirkham said. “All the big-time schools play off campus, but for us, when you practice all the time in the gym, the shooting background, where the wall is, all that stuff helps.” “I wouldn’t want a steady diet of (the Downtown Classic), but for one time a year, I think the kids actually enjoy it.” In another change from all previous Downtown Classics, the Mountain Lion women’s basketball team will not play in the event. According to Kirkham, scheduling affected that decision more than anything else. Because it is not a conference game (which are usually played as a doubleheader), the two teams don’t usually play on the same day. Athletics did not want to play the game on a Saturday, which would’ve defeated the purpose of the game, Kirkham said. In addition, it is tough to set up the auditorium for basketball, so it would be impractical to schedule a women’s game on another day. But the situation

could easily have been reversed, Kirkham said, with just a women’s game that evening. “Some of the conversation was that it might be better as a single game just because it’s a

“

‘So as long as that continues to be part of what happens and we get some people who never get to see us play otherwise, and they can come to a game downtown and they like us well enough to come watch us play elsewhere, that’s a good deal.’ – Steve Kirkham, athletic director

long night (with two games),” he said. The game will also start at 5:30 p.m.; a change Kirkham thinks will allow people to come straight from the office to the game that starts right away. Brian Burnett, former senior executive vice chancellor for Administration and Finance, spearheaded the idea for the game when he was part of the downtown development council, Kirkham said. “He thought that the arena could get some people in, a different type of atmosphere, different types of activities, it might help generate some interest,” Kirkham said. “We’re kind of up here on the hill, a lot of people don’t really realize when they drive by our campus we have a gym.” COURTESY | SPORTS INFORMATION

Team prepares for RMAC tournament 11

Jonathan Toman

“

VAPA Mural

N ews Chancellor addresses Counseling Center fee

November 2, 2015 | 2

Hannah Harvey hharvey@uccs.edu

“

On Oct. 15, the chancellor’s forum “Student Conversation with the Chancellor” raised the topic of the $15 fee charged to students at the Counseling Center. Mykinthia Ebron, student and senator of Letters, Arts and Sciences for student government, said she was surprised to learn that there is a $15 fee for appointments at the Counseling Center. She brought the topic up at the forum, and later explained her concern. “I was a little turned off by this and it kinda put me in shock,” said Ebron. “I think that the first two or three appointments should be free, at least the first one and maybe a follow-up appointment,” she added. Chancellor Pamela Shockley-Zalabak said she was unaware of the fee and its purpose at the time of the forum, but has since found answers to the question. “There is a $15 fee. That’s a copay because a student doesn’t have Student Health Insurance or they have another insurance. Most visits of that type have copays,” said Shockley-Zalabak.

“

‘Most students don’t have the school’s insurance. For those that don’t, it would be really helpful for them to have a couple free sessions.’ – student Mykinthia Ebron

AUSTIN CHASSE | THE SCRIBE

The Counseling Center offers support for students with and without insurance.

If students have insurance provided by the school, they are eligible for free appointments. But this depends on if you are on the Clyde’s Care Plan or Student Health Insurance. Those with Clyde’s Care receive the first six visits to the Counseling Center for free and then must pay the $15 fee.

“Most students don’t have the school’s insurance,” Ebron said. “For those that don’t, it would be really helpful for them to have a couple free sessions.” Even if students cannot pay the fee, they will not be turned away. “We never turn anyone if they cannot pay. We

make case-by-case financial agreements”, said Benek Altayli, director of the Counseling Center. According to Altayli, the fee is not without purpose, as it seeks to provide a high standard of care for those who need it. “There are several different operational functions the fee

helps us to cover. It also helps us to work with disabilities services to provide care for students who may also have a disability,” said Altayli. The fee also provides funding to purchase tests that are used to diagnose patients. In addition, this fee allows the Counseling Center to hire post-doctoral professionals to help those in need of treatment. Shockley-Zalabak also explained the different wait times for students seeking counseling. “(There is a) three to four week waiting period for noncrisis counseling, but crisis counseling (cases) get in immediately.” she said. Students who want to make an appointment at the Counseling Center can call 719-255-3265 or visit the center at 324 Main Hall.

Counseling Center, Public Safety aid students in crisis dglaspie@uccs.edu

On Oct. 16, an email was sent out on behalf of the chancellor regarding the sudden death of Sam Bracchi, a sophomore in the College of Business. At the end of the letter, the family urged donations to Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention. Resources exist on campus to help students deal with problems in their lives. The Counseling Center, located in Main Hall 324, has resources that are available to students and the public. Benek Altayli, Counseling Center director, shared what actions they take for students. “We have a pretty handson intensive crisis emergency prevention program and are available for calls for the dispatch in public safety,” she said. Altayli added there are precautions they take for raising awareness and for students that may be going through a rough patch. “We really work with them very closely, intensely for as long as the threat is continued.”

Students can use services offered at the Counseling Center for $15. If they have student health insurance, the sessions are free. Those students who are enrolled in Clyde’s Care have six free sessions

and will have to pay $15 from their seventh session on. “If someone identifies a problem with the $15 we make time-limited caseby-case financial agreements so that you can continue to make use of our services even if there is a financial issue. It is not uncommon for me to see someone for 25 cents for a while until we straighten out their income level,” said Altayli. The Counseling Center has events that are geared toward raising awareness, which are free and available to the community.

One of the services that the center offers for students who do not feel safe is the crisis specific program where they meet more than once a week. This could be checking in over the phone for two days and asking the student to come in on the third day.

This program will continue until they no longer report ideas of suicide. “Sometimes we send them for medication evaluation, sometimes conditions that lead to suicidal thoughts need to be treated with medication. We have a psychiatric nurse practitioner that attends to those requests from us,” said Altayli. “There is no reason why anybody should stay silent and suffer alone.” Brian McPike, executive director of Public Safety, said there is a student response

“

‘There is no reason why anybody should stay silent and suffer alone.’ – Benek Altayli, Counseling Center director

“

DeKeveion Glaspie

team that includes members of Public Safety, the office of the Dean of Students, the Counseling Center and the Health Center. “Anytime a student is in crisis, and that could be anything from stress from a family related event or courses or something that is triggering their life, we meet as a team,” McPike said. Students who are going through or know of someone who is going through a crisis can call Public Safety and request a welfare check. These are checks that can be made by the student themselves, resident assistants, parents or even professors. Stress periods can be around midterms and finals or winter. McPike said if you’re

going through something then you should reach out to Public Safety, the Counseling Center, the Health Center or the Dean of Student’s office. “We are all here to help and that is truly what we want is to make sure everybody that needs it or if you have a friend, if you have somebody that you’re associated with that you see is struggling, please contact us,” said McPike.

The Lowdown Counseling Center Main Hall 324 719-255-3265 *After Hours: AspenPointe Mental Health 24-7 Crisis Line 719-635-7000 Public Safety Parking Garage First Floor 719-255-3111 Ofﬁce of the Dean of Students Main Hall 312 719-255-3091 Health Center Parking Garage First Floor 719-255-4444

November 2, 2015| 3 News Illegal downloading/uploading violations steady, can lead to account suspended or disabled April Wefler awefler@uccs.edu

When season six of “Game of Thrones” starts in April 2016, students living on campus without HBO may be tempted to illegally download the episodes. But downloading the episodes will come with consequences for the student. “It’s not legal and it’s a violation of policy. If you persist in it, you can be expelled,” said Thomas Conley, information security officer. Conley said the school doesn’t monitor or know what students are illegally downloading. Instead, the copyright owners monitor what is being downloaded and notify the school when they see students are illegally downloading or uploading. The school then sends a notice to the student.

“We are getting notices, and we do forward them on,” Conley said. He said the issue of illegal downloading and uploading has been steady on campus and that the university hasn’t had to take drastic measures yet. Conley added that in the past, the problem laid more with songs being uploaded. Now, it’s more of an issue with uploading movies. “Illegally downloading stuff hurts the industry. A lot of shows and movies are suffering because people are watching online and they’re not getting the ratings they need,” said Loren Allison, junior visual arts major. “That’s part of the reason why DreamWorks is suffering financially because people are downloading pirated copies,” Allison said. If the school is notified of illegal downloading or uploading, the student gets a

COURTESY | SPHEREBOY.COM

first notice. The notice tells the student to remove the downloaded media and file sharing software from their computer immediately and reminds the student of the downloading policies. The student is given five days to respond to the email. “In the past, I’ve seen – not here at UCCS – but I’ve seen students be sued and they basically have to settle out of court and pay money. Here at the university, we kind of have a tiered approach,” Conley said. “Our students are very good in that it usually takes just one notice.” After the second violation, the university suspends the student’s account and the violations are forwarded to the vice chancellor for Student Success, Homer Wesley. Additionally, the student is required to provide a written response to the dean of students, Steve Linhart and the IT director, Jerry Wilson, indicating they understand the legal risk and agreeing they will abide by the policies in the future. A third notice disables the student’s account permanently unless restoration is permitted by the associate director in the Residence Life office for students who live on campus or the dean of students for those who live off-campus. Conley said he hasn’t

AUSTIN CHASSE | THE SCRIBE

The use of pirating websites is restricted to students on campus.

seen a third notice. Accounts of staff members or faculty are reviewed by Human Resources. Additionally, the school sends out an annual email to students and faculty reminding them of the policies and consequences. Conley said he’s been at several universities and that students illegally downloading or uploading is a “normal kind of problem.” “Students need to learn what they can and can’t do,” Conley said. He also said the copyright

owners tend to notice illegal uploading more than illegal downloading. “When you’re doing something online, there are lots of logs and records being collected,” Conley said. “When you’re on the Internet, you have an address that’s visible, otherwise you couldn’t communicate with somebody.” “If somebody else is running a peer to peer program, they see your address and you see theirs, so, they can monitor both the uploads and downloads from your machine.”

Clyde’s Cupboard sees increase in use Abbie Stillman astillma@uccs.edu

More students are using Clyde’s Cupboard this semester than last semester. Clyde’s Cupboard is a student club that advocates for students who are in need of food and toiletries. The cupboard is open every Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Student Life and Leadership office, University Center room 102. “We have had much more students come this semester than last. That is probably because we are working more on our marketing through handmade signs and our webpage,” said Ryan Merrifield, Clyde’s Cupboard vice president and graduate student in sociology. Merrifield said they will continue to work on their marketing to bring in more students that are in need and that any kind of food donation is appreciated. “We have an assortment of foods including breakfast foods, snacks and toiletries. Students

can come in, show us their ID and help themselves to up to six food items,” said Merrifield. Students can only come in for food once a week. Clyde’s Cupboard has 14-15 shelves. “Everything that has been brought in this semester has been taken which is really good.” “Our goal is to serve students who are struggling for food. College is a time many students are broke,” said Merrifield. Students can also volunteer their time at the cupboard. “It is very easy to volunteer for Clyde’s Cupboard and it can also count for community service. You can keep track of your hours online,” said Clyde’s Cupboard president Nicole Brown. Sign in on Mountain Lion Connect and go to Clyde’s Cupboard’s portal. Anyone can volunteer online for an hour shift. For more information, students can go to the SLL office and ask about Clyde’s Cupboard or search “Clyde’s Cupboard” on Mountain Lion Connect.

ARCHIVES | THE SCRIBE

Clyde’s Cupboard is filled with a variety of nonperishable food items and toiletries for students on campus.

Culture

November 2, 2015| 4

GOCA exhibit opens the realms of possibility, features Colorado artists One video installation project available for viewing is by Mann. “His work imagines different type of spaces,” Anthony said. “(His work) looks at the different physicality of space.” “Beyond the Beyond” will remain open until Dec. 19. The event Nov. 6 is free for students. Food and drink will be available and alcoholic beverages are available for purchase with your ID. GOCA 121 in downtown Colorado Springs is open Wednesday through Saturday from Noon to 5 p.m.

Alexander Nedd anedd@uccs.edu

The Galleries of Contemporary Art is opening a new exhibit, entitled “Beyond the Beyond,” at their GOCA 121 gallery on Nov. 6 from 5-9 p.m. The collaborative project blurs the boundaries between reality and fiction, as well as in digital and material possessions. “It’s a really exciting, visually delightful exhibition that features various artists using different technologies and new mediums,” said GOCA community cultivation director Nicole Anthony. “It reimagines worlds and provides commentary on our contemporary world,” she said. Anthony said she is excited for “Beyond the Beyond” to open to the general public. “The downtown (gallery) is a great resource for students,” Anthony said. “You can engage with different ideas and aesthetics and other parts of our general Colorado Springs community.” The exhibit features

COURTESY | UCCS.EDU

‘Beyond the Beyond’ will feature work from artists such as Barry Whittaker.

artists from around the nation including two from Colorado, Evan Mann and Katie Caron. Students wanting a sneak peak of the exhibit can attend a talkback session at the exhibit with featured artist Carla Gannis on Nov. 5 at 6 p.m. Gannis will give a lecture as part of GOCA’s visiting artist and critic lecture series. Gannis

is an established artist from New York who has had her work featured nationally across several exhibitions. “Her work is really interesting,” Anthony said. “She’s taking classic art from the late medieval period and reimagining them with emojis.” Gannis’ work also features strong sexual content related

to power, politics and identity. It was inspired by a painting called “Garden of Earthly Delights.” In addition to Gannis’ work, “Beyond the Beyond” features a variety of art displays including sculpture, video, projection, installation and sound. Other artists include Barry Whittaker and Sam Sheffield.

The Lowdown What: ‘Beyond the Beyond’ Where: GOCA 121 121 S. Tejon, Suite 100 When: Nov. 6-Dec. 19 How much: Free for students

Student with cerebral palsy hopes to encourage others through radio, positive outlook rlibrach@uccs.edu

One of Andy Hilton’s favorite places to be is Hard Rock Café. This makes sense, considering he has visited 18 different versions of the restaurant across the U.S. Hilton, a 31-year-old junior communication major, was born with cerebral palsy. This can affect groups of muscles resulting in movement disorders and complications in motor skills. Hilton said he sometimes struggles with his condition. “I have learned that I have to plan ahead for even the simplest of things because they take me longer if not twice as long as most people. My overall way of living is very different because I can get tired extremely easily,” Hilton said.

“Sometimes I feel like there is a sense of loneliness that can come with having a disability.” Hilton collects Hard Rock T-shirts and pins, but this restaurant represents something more to him than an eatery. “If you were a disabled customer you were seen as not someone to be treated inappropriately. That was unusual for a restaurant of that stature and they didn’t hinder to me, they didn’t have anything bad to say when I walked in the door,” Hilton explained. “It was a place that for two hours, I wasn’t bullied or made fun of, and they really used to take care of me, and it was a really enjoyable experience.” Hilton expressed that people need to use the time they have in college to focus

on their grades, discovering new experiences and exploring new possibilities. He believes that if more people realized this, they would see how fortunate they are. “I went to UCCS because I wanted to open my mind up to better academics and a better understanding of the way the world works.

“

‘I have been through bad times, but I have learned to accept who I am. Your perception is your reality. I want to take my disability and do something great with it. I’m certain it’s only going to get better.’

“

Rachel Librach

– Student Andy Hilton

You should realize that you need to strive to be not only good academically, but be open to other people who are different because that could be you one day in your life,” he said. Hilton said his goal is to do his best to inspire others. One way Hilton hopes to inspire and entertain others is through the radio. He said since he was 12 years old, he dreamed of having his own radio show. At 18, Hilton received a few opportunities to be on the radio. He believes that his passion for radio will change how people view modern commentators and will draw closer relationships between listeners and hosts. “Even though the radio business has become so cutthroat and distant, I want to fight for radio to return

to being personable and on a community level again,” Hilton said. He said he is a clean version of radio host Howard Stern. “I don’t cuss or do all the sexual things he says, but I don’t mind speaking my mind.” That goal, to inspire others, applies beyond radio as well. “Don’t worry about the way that you are perceived, use that as a positive and show people that despite the way they perceive you, you are going to make it no matter what,” said Hilton. “I have been through bad times, but I have learned to accept who I am. Your perception is your reality. I want to take my disability and do something great with it. I’m certain it’s only going to get better.”

Changing Place class inspired Green Action Fund idea and implementation Kyle Guthrie kguthri2@uccs.edu

Water bottle refilling stations, a bike repair station and solar panel-fueled tables are a few of the projects the Green Action Fund has brought to UCCS. According to geography and environmental studies instructor Carole Huber, sustainability means living in a way that doesn’t negatively impact future generations’

abilities to live comfortably. That background, along with Huber’s Changing Place class, was central to the creation of GAF. The class, fashioned after a similar class taught at California State University, aims to teach students about the responsibilities and benefits of sustainability. Started in 2010, Huber said students looked at a large range of what they want to pursue in the Changing Place class. “The goal of the class is for

students, either as a class or as a group, to identify something that they thought needed to be changed on campus to make it more sustainable, then try to get the students to support it.” Huber explained the class aims to promote awareness on the topic of sustainability, and pointed out the components that make up this concept and goal. “There are three pillars of sustainability; environmental, social justice and economics,” she said. “The idea behind

the social justice pillar is that our world should be a more just one. We should watch our resources so that not just the rich are benefitting from them. They should be shared equally.” Huber explained GAF was born from UCCS alumnus Nathanael Mooberry’s idea. “He just came in and had this idea, because in 2008 the students had passed the Solar Fund Fee, which every student pays $5 a semester into in order to provide solar panels

and energy on campus.” “He wanted that to be changed to be broader, more of a green fee, so that we could have all sorts of different projects that it would support.” While there are faculty and staff on the GAF committee, student representatives still constitute the majority of the committee. Huber, who served as the faculty representative for the first three years of GAF, said she is very happy with GAF and her class’ influence on it.

Culture

November 2, 2015 | 5

Student mural seeks to give back to community, offers experience in commissioning art pasting mural event will be alongside the gallery’s First Friday art opening. The mural is being pasted on the side of the Dream Catchers building and contains a color scheme proposed by student Robert Stokes with designs by students Kalinka Caldas Premawardhana and Natalie Roberts. These students will receive a stipend for their work. The three designers did not originally work together to create the concept of the project. “There were two different projects presented to us and I thought the mural would

Hannah Harvey hharvey@uccs.edu

Art is considered an outlet for creativity, but it can also serve as a way to give back to the community. Seven students in VAPA instructor Nikki Pike’s art and democracy class are collaborating with Dream Catchers, a non-profit organization in Colorado Springs that serves adults with intellectual disabilities, to create a wheat-pasting mural. On Nov. 6, the unveiling of the mural will start at 6 p.m. at Dream Catchers, located at 103 Wahsatch Ave. The wheat-

COURTESY | STEPHANIE VON FANGE

Professor Nikki Pike demonstrates the wheat-pasting process.

be a good way to show the art that’s around,” Caldas Premawardhana said. “The concept behind those particular pieces is we combined two of the students’ artwork into a forest on the right that’s seemingly dead… and then it bursts into the growth that you can see at Dream Catchers,” said Stephanie Von Fange, creative director for Dream Catchers and 2014 UCCS alumna. “The trees are ‘alive’ trees; some represent relationships. The bush represents the child while a tree represents adulthood,” Caldas Premawardhana said. Students in Pike’s class each submitted an individual design for the mural. These designs were then reviewed by Dream Catcher’s board of directors. Other students involved include Ian Alexandrowicz, Rachel Carpenter, Sara Cofield, Alison Harano, Michael Teske and Antonio Castaneda. “[The class] deals a lot with social practice, which typically involves people outside of art,” said Cofield, senior VAPA major. “[We are] also just learning how to interact with the general public when you’re trying to work with art,” said Carpenter, senior VAPA minor. The mural acts as a social art project. According to Pike, social art seeks to bring art into the community beyond the gallery. “The students are gaining a real-life public art experience. An unnoticeable wall is made beautiful.”

COURTESY | STEPHANIE VON FANGE

UCCS students wheat-paste on the Dreamcatchers building.

The mural takes after the approaches of street art, something that used to be seen as criminal, but people are now warming up to the idea of accepting artwork on their buildings. “Being a UCCS alumni, I wanted to enable a connection between students and the local art scene,” Von Fange said.

Von Fange said the mural enables the Dream Catchers building as a landmark due to the aesthetically pleasing design and positive outreach behind it. “[The mural] encourages that partnership between businesses and students and encourages the growth in the arts economy by employing artists,” she said.

Altar of the Dead to celebrate late writer Gabriel García-Márquez April Wefler awefler@uccs.edu

On Nov. 2 in Latin America, cemeteries are not a place for mourning. Instead, they are a place for celebration, called El Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). The ninth annual Altar of the Dead for El Día de los Muertos will be on Nov. 2 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside Berger Hall. The event is sponsored by the department of Languages and Cultures and El Circulo de Español, the Spanish club on campus. Edgar Cota-Torres, associate professor in the department of Languages and Cultures and an advisor for El Circulo de Español, said this is one of the most celebrated holidays in Mexico and other Latin America countries. “It’s a very colorful celebration and it deals with a combination of Catholic rituals and Aztec rituals from pre-Hispanic periods, so that’s what makes it quite unique,”

Cota-Torres said. “If you go to a cemetery in Mexico on Nov. 2, that’s going to look like a huge fair. You’ll see bands playing loud music… selling all kinds of foods, flowers, drinks. It’s like a sour, sweet holiday,” he said. The Altar of the Dead event offers free hot chocolate with extra cinnamon and pan de muerto (bread of the dead), as well as an altar created to honor a person who passed away. “It is believed by faith or tradition or culture, however you want to put it, that the souls actually return that day and when they return, they want to feel welcomed,” CotaTorres said. The altar includes items the person liked when they were alive, such as a favorite book, dish of food or bottle of wine if the person liked to drink, according to Cota-Torres. “You always have water because, you know, it’s believed that it’s a very long journey for them to make it to the world of the living, and they need to have some

water.” This year, the altar will be offered to Gabriel GarcíaMárquez, Colombian shortstory writer, screenwriter, journalist and novelist of “100 Years of Solitude” and “Love in the Time of Cholera.” García-Márquez passed away on April 17, 2014 in Mexico City. “He became the number one bestseller, the number one Latin-American bestseller in the world with ‘100 Years of Solitude,’ so he’s very respected and loved in the Hispanic community,” CotaTorres said. García-Márquez’s altar will include a picture of him, his books and handcrafted art created specifically for the holiday. In the past, El Circulo de Español has offered altars to Frida Kahlo, Mexican painter; Emiliano Zapata, a leading figure in the Mexican Revolution; and Cesar Chavez, civil rights activist. Cota-Torres said a lot of students are often aware of El Día de Los Muertos.

“If teachers go over a holiday or Hispanic holiday in high school, this is the one they tend to pick because, I mean, it’s very colorful,” Cota-Torres said. Additionally, Cota-Torres said Spanish professors often bring their students by and ask them to write a brief report on what they see. “There is a lot of student involvement,” he said.

Cota-Torres explained that some people in central and southern Mexico created altars in their houses for those who passed away. “You feel sad that they passed away, but you also feel happy that you remember them so they can still be alive in your memories,” he said. “You show a lot of respect for those who passed away and they’re never forgotten.”

COURTESY | SWOOPEVENTS.COM

Depiction of sugar skulls, a Day of the Dead tradition.

Culture

6 | November 2, 2015

Halloweek gives students week of fun, welcomes zombies to campus DeKeveion Glaspie dglaspie@uccs.edu

Oct. 26: The Haunted Ofﬁce Students enjoyed henna, palm readings, pumpkin carving and more in the SLL office. “The henna tattoos are my favorite part because you usually have to pay people to do that and they do it for free. It

looks like they put a lot of effort into this event,” said Abby Nolan, junior VAPA major. Oct. 27: Hellscream Hellscream, a terrifying haunted house with twisted clowns and serial killers, was filled with student’s screams and things that bump into you around every corner.

Oct. 28: SGA Halloween Carnival Students were able to play carnival games and win prizes. They tore up the dance floor with “Thriller” and enjoyed free pizza and drinks. Oct. 29: Showing of “Zombieland” Students were terrorized by zombies throwing Twinkies

before heading to Clyde’s to watch “Zombieland,” the action-comedy featuring Jesse Eisenberg. Would you be able to make it out of the zombie apocalypse alive? Oct. 30: From Thin Air: Monster Mash Students showed off their lip syncing and air guitar skills during FTA: Monster

MEGAN LUNSFORD | THE SCRIBE

Mash. They also wore zombie costumes and jumped on the dance floor to show off their talents. Oct. 31: Fright Fest at Elitches Students were given the opportunity to experience Halloween at Elitch Gardens in Denver for a cost of $20.

MEGAN LUNSFORD | THE SCRIBE

AUSTIN CHASSE | THE SCRIBE

DAVY MELLADO | THE SCRIBE

AUSTIN CHASSE | THE SCRIBE

eDItorIAl

November 2, 2015 | 8

Juggling schoolwork with life often leaves students in limbo

the

cribe

Jonathan Toman Editor-in-Chief

Audrey Jensen Managing Editor

Elanor Sturt Copy Editor

Evan Musick News Editor

April Weﬂer Culture Editor

Alexander Nedd Opinion Editor

It can often be overwhelming for students to balance both schoolwork and other commitments.

Scribe Staff scribe@uccs.edu

Four years is how long we’re told it’s supposed to take us to get a bachelor’s degree. This is doable for some students, but not all. Generally, it can take anywhere from three to five years to complete a degree. When it takes longer than the expected amount, students may feel discouraged. But everyone finishes at a different rate. Whether that is by taking six, 12 or 18 credits per semester, each student has to make this decision based on how long they want to take to get their degree. Depending on what you have to do outside of school to make a living, it can be difficult to learn everything your classes offer you. Many classes require papers, group work, presentations and weekly readings. All of this, depending on the class, can take up to 15 hours per week. Students don’t always have extra time to fully complete their homework; sometimes they just get by.

Especially at UCCS, where a majority of students are commuters, have jobs, families, etc., our quality of education may be reduced. This isn’t intentional; most courses are structured for our maximum benefit. But in balancing everything else with class requirements, we sacrifice what we get out of our education. Instead of reading the material we are assigned, digesting the content, and synthesizing new ideas, we reduce ourselves to copy, paste and revise. It’s almost sad. We work so hard not only to afford our education, but for food, housing and clothes on our back. In the end, we only go to school to check the box and get the degree. But in balancing everything else with class requirements, we sacriﬁce what we get out of our education. Instead of reading the material we are assigned, digesting the content, and synthesizing new ideas, we reduce ourselves to copy, paste and revise.

COURTESY | SKYO.COM

Granted, it’s not as if we don’t get anything out of school. By attending class, engaging in discussions and conducting mandatory research, we do learn some things, but it seems to only be scratching the surface. In that textbook that we pay hundreds of dollars for, the material was written by professionals looking to impart their knowledge on the reader. When was the last time you read every chapter of a book? So let’s take stock on some solutions. We could just take less credits per semester. Maybe nine? That means it takes longer to graduate. So let’s cut back on hours at work? That means less money in the bank. Maybe less time with family? Unacceptable. It seems we’re stuck then. Perhaps this problem doesn’t get a quick solution. Maybe we should start changing the way we think about why we learn. If we stopped worrying about a degree and the magic doors it opens for us once we graduate, and focused on actually growing our minds, school may actually be enjoyable.

Alexander Nedd

Life on the Bluffs Editor

Taylor Garcia Sports Editor

Megan Lunsford Photo Editor

Davy Mellado Layout Editor

April Weﬂer Media Manager

Reporters

DeKeveion Glaspie Kyle Guthrie Rachel Librach Abbie Stillman Hannah Harvey

Photographers Austin Chasse

Business Manager Jennifer Curry

We want to hear from you! Here’s How:

Laura Eurich

Email:

Letters to the Editor:

Mail:

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

scribe@uccs.edu

Advisor

scribe@uccs.edu

The Scribe - University Center 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway Colorado Springs, CO 80829

facebook.com/uccsthescribe Letters intended for publication must not exceed 300 words, must be legible and must include the writer’s name and telephone number. Letters must be turned in to The Scribe office, emailed or delivered to The Scribe mailbox in the Student Life and Leadership office by 5 p.m. the Thursday before publication. The Scribe reserves the right to reject Letters to the Editor that are libelous or obscene and has the right to edit as necessary due to space limitations, grammatical or spelling errors and AP style guideline errors.

@uccsscribe

o pINIoN Veterans cry for help falls on deaf ears Kyle Guthrie kguthri2@uccs.edu

A veteran fights an internal battle every 65 minutes over whether to endure crippling emotional pain or end their own life to escape it. 22 veterans in the U.S. lose that fight within themselves every day. According to a national study conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs, this number represents veterans who commit suicide every day. These numbers don’t

include suicides classified as “accidents.” A man I worked closely with at Fort Riley drove his car into a tree at over 100 miles an hour. He survived and sought help, but told me this “traffic accident” was an attempt to end his life. It’s not rare for veterans to know someone they served with who ended their suffering with suicide. Although I’m just two years separated from service, I have buried a lot of my friends. Seeing what veterans put up with on the home front, it’s easy to understand why their pain is so justified. Wait times for appointments to see VA doctors can last from several months to several years, even after being diagnosed with terminal

illnesses requiring immediate medical attention. On top of this, veterans face a constant slashing of benefits promised to them. I was recently denied a VA service because of reasons they refused to tell me, despite the fact that I qualify for it in every sense. And even though I have six months to appeal the decision, the VA has set the date for my re-evaluation eight months from now, making it impossible to appeal within the required timeframe. Practices like this have led to countless veteran deaths that aren’t suicides. A leaked document from the VA revealed that roughly one-third of the veterans waiting for medical attention through the VA died while

awaiting treatment. Imagine if this was reality for everyone seeking medical attention. And yet, veterans continue to be ignored and relegated to the sidelines

November 2, 2015 | 9

aimed at providing better healthcare services to veterans and holding VA workers more accountable for corruption and malpractices. This October, Hillary

Although I’m just two years separated from service, I have buried a lot of my friends. of both public opinion and government priority, and it doesn’t look like things are going to change anytime soon. In February, the Senate voted to kill a bill that would have increased federal healthcare and legislation. In July, Congress voted against a bill that would have given veterans additional medical attention after leaving the service. This year, President Obama vetoed two bills

Clinton casually dismissed the crisis by saying it was “not as widespread as it has been made out to be.” In short, the last decade has not been a good one for us veterans, as we have seen Congress, the Senate and the White House turn their backs on us over and over. The worst part is knowing how preventable it is. Almost every suicide survivor has said that if anyone had asked them how they were doing, they would not have gone

through with it. The simplest action in the world, taken on the part of anyone, can save a life. Yet no one seems to care enough to utter a few words. When people say “I support the troops,” they should be ending that sentence with “as long as it doesn’t inconvenience me in the slightest way.” Keep an eye out for the signs. Is someone you know giving away their possessions? Are they talking about the future like they won’t be in it? Are they withdrawing themselves from social activities they normally engage in? Maybe you should ask them if they’re OK or if they need help. By showing the slightest interest in their well-being, you might accidentally save a life.

Campus courtesy often falls short, remember your fellow students

Alexander Nedd anedd@uccs.edu

Manners. They make the world go round. From an early age, we learn what is considered acceptable behavior in our society. Chew with your mouth closed, always say

please and thank you and excuse yourself if you must leave in an urgent manner. Many might consider these traits to be common sense. Unfortunately, between that age of docile learning and our freshman year in college, these characteristics fall to the wayside. For whatever reason, some of the smartest people in our generation don’t use common courtesy on campus. It’s an infraction that drives me up the wall. While I still have a university platform,

it’s time to address some of these common inconsiderate violations. Hold doors open for people behind you. What were you, raised in a barn? The number of students I see who don’t pay attention to their surroundings is too darn high. (And a quick reminder to always use polite language when in a public setting as well). If someone is two steps behind you, be considerate. It can make their day and makes you look like a kind, thoughtful person. It’s a win-win situation. Sit on the seat closest to

the window on a crowded bus. We all want our personal space. But sometimes we simply can’t afford to have that. What you do have is the courtesy to invite others to sit down with you. It’s five minutes of your life. Using your bag to take a seat on a crowded bus makes you look bad. Don’t be that person. The I-25 of transportation between the library and Columbine Hall is the Spine. While it may be a freeway for students between classes, that doesn’t mean we should see highway

speeds. My life has flashed before my eyes too many times as I debate which way to maneuver while making eye contact with a careening long boarder five seconds before impact. Use judgment while using different modes of transportation. Use the doors to the right when you are entering and exiting the library. Read it, learn it and follow it. Lastly, park with class UCCS. Too many people park in the parking garage with no regard for others

that must use that space. I understand parking is difficult, but it’s no excuse to blatantly disregard the rules others follow within that confined space. If your car can seat seven people, it’s not going to fit in a compact parking spot comfortably. Park where both you and others can get to your cars. Despite our different majors and agendas here on campus, we all share one thing in common. We call UCCS home. Let’s treat each other like we would treat our family members, because in a sense, that’s exactly what we are. Family.

Netflix is a trap, leads to addictive behavior and unhealthy habits

Audrey Jensen ajensen4@uccs.edu

“Are you sure you want to deactivate your account?” It wasn’t easy to break up with you Netflix, but it had to be done. On average, subscribers spend two hours watching movies and episodes on Netflix every day. That’s two

hours I should use to study for my midterms, write papers and work on articles. Like many relationships, we went through the honeymoon phase. All I wanted to do after class or work was come home and spend the night watching Netflix. Netflix gave me the opportunity to discover my favorite TV series, such as “The Office,” “Parks and Recreation,” “Parenthood” and “Gilmore Girls.” Netflix didn’t mind that I only wanted to watch its shows and laugh at its jokes, but I realized after finishing eight to ten seasons of two shows in less than a few months, I was addicted.

“If you watch one episode tonight then you will still have enough time to start your assignment (that’s due tomorrow)!” Trying to reason with myself and limit my time watching my favorite shows didn’t work. Each episode ends with a cliffhanger, and I only wanted more. One episode turned into an entire season, and starting my homework at 11 p.m. changed to 2 a.m. I know myself all too well to believe that I will be fine with watching just one episode in a night. The first time I distanced myself from Netflix, I could only stay away for a few weeks. Before I knew it, I was on season three of “Once

Upon a Time.” According to an article published on The Huffington Post in September 2014, bingewatching TV shows has an overall negative effect on our minds and bodies. Research was conducted on 1,500 online respondents that claim to binge-watch regularly. In the article, Corrie Pikul explained that while lounging slows down circulation and metabolism, complicated narratives and emotionally complex characters are cognitively and emotionally taxing. Pikul added that once cliffhangers are resolved, the show just ends, and we feel sad and empty afterward, looking for the

next show for our new “friends” and fulfillment. Another aspect of deleting Netflix has made me realize how impatient we can be. With TV, we are used to waiting a week before the next episode. But Netflix’s new system of binge-watching shows and movies does not allow us to take what the creators, producers and actors of the shows want us to. This semester, I went cold turkey and deleted all traces of Netflix so I wouldn’t be tempted to start another series. It’s my senior year and since I dropped Netflix, this has been one of the most productive semesters in my college career. It’s embarrassing, but true.

Productivity in my life increased by at least 70 percent since I deleted my Netflix account. My homework is done days before the due date, and I socialize with real people rather than lock myself in a room all night like a grumpy hermit. Two weeks after committing to delete Netflix from my life, there were moments I came home and felt the urge to introduce myself to new characters emerged in an enticing plot, but I couldn’t fall into this never-ending cycle again. Now I don’t think twice about wasting my time on the computer. We had a good run Netflix, but my life is better off without you.

lIFe on the BluFFs Sudoku

Bring your completed sudoku to the Scribe ofﬁce (UC 106) for a prize!

7 5

“Zombieﬁed for work. I can think of

worse ways to spend my day. #UCCS #Halloweek”

1 9

3 3

@angryhippie

5 6

“I'm speechless, but being undefeated

and unstoppable feels dramatically extraordinary #uccs” @Algaeid

6 9

Top Ten

Sweet Salty Tweets

2 5

November 2, 2015 | 10

1 “Going through my clothes and I have 37 UCCS shirts….32 were free”

@TylerGlendale

Things to do with your extra hour Alexander Nedd, anedd@uccs.edu

Search the Titanic

Eat all day McDonald’s breakfast

Get your oil changed

Look for Waldo

Prevent wildﬁres

Call your grandmother

Study

Actually fold your laundry

Learn Mandarin Chinese

Set all your clocks back

Campus Chatter Abbie Stillman, astillma@uccs.edu

What do you think about your fall schedule? Jacob Hickman, freshman, game design and development “Yeah, I’m happy with my schedule this semester.”

Nicole Graziano, sophomore, business

“I am very happy with my schedule this semester.”

Capture

Clyde

at UCCS 4

“My schedule is alright, I’ll probably keep a similar schedule next semester.”

Win a prize! Come to The Scribe ofﬁce (UC 106) and tell us where the picture was taken.

This week Wed UCCS Unplugged

David Allen, freshman, undecided

Roaring Fork Dining Hall/ University Center 9 p.m.

Mon 3V3 Basketball League

Thurs

the Gathering Tues Magic: Club Meeting

Rec Center 7 p.m.

The Art of Couponing University Center 122 5 p.m.

Fri

Osborne A-321 7 p.m.

Ghosts. Dusty Loo Bon Vivant Theatre, University Hall 7:30 p.m.

Sports

November 2, 2015 | 11

Founder of women’s rugby club reflects on team, leadership lessons learned Rachel Librach

rlibrach@uccs.edu

COURTESY | MOUNTAIN LION CONNECT WOMEN’S RUGBY PAGE

Club sports, like women’s rugby, offer opportunities for students to expand and enhance their leadership skills.

“

‘Having to jump through all those hoops to start up a club sport was so educational. It taught me a lot about leadership and what I am actually capable of. It’s hard work, but it showed me what I could accomplish and just how much I care about developing other people.’ – Mia Pino, student and women’s rugby club founder

“

The captain of the women’s rugby club believes that rugby has a different culture to it than any other sport she’s played and, similar to other clubs, offers new students the stability and support they need to transition to college. Mia Pino is one of the captains of the team and founder of the club. She has seen a greater number of freshman participants this year than in the past. “It depends on the semester, but we usually have around 15 to 25 students. This past year I have seen a lot more freshmen join and I think that has to do with freshmen living on campus. I’m seeing more people try out for this club and I think that will only increase as the number of incoming students increases,” she said. Pino has seen a few challenges during the process of developing the club, including travel funding. “We are only allotted $1,000 for travel out of the $3,000 granted to us through SGA. While we are the cheapest club sport on campus, our members having to pay $60 per semester, most of the money from players goes toward travel,” she said. “We do not require pads or equipment like most other sports, so that saves us a lot of costs. However, starting a new club from scratch is initially expensive. SGA has really helped us keep our prices low,” Pino explained. Pino brought up another challenge her club faces, the limited resources and practice space on campus. “We work with Mallory Barger, the sports coordinator, to communicate with other sports and clubs who use the Alpine field and establish a schedule for each of our uses,” she

said. “It’s not always ideal, but we work with what we have.” While the culture of rugby can be unusual, Pino believes that once you commit to the sport you will fall in love with it. “I played it for CU-Boulder and missed so much when I transferred here that I decided to start this club. In the beginning it is rough, training a team with people who probably have never even heard of the sport before,” she said. “But everyone who has played before are definitely willing to work with those people either outside of practice or slow practice down so they can catch up,” said Pino. She mentioned that clubs foster strong relationships between members

and are such a great way for students to get connected and find support from other groups on campus. “For freshmen especially, clubs are a nice transition and help establish that close socially knit group of friends you can rely on and who give you their support,” Pino said. Preparing for graduation this semester, Pino said her experience with the club has taught her about herself and has helped her grow as a person. “Having to jump through all those hoops to start up a club sport was so educational. It taught me a lot about leadership and what I am actually capable of. It’s hard work, but it showed me what I could accomplish and just how much I care about developing other people,” she said.

your formation a little here and change your style of attack there,” he said. He added that knowing your opponents’ strengths and weaknesses gives a chance to counter those when you play them again. Fort Lewis is also above UCCS in the conference standings. They have a grass field, different for the Mountain Lions who are used to a turf playing

surface. Keen explained that going from turf to grass makes a huge difference in the way the team plays. The team will get there ahead of time to help the adjustment. Keep an eye on gomountainlions. com for updated results, as UCCS could host a postseason game this week.

Men’s soccer in position to succeed in RMAC tournament Taylor Garcia

tgarcia@uccs.edu

The RMAC tournament begins in two days for the men’s soccer team. At 6-2 in conference and 11-4 overall entering play Oct. 30, the Mountain Lions are tied with Metro State for fourth in RMAC standings. The team can finish anywhere from second to fifth in the conference, depending on the results of their last two games against Adams State on Oct. 30 and Fort Lewis on Nov. 1. The Mountain Lions faced Colorado Mesa, a team above them in conference standings, on Oct. 23 and fell to the Mavericks 3-0. But they followed that result with a 2-1 win against Westminster. UCCS has faced injuries this season, but head coach Johnnie Keen doesn’t feel that has hindered them in any way. “David (Meyer, sophomore goalie) had a quad injury throughout the season, but Peter (Vogrin, junior goalie) has stepped up to fill that role.” Along with Meyer, senior midfielder Sebastian Hertzberg battled a muscle strain, but played in the Colorado Mesa game. The Mountain Lions have a winning record in both conference and nonconference games. Keen attributes that

to the team’s goal of hard work. “The foundation of our success is hard work and we have plenty of talented players, but we want hard work to be their goal.” Keen explained that at this time of the year, the game plan that each team has is known to the rest of the conference. “You have to get creative, change

COURTESY | SPORTS INFORMATION

The men’s soccer team hopes to continue their regular season form in the RMAC tournament.

sports

November 2, 2015 | 12

Along with volleyball success, Kim Catlett pursues hiking, line dancing Jonathan Toman jtoman@uccs.edu

If you pay close attention to Kim Catlett’s hair, you can tell whether the last game for the Mountain Lion volleyball team ended in victory or defeat. That’s because the senior health science major changes how she does her hair after a loss, but keeps the same style when they win. Catlett, a four-year starter for the Mountain Lions emphasizing in strength and conditioning, also follows a left to right routine when gearing up for games. After putting on her left shoe, then right shoe (always in that order) she has been a consistent force in a program that has seen change in the last few years. Catlett, who leads the team in aces and kills per set this season, is one of only three current players who were on the roster in 2013, the year current head coach Chrissy Elder began her tenure. The trust in the new coach and her program didn’t come easy, Catlett said. With the departure and graduation of players (including some she had planned on rooming with) the pressure to leave was evident. But, she stayed, due in part

2 1 7 8

to the difficulty of transferring and the fact that she was getting playing time. “I’ve never really been a person that quits things,” Catlett said. “I wasn’t ready to be done with volleyball.” But that’s not all there is to the outside hitter who is also working toward a minor in psychology. Catlett spends her free time – when she isn’t in class or on the court – hiking, going to country music concerts and line dancing. That hiking includes Pulpit Rock, three 14ers she climbed this summer and what she hopes will include the Incline, a challenge Catlett wants to try more often. Catlett mentioned sarcasm as a personality trait (along with working hard and positivity), something she said developed from being in a big family, which includes four older brothers. “They’re all sorts of sarcastic,” Catlett said. “You learn pretty quick to dish it out, you have to protect yourself somehow.” Family was also what got her involved in volleyball, as she looked up to her older sister who played. She attended camps hosted by her sister’s high school team starting in elementary

school. “All the girls knew me because I was my sister’s sister,” Catlett said. Catlett and the rest of the Mountain Lions are 15-7 (10-3 RMAC) entering play on Oct. 30, tied for first in the Rocky Division of the RMAC. Though much of the team is the same, this season stands in contrast to 2014, when UCCS won 12 games all season with a freshman-laden squad. Catlett highlighted higher expectations from coaches and the returning experience as key to their success. “We don’t have that excuse of, ‘oh, we’re ‘nine freshman’ young,’” she said. “We’ve built a lot more cohesion, being with each other for more than a semester.” The team has moved away from the underdog mindset of last year, along with the team motto: “I choose to.” “We’re just choosing to fight more,” Catlett said. “And that’s very refreshing from last year.” While her plan for after graduation in May isn’t set (“Figure out a plan. That’s the plan,” she said), Catlett will have an internship for strength and conditioning this spring to

COURTESY | KIM CATLETT

When not playing volleyball, Catlett enjoys hiking.

hopefully gain insight into a potential career path. While Catlett will be able to play outdoor doubles volleyball, she will miss the indoor, broader team-oriented volleyball she has played at UCCS. “When you’re part of a team, a lot more rides on your competitiveness and there’s more aspects and strategy to it,” she said. She said Colorado Springs has become a second home for the Fort Collins native. “As a whole, this group of girls has been pretty much a family,” Catlett said. “We’re a tight knit group, the girls make it

easy to enjoy.” The last regular season home game for UCCS is Nov. 14 at 5 p.m. against Metro State in Gallogly Events Center.

Fun Fact: Catlett can whistle in a very unconventional way – with her mouth open. Her mom can do it too, and Catlett can also make a cricket noise. She would make the cricket noise in class in high school. “You could just see the teacher – who is making that noise?” Catlett said.

4 3 4

6 7 4 8 4 5 6 8

9 3 2 1

5877 N NEVADA AVENUE WWW. T HE L ODGES O F CS .COM

719.227.9000