Nov. 18, 2013 by The Scribe

Since 1966

Vol. 38, Iss. 12

Monday, November 18, 2013

NEWS

Obamacare

Millennials encouraged to enroll despite delays 3

Harassment Programs in place to protect victims 3

SCIENCE & BUSINESS

Solar umbrellas Several to be installed on campus by spring 4

Fundraising

UCCS ﬁlls gap from state funds 4

CULTURE

Gaga

Latest album good but explicit 5

Social media In the classroom 5

OPINION

Conservatism vs. Sustainability Not incompatible 9

Tenured profs Don’t get lazy 9

SPORTS

Men’s soccer Wrap up season 11

Gender stigma

UCCSScribe.com University of Colorado Colorado Springs

UCCS honors fallen soldiers with annual national roll call Samantha Morley smorley2@uccs.edu

No one spoke above a whisper. Visitors attempted to make as little noise as possible. Some even walked on tiptoes to avoid clacking their heels. In honor of Veterans Day, the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs hosted a roll call event and veteran resource fair on Nov. 11 in Berger Hall. “It’s to remember those who have fallen since the war,” said Jorge Arredondo, president of the Student Veteran Organization. “It’s a day of remembrance. It’s a war I fought in and so it means a lot to me.” Arredondo was familiar with a few names on the list of fallen servicemen and women. “I do remember them daily. It’s a little difficult, but I don’t need to read off the names because I

UCCS helps families in need through Holiday Service Project Nick Beadleston nbeadles@uccs.edu

Volunteers walked to the stage, each reading about 100 names. Bev Kratzer, director of the Career Center, was one faculty volunteer. Kratzer’s father served in the Air Force. She described reading off the names as being more emotional than she expected.

While many students are focused on powering through finals, some UCCS members don’t have the luxury of looking ahead. Students and members of the campus Resource Management Division are working to prevent that by continuing the university’s Holiday Service Project, which has been an annual effort since 1989. The project is expected to help support as many as 30 impoverished UCCS families through gift and fundraising ventures. The program runs through November and ends on Dec. 11. “We have a lot of transplants here with no families,” said

Continued on page 2 . . .

NICK BURNS | THE SCRIBE

Community and UCCS volunteers participated in roll call.

remember them.” Volunteers read off names for the roll call on a stage while a slideshow of military photos played behind them. The roll call included fallen members from every branch of service, as well as slain members of the U.S. intelligence services. The list included about 5,000 names.

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Increase in fuel use, decline in other areas Electricity -15.10% (kWh/ft2)

Natural -6.00% Gas Nick Beadleston (CCF/ ft2)200.00% Water nbeadles@uccs.edu -22.60% (CF/ ft2) Petroleu 31.70% The Climate Advisory Board m (gals) 150.00% Paper submitted its annual UCCS (cases)

-16.00%

-11.70%

-9.60%

-14.20%

-10.40%

-14.70%

-7.60%

-2.00%

4.30%

-7.36%

-6.80%

0.20%

-21.10%

-8.50%

-13.20%

1.90%

3.40%

-0.20%

76.80%

93.40%

122.20%

119.80%

142.40%

181.30%

-7.00%

-2.50%

-9.40%

8.30%

3.90%

Electricity (kWh/ft2)

Sustainability Progress Report Natural Gas (CCF/ ft2) to the CU Board of Regents’ 100.00% Capitol Construction Subcommittee on Nov. 5. Water (CF/ ft2) The report shows an increase usage in natural gas and 50.00% petroleum from previous years Petroleum (gals) but also indicates gradual reductions in other areas. 0.00% UCCS is expected to use Paper (cases) 40,518 gallons of gas in fiscal year 2013, up more than 16 -50.00% percent from last year. 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 “Petroleum use is up due GRAPHIC | THE SCRIBE, DATA | UCCS CLIMATE ADVISORY BOARD to consolidation of parking on campus perimeter and sigUCCS increased its fuel use by 16 percent compared to last year. nificantly increased demand for shuttle busses,” according to the Water usage is down, though this has Electricity usage is also down, owed report. largely been attributed to the city-wide to a number of energy-efficiency projects. “It’s hard to reducwe quantities with our water ban. A contributing factor has also These include the installation of several overall growth,” said Linda Kogan, UCCS photovoltaic (solar-powered) systems, been the implementation of a drip irrigasustainability director. tion system. Continued on page 4 . . .

Still exists, especially in sports 11

TEXT "THELODGES" TO 313131 FOR MORE INFO

NeWS

Nov.18, 2013 | 2

(Continued from page 1) Holiday Service Project Heidi Schwab, co-chair of the project and general professional in the Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment. “Their uncertainty turns to major happiness.” One of the most visible facets of the project is the six Giving Trees. The trees will be decorated with ornaments made by children in the Family Development Center and contain gift suggestions for members of families in need. “I got involved in the project because I’m really into the idea of helping people make the most out of nothing,” said Melanie Ware, a student volunteer who helped put together the ornaments. “I remember there was a point in my life when my parents were really down on their luck,” she continued. “I feel that I am helping all those families who can’t get their loved ones things that they want.” There are drop boxes for donations throughout the campus, including the same buildings where the Giving Trees are located. The Kramer Family Library is also hosting its third annual Continued on page 2 . . . Food for Fines program, a newer component of the project. For every non-perishable food item students bring in, they receive a $1 deduction on their library fines. According to the library staff, the program is very popular. Carla Myers, director of Access Services and Scholarly Communications, stated Food for Fines was inspired by similar programs at other universities. “We saw it as a great way to help students save money when paying off their

BY SAMANTHA MORLEY | THE SCRIBE

fines while also supporting the efforts of the [Holiday Service Project],” Myers said. According to Myers, more than 2,900 items have been collected during the past two years. Monetary donations are also being

accepted, which will be used to purchase grocery store gift cards. Collection boxes are located across campus. Joining with UCCS, the Briargate Barnes and Noble will also be collecting book donations to benefit families. According to Mary Lile, accountant

in the Resource Management Division, beneficiaries of the program frequently express their disbelief and ask how they can help pay back. Lile’s response? Pay it forward.

(Continued from page 1) Fallen soldier roll call “I hear the names from everybody else, but once you start reading the names, it’s very, very different,” she said with tears in her eyes. “It’s tough when you think about the reason you’re reading the names, but it’s great to honor them.” Catherine O’Neil, a junior in physics, also volunteered. She served in the Army for six years. Her job was to oversee investigations of people who had been

killed in action or committed suicide. She recognized several names on the list. Even those who did not necessarily approve of the wars, such as John Woods, junior in philosophy and VA work-study employee, attended to pay his respects. Woods served in the Army as a human resource specialist and was deployed to Afghanistan for a year. He noted that his service was “definitely an experience”

but that he asks himself, “All for what?” Woods participated in the roll call later in the day. Veterans who were not deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq also honored the fallen soldiers. Brand Smith, a fifth-year senior in pre-physical therapy, served almost 13 years in the Air Force. He was stationed in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Also part of the event was a resource

fair for veterans. Assets available included counseling, disability assistance and companies providing career opportunities. George Rhynedance, a media relations manager for military contractor Exelis, held a moment of silence at noon. The event, which started at 7 a.m., concluded around 5:30 p.m.

Members of UCCS community volunteer on Waldo Canyon Trail

JOSHUA CAMACHO | THE SCRIBE

UCCS students and members of the SOLE Ofﬁce volunteered Nov. 8 to work on the trail and help restore vegetation on the landscape.

NeWS

Nov.18, 2013 | 3

Millennials encouraged to enroll in ACA despite setbacks Billowing up to the $1 billion cost mark, the Affordable Care Act seems to place much of its hopes in the pockets of millennials, expecting they will pay into the program. The average, or Silver, plan offered will cost a little over $300 a month. Both individual and family rates will range widely as plans are based on age, marital status, income and location. However, opinions about opting in are mixed. Some students are not convinced the program will benefit them. “A lot of young people don’t have to have this high-profile, high-cost health insurance,” said Will Smith, UCCS Young Americans for Liberty director of recruitment. “We’re younger, we’re healthier. What we really need is catastrophic insurance … it’s a lot cheaper than anything I would have to pay through the exchange,” Smith continued, recommending that students opt out. Penalties If the uninsured fail to sign up for coverage by March 31 – six weeks beyond the original due date – penalty fees will be garnered: 1 percent of annual income or $95, whichever is greater. The penalty charges do increase from year to year, but there is a cap of three times the amount per individual penalty. These fees will be taken from tax refunds, guaranteeing all individuals who file pay into the program. There are several ways to qualify for an exemption from paying the penalties, including homelessness and a recent file for bankruptcy. Allen Schoffstall, a UCCS chemistry professor, suggested students in need of insurance seek out choices to avoid that penalty. “Students should look at these options because they might find that there is a palatable option for them,” he said. “The

means more money. Bloomberg Government recently released a non-partisan study that found problems discovered in the website six months prior to its launch have led to an increase in monies needed for overall success. “The price of this entire thing is skyrocketing to over a billion dollars,” said Elise Viebeck, a reporter for The Hill, in a recent interview with Greta Van Susteren. “The people that got the job weren’t given the job because they were good,” Smith said of the website’s designers. “They were given it because they had the right political connections. So when you have people who get a job not based on skill but because of who they know, you get a website that doesn’t work.” ACA official Marilyn Tavenner, director of the agency in charge of setting up the online insurance exchanges, has acknowledged the glitches and stated during recent testimony that they are “not acceptable.” The Colorado health exchange, Connect for Health Colorado, has been experiencing similar issues. Last month, ABC reported that within the first two days of the exchange, the Colorado site had thousands of hits with recurring messages. Connect for Health Colorado CEO Patty Fontneau said in a statement, “While there have been some challenges, we are pleased to see that Coloradans are looking at their options, shopping and signing up for health plans.” As of early November, a little more than 3,500 people in Colorado had signed up for coverage through the exchange. Healthcare.gov has experienced similar. Fewer than 27,000 Americans chose a plan on the site.

Money of tech Websites used to access the exchange have provided issues of their own, including error messages, bugs and delays, creating the need for fix-ups, which

Delays Although Republicans have taken the lead on delaying implementation of the ACA, several Democrats have also joined in, asking for additional time for

250,000 policies in Colorado cancelled

OBAMACARE

dyoder@uccs.edu

health plans through our own campus is up to $2,800 a year ... That’s a lot.” Schoffstall recently went on a few insurance sites when one of his research students was in need. “You just put the information in and it gives a number,” Schoffstall said about the Kaiser subsidy calculator. “I don’t know if the calculations are valid or not, but I believe the idea was to give a person a general idea of health care costs if he or she signed up for the government health care plan.” Riley Coltrin, chair of UCCS College Republicans, agreed choices are great to have but also acknowledged that paying the fines could be a cheaper alternative. “It could give a better option. You never know. You never know how much money you could save. But for a lot of us, you won’t save a lot of money.” “There’s nothing morally praiseworthy about hiring people to go and seize other people’s property in the way you think it best,” said Garrett Coon, vice president of Young Americans for Liberty. “We need to, as Americans, stop looking to wise men and women in the shining city thousands of miles away from where most of us live to solve our problems,” said Coon. “The real solution will be through a combination of expanded access to competitive health plans, breaking down barriers to interstate competition in order to drive down the costs of available health care plans in conjunction with expanded access to community health centers and nonprofit and charity organizations.” The ACA rules have also placed pressure on current insurance policies and the providers. According to the Denver Post, 23 health insurance carriers have cancelled nearly 250,000 policies in Colorado.

Sources: KDVR, NBC News, Colorado Department of Insurance, UCCS Student Health Center

Dezarae Yoder

people signed up for Obamacare the first day

Coloradans

3,408 34,168 have since enrolled in signed up Medicaid

UCCS Annual Coverage = $2,810

increase from 2012

people to sign up. Colorado Sens. Mark Udall and Michael Bennet, along with eight other Democrats, signed a letter addressed to Health and Human Services Secretary Katherine Sebelius asking for an open enrollment extension. Currently, there is a one-year delay on the employer mandate but not one for individuals. “If I was a member of Congress right now, I would not be happy with the direction that things are going,” said Coltrin. “The original legislation that came out that included a public option would have been more ideal.” Coltrin believes the law as a whole is a good idea, however. “It’s a step in the right direction. As far as health goes, there is no silver bullet.” “I think our system is really backwards,” he continued. “We think of it as [insurers] are looking out for us. Their number one concern … is not to help out regular citizens. It’s to make money.”

Sexual harassment prevention measures in place on campus Nick Beadleston nbeadles@uccs.edu

While zero forcible and non-forcible sex offenses were reported on campus in 2012, the university’s first line of defense against sexual misconduct continues to be education. Employees are required to take a discrimination and harassment online course within 90 days of being hired. This course, comprised of nine section modules and a test, covers a variety of topics, including sexual harassment. It defines sexual harassment as “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.” The course further divides sexual harassment into two categories: hostile environment and quid pro quo, or sexual favors in exchange for some benefit. The training also covers amorous, or romantic, relationships. According to CU policy, amorous relationships are not permitted if an evaluative relationship also exists. This means any relationship where

one party could potentially have leverage over the other or could be accused of favoritism. The Office of Discrimination and Harassment is the primary enforcement agency for the university’s sexual misconduct policies. The office implements four different policies: the CU sexual harassment policy, the UCCS Discrimination and Harassment Policy, Appendix 1 of the Student Code of Conduct (which deals with sexual misconduct) and CU Conflict of Interest in Cases of Amorous Relationships. “With the students, our mission is frequently educational,” said Julia Neville, an ODH discrimination and harassment officer. “Most of it is informal, and most people really want their problems resolved on the lowest level.” Neville stated that students who violate university harassment policy multiple times and faculty members are often not granted the same leniency. Prevention of retaliation is also a large component of what the ODH addresses. “Retaliation in a lot of cases is

a valid fear,” said Neville. According to ODH documentation, “Retaliation occurs when adverse actions are imposed against individuals who have reported sexual harassment or have participated in a sexual harassment complaint.” Neville stated that activities that are construed as retaliation must be unjustifiable and not occur in the course of normal business actions. She cited the example of an undesirable shift change at work that had been planned in advance of any complaints. While the employee may be dissatisfied with the change, it did not occur as a result of allegations of sexual misconduct. According to Neville, a large number of third-party reports come to her office. “I think it’s evidence of a close-knit campus, which I like to see,” she said. However, except in extreme cases, investigations are not started based on third-party information. The victim must be directly involved to begin an investigation. To accomplish this, ODH

will often attempt to contact the individual in question. “It may be that we reach out to the complainant in some cases and see if that person wants to come in and talk to us, “said Neville. She also stated that efforts are made to get the reporter to encourage the victim to come in and talk. Neville indicated that her office has been dealing with an increase in cases involving social media and texting. The office does not have disciplinary authority, however. The disciplinary authority for faculty is their appointing authority, generally their supervisor. Similarly, students found in violation of policies are referred to the dean of students. Other avenues for students dealing with sexual misconduct issues include the Student Health Center, the Counseling Center and the Ombuds Program, which works to resolve disputes on campus. Victims of, or students with knowledge of, sexual assault should contact campus police at 255-3106.

S CIeNCe & BuSINeSS Installation of solar picnic tables slated for spring

Nov.18, 2013 | 4

Eleanor Skelton eskelton@uccs.edu

On the first day of the spring semester, students may be able to charge their smartphones and laptops at outdoor picnic tables. Matthew Driftmier, a political science major in his second year of a three-year program, wrote the proposal for the Solar Dok picnic tables and recently presented it to the Green Action Fund. Each table has solar panels on the umbrella that charge Gel Cell batteries below and include four wall outlets and two USB ports protected by outdoor outlet covers. The tables’ LED lights can be used at night. The Green Action Fund committee voted unanimously to approve the $42,725 project. Driftmier, who sits on the GAF committee in his role as SGA secretary of sustainability, abstained. Each of the four originally proposed tables costs $9,795, and the proposal also includes $3,545 for color and design options. The original proposal sug-

COURTESY PHOTO | GAF

UCCS will join other campuses with solar umbrellas.

gested installing four tables, but the fourth table is still being debated. While the project was funded for all four tables, the understanding among committee members is that it will be for three tables until details of placement for the fourth are worked out and voted on at their next meeting, Nov. 20.

“We still haven’t finalized the tables yet, but right now we’re looking at one in the Upper Plaza, one in the Lower Plaza, one out underneath the clock tower in the El Pomar Plaza and then the fourth one I want to bring back would be out in front of the west entrance to the University Center, out by where the

Green Action Fund’s bicycle pump is,” Driftmier said. The project currently has verbal approval from facilities, auxiliaries, the university architect and the UC design review board. Driftmier still must finalize placement with Jeff Davis, executive director at Auxiliaries Services, and order the tables from EnerFusion, Inc. “There aren’t really hard statistics about how much energy is saved because it’s dependent on how much use they get, how much people are actually using them,” said Driftmier. “This isn’t going to be cutting the UC’s energy bills in half by a long shot. The energy saved will be more negligible.” “The real impact we’re looking to get out of these tables is more awareness. Here’s solar panels, here’s real interactions you can have with solar energy, these are the kind of things you can do with it,” he explained. Each table would have a meter displaying how much electricity is being generated and consumed. “We’re really looking for this to be a fun way for people

to interact with sustainability because a lot of the time ... it’s solar panels on the roof that you never see, it’s gray water systems in the back rooms that you never see, it’s LED lights that you can’t tell a difference in. It’s all these unappreciated areas where you’re really saving a lot of energy and money, but people don’t have an interaction with that.” He expects the solar picnic tables to be heavily used once installed. “With all the universities that have these tables, they’re very popular, high in demand. It’s usually hard to sit down at them because they’re always full,” he said. Driftmier became aware of the solar charging stations when The Gazette published an article July 10 about two tables being installed on the PPCC Centennial and Rampart campuses. His next project is an antiidling policy for fleet vehicles on campus. “We really can’t control students’ cars, but we can control things that the university owns, and scores of universities across the nation have these policies.”

Fundraising efforts the focus at forum Nick Beadleston nbeadles@uccs.edu

Citing declining state money, the CU system is making an increased effort to find independent funding. UCCS alone has surpassed its own half-decade $45 million private fundraising goal by nearly 8.3 percent. Vice Chancellor Martin Wood informed UCCS faculty about the future of UCCS fundraising efforts in an all-campus forum on Nov. 13. Previously, the University of Colorado Foundation was the primary organization for CU fundraising. The foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization, was responsible for securing and managing nonstate funding for the CU system. To improve their operations, Bruce Benson, president of the University of Colorado, hired

the international consultant firm Grenzebach Glier and Associates, which specializes in nonprofit institutions. Based on recommendations from GG+A, the foundation was largely disbanded earlier in the year. Its personnel and resources were relocated to the CU campuses. According to Wood, as UCCS already had its own office of University Advancement, the transition was less complicated than at other CU campuses. “Fundraising is going to be way more visible on this campus than ever before,” said Wood. According to Census Bureau data published in 2012, Colorado ranks among the lowest states for state-funded education, though the bureau’s formula only accounts for a portion of monetary accounts. “We are a very significant product right now,” the vice

chancellor said, referring to the university’s viability for donor investments. He spoke about the construction on campus, including “cranes the size of Texas,” as a positive investment factor. “They see that as a highly successful campus,” he said. Jaime McMullen Garcia, interim executive director of development for University Advancement, presented a breakdown of campaign fundraising by college. The College of Letters, Arts and Sciences led with $6.6 million. Garcia indicated that UCCS has surpassed its 2006-2012 private philanthropy fundraising goal of $45 million by almost 8.3 percent. She also identified the challenge of respecting benefactor wishes while putting the university first. “We try to balance being donor-centric with what is feasible

and realistic for the campus,” said Garcia. Wood indicated that procuring funding for less glamorous construction projects on campus can be a challenge. He specifically referred to the sewer lines, which he jokingly called an “anonymous gift” due to them being buried. To close out the presentation, Garcia showed video testimonials by several CU and UCCS donors, including the Osbornes and the Possehls. Following the videos, the vice chancellor addressed faculty questions. Topics included the City for Champions plan, the difference between gifts and grants and the reorganization of the CU Foundation. Regarding talks that the university may be excluded from the City for Champions, Wood expressly said, “Not gonna happen.”

(Continued from page 1) Sustainability report

the refurbishment of the heating and cooling systems. Currently, UCCS receives 8 percent of its electricity from renewable energy. Paper usage is down from 2012 but still higher than previous years. According to Kogan, the university implements a dual approach to improving sustainability. The academic portion of the plan has been largely addressed through a number of sustainabilityrelated courses and campus awareness campaigns. Two sustainability-related minors are available on campus, and a major

in energy engineering will be available next semester. Additionally, a freshman seminar, Sustainable Me, is also available. The Greening of the Office Program, an on-campus energy awareness campaign, has also contributed to the educational and awareness component. The other facet of increasing UCCS sustainability is improving campus operations. To accomplish this, the university has adopted a three-pronged approach: reduction of waste, production of energy and purchase of renewable energy

credits. The first two are executed by creating more energy-efficient buildings. While not required by state law, the university has committed to building LEED Gold-certified buildings, with six so far on campus and more planned for the near future. There are no LEED standards for the parking garages. However, the university is modeling its new parking garage after that of the one at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. According to documentation published by NREL, its structure

He explained that when the City for Champions plan was initially formulated, the university had not yet compiled all the data the city needed to move ahead. According to Wood, all the necessary data has since been collected and submitted. Wood was unwilling to speculate on how much money the university would receive from the plan, as the city council is still deliberating. Regarding the state of donor contributions during the recession, Wood stated that UCCS was not as negatively affected as other institutions. “We didn’t see huge falls, but we did feel the impact,” he said. Wood also indicated that he expects money from donors to continue to improve along with the economy.

performs up to 90 percent better than a standard parking garage. The increase in overall emissions has resulted in a greater need for carbon offsetting, analysis of the report shows. Kogan espoused the world needs to conduct an 80-percent reduction in carbon emissions. “We need to support those efforts wherever they take place.” She stated that the end game is a carbon neutral university. According to the report, the current commitment is for a 20-percent reduction of carbon emissions by 2020 and a 50-percent reduction by 2030.

Culture

Nov.18, 2013| 5

‘ARTPOP’ all about appearances, less about the soul Sara Horton shorton@uccs.edu

Rating:

“I killed my former and / Left her in the trunk on Highway 10,” Lady Gaga confides in “Aura,” the exotic opening track to “ARTPOP,” her fourth album. “Put the knife under the hood / If you find it, send it straight to Hollywood.” She belts out a round of mechanical laughter, spiraling into the beginning of her most ex-

perimental album to date. With 15 songs – 10 of which are labeled explicit – plenty of up-tempo beats and a few rappers along for the ride, “ARTPOP” is a party album. And while it doesn’t quite live up to the hype Gaga has worked to generate prior to its Nov. 11 release, it’s a fun and wild listen if you don’t mind the lack of ballads and vulnerability. The album is packed with poppy dance tracks, the first blending unceremoniously into the next. “ARTPOP” is a complete turnaround from her smart sophomore effort, “The Fame

Monster,” with nine solid songs and the record-smashing single “Bad Romance.” “ARTPOP” feels about five tracks too long, as if everything was included in a last-ditch effort in hopes of something, anything, working out. But nothing sounds like it has the makings of a hit single comparative to “Bad Romance,” which still buzzes in our skulls regardless of whether we love or despise Gaga. Her latest single, “Do What U Want” featuring R. Kelly, may be the closest it gets. T.I., Too $hort and Twista are also featured on

Drink your Thanksgiving Wild Thanksgiving

Pass the Turkey 45 milliliters Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon 60 milliliters apple cider 1 tablespoon cranberry jelly 1 sprig fresh sage 1 sprig fresh thyme In a cocktail shaker, muddle the sage and thyme with the apple cider. Add ice, Wild Turkey and cranberry jelly. Shake vigorously and strain over ice into a glass rimmed with turkey jus and breadcrumbs. www.wildturkeybourbon.com.au/cocktailrecipes/

1 ounce Applejack 1 splash Rose’s Lime Juice 1 ounce Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon Cranberry juice Pour all the ingredients in a highball glass filled with ice. Stir to combine and garnish with a sprig of mint.

news.holidash.com/2009/11/04/wild-turkey-cocktails-for-thanksgiving/

the catchy party starter “Jewels N’ Drugs,” which (shocker) isn’t as friendly for the radio. Only toward the very end of the album does Gaga pause to take a breather in “Dope,” a raw and touching confessional. “Each day, I cry / Oh, I feel so low from living high,” she roars. Gaga can make rock bottom poignant, a reminder she’s more than just a costumed crusader on a shock-and-awe campaign. She’s a creative powerhouse who can carry a song with nothing more than a microphone and a piano.

But “Dope” is only a glimpse at what’s left of an artist’s soul when the party is over and she no longer needs to put on an act for anyone, not even herself. This personal reflection extends so far as the beginning of the next song, “Gypsy,” before it’s gone and Gaga is chanting about “Applause,” living for show life and the crowds. “ARTPOP” proves she can master a danceable album, but she may have overlooked the little monsters eager to put their hands together for something more than computer-generated noise.

Nick Beadleston nbeadles@uccs.edu

Hypnotized By a Tattooed Bullfighter While On a Turkey Hunt in the Southern Yukon 3/4 ounce rum (Captain Morgan Tattoo) 1 ounce Hpnotiq 1 ounce Southern Comfort 3/4 ounce Wild Turkey 1 ounce Yukon Jack 1/2 can Red Bull

Pumpkin Pie Martini 2 ounces vanilla vodka 2 ounces white creme de cacao 1/4 cup heavy cream 1.5 tablespoons of pumpkin puree 1 dash of ground nutmeg (for garnish)

Shake ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a parfait glass.

Rim two martini glasses with crushed graham cracker. Fill shaker with ice, add the vodka, creme de cacao, cream and pumpkin puree. Shake until chilled. Strain into glasses. Sprinkle nutmeg for garnish.

news.holidash.com/2009/11/04/wild-turkey-cocktails-for-thanksgiving/

mixthatdrink.com/pumpkin-pie-martinimixthatdrink-original/

Social media in the CLASSROOM Changing how students and teachers interact

Alexander Nedd anedd@uccs.edu

A student begins to type her homework: 140 characters or fewer on a screen one-fourth the size of college-ruled paper. Students and teachers across the nation are using social media to interact more closely in and outside the classroom. According to a study by Pearson Learning Solutions and the Babson Survey Research Group, 41 percent of 8,000 faculty surveyed use social media to teach. This is a 7 percent increase from 2012. “When we use the term of social media, we need to define the terms of what social media is and what isn’t,” said Janice Thorpe, a senior communication instructor who has taught at UCCS for 21 years. “Blackboard is a social media platform, within it I use it a lot. I have student’s blogging, there are discussions boards, I do self-lecture from videos that come from YouTube, we look at LinkedIn, we use social media in various [ways],”

said Thorpe. Educational Tool The integration between social media platforms and learning has drawn attention, changing the way teachers work and students learn. “I think it’s interesting how Blackboard has a tie to Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn,” said Julie Alexander, a communication graduate student and graduate teaching associate at the Communication Center. “You can create a profile, which is incredibly different from how it used to be.” She acknowledged the growing use of social media as an educational tool. “As a student, I didn’t see that much of social media in the classroom. I’ve seen it in clubs and when it’s involved with public relations,” Alexander said. “I don’t use it just to say that I do. It has to have a real learning purpose,” Thorpe explained. Plus, since she commutes from Boulder, social media enables her to have virtual office hours.

Concerns Social media’s growing popularity and the flux in new technology has also brought concerns. “It has allowed the transmission of information to people very quickly, but what if the information is wrong?” Thorpe wonders. She also mentioned it’s forced people to rethink privacy. Thorpe cited the work of Sherry Turkle, a psychologist at MIT and analyst on social media who gives TED talks that can be viewed on YouTube. In her video “Connected, but Alone?” Turkle explains the reality of social media and how it can push people away from true conversation with one another. “We need to develop a more self-aware relationship with our devices, people and ourselves,” Turkle explains in her video. The Digital Line Concerning the boundaries expected of students and teachers online, UCCS provides a list of rules and guidelines instructors and stu-

dents should follow while engaging with social media. The policy states for employees, “As a university employee, you represent UCCS both in and outside of your office and classroom and are responsible for anything posted on your personal social media sites.” “I don’t Facebook friend any student while they are in my class. I want to protect my boundaries and to protect students from themselves,” said Thorpe. “I want to make sure that I am viewing students on who they present to me in class.” “I’m friends with some instructors, but I don’t add them or they add me until I am done with the class,” Alexander said. Despite the precautions, however, Alexander said the usefulness of social media depends on the context. “I think it’s all about how instructors try to use it and integrate it,” said Alexander. “But you have the question of what is ethical for a positive open classroom environment.”

Nov.18, 2013 | 6 Culture ‘Mineola Twins’ covers 30 years of U.S. history, ﬁlm Eleanor Skelton

The Lowdown

eskelton@uccs.edu

What: “Mineola Twins”

Rating:

Twin sisters. Raised together in small-town America with radically different ideas. This is the basis for “Mineola Twins” by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel, who spoke at UCCS earlier this month. The show, which opened last week, runs Nov. 22-24 in the Osborne Theater and is directed by Joye CookLevy, a theater instructor. This production features an intriguing combination of both film and stage acting with interpretive dance, which gives the audience a clear sense of each passing decade. The two sisters represent the polarization of political parties. The script uses mirrored actions and repeated lines to show that each side is more similar than they think. Cook-Levy emphasizes these repetitions with red and green strobe lights and a computerized voice echoing the actor, highlighting the eerie nature of the play layered beneath the comic elements. Several props are reused, furthering the mirror effect. Throughout the play, Myrna consistently aligns with ultraconservative ideals while the liberal Myra discards cultural norms. The first scene opens with video

Where: Osborne Theater University Hall When: Nov. 22-24, 7:30 p.m. How much: Free with UCCS ID $5 general admission ELEANOR SKELTON | THE SCRIBE

The show opened last week and runs Nov. 22-25.

of two inseparable twin girls in an elementary school hallway in the early 50s, then cuts to a Cold War air raid and Myrna’s high school nightmare of an air raid, laced with pubescent sexual tensions. Following dream sequences, indicated by fog machines, display more of Myrna’s buried desires. Myrna’s dream sequence in the mental hospital is interpreted by the dance of two scrubclad nurses beside her, making Myrna’s speech more vivid. The stereotypical costumes for each period colorfully illustrate Vogel’s theme of extremes. The teenage Myrna, an aproned diner waitress in a blue-checkered dress, dreams of winning her high school’s

homemaker award and marrying her boyfriend, Jim. Myra, a cocktail waitress in black leather and hosiery at a brothel, mocks her sister, saying she has recipes for every dinner of her first year of marriage. Real cigarettes and lighters are used in all smoking scenes, lending to the atmosphere’s authenticity. Myrna and Myra are played by the same actor in separate scenes, and their only visible difference is their wardrobe style and their bra size, displayed by overt costume padding, which was distracting. The 70s, introduced by footage of President Nixon telling the national television audience, “Your President is

not a crook,” find Myrna a dissatisfied mother and housewife and Myra a flamboyant antiwar protestor. By the 80s and the Reagan administration, Myra is raising a son with Sarah, her lesbian partner, while Myrna hosts a radio talk show and publishes a book called “Profiles in Chastity.” Each son wishes his aunt were his mother. Kenny, age 14 in the 70s, wants to join Aunt Myra in the counterculture movement. Benjamin, a high school freshman in the 80s, wears a “virgin by choice” pin on his collared shirt and asks Aunt Myrna to autograph his copy of her book. Yet the twins are still sisters, despite their hatred of each other. As the lights dim, the play asks if reconciliation is possible between the two.

Mountain Lion mountain men Nick Burns, James Sibert and Samantha Morley nburns@uccs.edu, jsibert@uccs.edu smorley2@uccs.edu

Easton Coleman: Are you only wearing a beard for No Shave November? “I prefer a perennial beard … because time never stops.” Where does the power of your beard derive? “From the death of my pores.” Motivation? “Life itself.” Importance of a winter beard? “Protects the face from wind burn.” Steve Rogers: Why the beard? “At first, it was for No Shave November, and then I just kind of

got used to it. I just like it and I just got too used to how I look with it now.” Importance of a winter beard? “Much warmer. You don’t realize how cold the neck gets without it.” Where does the power of your beard derive? “The largest percentage of my ancestry is Scottish, why it’s red also.” Randy Rosso: Why participate? “’Cause beards [are] like the definition of a man.” Power derive? “Jesus Christ, my lord and savior.” Beards in winter? “I’ve done beards in summer, and that gets pretty hot, so winter definitely makes a lot more sense.”

Matthew McCleland: What’s your favorite part about your beard? “The length.” What else makes it awesome? “It’s easy to take care of.” Zack Messenger: What do you most like about your beard? “I like that there is always a conversation to be had when you have a beard. If there’s nothing to say at all, at least someone can comment on the hair on my face, especially between two bearded men. It’s a sense of manly relativeness when you meet a man with a beard.” Anything else you would like to add? “Beards are cool. Grow one.”

Barrett Muth: Why did you grow a beard out? “Everything is a style choice. I make folk music, so the beard kind of comes with the territory.” Favorite part of a beard? “I like having a beard. It definitely keeps my face warm.” Why is a beard awesome? “Having a beard is awesome because it’s a form of deep, powerful expression. The beard of a man is his soul, bursting out into the real world.”

eDItOrIAl

Nov.18, 2013 | 8

Time is a college student’s greatest wealth this Thanksgiving

Letter to the Editor I read the article “Fulfilling one’s role not qualification for hero status.” That was one of the most narrow-minded things I have ever heard from someone. You think the word hero is overused when you live next to one of the largest military bases in the country. Fort Carson has thousands of soldiers who have at one point “chosen to put themselves at risk to save another.” The density of heroes doesn’t lessen the meaning of their actions, and it especially doesn’t dilute the courage of those individuals. Any veteran you see today made the choice at one point to serve their country. Most of the veterans you see on campus went to Iraq or Afghanistan or both for a year at a time several times. There they fought in a war with no front lines, where many in supporting non-combat roles were called on to be, yes, heroes. They were away from their families, lived in an uncomfortable place, working a 24/7 job. A job where people were trying to kill them. All for the greater good and prosperity of this nation. If that’s not heroic, then nothing is. “Dying in the service of one’s country or while in the performance of one’s duty does not warrant the highest recognition of self-sacrifice we can provide.” Why not? Is dying not enough for you? What else would you like our soldiers to do, in addition to dying, to earn the title hero? My parents have both been to war, and many of their friends have died serving. Six of my childhood buddies have lost their fathers in Afghanistan or Iraq. Those men may not have gone out shooting and screaming like Rambo, but they are heroes. They gave their lives to protect the ideals they held dear. That’s what a hero does.

Staff Editorial scribe@uccs.edu

The next time you’re out pumping gas or on a fast food run on Garden of the Gods, take a look around. You might notice men and women with cardboard signs have moved to the curbs. This can be a wonderful time of year. But for many, it’s also a time of desperation. Despite there being more than enough food for all, many still go without during what should be a happy season. According to the U.S. Census American Community Survey, Colorado Springs had a poverty rate of approximately 13 percent in 2010 with more than 10,000 families living at or below the poverty line. We tend to think of poverty as panhandlers somewhere downtown, invisible from the conﬁnement of our classrooms, but it’s closer to our campus than we think. While it’s sometimes advertised on curbs and street corners, it can also be behind closed doors, something our friends and even family battle without us knowing. Many of us carry on our daily lives, unaware of the plight felt by those in the community unless it’s visible. And even then, sometimes the priority is either completing class for the semester or deciding how to spend the winter break. U.S. college students, although we may not feel like it with our student loans and ramen variations for dinner, are part of the most afﬂuent population in the world. While movements like Occupy Wall

Street like to talk about the 1 percent, the truth is that America is the global 1 percent. As college students, we should take the time to see how good we have it. Volunteerism is always a great way to put things in perspective. Not only that, you get the chance to make a difference in the world – and that’s even more valuable. In an effort to promote a sense of community, UCCS offers several ways for students to support their less well-off brethren. The Holiday Service project allows members of the UCCS family to donate food, gifts and other necessities to those in need. Giving trees, drop boxes and colorful posters across campus remind students that they can pitch in at whatever level they can afford. Students interested in giving back can also join a number of trail and wilderness restoration groups. Recently, students joined the SOLE Ofﬁce and the Rocky Mountain Field Institute to help bring life back to the Waldo Canyon burn areas. Students aren’t limited to just university-sponsored events to give back to the community, either. Other charitable organizations, like the Marian House Soup Kitchen or Care and Share, are never in more need of volunteers than during this time of year. The life of a college student may be frugal one, but everyone can contribute in some way, even if the only thing you’re able to donate is time.

Jesse Byrnes Editor-in-Chief

Sara Horton

Managing Editor

Taylor Hargis Copy Editor

Nick Beadleston News Editor

Eleanor Skelton

Science & Business Editor

Cynthia Jeub Culture Editor

Aaron Collett

Opinion/Video Editor

April Weﬂer

Life on the Bluffs/Social Media Editor

Jonathan Toman Sports Editor

Nick Burns Photo Editor

Emily Olson Layout Editor

Edwin Satre

Website Manager

Reporters

Dezarae Yoder Crystal Chilcott Alexander Nedd Attiana Collins Serena A. Ahmad Ryan Adams Genesis Hernandez

Samantha Morley

Graphic Designer, Reporter

Photographers James Sibert Joshua Camacho Miki Swanson

-Ryan Derrick, senior majoring in business marketing

COURTESY PHOTO | FLICKR, SJU UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS

College is a time where students have the most to offer.

Business Manager Hussain Albahrani

Ad Sales Representative Michael Petrucelli

Corrections & Clarifications

Advisor

Laura Eurich

Last week’s article “Slovakian car breaks flight barrier” incorrectly spelled Taylor Lilly’s last name as Lily. Letters to the Editor: scribe@uccs.edu

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OPINION

Nov.18, 2013 | 9

Sustainability and conservatism go hand in hand

Jonathan Toman jtoman@uccs.edu

I used to think I was an anomaly. I identify as a conservative in many of my views, yet I am also very passionate about the idea and implementation of sustainability. The traditional political pairing of sustainability is liberalism. When you think

of one, the other seems to inevitably follow. So what was I? A unique, strange combination of ideas. Or so I thought. Not so long ago, I came to the realization that I am not alone in my belief that sustainability and conservatism are compatible. I even came to understand that the better political pairing for sustainability is conservatism. One of the major things holding sustainability back is its lack of use in business, as well as innovation to create competition for new and better sustainability ideas. Contrary to popular belief, innovation does not come from the government. One of the staples of conservatism is belief in the individual and the

belief that competition within business, not laws from the government, drives both our economy and the world forward with innovative ideas. In a recent article published in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, it was reported the Target Corporation will be installing a rating system that will look at the sustainability of many of the products sold at Target. “Each product will be ranked on a 100-point scale based on the sustainability of its ingredients, label transparency and overall environmental impact. The higher the score, the better,” the author explained. Target’s senior group manager of sustainability was quoted in the article

as saying, “Today, there is no consensus on what a more-sustainable product is, especially within these categories. Developing a product standard is the first step toward expanding the selection of sustainable product choices, and not just a subset of products that are called ‘natural.’” And, oh yeah, Wal-Mart also has a similar sustainability index in place. This is a perfect example of how business and sustainability can be intertwined and lead to better

things for both the consumer and the business. Businesses, on their own and without influence from the government, are making decisions and implementing sustainable change that is in the best inter-

ests of all involved. So what am I? I am a conservative who believes in sustainability. And despite the fact that I may be the minority, it’s a significant minority. COURTESY PHOTO | EPSOS.DE, FLICKR

Assigned reading discourages Tenured professors should exploration in college dedicate more time to classes

Cynthia Jeub cjeub@uccs.edu

I always get more reading done when I’m not in school. This isn’t unusual – college students don’t seem to do a lot of reading. A busy schedule may be to blame here, but the real reason students don’t read seems to be more psychological. Homework, for most students, is a necessary chore. There are moments of curiosity in textbooks, but general studying is done to memorize and regurgitate facts. If students dislike homework, and homework is associated with reading for memorization, the psychological connection causes students to link reading with things they dislike. The problem goes deeper for me. If I read an assigned book regardless of the class I’m in, I’ll read it slower when it’s assigned than if I were reading it by choice. This is because instructors assign a seg-

ment at a time while my personal reading style is to finish a book quickly. I could finish the book all at once, but since I feel like there is an incentive not to, I don’t. The piecemeal assigning encourages procrastination. A third issue with assigned reading is the instructor’s lack of encouragement to explore additional topics. If I tell an instructor I’m reading in addition to my schoolbooks, I get an indifferent reaction from most. The rest of the world outside of college is impressed. If I bring a book to the orthodontist, I’m lauded for my interest in reading. Being in school should encourage reading and researching for interest. We call it a “learning environment,” after all. Instead, students are told to stay on task, and if they’re learning about something useful, it’s not accredited or rewarded. Why bother? Some faculty members may believe students shouldn’t read for leisure, especially if it distracts from assigned reading. A novel supposedly is not informative, and admittedly, fiction is the genre of choice when reading for fun. If students wouldn’t choose a book of history, political science or science, or a chess strategy

book for leisure, I argue it’s because they associate such books with drudging assignments. Faculty members who think students shouldn’t read beyond homework ought to consider a student’s life after graduation. Will students stop reading once they have their diplomas? Many do. According to the Jenkins Group, a publishing services firm, 42 percent of college graduates never read a book after they’ve finished their college education. It’s time for faculty to start encouraging extra reading, or they will be responsible for a generation that stopped educating itself once it finished college. I can count on one hand the number of instructors I’ve had who repeatedly encouraged me to read unassigned material. It was a recommendation from colleague to colleague, and I took the advice out of respect instead of obligation or for a grade. Tell your students what the best books are. Recommend books you’ve loved, even if they’re not specific to the class subject. Perhaps with a change of mindset, more people will read and continue learning both in and out of school.

Taylor Hargis thargis@uccs.edu

Most students come to college expecting their courses to be challenging, but rewarding. Unfortunately, these expectations sometimes fall short when professors don’t have enough time to dedicate to their classes. According to The Atlantic, a study published by Northwestern University earlier this fall found tenured and tenure-track professors are less likely to inspire their students to take further courses in their department. They are also less likely to have their students receive higher grades in advanced coursework than non-tenure track instructors in teaching introductory-level courses.

In a way, these findings make sense. Tenured professors are almost always involved in research or departmental administration and therefore have less time to devote to their students and classes. However, this reasoning doesn’t make it acceptable. As a student struggling to pay for my own education (as many of us are), I was frustrated with my first experience with a professor like this. I was excited by the prospects of the course I was taking but disappointed with how little I actually learned on the subject. The only real means of instruction were a plethora of clearly outdated handouts. The class felt disorganized and the professor was almost never available to answer questions or discuss concerns. By the end of it, I felt cheated. All it took was that one class for me to decide I was no longer interested in pursuing a major I had been considering. In another class, the

tenured professor was often so busy that class was canceled on many occasions. While I enjoy an unexpected afternoon free as much as any other student, after a while I couldn’t help but feel ripped off for having paid for a class I was rarely ever in. I understand the entire point of tenure is so that professors can concentrate on research, and I definitely am not underestimating the importance of research on campus. I also recognize tenured professors are likely much better educators when it comes to teaching courses on their specialties, rather than more generalized and basic ones, and plenty of tenured professors on campus excel in all their duties. Nevertheless, the first thing they teach you in college is the value of time management. I would urge all instructors, tenured or not, to respect their student’s need for a valuable education by making an effort to balance their time.

Check out our website! uccs

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lIFe on the BluFFS Campus Chatter Eleanor Skelton, eskelton@uccs.edu

What kind of stores would you like to see open in University Village and what stores do you visit there now? Kimberly Southcott, sophomore, nursing “A Starbucks because I think it’s silly that there is no coffee shop in the University Village. Actually, preferably not Starbucks, but like a small local coffee shop. I currently enjoy their selection of restaurants.”

Sudoku

Puzzle 1 (Medium, difficulty rating 0.53)

Keegan Sullivan, senior, computer science “I would like to see a Best Buy or some kind of electronic store that’s not the Apple store. I go to Smashburger, the Chipotle, occasionally the Noodles [& Company] and even rarer, the Kohl’s.”

This week at UCCS General Nov. 18-22 Commuter Appreciation Week University Center Nov. 18-Dec. 10 7:30 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. Food for Fines Kraemer Family Library/El Pomar Center

Nov. 22-24 7:30 p.m. “Mineola Twins” University Hall, Osborne Theater, room 233 Nov. 28-Dec.1 Thanksgiving holiday – no classes, offices closed

Monday, Nov. 18 6-9 p.m. Dinner on UCCS Columbine Main Entrance

Tuesday, Nov. 19 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Commuter Rest Stop Student Life Office

Thursday, Nov. 21 11 a.m. to noon, 3-4 p.m. “Cash Cab” bus shuttle programming Campus shuttle buses

5:30 p.m. Traveling at the Speed of Life: David Sylvester UC 302

Friday, Nov. 22 8:30-9:30 a.m. SGA House Meeting UC 303

10 a.m. to noon SGA Legislative Council Meeting UC 303

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

2 1

4 5

5 8

8 9

2 4

Top Ten Things UCCS should add during construction Alexander Nedd, anedd@uccs.edu

10 1

Kevin Boyer, senior, political science “I’d like if there was an REI closer than the one that’s already way up on Academy ... That’s really all I need is an REI. [I like] Tokyo Joe’s. Yes, it’s wonderful. And Chipotle. It’s my heaven.”

Nov.18, 2013 | 10

A parking garage*

A cupcake factory

A bridge to the Cragmor neighborhood

A Coliseum

A drive-in theater – parking by day, theater at night

An outdoor yoga venue

A petting zoo

A light rail between University Hall and the Rec Center

An airport

A ski loft on the bluffs

Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/~jdhildeb/software/sudokugen/ on Wed Nov 13 00:01:17 2013 GMT. Enjoy!

*Things we really don’t need and can wait on

MISSING:

music and talent in America’s award shows Alexander Nedd anedd@uccs.edu

Same song, second verse. On Nov. 24, ABC will be hosting the 41st annual American Music Awards. It promises to be a night of surprises, tearful acceptance speeches and an “epic” performance by Miley Cyrus (hey, I didn’t say twerking). The AMAs, like other award shows, is an over-exaggerated ceremony held for media to gobble up and spit out for weeks in upcoming issues of People and Us Weekly. It’s a night that most artists and musicians have earned. However, it seems like the true meaning is lost, overshadowed by who’s going to jail, what people are wearing and who said what. Nothing proves my point more than this year’s Video Music Awards presented by MTV. Think back with me: what music video won Video of the Year for 2013? You have no clue, huh? But you remember Miley Cyrus’ twerking ordeal with Robin Thicke, shattering her once-known innocence. This is what America’s award shows are coming down to. Why are the VMAs still televised by MTV, a network that doesn’t even show music videos anymore? While MTV created the award show, there is no reason why they should continue to host it.

It makes more sense to televise it on YouTube, where most people receive their music. But YouTube just hosted the first YouTube Video Music Awards on Nov. 3, adding to the already long list. Instead of reflecting on an earned award or recognizing a truly outstanding performance, we are lessening our standards and simply holding popularity contests where everyone gets a trophy. (Didn’t win an award? Just wait till next week!) Some might say that it’s based on their respective content and that some award shows are far better than others. I do not doubt that this is true, but the sheer number of award shows still baffles me. Take country music. There are four major country award shows a year, each claiming “the biggest night for country.” How many times can an artist be awarded the same award or substitute award in a similar, differentlynamed category? What is the true difference between the Country Music Awards and the American Country Music Awards besides being held one month between each other? It gets monotonous. These award shows showcase what few morals we have in our pop music and society. There used to be a time where winning an award was truly an honor,

I’m not saying get rid of all the award shows. There are still venues that hold pride and integrity in their awards and truly are an honor to win. The Emmys, the Golden Globes and the Grammys are three respectable awards that Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber and others will not be winning anytime soon. America needs to look to these as models for giving awards. It’s time America puts “award” back in “award show” and gets rid of the extra ones we don’t need, as well as the artists who come with them.

COURTESY PHOTO | NYNKE60

Madonna is an award show ﬁxture.

SPOrtS

Nov.18, 2013 | 11

Men’s soccer season ends in shootout loss to Colorado Mesa Ryan Adams radams3@uccs.edu

With talent and high expectations, the 2013 season for the UCCS men’s soccer team was slated to be a good one. Led by second-year head coach Johnnie Keen, the team was predicted to be the RMAC’s dark horse and had plenty of potential to live up to that name. Yet, with many close games that resulted in ties or losses and a down-to-the-wire shootout loss to Colorado Mesa, the season ended prematurely. Although the team posted a 6-8-3 record overall and a 5-63 record in the RMAC, senior team captain Max Thomas still thought the season went well. “Overall, it was a good season,” said Thomas. “We started off well, then had two bad losses and lost our confidence. We were able to finish strong in the regular season though by beating both Colorado Christian 5-0 and Pueblo 3-1.” Keen was happy to see the team start off well too, especially after ending last year on a sour note. “Starting out with a convincing 3-0 win over a tough opponent like Saint Mary’s [San Antonio, Texas] was great,” he said. “We ended last year with two losses, so it was good to start this season off with a

JAMES SIBERT | THE SCRIBE

J.R. Calhoun, #16, in full swing for a driving pass.

win.” Throughout the season, the Mountain Lions clawed their way through many matches. Keen thought the team played stellar defense and didn’t give up a lot of goals, making them tough to win against. One highlight of the season for the team was beating their most formidable opponent, Fort Lewis, in a 3-2 overtime thriller at Mountain Lion Stadium. Junior Austin Bell shared his thoughts on that victory: “Historically, they are one of the most successful D-II schools in the country,” he said. “It was a

great win for the team and we always like beating them because of their reputation.” Although a shootout loss on the last penalty kick wasn’t how Keen envisioned his team ending the season, he believes they have a bright future. “This was a strong year for senior leadership having Colton Briscoe, Max Thomas, Brandon Costa and Michael Hiner leading our underclassmen,” he said. “With them being the only ones graduating as well as having eight freshmen that did really well this year, there’s a lot of potential to go farther.”

Even with their disappointing loss in the first round of the RMAC playoffs, the Mountain Lions still had many individual accomplishments by a number of players. Junior Matthew Cox and sophomore Sebastian Hertzberg both recorded hat tricks versus Colorado State University-Pueblo. Cox, who came back from a broken leg, registered six goals this season. Costa, a senior, was awarded RMAC Defensive Player of the Week three times while Hertzberg and junior James Roberts each received RMAC Offensive Player of the Week.

Roberts and Thomas received second team all-RMAC honors, a first-time honor for Roberts and second-time honor for Thomas. Bell, who will be one of eight returning seniors next season, wants to have a different outlook when the team comes back in the fall. “We have to prepare for the season like it’s a marathon, not a sprint,” he said. “If we prepare better for the length of the season, I think it could help us have more consistent results.” With their first game of the 2014 season not until next fall, Keen is already looking forward to next season and enjoys being the head coach of the men’s soccer team. “I like the challenge of finding young men looking to be student athletes at UCCS,” he said. “The relationship among players and coaches on the team is great and you really have a sense of belonging being on the team.” Thomas agreed with Keen that the team atmosphere is a big part of why he likes playing soccer at UCCS. “I enjoy the camaraderie the most,” said Thomas. “We are a super close team with most of us living together and hanging out together. It’s a brotherhood, really.”

Gender stigmas in sports still prevalent

April Weﬂer aweﬂer@uccs.edu

When I mention figure skater, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Does it change when I say male figure skater? What about female wrestler or weightlifter? Even now, some sports are still gender-segregated. When males want to break traditional gender norms by participating in traditionally female-dominated sports or vice versa, it always comes with a stigma. An article on bodybuilding. com leads with “[t]o be big and freaky. Or not to be. That is the question that haunts women’s bodybuilding.” A female weightlifter is au-

tomatically considered “big and freaky.” A male weightlifter, on the other hand, is acting the way a manly man should. Men often play volleyball at social functions, but you probably won’t find a professional male volleyball player anytime soon. There are also gender-specific sports that don’t branch into men’s and women’s, like Olympic synchronized swimming specifically for females or football, which is predominately male. In my sociology class, we discussed the names people are called when they break traditional norms. Male figure skaters are called fairies or fruitcakes. Women boxers or wrestlers are also confronted with the question of their sexuality. True, there are lesbian female athletes and gay male figure skaters. But not every female boxer is lesbian and not every male figure skater is gay. What most people don’t realize is that figure skating wasn’t even created by a woman. In the 1800s, according to icestagearchive.com, Jackson Haines combined dance with ice-skating and is credited as the

father of figure skating. Recently, I overheard a conversation talking about a “male ice-skater.” Why was this gender-specific? Why isn’t it just “ice-skater”? People will often make assumptions about an Olympic figure skater or a boxer that doesn’t fit the societal gender norm for that sport. Figure skating includes glitter and tight costumes. Therefore, it is a female sport and any “male figure skater” must be feminine, right? Figure skater Scott Hamilton has been confronted with homophobia throughout his life, according to Rainbow Ice, a website about gay skating. Many people assumed he was gay just because he skated. Although judgments about Hamilton were made in the 1980s, these judgments still persist today. Male athletes in predominately female sports aren’t the only ones stigmatized, though. Female athletes in predominately male sports are also judged. “Despite recent progress, discrimination based on the real or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity of female

NICK BURNS | THE SCRIBE

Female weightlifters are still stigmatized.

athletes persists. Girls in sports may experience bullying [and] social isolation,” the Women’s Sports Foundation website stated. Similarly, the Feminist Majority Foundation website found several female athletes have encountered the gay stigma. “More than half of female administrators surveyed said their

involvement in certain sports often led others to assume they were lesbian. Fifty-one percent of women coaches agreed, as did 46 [percent] of women athletes.” Why the stigma? People should be allowed to play what they want to play without others making assumptions about their sexual orientation.

SPOrtS

Nov.18, 2013 | 12

Seven men’s basketball players suspended Jonathan Toman jtoman@uccs.edu

Seven players on the men’s basketball team are serving suspensions on a rolling basis throughout the first four games of the season. The seven players participated in summer league games that occurred in April, before the end of the school year, which is an NCAA violation. “The men and women play in multiple summer leagues in Denver,” said Athletic Director Steve Kirkham. “This one was a fundraiser for the CCU [Colorado Christian University] athletic department. We try to be transparent, so we self-reported it immediately.” Six of the seven players participated in two games, with the other player participating in one. The players talked with Head Coach Jeff Culver beforehand. “I and CCU told them that it was OK,” said Culver. “And as soon as we found out, they stopped playing.” Self-reporting the violation was key to limiting the damage and allowing the penalties to be served on a rolling basis. “If we hadn’t self-reported, we would have been penalized for lack of institutional control,” said Kirkham. Not self-reporting the viola-

tion could have led to a harsher major infraction, compared to the secondary infraction that was handed down by the NCAA, which comes with less penalty and accountability. According to Kirkham, two problems were at play. There was an assumption that CCU, as a fellow NCAA and RMAC institution, knew what they were doing. Also, UCCS and Culver already had experience with the league. Culver, while at National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) school Johnson and Wales, had teams participate in the league. “I don’t think his [Culver’s] radar was as turned on as it is now,” said Kirkham. “It’s kind of an ‘oh, darn, shucks’ type of thing.” Kirkham added Culver should have checked with a compliance officer and assured he will do so in the future. Such restrictions are needed, Kirkham explained, both to limit playing time and control what goes on when players aren’t on campus. “It’s a good rule, I am sure CCU will not have any more games in April,” Kirkham said. On May 7, UCCS found out and self-reported the infraction to the NCAA. On May 28, the NCAA responded, explaining that they received the information, agreed it was a violation

and started the implementation process. Over the summer, the players were reinstated and the enforcement portion of the NCAA took over, which then determined the penalty. The NCAA ruling was a “serve one game for one game” penalty, according to Kirkham. This would mean all players involved serve their suspensions as soon as possible at the start of the season, back to back. Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine Brian Hardy wrote a letter to the NCAA as part of the appeal to stagger the suspensions and have them served over a four-game stretch to begin the season. The letter listed concerns for back-to-back suspended games, citing player health and wellness as the main reason. The NCAA uses a cue system when it comes to violations or other problems, and according to Kirkham, the bigger schools (Division I schools like Alabama), and violations involving football and other fall sports take precedence. That was part of the reason it took until November to get an official ruling. UCCS wanted to get the ruling quickly so that the players wouldn’t miss any conference games, and was notified before conference games began. In addition to the NCAA ruling, there will be some in-house

STOCK PHOTO | THE SCRIBE

The suspensions will be fulﬁlled on a rolling basis.

response. “When you self-report, you kind of come up with your own penalties,” said Kirkham. “It’s called reeducation.” Coaches at UCCS and other NCAA institutions take what Kirkham characterized as a “pretty intense” rules test, in which you need at least a 75 percent to pass. This test is crucial because coaches cannot leave campus to recruit until they pass the test. According to Kirkham, Culver had to reeducate himself on the rulebook. Despite the setbacks, Kirkham saw a positive side to the situation. “As an athletic director, this type of thing is good for the department when it does happen,” said Kirkham. “It’s a reminder of what can happen if you don’t

dot your i’s and cross your t’s.” As far as a change in strategy to counteract the suspensions, Culver sees no change in their plans. “It doesn’t change our game plan whatsoever,” he said. “One of the strengths of this team is our depth. We have a lot of very capable players.” “We are always ready for the next player to step up, and it’s no different in this case,” Culver added. As far as moving forward, Culver sees an easy fix. “We obviously won’t be playing in that spring league anymore,” he said. “The guys did what they needed to as far as asking the right people. They just got the wrong answers, unfortunately. I wish I could serve the suspensions for them, quite frankly.”

Student attends Olympic sustainability conference in Sochi Ryan Adams radams3@uccs.edu

While the 2014 Winter Olympics don’t start until February, sophomore sport management student Brad Suchorski received a sneak peak of the host city when he attended a sustainability conference in Sochi, Russia, back in late October. The event was hosted by the International Wakeboarding and Waterskiing Federation, an organization in which Suchorski’s uncle is the chair of its environmental committee. “My uncle knew how much I liked being a part of the Olympic movement, and so he gave me the opportunity to attend the conference,” said Suchorski. “I really lucked out and was excited to be able to have this experience.” The main topic of the conference was sustainability. Suchorski said a vast majority of former Olympic host cities have stadiums and buildings that don’t get used after the global event ends. “In Beijing, they had the opening and closing ceremonies in what they called the

Bird’s Nest,” he said. “Today, that 80,000-seat stadium is no longer used and just sits there, rotting away.” With the Sochi games in February, the International Olympic Committee is hoping to create stadiums and buildings that can be used for future events that come to the seaside Russian city. “The stadium where the opening and closing ceremonies will take place is also a venue that Sochi officials want to use for the 2018 World Cup,” said Suchorski. “There will be a lot of temporary venues too, and that is something that people will see in 2016 in Rio [de Janeiro] too.” For the UCCS Sport Management Program, having a student attend a worldwide event is pretty special. Ian Ratz, the internship director of the program, believes having Suchorski attend this conference has the potential to help in a big way. “The university is really trying to strengthen their relationship with the USOC [United States Olympic Committee], especially since we are so

COURTESY PHOTO | BRAD SUCHORSKI

Student Brad Suchorski visited Sochi in late October.

close,” he said. “Having a student attend an event like this shows our commitment to the Olympic movement and creates opportunities for our students like Brad.” During the conference, Suchorski was able to meet new people, which he said was the best part of the trip. “It was really cool to talk to people from all sorts of different cultures because it shows you how different everyone is,” he said. “Based on where they

are in the world, they might do different things when they plan an Olympics than we do in the United States.” Rumors have swirled that Sochi is somewhat unprepared to host the games. According to a recent Washington Post article, most venues are near completion, but the most important one is still a mere skeleton. Fisht Stadium, the 40,000seat venue slated to host the opening and closing ceremonies, still has an unfinished

roof, and the majority of the concrete for the interior has yet to be poured. “There were still cranes around the stadium when I was there,” said Suchorski. “They have had test events though, and the surrounding is complete, so I think they will be fine.” A coastal town in the southwestern region of Russia, Sochi has more of California feel to it, according to Suchorski. While he was there, the average temperature was right around 65 degrees, something people haven’t seen in past winter Olympic sites. The sustainability of Olympic venues is something Suchorski anticipates will have an impact not only in Sochi but also in Olympic games to come. “The idea is to be as sustainable as possible,” said Suchorski. “They are going to turn the mountain cluster into a resort after the games, but it will be hard to decide what to do with the luge run as well as the ski jump. It’s something they talked about a lot at the conference and something that will definitely come up in future Olympic Games, too.”