Dec. 7, 2015 by The Scribe

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scribe.uccs.edu Vol. 40, Iss. 14

Monday, December 7, 2015

University of Colorado Colorado Springs

UCCS community remembers Garrett Swasey Jonathan Toman jtoman@uccs.edu

UCCS Police Officer Garrett Swasey was one of three people killed in a shooting on Nov. 27 at the Planned Parenthood clinic in west Colorado Springs. Swasey, 44, was a six-year veteran of the UCCS Police Department and the first UCCS officer killed in the line of duty. Funeral services were held Dec. 4 at New Life Church, and a funeral motorcade and reception in Berger Hall followed. Swasey was honored at the UCCS men’s and women’s basketball games on Nov. 28 with a moment of silence before each game began. A vigil for Swasey followed that evening, with hundreds of students, faculty and staff as well as community members gathering in the lower plaza to remember Swasey. Starting Dec. 3, various locations throughout campus began selling wristbands that read

COURTESY | COMMINIQUE

#UCCSSTRONG, including the bookstore, copy center, University Center front desk, Café 65, Clyde’s and all campus coffee shops. All proceeds from the wristbands go to the Swasey UCCS scholarship fund. Students can also donate to this fund at www.cufund.org/swasey. A YouCaring fund was also established to support Swasey’s family. As of Dec. 3, over $191,000 has been donated. The family now suggests donations go to the Swasey UCCS scholarship fund. Officers from CU-Anschutz and CU-Boulder were on campus from the night of Dec. 3 to the morning of Dec. 7 to cover police services and allow UCCS officers and dispatchers to spend time with family. The UCCS Counseling Center, Student Health Center and the Dean of Students Office are available for students who may be struggling with the events of Nov. 27. (For more coverage, see page 6)

DAVY MELLADO | THE SCRIBE

IN BRIEF NEWS

Campus Veterans

UCCS ranked high in military support 2

The vigil for Officer Garrett Swasey was held on Nov. 28 in the lower plaza.

Student Exchange

UCCS looks to form English partnership 2

CULTURE

Religion on Campus Campus groups explore faith 4

Christmas Albums

A look into popular artists 5

DAVY MELLADO | THE SCRIBE

OPINION

SPORTS

Light will always outshine the darkness 9

Student, ice skater, looks to reach 2018 Olympics 11

Heroes

Max Aaron

N ews UCCS ranked among best in the nation for veterans

December 7, 2015 | 2

kguthri2@uccs.edu

For the second year in a row, UCCS was ranked among the best universities in the U.S. for veterans by the weekly military publication, Military Times. UCCS is estimated to have 2,000 students who are veterans, active duty, or are connected to the military community. The university ranked 90th in the nation among four year colleges. The poll, which was conducted for the 2016 edition of the publication, used several factors in order to determine their ratings for campuses across the nation.

One of these factors includes feedback and data from the U.S. departments of Veterans Affairs, Defense and Education. Other factors that were considered for the poll were accommodations and financial incentives offered to veterans, along with an evaluation of programs aimed at providing veterans with information about their benefits. Phillip Morris, program director for the Office of Veteran and Military Student Affairs, said he was pleased with the ranking. “We continue to try to create good opportunities for veterans and their families as much as we can with our best practices,” he

said. Morris explained the steps that UCCS takes to ensure excellent service for their veteran students. “We work with a peer group that is an excellent group of schools,” Morris said. “My goal is to always learn from them as well and see what other schools are doing that is supportive and implement that as best we can for military families.” “We also have an orientation program in connection with the local military bases that I think really helps our veteran military members make a seamless transition here on campus.” Morris added that working

with the community and a supportive faculty helps further veteran relations. “Part of our uniqueness lies

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One of the attractions I had to this university was the small community environment with the large university curriculum. - Jennifer Phillips, graduate student and veteran

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Kyle Guthrie

in our partnership within the community,” Morris said. “There are very few universities that have the partners off campus that we do.” Jennifer Phillips, a graduate student who is pursuing a master’s in public affairs, explained why she chose UCCS as a veteran. “One of the attractions I had to this university was the small community environment with the large university curriculum,” Phillips said. Phillips also works as a School Certifying Official at Forster House, the center for student veteran relations on campus.

Students changing their major common, but reasons for it vary Abbie Stilman

astilma@uccs.edu

It is not uncommon for students to change their majors. Some might enter college undecided, while others may change their major several times. There are various reasons why students choose to change their majors. “Students will change their major for general exploration, figuring out what they want to do, enter as undecided,” said vice chancellor for Student Success and Enrollment Management, Homer Wesley. “Maybe they are not well suited for their chosen major, or they could have a change of interest for better opportunities.” Wesley cited a national statistic that said approximately 70 percent of students change their major at least once. Junior psychology major, Angela Busk, started out as

a nursing major. Because the two majors are similar in some aspects, the switch did not affect Busk’s year in school. “I get to do more of what I really want to do now,” said Busk. According to Bev Kratzer, director of the Career Center, all you have to do is talk with your academic advisor about changing your major. “They will change your major online but it will not appear till the following semester,” said Kratzer. But Wesley and Kratzer said it’s difficult to tell the exact number of major changes that happen per semester or year considering there are multiple academic advisors and there is no data bank. According to Wesley, the main issue students find when switching majors is that they have collected credits for one major that may have nothing to do with a different major. All earned credits will still

count toward a student’s overall grade point average. Students could be a junior or senior in school but as soon as they change their major, depending on the major switched to, they may then

become a sophomore or junior again, Wesley explained. If the student is a transfer, they could be asked to repeat certain courses because some credits do not transfer. “It is much easier to

change your major while you are a freshman,” said Kratzer. The reason students switch majors can vary, Wesley said, “Many students change majors simply because they took a class they really enjoyed and felt the subject to be a better match for their interest or skills,” said Wesley. “Others also seek out majors that will land them in a successful career path and good benefits.” According to Wesley, engineering is a popular major because it offers excellent future opportunities. “A lot of students think they are very sure of what they will want to do when they enter college and soon find out they don’t actually enjoy (that major) and go undecided,” he said. “Some students do graduate with a degree, get a job and notice later on they want to come back to school to major in something else,” he added.

Harris said they will conduct the exchange program on a trial basis. For the first year, the program will only accept two to four students. “We may build on that if it’s working well and there’s demand in interest,” he said. The UCCS students will be at Loughborough for a semester, while four students from Loughborough will attend UCCS for a year. “Loughborough don’t allow their students to come and just study one class...to gain enough credit to get the national diploma, they have to be here for the year,” Harris said. The original intent was to have the exchange exclusively within the College of Business, particularly in sport management and exercise science. Loughborough asked if the program could be

broadened into other areas for their students to study. “Other departments agreed they would at least like to explore potential exchange further,” Harris said. The exchange program is still in the developmental process. Harris said the colleges need to draw up a memorandum of understanding (a document expressing mutual accord between multiple parties,) which then needs to be looked at by the university’s lawyers. In addition, the deans of the various colleges need to approve the exchange. Harris said the dean of the College of Business, Venkat Reddy, has been involved in the discussions. Harris said the colleges are still trying to figure out how to go about the selection process. He said there will likely be an

application and promotional sessions for students in January or February. Loughborough University is located in Leicestershire in southern England. Harris said Nottingham and Birmingham are about 20 minutes and 30 minutes by rail, respectively, while London is about an hour and 20 minutes by train. “We also have on the doorstep of Leicestershire is an area called the Peak District. It doesn’t really compare to the mountains of Colorado, but lots of climbing, camping, fishing, kind of on the edge of a national park,” Harris said. Additionally, he said Leicestershire has nightlife, a reduced drinking age, lots of galleries and museums in Birmingham and a variety of professional sports, particularly soccer and rugby.

RACHAEL DEEGAN | THE SCRIBE

A student gets academic advice.

Three colleges look to implement student exchange program in England April Wefler awefler@uccs.edu

Americans are often enamored with British culture. We listen to British music, we read British literature, we watch British TV and we keep tabs on the royal family, even though they have no impact on our own country. UCCS is joining the Anglophilia craze. Three colleges are creating an exchange program with England’s Loughborough University. “I’ve had a couple students come over to Loughborough already and they’ve had a very positive experience,” said Spencer Harris, assistant professor of sport management, who gained his Ph.D. from Loughborough. The exchange program is for students pursuing degrees

in sport management and exercise science in the College of Business; art, psychology and biology in the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences; and students in Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences. “We had a visiting professor from Loughborough out here and they felt the exchange would work very well,” Harris said. “We thought there was a shared benefit from both schools,” he said. Students will pay UCCS tuition and are able to use their Loughborough credits toward their degrees. “The students that we’re focusing on are sport management students, exercise students, health, biology and psychology students, mainly because that’s where Loughborough have their reputation,” Harris said.

News

December 7, 2015| 3

UCCS sticks with Office 365 over Google; student email target of hackers rlibrach@uccs.edu

Office 365 Going on its third year since making the Google to Microsoft Office 365 transition, UCCS IT and some students are still satisfied with that decision. Office 365 is free to all students and includes features such as a Microsoft Exchange account, Outlook, Calendar, Contacts, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and One Drive, which allows students to hold a terabyte of space in that account. Managers in the IT department said the transition from Google to Microsoft occurred for several reasons, and with the quality Office 365 offers students, they are not thinking about switching servers anytime soon. “We [went with Microsoft Office 365] for many reasons, the main one being that Google would not agree that they wouldn’t mine our data and track our students,”

said Jerry Wilson, chief information officer and assistant vice chancellor for Information Technology. Students also enjoy Microsoft. “Microsoft Office 365 is applicable, I use it pretty much every day and really haven’t run into any problems with it. I’ve been here four years so maybe I joined right when UCCS transitioned over to Microsoft,” said Eamon Kiely, senior English major. Kirk Moore, director of Computing Services for IT, thinks this is a beneficial package for students. “It really is very impressive what they are giving us. Office 365 is a great advantage to the students and Microsoft wants to get students engaged and technically geared because the workplace really does incorporate their data into these systems,” he said. Microsoft has also added SharePoint, which functions much like GoogleDocs, allowing students to connect

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We [went with Microsoft Office 365] for many reasons, the main one being that Google would not agree that they wouldn’t mine our data and track our students. – Jerry Wilson, chief information officer and assistant vice chancellor for Information Technology.

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Rachel Librach

through their school emails and share documents in a cloud. UCCS has an on-site licensing agreement with Microsoft for their lab computers and software. Then, Microsoft extended its services to students for free through the Office 365 package. Student email protection IT support on campus

monitors the email system for any threats, but hackers are becoming more and more skilled in disguising their scams to look like official school emails. “I like the student email when it works, I just have some issues and glitches occasionally,” said Drew Thistlethwaite, sophomore business major. “Otherwise, when it works I love it; it connects to my other emails, I can access it on the go, it’s perfect.” Moore explained that when it comes to email security, there are common signs to look for when deciding if the email is a fraud. “Some of these first come in looking like legitimate emails, but it really only takes a person to read through them to find the common signs of a fraud email; some signs include poor spelling or grammar, bizarre web addresses or a link that takes you to an unfamiliar website,” he said. “Once faculty or students

forward us these suspicious emails we try to rectify it as soon as possible. But fishers are getting very clever,” he added. When hackers are able to access a student’s account, the hacker will try to send more fraudulent emails under the cover of someone else’s account. “We’ve been the victims of a lot of successful phishing scams. The hackers will start spamming people to try to hack further into their account, then they will start using this hijacked account to send more infected emails out to the public,” explained Moore. Infiltration from phishing can have negative effects. “This gives us a bad reputation and some places will start blocking our emails and put us on their black list,” he said. “Then, it is our job to reach out to these organizations and reestablish trust and clarify that our system did get hacked and that we’ve rectified the mistake.”

Excel centers offer services to help students succeed during finals week hharvey@uccs.edu

Students can make flashcards to help them memorize terms a week before a final, but it’s nearly impossible to use this method to develop good study habits. This is where the excel centers come in to help. The five excel centers serve students of all years and majors to help them succeed throughout the semester. These include the communication, writing, science, languages & social sciences, and math centers. But these resources can become busy in the weeks leading up to and during finals. Use of the excel centers depends on the student, according to Kacey Ross, director of the Writing Center. “We’re solidly booked most of the time. A lot of students use the center, but that depends on if they’re a freshman or a sophomore and what kind of classes they’re taking” said Ross. Junior biomedical science major India Walden finds the excel centers to be useful throughout the semester. “It gives you the opportunity to talk to people who excel in those classes,” she said. In the spring semester, 989 students used the Writing Center. Ross adds that the majority of students who utilize the center’s services are non-English majors. The Writing Center offers one-on-one consultations

between a student and another student that has been trained to offer peer feedback on a piece of writing that a student may be struggling with. Students who visit the Science Center tend to perform better than those who do not, according to Jerry Phillips, director of the Science Center. “There are regulars who are here everyday, multiple times a day, or week. Either students come in and become regular users or they don’t. If they don’t, they generally don’t do as well in their coursework”, said Phillips. The Science Center provides free, drop-in tutoring, in addition to Extra Instruction Sessions that help students develop critical thinking skills in their chemistry, physics and biology classes. Erica Allgood, director of the Communication Center, said her excel center is a resource for students who want repeat services that include, but are not limited to, enhancement of presentation

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Either students come in and become regular users or they don’t. If they don’t, they generally don’t do as well in their coursework. – Jerry Phillips, director of the Science Center

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Hannah Harvey

The Science Center offers students help with their questions and concerns.

skills, interview practice and visual aid assistance. As far as special services offered during finals, this depends on which center a student goes to for assistance. For instance, the Science Center does not offer special services during finals, but Phillips said the center maintains their usual services. The Writing Center also maintains their usual services leading up to and during finals week. But they also provide special stress relief services and writing tips from a writing guru during dead week, which starts Dec. 7. The writing guru differs from the one-on-one consultations in that the guru provides quick tips as opposed to an hour long session,

according to Ross. The excel centers can also be used for unwinding before or after a difficult test. “This is a good place to come even if you don’t need help”, said Phillips in regards to the Science Center. The excel centers have study areas and open computers for students to sit down, do their assignments or meet new people. Ross, Phillips and Allgood advise students to start preparing for finals early on, a principle that applies to a final in any course. Phillips adds that collaborative learning can be very beneficial to retain information. “Students working together have a chance to learn from each other,” said Phillips.

AUSTIN CHASSE | THE SCRIBE

Excel Center Contact Info Communication Center 719-255-4770 Columbine Hall 312 Languages & Social Sciences Center 719-255-3690 Dwire Hall 265 Mathematics Center 719-255-3687 Engineering 233 Science Center 719-255-3689 Centennial Hall 204 Writing Center 719-255-4336 Columbine Hall 316

C ulture BI program offers students outlet to create new apps

December 7, 2015| 4

Abbie Stilman

astilma@uccs.edu

The Bachelor of Innovation program allows the Narrativ and Crowd Fire app creators, and many other students, to create new ideas for phone applications. Students think of a valuable idea that they think will sell, program a prototype, get funding (such as through winning a competition), develop the app further, conduct various product tests and make sure they are being accurate, according to BI program executive Nina Polok.

Even though every app takes a different amount of time to release, they all go through this process. “Many of these students come to school already full of great ideas to get started on,” said Polok. Polok said she has seen numerous students team up with Colorado College students to work on their ideas. But UCCS is the first and only school to offer a Bachelor’s of Innovation. Connor McCormick, sophomore marketing major, is one of the creators of Narrativ, a collaborative storytelling app that is

expected to be released by New Year’s Eve. McCormick is part of a three-person group that put ideas together to create this app. “It was going to be an extension of GitHub, which is for coding documentation. That’s where we started,” McCormick said. He said people might find it interesting to be able to have access to various versions of a story. He said the group contemplated selling multiple stories that explore multiple scenarios. But some problems arose that changed their

minds. “One of the fundamental problems with this is that people have a very short attention span,” McCormick said. Users can vote on the app for the story option they like the most. This way, the group will be able to see what is in demand and what is not being used. “Then we can display that one story to the 90 percent of people who are not going to swipe away,” McCormick said. He said people can then contribute to the chosen story. Courses in the innovation

program work differently than other programs. Students learn to work in teams, take entrepreneurship courses and learn how to lead a team by themselves. Additionally, students are required to take one team project course per year. “You will need to learn how to write proposals, and learn new technical skills as well as some skills that may not be required for your major,” said Gregory Stock, BI academic director. He said the teachers are interactive with their students and try to guide them however they can.

footing after World War II. Political tension was high and concepts like the American dream were becoming more popular, especially in women who had gained some strength during the war. “Born Yesterday” follows the clueless, ex-chorus girl Billie Dawn (Carley Cornelius) after she moves to Washington, D.C. with her lover, Harry Brock (Thomas Borrillo). Harry makes the mistake of hiring a writer, Paul Vaerrall (Michael Gonring), to make Billie appear smarter in front of his more respectable guests. Initially, Billie tries to attract the attention of Paul by reading books, but she begins to want to become educated, and continues to read dozens of books and newspapers, expanding her vocabulary and learning to

“speak good.” initially torn between his idea of the American dream and Billie’s. The play takes a while before As the play continues, it it hits full swing, introducing becomes a little darker, and the the characters and the situation audience really begins to get an a little late in the show. But the characters, once introduced, were idea of just how illegal his line of work is, making his character enjoyable, especially when it came to the relationship between change from charismatic to menacing. the aspiring Billie and attentive The set was captivating, Paul. Gonring and Cornelius played with chandeliers, checkerboard flooring and tall, teal walls. It off of each other excellently, was an enchanting set giving the showing Paul’s passion for audience an idea of the luxurious education and Billie’s desire to learn, even it means changing her life Harry and Billie were used perception of Harry. The leads to. Costuming was well suited, did an excellent job portraying the characters in a humorous, yet especially when it came to realistic way, leading to a smooth Harry. He could change from well-dressed to rudely casual in and carefree performance. a matter of seconds, often being The sleazy, yet somehow charismatic |Harry was played by displayed on stage as he slung COURTESY THEATREWORKSCS.ORG the excellent Thomas Borrillo, off his jacket and kicked off his who did an exceptionally good shoes. Billie’s range in 1940’s style job of making the audience feel

also gave the show a flamboyant flair, contributing to her original nonchalant character in the first act of the show. Placed in such a politically significant time, “Born Yesterday” relies heavily on the political opinion of a “less talk, more do” attitude. At the time of its release, it was very relevant. Now? Perhaps not. THEATREWORKS’ rendition of “Born Yesterday” stayed true to the scripts original intentions, but sadly did not strike home with current audiences. In any case, it was an enjoyable comedy, sure to bring a little laughter to the holiday season. All THEATREWORKS’ shows are free to UCCS students who have a ticket. Decide what you think of the show yourself and book tickets online at www. theatreworkscs.org.

‘Born Yesterday’ entertains, but misses the current connection Rating:

Eleanor Sturt esturt@uccs.edu

THEATREWORKS’ “Born Yesterday” is a thought-provoking comedy, highly sustained by political commentary and interrupted with moments of polite, comedic relief. The show, however, did not reach high hopes, as it failed to connect to current audiences. The play, written by Garson Kanin, first premiered in 1946, and was then adapted to a movie in 1950 which led to a remake in 1993. The show also had a Broadway revival in 1989 and then again in 2011. At the time of its premier, America was still finding its

Clubs and unofficial groups help bring religious diversity to campus Rachel Librach

rlibrach@ucce.edu

Although a majority of the official religious clubs on campus are Christian or Catholic, there are also other religious groups who meet to pray in the Reflection Room on the second floor of the Kraemer Family Library. Jeff Scholes, associate professor of philosophy and the director of the Center for Religious Diversity and Public Life, said that other clubs on campus, despite not having been formed purely on a religious basis, can still practice their faith within that club. He said the Saudi Students Club and the Asian Pacific Islander Student Union are ethnically and geographically defined clubs that also incorporate religious practices. Moulay Aouragh, senior mechanical engineering major, meets with a few other Muslim students during certain times of the day for prayer. “We are a private, unofficial

group that gather together and set up a time to pray. Sometimes, about five to eight students show up,” Aouragh said. “We have never really looked into forming a club because we don’t have a large community of students and it would be difficult to keep going. If we had a large community and people actually wanted to join, then yeah, we would form a club,” he said. Catholic FIRE, which started a year ago, has seen a significant increase in student participants. “We have mass every Sunday in the UC and last year we only had a couple people, but this year we have about 20 people who come every Sunday and it’s just really nice to see that,” said Veronica Carriedo, junior Spanish and elementary education double-major and president of Catholic FIRE. She said 15-20 people attend Monday Bible study. Carriedo said it is convenient to hold Sunday

COURTNEY LUCERO | THE SCRIBE

The reflection room holds copies of many religious texts to read.

mass at the University Center since many members live in the dorms and there is free parking for commuters on the weekends. The Latter-Day Saints Student Association organizes a lesson plan every week and encourages members and students who are interested in learning more about the religion to join. “We hold an Institute of Religion every week, which

is a lesson plan set up by the church. These institutes are open for members of our church and anyone curious to learn more about our faith,” said Erica Erickson, junior psychology major and president. Erickson said she thinks UCCS is becoming more inclusive and is offering other outlets for students to feel comfortable practicing their religion.

“I think there really is great religious diversity on campus. I have seen many Christian and Catholic groups and I also see a lot more Muslims practicing here on campus using the Reflection Room in the Library. There’s copies of the Quran in there next to copies of the Bible. It is very inclusive,” she said. Scholes said an inter-faith club could help promote minority religions. “I’m hoping that an interfaith club starts on campus in which people of different religious backgrounds can come together and talk about the differences between them in a safe and civil environment. I think that is probably the most feasible starting point for getting the minority religions more involved,” he said. “That said, there’s no restrictions on religious groups forming on campus. I am behind an inter-faith club and I hope it takes off, but it’s going to have to be student driven,” he added.

Culture

December 7, 2015 | 5

Bublé and Carey continue to dominate Christmas scene; Pentatonix adds new sound Taylor Garcia tgarcia@uccs.edu

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear. It can be difficult to find albums or artists who have a new take on Christmas music because it is hard to mess with the classics. According to iTunes, the “essential” albums of Christmas include Mariah Carey, Michael Bublé, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Amy Grant, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Jackson 5 and Bruce Springsteen. No other artist takes Christmas music more to heart than Bublé. It’s rumored that he hibernates all summer in a cave and the only thing that wakes him is the smell of all the turkeys sizzling and the voice of Carey belting out “All I Want for Christmas is You.” Bublé and Carey have dominated the holiday music scene for years. Bublé’s Christmas album still charts at number one on iTunes and Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” sits at number one on the top 10 songs. Every type of music genre has artists who make Christmas albums. Spotify has a knack for consolidating specific types of music into decent playlists so you don’t have to scramble to put one together for yourself. There are eight playlists in their “Happy Holidays” section. The playlists are split into pop, folk, jazz, acoustic, indie, soulful, rock and country. While these aren’t all the genres that are out there, they

COURTESY | AMAZON

do offer a big enough range to find the type of Christmas music you’re looking for. Spotify is nice enough to put Carey and Bublé on multiple playlists in case you forget who this holiday really belongs to. Several people still like to receive CD’s for Christmas presents. It is a thoughtful gift and means the giver has taken the time to search for the right album. If you’re looking to gift someone with a Christmas CD and want a break from Bublé and Carey, there is a new artist on the Christmas scene.

Pentatonix is a group of four men and one woman. The group began in 2011, but have recently gained popularity because of their a capella style, unique sound and multiple covers. Their most popular song on Spotify is “Can’t Sleep Love.” Their Christmas album, “That’s Christmas to Me,” was released in 2014. It is number two on the iTunes top 10 Christmas albums, with two songs in the top 10 Christmas songs. The deluxe edition of “That’s Christmas to Me,”

which is available on both Spotify and iTunes, contains 16 songs. The group does a brilliant job of combining the traditional aspects of each song

with a modern take. The few crossovers on the album show the talent the group has in not only singing but also in their arrangements and understanding of music. While some songs stick to the original style, on some songs the group adds in their flair that will have you dancing and wishing you could start your own a capella group. The vocal talent of each of the members of the group shines on each track. All of the traditional Christmas songs are on the album, including “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” “Silent Night” and a personal favorite done by the group, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” If this loaded 16-song CD doesn’t cover your Christmas needs, the group’s Christmas album from last year is also worth a listen. It has eight different Christmas songs that don’t appear on their new album, but all eight are done masterfully. It isn’t Christmas without the “Little Drummer Boy” and “PTXmas” has it. Pentatonix’s “That’s Christmas to Me” or “PTXmas” is a perfect stocking stuffer for this Christmas. Or if it ends up in your own stocking, Santa will understand. COURTESY | MICHAELBUBLE.COM

‘Self Care for the Holidays’ brings awareness of strategies to maintain mental health Hannah Harvey

hharvey@uccs.edu

It may be easy for students to become overwhelmed by the flurry of events that signal the end of the semester. From finals to dangerous weather to going home for the holidays, stress can be normal at the end of the year. The Counseling Center hosted “Self Care for the Holidays” on Dec. 1, which covered ways to take care of yourself during finals and the holiday season. The presentation was given by Lyndsey Klemme, master’s student in the clinical mental health program. Klemme said stress can be induced during the end of semester as a result of change. Students who go home for the holidays may feel a sense of loss when returning to where they grew up because of the change they have gone through and are witnessing in their old

communities. According to Benek Altayli, director of the Counseling Center, students create a community for themselves that they tend to highly prioritize. Once school is not in session, it can be difficult for students to not have their usual contact with the members of this community. “It feels like a temporary loss (for students),” Altayli said. “Students change from semester to semester and going back into the family system is an adjustment, which is true for people who are both in town and out of town.” “Loneliness has a negative impact both physically and emotionally,” Klemme said. Common stressors among students include changes within their community back home, being away from the community they have built on campus, reintegrating into their family system and being accepted as the person they

have changed into. Altayli said students that are stressed out from these factors are not necessarily depressed or anxious. “The stress and adaptation processes are normal; we all go through that,” she said. Cathryn Calvert, staff psychologist for the Counseling Center, said there are many ways to deal with stress and feelings of loss over the holidays, such as communicating with friends and being present in the moment. “What we know is that when we stay present, when we’re mindful of what’s going on around us, then we have a better chance of being able to react in the way we want to,” she said. Students can stay focused on their surroundings by not stressing over last semester, or what might happen in the spring. Klemme said six factors are essential to self-care: an

adequate amount of sleep, staying hydrated, engaging in physical activity, eating healthy and engaging in social interactions with peers. In order to help students excel in finals, Klemme offered strategies to prepare for exams. She said students should prepare by practicing active learning, collaborating in study groups of four to five students, asking for help and avoid cramming material. Some students are already implementing these strategies in order to prepare for their upcoming exams. Yasmine Aken, freshman biology major, said she studies information in pieces instead of cramming an entire semester’s worth of knowledge. Maintaining mental health is important for a variety of reasons, but mainly because this maintenance contributes to overall wellbeing. Calvert said our cognitive processes and emotions can impact physical

functioning. “If you’re not feeling well, whether that’s physically or mentally, that’s going to impact your ability to be present and enjoy the holidays,” Calvert said. Gabrielle Mendoza, freshman environmental sciences major, said that selfcare encompasses not only physical wellbeing, but also mental and emotional health.

Counseling Center: Where: Main Hall 324 When: Open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Appointments: 719-255-3265, or visit Main Hall 324 Website: www.uccs.edu/counsel/ index.html

Culture

6 | December 7, 2015

Students mourn UCCS Officer with candlelight vigil; other victims remembered Alexander Nedd anedd@uccs.edu

DAVY MELLADO | THE SCRIBE

Hundreds of students and community members gathered to remember Officer Garrett Swasey.

others was overwhelming. “We got contacted by the UCCS Police Department, the Pikes Peak Law Enforcement Board, Randy’s Towing,” he said. “We had a bunch of volunteers to help out around campus to make sure people could find Gallogly.” The ceremony was originally planned outside on the West Lawn but was moved to Gallogly Events Center because of the weather. “UCCS contacted us to move the event,” Nudson said. “It was such a big deal and very important to them and they

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I didn’t know Officer Garrett personally. But we all know him now. We are all able to share his light that he gave us, and by us sharing that we can all know him. – Jake Loflin, senior criminal justice major

“

When news broke of a UCCS police officer involved in an active shooter situation, a number of students and campus officials sprang into action. Jake Loflin was one of them. Loflin, a senior criminal justice major, was part of a student-driven initiative to help coordinate a candlelight vigil for Officer Garrett Swasey the day after the shooting, despite the campus being closed for Thanksgiving break. The vigil was held on the evening of Nov. 28 at Gallogly Events Center. Students, faculty, police officers and members of the public lined the bleachers while listening to tributes to the father and past figure skating champion. “We got in touch with over 2,000 students through one Facebook page in less than 18 hours,” said Loflin. “For such a short notice event, I am floored that we had the turn out that we did.” Swasey was one of three victims who died after a gunman stormed inside the Planned Parenthood building in Colorado Springs on Nov. 27. While the outpour of community involvement was seen as a touching tribute nationwide, Loflin didn’t expect anything less. “I think Colorado Springs is a very cohesive community,” he said. “We witnessed this during the New Life (Church) shooting, we witnessed this during the fires, the community comes together and comes out to make beautiful things like this happen.” “I didn’t know Officer Garrett personally,” Loflin said. “But we all know him now. We are all able to share his light that he gave us, and by us sharing that we can all know him.” Before the vigil, a moment of silence was observed at both the men’s and women’s basketball games. “The decision was made in conjunction with the chancellor,” said sports information director Jared Verner. “We wanted to do something that recognized him on Saturday and also have a way for athletics to pay their respects to his family.” The men’s basketball team, and their opponents from Ottawa University, wore sport bands made of athletic tape with the initials G.S. on them, a tribute to the fallen officer. Sophomore business major Erik Nudson explained how the vigil first came together. “We got in touch with a lot of students through Facebook,” said Nudson. “We met with people from event services that oversee Gallogly and got a plan on what we needed.” Nudson said the support from

wanted to help as much as they (could).” Nudson introduced all the speakers at the vigil including the chancellor, Colorado Springs mayor John Suthers, UCCS chief of police Brian McPike and two elders from Hope Chapel who were a part of Swasey’s church. Nudson said the candlelight vigil received dozens of donations and raised more than $700 for the family. Once the services inside ended, the vigil moved to the mountain lion statue in the lower plaza. Despite the

freezing temperatures, hundreds huddled around with candles and hand warmers while placing mementos around the statue. Isaac Brumm, a freshman studying criminal justice, studies under McPike and met Swasey while working. Swasey is the first UCCS officer to die in the line of duty, but Brumm says the dangers associated with the profession don’t deter hopefuls like him away. “Situations like this encourage me and I’m sure other criminal justice students and future police officers around the country to go into this profession even more,” Brumm said. “I’m aware of the dangers, so was Garrett when he signed up here as a police officer at UCCS.” “It just makes me want to be a police officer and public servant even more.” A procession with UCCS police cars lit up the sky as the crowd sang “Amazing Grace.” While the support for Swasey continues, Nudson hopes people keep the families of the other victims in their thoughts as well. “More lives were affected than just officer Swasey’s,” Nudson said. “Two people died, many were injured, this affects their friends and families as well.” “The support shown to Swasey, we want the same to go out for the other individuals who were affected by this tragedy.” “I give my condolences to his family,” Brumm said. “Garret was a man of God, he lived as a man of God and he died as a man of God.” “His impact will be a lot greater than just tonight.”

DAVY MELLADO | THE SCRIBE

Attendees respond to the kind words shared about Officer Swasey during the service.

Culture

December 7, 2015 | 7

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December 7, 2015 | 8

A time for reﬂection: What UCCS is, and how students lead the way

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cribe

Jonathan Toman Editor-in-Chief

Audrey Jensen Managing Editor

Eleanor Sturt Copy Editor

Evan Musick DAVY MELLADO | THE SCRIBE

News Editor

Police chief Brian McPike spoke about Officer Garrett Swasey at a press conference on Nov. 28 in Gallogly Events Center.

Scribe Staff scribe@uccs.edu

Sometimes, even journalists can be at a loss for words. With the events of Nov. 27, and the loss of UCCS Police Officer Garrett Swasey and two other civilians in the shooting at the Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood, it falls to us to describe terrible events so that the public is informed and educated. Often, we are unsuccessful. We fall hopelessly short, not with the information, but with words. How do you describe something that is indescribable? We do the best we can, like everyone in that scenario. But in the aftermath, it can allow all of us a moment to reflect. It is a time for mourning; it is a time for reflection on who we are, and who we are not. For many around the country, and even those still new to campus, the first time they will have heard about UCCS is through the events of Nov. 27. But for those closer to UCCS, those who have seen what we are about, we know that this is not who we are and we are not defined by tragedy. Who we are goes so much deeper than that. Through Swasey, we can find ourselves, and what we stand for. We are a community that steps up in a time of need. That idea was most exemplified by

Swasey himself. Nov. 27 was a time of need for our community, and he never hesitated in his understanding that he would rise to the call. As police chief Brian McPike said in a press conference Nov. 28, “If you needed a go-to guy, Garrett was that person.” UCCS is no different. The people here step up in a time of need, whether it is hosting cadets from the Air Force Academy during the Waldo Canyon fire or dealing with other issues that come up. McPike said of Swasey: “He was always ready and willing to go help, and I will always remember that about him.” “His spirit came through in everything that he did.” We are a community that stands strong in the face of challenges and heartbreak. A day after the shooting, we kept two basketball games as scheduled in Gallogly Events Center, despite the trials of the last 24 hours. This allowed our community an opportunity to hurt, and then begin to heal, together. And on that day, two basketball games were more than just two basketball games. “We always have officers working the games, and one of the times I saw (Swasey) most was working these games,” chancellor Pamela ShockleyZalabak said at the press conference. “So in some ways, this is a really fitting way to pay tribute to him at the beginning of the games.”

UCCS did pay tribute. Moments of silence for Swasey and the other victims preceded both games. That leads us to the final point about who we are. Leading the charge for tribute were UCCS students. Students here, when it comes down to it, care deeply about this community. We stand strong. The idea for a vigil after the games, which was attended by hundreds of people, came from students. Much of the organization for the #UCCSSTRONG wristbands came from students. There are countless ideas that have flown into the Student Life and Leadership office that seek to honor the sacrifice of Garrett Swasey. “(The vigil) came from the students and they are not even here, we are in the middle of vacation and people are coming from all over the state and coming back early,” Shockley-Zalabak said at the press conference. Most importantly, Swasey, and UCCS, never give up. ShockleyZalabak, at the press conference, summed it up best. “This is a tough time for us, but I know that we will be strong as a community moving forward.” This all may sound a bit intangible, a bit up in the air. But you learn the most about people when things seem at their darkest, when they are at a low point. You can find out a lot about who we are. And who we are is something we can all be proud of.

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December 7, 2015 | 9

Heroes outshine evil, everyone should contribute to good

emusick@uccs.edu

As a child the world seemed to be filled with magic this time of year. Now, as I grow older, wonder is replaced with darkness. I’ve become more sensitive to the void and less receptive to the light; my childhood eyes have aged. War, terrorism, mass shootings and death flow through my mind instead of flighty dreams of joy,

within the blast radius. On Nov. 27, Officer Garrett Swasey also made a sacrifice. He risked losing his life on a daily basis by wearing a uniform that served as a barrier between evil and the rest of the world. These are the heroes that made the news. They sacrificed themselves in the ultimate act of heroism. They inspire others to take a stand against the darkness. Now, their work is complete. It is up to us, those who are capable of laboring through the dark, to shine our own lights. On a daily basis, small acts of courage and selflessness can illuminate the world around us. Helping a neighbor

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Individually, these small acts barely penetrate the gloom, but together, they form the most majestic, warming and hopeful of visions; darkness doesn’t stand a chance.

“

Evan Musick

peace and love toward all. But when I peek out from under the dark veil the world cast over my eyes, I am blinded by a different kind of light. I see a light that is filled with such selflessness it takes my breath away. This light shines from those who stand up against the darkness; the true heroes of the world. One day before the Paris shootings, in an incident reported by the Washington Post, Adel Termos jumped on a suicide bomber while walking through a market in Beruit, Lebanon. This happened in front of his daughter. His sacrifice not only saved his child, but all those

in need, volunteering and empathizing with a friend all serve as small sparks that drive the shadows in this world away. Individually, these small acts barely penetrate the gloom, but together, they form the most majestic, warming

and hopeful of visions; darkness doesn’t stand a chance. I believe that through small acts of love and kindness we can prevent larger acts of hate ever coming to fruition. Consider a dark room. When the light is switched on, the dark vanishes. No fuss, no fight, it’s gone. But it’s important to remember that light exists out of effort, some sort of energy transfer. Darkness doesn’t work at anything. The second the light goes out, it fills the emptiness. Shining a light requires work. Perhaps that’s why they call it “fighting the good fight.” There will be people who will have periods in their life when their

light won’t shine. Just remember that we’re part of a community. We can shine for them. Sometimes their light may never come back on again, and can result in darkness slipping through a crack. Here it takes more than just shining brightly to compensate for their missing light, but helping them through counselors, psychologists, doctors, or even you, in some small but significant way. My point is this: shine a light. It doesn’t matter how small you may think it is. Once your act touches someone else, it can switch on their light, resulting in a chain of small ignitions that can result in a force that is brighter than any star.

What I learned at UCCS: Stick with it, professors there to help you

April Wefler awefler@uccs.edu

Six years. That’s how long I’ve called UCCS my home. The average student gets their degree in four to five years. By now, I should have started my master’s, but on Dec. 18, I’ll be graduating with my

bachelor’s. When I arrived in August 2009, I had no idea that I’d catch senioritis two months later – a really bad case of senioritis that I would struggle with for the next two and a half years. I was supposed to graduate in May 2013, but was also supposed to turn in all my essays and attend class. There were several times I did not finish an assignment and was not able to face my teachers. Once, I stopped attending class altogether. I didn’t learn until later that professors will often work with you if you don’t finish an essay on

time, which I only found out after I had gotten in the habit of meeting essay deadlines. Finishing essays and attending class was only half of the struggle. The other half was science. I’ve always been terrible at science. When I would get stressed out over my science class that stress would then affect other classes, even the ones I loved. There were several times I considered dropping out altogether. I never really cared about attending college; I wanted to go straight from high school to a career, but I knew that I couldn’t do so without a degree.

I also knew that not graduating would mean I had incurred student loans for nothing. So I stuck with it. My dad tried to get me to visit the Counseling Center, but I didn’t want some shrink psychoanalyzing me. I was an excellent student in high school, and I thought that if I could just get it together, I would be so again. I was determined to do it myself, and I succeeded. I’d had a couple of jobs during freshman and sophomore year, but it wasn’t until I joined The Scribe in October 2011 that I started to become involved on campus. Once

that happened, my grades and study habits improved tremendously, except for science. Weirdly, it was after I stopped caring about my GPA that it improved. Do I regret not graduating when I was supposed to, or not being a better student sooner? Part of me does, but I also know that if I had, I wouldn’t have had the chance to be in programs such as the Disney College Program last year or work at Disney World That experience gave me friends from all over the world. DCP taught me time management, a skill which I had always found

difficult. Learning that skill helped me in my classes, and I am proud to say that I am acing all of them this semester – including science. I also wouldn’t have worked at The Scribe for four wonderful years, and I wouldn’t have made the friends I have now. I certainly wouldn’t have had some of my favorite professors. If you’re struggling with classes, please talk to your professors. They really do want to help you, especially if you have any like I do. Don’t be afraid to talk to the counselors, either. Don’t try to do it on your own.

Social media serves purpose during crises, but don’t rely on it for your education

Hannah Harvey hharvey@uccs.edu

On Nov. 13, #PrayForParis greeted me when I opened my Twitter account. Curious to see why people were using this hashtag, I looked it up. Multiple news outlets reported that over 100 concert goers were taken hostage at the Bataclan by terrorists in Paris.

I was shocked to read so many tweets and stories about this. No one was sure who was behind the attacks at that point, and the amount of casualties and deaths were unknown. In the days to follow, I was even more shocked to read users’ opinions on the Syrian refugee crisis and what the United States should be doing about it. Everyone has an opinion, but it’s become popular to share said opinion in a two paragraph Facebook post about why we should or should not be taking action on certain hot-button issues in the news. I used to express my opinions on sites such as Tumblr about the issues I was passionate about,

as well as replying to ignorance on my timelines. I should have just unfollowed those people, instead of getting angry that someone had a different opinion than me. I didn’t realize how uninformed I was until I got to college. That’s when it hit me. I was uninformed because I relied on sites such as Twitter and Tumblr to “educate” myself on important issues in the news. I wasn’t thinking critically about the perspectives that were presented to me. I only paid attention to the ones I wanted to hear. But social media doesn’t have to be negative in terms of spreading basic

information. Social media helps spread information mass media may not have covered otherwise, with examples such as the recent events at the University of Missouri and the hashtag #PourteOuvere, which was offered to Parisian citizens who needed help after the attacks. People became aware of these events, and many more like them, because of the rapid way information spreads on websites like Twitter. We are able to share information quicker than ever and make sure that our loved ones are safe, making it a great innovation. But you shouldn’t rely

on social media to educate yourself, because a lot of the narratives that are out there are biased in order to persuade you to side with one end of the political spectrum or the other. It’s important to think critically about who you’re following and what you’re exposing yourself to on a daily basis. Remember to be skeptical about the sources you’re reading. Is it your friend’s opinion or a news outlet? Does the news outlet have an agenda they’re trying to push on their readers? These factors are important in how you shape your views. Furthermore, retweeting someone else’s opinion or putting a flag over

your profile picture isn’t always activism. These acts demonstrate solidarity, which is important in times of conflict and loss, but are you doing it to prove a point or because you actually care? If you really want to make a difference, and you have the time and potentially even money to do so, contribute to your community to help the cause(s) you’re passionate about. Tweeting a hashtag can raise awareness, but it’s simply not enough to make a difference in real life. If we truly want to be the instigators of positive change, then we need to spread awareness, not only online, but in our real communities as well.

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major buzz kill of having class during thanksgiving week” @thomas_hogue11

New Year’s resolutions you can still complete before the end of 2015 Halle Thornton hthornto@uccs.edu

“In class and The girl next to

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Top Ten

Sweet Salty Tweets

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December 7, 2015 | 10

Save money on car insurance by switching to GEICO

Stay off social media for one day

Recycle your beer cans

Start exercising at the Rec Center

Study for finals

Put down the sandwich

Clean your room

Control your road rage

Be nice to your family

Gain 10 pounds (then lose it after the New Year)

Campus Chatter DeKeveion Glaspie, dglaspie@uccs.edu

What Christmas song do you hate the most and why? Alex Curnell, junior, computer science “Rock around the Christmas tree, because it’s on every station.”

Brandon Morrison, sophomore, mechanical engineering “Baby it’s cold outside, because it’s a creepy song.”

Capture

Clyde

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Avalanche Awareness Clinic 6 p.m. Rec Center, SOLE Center

“I don’t like any Christmas music really. It’s overplayed and starts at the end of October.”

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

This week Wed

Amanda Fox, junior, English

Thurs

Mon

Dead Week at the Writing Center 9 a.m. Columbine 316

Jazz Ensemble & Mountain Lion Band 7:30 p.m. Centennial Auditorium

Fri

Tues

Open Mic and Poetry Slam 6 p.m. Clyde’s

‘Wake up on the right side of the bed! How sleep inﬂuences your mood.’ 2 p.m. University Center 126

Sat

VAPA Vocal Ensemble 7:30 p.m. Centennial Auditorium

Sports

December 7, 2015 | 11

Student, U.S. figure skater Max Aaron talks hockey, math, hip hop April Wefler awefler@uccs.edu

Sophomore finance major Max Aaron, 2013 U.S. Figure Skating National champion and three-time U.S. International Classic champion, is training to earn a spot on the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics team. He won his first Grand Prix competition in Milwaukee in October and competed in France, Estonia and Germany this past year. “It’s a huge honor. I love getting out there in different countries, just representing my country means a lot to me. Putting a smile on other people’s faces, coming home with the medal and I share that with my family,” Aaron said. Aaron said his favorite city to compete in is Tokyo. “Tokyo sold out their events, everything is sold out. Figure skating is almost like – it’s pretty much like the NFL in Asia; anywhere you go, it’s a big deal, which is pretty cool,” Aaron said. He practices from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. six days a week, hits the gym afterward and ends his night with classes. “Being 23, you don’t want to get kind of washed away. You need to learn to keep up with the best of them,” Aaron said. He said skaters tend to reach their prime at 25, which for him is just in time for the next Olympics. Aaron, who grew up in Scottsdale, Ariz., began his skating career playing hockey

at the age of three. He started ice skating at age nine, and played both sports until he broke his back at 16. Before he broke his back, he played for a U.S. developmental team and was close to getting a hockey scholarship. The scholarship offers ceased after his injury, so he decided to pursue ice skating and moved to Colorado Springs his senior year of high school. Outside of skating, Aaron loves school and is thinking of adding marketing to his major. “It’s fun studying at Starbucks or a coffee shop, overlooking the mountain. I always loved math growing up,” he said. Aaron particularly enjoys attending UCCS sporting events, such as softball and soccer and is hoping to find

COURTESY | GOLDENSKATE.COM

Student Max Aaron, sophomore finance major, hopes to make the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Tokyo sold out their events, everything is sold out. Figure skating is almost like – it’s pretty much like the NFL in Asia; anywhere you go, it’s a big deal, which is pretty cool. – Sophomore Max Aaron time to attend a basketball game. “I always wanted to be a collegiate athlete growing up. The sport I chose doesn’t offer scholarships, which is a bummer, but it doesn’t stop me from enjoying other sports on campus,” he said. Aaron said he enjoys watching hockey and basketball. “I always wanted to be a

basketball player when I was younger, and I’m definitely not tall enough to play,” he said. His playlist consists of a lot of hip-hop, specifically Meek Mill, Kanye West and Jay Z. He said if there were a way to perform with hip hop, he would, but in the meantime, he skates to mostly classical music. Aaron is Jewish and said

Men’s basketball ready to move into conference play Halle Thornton

hthornton@uccs.edu

The men’s basketball team saw a tough start to the season, with two defeats to begin the year. But after three wins in their next five games, the Mountain Lions are back to 3-4 overall entering play Dec. 5. The team is gaining trust and getting comfortable with each other, said head coach Jeff Culver. “The team is a work in progress,” Culver said when explaining the current record. “The players are slowly but surely trusting each other.” “I get along with all of the new guys really well and they will be a big key to our success this year,” said senior guard Kendall Godley. “Everyone gets along well but we are still working on knowing each other on the court.” With seven of the 16 players on the roster returning from last year, adjusting to the new plays

and expectations of each player is the name of the game at this point in the season, Culver said. “The main reason I think we lost most of our games is a lack of experience,” said Godley. “We have a couple of returners but I believe everyone on our team is having to deal with being in a different role than last year.” Of the four defeats, three came against nationally ranked opponents: Western Washington, Minnesota StateMoorhead, and Tarleton State, the team UCCS lost to in the national tournament last year. Five of the first seven games for the Mountain Lions were away from home. “Being on the road was a great experience,” said Culver, who believes away games are an opportunity for the team to bond and get to know one another on and off the court. Godley believes the tough nonconference schedule will

help the team transition to the conference games. “I think we had a productive nonconference schedule,” Godley said. “We played some great competition and made strides toward our end-of-season goals.” Culver thinks his team is prepared for the upcoming conference games, which begin Dec. 5 against Metro State. “We are confident and ready,” he said. The Mountain Lions are next at home Dec. 18 and 19, the start of six of the next eight games for UCCS that will be at the Gallogly Events Center. “Home games are going to be good practice,” Culver explained. “We are just going to take advantage of the home games and the practices.” Regis comes to town on Dec. 18, while UCCS faces Chadron State on Dec. 19. Both games tip-off at 7:30 p.m.

he would love to visit Israel. “I would love to check that out…see the country, I have family that live there, so to check it out would be kind of cool,” he said. In addition to Israel, Aaron would like to visit Greece, as he said it seems like a cool place to vacation. He is close with his family

and travels home when his schedule allows. “I try to go home or fly home as much as I can, or fly them out to come see me,” Aaron said. After his skating career, he would like to live in New York City and be a financial investor for J.P. Morgan or Morgan Stanley.

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sports

December 7, 2015 | 12

New Soccer Management track offered to students in Sport Management Program Audrey Jensen ajensen4@uccs.edu

It’s the first Soccer Management track to be offered to students in the U.S. This fall, as a part of the Sport Management Program in the College of Business, the Soccer Management track accepted 13 students for its first year. Chancellor Pamela Shockley-Zalabak and president of the Colorado Rapids, Tim Hinchey, signed a 10-year contract, which gives students the opportunity to gain experience through a professional practicum with the Colorado Rapids. According to the director of the Sport and Soccer Management Program, Eric Olson, out of the 100 students who applied for the Sport Management Program, half were interested in the soccer track. “This is the first year we’ve offered it, since we didn’t get the contract signed until March, we’re behind the ball in getting to talk to high school students last year, by March students made their decisions.” Through this track, students

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COURTESY | COMMINIQUE

UCCS and Colorado Rapids officials met in March to announce the Soccer Management track.

receive opportunities to work with the organizations such as the Air Force Academy, Armed Sports, Collegiate Sports, the NBA, Major League Baseball, the NFL and the Olympic Training Center. According to Olson,

students who take the soccer track will take all of the basic required classes for sport management. In their freshmen and sophomore year, they will spend up to 100 hours working with local club soccer such as Pride Soccer and the Colorado

Springs Switchbacks. Once students are in their junior and senior year, they have a practicum with the Colorado Rapids. Olson added that soccer is one of the fastest growing sports in the U.S. among men

and women ages 14 to 24. “Soccer is now the second most watched sport after the NFL,” Olson said. “That age graphic watches more soccer than baseball, basketball and hockey.” Although soccer is only one-fourth of the Sports Management Program, where 86 students are accepted, only up to 23 students will be accepted in the Soccer Management track per year. When students in the Soccer Management Program reach their senior year, Olson said they hope to send the seniors to internships overseas. “They get experience in working with the biggest soccer clubs in the world. Imagine an English kid coming here and interning with the Denver Broncos,” Olson said. This is the sixth year the Sport Management Program has sent students to Sunderland Association Football Club in England, and the fifth year students have been sent to Everton Football Club in Liverpool. “We met with a dozen other clubs to start building additional relationships with future students,” Olson said.

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