Since 1966
Vol. 41, Iss. 4
Monday, September 19, 2016 SCRIBE.UCCS.EDU /UCCSTHESCRIBE @UCCSSCRIBE
UCCS Student Newspaper University of Colorado Colorado Springs
UCCS collects student opinion to start campaign, conversations about drunken driving
IN BRIEF NEWS
Megacities
Geography creates replicas of slums seen in other cities 2
GI Bill delay
Veteran students encouraged to submit benefit application early 3
CULTURE
U.S. & Islamaphobia
Event educates students on relations with Middle East 5
Local pizza
Best pizza shops in and around downtown 6
OPINION
Minimum wage
Why you should yes or no on an increase this fall 9
Importance of sleep
Caffeine has negative impact on brain 9
SPORTS
Women’s cross country
COURTESY | UCCS.EDU
Smart Move UCCS is a new campaign that hopes to bring awareness to students’ perspectives on driving under the influence.
Anne Stewart astewart@uccs.edu
Statistics from a survey revealed that three out of four UCCS students take action to stop friends from driving impaired and that 87 percent of UCCS students believe marijuana makes driving unsafe. Students may have seen these statistics on a 1960’s yellow VW Bug pictured around campus. The vehicle, called the Statmobile, serves as part of a new campaign, Smart Move UCCS, which encourages students to make a positive change in their attitudes regarding drunken driving. Funded by the Persistent Drunk Driver Committee, the campaign launched at UCCS on Aug. 19. The statistics on the car were collected from students in a classroom setting last year, according to Steve Linhart, dean of students. Gathering this data from the student body was the first step in the “social norming” effort. This campaign project
Runners place in top two at 2016 Rust Buster 11
Volleyball
Team recaps first conference game11 ANNE STEWART | THE SCRIBE
ANNE STEWART | THE SCRIBE
Students in a focus group chose the VW Bug as the car to help launch the new campaign.
is part of four-year plan, according to Linhart. Now in its second year, UCCS was able to debut the car with the funds from PDDC. The surveys were given to students in different departments around the campus. Anonymous demographic information was collected for a diverse sample. The purpose of this was to make sure the statistics would be reflective of the entire student body, according to director of Student Affairs, Amanda Allee. “If we see that students are sharing the message with each other, we know that it is being received. We really hope it sticks,” said Allee. The Statmobile will be at large events on campus during the fall and spring semesters, though specific dates have not been released.
Posters of the Statmobile are also on a UCCS shuttle bus and in the Commode Chronicles. Smart Move UCCS is similar to other campaigns that have been launched on college campuses in Colorado, but this one was made to be relevant to the students at UCCS. This includes the survey, according to Allee. “‘Smart Move: Drive Home the Message’ is a unique presentation of the message for UCCS.” Since the campaign is a continuous effort, in the third year of the plan, surveys will be administered again, not only to gather more data from the students, but also to find out how students’ perceptions have changed. The school will be expected to take full control
of the campaign by its fourth year, Linhart explained. According to Linhart, this operation is different and more extensive than efforts made by UCCS in the past. “We would like to see students making responsible choices and for them to know that other students are doing the same,” Linhart said. Linhart and Allee said students retained information conveyed in their GPS courses during Mountain Lion Week, suggesting that the message may already be spreading. It could be that the message is being retained because of how it connects to students. For statistics, more information about the campaign or ways to become involved, students can visit uccs.edu/smartmoveuccs.
News
September 19, 2016 | 2
SGA senate discusses Student Resolution 01, passes nine club proposals Bradley Umpleby bumpleby@uccs.edu
On Sept. 15, the Student Government Association held their third senate agenda meeting for the semester to discuss nine budget advisory committee proposal recommendations for club allocations and Student Resolution 01. Richard Wickham, president of the Young Americans for Liberty, spoke at the senate meeting, advocating the First Amendment with SR 01, which was authored and proposed to the senate by junior communication major Stephen Bates at the Sept. 1 senate meeting. At the Sept. 8 meeting, Bates asked the senate if they could re-write the resolution together. Wickham wants to reinforce free speech on campus through SR 01. “If I have to write this bill now, I will do that. I will do whatever it takes to get this through,” said Wickham. The senate and Young Americans for Liberty will draft two resolutions of free speech in SR 01, according to Christian Fazel, senator of the Graduate School.
One of the resolutions is to create more free-speech zones on campus for everybody, but with some restrictions. “We don’t want people to disrupt class, so it would be outside areas only, within a certain distance from each building. As the policy stands now, it’s only where outsiders and students come to speak their mind. Students can have an unorganized protest, but no scheduled protests,” said Fazel. Tia Luber, assistant university counsel and Chad Garland, director of the University Center both gave free-speech focused presentations explaining student’s free-speech rights at UCCS at the Sept. 8 meeting. The other part of the resolution for the free speech bill involves the right to express one’s opinion in a classroom setting, without the threat of being ridiculed by professors. “We want to make it to where professors are encouraged to allow the free expression of ideas within the classroom, instead of shutting them down if they don’t agree with them personally,” said Fazel. Fazel told Wickham that they will be rewrite SR 01, changing it to SR 02. After discussing
Club proposals passed $2000: National Residence Hall Honorarium, travel expenses $1,402: Women’s club soccer $2,048: International Buddy Program, Pikes Peak trip for 64 people $3,000: Ice Hockey, to rent the Broadmoor World Arena for practice $480: Ski and Ride Club, bus chartering to Keystone Resort $2003.90: Counseling Honor Society, professional development (Speaker: $842, food/drink: $1161.50) $1005.32: Men’s soccer, hotel stay in Gunnison, Colo. $866.60: Beth-El Student Nurse Association, career fair at University Hall $2000: Delta Sigma Pi, airfare toward a spring conference in Seattle
SR 01, nine proposal recommendations for club fees were passed by the senate. As of Sept. 15, SGA has spent a quarter of their club allocation funds for the year, according to Joseph Conrad, director of finance. SGA recognized that travel events for clubs are the most expensive, which left the senate with an option to cut travel expenses. Events that involve travelling take $2000, according to Conrad.
“Travel events are very expensive compared to oncampus events. It’s certainly an option to place a higher burden of acceptability on travel, breaking down some of the spending,” said Conrad. Club sports are another large expenditure, according to Conrad. “Club sports usually need $3000 right away. There’s nothing we can do about that, but they are pretty much done. So, if (we) want to cut down a lot of money, travel is
where we would do that,” said Conrad. The BAC has spent a total of $29,302.09 as of their third meeting, leaving them with $88,585.91 for club allocations the rest of the year, said Conrad. “It is a fact we will run out of money. Every club is great because it gets students involved, but, at a certain point, money will run out, and you guys need to be aware of that,” said Conrad, addressing the senate.
Geology and environmental studies course open discussion on slums Halle Thorton hthorto@uccs.edu
Six percent of the population lives in what are known as megacities, places where the population is over 10 million people, and 78 percent of urban residences are in these cities. GES 4640 Mega-Cities, taught by geography professor Emily Skop, offers a glimpse into how these communities originated, along with how they have changed the social, political, economical and geographical aspects of the cities. This semester, 17 students constructed slums to bring awareness to the issue of informal housing. Students had two weeks to gather materials used in a developing world and create the slum based off of the city Mumbai, India, where Skop has travelled to multiple times. Her visits to India inspired her to teach the course in 2008. Skop is the founder of the UCCS Global Intercultural
ANNE STEWART | THE SCRIBE
Students had two weeks to create a representation in front of Columbine Hall depicting slums seen in other countries for their geography course.
Research Center and hopes that the class will open the discussion about cities into her classroom.
“I’m really interested in getting students to know about the bigger world. As time goes on, it is important
for people to understand the impact of mega cities on the world,” said Skop. “Our slum was built
in about an hour. This is what happens in places like India, it literally happens overnight.”
News
September 19, 2016 | 3
Veteran students experience delays in GI Bill benefits Rachel Librach rlibrach@uccs.edu
If you are a veteran and you haven’t yet received your GI Bill benefits, it may be due to delays at the St. Louis Veteran Center. Delays during this time of the year are not completely unexpected, according to Phillip Morris, program director of the Office of Veteran and Military Student Affairs. A significant delay in veterans receiving their benefits occurred last fall as well. There are 1,450 students using Veterans Association benefits this year, according to Morris. This figure does not include active duty military, including ROTC students, who are directly connected to the military in some way. The application for a GI Bill has to be filled out by the student, delivered to the OVMSA and then sent to the St. Louis Veteran Center. Once the request has been processed by the VA regional office, the student can receive their military benefits. The St. Louis Veteran Center, the VA department for five states in its region, receives a large number of applications. Some veteran students go back to school in October, which causes a surge of applications
COURTESY | COMMUNIQUE
Around 1,450 UCCS students receive Veterans Association benefits, which they must fill out an application for.
at the office as well, according to Morris. If delays persist going into October, Morris said that, unfortunately, there is not a lot his office can do since the St. Louis VA department handles all the application processes. “Our office is caught up with reviewing all the benefit request forms. We submit those to St. Louis in a fairly timely manner, and, at that point, it is out of our hands,” he said. The process is on a firstcome, first-served basis, said
Morris. “We encourage people to submit their request for benefits as soon as they sign up for class. Students who enroll in October can call our office and request VA benefits, and we can get their application in early to St. Louis,” said Morris. While this presents a clear financial concern for some veterans, Morris advises students to prepare for this gap and seek out other means of financial aid. “I get it’s a problem now,
and people are hurting to pay bills, but what we can do as university is supply short term loans, and encourage students to apply for financial aid,” Morris said. “We have had to do this in the past, and this office and the university can find some way to help (veterans) out.” Sophomore criminal justice major Christian Brinkworth said that while the ROTC program is a time commitment, it also provides great educational benefits.
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“This program is very competitive with scholarships based off of your GPA, but I feel like that’s an extra motivation to perform well in school. ROTC is a huge time commitment, but it’s definitely worth the training; it’s a lot of fun,” he said. If veterans are experiencing delays in receiving their GI Bills, Morris encouraged students to call his office at 255-3300 and the VA regional office at 314-531-5355.
News
4 | September 19, 2016
TheatreWorks hires new managing director Julie Maykowski Ellie Colpitts ecolpitt@uccs.edu
TheatreWorks hired Julie Maykowski as their new managing director in June. Maykowski replaced Bill Prenevost, who served as the department’s first managing director in June 2015. Duties of the managing director include determining the programs TheatreWorks will produce and supervising operations alongside artistic director Murray Ross. Maykowski’s wide array of experience makes her a wellrounded candidate for the job, according to technical director Jerry Ditter. “Julie is an amazing business woman with this wealth of knowledge from
other universities and professional theater companies she’s worked with,” said Ditter. Maykowski, a Colorado Springs native, came to UCCS from San Diego State University, where she was the opera director, bringing with her an extensive background in arts administration and opera. “I’ve wanted to get back to Colorado for a while, because it means being home and closer to family. This job has been on my radar, and I’ve actually applied for it twice now,” said Maykowski. Maykowski received her bachelor’s degree from Drake University and went on to earn her doctoral degree from the University of Kansas. Since then, she has worked as a manager of education
and director of artistic administration in many other states. The program supports students and helps to prepare them for their performance careers. “This is such an interesting company and opportunity, and there’s so much coming up. This company has such a wonderful reputation, so it really was just intriguing,” said Maykowski. Maykowski is expected to strengthen the program through her experience with classical shows as well as help the transition to the Ent Center, according Ditter. “She hit the ground running and is ready to tackle our transition to the new Ent Center (for the Arts) while keeping us focused on the task
COURTESY | COMMUNIQUE
Pictured above: Julie Maykowski
at hand and helping us change for the better,” said Ditter. Ground was broken on August 13, 2015 for the Ent Center, northwest of the main campus. This anticipated 92,000
square-foot building will house the dance, music and theater programs as well as TheatreWorks. “Putting all of those art organizations in one building has the potential for creating amazing collaborations,” said Maykowski. “Getting into that new building and seeing how we grow as an organization is probably the thing I’m most excited for.” Maykowski wants to to spread the ideas and talents of her program to different departments on campus. “I think there’s a huge benefit to anyone to have (theater) experiences and be able to get up in front of people; you have to have a certain comfort being with an audience.”
Sara Qualls named new director of UCCS aging center Jasmine Nelson jnelso14@uccs.edu
Sara Qualls has been named the new director of the UCCS Aging Center, a nonprofit research and treatment facility that specializes in geropsychology. The center is a part of four UCCS clinics located at the UCCS HealthCircle on North Nevada Avenue. It is a resource for aging LUNSFORD | THE SCRIBE COURTESY | PRESSRELEASE. individuals and their family UCCS.EDU members. Resources on Sara Qualls, pictured left, was hired as the new director of the UCCS aging center, which is located at the Lane Center on Nevada Avenue. education, analysis and research and become trained in training clinic in which to train and was the department chair Service to Profession and the treatment of the cognitive clinical geropsychology. Colorado Gerontological Society students,” said Qualls. (1993-2000) and director of effects of aging are provided at The UCCS Aging Center “We opened the Aging Center the center. clinical training (2004-2007) for Distinguished Pioneer in Aging because we needed resources in is one of the few psychology the psychology department. Award, both in 2014. They examine the the community to address mental training clinics that address She also co-founded the psychological wellbeing of older health needs of older adults and The aging center opened to practicum and pre-doctoral patients and administer treatment Aging Center, which first opened their families,” Qualls said. provide resources and address internship training requirements that aims to provide a better in 1999 as the CU Aging Center in geropsychology, a branch “And more importantly from mental health needs of older quality of life to patients 55 and located in downtown Colorado the university perspective, we of psychology that studies the Springs. adults, according to Qualls. older. were building at that point what “From the university mental health concerns that Qualls, a Kraemer Family come with aging. became our doctoral program in perspective, we were building professor of Aging, is taking Qualls has been recognized Graduate students, supervised geropsychology, so we needed a with numerous awards, such at that point what became over for retiree Michael Kenny. training clinic in which to train our doctoral program in by licensed psychologists, have as the APA Committee on Qualls has been a faculty students,” Qualls said. Aging Award for Distinguished geropsychology, so we needed a the opportunity to assist in member at UCCS since 1984
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Culture
September 19, 2016| 5
U.S. and Islamophobia discussion hopes to resolve misconceptions, create a conversation Rachel Librach rlibrach@uccs.edu
When stigmas and stereotypes are formed, creating a discussion about difficult topics can sometimes have the reverse effect. The Kraemer Family Library will host a talk, U.S. and Islamophobia, Sept. 19-21 in the library’s third floor Apse from 5-7 p.m. Carole Woodall, event organizer and historian of the modern Middle East, said she decided to host these events due to the effects this political season has on the growing fear and misconception of Islam. The term “Islamophobia” came from University of California, Berkeley and simply means the fear of Islam. This fear stems from not knowing or understanding something or somebody, according to Woodall. “2008 was the benchmark year for the increase in general Islamophobia. There was that connection or assumption that Obama is Muslim and special
interest groups tended to spread these fears and misconceptions,” said Woodall. A different speaker will discuss different topics relating to the Middle East each day. Emily Skop, director of the UCCS Global Intercultural Research Center, will begin the first event with the topic “Refugees 101.” Next, Jefferey Scholes, assistant professor of philosophy and director of the Center for Religious Diversity and Public Life, will discuss “Christianity and Islamophobia.” On the third day, Edin Mujkic assistant professor in school of Public Affairs will discuss “A Muslim threat: Real or Perceived?” The events are cosponsored by UCCS Diversity and Inclusiveness, Global Intercultural Research Center, College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, School of Public Affairs and Just Talk. Woodall hopes that these events will engage students, faculty, staff and community members.
COURTESY | EVENTS.UCCS.EDU
Dr. Irene Griego will lead the upcoming workshop.
“Our hope is that faculty and students take away a more (complex) understanding of the relationship between (the) U.S. and Islamophobia,” said Woodall. “We want them to consider strategies on how to recognize this fear, what to do about it and how to deal with the idea of being labeled as an ‘other’ in an American society,” said Woodall.
“At the end of the day, we just want people to realize that, although we identify and define ourselves as a community of citizens, we are still individuals who are all connected through this university,” she said. Woodall added that the UCCS campus is the perfect place to host these events because of the different environment of a university. “We should have a platform that allows for insightful and engaging talks about these complicated issues,” she said. These events will also address violence against Islam and discuss ways that people as a society can move forward, according to Kee Warner, associate vice chancellor for Inclusion and Academic Engagement. “There are many different channels of violence around the world: Black Lives Matter, anti-LGBT and so on. In these workshops, we will be looking at specific actions against Islam and the portrayals of Islam as something dangerous,” said Warner.
Warner said that programs like the library’s Just Talk series offers a place on campus where people can speak freely about issues and have meaningful conversations. “We are finding with these programs that there has been a great deal of interest shown from students, faculty and staff to have these spaces on campus and an opportunity to talk about these issues, learn from other people and sort through their own thoughts and feelings,” Warner said.
The Lowdown What: The U.S. and Islamophobia Where: 3rd floor apse, Kraemer Family Library When: Sept. 19-21, 5 – 7 p.m. How much: Free
Startup Week conference offers insight to local entrepreneurship Rachel Librach rlibrach@uccs.edu
To celebrate local entrepreneurs and startup businesses, Peak Startup in Colorado Springs will host the Startup Week conference Sept. 26-30 at various venues downtown. This will be the third year Startup Week in Colorado Springs is hosted by Peak Startup, a local nonprofit organization that helps foster the success of entrepreneurs in the community. Over 40 speakers and 50 events will be at Startup Week this year. Some of the speakers include community members, CEO’s and UCCS students. The material covered at
these conferences will vary from basic startup information to specified courses for experienced entrepreneurs. Student Government Association president and Peak Startup board member Sam Elliott will present two talks at the event. The first talk will explain why people should enter a startup business. The second provides insight on what a sequel database is and is targeted to more experienced entrepreneurs. Elliott’s presentations are Sept. 27 from 12:30-4 p.m. Startup Week is a great way for students to learn about startup companies, according to Elliott. “Startup week was originally formed to be an educational event that really
offers great expertise and incredible business knowledge to anyone interested,” he said. Junior Bachelor of Innovation in computer science major Chantz Large is a local entrepreneur who co-founded a business called Patron Act, which helps schools and libraries create a sound infrastructure and communication system. Large said it is important for UCCS students to attend these events no matter what their major is. “I believe entrepreneurship is a mindset that’s going to be important for individual success as the working world progressively changes more and more rapidly every day,” said Large. “Even if they are not
interested in starting a company or being executives, there are skills that can be adapted to their own interests and can help them succeed in their own fields of study.” Large will also present at the event. His talks will provide insight to the leading startup methodology and how non-technical founders can foster relationships with higher developers. His talks will be at 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 28, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 29 and 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 30. Large said that this event offers great networking opportunities and internship possibilities. “For students interested in being a part of a founding team, they should really participate in this great immersive
experience,” he said. For days, times, venues, a list of speakers and registration students can go to coloradosprings.startupweek. com.
The Lowdown What: Startup Week Where: Downtown Colorado Springs When: Sept. 26-30, times vary How much: Free with registration
Multicultural Affair offers students a view into other cultures Kyle Guthrie kguthri2@uccs.edu
A large dragon danced freely in front of the Asian Pacific Islander Student Union table as the smell of Saudi Arabian delicacies came from the Saudi Student’s table. The Multicultural Affair, hosted by MOSAIC, took place in Berger Hall on Sept. 14. The goal of the fair was for students to experience diversity at UCCS.
Students were encouraged to attend multiple tables in order to get stamps on their “passports,” which could then be redeemed for food and treats. A large selection of international music played over the loudspeaker during the event. Everything from Mariachi bands to Bollywood dance numbers could be heard over the loud conversations in Berger Hall. Tables at the event
included representatives from unions such as the UCCS Black Student Union, who were there to promote their organization. Senior criminal justice major R.J. Fuller has been a member of BSU for two years. The goal of BSU is to emphasize diversity and acceptance of all cultures, along with the AfricanAmerican community, according to Fuller. “Our goals are to make
diversity more known on campus. We want to make sure that everyone knows that we are about everybody’s problems, not just AfricanAmerican problems, and we want to fully integrate all communities,” said Fuller. SPECTRUM, a LGBT support-group on campus, was available to answer questions about both the fair and their organization. SPECTRUM tries to offer inclusivity to all potential
members, according to junior chemistry major Miccella Staiano, member of SPECTRUM. “Our goal with SPECTRUM is to be kind of a family, like a really supportive place where you can come and really feel accepted, even if your home life isn’t great,” said Staiano. For more information about multicultural clubs on campus, students can visit Mountain Lion Connect.
Culture
6 | September 19, 2016
Review: Best local pizza options in Colorado Springs Hannah Harvey hharvey@uccs.edu
Gooey, sizzling cheese that hangs off in stringy goodness. Red sauce, seasoned with just the right amount spices and stirred to perfection. Crunchy crust that serves as the perfect finisher to a delightful feast. This is pizza. Whether your like it with toppings, light
sauce or with cheese-filled crust, a delicious slice excites anyone, whether it’s midnight or noon. Sometimes, it’s nice to try something outside the franchises. All pizza is good pizza, but just in case you were unsure, The Scribe reviewed a few pizza places downtown in case you wanted to try a bite out of a local dish.
BEN PATZER | THE SCRIBE
Panino’s Downtown Rate: 3/ 5
mushrooms, but I opted out for a traditional pepperoni pizza. This Italian The menu is affordable restaurant for a college student on Where: a budget with all you chain offers 604 N. Tejon St. can eat pizza offered a variety on Tuesday nights of dishes, Hours: including for only $8.29. 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sundaytheir But the pizza Monday, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday itself is lackluster. namesake, While the sauce a panino, which offered some flavor, the cheese was tough to is a rolled chew and the crust was thin. sandwich containing Those who love deep-dish vegetables, cheese and pizza or thicker crust may be meats. The restaurant also serves disappointed here. That being said, the pizza pasta, calzones and the alldoes not leave an unpleasant important pizza. Panino’s does not serve aftertaste, and is worth a second slice. single slices of pizza, so if The restaurant itself is you’re looking for a quick snack, the smallest dish is a quaint and friendly; it’s a good place to spend your four-piece pizza for $5.62. The friendly staff lunch hour with a friend. Eat outside to experience the recommended that I try the streets of downtown, as it is downtowner, a pizza with near the center of the city. sausage, pepperoni and
BEN PATZER | THE SCRIBE
Louie’s Pizza Rate: 2/5 Louie’s Pizza is a counterservice spot that serves salads, sub sandwiches and pizza. This location is not far from UCCS and is easily accessible by North Nevada if you’re looking for a spot that’s still close to home, but far enough to take a breather from your day on campus. Unlike Panino’s Downtown, Louie’s Pizza serves single slices that are easy on the wallet. I ordered a single slice
The restaurant itself was of pepperoni pizza costing only charming, with colorful lights $2.75. But sadly, the pizza itself highlighting the shop’s logo was dry with little sauce. As and a couple arcade games. a sauce enthusiast, this was It reminded me of the pizza disappointing. parlors of my childhood, where The cheese was also I would eat a pie with my rubbery in texture, family and then have fun Where: playing in the arcades. although it had 1146 E Fillmore St. Students should a good taste. I wish the go here if they want Hours: cheese and a cheap quick bite sauce both were 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. daily and to relive some nostalgic childhood more flavorful; memories, but don’t this would’ve enhanced the pizza stay for more than one eating experience. slice. Where: 36 E Bijou St.
BEN PATZER | THE SCRIBE
Bambino’s Urban Pizzeria Rate: 3.5/5 The last, but certainly not least, was Bambino’s Urban Pizzeria, a shop specializing in pizza, pasta, salads, desserts and beverages. Those wishing to order their beloved pizza can build it by choosing the sauce, cheese and toppings. This spot was my favorite. Bambino’s is located on one of the busiest streets downtown, providing the perfect location for students to sit down, have a slice of pizza and experience the sights and sounds right in the middle of
Colorado Springs. It is a bit of a drive, but the gas mileage is worth it. The location itself has a hip, urban vibe to it. Potted plants line the walls, an open concept space allows air to flow in and out, the shop is dimly lit and there is a statue of a chef welcoming visitors inside. One size fits all for any pizza that you order: 11 inches. The dough is made Neapolitan style with Caputo Flour from Italy, according to their menu. One of these pizzas costs $8.50, and it is worth (mostly) every penny.
Hours: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. SundayMonday, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Like Panino’s and Louie’s, I ordered pepperoni pizza. The cheese had a very distinct flavor, almost giving off a yeast-like aftertaste. There was a healthy amount of sauce, which was spicy, but not damaging to the senses. The crust was adequate in that it wasn’t too thin or too thick. The only criticism I have is that it was quite greasy, which made for an upset stomach later. Be cautious of how many slices you eat. My personal experience: don’t eat five.
Acts of Kindness Club hope to become officially registered club, spread positivity Anne Stewart astewart@uccs.edu
A week dedicated to participating in random acts of kindness at UCCS in previous semesters by the office of student activities is what one group on campus hopes to do throughout the entire school year. The Acts of Kindness Club want to make a difference in the community through simple acts of kindness, like paying for someone’s coffee or handing out blankets to people in need. Still waiting to become an official club, AOK have not been able to perform many good deeds yet on campus, according to freshman business major Kyle Moyes, who serves as the club treasurer. The idea started with an uneasy adjustment to the college experience, according to
COURTESY | ACTS OF KINDNESS CLUB
BEN PATZER | THE SCRIBE
Small acts of kindess can be seen around campus, which is what the group, Acts of Kindness, hopes to increase in the student community.
freshman chemistry major Gavin Hoffman, president of AOK. Positive influences in his own life also made him wonder what he could do for others in return. “The main goal we have is to promote positivity and encourage people to do the same for others,” said Hoffman. “If you want to spread kindness and connect with others
who wish to do the same, then AOK is for you.” Hoffman said the adjustment to college life was interesting, and when he started meeting different people and discussing the initial thoughts on the club, the group felt like they could have a good impact on the community. Four people are required to
start the club, two of which must be officers. Once this happens, club registration has to be within the first eight weeks of the semester. AOK has done all the preparation, registration and filled out the numerous required forms to be considered for official club status, according to Hoffman.
Now, he and the five other members of the group wait for the final word. There are at least three more people who have expressed interest in joining the club once it becomes official. “We believe that if given the chance, a group like this can make a big impact on the community around campus,” said Hoffman.
Culture
September 19, 2016 | 7
‘Don’t Breathe’ lacks scare factor, plot drags on Ellie Colpitts elcolpitt@uccs.edu
Rating:
This summer, horror fans flocked to see “Don’t Breathe,” a thrilling film containing a deathly game of cat and mouse. The film, set in Detroit, centers around three characters who resort to breaking into houses and stealing valuable items, which they are compensated for. Gang leader Money (Daniel Zovatto) encourages the group to break this habit and go directly after money instead, which requires breaking into the home of an older, blind man (Stephen Lang). Money’s tough-guy character and ambition was displayed well, Rocky (Jane Levy) was conveyed as the relentless fighter as intended and Alex (Dylan Minnette) was the nice guy next door character trying to resolve
issues. The burglars are in for a horrifying surprise when they find out the true nature of the seemingly helpless man they are robbing. Even though the film was advertised as a horror movie, it would mostly appeal to those who enjoy psychological and suspense thrillers. Upon spying, the crew discovers that the man they plan to rob is blind. This creates panic and a change of heart for the other two members—Rocky and Alex. Despite their displeasure with the situation, the robbery is pursued. After the thieves enter the house, they are welcomed with the horrifying surprise that the inhabitant is not as frail and helpless as they assumed— he has abilities that wildly surpass theirs, causing the raid to be far from the walk in the park they expected. Thrilling as it was, the film dragged on unnecessarily long as the victims made little progress. The bulk of the movie
COURTESY | SCREENRANT.COM COURTESY | CINEPLEX.COM
revolved around the same situation, which got old and repetitive quickly. It seemed as if the victims’ attempts to escape were futile and insufficient on purpose, leaving little for a complex plot. This made for an easyto-follow plot with limited instances where the audience was truly frightened by what they were viewing, but it was easy to predict what would happen next as the thieves tried to escape.
A still from the newly released film “Don’t Breathe.”
While the story was unexciting, the artistic filming was impressive; vivid wide shots and close ups depicted the actors’ terror. As with most films in the horror genre, suspenseful music contributed to the eerie mood. The disturbing turn of events made the movie more relevant and horrifying. If anything in the movie would be considered emotionally terrifying, it would be the twist at the end of the movie and its connections to real life
psychopaths. Similar to most movie experiences, seeing this film in the theater for the first time heightens eagerness and allows viewers to feel more involved. But this movie might be one that is better to wait for. Save your money and rent it from Redbox if you’re dying to see it. Watching it from the comfort of your couch where your sarcastic predictions and stifled giggles will be less frowned upon.
Mentorship program offers career advice, guidance to business students Bradley Umpleby bumpleby@uccs.edu
For many college students, deciding what career they want after graduation can be terrifying. To help with this process, UCCS decided that juniors and seniors should have a program to help guide them. From September to April, the Career Coaching Program for junior business majors will offer these students different skills and topics to work on with their career coach. The application deadline has passed, but students may sign up late. The next application process will start next September. The Career Coaching Program, implemented in 2013, is an eight-month mentorship program that provides students with insights and tips into the job market. Students are assigned to a professional business mentor that fits each student’s interests, according to director of Business Alumni Relations Samantha Wood. Mentors meet with their student once a month to help create their resume, discuss what to change or add in their social networks and what to expect when they enter their industry. Alumni business members who work in various fields act as mentors to explain these tips. The Career Coaching program helps students feel
COURTESY | FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS
secure in their career choices. “This program provides confidence so that you’re ready to graduate and feel better about what you want to do,” said Wood. Wood hopes to broaden the program and make it available to majors other than business students. The program was originally only a semester long, but turned into an eight-month process that expands from fall to spring semester. This extension gave both the mentors and students more time to go over certain skills and plan business meetings and trips. Business majors are already finding the program to be helpful and applicable to their professional goals. “If you want some guidance and direction for what you want to do when you graduate,
this program would be it,” said senior business major Steven Botteicher. Listening to an established professional is beneficial, according to Botteicher, who completed the program last April. The program helped him to structure his resume, while also giving him more insight on networking and improving his social media profiles. “Throughout the program I was a sponge, sucking in as much information as I could. It’s great to get some professional guidance on certain topics that we tend to ignore or put aside,” said Botteicher. Any student pursuing a career in business could benefit from these soft skills that one may not encounter in the classroom, said Wood. The program also includes tours of local companies and businesses, which offers a different perspective on each business venture. Students will also attend an etiquette dinner and a motivational speaker event. The tours allows students to understand how each business operates and functions, according to Botteicher. Some of Botteicher’s business tours included Sherwin Industries, Borealis Fat Bikes and The Broadmoor. “Any college business student should apply for this program. I want people to know that this program works,” said Botteicher.
Editorial
September 19, 2016 | 8
We need to create a safe culture, stop blaming the victims Audrey Jensen Editor-in-Chief
Hannah Harvey Managing Editor
Eleanor Sturt Copy Editor
Jasmine Nelson News Editor
Halle Thornton Culture Editor
Eleanor Sturt Opinion Editor
MEGAN LUNSFORD | THE SCRIBE ARCHIVES
The campus hopes to provide students with resources to stay safe, such as self-defense classes, emergency call boxes and discussions.
Scribe Staff scribe@uccs.edu
UCCS hosts self-defense classes throughout the school year and forums that hope to bring awareness to sexual assault and domestic violence in our society. We should be aware that the men and women we love and care about can become a victim of these heinous, horrific acts. And Colorado is no exception to this idea. In Colorado, one in four women will experience sexual assault, while one in 17 men will be affected, according to Moving to End Sexual Assault. Male college-aged students (18-24) are also 78 percent more likely to become a victim of sexual assault. In August, rapist and former CU Boulder student, Austin Wilkerson was sentenced to two years in jail and 20 years on life probation. In the two years sentenced, Wilkerson can leave jail for work or school during the day.
On Sept. 2, CNN released a report that rapist Brock Turner, former Stanford University student was released from jail after three months. The real victims of these cases, whose bravery and courage to stand up to their assailant were not met with praise. Instead, people flocked to support Turner and Wilkerson. Turner’s father, Dan Turner, defended the rapist and said that his life will never be the same after “20 minutes of action.” If someone is unable to defend themselves in a robbery, does that make it OK to steal? Many situations have been compared to consent to try and make us understand that the correlation of going to a party, drinking or wearing certain clothing is not rape or assault. When a person is unconscious or intoxicated, it is not the equivalent to consent. Why does our society question the victims of these crimes and not the perpetrators? The stigmas we have attached to
men and women make it difficult for these discussions to happen. If a woman is interested in sex, she’s a slut, but if she’s not interested in whoever is pursuing her, she’s cold and mean. In contrast, if a man is assaulted by a woman, he’s thought of as weak. Rape culture has become a social norm. College students, male or female, should not have to be afraid to walk around their own campus. They shouldn’t have to carry pepper spray on their keychains, and organizations should not have to hand out rape whistles during the first week of classes. The longer we turn the other cheek and avoid the exponentially growing problem, the more serious the problem becomes. We can’t disregard the perspective of the victims. We must be more sympathetic to what they are saying and stop giving rapists a way out. Make them take responsibility for their actions so that we can stop this string of violence.
Eleanor Sturt
Life on the Bluffs Editor
Hannah Harvey Sports Editor
Megan Lunsford Design Editor
Kyle Guthrie Media Manager
Reporters Kyle Guthrie Rachel Librach Dillion Taunton Anne Stewart Ellie Colpitts Bradley Umpleby
Photographers Austin Chasse Ben Patzer Chris Clemets
Dana Jesser
Business Manager
Laura Eurich Advisor
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Opinion
Vote yes: Colorado minimum wage increase a necessity for better quality of life
Dillon Taunton dtaunton@uccs.edu
For an hour of their work and time, the most anyone can make at minimum wage in Colorado is $8.31. Being able to afford my rent and tuition would require me to work 58 hours a week at this rate. This figure excludes luxuries such as electricity, water, transportation and food. The Colorado minimum wage in its current state is unviable, and must be changed. A petition with over 200,000 signatures made it so that an initiative on the November ballot will gradually increase Colorado’s minimum wage to $12 by January 2020. Dominick Moreno, Colorado state representative, said that his bill to raise minimum wage to $12.50 had a lack of support among fellow legislators in 2015, who expressed concern about why this increase would be damaging. We should look at these ideas as a community so that we can make an informed choice about how
practical a minimum wage increase really is. One argument is that high school kids are the only Coloradans would benefit from this increase. But the United States Division of Labor estimated that 89 percent of people who would benefit from this increase are over the age of 20. These are all people who are presumably trying to make a living but are held back by the curse of minimum wage. Opponents of an increase also argue that increasing the minimum wage will eliminate small business opportunity. But 60 percent of small business owners supported a gradual increase in minimum wage, according to a survey by the Division of Labor. The wage report stated, “Business owners say an increase ‘would immediately put more money in the pocket of low-wage workers who will then spend the money on things like housing, food, and gas. This boost in demand for goods and services will help stimulate the economy and help create opportunities.’” Increasing the minimum wage to help people obtain a livable income isn’t uncharted territory. Several cities in the United States have already implemented this increase to prosperous results. One of these places is San Francisco, where they raised their
minimum wage to $13.00 an hour on July 1, and they are expected to continue these increases to $15.00 an hour by July 2018. This increase in worker compensation was not followed by a Revelations style economic collapse; instead, San Francisco’s economy is thriving. In fact, a report by UC Berkley found that the San Francisco job market is in better standing than the rest of California. The employment growth rate has outpaced the state of California, and unemployment, 4.5 percent, is below the state average of 7.4 percent, according to the report. If this increase can be successful in San Francisco, as well as other cities such as Seattle and D.C., why should it not be equally, if not more, successful here in Colorado? Our state’s population growth is one of the fastest in the nation, and, with this increase, it is time to begin thinking about how the people living here are going to afford to do so. Increasing the minimum wage to a living wage here in Colorado is entirely feasible. We must come together and demand that our government and businesses begin to take note of our needs so that we can have the opportunity for a quality existence.
September 19, 2016 | 9
Vote no: Minimum wage increase amendment in Colorado will decrease jobs
Audrey Jensen ajensen@uccs.edu
Last week, one of my best friends, at only 24-years-old, received the call that he was being let go from his dream job. He spent three years training on his own and was finally hired by a web development company. He then spent three months working every day to complete codes for websites and other projects. But they didn’t let him go because he was bad at his job; they couldn’t afford to keep him on staff since they lost one of their biggest clients. This November, Amendment 70 will be on the Colorado ballot. If voted yes, this will increase minimum wage in Colorado to $12 by 2020. By itself, increased minimum wage sounds great, but, broken down, the consequences of voting yes for increased minimum wage in Colorado will have a negative impact. What happened to my friend this year will happen to a lot of employees if we try to push a $12 minimum wage increase on every business in the state.
As a 20-something that has had to work many minimum-wage paying jobs, I’m telling you to vote no. If you drive around Colorado Springs, you will notice that the thriving city has people pan-handling at the exits of I-25 and the medians of large intersections. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 13,744 unemployed people in Colorado Springs as of July. That’s a 4.2 percent unemployment rate for Colorado Springs, which is higher than the state’s unemployment rate of 3.4 percent. According to occupytheory.org, companies would look to cut out non-vital employees and only keep those necessary to their operation. You want businesses to pay their employees better, but if they’re not making a profit from their sales, employers won’t make enough money to keep everyone on board. In 2015, Costco made $116 billion. Raising minimum wage for this business would be no problem, they make enough in revenue. A local taekwondo school in Colorado Springs, where I work in the summer, would not be able to afford to pay their 50 employees $12 minimum wage each based on the profit they make and would result in the loss of jobs that people have dedicated their lives to. They shouldn’t be forced to close one of
their locations, lose students and drop employees who would have to find a job elsewhere. As minimum wage increases, the number of employees will decrease for smaller businesses like the taekwondo school. In 2012, a minimum wage increase went into effect in San Jose, Calif., a 25 percent increase that went from $8 to $10 for workers. Because of this increase, 42 percent of San Jose businesses cut staff, 45 percent cut hours and 66 percent raised their prices. Minimum wage will be great for some workers, but not all of them. You can’t generalize the benefits of increased minimum wage. A $12 minimum wage may work for one company, but it doesn’t work for every business in Colorado. Yes, people deserve to make livable wages, but in the right way. Forcing everyone to increase the minimum wage pay will only work for so many businesses. Higher wages for some people does not make it OK to throw out “less important” employees. But what choice are you giving these companies when they have to reallocate their money to the increased pay wages? In the excitement of making livable wages, don’t forget the variables in the equation it takes to create this so-called solution when you go to vote on Nov. 8.
Skip the latte: sleeping is more substantial than your caffeine fix
Eleanor Sturt esturt@uccs.edu
One basic function everyone knows from the time they’re babies is how to sleep. Now, as college students, sleep is harder to attain. We don’t get enough of it. The adult human needs seven to nine hours
of sleep a night, and I bet you don’t get anywhere near that amount once mid-terms start. Granted, being a college student is hectic; between homework, a job and a social life, there really isn’t time for sleep. It’s easy to prioritize last on the list, because we have energy drinks and coffee to keep us awake. But drinking excess amounts of caffeine can damage your body. Adenosine receptors in the brain make you feel tired. When caffeine reaches the brain, it binds to the adenosine receptors and works against the adenosine receptors’
drowsy effect. The added adenosine causes the adrenal glands to release adrenaline, which makes you feel alert and energized. Caffeine essentially tricks your body into thinking it doesn’t need to sleep. It doesn’t actually replace your body’s physical need to sleep. Our bodies do not shut down during sleep. Instead, they carry out vital functions that are accelerated when sleeping, such as bringing oxygen to the brain, which helps build and store memories. When the brain does not get the downtime it
needs, it cannot perform simple functions like memory, cognition and motivation. That all-nighter you pulled was probably doing more harm than good; you may have memorized those equations perfectly, but you will not be able to retrieve those memories when you brain has not had its rest. Sleep is essential, but it is a struggle to get to bed at a decent time when there is so much to get done. But there are ways that you can get those eight hours in and avoid drinking five cups of
coffee every day. To start off, go to bed without your phone. People claim that checking social media platforms before sleeping is relaxing and helps them fall asleep. It may be a mindless activity that helps you relax, but it does not help you fall asleep. Once you check Facebook, you still have to check Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter. The light emitted from your phone screen messes with your circadian rhythm, your natural body clock. The artificial light is telling your brain that it is not yet time for bed.
This effect applies to not only your phone, but also your computer, so Netflix is out of the question, too. My condolences to your latenight binge watching. You should also leave six hours between your last dose of caffeine and going to bed. It takes four to six hours for caffeine to stop working, and you are going to struggle going to bed when your brain is full of energy. Set aside time for sleep. I know it’s difficult to schedule time to sleep. Just remember how important it is for your body to get the rest it actually needs.
Life on the Bluffs Sudoku
Bring your completed sudoku to the Scribe office (UC 106) for a prize!
COURTESY | HTTP://WWW.PUZZLES.CA/SUDOKU_PUZZLES/SUDOKU_HARD_219.HTML
4
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1 2
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Cold shower
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Sleep thorugh your classes
“Crazy to think that its only a month
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Sleep on the West Lawn
@evan_mahon
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Will power
5
Heavy metal music at full volume
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Running from University Hall to Alpine Village
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Eyelid toothpicks
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Another all-nighter
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Friends with airhorns
into senior year and I received my first college accceptance @UCCS”
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W y M o rds k r a M
“Thank you @UCCS &
@ucccs_sga for hosting the Regents meeting on your beautiful campus! I look forward to lots of collaboration this yr ” @mfotenos74
Quotes about sleep
“Sleep is when all the unsorted stuff comes flying out as from a dustbin upset in a high wind.” - William Golding
Ways to pull off an all-nighter
10 cups of coffee and Redbull
@kaitdizzle
7
Top 10 Rachel Librach rlibrach@uccs.edu
to me @ UCCS said ‘hey Kaitlin’ & the person next to me said ‘I actually thought your name was kdizzle”
3 3
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Sweet Salty Tweets
“No joke someone just walked up
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September 19, 2016 | 10
Word Search Locations on campus
“I love sleep. My life has the tendency to fall apart when I’m awake, you know?” - Ernest Hemingway
“There is no sunrise so beautiful that is worth waking me up to see it.” -Mindy Kaling
ALPINE BERGERHALL CENTENNIAL CLYDES COLUMBINE CRAGMOR DWIRE ELPOMAR GALLOGLY GATEWAY
GOCA KRAEMER LODGE OSBORNE RECREATION ROARINGFORK SANATORIUM SUMMIT THEATREWORKS
Sports
September 19, 2016 | 11
Women’s cross country wins first race, use different strategies for meets Anne Stewart astewart@uccs.edu
The competition increased after the women’s cross country team placed first at the 2016 Rust Buster. The women’s team took first place with two runners who placed in the top two individual slots at Monument Valley Park on Sept. 2. Sophomore business major Aubrey Till came in first at the four-kilometer race at 14:53. Junior business major Heather Bates finished second, coming in at 14:58. Four other members on the team also placed in the top 10. But on Sept. 10, sophomore Christine Mujica came in at 15th place at the Colorado College Invitational sixkilometer race. The first meet is a shorter distance, four kilometers, whereas the championship races are six kilometers. The team will train in different ways throughout the season, depending on where they are, according to head coach Corey Kubatzky. “We start out focusing more on the aerobic end of the spectrum and work faster as the team progresses, so right now the focus is on being as aerobically strong as we can be,” said Kubatzky. “We want peak fitness for the regional and national championships.” Till and Bates use a training system as a way to plan and strategize by using each other’s weakness and strengths to challenge one another. “It’s new having someone to train
CHRIS CLEMENTS | THE SCRIBE
Sophomore Aubrey Till, left, and junior Heather Bates, right, race up Monument Valley Park at the Rust Buster Invite on Sept. 2.
with and push me in practice. We’re both really competitive, and so it’s nice to have someone to both push and support,” said Bates. Till said that Bates will keep their paces in check throughout the race, so they can keep track of the competitors they need to stay with. “Having somebody else there keeps you from getting complacent,” said Bates. It is not only Bates and Till with high hopes for this season. Kubatzky said there are around 10 to 12 other athletes fighting for the next five spots on the team.
The team is preparing for Roy Griak Invitational on Sept. 24, held in Minneapolis. The race can serve as a preview to nationals, according to Bates. Till said she is especially looking forward to this race as she had a chance to watch it when she ran for Abilene Christian University in Texas. “I thought it would be such a great experience participating in such a big collegiate meet like that,” said Till. The team has a good atmosphere this season, according to Kubatzky. The team is very welcoming and inclusive in addition to being competitive, said Bates.
“Our team motto for this year is to go from being a good team to being a great team,” said Bates. Kubatzky said that this region is a tough one to compete in, adding that this team is really good this year. He hopes that the team will advance to the National Championships. Some of the team’s top competitors, according to Kubatzky, are Adams State University, Western State University, Colorado School of Mines and CSU Pueblo. For more information about the team, results and upcoming meets, students can go to gomountainlions.com.
UCCS women’s volleyball uses offensive strategy in conference games Audrey Jensen ajensen4@uccs.edu
Sometimes there is no way to control what happens to you in life, you have to roll with the punches. The UCCS women’s volleyball team knows that they can’t anticipate their opponent’s play before every game, so they make sure they’re first prepared on their side of the court. In their first two conference games of the season, the women’s team were defeated by Chadron State College 1-3, but ended with a win for their white out game against Regis University 3-1. Overall, the team has six wins and four losses. Their conference games are now 1-1. After several wins and a loss against Florida Southern College (0-3) in their pre-conference game, sophomore outside hitter and criminal justice major Alyssa Brinton hopes the team will keep up their wins in the upcoming weeks. “I think it’s just keeping up consistency that we have been in past games, we have been working really well as a team, and I think all the little things are finally coming together,” Brinton said. Going into a game against teams like Florida Southern or Chadron, Brinton said it’s difficult to anticipate how a team will do. “It’s kind of hard to (prepare) when we don’t know what we’re expecting for a game. The biggest thing is adapting in the middle of the game to what we’re seeing on the other side.”
AUDREY JENSEN | THE SCRIBE
Senior setter Morgan Evans sets up the ball for her teammates against Chadron State.
The team has practiced focusing on their side of the court this season, making sure that they are in control of the ball, according to head volleyball coach Chrissy Elder. “We’ve got a pretty good team, as long as they’re handling the ball well, the best team will usually win,” Elder said. Since last season, Elder said the girls have moved out of a defensive mindset into more of an offensive role. “Being an offensive team just shows were being more aggressive and are more comfortable in what we’re doing. It also means our ball control is good as well.” Explaining what happened in their losses in the pre-conference games, Brinton believes the team gets too comfortable on the court as the game
progresses. “I think it’s going to be a matter of keeping our focus and finishing off teams until the very end, not letting up a little on the gas pedal. Making sure we focus until the very last point of the game,” Brinton said. Based on their sets against Florida Southern, Elder believes blocking is what the team needs to focus on, but having a good mix of players on the court will help the team in future games. “We have some younger girls that are still trying to get their feet under them, they’re doing a good job, (blocking is) probably the hardest skill to learn. It’s refreshing that we’re to the hardest skill at this point, but it’s something that we need to get better at,” Elder said.
AUDREY JENSEN | THE SCRIBE
Sophomore and outside hitter Alyssa Brinton jump serves the ball to Chadron State on Sept. 16 at Gallogly.
Although there are some improvements Brinton and Elder hope to see, they believe it’s going to be a great season as a result of the team’s work and the fans. “Everyone knows what needs to be done and what’s expected of them. We’ll going to be really prepared for the early games and not just going through the season,” said Brinton. The women’s volleyball team’s will compete away against Fort Lewis on Sept. 23, Adams State on Sept. 24 and home at Gallogly against New Mexico Highlands University on Sept. 30.
Sports
September 19, 2016 | 12
Men’s soccer looks forward to redemption for the team Bradley Umpleby bumpleby@uccs.edu
The men’s soccer team hopes to redeem their recent losses in the upcoming games. So far, they are off to a good start with a 3-0 win against Westminster College on Sept. 16 in their first conference game. The season started with one win against Lubbock Christian, one tie with Midwestern State and two consecutive losses in Kansas. Jake McAllister, junior forward, who was named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference preseason player of the year, said the team hopes to redeem themselves in the games ahead. “We had a couple of hiccups recently. It gave us a wakeup call. Our team has a lot of talent, but it gave us a mentality to work hard, be the best we can be and, if you’re the guy fighting to win, doing the right thing,” said McAllister. This preseason, they played Midwestern, who ranked 7th, which was McAllister said was
his highest level of competition this year. “A lot of big players come out of the RMAC, which gives a lot of challenge to the teams. Not very many of the teams in the conference stand out from one another. We’re just all looking for a battle,” said McAllister. McAllister and the team have a strong mindset on what they want to accomplish this season. “The program is improving each year. We have yet to win a conference title. This year we’re hoping to win a title and finish first after every season. Getting into a tournament is something we’re working hard at, but it’s not out of reach,” said McAllister. Last year was the best record that men’s soccer has ever had, according to McAllister. This year, the same 11 starring players of last year returned and an additional 11 freshmen joined the team. “The freshmen have given us veterans more of a completive streak. They help build that energy and confidence that we
COURTESY | SPORTS INFORMATION
Forward Jake McAllister competes against the opposing team.
need in order to win. We’re all just hoping to help one another out any way we can,” said McAllister. “We have a very good core group of guys, and we’ve formed a bond that will enable us to work together more as a team. Hopefully fresh blood will help us out as well.” The team’s practice routine has changed compared to
last year with the addition of athletic trainers. The trainers allow them to get into the weight room two days a week, which helps injury prevention. “This year has been pretty interesting. Every day is intense, with everybody ready to go. Winning and reaching our goals have been the mentality of the team,” said McAllister. McAllister believes the
team’s strongest asset is their defense. “Our defense is very sound. We have new guys in the back that are confident and strong. Our attack is something that we’re working on, but it’s been a struggle. Hopefully, our defensive skills will be tactical,” said McAllister. With the remaining home games at Mountain Lion Stadium coming up this season, soccer would be the sport to watch. “This is going to be a successful season. The games are going to be fun to watch. It would be cool to get people who don’t normally watch the games to have them come out. The fans supporting us really do make a huge difference,” said McAllister. On Sept. 18, men’s soccer played against Colorado Mesa at Mountain Lion Stadium. The team will face Colorado School of Mines on Sept. 23, Colorado Christian on Sept. 25 and a home game against Metropolitan State at the Mountain Lion Stadium on Sept. 28.