21 march 14 issue all by The Scribe

Since 1966

Vol. 40, Iss. 21

Monday, March 14, 2016 SCRIBE.UCCS.EDU /UCCSTHESCRIBE

UCCS Student Newspaper University of Colorado Colorado Springs

UCCS to add gender inclusive housing for fall 2016 Audrey Jensen

ajensen4@uccs.edu

@UCCSSCRIBE

IN BRIEF NEWS

JTA

Program well short on required teacher GPS class aids 3

Textbooks

Paying for books can be a tax deduction 3

AUSTIN CHASSE | THE SCRIBE

Students now have the ability to choose to reside in gender inclusive housing on campus.

CULTURE

Feminism

Event looks to disprove negative stigmas 5

Virtual Reality

Students get a look at Samsung Gear VR 6

OPINION

Practicality

Universities must look to teach useful skills 9

College Comfort

Don’t take your easy life for granted 9

SPORTS

Golf

PGM looks to provide opportunities in sport 11

Basketball

Men’s season ends in RMAC quarterﬁnals 12

Students with 30 or more credit hours at the end of this semester can opt to live with a student of any gender identity starting in fall 2016. Last semester, Resident Hall Association president Robbie Armstrong authored a student proposal to request that Residence Life and Housing offer gender inclusive housing to all students. Housing approved the resolution in February. According to director of Residence Life and Housing Ralph Giese, UCCS is one of two schools in Colorado that was not offering gender inclusive housing as an option for students. (Continued on Page 2...)

Majority of credit hours taught by non-tenure-track teachers Joe Hollman

jhollma@uccs.edu

UCCS has five different categories for teachers, divided into two main groups of tenure/ tenure-track teachers and non-tenure/non-tenure-track teachers. The tenure/tenure-track segment includes professors, associate professors and assistant professors, with the first two having tenure and the latter in the process of obtaining it. Tenure is received after the individual has demonstrated meritorious performance in three areas: teaching, research/ creative work and service. They undergo intense reviews generally through a five-toseven-year process. The non-tenure-track category includes instructors who are usually hired on a yearly contract basis, and lecturers who usually come in to teach on a course-by-course basis. According to UCCS’ 201415 report to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, the school had 448 fulltime teachers. The nationwide database is managed by the U.S. Department of Education. 156 (34.5 percent) are tenured professors and associate professors, 82 (18.3 percent) are assistant professors, 184 (41.1 percent) are instructors and 27 (6 percent) are lecturers. Despite the number of tenured professors and instructors being fairly close (156 to 184), the majority of credit hours are taught by

instructors and other nontenured faculty. In data released in 2014 by the Office of Institutional Research, 68 percent of the credit hours taught on campus were taught by instructors and other teachers. 30 percent was taught by tenure and tenuretrack faculty. Two percent of credit hours are taught by student instructors. Robyn Marschke, director of the Office of Institutional Research, said part of the reason not all classes are taught by tenured professors is cost. “You have to figure out the program cost to deliver the revenue to hire professors,” she said. She added that ideally the university wants the majority of classes taught by tenured professors. “Lecturers are paid a couple thousand dollars per course,” she said, adding they can teach

up to ten classes a semester. This contrasts with tenure and tenure-track professors, who might teach five courses a year and make much more in salary. According to the IPEDS data, professors on average make $11,134 a month for the nine months of the year they are put on salary. Instructors make on average $4,706 a month for the nine

months they are paid. Lecturers on the other hand make on average $729 a month for their nine-month salary. Overall, $27.5 million is spent on instructional staff salaries, with $19.6 million (71 percent) going toward tenure and tenure-track faculty. According to the IPEDS, full-time teachers account for 448 of the 1,120 full-time staff (40 percent) at UCCS.

News

March 14, 2016 | 2

(Continued from Page 1) Fall 2016 to be trial period There are 301 beds that will be available for the students who opt for gender inclusive housing. Megan Bell, executive director of Auxiliary Community and Learning Initiatives said that in research at other schools, only one to four percent of students opted for gender inclusive dorms. “If only 12 people want this gender inclusive option, then that’s the only gender inclusive option we’ll have,” Bell said. She added that next semester is going to be a pilot group so they can see how this will work with upper class students first. Inclusive housing for incoming freshmen may not happen in fall 2017, but Bell said they are working on it. “We have folks that are transitioning or have transitioned and their biological gender that’s in our system doesn’t match how they’re presenting and they ask if they identify as a woman if they can be placed with women.” “We’ve had students who were happy and successful and their roommates didn’t know.” An option that students can check on the housing renewal form for the 2016-17 school year states that by selecting the “Gender Inclusive” box,

students agree to live in a gender inclusive housing suite in the Alpine apartments. The agreement also states that by selecting this option, the student understands they could be placed with a roommate of any gender. Two students who did opt for the gender-inclusive housing are freshman Jazzmyn Boykins, engineering major, and Triston Gladhill, an English literature major. Boykins, a village representative for RHA, said her and Gladhill requested to be roommates because she has more friends who are guys. “I don’t get along too well with my own gender so much. So I was kind of disappointed that I couldn’t live with someone else (this year),” said Boykins. Gladhill, another member of RHA, said he thinks that housing is allowing students with different viewpoints more freedom. “I’m glad they opened up the freedom so people of those viewpoints can do what they want, or anybody in those relationships can live together,” said Gladhill. Gladhill said that the fall semester will show a lot about how gender inclusive housing

AUDREY JENSEN | THE SCRIBE

Students sign up for fall 2016 housing opportunities at The Lodge on March 9.

could work. “There might be small issues, like guys might have problems, you know how males are. Like, ‘oh, a girl,’” said Gladhill. Boykins agreed that problems could arise. “I think randomly pairing them as gender inclusive is

dangerous.” Bell said the university does not anticipate any issues with gender inclusive arrangements. “It’s not just an option for trans students,” Bell said. “It’s for any student who wants to live with their friend who’s not men or women. Most students who live off campus, they live

with who they want and it’s not an issue.” Giese agreed. “We’re doing this because it’s the right thing and we want to give that option. I don’t know that I would expect anything specific. We’ll see our normal roommate conflicts.”

Despite increasing numbers, SGA election awareness low Joe Hollmann jhollma@uccs.edu

The national general election is still more than seven months away, but UCCS’ own student government elections start this week. According to SGA advisor Sabrina Wienholtz, there is a

continued increase in student involvement in both running as a candidate and voting in the election. But among the student body, there seems to be a lack of awareness of the elections. Wienholtz said that voter turnout has increased every year for the last five years. In 2015, 1,879 students, or 17.85

percent of the student body, voted in the SGA election. “We anticipate voter turnout will be even better than last year,” said Wienholtz. Although more students are running in this year’s election, other students had varying opinions on awareness of the election. Freshman business administration major Eric Frank voiced that he was unsure of who the candidates were. “I don’t know any of them and haven’t looked into it,” said Frank. If Frank did vote, he explained why he would or wouldn’t vote for certain candidates. “I wouldn’t vote for (a candidate) if they are wasting my money on weird clubs,” said Frank, adding he would vote for candidates who are more down to earth. Junior computer science

I’m not on campus enough to really pay attention (to the election). – Caitlin Eells, sophomore nursing major JOE HOLLMANN | THE SCRIBE

Even with prevalent ads on campus, awareness about elections is low

I don’t know any of (the candidates) and haven’t looked into it. – Eric Frank, freshman business administration major

major Annelise Lackey spoke to her awareness of the election’s date. “I didn’t know it was next week, but I did know it was coming up,” said Lackey. Students who do not spend much time on campus may also be unaware of the election’s proceedings. “I’m not on campus enough to really pay attention,” said sophomore nursing major Caitlin Eells. Freshman sport management major Kylan Rogus said he is not aware of the student elections. “There sure does seem to be a lot of advertisements around though,” said Rogus. One way candidates distinguish themselves is through advertisement, which have been in the grass along the Spine and on various social media outlets. “I saw one with a cute dog,” said Cassidy DeJong,

sophomore elementary education major, commenting that particular advertisement was the only memorable one. Wienholtz said that the two fees on the ballot will also bring students to vote in the SGA elections. “I think having two fee initiatives on the ballot will help drive voter turnout this year,” said Wienholtz, referring to the athletic fee and University Center bond fee.

The Lowdown What: SGA Election When: March 14-18 Where: Every day at Sanatorium Grounds Coffee Shop Monday: Dwire Hall Tuesday: Centennial Hall Wednesday: Columbine Thursday: University Hall Friday: Engineering Bldg.

How: Online, in person at above locations

News

March 14, 2016| 3

JTA program fails to fill 91 slots for fall by application deadline Hannah Harvey

hharvey@uccs.edu

The Junior Teaching Assistant program has been around for over a decade and seeks to offer students skills in leadership, mentoring and teaching. But participation in the program has decreased. Only 40 applications were sent in by the Jan. 20 application date. There is a need for 131 JTAs in the fall 2016 semester. Last year, 94 applicants applied to fill the 120 Gateway Program Seminar class sections, according to Carrie Arnold, assistant director of the GPS. “A lot of students assume that it’s a (teaching assistant) position,” said Arnold, referencing why students may not be applying to the program The application remains open. Junior theater major Minerva Valentine worked as a JTA for Studio A in 2014, a GPS class for freshmen interested in VAPA majors. Valentine said the experience was beneficial, especially if a student is interested in teaching. “I think that if you want to be a teacher, it’s really crucial to get that hands-on experience of working with peers and

ARCHIVES | THE SCRIBE

Former JTA Marcus Wright participated in a team building event with the students he mentored in fall 2014.

students,” said Valentine, who is interested in teaching theater. Valentine added that communication and leadership are important aspects of the experience. The program has not seen any significant changes since Valentine’s time in the program, but 2014 was the first year that former JTAs were allowed to reapply. “It was a little chaotic when

I was doing it; everyone was figuring out how to make it work. It was a matter of when we could do it and where it would fit in the schedule,” added Valentine. Students who participate as a JTA during their sophomore, junior or senior years as an undergraduate or as a graduate student are offered benefits, including $600 in tuition assistance and teaching experience.

Undergraduate JTAs are required to take GPS 4090, a class that prepares them for their role as a JTA, but graduate students do not. Students who become a JTA are expected to go through a two-day training, which includes learning leadership and student development theory. A maximum of 18 credits, including the GPS 4090 class, is allowed for students participating as a JTA.

Schoolbooks are tax deductible for students Rachel Librach

rlibrach@uccs.edu

College life revolves around three elements: getting an education, finding the cheapest coffee and saving money. Taxes may not be everyone’s favorite subject, but there are ways for college students to save money when it comes to educational expenses, including the purchase of textbooks. Textbooks fall into the category of a qualified education expense which, according to the IRS website, “are amounts paid for tuition, fees and other related expenses for an eligible student.” This makes books, bought at UCCS or separate retailers, a tax credit which reduces the amount of income tax a student might have to pay. According to the IRS, “those who can receive educational credits include people who are dependent, an eligible student who must be enrolled at an eligible educational institution, or the eligible student is yourself, your spouse or a dependent you list on your tax return.” This tax credit is known as the American Opportunity Credit plan which, according to Zacks, a financial advising website, “allows students to deduct the cost of books from their income amount, thus reducing the amount of income the government can tax.” Shelby Duran, a junior majoring in sociology and

women’s and ethnic studies, is familiar with this tax deduction process but only learned about it recently. She said that the UCCS Bookstore could advertise this to students, but high schools should really be the ones to introduce this information. “Colleges assume that we know this stuff, but we really don’t. The bookstore could help get the word out to students, but, honestly, this education should take place late in high school when people are just starting to have to pay their own taxes.” Maggie Williams, a graduate student in the history department, had no clue she could have been deducting her schoolbooks from her taxes. She said she missed out on a lot of opportunities to save

Colleges assume that we know this stuff, but we really don’t. The bookstore could help get the word out to students, but, honestly, this education should take place late in high school when people are just starting to have to pay their own taxes. - Shelby Duran, junior majoring in sociology and women’s and ethnic studies, on textbooks as a tax deduction

The work load of a JTA depends on the student’s professor and their prior experience. Students typically do work outside of class, including activities on Blackboard, organizing field trips, communicating with instructors and meeting with students twice a semester outside of class. “JTAs are also encouraged to participate in the assignments that students are doing so that they can help if a student needs it,” said Valentine. There is room for improvement in the program, Valentine said. “I wish the staff would’ve had a little more training because it seemed like the JTAs knew more than the staff. I also wish there was more time (for preparation),” said Valentine. She said she also wished she could’ve seen her students more. Students should become a JTA because of the enriching experience that is offered, according to Arnold. “Students will understand the difference between being a TA and a mentor. They’ll learn a lot about themselves and see the GPS classes from a different perspective,” said Arnold.

BEN PATZER | THE SCRIBE

Students may not be aware that books purchased from the bookstore can be tax deductable.

money and thinks the bookstore or the finance office could do a better job in informing students of this possibility. “If the bookstore made posters or added a short blurb at the end of their receipts saying that students should keep their receipts to save money on taxes, that would be really helpful,” said Williams. “I easily spent over $700 on books as an undergrad student,” she said. “Now I want to cry.” Unfortunately for graduate students like Williams, according to Zacks, students can only claim the American Opportunity Credit for the first four years of post-secondary education.

William Frodge, a junior majoring in computer science, thinks the bookstore could do a better job publicizing this information, even if it is something simple like a poster in the store. “It could really help students. I didn’t know about this and I’m going to go home and do some more research on it. As long as students are at least made aware that this is a thing, it’s up to them to decide if they want to take advantage of it or not,” he said. Paul Deniston, director of retail services for the Bookstore, said he did not wish to give advice on taxes since it is not his area of expertise, but

that he encourages students to pursue options to learn more about the topic.

The Lowdown School books and supplies can be deducted from your taxes through the American Opportunity Credit plan. Dependents and qualified students are capable of this tax deduction. Visit www.irs.gov to learn more.

Culture

March 14, 2016 | 4

WEST department hopes to combat discrimination in classes

Taylor. Professors will intervene in class discussions if they need to. “The main reason for intervention was to provide a clear and calm atmosphere for the discussion to dig deeper, and figure out what the disconnect was for certain people,” said Taylor. Herrera explained that class discussions are aimed at attacking oppression and privilege as an institution, not the individual. “The key for students is to realize that everyone may experience oppression, but the degrees of oppression and privilege vary from person to person.”

Halle Thornton

hthornto@uccs.edu

Discrimination can occur in college courses, especially in classes focused on issues such as race and gender. The Women’s and Ethnic Studies department strives to keep discrimination out of the discussion. The mission of the WEST department is to think critically about institutions of race, gender, sexuality, disability and nationality, and to understand history, culture and society from all different perspectives. Classes aim to help students develop skills to shape the future in collective ways that aid in diversity and equity, according to WEST department director Andrea Herrera. According to Herrera, students may perceive class discussions in WEST classes as discriminatory or derogatory, but this is not always the case. “Sometimes when people coming from dominant groups are challenged and responded to, they perceive that they are being undermined, but they are simply being challenged,” said Herrera. Professors are attempting to challenge student’s views

BEN PATZER | THE SCRIBE

Dena Samuels teaches a WEST class in Columbine Hall.

about oppression and privilege, Herrera said. Geography and WEST double major Sarah Smith said she has never faced any sort of discrimination in her WEST courses. Smith’s class received discussion guidelines that aid students in making sure that little to no discrimination occurs in the classroom at the beginning

of the semester. “No one is ever forced to speak unless they want to. It’s usually just people saying what they feel on the particular subject and then the professor chimes in when she needs to,” said Smith. Junior WEST major Nicole Taylor said that discrimination is not a prominent issue and that it

is only a topic discussed as part of the curriculum. “Discrimination is one of the main ideas that we discuss in these types of classes, along with other similar concepts like oppression and stereotypes.” “We discuss them as a way to understand how and where they are as well as the function they play in our everyday lives,” said

Sometimes when people coming from dominant groups are challenged and responded to, they perceive that they are being undermined, but they are simply being challenged. – Andrea Herrera

Culture

March 14, 2016 | 5

Feminism event to explore perspectives on gender and race equity Rachel Librach rlibrach@uccs.edu

Feminism is sometimes portrayed as a radical, sexist movement that is only focused on women’s rights. Respect on Campus hopes to show that feminism is more than what it’s mistaken for. Hosted by ROC, “The F Word: Feminism & Why We Need It” will be held on March 16 at 7 p.m. in Berger Hall. The event is in honor of Women’s History Month and aims to create meaningful dialogue between panelists and UCCS students. This event will help foster discussion to enlighten students about feminism and will drag many controversial and difficult issues into light, according to ROC outreach and awareness coordinator, student Ethan Wade. “There’s been this taboo that’s built up around feminism and how gender equality can really lead to ending a lot of issues, including sexual violence, that plague our community,” said Wade. ROC focuses on how building gender equity can solve some of feminism’s

pertinent issues, according to Wade. “I think it’s easy for people to push issues that are hard to talk about to the back of their minds. We want to get awareness out and expand

people’s perspectives.” According to Andrea Herrera, director of the women’s and ethnic studies program, gender equity and gender equality are two different terms.

COURTESY | UCCS.EDU

“The assumption with gender equality is that we are all the same and have all the same needs. Of course that’s not true. Equity implies that we’re all different and have different needs and thus we all don’t need the same things, but we should all be given the same respect.” Herrera defined feminism as not only expressing women’s equity but that of men and people from all different races, backgrounds and cultures. Herrera said she hopes the event will educate students on feminism and perhaps lead students to find out that they themselves may be feminists, even if they didn’t know it. “Students who learn the broader definition of feminism start to see themselves as feminists, even the men. Most people I know strive toward this issue of equity and equitable human rights.” “If you strive for that, if you think that’s a good thing, then you are probably a feminist,” said Herrera. This year’s panelists include communication instructor Chris Bell, president of the Colorado, Wyoming and Montana chapter of the NAACP Rosemary

Harris-Lytle, senior vice president of engagement at the Pikes Peak United Way Beth Hall Roalstad, and Carrie Baatz from the Independence Center in Colorado Springs. Herrera was a panelist last year and was pleased with the student involvement intellectual conversations. “People came not having a clue of what feminism was, and we were able to have very complex conversations,” she said. “The way the event is structured makes it very inclusive, and people are able to share different perspectives, have genuine dialogue and listen and respond to each other.”

The Lowdown What: ‘The F Word: Feminism & Why We Need It’ Where: Berger Hall When: March 16, 7 p.m. How much: Free for students

Student grounds employees help to maintain campus Abbie Stillman

astillma@uccs.edu

One appealing feature for potential students to complete their degree at UCCS can be the beautiful campus. As students walk to class, they may see other students and employees working on various grounds projects. There are six full-time staff members that students work with in the grounds department under Facility Services to keep campus pristine. These grounds crews have a variety of tasks as part of their everyday job, including tree pruning, turf maintenance and litter control. Freshman electrical engineering major Justin Shaffer has worked the grounds at UCCS since September. Shaffer enjoys the setting of the job the most. “I really love being outside and I grew up doing yard work so it doesn’t really feel like work to me,” he said. “Shoveling snow is my favorite thing ever, I don’t know. Everyone else hates it.” Senior English major Julianne Baumgardner has been working grounds for almost two years. Baumgardner enjoys several different aspects of the job. “Being able to go outside with my fellow employees is my favorite. They make the job a lot more fun,” she said. Her least favorite part is snow removal.

Like all grounds employees, Baumgardner does different jobs throughout her shift. “It depends, because some days, I spend the whole day doing the trash, but if I’m working with the plant manager, then we can end up doing about three different jobs during the day,” she said. Additional duties include cleaning up trash, cigarette butts, watering trees and shoveling. According to Physical Plant executive director Dougherty, many of these jobs offer students good life skills such as changing the oil in a lawn mower and learning how to care for plants. “A lot of students enjoy the physical labor work as it is a nice change of pace,” said Dougherty.

BEN PATZER | THE SCRIBE

Doug Cook, part of the grounds crew, operates a skid-steer.

AUSTIN CHASSE | THE SCRIBE

The grounds nursery team takes a lunch break.

Culture

6 | March 14, 2016

Students review new Samsung virtual reality gear Alexander Nedd anedd@uccs.edu

Rating:

When it comes to new technology, there are few developments that are surprising anymore. A new car or cell phone might have features we have never seen, but as we progress into the 21st century, those minuscule improvements seem small. But this is not the case with the new Samsung Galaxy Gear VR headset. Released March 11, the Gear VR is a personal virtual reality headset. Nothing says future more than placing your head inside another world and taking a peek around. The Samsung Gear VR is available for $100. Not a bad entry fee for the wave of the future. They are compatible with Samsung Galaxy devices only, with models that include all S6 editions, S7 editions and the Galaxy Note 5. The technology allows you to view 360 degrees of entertainment right from your living room. Games and scenes such as Jurassic Park and roller

coasters are available to view once downloaded onto an appropriate platform. The graphics seem so realistic that it is jarring to the viewer’s senses. The look is a little out there, as is any piece of new technology not yet introduced for mainstream consumption. While it may look like oversized ski googles, the experience is nothing less than magical. With just a touch of a button, users can find themselves on the other side of the world. The Scribe gave students an opportunity to try out the new Gear VR headset. It was technology students had never used before. “If it’s not too expensive I would (buy it) because that is pretty sweet. (Everyone) should try and do it, it was pretty cool,” said senior criminal justice major Quinn Coogan. Computer science senior Shawn Partin said that eventually this technology will be commonplace. “I wouldn’t buy one just yet just because I know it’s going to get a lot better,” said Partin. Other students had different opinions. “I’m so disturbed by the idea that I’m here physically, but my

While it may look like oversized ski googles, the experience is nothing less than magical.

reality is completely not here,” said freshman English major Stephanie Sundell. What might be steep is the learning curve needed for the head gear. Finding where you put your fingers after you place the device on your head can accidently exit you out of your reality experience. You’ll need some patience and retention to make it through the first couple of times that this happens, because it will. The device was tested on the brand new Samsung Galaxy S7. While the quality of the video and sound are intense, playing too long will take a toll on your battery life. A significant portion of power, about 30 percent, was depleted from the Galaxy S7 after about an hour of play. While this might not seem like a lot, battery life will only get worse as the device gets older, and should be noted for virtual gaming experiences in the future.

MEGAN LUNSFORD | THE SCRIBE

Jonathan Toman, editor of the Scribe, tries the Samsung Gear VR.

MEGAN LUNSFORD | THE SCRIBE

The Samsung Gear VR allows the user to participate in a virtual reality.

MEGAN LUNSFORD | THE SCRIBE

Scribe sports editor Taylor Garcia experiences the virtual world.

Mountain Lion Connect sees continued increase in usage Hannah Harvey

hharvey@uccs.edu

Involvement in clubs and organizations is often a great way for students to get involved on campus and be a part of something they care about. Mountain Lion Connect is an online service designed to engage students, clubs, organizations and various departments on campus. There are 23 academic organizations, 19 departments, 15 club sports and seven Greek

portals. The site has 216 active portals, including 170 total clubs registered. Usage has steadily increased since the service’s implementation in 2013, according to Mountain Lion Connect manager and student Travis Tafoya. “We haven’t seen a decrease in usage at all. People are added every semester. Mountain Lion Connect is pushed at orientations and we are also seeing a huge increase in department usage,” he said.

The increase in department usage is expected to increase involvement among the student body as a whole, Tafoya said. In MLC’s first month of usage in 2013, there were 100200 users logging on per week. Now, there are about 500-600 users logging on daily. “The more students we get that learn about it their first year, the more we have using it,” said Tafoya. Usage tends to increase at the beginning of each semester, while a decrease in usage occurs

during the semester. Clubs and organizations must be registered through the Student Life and Leadership office and on Mountain Lion Connect. The purpose of the site is not just to register clubs though, according to Krystal Schiffelbein, coordinator of student clubs, organizations and leadership. “I would say the purpose (of MLC) is pretty varied. One of the best parts is that we’re able to collect data for usage of students without data mining.

We can track participation and how many students are attending events. It’s a great tool to see who is getting involved,” said Schiffelbein. For students, the club has many different uses, including advertising and document organization. Any club can put an event up and publish it to their portal. “It’s a great way for a club to get their name out there and provides a tool for new students who are looking to get involved,” said Schiffelbein.

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EDItorIAl

March 14, 2016 | 8

This is the tough part of the semester, keep your head up

Jonathan Toman Editor-in-Chief

Audrey Jensen Managing Editor

Eleanor Sturt Copy Editor

Evan Musick News Editor

Hannah Harvey MEGAN LUNSFORD | THE SCRIBE

Scribe Staff scribe@uccs.edu

This is the time of the semester where everything snowballs into an uncontrollable mess. Midterms are coming up (if you haven’t already had them), work cranks up for some reason and the weather is getting warmer, encouraging daydreaming and outside activity. That complicates matters. All of this becomes something that can seem overwhelming. The end of the semester, the light at the end of the tunnel, can seem eons away. But there are two thoughts we’d like to remind you of during all this insanity. First, failure is OK.

Something didn’t go your way the first time. That’s fine. Don’t let it affect your future. But also know that failure is unacceptable, and they don’t hand out awards for trying in the real world. So resolve to do better. Use failure as motivation. You learn a ton about yourself when presented with difficult situations. Embrace them as a learning experience. To paraphrase an example from history: Thomas Edison tried and failed many times to develop what he needed for the incandescent lightbulb. When asked about it, he said that he didn’t fail, he found out a ton of ways that didn’t work. But he eventually found one that

did, and he changed the world. There is always a lesson to learn even if you fail. You have the ability to impact the world for the better as well. You can’t give up because you failed one test or didn’t do as well on that presentation you’ve been practicing. Your grades don’t define you and you can always bounce back. Second, don’t give up yet. We’ve still got nearly half a semester to go, and it will require your full attention. You are paying for this education. Finish strong. School is hard and life is meant to challenge you; embrace that. Find a way to enhance the positives, because it makes the roller coaster a little less bumpy.

Culture Editor

Alexander Nedd Opinion Editor

Alexander Nedd

Life on the Bluffs Editor

Taylor Garcia Sports Editor

Megan Lunsford Photo Editor

Davy Mellado Layout Editor

Tessa Bronner Media Manager

Reporters

Kyle Guthrie Rachel Librach Abbie Stillman Halle Thornton Joe Hollmann

Photographers Austin Chasse Ben Patzer

Jennifer Curry Business Manager

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OpINIoN

March 14, 2016 | 9

The college culture of comfort: Remember, it ends after graduation

Joe Hollmann jhollma@uccs.edu

For traditional students who live on campus, college can be a complete and utter luxury. Your parents might pay for school, you never have to maintain your room, you eat food you don’t have to cook and you attend a few classes a week. Students fall into the culture of college comfort and don’t realize how easy life is right now.

We need to take a moment to appreciate the opportunity we have. This is one of the few times in life where you are free from responsibility to other people. No spouse. No kids. No siblings or parents you are obligated to spend dinners and nights with. You might have a job on campus working 10 hours a week that gives you a chance to sleep in every day except for that 8 a.m. class on Fridays you regret signing up for. Meanwhile your laptop, smartphone and Xbox One provide the entertainment for the hours you have to kill between classes. You’re also living at a school where some of the brightest and most

successful people in the region teach, research and exchange ideas. Yet, there is still discontentment. There is drama with your roommates, or the dining hall food is subpar (probably a legitimate complaint), or your intro level business class has a boring instructor. But your week is consumed by comfort. Whether it’s the fact you can go four days in a row wearing the same pair of sweatpants, or that you can go lie down on a warm bed in a warm room after eating warm food cooked for you by people with warm smiles, life is generally pretty easy. Almost all the amenities of life can be reached in a 10-minute

walk. There is a Rec Center you pay for but probably never use. There are clubs and organizations you can get involved in, but are never quite sure if it’s

Don’t waste this time complaining. Don’t waste these years consumed by comfort.

the right fit for you. For a few years, we are engrossed in becoming educated, experiencing new hobbies, meeting new people and developing our deepest beliefs and convictions. We have an

incredible freedom to explore and experience life in a way few others ever have the chance to, and this opportunity probably won’t ever come again. Yet, for many of the residents, there is an entitlement to this opportunity and luxury. Don’t waste this time complaining. Don’t waste these years consumed by comfort. The seductive power of comfort says that it will always be this way. But in just a few short years, bills and car payments and nine-tofive jobs will cascade upon the college bubble, shattering the illusions of comfort and simplicity. It’s easy to get sucked into the culture of college comfort, because it’s encouraged.

Tour guides on campus emphasize ways in which you as a college student can be comfortable. Weekend partying is only a thing because you have the luxury of forgetting all responsibilities for a night. But the world is not a comfortable place. There is injustice out there. There is exploitation out there. There is actual hard work that needs to be done out there. There are people who won’t care one bit about you. Take this luxury and use it to become involved. Take this time of comfort and make it uncomfortable by sharing life with people you don’t normally share life with. Take this time you have been given and go serve others.

Teach me something practical, UCCS: What millennials need to know

Alexander Nedd anedd@uccs.edu

I’ve been in school for 18 years. Two years of preschool, grades K-12 and five years of college have all tallied to legal adult status in the U.S. I trust our school system to be one of the best in the world. It is, and I’m grateful for the education I received

that people are denied in other countries. Learning how to balance an equation in math or learn a chemical compound in science is what I believed adults would do every day. But I have not needed the Pythagorean Theorem since learning about it in eighth grade, nor have I been asked to analyze a poem written by Hemingway. What I have needed are the skills used to change a tire, become familiar with a city’s bus system and stretch a set income to cover a specific span of time. None of that is taught at UCCS. We pride ourselves

on higher learning and achievement but the basic building blocks of adulthood are left out of our college career. That is a huge problem. There is an expectation that adults should magically know basic responsibilities such as cooking, taxes and even relationships.

cares about what you learned while you were in school. Many successful businesspeople have made it to the top without any higher education. Three to five years feels like a long time to get a degree, and it isn’t always easy. But just because you go to one or a few different universities and possibly leave with a couple of degrees does not mean you’re better or smarter than everyone. My brother attended UCCS for two years, fell to academic probation and dropped out of school. A lot of one-

time bachelor’s students think less of my brother or students in similar situations. Although he needed time to transition from a college dropout to an employee, he applied himself to a field of work that he loves and has exceled far past many other students with bachelor degrees. Everyone is knowledgeable in their own field of study, whether it was obtained through a university, at an organization or from a couple of library books. According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in December

We pride ourselves on higher learning and achievement but the basic building blocks of adulthood are left out of our college career.

But no one teaches us. We go out on our own, and when we fail, we are criticized for asking for help, or worse, receive none. One task I’m grappling with is handling my finances and doing my own taxes. I can do TurboTax, but how do I know if I’m truly doing it right? My taxes shouldn’t come down to my best calculated guess and smartphone tips. It’s the same for credit cards. Now more than ever, students need to take the proactive approach to establishing credit. I’m 22 years old and have no idea what the

difference is between the credit and debit option on my U.S. Bank visa card. Do you know what your credit card score is? Do you know what a credit card score is? If you answered no, you are a part of the majority. As a senior transitioning into the work world, this is of high importance. We all have financial insights and can check our balance, but when it comes to lending and applying for options such as your own apartment and car, a conversation about credit should have happened a long time ago. I would love to take classes on basic car

repair and life hacks at home. Not only does this prepare us for adulthood, it gives us confidence to move forward as we approach graduation. I am an adult. I want to be able to learn these functions on my own, but not when it’s too late. Colleges need to take note of this lack of development for students going into the workforce. If we market college as the final transition into adulthood, we need to put more emphasis on the daily tasks of being an adult. Give me the skills I need to make the most of my time at UCCS. Don’t just take my money and hand me a diploma.

2015, found on intellectualtakeout.org, 89 percent of American adults believe that a secure job is necessary to be in the middle class, 86 percent believe the ability to save money is necessary and only 30 percent believe that a college education is necessary. Your education is not so prestigious that no one is capable of finding the required textbooks for your class and learning exactly what you know. We’re just paying a lot more for that knowledge. If there’s anything I’ve learned while in college (aside from

communication basics), it’s that there is still a lot I don’t know and will never know. It would be nice to believe that just because I’ve been in college for four years, I know more than everyone. But everyone takes a different path in life, and just because yours is different than someone else doesn’t make it better. A senior in my introduction to American politics class got in a heated discussion with the teacher about her personal beliefs. Snickers and comments from our

classmates surfaced, and the student made the defensive statement that she believes she is smarter than everyone in the class because she has world experience and isn’t a freshman. Laughter rang out after this heinous statement as she rode her high horse out the door and never returned to class because no one could take her seriously. It doesn’t matter if you’re 18 or 50 years old walking on campus for the first time, or 23 or 64 walking on campus for the last time. Everyone has a set of knowledge and skills that you don’t have.

A college degree doesn’t make you better than others

Audrey Jensen ajensen@uccs.edu

You have a bachelor’s degree, traveling experience and are passionate about your subject of interest. Now you go into the work world with your degree to learn that not everyone who is successful has a degree and not every employer

LIFe on the BluFFs Sudoku

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

COURTESY | PUZZLES.CA/SUDOKU.HTML

5 6 8

nominated for educator of the year at #UCCS.”

@jmemaybe

8 1

7 5

“Listening to Linda Hogan,

4 3

7 4

Sweet Salty Tweets “Just found out I was

March 14, 2016 | 10

9 6

director of @UCCSSustainable speak about sustainability at @UCCS makes me so proud to be a student there.” @egberrrs

8 “Lol a girl on a campus tour

just flashed me the rock on sign while I was sprinting on the treadmill #UCCS”

Campus Chatter Rachael Librach, rlibrach@uccs.edu

@Emw_143

What are you doing over spring break?

Top Ten

Superhero ﬁghts after ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’ Taylor Garcia, tgarcia@uccs.edu

10 SpongeBob vs. Patrick 9

Cyclops vs. Daredevil

Mystique vs. Wonder Woman

Rogue vs. Green Lantern

The Thing vs. The Hulk

Wolverine vs. Sabertooth

Storm vs. Thor

Captain America vs. Superman

Jiggly Puff vs. Antman

Groot vs. Deadpool

Spring break locations COURTESY | PUZZLEMAKER.DISCOVERYEDUCATION.COM

Kelsey Clark, junior, marketing major

“I’m traveling to Port Aransas, Texas for the break because it’s the closest place with a beach.”

Aubry Karis, freshman, English - special education major

“I’m going to be watching my family dog while my parents go to Nashville. We’re going to spend Easter together though.”

Clyde Campbell, freshman, pre-med major “I’ll be mostly working at the Conn’s Furniture Store. I make and sell furniture there.”

NEWYORKCITY SANFRANCISCO NEWORLEANS BOULDER

PALMBEACH DAYTONA BEACH LOSANGELES

LASVEGAS CANCUNMEXICO PANAMACITYBEACH COLORADOSPRINGS

MIAMI HONOLULU

Sports

March 14, 2016 | 11

Golf management provides opportunities to advance in golf industry Hannah Harvey

hharvey@uccs.edu

The UCCS professional golf management program, one of 18 in the nation, offers opportunities to business students interested in careers within the golf industry. The program, accredited by the Professional Golfers Association of America, provides a curriculum and a variety of internships for students to advance in careers surrounding golf. “Our students are beyond top-notch because they have experience that they can apply beyond the classroom. This makes our students highly sought after,” said Mollie Sutherland, director of the PGA golf management program. The program was founded at UCCS in 2003. The top 42 students of a class are accepted each fall if they meet both the program’s application requirements and criteria for the College of Business. At a minimum, applicants need to have a playing handicap of 12 or less (they are expected to shoot no worse than 12 over par in a round on average) in addition to the university’s admission requirements. According to Sutherland, students from all over the country apply to the program, which is ideally 100 students total. “They have to meet those entrance requirements and have a high level of playing ability on a golf course. There’s a playing component and an academic component that combine to create that freshman class that’s limited to 42,” said Sutherland. Students who decide to major in golf management prepare themselves

COURTESY | MOLLIE G. SUTHERLAND

PGA Golf Management students taught over 400 lessons in three hours during ‘Play Golf UCCS’ on the West Lawn.

for careers as a golf club professional, according to biology professor Jeff Broker. Broker teaches anatomy and exercise science, including Applications to Golf (BIOL 3450), a course that is specifically designed for PGM students. “I do most of my research in golf biomechanics and engage the students as researchers and research subjects,” said Broker. The emphasis on exercise science makes the program here different than others, Broker said. The PGA periodically visits UCCS to monitor progress of the program. “The last two times they’ve come, I’ve asked if there is a way to export what

we’re doing (with the exercise science class) and they’ve said that none of the other schools are equipped to do what we do. They really respect it,” said Broker. “This will set students apart dramatically because they have a depth of exposure to the biological sciences. It helps their own game and those that they are trying to help.” The model degree plan is comprised of the core business courses. Students still pursue one of nine emphases in the College of Business, and compliment this course load with PGM courses. Students apply the skills they learn in courses such as business planning in their PGA classes. But a career as a golf club professional

isn’t the only option for PGM students, Sutherland said. “They can successfully run and manage golf courses and golf businesses. They can do many different career paths with a sound business background that they can use immediately; there is no learning curve,” said Sutherland. Internships are also a component of the program that make UCCS’ PGM option highly competitive. One three-month and one six-toeight-month internship will be completed during the student’s time in the program. Students intern locally at clubs such as Flying Horse and The Broadmoor, in addition to internships across the country, according to Broker.

Sports Men’s basketball season ends in RMAC quarterfinals

March 14, 2016 | 12

Halle Thornton

hthornto@uccs.edu

The men’s basketball season ended on March 1 against Metro State, as the Mountain Lions (17-13, 14-8 RMAC) fell 82-77 in the RMAC Shootout quarterfinals. Leaders this season included Dalton Patten, who reached the 1,000-point plateau, and Alex Welsh, who set school records for career scoring and rebounding. Welsh also earned his second straight selection to the All-RMAC first team. Patten earned a spot on the All-RMAC second team and Kendall Godley received an honorable mention. These three seniors were a part of the most successful four years in program history, which included the first two trips to the NCAA tournament for the program and the first RMAC championship. Patten, a communication major, said that this season ended due to a combination of being a young team with six freshmen and not being able to fix their turnover problem. The team was worst in the RMAC for turnovers this season, committing 15.5 per game. Patten added that, on occasion, the team played down to their competition. “We didn’t control our own destiny down the stretch as far as coherence, regional rankings and where

COURTESY | SPORTS INFORMATION

Dalton Patten goes up for a shot in a 2016 season game.

Patten drives the lane against Westminster.

we wanted to be as a team,” Patten said. Head coach Jeff Culver said another issue for the team was free throws. UCCS shot 70 percent from the line this year, 13th out of 16 teams in the RMAC. Despite this, the team finished in the top 15 in the nation in field goal percentage (50 percent) and rebounding margin (+7).

Culver said that with six freshmen in the starting rotation this season, they earned valuable experience and set the stage for the next few years of UCCS basketball. “Our young group of returners is very dedicated to working hard in the offseason to get the program back to the national level next season,” he said.

Culver said he was happy with the last game of the regular season, when UCCS beat Metro State 94-92 in Gallogly Events Center on Feb. 26. But he was disappointed his team couldn’t defeat Metro for the second time in the RMAC quarterfinal. “I was not pleased we couldn’t get over the hump and win,” Culver said.

I was not pleased we couldn’t get over the hump and win. – Head coach Jeff Culver, on RMAC quarterfinal loss to Metro State.

UCCS equestrian team rider places in regional competition Halle Thornton

hthornto@uccs.edu

The UCCS Equestrian Team is in the middle of its second year as an established club. Senior biology major Kirstie Stahlnecker competed in the Walk and Trot at regionals on Feb. 27 at

COURTESY | JESSICA BENDER

Team member Haley Matteson.

Laramie County Community College in Wyoming. While she placed third, she did not advance to sectionals in Stanford, Calif. Co-captain of the team, junior biology major Jessica Bender, explained that the team got started in fall 2014. Biology major Lyndsy Johnson is the other team captain. Bender discussed the different divisions of flat horseback riding. There is open flat, intermediate flat, novice flat, advanced walk/ trot/canter, beginning walk/ trot/canter and walk/trot. There are also three levels of over fences: open, intermediate and novice. Bender said that riders compete at various levels based on an entry test the rider takes, and as they show and hopefully place, they can earn enough to move up in a division. Intermediate requires a little more skill and precision than novice, but not as much as open. “Each level requires more experience and skill as a

COURTESY | JESSICA BENDER

Pictured right, Lyndsy Johnson takes a break during a ride among fellow riders from different schools.

rider, and the judge can ask more complicated moves as the levels go up,” Bender said. The club is open to anyone who has an interest in riding competitively. You do not have to have horseback riding

experience. The rider does not have to own their own horse; the hosting school for competitions provides the horses. The rider draws a horse from the hat, and that is the horse you ride for the

competition. “We are a newer club, but we have plans to grow and be even more competitive in the years to come,” Bender said. More information about the team can be found on their Mountain Lion Connect page.