Dec. 1, 2014

Since 1966

Vol. 39, Iss. 13

Monday, Dec. 1, 2014

IN BRIEF NEWS

UCCSScribe.com University of Colorado Colorado Springs

SoCOLO bridges gap between primary, secondary education

Classes Students struggling to enroll in courses necessary to graduate 2

Chemistry equipment

Chemistry department partners with county, gets new equipment 3

CULTURE

riverrun Student-run journal losing funding, may become a class 5

nick beadleston | The Scribe

Philip Morris, project coordinator and conference lead, addressed several dozen primary and secondary education professionals during Bridging the Gap.

Joseph Lininger Mostly blind student doesn’t let disability get in the way of learning and teaching 6

OPINION

Allergies Food labeling on campus needs to be more specific 9

Marijuana Learning to say no and make decisions 9

SPORTS

Taylor Garcia Junior rebounds from ACL injuries, looks forward to recovery 11

Men’s and women’s basketball Teams off to solid start in 2014-15 season 12

Nick Beadleston nbeadles@uccs.edu

Issues in encouraging high school students to pursue secondary education continue to plague Colorado. The Southern Colorado Higher Education Consortium continues to change that by creating a path from primary education to college.

On Nov. 20-21, several dozen faculty, students and staff from UCCS and other educational institutions from southern Colorado gathered to discuss the problem. The Bridging the Gap conference featured workshops and discussions on how to increase the number of high school graduates who attend college.

“We’re trying to create a center of energy focused on educating young people with robust collaboration, participation and engagement,” said Kee Warner, UCCS associate vice chancellor for Diversity and Inclusiveness, to the assembled group.

Warner, a native of Durango, Colo. has seen the education issues in southern Colorado first hand.

“These are the support systems that are the problem for any first generation students,” he said, referring to students who are the first in their families to attend college. “They have the motivation, but they need the scaffolding to climb up.”

The project is funded largely by a $750, 000 Department of Education grant issued in 2010.

The grant is part of the federal Funding for Improving PostSecondary Education program.

AT&T and CISCO systems have also contributed supplies and support to SoCOLO. A large component of SoCOLO has been creating congruent courses high school students can take to get a leg up on college. Students at participating high schools can earn an average of nine college credit hours before graduation.

“One of the pillars of the SoCOLO project is this concurrent enrollment mission,” said Phillip Morris, SoCOLO program director and director of the UCCS Office of Veteran and Military Student Affairs. “We know the concurrent enrollment and pre-college programming go hand in hand.”

Several UCCS students at the event had firsthand experience with congruent education.

Through the SoCOLO program, Devada Whitfield found herself mentoring students and assistant teaching.

“I never thought that would happen without a Masters,” she said.

Devada holds two Bachelors and is working on a double Masters, though none of her degrees focus on primary education. She said she was looking for volunteer

“These are the support systems that are the problem for any first generation students. They have the motivation, but they need the scaffolding to climb up.”

— Kee Warner

UCCS associate vice chancellor for Diversity and Inclusiveness

opportunities and was moved by students struggling to stay in school and reach college.

“They were the Cinderellas in high school, they weren’t supposed to be there.”

Roneisha Frazier, another UCCS student at the conference, said she took advantage of similar programs while attending high school in California.

Frazier said education was important in her house while growing up. But due to financial constraints, she knew she would have to pay her own way. She said taking congruent courses motivated her to apply for the scholarships that make it possible to attend UCCS. Another goal of the program has been to connect with a larger base of potential college students.

“We can’t just expect the same type of student to come through and be successful,” said Dave Khaliqi, director of UCCS’ STEM center. “We need to start reaching down to younger students and supporting them academically.”

Khaliqi also said there is a need to reach a broader and more geographically diverse

group of students. He indicated this can be done by using technology to interface with rural students who have limited educational resources in their communities.

Khaliqi said there are opportunities for UCCS students to volunteer as counselors at STEM camps for underprivileged students and that there are also plans to expand the peer mentorship program.

In addition to panels and discussions on enrollment practices and pre-college programs, the event included presentations on education strategies.

Sociology professor Zek Valkyrie presented his unique teaching strategy “gamification.” Valkyrie said his program is geared toward a generation he calls the “digital born.”

Gamification takes educational material and presents it to students like they are in a role-playing video game. The concept received mixed reactions from the educators present, but Valkyrie indicated the model encourages Continued on page 3 . . .

News

Dec 1, 2014­| 2

Marijuana remains illegal on campus, student thoughts vary Alexander Nedd anedd@uccs.edu

Manitou Springs voters defeated Measure 2G on Nov. 5, a measure that would have prohibited the sale of recreational marijuana.

But the possession of marijuana remains illegal on campus and anyone found to be in violation of the campus policy could face disciplinary action.

Sale of marijuana to those 21 and older was made legal during the 2012 election.

So far the ballot initiative, Amendment 64, has generated over $25 million in legal pot

sales.

Brian McPike, executive director of Public Safety, explained the campus’s policy about buying and/or possessing marijuana on campus.

“It remains a federal offense,” McPike said. “Even through it’s legal in Manitou and even if it was legal to purchase within Colorado Springs, it wouldn’t have any effect on the campus level or policy.”

“We receive federal funding from the Department of Education and because it’s illegal on the federal side we have to abide by the federal standards,” he added.

There are repercussions for

those who break the law “If you are caught on campus, we will write a citation,” he said.

Students across campus have mixed feelings about the ban, with some citing the fact that it’s legal in the state as a reason to change the campus policy.

Josh Boehnke, sophomore communication major, said that the prohibition of marijuana on campus doesn’t make sense to him in light of other policies the university has in place.

“I think it should be legal [on campus] because I don’t see it as being more harmful then allowing liquor on campus, such as having Clyde’s sell it to

students,” he said.

Brett Yager, junior film major, thinks use on campus could pose a safety hazard.

“I feel marijuana should be illegal on campus because this is still a school environment and specifically in [working with film students] we have lights and big heavy equipment,” he said. “I don’t feel I would trust someone who is on weed to handle those jobs that need to be handled appropriately.”

“If people want to smoke, people are going to smoke,” said one sophomore student who wished to remain anonymous. “The dorms are not supposed to allow smoking

but that hasn’t stopped the people I know from doing it.”

“It would be better if UCCS discontinued the ban and gave students a safe place to engage in smoking,” the 19-year-old nursing major added.

McPike offers a friendly reminder to students who decide to purchase and use the drug.

“They have to be 21 years or older, that’s one of the biggest issues,” he said. “I would caution students, whether they are smoking or buying an edible, just to be cautious if it’s new to you.”

“Use it safely and in a private setting. Be responsible with your approach.”

Campus growth affects class scheduling for students, professors Audrey Jensen ajensen4@uccs.edu

With the continuously increasing rates of enrollment, students have seen problems when choosing courses they need to graduate.

There are many factors that can hold back students from being able to take a pre-requisite or required course when they want to.

According to registrar Tracy Barber, students should be scheduling courses intelligently, but she is aware that the school’s enrollment numbers continue to go up.

“With the impact of increased enrollment we do try to accommodate needs of students,” Barber said.

She added that double block courses are available as well as pre-term classes during winter

and spring break.

“We try to put those courses out there and try to provide other alternatives in order to meet the needs of different students,” she said.

Ryan Jeffers, junior mechanical engineering major, said that he has had to wait for a few higher level courses due to student ratio.

“Sometimes it’s because I didn’t sign up on time and sometimes it’s because of my work schedule,” he said. “Most the time I will replace it with a different class, but occasionally I get into a situation where I need a class for pre-requisites down the line. If I don’t get it I can’t press on.”

He said that is it rare and that he tries to plan ahead so that he will not end up in a situation of having to wait longer to graduate.

Alex Williams, senior theater

major, has had to reschedule several classes due to certain courses only offered once every two semesters.

“You find that instead of being able to take all of your required classes sort of at once or plan around your general education you end up having to wait depending on what general education classes you have to take,” he said.

Williams prioritized his theater classes at the start of his college career and is now catching up on general education requirements.

“Immediately after high school I got a full-time job and moved out of my dad’s house,” he said. “I spent a lot more time on paying rent than going to classes.”

Williams said he has enjoyed the theater classes that were only offered every two semesters because the teachers seemed

more excited to teach.

Assistant biology professor Eugenia Olesnicky Killian explained that students not being able to fulfill required courses is usually not an issue with her classes.

“The only exception is senior seminar. Students have to present and there’s only so many students you can have present in one semester,” she said. “There’s some people who want to enroll late in some classes, but I usually don’t allow that because they would have a lot to catch up on.

That’s the biggest issue.”

Killian also said that when students do need a class the chair would make another section for the class.

“I definitely think it’s important for students to map out what classes they’re going to take earlier on in their career so they can avoid situations like that,” she said. “Sometimes you

may fail a class. Your personal life may not allow you to take so many classes, so in some cases it’s unavoidable.”

She suggested that students should follow the formula provided by the advising office that is available on the student success website in order to graduate on time.

“I think the reality is we need to grow the faculty, and have more buildings and more classrooms. I think that’s the heart of the problem is that we are growing very quickly and it’s hard to keep up sometimes, but there’s a price that you pay by increasing the class sizes,” Killian said.

Williams mentioned that he wishes the university would increase the class amounts for general education courses.

“Usually a certain section fills up and I can’t take it. I have to skip out on what’s required.”

CU students involved in divestment gathering at Board of Regents meeting Audrey Jensen ajensen4@uccs.edu

“Don’t be a fossil fool, divest,” read one of the picket signs in addition to posters and a petition with 1,050 signatures of students and faculty from UCCS. On Nov. 19 a group of around 30 faculty and students from UCCS, CU-Boulder and CU-Denver dressed in orange with black X’s and gathered in the upper plaza in preparation for the CU Board of Regents meeting in Berger Hall.

Students for Environmental Awareness and Sustainability hoped to achieve access to Colorado University’s list of invested fossil fuels and divestment from fossil fuels by publicly commenting at the CU Board of Regents meeting.

jonathan toman | The Scribe

Students from all three CU system campuses gathered in the Upper Plaza on Nov. 19 in support of divestment.

“We are trying to ask for transparency so we can remove from that,” said Alex Sinchak, UCCS sophomore geography

and environmental science major.

“If it’s public, donors and investors can see how [the

investors] make the decision and see if it’s a responsible investment or not,” she said.

“It’s becoming more publicly

known about the implications the fossil fuel industry is doing with CO2. It’s a moral goal.”

According to geography instructor and SEAS faculty advisor Carole Huber, one year ago student representatives requested to meet with the Board of Regents, but it did not go through.

“When you see the public polls, the vast majority of America believe that climate change is happening, and that humans are impacting it,” Huber said. “I think the signatures [on the petition] really represent the awareness of students and the younger generation in particular.”

Sinchak spoke in the public comment section of the meeting, requesting a meeting with the board before their next meeting in February.

News

Dec 1, 2014­­ ­ | 3

(continued from page 1) SoCOLO bridges gap students to complete more tasks, often without even realizing it.

“I’ve created more work in my class than I’ve ever had in my standardized model,” he said.

Valkyrie attributes the teaching styles success with its ability to provide students with feelings of self-determination.

“Video games are really good at making us feel like we are in control,” he said.

Valkyrie also indicated the program has made his grading less of a monotonous task, and that he actually enjoys lesson planning now. While already taught at UCCS, Valkyrie hopes the strategies he has developed will be applied to primary

Nick beadleston | The Scribe

Woody Longmore of Harrison School District 2, left, and Anthony Trujillo of the UCCS Pre-Collegiate Development Program, right, were on a panel of six educational professionals during the Bridging the Gap conference.

education courses in the near future.

Other UCCS speakers at the conference included Barbara Gaddis, executive director of Student Retention and First Year Experience, and Anthony Trujillo, program manager for the Pre-Collegiate Development Program. Gaddis spoke about student retention and Trujillo on concurrent enrollment.

Throughout the conference, the recurring theme was community cooperation to enhance the chances of earning a college degree.

“The main thing is to have a vision and an education,” Warner said. “That’s at the center of what UCCS is.”

Chemistry receives new equipment through county partnership Kyle Guthrie kguthri2@uccs.edu

The chemistry department received a shipment of brand new, state of the art equipment to replace their aging systems, but students won’t be the only ones reaping the benefits.

The university received a grant from the National Science Foundation in August after faculty and staff proposed to the foundation in tandem with the El Paso County Coroner’s Office.

After receiving the grant, the funds were used in September to acquire a liquid chromatograph tandem mass spectrometer, which will be used for analysis and investigative purposes.

For their assistance in acquiring the grant, the coroner’s office will also have access.

Janel Owens, assistant chemistry professor, explained that the relationship between the coroner’s office and UCCS is

megan lunsford | The Scribe

New equipment for the chemistry department sits in Centennial Hall.

mutual and beneficial.

“The El Paso County Coroner’s Office will have access to the instrumentation for joint research projects or analyses they will need completed,” Owens said.

The liquid chromatograph tandem mass spectrometer is

housed in the department of chemistry and biochemistry at UCCS. Jarred Bultema, UCCS chemistry assistant professor, and his research group also received CO2 incubators for anaerobic cell growth and a laminar flow hood.

Christian Barr, sophomore

biology major, was excited to hear the news about the equipment.

“I think it’s pretty cool,” he said. “I like how the county is coming here and using the technology we will have here on campus.”

Clairelise Post, sophomore biochemistry major, will likely have direct use with the machine.

“I think it brings in some pretty cool opportunities for students to partner with a bunch of different professionals with different career opportunities and backgrounds,” she said.

While the advanced piece of equipment was acquired by the grant, funding for the research and operation of the machinery will come from other sources such as the university or from the Coroner’s Office.

One of its chief uses will be for the detection of certain drugs present in a body post-mortem,

specifically opioids such as oxycodone or hydrocodone.

Some drugs go through postmortem redistribution, a process that causes the drugs to go from a high concentration to lower concentration.

“This phenomenon of redistribution can make interpretation of drug concentrations difficult, which may be problematic in determining cause and manner of death in an individual,” Owens said.

“With the use of the new instrumentation, we aim to develop analytical procedures to determine levels of drugs in various samples to determine the degree of post-mortem redistribution for those drugs.”

Owens hopes to see the partnership continue in the future.

While the equipment is housed in the department of chemistry and biochemistry, its use will not be limited to those two departments.

Police arrest suspect in Wells Fargo Bank robbery Incidents on Campus Nov. 17, 8:23 p.m. - 9:36 p.m.

Keystone House “Officer dispatched to Keystone House for drug violation. Arrested Jacob Walker and Daniel Proterfield for illegal possession / consumption of marijuana.”

Nov. 15, 2014 3:21 a.m.

Off Campus “Officer conducted welfare check on a party sleeping in a vehicle off campus.”

Arrested Emilo Garcia for DUI and / or drugs.

Nov.15, 1:23 a.m.

Centennial Hall “Officer contacted a suspicious vehicle in front [of] Centennial Hall.”

Arrested Kaeley Silvey for DUI and / or drugs.

Incidents in Surrounding Area Nov. 19, 11 a.m.

Suspects arrested in connection with robbery near Academy and Austin Bluffs intersection “Sept. 23, 2014 at 11:04 AM, two unknown suspects robbed the Wells Fargo Bank at 4151 N. Academy Blvd.

No firearms were shown, but one of the suspects wielded a large screwdriver during the holdup. When the robbery was completed, the suspects got into a stolen car, which they only drove a short distance before abandoning the vehicle and switching cars. One of the suspects in this case has been identified as 29 year-old

Quinterrius Sharrod Lundy of Colorado Springs. He is currently being held in the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center, on this and other charges. This case is believed to be connected to additional recent robberies in the area.

Details of those cases are not available at this time. The investigation is ongoing; more arrests are anticipated and will be announced as they occur.

Due to the in-depth nature of the investigation, no other details will be made available at this time.”

For tips, call Detective Jeremy Tidwell at: 719-444-7868 or Jonathan Ruehlen at: 719-4447525.

Nov. 17, 4:30 p.m.

800 Block of Pulpit Rock Circle

South “Officers in the Falcon Division were dispatched to investigate a possible burglary in progress in the 800 block of Pulpit Rock Circle South.

As Officer Mathis and CruzRodgers were arriving on scene they observed two suspects matching the description getting into a vehicle. The officers made contact with the two individuals. Almost immediately the driver of the vehicle ran from the scene. Officers were able to take the second suspect into custody without incident. A large perimeter was set and K9 Officer Kelly attempted a canine search for the second suspect. Items believed to be belonging to the second suspect were located but the

suspect is still outstanding. The investigation is continuing.”

Arrested James Pettus.

Complied by Eleanor Skelton

How you can help For crime tips, call campus police at 255-3111 or CSPD at 444-7000 Sources UCCS Blotter: uccs.edu/pusafety/police/blotter CSPD Blotter: springsgov.com/units/police/ policeblotter.asp

Dec 1, 2014 | 4 News Lane Center HealthCircle, five clinics serve community

ashley thomPson | The Scribe

eleanor skelton | The Scribe

The Lane Center is home to the HealthCircle Primary Care Clinic, left, and Peak Vista, center. The facility sent out flyers to potential clients, right.

Ashley Thompson athomp13@uccs.edu

Open to UCCS faculty, students and the surrounding community, the Lane Center is becoming a diverse health care center.

The facility targeted surrounding neighborhoods with mass-mailed flyers in the last month, advertising the variety of new services offered at HealthCircle in the Lane Center.

HealthCircle encompasses five clinics: the Center for Active Living, the Aging Center, the Primary Care Clinic, the Peak Nutrition Clinic and the Veterans Health and Trauma Clinic.

Mike Bigelow, senior executive of Clinical Activities,

oversees the five main clinics of HealthCircle.

“The center’s vision is to provide integrated service,” he said. “When you go through the health care system it can feel fragmented, the communication between those providers isn’t always as strong.”

“We want to combine those services to meet all the needs of a patient, to provide something different than what’s offered,” he continued.

Julie Anderson, director of the Peak Nutrition Clinic, said that the clinic began operating in January and that the services offered at the nutrition clinic correspond with the Lane Center’s overall mission.

“We have an outstanding team full of knowledge, experience and

compassion here and all needs can be met under one roof which is very helpful and convenient for the client,” she said.

The Peak Nutrition Clinic works with people of all ages by partnering with them to meet their health goals.

“We aim to help our clients develop a healthy relationship with food to enhance sport performance or to reach a natural healthy weight and lifestyle,” Anderson said.

The Center for Active Living is directed by Michelle LeCompte, a UCCS graduate who majored in senior fitness.

“I work with clients in multiple ways,” she said. “We are assessment-based and evidencedriven. We are a health hub, we’re

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not a gym.”

The center is equipped with a TechnoGym, a USB-driven fitness system. The data gathered by the device is stored in the cloud, and is like a little research assistant, according to Lecompte.

The machines in the system allow the center to track the progress of clients in all stages of physical fitness.

HealthCircle is only one part of what the Lane Center has to offer.

“We also have a gerontology center, which facilitates aging education, and training opportunities for students,” Bigelow said. “It is a marriage between the educational and the clinical aspects of health care.”

The fourth floor of the Lane Center houses the CU School

of Medicine, Colorado Springs branch. By spring 2016, third and fourth year medical students could potentially complete their clinicals there.

The Primary Care Clinic operates with insurances, but most of the other circles work on an upfront pay system. Appointments are billed per session and there is no middleman.

“Some services are covered by regular health insurance,” Bigelow said. “Insurers like United Health Care and CU Anthem are accepted, and we’re finishing with Kaiser.”

The Lane Center is located near the Four Diamonds bus stop off Nevada, and is named after a major donor to the building, Margot Lane.

Culture

Dec 1, 2014­­ ­ | 5

‘Greeksgiving’ under-publicized and low on donations Audrey Jensen ajensen4@uccs.edu

In order to help fulfill their philanthropic duties, Phi Sigma Sigma, Pi Beta Phi and Sigma Alpha Epsilon invited students to donate school supplies, children’s books and money from Nov. 12-25 for “Greeksgiving.”

According to PSS president Nicole Frye, a meeting with the sorority and fraternity presidents, Greek advisor Miechia Taylor and assistant director of the Office of Student Activities Stephen Cucchiara resulted in the idea to improve the image of Greek Life on campus and support their philanthropies and community.

“I don’t think we set out for a number, we wanted to help out as much as possible by helping out our national philanthropy and community,” Frye said.

Two small boxes for students to drop off donations were decorated and placed with a flyer in the University Center entrance and the Kraemer Family Library main entrance.

By Nov. 21, the count of supplies seen in the boxes were one book, a box of crayons and a grocery bag of writing utensils. Frye was unsure of

audrey jensen | The Scribe

Donation boxes in the entry way of the Kraemer Family Library, left, and at the bottom of the stairs on the first floor of the University Center, right, had little or no donations on Nov. 20.

exactly how many supplies were donated up to this point in time.

“This was the first time we tried this [school supplies drive],” said Frye. “We didn’t get as much as we would have liked.”

She admitted they needed to improve on spreading the word prior to the drive. Flyers were placed around campus with the help of OSA, but a potential e-mail to students was scrapped.

SAE’s eminent treasurer, philanthropy and community

service chairman Travis Tafoya also said that there could have been more publicity.

Kailin Nelson, president of PBP, will be giving donated books to local elementary schools while Frye will be handing donations to former Phi Sigma Sigma member Tawny Saunders at the Springs Rescue Mission.

Aside from children’s books, school supplies they hoped to receive included pencils, crayons, markers, scissors,

erasers and notebooks.

Throughout November there were several food drives by Clyde’s Cupboard and different UCCS departments, something Tafoya said limited school supply donations.

SAE did not raise money from the school supplies drive, but according to Tafoya raised $400 from a national SAE held video-game fundraiser on the weekend of Oct. 25. The money was sent to the Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora.

“This gives us a positive image. We don’t get financial benefits from it,” Tafoya said.

“The Greek organizations set a good example for students.”

Frye and Tafoya were unsure if the school supplies drive will happen again next semester.

“You go through it, see what works and see what doesn’t work. There’s a lot of ways we can improve next year. It’s a great drive and great cause,” Frye said. “I wish the drive went on longer.”

Student journal sees changes in product and funding, looks to become class Ashley Thompson athomp13@uccs.edu

The 43-year-old undergraduate journal, riverrrun, could potentially turn into an English course.

The annual journal was published in the summer last year, later than its intended publication date. This was due to one of the editors being unable to complete their work.

“It’s not uncommon,” said Kirsten Ortega, faculty director. “Every other year we have a problem where an editor can’t complete the job.

That’s just what happens.”

At its genesis, riverrun had trouble finding the funds to support a student publication.

English professor Ken Pellow, who crafted the publication in 1971, said that over the years finances became less of an issue.

But a few years ago that changed. riverrun is no longer a club that is recognized by the Office of Student Life and Leadership. According to Ortega, the rules that defined a club have changed and riverrun will lose all of the club funding they had previously received.

“It took us a few years,

courtesy | UCCS English department

Past issues of riverrun, the UCCS student-run journal.

OSL gave us limbo status for two or three years,” Ortega said. “They didn’t do this to destroy riverrun, there was no animosity there.”

Ortega instead plans to fund ‘riverrun’ by turning it into an English class. The class syllabus must be proposed to the English department and passed through the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

The class could potentially be finalized by spring of 2016.

The students in Pellow’s 1971 class expressed an interest in a student-run

literary journal and he decided to pursue it.

“Several of the founding students were taking a class with me on James Joyce and riverrun is the first word in Joyce’s ‘Finnegans Wake,’” he said. riverrun is not capitalized because that is the form it took in Finnegan’s Wake.

The journal accepts student submissions such as poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction and visual art. Last year’s publication contained five non-fiction essays, seven

short-stories, 27 poems and three artworks, though Pellow indicated that this is not necessarily a typical distribution.

“Usually, there is more poetry submitted than prose, and more written works than drawn, painted or photographed,” he said.

Entries are restricted to students enrolled at UCCS. Being published in riverrun used to be as simple as submitting a piece by the deadline but that is no longer the case.

“It is difficult to be published in riverrun, it’s competitive and that’s good,” Ortega said. “It means we’re putting out a good journal.”

A team of five editors will select the pieces this year.

According to Pellow, the publication has evolved before this.

“It is now a much classier publication than it was in its early stages. Layout and format are considerably more sophisticated than was the case forty-some years ago,” he said.

“Now the journal is produced electronically, and we no longer have to put together contents and truck them all to a local printer.”

Ortega and Pellow hope to continue the quality of riverrun.

“I want to make sure we get a really good publication that represents us well. We have a legacy that we want to be living up to,” Pellow said.

The deadline for submissions was Nov. 7.

Students interested in riverrun should prepare for next fall, when submissions will be accepted.

“I truly never supposed, 40 years ago, that riverrun would survive, let alone flourish, for this long,” Pellow said.

Culture

Dec 1, 2014­­­­ | 6

UCCS to be represented in Festival of Lights Parade Kyle Guthrie kguthri2@uccs.edu

UCCS will be shining light on awareness for the campus this holiday season.

The 30th annual Festival of Lights Parade on Dec. 6 will travel through downtown Colorado Springs. The theme this year is “Through the Eyes of a Child.”

The festival is a series of events set to celebrate the holiday season. It includes performances, cultural events and artistic programs.

Stephen Cucchiara, assistant director of the Office of Student Activities, said that the reputation and community outreach that UCCS has necessitated their involvement and participation in the parade.

“UCCS has a longstanding partnership with the city of Colorado Springs,” he said.

“We provide access to an affordable and accessible higher education for students of the city as well as the city

courtesy | colorado event guide

The Festival of Lights Parade logo. The event will be on Dec. 6.

providing us with the support we need for those students.”

Presley Schwisow, senior business administration major, is one of the students from

UCCS who will be marching in the parade.

“I just love the community that gathers around it. Last year we had a bunch of hot

chocolate and free food next to our float for all of the people in the parade, so I just love how the community aspect of the parade,” he said.

Cucchiara also pointed out that this is not the first time the university has worked with the city on special events and festivities.

“We work with the city on physical plans, educational resources and other various partnerships,” he said.

“UCCS participating in this parade symbolizes how much the city means to us and the longstanding partnership we do have with them,” he continued.

“We have a chance to show the Colorado Springs community who we are, how great our students are and what we are all about.”

Cucchiara encourages students to go to the event for a good time.

“Students are encouraged to bring friends, family and others,” he said. “It’s an opportunity for them to partake

in an important event and truly see the partnership between both constituencies, UCCS and the city, come to life. They get to show how much they love UCCS and what they have accomplished here.”

“We are representing the school, student life and leadership and other aspects of life on campus,” Schwisow said. “It’s a little chilly, but it’s always a lot of fun to dress warm and have a bunch of school spirit.”

The Lowdown What: 30th Annual Festival of Lights Parade When: Dec. 6 5:50 p.m.

Where: Downtown Colorado Springs Tejon St.

Blind graduate student analyzes Air Force Space Command computer systems Eleanor Skelton eskelton@uccs.edu

“Images, no detail – that’s the short version.”

Joseph Lininger has hypoplasia, an underdeveloped optic nerve.

Two other medical terms describe his eyes: nystagmus and esotropia. Nystagmus means that he cannot control eye movement and esotropia indicates that his eyes point inward.

“If I really focus, I can sometimes make them move a particular direction, but because I only see out of the corners of my eyes, if they move, I only know if someone tells me that I did,” Lininger said. “It’s probably because I never developed the muscle control to do it.”

“You get better at using [your other senses].

Physically, my ears are the same as yours. I just pay more attention to it. You don’t because you don’t have to,” he said.

Lininger’s undergraduate education began in a high school dual-enrollment program at Pikes Peak Community College. He later attended Metro State and then transferred to UCCS to complete his computer science degree.

He graduated in 2013, and is now enrolled in the UCCS computer science graduate program.

Lininger uses e-books

nooh alrashid | The Scribe

Joseph Lininger has hypoplasia, nystagmus and esotropia, all of which hinder his vision but not his ability to learn and teach.

“Basicaly, it’s like this: I can either expend the energy [to get an education], or I can sit at home and collect a Social Security check. To me, that second choice is not an option. That’s unacceptable.”

— Joseph Lininger and audio textbooks provided through the Office of Disability Services. He can set his e-reader and absorb content at about 450 words per minute.

“I’ve been using the same [speech] system for seven years, so you can speed it up because you get used to it,” he said.

Lininger uses a talking computer, a talking watch

and the screen reader on his Android phone to adapt technology for his needs.

A white cane assists him in navigating campus, and he uses public transportation and rides from friends to get to and from campus.

Throughout his undergraduate studies, Lininger worked as a computer science tutor and a session leader for college

algebra and pre-calculus courses in the Math Center.

Students needing help read problems aloud to him, and he sometimes asks them to repeat details before assisting the student.

Lininger can understand students in the Math Center who need to have a concept explained another way because of accommodations his teachers made.

“If somebody mentions a derivative, [there’s] two things that I immediately think about,” he said. “I had a teacher who […] made a tactile graph so I could see how it was a rate of change.

She drew it out with string.

And I remember sitting up in her office and having her verbally give me the gateway exam.”

Professors drew large versions of graphs in a way that Lininger could see it.

Others described computer science concepts verbally, which allowed him to form a mental image.

“I can’t see any details, so it has to be big enough that I don’t have to see detail.”

Lininger strongly associates auditory memories with mathematical ideas.

“When I worked in the Math Center, there was always a couple of weeks when they did the derivative rules where you couldn’t go in there without hearing

somebody reciting one of the derivative rules,” he said.

In a society that is not designed for someone with visual impairments, Lininger still believes the struggle to adapt is worthwhile.

“Basically, it’s like this: I can either expend the energy [to get an education], or I can sit at home and collect a Social Security check.

To me, that second choice is not an option. That’s unacceptable,” he said.

“Because I think that I’m capable of more than that.

I think all blind people are capable of more than that if they have proper training and they get opportunities.”

“If I want to be treated as an equal in society, I have to act like one. I can’t go around complaining about it.”

Lininger has also held a variety of jobs in the field.

“I’ve been everything from a lab technician to a system administrator for an internet media company to math tutor,” he said. “Now, I’m basically a computer scientist for the Air Force.”

Most positions have provided accommodations like adaptive technology or rides when he traveled to Houston on company business. Lininger’s work focuses on systems analysis, rather than coding.

As a hobby, Lininger collects and shoots various collectable firearms.

Culture

Dec 1, 2014 | 7

‘PLAY’ exhibit showcases paintings, toys for adults Celeste Burnham

Americana and pop-culture references,” McConnell said in reference to the paintings that have hidden iconic logos or vivid messages.

“I hope that there’s a painting student at UCCS that walks through that show and loves painting as much as I do.

I hope they get engaged with the local art scene and rent their own studio and work [hard] to prove everybody wrong, that’s what I did,” Chase said.

“Exposing students to the work of other artists provides a contextual reference point for the instruction they are receiving at UCCS,” O’Meallie said.

cburnham@uccs.edu

UCCS alumni Jason Chase and former UCCS faculty member Sean O’Meallie showcase their playful creations in The Galleries of Contemporary Art most recent exhibit.

“PLAY” features paintings created by Chase and wooden multi-media sculptures by O’Meallie that complement each other’s themes and depictions.

The exhibit offers multiple dimensions and mediums of artwork that can be seen and interpreted in various ways.

This playfulness allows the mind to take a break and enjoy bursts of color through different depictions or one can search for a deeper meaning within the pieces.

“I think it’s a wonderful exhibit. It’s very playful like the title suggests. [“PLAY”] has a surface that pulls you in with bright colors or shiny surfaces but the artists have a lot to say on a deeper level,” Daisy McConnell, director of GOCA, said.

McConnell began the process of bringing Chase and O’Meallie together two years ago.

The Lowdown courtesy | gallerieS of conTemporarY arT

The ‘PLAY’ exhibit featuring former UCCS faculty member Sean O’Maellie and alumni Jason Chase is on display until Dec. 13.

During a speaking series for Louis Cicotello, former Art Department chair, Chase and O’Meallie discussed a collaboration.

“During Jason’s presentation I imagined how one of my sculptures might be rendered as one of Jason’s object studies.

He often paints toys and I used to invent toys for a living,” O’Meallie said.

O’Meallie has a background in toy design. Many of his sculptures and multi-media pieces have an element that invites adults into playfulness.

There is a table in the exhibit that has multiple representations of waves. Some pieces are on wheels that move in a wave-like pattern when pulled, another has a furry exterior and one has a hidden

tea kettle within it.

“Sean really gives adults the permission to play,” McConnell said.

Chase paints with colorful oils. “Carousel” is a piece that he created from a nostalgic memory of the carousel at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. He is also a fan of challenges such as trying paint glass.

“Jason pulls from a lot of

What: “PLAY” by Jason Chase and Sean O’Meallie When: Now through Dec. 13 (Closed Nov. 26 - 29) Noon to 5 p.m.

Where: GOCA 1420 Centennial 201 How much: Free

‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1’ dark, powerful yet lacks progress Samantha Morley smorley2@uccs.edu

Rating: 4/5 Mockingjays

Dark tones, death, violence and fire shape the latest installment of the “Hunger Games” movie series.

The film opens with a frantic Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) trying to collect herself and stabilize her mentality. This moment sets the tone for the rest of the film as Katniss struggles with the war and death that is resulting from the District rebellions.

District 13 has taken Katniss under their protection, shielding her from the chaos that ensued during her recovery from the third Quarter Quell.

Eventually, Katniss travels to District 12 to see the destruction for herself and is confronted with buildings in rubble and hundreds of scorched skeletons.

Determined to find justice, Katniss becomes a tool of the rebels under the condition that Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), Annie Cresta (Stef Dawson) and Johanna Mason (Jena Malone)

courtesy | laTimeSherocompleX

‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1’ debuted on Nov. 21.

are rescued at the earliest opportunity.

Katniss becomes the face of the rebellion, spurring a propaganda war between District 13 and the Capitol.

The overall presence of the movie is very dark and puts viewers in a heavy mood.

The few brief moments of hope scattered throughout are crowded by scenes of death, violence and tense moments where the lives of beloved characters are threatened.

While this typically can make a movie feel stale and uneventful, the political and social implications are strong enough to keep a viewer interested until the end.

Moments of tense peace, such as the lake scene where Katniss sings “The Hanging Tree” produce an atmosphere of serenity mixed with the impending tone of conflict breaching over the horizon.

Lawrence delivers an exquisite performance of desperation and determination.

The audience can see her progression of internal turmoil and her resolve to conquer the challenges of the time.

Hutcherson, though not seen as often, delivers a role that undergoes both physical

and emotional changes. His physique alters significantly, subtlety demonstrating the gruesome ways of the Capitol.

Their performances combined with Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth), Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and President Alma Coin (Julianne Moore) bring the movie to a new depth in the darkness of civil war conflict.

Viewers get their romantic bits as Katniss struggles with her affection for Gale and her desperate desire to save Peeta.

The distorted love triangle develops as the film shows scenes of equal importance that involve Katniss in battle with Gale as well as her eagerness to rescue Peeta.

Moore and Hoffman deliver very convincing and controversial performances, each eager to use Katniss as a means to end the reign of the Capitol. Moore’s part lacked in terms of her presence, but Hoffman was enough to deliver the question of morality in politics.

This film is the darkest of the series in how it delves into the trials of civil war. Death is becoming ever more prevalent, as not just people in the games are dying anymore.

eDItorIAl

Dec 1, 2014 | 8

Don’t be a Grinch, spend wisely this holiday season Jonathan Toman Editor-in-Chief

Samantha Morley Managing Editor

Taylor Hargis Copy Editor

Eleanor Skelton News Editor

Audrey Jensen Culture Editor

Alexander Nedd Opinion Editor

courtesy | eXperTbeacon.com

Scribe Staff scribe@uccs.edu

One challenge that concerns all college students is the art of spending our money wisely.

But just when we think we have got it down to a science, the holiday season hits, and we lose all inhibitions.

This time of year multiplies the number of temptations in our surroundings, with added sights, smells and sounds encouraging us to buy. Not only that, but the added pressure of finding the “perfect” gift forces us to lose all sense of monetary value.

While finding the perfect gift can have a wonderful impact on both our loved ones and ourselves, please remember that you are a college student.

Broadly speaking, there are several strategies that students can employ to ensure they spend wisely, both in

general and during the holiday season.

First, spend in cash whenever possible. There is something about cash, the tangibility that it has, that makes us more aware of just exactly how much we are spending.

Sliding a small plastic card through a register has little or no immediate impact – we only care when the bill comes in the mail, and at that point there’s no turning back.

The simple act of using cash can have a large impact on your brain, and it’s amazing how much less you will spend when it is cash from your pocket.

Second, look for do-it-yourself, homemade gifts. Not only do they help your budget, but they can often have a greater impact on the person you give the gift to.

A store bought item, while perhaps more expensive, lacks the personal and loving touch that a handmade gift can possess, something that is not lost on

your loved ones.

Finally, acknowledge the fact that you are in fact a college student.

As such, you are often not going to be able to purchase many wants, because you are so often focused on needs. Plan ahead, save some money throughout the year if you know you want to spend money in extravagance during the holidays.

Come to terms with the fact that you may not be able to provide the most expensive gift, and then those around you will also understand that.

Still, the best gift during the holidays, time and again, is something that doesn’t require spending. Be with those around you, your friends and loved ones, and that is usually all that they and you require during this time of year.

Remember that often the best gifts are the ones that require little or no money at all.

Corrections and Clarifications In the Nov. 17 issue, the person in the photo for “E-cigarettes offer alternative for students, new campus smoking policy coming Jan. 1” was incorrectly identified as a student.

Alexander Nedd

Life on the Bluffs Editor

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Megan Lunsford Photo Editor

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opINIoN

Dec 1, 2014 | 9

The unknown side effects of eating on campus

DeKeveion Glaspie dglaspie@uccs.edu

As a student with nut

allergies, I have to be constantly aware about the different foods that I eat.

If I were to touch or consume nuts I could break out and my life could be threatened. Therefore, I have to be cautious of what I eat.

I am not the only student on campus that has to be careful when it comes to allergies. Some people have shellfish, gluten and dairy allergies.

But eating on campus can be difficult, especially

when foods are not labeled correctly or even labeled at all.

At the beginning of the fall semester I noticed that there were menu changes throughout the campus.

Food options were changed and new foods, such as cake, were added.

The Café @ Columbine and Café 65 now offer both German chocolate and carrot cake. Neither of the choices are labeled.

They are placed in a simple and clear container

without ingredient labels.

This mistake of nonlabeled containers is a food hazard to everyone at the university.

Students who live on campus are required to have a meal plan and the majority of those students eat at The Lodge.

One of the changes in the Lodge is their new labeling system. They identify the meals, but not the specific ingredients.

If a student has suspicion of a food containing an

allergen, they must ask one of the employees. This process usually results in an endless game of asking someone higher up.

The Lodge allows students to email the residential dining manager, Rebecca Bogardus, and inform her of their allergies. The Lodge will then keep their food in a specific fridge just for them. But this does not resolve the issue.

On a national level, mislabeled foods have

caused bigger incidents. In October 2013, 12-year-old Connor Donaldson died from a peanut allergy in an Indian curry dish. The restaurant had assured Donaldson’s mother that the dish was nut free.

Deadly incidents such as this one are occurring nationwide due to mislabeled foods.

Without improvement UCCS food services is not only endangering themselves, but also the students.

How smoking pot helped me learn to make my own decisions

Alexander Nedd anedd@uccs.edu

My parents are going to kill me.

That was my first thought upon finally accepting the offer I had turned away so many times before in my high school career.

There it lay in front of me. A water pipe

smoldered with the thick cloud of white smoke just beginning to fill the room as my friend finished taking a hit. There sat two of my best friends, one with a lighter in hand, the other with a gleeful look in his eye.

“Dude, you’re not going to die,” he said.

“I’ll even start it up for you; all you have to do is inhale once I hand it to you.”

Before I could talk myself out of it, as I had done so many times before, I grabbed the pipe and took a hit. Upon the smoke’s grand entrance, the immediate resistance from my lungs turned my inhale into a coughing fit, confirming I was still alive even though deep down I was dying.

What had I just done?

This was my senior year of high school, early 2011. I was 17 at the time and coming back from a party with my friends.

It was the first time I got high.

Back then, I considered myself a good kid. I got great grades in school, actively participated in theater and sports, was drum major of my high school band and held down a job. The offering of drugs was a presence in my high school, but one I felt I didn’t need to partake in.

Weed was still illegal in the state of Colorado, a measure I firmly believed in and had no intent on challenging. A scripted mindset, it was no match for the unpredictable

reality that would soon take place over spring break.

What made me change my mind?

I wish I could say it wasn’t my fault, that my friends pressured me or held me at gunpoint, but the truth is I was tired. Tired of being the responsible one, not part of the crowd. I wanted to have fun. I wanted to do something that showed I didn’t have to be a good kid all the time.

I said yes because I wanted to try something outside of my comfort zone.

In that moment that I was high, it felt good.

My mind was at ease.

Everything my friends and I did was hysterical.

It was one of the best

nights of my senior year, and remains one of my biggest regrets.

It wasn’t the fact that I was high that makes me feel sorrow, it’s how I wasn’t able to control my urge and simply say no. I let the thoughts of others influence my ultimate decision, something I swore to myself I would never do.

The guilt I felt and still feel today remains at the pit of my stomach.

Smoking pot is not for everyone, and although enjoyable for a few moments, it can have lasting implications on your general health and impairment.

I have nothing against those who use the drug recreationally. Its legal status here in Colorado

has no doubt helped its popularity and I am still offered every now and then a chance to toke.

But it’s not for me.

Smoking pot allowed me to realize that it’s OK to say no. It’s OK to be the one that says “Hey man, not tonight,” or “it’s just not my thing, you know.” These are the decisions that can make you stronger and not have to rely on the thoughts of others, true independence.

That night remains unforgettable, and although I regret my actions then, I’m glad the experience has allowed me to make better decisions for the future.

I say no a lot more often now. And haven’t regretted it ever since.

Two party system no longer beneficial for the country

Kyle Guthrie kguthri2@uccs.edu

This midterm election, the Republican Party became the majority in the Senate, making them the dominant party for both the House and Senate.

The victory was unexpected, and many say it reflects America’s frustration at the current administration’s handling

of the Iraq withdrawal, the rollout of the Affordable Healthcare Act and the recent outbreaks of Ebola in the country. But is anything really going to change?

Spoilers! Probably not.

New legislation will probably pass, new bills will probably be vetoed, but in the end, it will all boil down to conservatives blaming Obama for the nation’s problems and liberals blaming Bush. All the while, this puts the American people in the middle to suffer the most.

The problem isn’t one political party or the other, it’s both.

The fact that America relies on the two party system is disturbing, especially considering how the parties have

become little more than squabbling children who very rarely have the interests of their constituency at heart.

When the two predominant parties of a political system have such polarizing views, it’s important to remember that the majority of Americans fall in the middle with most political issues.

Take me for example.

I value smaller federal government, the right to bear arms, smaller government spending and the sanctity of all rights outlined in the Constitution. I’m a Republican candidate for sure, right?

On the other hand, I also value the importance of stem cell research, gay rights and the preservation

of net neutrality. So who the hell should I vote for when I have views and priorities as diverse as these?

Apparently I’m not alone in this thought process. A 2013 Gallup poll showed that 60 percent of Americans believed that a third major party is needed, and only 26 percent believed that the parties in place now were doing an adequate job.

It looks like this is going to be a pipe dream at best. Recent legislation passed by both sides has made it harder for third parties to make any headway as real political contenders. Many states have even increased the support needed to even allow them to be added to their ballots.

“The fact that America relies on the two party system is disturbing, especially considering how the parties have become little more than squabbling children who very rarely have the interests of their constituency at heart.”

This means that smaller parties such as the Tea Party, Libertarians and Independents are finding themselves struggling more and more in an uphill battle for recognition and legitimacy.

I don’t want a country like India, where hundreds of political parties are so spread out that they can’t represent the very people that need the change. But America was founded as a democratic republic, in the words of Abraham Lincoln, “a government of the people, by the people, for the people”.

I know that a party that represents the wishes of every single American is as realistic as unicorns or elves.

But the fact that our politics are so divided while the majority of the people remain more in the middle suggests that fewer and fewer voices of the people are being heard in our nation’s capital, which is the true dream of a democratic republic.

This dream cannot be realized until we have parties that can accurately represent the wishes and desires of the American people.

lIFe on the BluFFs Sudoku

Top Ten Strange scholarships to apply for

1

Jonathan Toman, jtoman@uccs.edu

10

Missed shuttle rides

9

Blindfolded UCCS parking spot finder

8

Upside-down sandwich eating

7

Tree climbing

6

Most hashtags in a post

5

Construction cone avoidance

4

Kidnapping Clyde

3

Least amount of college debt

2

Underwater basket weaving

1

Left handed pole vaulting over a moat filled with angry underwater aardvarks

Dec 1, 2014 | 10

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

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Campus Chatter DeKeveion Glaspie, dglaspie@uccs.edu

What are some rituals you do to prepare for finals?

Taylor Gross, freshman, psychology “Making notecards.”

Sarah Hicks, sophomore, nursing “I drown myself in coffee.”

Capture

Matt Martinez, junior, English “I sleep earlier than usual and have at least two cups of coffee in the morning.”

This week

at UCCS

Clyde Mon

1

Thurs

4

Lindy Lions Dance Lesson and Social Dance Party 7 p.m.

Berger Hall

Free HIV Testing 10 a.m.

UC 124

“Living with HIV” Speaker Panel 6 p.m.

UC 122

Tues

2

Sat

6

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

Decoding Discourse: Unraveling Writing, Thinking and Citation Styles for Various Fields 5:00 - 6:15 p.m.

Columbine 316 Electro-Acoustic Ensemble & Dance Fall Concert 7:30 p.m.

Upper Lodge

Sports

Dec 1, 2014­­ ­­ | 11

Youthful volleyball squad falls in RMAC tournament Jonathan Toman jtoman@uccs.edu

Junior Kim Catlett had no idea what to expect coming into this season.

Catlett, head coach Chrissy Elder and the rest of the Mountain Lions can form more solid expectations now.

With a roster that consisted of only four returners and 10 freshmen, the Mountain Lions had a new look coming in to the season. That new look translated to a 12-16 overall record, but also a berth in the first round of the RMAC tournament, where they fell to top seed Colorado Mesa.

“There were a few games the returners thought we should’ve won, maybe expected to win, but we still exceeded expectations,” said Catlett.

Elder knows the team met the preseason goal of making the RMAC tournament, but that doesn’t mean the young team and the second-season head coach weren’t presented with challenges.

“I underestimated how hard it was to get everyone together,” Elder said of the team. “The freshman we recruited are the right kids, I just underestimated the fact that they were all freshmen.”

That youth transitioned from a team chemistry problem to a team chemistry strength, according to Elder.

“The returners made it not a choice for the freshman to work hard,” she said. “The leadership that returned was a lot bigger than what it seemed, it didn’t seem like they were outnumbered.”

Catlett explained that the four returners put in the work over the summer, getting the freshmen ready through paperwork, reminders on

reilly flood | The Scribe

courtesy | sports information

Sophomore Cassidy Bush, left, and the rest of the Mountain Lions fell in the first round of the RMAC tournament.

workout plans and mentioning tidbits about how Elder runs practices. In addition, each returner was paired with at least two “little sisters” to keep an eye on throughout the season.

“We had to hound them on doing that stuff,” Catlett said. “They probably got annoyed but that’s OK.” Sophomore Cassidy Bush explained that the returners had to show the freshman the ropes, but that the youth can transition to a solid core of players moving forward.

“We can really start to build a legacy, focus on building the program and how we do things around here,” she said.

The team struggled through a seven game losing streak that spanned from Oct. 7-28. That stretch included Regis twice, Colorado Christian once and nationally-ranked Colorado Mines and Metro State twice. According to Elder,

the experience of those teams showed in those games.

“We knew we were playing well, everyone was still upbeat,” said Elder.

“It’s hard to portray, yes we’re losing, but it’s to the top teams in the country.”

The team finished 9-4 at home, but only 3-9 away from the Gallogly Events Center. Road games, according to Elder, will be a continuing point of emphasis and adjustment moving forward.

“Part of youth is not being completely comfortable with traveling, we suffered through it and learned our lesson,” Elder said. “Playing at home is comfortable.”

Elder highlighted the home game against Colorado Christian on Oct. 31, a 3-0 Mountain Lion win, as a starting point for next season.

“The way we beat them shows we know how to win,” she said. “Before

that, we would get to the end of a match and kind of say, ‘we played well, so now what?’”

Both Elder and Catlett see the expectations for next season rising, depending on how the spring goes.

“I’m excited to see the skill development and see the improvement,” said Catlett. “Even one year experience playing with each other definitely helps.”

“That’s one of the pros of a young team,” said Elder. “They say ‘this is what we did, why would we do anything else?’”

Bush thinks the rest of the RMAC should take note of the team moving forward.

“We were able to hang with the top teams and they had a lot of upperclassmen,” Bush said. “I think teams should be scared.”

Down but not out, student perseveres through ACL injuries Alexander Nedd anedd@uccs.edu

Barely breaking a sweat as she pedals on the elliptical in the training room, junior women’s basketball player Taylor Garcia is hard at work awaiting the arrival of January.

The workout is more difficult than usual after having torn her ACL, an injury that sidelined her last season. In the midst of a six month recovery, she refuses to allow the injury to get the best of her.

Garcia tore the same ACL as a freshman.

“It was my biggest fear,” she said.

“The second time has been harder because I know the process and I know how long I have to wait; it was definitely more humbling than the first.”

Her love for basketball began at a young age when she followed her brother and sister into the game.

“I just wanted to be like my older siblings,” she said.

But a book can often be found in her hands when she isn’t playing or training, currently “Game of Thrones.” Garcia also enjoys cooking with her dad and making festive meals that include dishes from Mexico.

“Working out is also a hobby but because of my injury I can’t,” she said.

reilly flood | The Scribe

Junior Taylor Garcia exercises on an elliptical in the Gallogly Event Center.

“I’ve had a lot of pent-up energy.”

Despite her injury, Garcia has been helping at practices and motivating her teammates as they condition for the season.

“I’m really excited for the team this year. We have a lot of seniors, a lot of good leaders,” she said. “When it gets so competitive in practice … and you have the realization that these are your teammates, that’s really cool to see.”

Garcia is working toward a communication major with a minor in Spanish.

“With my minor I’d like to do something with sports, whether it’s internationally or [local], representing a club team [such as] Barcelona or even here working with Team USA, whatever team that may be,” she said.

One lasting effect on the road to recovery for Garcia is not prescribed by her doctor, but given by her teammates.

“Something that is really great about my teammates is that we all understand each other and for me it’s much easier for me to deal with whatever I’m dealing with by focusing on them, it’s been great,” said Garcia.

“We have that tug and pull of frustration and love but they are my second family and we have each other’s back on whatever it may be,” she added.

Garcia plans to return to the court in January.

Sports

Dec 1, 2014­­­ | 12

Men’s basketball unbeaten to start season, breaks largest margin of victory record against Northern New Mexico Brandon Applehans bappleha@uccs.edu

The men’s basketball team is off to the first 4-0 start in program history.

After two wins to begin the season against Arkansas-Fort Smith and Rogers State in Denver, the Mountain Lions began their home campaign with two wins against Northern New Mexico and Colorado College.

The Mountain Lions took on Arkansas-Fort Smith to start their season on Nov. 14, a 91-89 overtime win for UCCS. Junior Alex Welsh began the season with a double-double, recording a team high 11 rebounds to go along with 17 points. He also hit the threepointer that forced overtime.

Junior Derrick White had 31 points in the win.

Head coach Jeff Culver expected White and Welsh to step up in the final moments.

“Those are our offensive horses,” he said. “They can’t do it all themselves though and they know that. We have a lot of other guys that need to find their roles and fill their roles. We are in the process of that but those two are at the core of what we are trying to do offensively.”

The team faced Rogers State the next day and the Mountain Lions jumped out to an early 15-5 lead. But Rogers State battled back to within two points with 10 minutes left in

reilly flood | The Scribe

Junior Derrick White, left, and sophomore Tim Haas, right, score slam dunks during the game against Northern New Mexico.

regulation. Welsh then sparked a 13-2 run, and UCCS won 75-60.

“It was a tough team and they played Metro really tough last night,” said Culver. “We had to handle their defensive pressure.”

Welsh finished with 27 points.

“He has such a dynamic game when he attacks the basket and it opens up his perimeter game,” Culver said of Welsh.

White and Welsh saw the game as an opportunity to start quicker and be more aggressive.

“We started off slow

yesterday [against Arkansas-Fort Smith] so we just tried to come out early and start quick,” said White. “We moved the ball well early and got good looks.”

“This team was undersized and coach wanted me to keep being aggressive and running the floor,” said Welsh. “I was just trying to tire their big guys out, just trying to run the floor and get easy buckets.”

Northern New Mexico visited UCCS on Nov. 21, and the Mountain Lions won 98-52, breaking the largest margin of

victory in team history. The depth of the UCCS bench showed in this game, according to White.

“In the first half, when the starters went out we were up 11,” said White after a 22 point night. “When we came back in, we were up 30. They played great. We think our bench play is one of the better benches in the RMAC.” Welsh went a perfect seven for seven from the field, totaling 14 points on the night.

“I had a feeling. I couldn’t

think of any times I missed. I was just getting easy buckets,” he said.

The Mountain Lions then faced cross-town opponent Colorado College on Nov. 22.

UCCS won 76-55.

After taking on Johnson and Wales on Dec. 1, the Mountain Lions will finish a five game home stand with contests against Fort Lewis on Dec. 5, Adams State on Dec. 6, Metro State on Dec. 12 and Regis on Dec. 13.

All the games start at 7:30 p.m. in the Gallogly Events Center.

Kirchoff and Hernandez pave the way for Mountain Lions for 3-1 start Brandon Applehans bappleha@uccs.edu

The women’s basketball team began the season 3-1 with wins against Lubbock Christian, Eastern New Mexico and Point Loma, with a loss to California Baptist sandwiched in between.

The Mountain Lions began the season against Lubbock Christian in Golden, Colo.

Senior Abby Kirchoff scored 26 points, going 13 for 13 from the free-throw line.

“It was awesome to start out a season with 26 points,” said Kirchoff. “I mean half of them were free-throws so they are free points. As a team we played really well.”

The Mountain Lions trailed by seven points at halftime but came back to win 93-90.

“Being down at the half, we were thinking it was going to be the same stuff like last year,” said Kirchoff. “[Head coach Shawn Nelson] came

courtesy | sports information

Sophomore Brittany Hernandez drives to the hoop against Lubbock Christian on Nov. 14.

out with a big defensive change and we stopped their scorers until the last two minutes of the game.”

With the early deficit, Nelson made some slight changes.

“I thought they got off to a great start. I didn’t think we

did a good job of getting our hands up on the shooters,” he said.

“We changed what we were doing at halftime and our players went out and just kept trying to get better. Our goal was to actually have the game tied up or have the lead at the

16 minute mark, and we did.”

Sophomore guard Brittany Hernandez took control of the second game for the Mountain Lions against Eastern New Mexico.

Hernandez, a transfer from Colorado Christian, chalked up a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds. She explained that the new head coach has something to do with the 2-0 start to the season.

“I think [coach] emulates what we want to be,” she said.

“He is going to accomplish what we’ve always wanted to accomplish as a team.”

The team then traveled to California to take on nationally ranked California Baptist, their first out-of-state opponent.

UCCS fell 85-69, despite 25 points from Hernandez.

UCCS then faced Point Loma, where despite minimal scouting, the Mountain Lions won 66-58.

“We haven’t done a lot of scout work,” said Hernandez.

“We are just basing everything off of principles so if we take care of what we need to take care of, it doesn’t matter who we play against.”

Hernandez grabbed 21 rebounds in the game, breaking the university record set in 1995. Kirchoff led the team with 18 points.

“We started out slow against [California Baptist] and beat ourselves in that game and knew we had to come out of the weekend being 3-1,” said Kirchoff. “We were determined to get the win against Point Loma and we all played with heart and that’s what won us the game.”

After the UCCS Thanksgiving tournament Nov. 28-29, the team will have a four game home stand.

Fort Lewis will come to the Gallogly Events Center on Dec. 5, Adams State on Dec. 6, Metro State on Dec. 12 and Regis on Dec. 13. All the games start at 5:30 p.m.