the scribe NEWS
Intoxicated student passes out in the Pub
page 3
Reclining refuge: Recycling campus furniture on N. Nevada?
page 3
CULTURE
Spring break sojourns and hang outs for students
page 4
Alice in Wonderland: Curiouser and Mediocre-rer
page 4 A non-alcohollic St. Patrick’s Day: Is it possible?
page 5 Using internships to land a job
page 5 STUDENT LIFE Chipotle in brief
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3OH!3 update in brief
page 8
PARADOX Book sale throwdown in Columbine
page 9 Top 10: Things you won’t remember after Spring Break
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Sassy smells saves students from sewage suffocation
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Tim Canon
tcanon@uccs.edu
The opening of student fee funded Gallogly Events Center has brought with it the attendant costs of maintaining a large building. With those costs, however, are potential revenue sources that could benefit the university and, in the long term, help alleviate budget problems. Opened in mid-January primarily as an athletic facility, the Events Center’s construction imposes significant costs on the university. Vice Chancellor Susan Szpyrka said that the building, which is managed by University Center Director Jeff Davis, costs over $100,000 annually in utility bills, and that cleaning and maintenance will impose further costs depending on how often they are used. Still, the building broadens the university’s conferencing abilities. The university has for some time been leasing its facilities, including the old gym, The Lodge
and some student housing buildings, to outside organizations willing to pay for conferences. The revenue generated from such activity averages around $250,000 annually, and Szpyrka said that the Events Center allows the university to increase such revenue opportunities, with the ultimate goal being to increase this number to $1 million by fiscal year 2013. Revenues from conferencing fund a variety of projects. First and foremost, said Szpyrka, was covering the costs of using the buildings, including utilities, maintenance and security. In addition to regular maintenance staff, Director of Residence Life and Housing Ralph Giese said that conferencing has allowed the university to fund 25 student “Conference Assistant” jobs over the summer conferencing season, which lasts from May 15 to Aug. 15. These jobs would not otherwise exist, he said. Any revenues above the costs of conferencing will go Continued on page 3
City Dionysia The art and tragedy of estacy Theaterworks and VAPA’s month-long event “City Dionysia,” which drew inspiration from the ecstasy and gloom of this Greek tragedy, began March 3 and will continue through April 16. Continued on page 6
Danielle Doyle, Anna Hunter, Benjamin Bonenfant and Caitlin Cazares performing in The Bacchae by Euripides. Photo courtesy of Tim Kimmell
Golf Team sets sights on championship
| The Lucid Line | Supreme Court Gitmo decision reveals Obama’s cowardice
page 10
SPORTS Spotlight on RMAC Champ Steven Gomez
page 11
Women’s softball notches first RMAC win
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March 16 to April 5, 2010 [Volume 34; Issue 22]
Events Center brings in costs, potential revenue
OPINION | This Week’s Challenge | The argument that shouldn’t be
The official student newspaper of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.
The golf team is ready for their upcoming season planning to bring home the RMAC championship title. Photo courtesy of UCCS Sports Information Continued on page 7
The Events Center Building Progression
The groundbreaking on the Events Center. The wooden tunnel pathway connected campus. Photo Courtesy of UCCS Photo Gallery Photo Courtesy of UCCS Photo Gallery
The fence separated campus life from harm. An overhead view of the early construction. Photo by Ariel Lattimore Photo Courtesy of Jeff Foster
The gate allowed construction to continue. The Events Center at the tailend of completion. Photo by Ariel Lattimore Photo by Ariel Lattimore
Springs seeks donations to power streetlights Kay Wynarsky kwynarsk@uccs.edu
Colorado Springs is hoping to begin a new program that will have city residents donate money to keep neighborhood and arterial streetlights running. The “Adopt a Streetlight” program comes only weeks after the city shut off approximately 10,000 streetlights, about a third of the city’s lights, in order to help shore up its balanced budget. The city is currently setting up a system that will enable people to go online and donate to streetlights of their choice. There will be a prorated cost of $75 to keep residential neighborhood streetlights running and $200 to keep arterial/ highway lights running. City officials will meet with the Housing and Building As-
sociation and Council of Neighbors and Organizations of Colorado Springs on Mar. 10 to see if the two organizations approve of or have input for the program. Approval isn’t required to start the program, but intended to help progress the initiative. With the city noticeably darker, Colorado Springs residents are divided on whether reversing the recent lack of lighting is worth the cost. Christie Flood, a Springs resident who lives on a street where many UCCS students park their cars and walk to campus, is considering donating. Flood feels that her taxes should cover the cost of keeping the streetlights running, but she is apprehensive about the safety of students and her neighborhood. “I want my streetlight back on,” Flood said. “The only light you can see is the one on the corner; you couldn’t
see an animal run across the street. It’s pitch black.” The attempted assault involving a female student on campus last January is fresh on Flood’s mind as well, and has her concerned for students walking to and from their cars. “What worries me are these kids. People come up the street, and they might not be seen.” “It takes just one girl to get raped,” added Flood. “A well lit area is a safe area; if it’s lit and someone sees something happening, then they can report it.” Some are embracing the darkness though. The Dark Sky Society, an organization “interested in preserving the natural star-filled night sky and fighting the intrusion of light pollution,” hopes that the lack of lighting will continue. In addition to streetlights Continued on page 3
CONTACT | phone: (719) 255 - 3658 | fax: (719) 255 - 3600 | email: scribe@uccs.edu | website: www.uccsscribe.com
2
editorial
March 16 to April 5, 2010
scribe staff
Be proactive about your safety
Jackie Parkinson Editor-in-Chief
Let me preface this editorial by saying that I do not condone or abhor guns. This is not an editorial that will teach readers how to safely use a gun, how to get a concealed carry permit or what to do with a gun in certain situations. However, we need to come to a common ground that guns are apart of our everyday lives whether we choose to ignore it or not. Last July, Rampart Range experienced a fatal accident that could have been prevented. The shooting range was unsupervised and used by 40,000 people a year, according to The Gazette. District Ranger Brent Botts of the U.S. Forest Service cited in The Gazette, that a permit system and supervision of the range were too costly. While budget cuts seem to be the topic of the town to blame, we need to look at what really happened that day at Rampart Range. The Gazette said that there was a defect in the pistol that caused the gun to discharge when the slide was dropped, which then shot Otis Freison Jr.. This could have been prevented. Had Timothy Curtis, the shooter, gone to a safety class before he went to the range that day or followed
what he was told in his safety class, Freison would be alive. Curtis failed to keep his gun in a safe direction. That is one of two rules that everyone, and especially those with concealed carry permits should know. The other is to always keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot. After all, go downtown to a bar with a couple of friends and you’re walking to your car, then someone pulls a gun on you and you somehow manage to have to handle the gun, what are you going to do? Are you going to stand there as your attacker leaps for his weapon or are you going to grab it, defend yourself, then make it safe when all is said and done? If we choose the latter, we must be proactive about the situation that we could potentially be in. Most people reading this are thinking I wouldn’t grab the gun because I would be calling the cops. But as Larry Johnson, a former SWAT officer and owner of On Target Firearms Training said, “When seconds matter, the police are only minutes away.” As part of Johnson’s training course he has students shoot 6 rounds, reload and shoot 6 more rounds in under 20 seconds, all while hitting a target ten feet away. 20 seconds is all it takes for a person to shoot 12 shots, and most National Rifle Association certified gun users can do that in half the time and not miss once. Even though ten feet seems like a small distance to shoot at, a majority of attacks occur between seven to twelve feet, said Johnson. The attacker on the street was probably only a few feet away. How big is your living
room? If an attacker breaks in they’re only ten feet away from you if you are on the other side. Also, in a break and enter situation you wouldn’t be thinking about having the most accurate shot. You’d be thinking I sure as hell hope I stop this person before they cause me bodily harm. But, be sure to look up the Make My Day law for a more detailed version before you even think about attacking an intruder though, or sign up for a safety class that can teach you the basics. The Make My Day law does not only apply to guns, it applies to knifes or any weapon as well. Therefore, it is important that before you even think about carrying any type of weapon to protect yourself that you know how to be safe and protect yourself from legalities. Whether you choose to accept or ignore weaponry of any kind in your life, one thing remains. There are people out there who will choose to carry weaponry and they will not just stop attacking you because you tell them that you disagree with gun usage. Therefore, I encourage all of you to be proactive in your lives and learn to protect yourselves so that if you are ever in a situation where weaponry is involved, or if you choose to carry weaponry, you can operate it safely and to the best of your ability. If you want to find a course that gives you more than a classroom safety lesson, puts you in the field and is filled with memorable reallife first-encounter stories, take Johnson’s course at On Target Firearms Training by going to ontargetfirearmstraining.com. ◆
LETTER TO THE EDITOR The fact that 700 students showed up to protest funding cuts might give great insight as to why universities across the board are raising tuition. From the university standpoint, it makes clear sense as to why prices have been increasing - the demand far exceeds the capacity power. But why? 20 years ago going to college was more valuable because having a degree set you apart from a large crowd who did not go to college, but now a much higher percentage of high school graduates attend college. There are many factors as to why, but a large one is guaranteed aid both by the state and federal government. This artificially raises the demand, so more people will be enticed to attend than in normal circumstances. If you want “free” education across the board (K-college), we can talk about that issue, but if not, then college is a separate entity. If a university knows that they can fill capacity by having a student pay “x” dollars, and the state will provide guaranteed funding per student, then why wouldn’t the university raise the price to still get that “x” dollar amount that the student will still pay? In other words, subsidies always artificially raise demand rather than letting a free market decide what is valuable and at what price. Since we learn from the past and history tends to repeat itself, providing more dollars for education will continue to inflate prices and consequently make a degree less valuable.
Ryan Jones
striving to present the truth to the students by creating an open forum for opinions and ideas
Editor-in-Chief Jackie Parkinson
Managing Editor Tim Canon
Copy Editor Randy Robinson
Culture Editor Avalon Manly
Opinion Editor Byron Graham
Campus News Editor Catherine Jensen
Sports Editor Matthew Crandall
Layout Editor Now Hiring
Advertising Manager Sarah Tindell
Business Manager Robert Rodriguez
Columnists Tim Canon, Steve Farrell, Byron Graham, Veronica Graves, Brock Kilgore
Reporters Rhiannon Conley, Jessica Lynch, Lauren Mueller, Rob Versaw, Averi Walker, Kay Wynarsky
Photographers Kevin Kassem, Ariel Lattimore, Carrie Woodruff
Layout Designers
Alec Bishop, Shreya Raj
Cartoonist Arno
Web Designer Dorian Rogers
Marketing Intern Amanda Luchini
Interning Reporters Brandi Ballard, Carly Webb
Interning Photographer James O’Shea IV, Chelsea Bartlett
Distributor Donald Trujillo
Advisor Laura Eurich
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campus news
March 16 to April 5, 2010
3
Intoxicated student passes out Events Center brings in costs, potential revenue (cont.) in the Pub Continued from front page
Catherine Jensen cjensen2@uccs.edu
At exactly 4:11 p.m. on Monday, Mar. 8th, Campus Police dispatch received a call that sent them running to The Pub. They arrived to find a student lying on the floor beneath a pool table, unresponsive. Student Ian Knoop, who had entered The Pub around 1 p.m. that day, told The Scribe that the student who Knoop referred to as “Drunk Ben” was already present and had passed out in a chair by the time Knoop arrived that day. When
Knoop and others present tried to speak to the inebriated student, Knoop says he didn’t respond. “We got him some water and moved a trash can near him and figured we would let him sleep. He was out for about three hours after that,” Knoop said. “Take care of drunk people,” he added, “Drunk people are people too, just drunk and in need of some help.” Chief of Police Jim Spice said that the same student had been caught smoking in the library the night before, and Spice believes that he either arrived at school already intoxicated or brought his own bottle with him and proceeded to drink in The
Pub. It is unknown if he was served alcohol by the Pub. Justina Perez, who was working The Pub’s counter when Public Safety arrived, told The Scribe the student was already passed out when she arrived for her shift. It was not until an hour later that Public Safety arrived. Though the campus police proceeded to call 911, it is unclear and remains unknown who contacted them in the first place. Spice, thankful nothing fatal occurred, nonetheless condemned the behavior exhibited, saying, “If you see something that doesn’t look right or out of place, call Public Safety immediately and let us figure it out.” ◆
back into the general fund to help shore up the campus’ overall budget. In addition to conferencing rental revenues, conferencing often generates housing revenue from rental prices charged for provision of hospitality in the student housing village. “Conferencing generates around $170,000 to $180,000 in revenues that go straight back into the housing department’s budget and fund capital-improvement projects,” said Giese. Projects funded by conference revenues, which have in the past included installation of artificial turf, are relatively expensive, so it usually takes more than one years’ worth
of revenue to pay for a new project. Giese said that revenues generated from conferencing also have other spillover effects. The funds “allow housing to keep prices lower,” as well as be relatively lax with student water usage. “We don’t currently monitor student water usage,” said Giese. “Conferencing revenues can allow us to keep it that way.” Szpyrka estimated that conferencing revenues this year will be enough to at least cover expenses. Off campus bookings of the Events Center thus far include the El Paso County Republican Party Assembly and Pine Creek High School’s Prom,
Aerial’s Gymnastics, Liberty High School’s Prom, Branson School’s Commencement, and a Colorado Springs Utilities Party. Szpyrka also said that the center will allow some events, such as Beth-El’s annual convocation and Science Olympiad, previously held off campus or in spots on campus too restrictive for the events’ needs to be hosted on campus in adequate space for the first time. “The Events Center’s purpose is to provide UCCS with a space large enough to accommodate significant academic, social and other events, to accommodate those folks interested in attending,” said Szpyrka. ◆
Reclining refuge: Recycling campus furniture on N. Nevada? Carly Webb & Tim Canon scribe@uccs.edu
With the slew of construction projects in recent years, old furniture and equipment is being replaced and sent to a nearby storage building as part of Facilities Services’ furniture recycling plan. The old furniture, which is taken from buildings that are being renovated and remodeled, such as Dwire Hall a few years ago and the Science building currently, is stored in the old TRW building on Nevada just south of Austin Bluffs. “From what I understand, over the years as we have a new building come on board, old furniture would
be removed or is stored down there and held,” said Physical Plant Director Rob Dougherty. “There’s various stuff from the bookstore such as products no longer needed and display cabinets no longer needed, and then you have various cables that come from remodeled labs.” “Over the years, there’s a variety of collection of things, from furniture to lab equipment, that just gets stored down there,” said Dougherty. The building, which UCCS used to rent, was “bought by the CU-Foundation on behalf of the university,” said Executive Director of Facilities Services Gary Reynolds. The building serves as a “transition space,” according to Reynolds, where furniture and supplies sit.
Reynolds could not say how much furniture is stored at the building because, as Physical Plant Director Rob Dougherty told The Scribe, there is no inventory system due to lack of manpower. Dougherty said that having an inventory system, if facilities had the manpower to do so, could make the furniture recycling program more efficient. “The products come in from a variety of different departments, and they’ve just been stored down there,” said Dougherty. “So yes, in terms of efficiency, if we had the manpower, counting these things, listing them all, and going through a more formal process would make things more efficient.” Both Dougherty and Reynolds said that the build-
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ing houses a large variety of objects. “You name it, we have it down there,” said Reynolds. The old furniture that UCCS no longer needs or wants is sold or donated to other companies who refinish it. The fate of the furniture that lands in the facility varies. Metal pieces get melted back down and recycled. The metal that gets recycled is typically steel, and comes from construction work being done on campus. The recycling company provides dumpsters for everything from beams to handrails. The contents are then weighed and the university receives payment, usually for cents on the dollar,” said Dougherty. Sofas, chairs, and other
unwanted pieces of furniture that aren’t thrown away are picked up by a third party like Colorado Correctional Industries (CCI) for refurbishing. CCI, a state agency, legally has the right to “first crack” at the piles of furniture stored at the building, said Reynolds. For example, the facility was recently used to house forty old toilets, which UCCS had replaced with eco-friendly, low-flow toilets and urinals. The old toilets were taken by CCI and put to use elsewhere. Facilities plans to sell the remaining furniture at auction, said Reynolds, the first of which will be held in midJune. Part of the building is also used by UCCS Theatreworks to store props as well as to build the sets for
up and coming productions. The school previously had rented space from different facilities to store furniture before acquiring ownership of the building. A portion of the approximately 130 thousand square foot facility is also being rented out to generate some profit for the university. The building has the potential to be used for other purposes as well. “Strategically, it’s a valid acquisition” for the CU-Foundation, said Reynolds. Its massive landscape could allow for a research area later on, it could be leased out, or it could be sold. Reynolds said although there are no immediate plans for other types of use, it could very easily be “utilized beyond storage in the future.” ◆
Springs seeks donations to power streetlights (cont.) Continued from front page being shut off, Colorado Springs has virtually eliminated Parks and Recreation expenditures, implemented limited bus schedules and teamed with city cab drivers, who will act as “observe and report” policemen to compensate for a lack of sales tax revenue. With no issues on the November ballot to increase taxes, cut or eliminated programs and expenditures are likely to remain that way for
some time. “In 2011 there will be an estimated $27 million budget gap; people are going to be affected in more drastic ways in months to come,” city spokesperson John
Leavitt stated. As for all the national attention the city has garnered because of the drastic budget cuts, Leavitt says, “It’s a painful process to have to explain yourself on a national level.” ◆
contact information City of Colorado Springs at springsgov.com Housing and Building Association and Council of Neighbors and Organizations of Colorado Springs at cscono.org
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culture
March 16 to April 5, 2010
Spring break sojourns and hang outs for students Spring Break is upon us, and that means it’s time for some rest and relaxation – for some time in the sun, nursing a cool drink. The trouble, though, is that the sun tends to be a little scarce this time of year in good ole’ Colorado Springs, and students of the college persuasion tend to lack the necessary funds to hit the Caribbean for a week. But recuperation is important no matter the size of your wallet, so here are a few places you may want to consider for your Spring Break buck – all proximal and affordable, so you can finish out the semester de-stressed and tan.
Avalon Manly amanly@uccs.edu
Mesa Verde
Famous for the three different cliff dwellings, this national park is only a few hours’ drive away from the Springs. Mesa Verde is rife with hiking trails and camping spots; there is even a museum of archaeology about 15 miles within the park’s border. There is some trail construction going on through March 30, however, so there may be some delays driving through the park.
Taos If you feel the urge to cross state lines, Taos is a great Spring Break destination. Cultural experiences abound in food, music and entertainment; lodgings are, for the most part, affordable; and several museums provide tourists a glimpse into the area’s history. The nightlife is mellow but lively, and Sante Fe is only a quick jaunat away.
Glenwood Springs
It’s close to home, but might be just far enough away to feel like a vacation. If you’ve never been, the Denver Zoo, Art Museum, Museum of Natural Science and 16th Street Mall all warrant a visit. If the sun is calling, there are outdoor attractions as well.
There is much to do in Glenwood – including visiting the grave of western legend Doc Holliday. Lodging and food prices are competative, and the closely built streets contain myriad shops to wile away the days. There is also a very scenic railroad, which you can take from Glenwood through the surrounding mountains.
Denver
If you’re feeling a little bit more adventurous this Spring Break, statravel.com offers discounted travel rates for students and teachers, especially those under the age of 26. They offer six days and five nights in Cancun for $459 (hotel and flight); the same for $499 in Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco; the same for ten dollars less in Cabo San Lucas; and a whopping $349 for that much time in Mazatlan. Cruises through the Bahamas are available starting at $364 for five days; or you could jet to Jamaica or Puerto Rico and grab a hotel, all for less than $500. If you don’t have a passport, they also have Spring Break deals for Miami and Daytona Beaches, Panama City and Key West. ◆
A non-alcoholic St. Patrick’s Day: Is it possible? Brock Kilgore bkilgor@uccs.edu
Because of its origin as a one-day respite from Catholic Lent, St. Patrick’s Day has acquired the stigma of a raucous celebration centered around liberal libations. So what does someone do if they can’t, won’t or don’t want to drink? The following options all offer pleasantly sober alternatives to our most inebriated of American holidays.
1.
Go to a Parade - Back in 1985, Old Colorado City started a St. Patrick’s Day Parade that supposedly outgrew the westside. Now the official Colorado Springs Parade follows Tejon Street downtown, travelling south from St. Vrain to Vermijo. Festivities start at noon on Saturday, Mar. 13th, and last for an hour or two. The “Grandstand” at 25 North Tejon will contain Mary Ann McNally, former city council member and this year’s Grand Marshall. For a whopping $50, couples may purchase seats in the grandstand with free snacks to boot. This year’s parade also offers a 5K “Fun Run” along the parade route. The more frugal option is to watch for free from the street. No alcohol or civil disobedience will be tolerated, so mind your independent thoughts and actions. Our police kicked the crap out of several elderly peace demonstrators three years ago, so be careful.
2.
Go Outside - Fortunately for my liver, Colorado Springs has always had an abundance of fun outdoor adventures. Seemingly in spite of the lamest bar scene of any town this size in the world, the area surrounding our culturally-starved town offers some of the best steep-mountain wilderness in the country. There are literally thousands of destinations, but try to find a southern-facing or lower elevation area for this time of year. Waldo Canyon faces south, as does Ute Valley Park and much of Garden of the Gods. Palmer Park, Pulpit Rock Park and University Park are my favorite winter hikes, and all are close to UCCS.
3.
Eat Loads - Life without liquor does not mean life without food. St. Patrick’s Day is not only traditionally a vacation day from the liquor-less qualities of Lent, but it also provides an exemption from Lent’s dietary restrictions. Most bars and restaurants will feature Irish food on St. Patrick’s Day, so just eat your way happy for once. Your drinking friends will appreciate a designated driver and will probably, if properly asked, pay for your food.
4.
Watch an Irish Movie - My favorite Irish movie is “Darby O’Gill and the Little People,” a Disney movie from 1959 which was Sean Connery’s film debut. This classic can be described as featuring an evil Irish Willy Wonka. Instead of following the good boy through an apparently bad castle, we follow the bad father through the tricky leprechaun castle. The film is literally teeming with Irish folklore and trippy special effects, as Darby is tricked into the leprechaun King Brian’s lair, tricks his way out and finally captures the king. If Disney doesn’t do the trick, there’s always “The Boondock Saints,” the sequel to which comes out soon on DVD. Or , if you’re simply in the mood for accents, “Snatch.”
5.
Stay In - Nobody says you have to go anywhere on St. Patty’s Day, so maybe stay home and save some cash. Included is a student friendly version of the Irish classic, corned beef and cabbage.
Corned Beef and Cabbage with Potatoes INGREDIENTS: Serves 4 Takes about 30 minutes 4 slices bacon 1 medium onion sliced thick 1 medium head cabbage sliced thick 2 14 oz cans beef broth 2 14 oz cans white potatoes, drained 1 lb sliced deli corned beef Mustard 1 loaf quality sourdough bread Real butter ½ small onion sliced in thin strips
INSTRUCTIONS: Be cafedul while slicing the onions and cabbage. In both cases slice in half, then lay the cut side down on the cutting board and slice with opposite hand above and away from blade. Sauté bacon in a large pot over medium heat until crisp. Remove and save bacon, add chopped onion and sauté 5 minutes. Increase heat to high, add cabbage, beef broth and potatoes and cook covered 15 minutes (longer for softer cabbage). Taste the broth and salt and pepper to preference. Add the sliced corned beef, crumble the reserved bacon into the pot and heat through (2 to 3 minutes). Serve with mustard and sliced sourdough bread topped with real butter and onion slices.
culture
March 16 to April 5, 2010
‘Alice in Wonderland:’ Curiouser and Mediocre-rer MOVIE REVIEW: 2 OUT OF 5 STARS
Byron Graham bgraham2@uccs.edu
The new Tim Burtonhelmed remake of Lewis Carrol’s classic children’s tale Alice in Wonderland promises to take ticket buyers on a wondrous 3-D lark through the famous filmmaker’s marketably strange imagination. Too bad the final cut left me eager to tumble back up the rabbit hole to the theater exit, casting my uncomfortable 3-D glasses into the refuse bin and and advising readers to avoid this gaudy, unpleasant Disney release. It would appear that I’m too late, however; Alice in Wonderland grossed $116 million during its opening weekend, benefitting from a paucity of competing children’s fare as well as increased ticket prices for IMAX and 3-D screens. Tim Burton has an almost instantly recognizable aesthetic, from his GermanExpressionist inspired set design to bored-looking deathly pale blonde waifs as leading ladies. His signature
look has suffered with the advancement of computerized special effects, however, as his once-brilliant character design has been supplanted by impersonally rendered CGI grotesques. Indeed, many of the feature players in Burton’s Wonderland have had their features digitally grotesque-ified, from Helena Bonham Carter’s bulbous heart-shaped forehead atop a dwarfish body and Crispin Glover’s oddly stretched torso to Johnny Depp’s bugged out green eyes. It’s a mystery to me why Depp continues to debase himself in Burton’s current films. The oeuvre of the unlikely hitmaker has plummeted throughout the ‘00s, and most of his recent pairings with Depp have cast an actor of uniquely effortless charisma in the most unlikable roles imaginable. The creepy, obnoxiously petulant man child from the unnerving Tim Burton reboot of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and the sneering, mumblesinging murderer of Sweeny Todd come to mind, and his characterization of the Mad Hatter ignominiously continues this tradition. In creepy goth-clown make-up, Depp’s speaking voice shifts from a kooky lisp to a Scottish brogue at random and with no provocation, flailing through an expanded Hatter role that never connects. Which brings us to story.
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Opting to re-imagine key details of Carrol’s book, this new iteration finds a 19 year old Alice played by young actress Mia Wasikowska, tumbling once more down the proverbial rabbit hole, only having forgotten her prior excursions to Wonderland. The trippy surrealism of the book and the masterful Disney feature cartoon is all but lost in Burton’s scissor hands, replacing their rambling dreamlike tone and pace with a boring, straightforward quest archetype. Alice, you see, is predestined to slay the Jabberwocky from Carrol’s Through the Looking Glass. That’s it. That’s all the movies about. Millions of dollars and production rights to one of the most beloved stories of all time, and that’s what Tim Burton gives us: a half-hearted predestination fable that hits all the same notes as the thousands of movies with identical plot structures. This film is a tea party for which you should most certainly be late. ◆
Using internships to land a job Jessica Lynch jlynch@uccs.edu
Senioritis makes the final months of college challenging enough without also losing sleep over the current economy. For those plunging into the shark-infested job market this May or in the next couple of years, experience acts as a life preserver in these troublesome times. Much of this experience is gained through internships, which help students develop hands-on skills in their field of study. Internships give students the edge needed to survive in the real world. Available every semester, students should begin applying for internships by their junior year. The majority of internships require students of junior and senior standing, though some will also accept recent graduates. For current UCCS undergrads, the Career Center is a valu-
able resource. Students interested in an internship should begin by re-working and updating their current resumes. For assistance, the Career Center offers weekly resume walk-ins. Walk-ins are perfect for students writing their first resumes as well. During these sessions, Career Counselors work with students to edit resumes and provide additional support and information. After building a strong resume, students should call or stop by the Career Center to make an internship appointment. During these meetings, students register on the CSO Student system, which allows members to search for posted internships, jobs and upcoming career events. Finished registering, the student then works with a Career Counselor to navigate the CSO site and search for potential openings. To narrow the results, the system only searches for
internships relevant to the student’s major. Many times this initial search discovers alternative career paths to consider. Keeping an open mind, then, is very important to this process. After choosing a few potential internships, students should begin writing their cover letters. The Career Center provides students a sample cover letter as well as valuable advice. The key to a successful cover letter is to be as specific as possible. The cover letter is one of the most important elements to the student’s package. Without a well-written, engaging cover letter, the resume will be useless. Finding internships can be a frustrating and timeconsuming activity. Without professional help, endless hours can be spent browsing online web sites with little or no success. The Career Center can help ease these frustrations and land students their dream internships. ◆
SURE MY SANDWICHES A R E G O U R M E T.
Alice in wonderland
B U T T H E O N LY T H I N G
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culture
March 16 to April 5, 2010
City Dionysia The art and tragedy of ecstasy Photo by Ariel Lattimore
Calendar of Events
Catherine Jensen
The Bacchae: The Dusty Loo Bon Vivant Theatre/THEATREWORKS. March 18-20, 7:30 p.m. Matinees March 20 at 2 p.m. and March 21 at 4p.m. www.theatreworkscs.org
cjensen@uccs.edu
City D Poetry Slams: The Gallery of Contemporary Art at UCCS. www.galleryuccs.org. March 17 at 7:00 p.m/The Fine Arts Center. www.csfineartscenter.org April 7 at 6 p.m.
When Euripides wrote “The Bacchae,” the story of the Greek god Dionysus, in 405 BCE, he wove a tale of a young, angst-filled son of Zeus who, with the assistance of his wild women, the Bacchae, punished his mortal family for refusing to worship him. Theaterworks andVAPA’s month-long event “City Dionysia,” which drew inspiration from the ecstasy and gloom of this Greek tragedy, began March 3 and will continue through Apr. 16. Events catering to all the senses through art, poetry, music, live performance and lecture will be held at a vari-
The Bacchae Ensemble: Gallery of Contemporary Art, UCCS. www.galleryuccs.org April 2 at 7 p..m. Cuong Vu Concert: FREXX will present a Poetry Slam before the concert. $7 general, $5 student. The Fine Arts Center. csfineartscenter.org. April 7 at 8 p.m. Gamelan Ensemble: The UCCS Upper Lodge. April 9 at 7 p.m. City Dionysia Parade: The final event of City Dionysia, the parade will begin outside THEATREWORKS/University Hall, proceed through campus, down the hill through the woods and end at the new University Village Shopping Center for the opening of HedoGeist. April 16 at 3 p.m. HedoGeist: On exhibit at the University Village Colorado April 16 at the conclusion of the City Dionysia Parade (~4:30 p.m).
INTRAMURAL Championship Night Gallogly Events Center Thursday, March 18 6:30 - Co-Rec Championship 7:30 - 3 Pt. Contest (open to all) 8:00 - Men’s Championship 9:00 - All Star Game
ety of locations from Tejon St. to the Fine Arts Center to campus. Kevin Landis, the new theater director and assistant professor who came to UCCS in August from Tufts University in Boston, is the one responsible for guiding the event. When asked to choose a spring production for the theater department, Landis chose “The Bacchae,” from which, he said, the “City Dionysia” concept flowed. “VAPA prides itself on being interdisciplinary,” Landis said. “I decided to use ‘Bacchae’ as a jumpingoff point. I wanted something which would allow us to touch on a common theme through various mediums, and liked the idea of an interdisciplinary spring festival.”
The theme for “City Dionysia” aligns itself with the theme of “The Bacchae,” one of the most famous plays to be part of a tragic-play competition during Greek festivals, where the new harvest and the creative and destructive natures of the Greek gods were celebrated. The production will feature live music (written and performed by UCCS VAPA students) accompanying the show. “It is a chilling and enthralling play, and I am excited to be a part of it,” said student Irene Hessner, who is taking part in the production of the play. “This is unprecedented. An event like this has never happened at UCCS before,” said Landis. “It isn’t necessarily about selling or presenting perfect art, but it is
about a community coming together to celebrate,” said Landis, who estimates that between 100 and 150 students have been involved in producing the event. The majority of the art, music and poetry exhibited throughout the festival are creations of UCCS students and faculty. Director of the Gallery of the Contemporary Art Caitlin Green said that the Gallery, where three of the festival’s 11 events are being held, is an ideal location. “It is a site where faculty, students and community members can come out and think about the ideas of ‘Bacchae’ and the aesthetics of those ideas,” said Green. “This place can give our UCCS community a sense of ownership.” ◆
Psst... I think you’re cool... like way cool... Do you want to go out with me? Yes No What if I take you to Salsa Brava? No Yes Monday - Thursday 4pm - Close 1/2 Price Burritos with a valid UCCS ID (Rockrimmon location only)
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golf preview 7
March 16 to April 5, 2010
Left to right: Junior Riley Andrews, Junior Michael Tilghman, Junior David Cosel, Freshman Craig Pence, Freshman Spencer Biersdorff, Junior Taylor Stomp, Junior Chris Shoop, Junior Mitch Buchner, and Junior Brian Morfeld. Photos by Chelsea Bartlett
Golf team sets sights on championship
Matt Crandall mcrandal@uccs.edu The Golf Team reached a new pinnacle of success for Mountain Lion Athletics as they ended the fall portion of their season ranked No. 9 in the nation according to Golfstat Division II National Rankings. With spring play just around the corner, UCCS is currently in the lead toward claiming a fifth straight conference title and may prove to be national contenders. . On Feb. 24 the first Golf World/Nike Golf Division II Coaches’ Poll of the spring season ranked UCCS at No. 22 in the nation. The men will commence spring play at the Notre Dame de Namur Invitational on March 22-23 in Livermore, Calif.
INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS JUNIOR RILEY ANDREWS BEST ROUND: 63
2009-10 Placed 11th at the Air Force Falcon Invitational.
2008-09
Placed first at the RMAC Golf Tournament #2. Placed fourth at the RMAC Golf Tournament #1. Placed fourth at the CGA Public Links Championship.
JUNIOR BRIAN MORFELD BEST ROUND: 63 2008-09
SENIOR DAVID COSEL BEST ROUND: 68 2008-09 Placed 15th in the NCAA Division II Men’s Central/West Regional. He finished 11th at the RMAC Championships. Placed second at the Ferguson Pontiac Buick GMC Springer Championship.
2007-08
He was named AllRMAC. Ranked third on the team with a stroke average of 73.94. He tied for third place at the NCAA Division II Northwest Regional.
Placed 55th at the NCAA Division II FRESHMAN CRAIG PENCE Championship. BEST ROUND: 75 He won the UCCS Spring Championship. Before UCCS Pence was named all2007-08 League three consecutive times at Marin Was named RMAC Catholic High School. Freshman of the Year and given honors for He was ranked as high First-Team RMAC Allas 10th in northern Academic. California Junior Golf.
FRESHMAN SPENCER BIERSDORFF BEST ROUND: 64
Before UCCS He was named allLeague his junior and senior years of high school. He was also named League MVP his senior year. Placed second in the Stockton Sports Classic.
JUNIOR TAYLOR STAMP BEST ROUND: 67 2008-09 Placed fourth at the UCCS Spring Championships. He tied for sixth at the RMAC Championship. Placed second at the Southern Colorado Men’s Amateur.
JUNIOR CHRIS SHOOP BEST ROUND: 63 2009-10 Shoop won the fall RMAC Tournament and was given RMAC Player of the Week honors during the week of Sep. 24.
2008-09
He finished 31st at the UCCS Spring Championships. He shared 23rd finish at the NCAA Men’s Central/ West Regional.
FRESHMAN MITCH BUCHNER BEST ROUND: 67
SOPHOMORE MICHAEL TILGHMAN BEST ROUND: 67 Before UCCS 2009-10 He was a state qualifier for Loveland High School. He tied for third place at the Loveland Invitational. He was named High School Player of the Year in 2006.
Transferred to UCCS after the fall semester from UC-San Diego. Led UC-San Diego at the Western Washington Invitational by shooting seven over par.
student life
quote of the week:
“Do you know how awkward it is to have a political argument with a naked man?”
- Former U.S. Representative Eric Massa email quotes of the week to: scribelayout@gmail.com
3OH!3 opener update:
chipotle in brief:
Year 7 will be opening for 3OH!3 on April 22. Take it to 88 finished in second with J. Carter following in third.
On Tuesday, March 16, the University Village Chipotle will host a fundraiser from 5 to 8 p.m. to benefit UCCS’ ROAR Daze Concert. 50 percent of proceeds will go to help put on the Earth Day concert when purchases are made with a special flyer.
sudoku puzzles
the first person to bring both of these completed sudoku puzzles will receive a $10 La’au’s Tacos gift card. bottom floor UCenter rm. 106
2 very hard
tues: 3/16
wed: 3/17
thurs: 3/18
Leisure Reading Sale @ Bookstore
Leisure Reading Sale @ Bookstore
Leisure Reading Sale @ Bookstore
Get Fit Club @ Rec Center 12 p.m.
Student commuter donuts @ UC 7:30 a.m..
Bookstore Fashion Show @ Bookstore 3 p.m.
Softball Doubleheader vs. Mines @ Mountain Lion Field 4 and 6 p.m. Sevendust @ The Blacksheep 7:30 p.m.
fri: 3/19 Leisure Reading Sale @ Bookstore
sat:3/20 Leisure Reading Sale @ Bookstore
sun: 3/21 Leisure Reading Sale @ Bookstore
mon: 3/22 SPRING BREAK @ March 22-March 26 Leisure Reading Sale @ Bookstore
weekly calendar
Softball Doubleheader vs. Eastern New Mexico @ Mountain Lion Field 2 and 4 p.m. Jay-Z @ The Pepsi Center 7 p.m.
the news is full of contradictions
satire : irony : hilarity
“Still, if a statement cannot reasonably be interpreted to be one of express or implied fact, it cannot be libelous. This means that humor columns, spoofs, cartoons and satire are protected as long as readers understand that the material is not intended to be taken seriously.” - Student Press Law Center
Sassy smells saves students from sewage suffocation
Book sale throwdown in Columbine Randy Robinson[rrobinso@uccs.edu]
Top Ten Randy Robinson
paradox the
Things you won’t remember after Spring Break
10 9
That obligatory call to mom and dad. What kind of daughter/son are you? The spot where you stashed your new glassware during the police raid. (And it was just starting to color in!)
Catherine Jensen [cjensen2@uccs.edu]
Students living in the residence halls have become all too familiar with wake up calls. The culprits are not freshman who been retching since 1 a.m., or even the fanatic who plays acid techno next door at ungodly hours, but the unbearable stench that rises earlier than a rooster’s cock-a-doodle-do from the septic tanks near the Lodge. In a panicked attempt to increase its subsequently withering list of students on meal plans, the Lodge recently joined forces with Sassy Smells, a local fragrance shop in town, to create a line of perfumes, colognes and sprays to keep the mysterious septic-tank smell away. According to Randi Redolence, owner of Sassy Smells, fragrances were UCCS inspired and include “Clamoring Clock tower”, “More pleasant than Parking” and “Simply not a Sanatorium”. While stink-prevention methods such as cleaning the walk ways with Febreeze and playing off current fashion trends has worked in the past to keep the area relatively bearable, the Lodge recently found its efforts failing. “Now that swine flu is no longer a big deal, it has become unfashionable to wear masks which help lessen the smell,” says Lloyd Larry, who works in the Lodge. In the pas,t the saying “you are what you eat” struck too close to the smells students feared might be their next meal. Since the opening of the shop, though, more students have begun partaking of meals and taking their friends and love interests to events, no smell attached. “I took this babe from Steamboat to a poetry night at the Lodge,” says student Charlie Cheesy. “This time, I didn’t have to come up with an excuse for the smell, like it was just the poet’s emotions coming out the wrong way or something. This time we ate late night nachos and had a fun time.” Student Jodie Junket, who leads tours of prospective students around campus, commented, “It has been pretty sweet. I used to have to lead tours away from the Lodge on days when the smell was too bad. If they asked me to take them anyway and complained about the smell, I’d just tell them to go tour in Greeley. Most of them go here now.” Some students feel the presence of the shop has done more than just deodorize the air. Monarch resident Bart Dim revealed to The Scribe that the scent, “Blooming Boomer” has done wonders for his social and love lives. “I used to only use twelve sprays of axe every day, and I thought people were always just in a hurry when they ran away from me. Now I know it was the way I smelled. If it wasn’t for Sassy Smells I might have been rejected the rest of my life.” Fragrances come in a variety of sizes and schools in colored bottles. Depending on how university marketing is feeling, that is. ✪
Competition between two clubs’ book sale events reached a new low as both clubs engaged in a royal-rumble style fist fight last week. Every semester the English honor society, Sigma Four Five, and the Zeta Kappa Donna sorority hold book sales in order to generate revenue for club events. This is the first and only incidence of the book sales events resulting in violence. Medieval literature professor and sponsor of Sigma Four Five Herman Pufferbite spoke to The Scribe to explain what happened. According to Pufferbite, both clubs did not anticipate much revenue this semester due to the slumping economy. Both clubs introduced new literature into their stocks to increase sales. “The English club always includes a selection of classics as well as antique books. Unfortunately, most students won’t pay good money for tattered versions of yawners such as ‘Wuthering Heights’ or ‘The Canterbury Tales,’” said Pufferbite. Some of the new works featured from Sigma Four Five were Poppy Z. Brite’s “Lost Souls” and Anne Rice’s “The Vampire Lestat.” Hofstadter, the leader of Sigma Four Five, said, “We got these in bulk. And everyone loves a little blood-drinking homoeroticism with their necrophilia, right?” Meanwhile, Zeta Kappa Donna’s sale boasted Sophia Kinsella’s “Confessions of a Shopaholic” and past issues of Cosmo. The book that caused the most heated debate between the two clubs, however, was an updated version of Paris Hilton’s “Confessions of an Heiress,” which includes uncensored photos from the pop-icon’s sex tape. “Apparently,” explained Pufferbite, “even with all the steamy gore in the vampire fictions, Sigma Four Five felt they couldn’t compete with Zeta Cappa Donna’s books that show real nudity.... Shimmering, curvaceous nudity….” Witnesses said the sorority accused the English club of trying to cash in on the “lame Twilight fad.” After Hofstadter claimed the sorority’s books weren’t ‘real books’ that required brains, Haze leapt over the booth and, reportedly, asked if Hofstadter could “out-think a fist.” Members from both clubs then jumped into the fray. Charges are still pending between all parties involved. Campus officials have opened an investigation into whether or not future book sales will be monitored in order to prevent another outbreak of violence. ✪
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
For the ladies: That pack of contraceptives that you swore to him you had. For the guys: That pack of prophylactics that you swore to her you had. That kiss you stole from a random hottie in a bar. Too bad it was during happy hour, eh? The promise you made to stop making out with random people at the bar. A hospital bill from the ER: The stitches are fresh, but the memories as to how they got there … not so much. Dude! Where’s your car? No, seriously, where is it? Graduation: Just kidding. That’ll happen during the break between finals and summer. Homework: Really?! Why was this assigned over break in the first place? rrobinso@uccs.edu
10 opinion
March 16 to April 5, 2010
| This Week’s Challenge | The argument that shouldn’t be
Stephen Farrell sfarrell@uccs.edu
Given the highly controversial nature of this matter, I’m going to start off by saying that I have no quarrels or conflict with the homosexual community. Having friends and even some family who lead a homosexual
lifestyle, my official stance on the issue of homosexuality and gay marriage is this: Do what you have to do, do what you want to do, no one on this earth has the right to say that gay marriage or the state of being gay is wrong. Now, with that out of the way, the issue at hand is this: Is it wrong and discriminatory for the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to implement a ban on homosexual men donating blood? A square and firm “No” is my logical response. According to a Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study in 2007, there were a total of 1,017,859 people in the United States with the AIDS virus. Of that number,
487,695 had contracted the virus through male-to-male contact. That means that in 2007, 47.9 percent of all AIDS cases were contracted as a result of male-to-male contact; and even more simply put, nearly half of all AIDS cases in 2007 were as a result of male-to-male homosexual acts. Given those numbers and facts, to immediately assume that the government is discriminating against the homosexual community by not allowing gay men to donate blood is nothing short of irresponsible and closeminded. The fact of matter is that just about half of all HIV carriers in 2007 were as a result of homosexual acts; it
| The Lucid Line | Supreme Court Gitmo decision reveals Obama’s political cowardice
Tim Canon tcanon@uccs.edu
In what is swiftly becoming a characteristic behavior, on March 1, President Barack Obama has, via a Supreme Court victory, successfully danced around yet another pressing national issue to avoid confrontation before midterm elections. Since his presidency began, Obama has been faced with the problem of dealing with Guantanamo detainees who, for one reason or another, have been cleared of all charges but are still too dangerous to enter into the mainland U.S. Most recently, a group of seven Chinese Muslims (known as Uyghurs), detained in Gitmo but acquitted of all charges, appealed to the Supreme Court to allow them to entry into the United States. The detainees, all of whom have been offered asylum in other countries and five of whom have refused those offers, desire entry into the U.S. for a variety of reasons, but
mostly for the protection offered against their own communist government, which will likely torture them as terrorists should they return to their homelands. As pressing an issue as this is – it is simply unjust to have acquitted people in custody for seven years – Obama recently suggested that since these detainees have been offered asylum, the fundamental facts of the case have changed and the issue being appealed is now moot or unworthy of consideration at this time. Moot points in the Supreme Court are tricky, and it seems the court uses moot point arbitrarily. Roe vs. Wade was an abortion appeal by a woman who had already given birth, to give one example. So we must ask: Why has the Supreme Court chosen, in accordance with the administration’s wishes, to dismiss this particular case (Kiyemba vs. Obama) on these particular grounds, when the issue of releasing detainees will likely have to be considered again anyway when the other 200 need to be released? Well, we know what the president’s motivations are: He would like to avoid the hot issue of releasing detainees into U.S. territory because midterm elections are looming. His party is not likely to win any seats as it is, let alone if it has to withstand the heat of national
security hawks should he allow such detainees into the U.S. A Supreme Court decision allowing this to happen would anger independents and Republicans; forcing them back to China would alienate the Democratic base. Obama has no good recourse except avoidance. Does Obama’s advocacy of dismissing this case make the president a coward? Probably. To be sure, the president did not create this problem: President Bush was dealing with it for years before Obama had even began campaigning. However, the grim fact remains that many detainees are locked up in Gitmo, many of them unjustly, and we need a decision as to where those detainees can go, who can send them there, and when they can do so. The president has shown that his administration, which has the constitutional authority to admit or refuse foreigners, is not willing to make such a decision at this time largely for political reasons, and would rather leave that duty up to the Supreme Court, which seems all too willing, in this case, to complicitly skirt the issue. Obama is selling out for his party. The wise voter would do well to keep this cowardly incident in mind when Obama inevitably harks on his bipartisan, independent appeal once again in 2012. ◆
would be negligent and destructive in the utmost sense of the words to allow homosexual men to freely donate blood to people who are in desperate need of it. If the very idea of donating blood is to improve the health of someone else, then is allowing homosexual men, who are at a disproportionately great risk of having AIDS, to donate a good idea? Absolutely not. In fact, this issue seems like another case of common sense made complicated. This has absolutely nothing to do with discrimination against sexual orientation, and everything about knowing for a fact that HIV is a deadly virus and that those who receive blood donated
from homosexual men carry a more substantial risk of contracting said virus. Just to heighten the simplicity of this matter: Should a parent allow a registered sex offender to babysit their children for a weekend? A “yes” to this answer would be more than appropriate for those who would argue that banning homosexual men from donating blood is discriminatory and wrong. There is not a 100 percent chance that said sex offender will sexually abuse said children during that course of that weekend, but sure as the stars exist you do not leave the sex offender with your children. So is there a 100 percent chance that someone will
contract the AIDS virus from receiving blood from a homosexual male donor? Of course not. Are the chances higher of contracting the AIDS virus of a homosexually active man than a man who is not? You bet. The numbers are there for you to check out whenever you want: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/ topics/surveillance/basic. htm#aidsrace. The FDA’s overall intention is to establish proper health precautions within the United States in order to decrease health risks to its citizens, and I further believe that the banning action in reference is maintaining good faith of this aforementioned intention. ◆
sports
March 16 to April 5, 2010
Spotlight on RMAC Track High Jump Champ Steven Gomez Rob Versaw rversaw@uccs.edu
to set a new RMAC Championships record, but grazed the bar as he attempted to clear 7 feet 1.5 inches. Nevertheless, this performance punched his ticket to the NCAA Division Championships in Albuquerque New Mexico on Friday, March 12th, when he will compete as the 4th seed against other athletes from across the nation for a national title. Gomez, however, is not just a track athlete. The Scribe had the opportunity to ask a few academic, athletic and personal questions showing a broader view of Steven Gomez: What made you come to UCCS? “I liked the location right at the edge of the mountains.”
Steven Gomez Photo by Ariel Lattimore
Sophomore Steven Gomez made UCCS sports history in February by winning the RMAC individual high jump title. In an attempt to perfect the Fosbury Flop technique – popularized by American Dick Fosbury in the 1968 Olympics – Gomez cleared 7 feet ¼ inches on Feb. 27, breaking his previous UCCS school record with a new personal best performance. He made an attempt
When did you start competing in track? High Jump? “I started my junior year of high school with both track and High Jump.” How did it feel to win conference? “It felt pretty good, but it felt better to jump 7 ft.” Did you compete in any other sports [in high school]? “I used to play basketball, baseball and soccer.” What major are you? “Right now I am still undecided but leaning towards business.” What do you in your free time? “I usually play basketball, hang out with friends, or work.” What is your favorite hobby outside of track? Why? “Basketball … I think it is a really fun sport to play [because] you can play by yourself or have teams playing.” What are your future plans after college? “I’m not exactly sure yet, but I want to continue track and hopefully [have] a successful job.” ◆
11
Softball notches first RMAC win Matt Crandall mcrandal@uccs.edu
The softball team was able to find some success despite having to play four games in two days against New Mexico Highlands on the weekend of Mar. 6 and 7 at Mountain Lion Field. The Mountain Lions (4-9, 1-3 RMAC) finished the weekend 1-3, and managed to record their first RMAC win of the season. UCCS lost the first game on Saturday 13-4. Freshman Lara Mathewson scored on a bases-loaded walk by fellow teammate freshman Melissa DeWitt. The other three runs scored came from senior Jessika Anastos, Mathewson and junior Traci Everett, who all hit solo homeruns. The following game in the double header against New Mexico Highlands brought the team its first conference win of the season as UCCS won 7-5. Freshman Kailey Hernandez hit a two-run double in the sixth inning
The softball team celebrates a home run. Photo courtesy of UCCS Sports Information that put the game out of reach for New Mexico. Hernandez knocked one to left field on a 3-2 count, a hit that brought Everett and sophomore Ashley Jordan home and ended up being the game-winning play. The Mountain Lions fought with tenacity and endurance in Sunday’s double header but came up short 7-5 and 7-1 against New Mexico on March 7. The only run UCCS scored in Sunday’s opener was a solo home run by sophomore Christina Blanton. The only output the women were able to produce was Blanton’s big swing and Mathewson’s three singles.
Despite losing in the second and final game against New Mexico on Sunday, UCCS managed to stretch the contest out to an overtime of eight innings. Jordan hit a solo homerun, her first of the season, bringing the lead within two. The Mountain Lions were able to tie the game, but productivity dwindled over the last three innings, and they were never able to regain enough momentum to win the game. UCCS will face Colorado Mines in another double header showdown on Mar. 17 at Mountain Lion Field. Play will commence at 4 p.m. and the second game is scheduled for 6 p.m.◆
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