May 4, 2015 by The Scribe

Since 1966

Vol. 39, Iss. 27

Monday, May 4, 2015

IN BRIEF NEWS

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May the 4th be with you University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Lot Spot project to help students park shifts into second phase, changes funding

Biofuels Pair looks to utilize buffalo gourds for alternative fuel 2

Veterans Upcoming events to highlight job opportunites 3

CULTURE

‘Avengers’ Sequel delivers on both laughs and action 6

nooH alrasHid | the scribe

The Lot Spot app and website aims to help students ﬁnd open parking spaces in the Columbine parking garage.

Audrey Jensen

Jeff Broker Professor, class look at golf swing through scientiﬁc method 6

OPINION

Minimum Wage Negative impacts of raising the rate 9

May 5 Why we should remember history on Cinco de Mayo 9

SPORTS

Women’s Golf Team concludes second season at RMAC Championship 11

Softball Team misses tournament; head coach Scott Peterson retires 12

ajensen4@uccs.edu

Parking has been an issue on campus since the school began. In the fall 2014 semester a group of students and faculty proposed the idea for developing an application and website called Lot Spot. This phone app and website will allow students to check levels four and five of the Columbine parking garage for open spaces. The first phase, $800, was funded by Parking and Transportation Services. A sensor was placed on the fourth floor of the parking garage to track cars and tell students on both the app and the website the number of spaces available. Executive director of Parking and Transportation Jim Spice said there were a few issues with this beta version. “Weather especially was affecting the sensors and not sensing the cars going under. The next phase they’re going to be changing out their technology,” he said. Connor McCormick, freshman bachelor of innovation major and Lot Spot cofounder, expressed that while cold weather was an issue, it was not the main problem with the technology. “The other part was human error,” he said. “We had people that would miss the laser entirely when they drove in. Part of this has been working on the positioning of the lasers.”

courtesy | Lotspotapp.com

The team of students and faculty advisor that is developing the Lot Spot app.

As part of phase two, scheduled to be completed Aug. 14, the group will utilize improved technology and funding from the Green Action Fund. McCormick said that their new technology will be more weather proofed and will not have the same problems. “The old thing we were using, we had modified from its original design to use it how we wanted to use it. It’s just what you do when you prototype, you have to use some weird technologies,” he said. The students worked with GAF project coordinator Vanessa Ferona on proposing the second phase of the project to GAF. Their proposal was approved for $7,220, less than the original $10,000 proposal. “Not all of the requested funds were granted. GAF always reviews proposals critically and will only award what seems necessary for the success of

the program,” said Office of Sustainability director, Linda Kogan, in an e-mail. “This project was complicated and required two in-person presentations to the GAF committee to explain the plans and review details. [Lot Spot Faculty Advisor] Terry Boult was also asked to attend the GAF meeting to answer questions and vouch for the project,” she added. According to Kogan, GAF decided to approve Lot Spot due to several factors. GAF achieved better understanding of the project, the students showed their dedication to the parking lot experience and reducing emissions and the team pledged to create a sustainable parking committee. “The funding is specifically for the software and equipment for the pilot project. The funding allows the students to move forward with phase two of their

project,” Kogan said. McCormick knows the impact the second phase can have, which looks to utilize all four floors of the garage. “Now we have a totally different hardware that we’re installing. All the pieces are fully enclosed. We’re transmitting the data in a different form. All those will add to the accuracy and speed of the counting,” he said. “If the App is successful, idling and circling around the parking lots will be reduced. This may lead to better communication about which lots have available spaces and which lots are full.” Once the app and website are established, they hope to have an audio voice on the app tell students the current parking capacity so they will not look at their phones while driving. The Lot Spot team met through Startup Weekend on campus.

News

May 4, 2015 | 2

‘Reading Rainbow’ host speaks on power of imagination April Wefler awefler@uccs.edu

It is difficult to find a member of the X generation who didn’t grow up watching PBS’ “Reading Rainbow,” or at least hear about “Star Trek: Next Generation.” The common denominator in both these shows is one man: LeVar Burton, who spoke as part of the Significant Speakers series on April 27. “I simply want kids to grow up as readers,” said Burton on his lifelong passion for the written word. “I believe it is impossible for a human being to rise to the extent of full potential without being a reader.” Burton hosted “Reading Rainbow” during its twodecade duration. He also played Lt. Geordi La Forge in “Star Trek: Next Generation” and a young Kunta Kinte in “Roots.” “I think you can teach children anything you want them to learn if we couch it with storytelling,” he said. When addressed as Mr. Burton, LeVar said “Mr.

Burton is what we call my father. I’m LeVar. I sometimes answer to Geordi, as well.” Burton spoke on literacy in the United States. He did so the way he does best: through storytelling. He began by telling the audience about his childhood, specifically about his mother, Erma Jean Christian. He said that Christian worked as a social worker by day and cocktail waitress by night to put Burton through college. “None of us in this life gets through this life alone,” he said. Then Burton spoke of the power of literature and imagination. He told the audience that he was an avid reader as a child and was drawn more toward science fiction because of the “what if” aspect. “It was not very often that I encountered characters in those science fiction pages that looked like me,” he said. Burton wrote a term paper on Malcolm X as a freshman in college, using a biography authored by Alex Haley. He then met Haley the following year when he was given the

nooH alrasHid | the scribe

Students listen to LeVar Burton speak at the Gallogly Events Center on American literacy.

role as Kunta Kinte in Haley’s “Roots.” “Everything happens for a reason, y’all. There are no accidents in this universe,” Burton said. He also addressed the issue of racism and said spending

more money on war than education is unacceptable. “Unless we learn to cooperate more and compete less, we are destined to burn our house down,” he said. Burton gave the audience storytelling time as he read

aloud from his children’s book, “The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm.” He noted, “You had a hand in creating whatever you are experiencing and whatever you are experiencing is your legacy.”

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News

May 4, 2015| 3

Baltimore riots spark conversation in Colorado, on campus Alexander Nedd anedd@uccs.edu

A city and social media were set ablaze last Monday after the peaceful protest of the death of an individual turned violent within a couple of hours. Baltimore was the site of a massive riot, where protesters clashed with police for hours after the funeral of Freddie Gray, a black man who was fatally injured while in police custody. The riots sparked conversation across the nation as actions led by violent protesters led to multiple structure fires and over 200 cars set ablaze. The National Guard was activated by Maryland’s Gov.

Larry Hogan who declared a state of emergency and imposed a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew. Public schools were closed last Tuesday and early estimates of damage across the city reached into the thousands of dollars. The riots led to discussion with UCCS students sharing their opinions on the matter. “I get the need to protest but think that there are ways that are right and ways that are wrong,” Jessica Gomez, junior political science major, said. “There were over 10,000 people that were able to protest peacefully, there was no need to burn down buildings and throw rocks at police, it blocks your message from being heard.” Ethan Wade, sophomore

women’s and ethnic studies major, took on a different perspective. “These demonstrations were started because Baltimore’s black voices aren’t being heard, and demonstrations like this are going to continue until we take the time to listen,” Wade said. “Everybody seems to have an opinion on the Baltimore demonstrations, but unless you’re a person of color in Baltimore or anywhere else, it’s your turn to listen.” According to the Associated Press, over 20 officers were injured during the riots. There were over 200 arrests reported, but half of them were dismissed. The dismissals were due to

the fact that the arrests were made outside of an allotted timeframe, as well as the officers being unable to keep accurate records. On May 1, Baltimore’s top prosecutor formally announced charges against six officers who were involved with Freddie Gray when he received a spinal cord injury, leaving him dead a week later. Many have turned to social media to voice their opinion on the subject with debates circulating around the need to document the actions of police to the labeling of protesters as thugs and criminals within the media. During the early stages of the Baltimore protests, a mother was caught on camera disciplining her child when

she found him throwing rocks at police. The actions quickly went viral and earned her the #MotherOfTheYear. The effects of the riots have even reached Colorado. On April 29, Denver police arrested 11 protesters with citations ranging from misdemeanors such as blocking traffic or resisting arrest, to general assault on a police officer. In Colorado Springs, the Colorado Springs ProtestPolice Brutality Facebook page was created to begin a peaceful protest on May 1. Over 1,000 people were invited to the event which was originally to take place in Acacia Park in downtown Colorado Springs. The event was cancelled due to weather.

Yeast and mice; biochemistry research seeks new biofuel Evan Musick emusick@uccs.edu

Buffalo gourds, mice and yeast could end up fueling small communities. Wendy Haggren, senior instructor of chemistry and biochemistry, and Morgan Pinto, graduate chemistry student, are working on a special yeast that seeks to turn starch in buffalo gourd roots into usable ethanol. “The idea is to genetically engineer yeast to be very, very efficient at breaking down starch so that we can take advantage of all the starch in this root,” Haggren said. The project began in the mid ‘80s with UCCS biochemist James Matoon. He sought to transport enzymes found in mice DNA to certain kinds of yeast in order to break down starch. Matoon took his research to Coors Brewing Company in an effort to make the production of beer more efficient. He was met with disgust, and Haggren recalled Coors’ response. “‘Nobody’s going to drink beer made from rat spit,’” she said.

courtesy | thetimes.co.uk

But the enzymes came from the DNA of a mouse, and not the saliva of a rat, she said. Haggren and Pinto turned to another technique. When malted barley, yeast and sugar come together through fermentation it produces carbon dioxide and ethanol. Their goal is to use the ethanol. Ethanol is currently used as an alternative fuel, commonly known as E-85, which comes from starchy sources such as corn. Haggren said this has its own implications. “It uses acreage.

Companies that produce ethanol on a large scale are using acreage to produce this,” she said. Haggren recalled how Matoon sought to address this issue. “‘What is a starch source that would not be a typical food crop?’ And he came up with the buffalo gourd,” she said. Buffalo gourds have been used by Native Americans for centuries. They grow well in arid climates such as Colorado and uses range from medicines to soaps. For Haggren, it’s the starch in the root that is desired.

She intends to help smaller communities with her research. Her goal is to teach them how to supply their equipment with just enough ethanol to run machinery. Pinto explained that he is currently attempting to cause the yeast to maintain the genetic information from mice, so when it grows it retains its ability to break down the starch in a way they want it to. This will help the two look at how the yeast can be transported anywhere in the world. “And this is really important, because if you

courtesy | wikimedia

think about yeast, you know how you buy it in the grocery store, right down in a little package, you can mail it anywhere,” Haggren said. “I really love the idea to be able to dry down yeast, and sending it to an underdeveloped region, where they can make their own fuel,” Pinto said. Those that would want to extract the ethanol would have to utilize basic home brew and distillery supplies. “Basically, it’s like making moonshine. We call it ‘rootbeer,’” Haggren said. The distilling process gets tricky though. “That’s where it gets interesting, because that [ethanol] is actually taxed, and there are legal issues with the distilling, including here on campus,” she said. Because of this, Haggren said they will have to get permission to distill once the project gets further. She is confident that getting approval will be easy. In the future, Haggren would like to see a collaboration between colleges in the university to create a vehicle that would run on ethanol produced by the university.

Green Action Fund project review, implementation continues Rachel Librach

rlibrach@uccs.edu

From the water bottle refill stations, to the compostable cutlery, serving plates and coffee cups, the Green Action Fund has worked to make this campus greener and cleaner. “[GAF’s] main objective

is to reduce the ecological footprint of UCCS and promote sustainable environmental, social and economic values through a variety of studentsponsored projects,” Vanessa Ferona, project coordinator, wrote in an email. Projects this year included self-powered treadmills, more

hydration stations and solar tables. Ferona explained that GAF is developing more efficient methods to connect with students, including a new website and a portal in mountain Lion Connect. “Our goal is to simplify the application process and allow

easy access of forms and vital information to all UCCS students, faculty, and staff,” she wrote. “We are working hard to establish our roots on campus. The ultimate goal of the Green Action Fund is to support projects that make UCCS a more sustainable place to

explore, live and thrive.” Throughout May, the Green Action Fund will be reviewing proposals for projects involving Take Back the Tap, installing solar panels for the Sustainability House, encouraging carpooling and modifying lighting in buildings for efficiency.

News

May 4, 2015 | 4

Communication, upcoming employment fairs key for Veteran’s Office Kyle Guthrie kguthri2@uccs.edu

Both the Student Veterans’ Organization and the Office of Veteran and Military Student Affairs aim to spread awareness of benefits and support to veterans currently attending UCCS. The SVO also encourages events that promote veteran hiring in the city and state. On May 19 and 20, industry specific training classes, where veterans can get information about career exploration, will be available for sign-up. Several of the classes will be at Pikes Peak Community College and are open to all veterans. On May 21, a job fair will take place at the Mortgage Solutions Financial Center, formerly known as the

communication out to the student vets about everything that is going to affect their benefits and anything we do through veteran services.” Justin Parker, veteran student success coordinator, believes the veteran influence stocK | the scribe at UCCS has to do with the Forster House houses the Ofﬁce of Veteran and Military Student Affairs. location of the university itself. “I think it has to do with use of COF for veterans. Freedom Financial Center. “Student vets that are the city,” Parker said. “I “It’s probably the biggest actually just moved here and considered in-state residents job fair for veterans in I’ve been pleasantly surprised and get in-state tuition are Colorado,” Morris said. required to sign up for, and Another pertinent issue being communicated to accept, the payment from The Lowdown COF.” veteran students for next What: Morris spoke about the semester is the availability Industry Specific Training increased communication to of the College Opportunity veteran students. Fund. Increasing use of COF Where: “That is our intention, to could help alleviate some Pikes Peak Community be more proactive in getting of the money the OVMSA College out the word, and holistically spends on veteran students’ tuition. our office in partnership with When: the financial services office Phillip Morris, director of May 19-20, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. trying to get more timely the OVMSA, explained the

with the amount of support for active duty and retired veterans. I think a lot of people are retiring here after they get out.” Parker also mentioned their ‘Boots to Suits’ program, a mentoring program. “We find mentors in the community within businesses or state agencies or federal agencies, then we match them up with student vets who want to go into those career fields.”

The Lowdown What: Employment Expo Where: Mortgage Solutions Financial Center When: May 21, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Culture

May 4, 2015| 5

Proposed course to combine usually separated studies DeKeveion Glaspie dglaspie@uccs.edu

A new course could be added to the catalog at UCCS. On May 8, an idea for the Emergence of Infinity in Arts and Sciences course will be presented and, if approved, can satisfy the natural sciences requirement in the school of Letters, Arts and Sciences. As an interdepartmental professor of mathematics, art and film history, Alexander Soifer is skeptical of courses that are narrow in the subject

and wants to introduce this class to students in order to broaden the horizon on education. “I previously taught this course before with only 14 students who had 13 different majors. Usually you want everyone to have the same major [and] think alike, and here I had 13 majors of English, music, art etc.,” Soifer said. Based on this previous class, with a course covering a wide selection of topics, Soifer believes the classroom will have a variety of students with

different majors and different views. “I wanted them to give a talk and to write a paper, but do it in your major. Magic happened. They started to give such amazing talks that I couldn’t wait to come to class and listen to them,” he said. Soifer hopes to have a student capacity of 15 for the new class, but said he will gladly take up to 20 students if interest in the course grows. The planned low student allotment allows Soifer to better understand his class. This

element is difficult to obtain through online courses, he said. “Online courses are like fast food restaurants. Yes, it will satisfy your hunger, but will you remember forever what you ate? I have to see the eyes of my students and I have to see their eyes, this interaction that I want. How can online replace that?” he said. Soifer aims to replicate elements of his previous class, including student discussions about their future professions and cultural awareness. “On one of the exams

students were told to know 12 different masks and their tribal origin. 13 of the 14 students missed only one while one student got all of them correct,” he said. “In four months they learned culture with a perfection and can look at an artifact that they have not seen before.” “We produce engineers who do not know art at all, they do not know music and that is dangerous, they underappreciate it as a whole.” If approved, the course will be available in 2016.

Professors have conflicting experiences, thoughts about online courses April Wefler awefler@uccs.edu

You shut off your alarm, eat your breakfast and get dressed to head to school. Or, you stay in your pajamas while you open your laptop and log in for your online lecture. In the digital age, more professors are finding ways to host lectures online. Spencer Harris uses online videos when he has to fly to the United Kingdom on business or for personal reasons. Harris, an assistant professor in the Sport Management program, said it’s difficult for him to be flexible with his prerecorded video lectures. In the classroom, he said he can tell when a student is confused, but he doesn’t have the same opportunity online. “I like the idea of it; it’s a useful resource theoretically. Students can come back to that time and time again, press play, rewind, go over another point,” Harris said. “I guess the problem I have with it is that it is very onetrack. It’s the professor talking about what the professor

knows.” Harris added that having the online videos as a supplement of a class-based lecture could be helpful, but he isn’t convinced that relying on videos entirely is positive. He hasn’t received any feedback from students, “which tells me they’re not going well.” Harris allows students to Skype or call him with questions about the lectures. “There’s no noise at all, there’s nothing,” he said. Matt Metzger, assistant professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, uses Blackboard Collaborate for his online classes. This is the first semester he has taught online. In his mid-semester feedback, Metzger found that students like the convenience of online classes but “they felt it was helpful to have more live interaction structured into the class.” Metzger said that it’s difficult to help students with their goals in an online environment. “[It is] hard to achieve that when people are disembodied

bodies,” he said. Some professors have received different feedback about online classes. “It’s a really cool environment and the students seem to like it because it gives them an opportunity to interact directly with me wherever they are,” said Tom Duening, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship. Duening uses Blackboard Collaborate’s Webinar to teach his online classes. Unlike Harris and Metzger, Duening hasn’t had negative feedback. “The thing about an online course that is different is that students have to be selfmotivated,” Duening said. He said about half of his

graduate students and 15 percent of his undergraduates attend his live Webinar sessions. Students can raise their hands and ask questions in Duening’s live sessions. He said his students are all over the place and that he has one student in Germany this semester. In the past, he’s had students in Guam, China and Russia. Duening conducts most of his lectures from his home office, which he said is convenient. He said there is no difference in exam scores between those in his online classes and those that meet in the classroom. Harris disagrees. “I feel like my students are

“It’s moving toward hybrid, flip classrooms. I think there’s a lot more innovation to come.” – Tom Duening “Whether improved technology and skills and competencies will give us an environment that’s anything like a campus situation, I’m not convinced. There’s a different relationship that you have with the students [in the classroom.]” – Spencer Harris

on it, engaged in the class when we meet in campus once a week,” he said. Harris embeds a learning activity into his videos to see whether the students are paying attention. Several of the students don’t do the activity. He said the competence of the user can impact the online environment. “I’m absolutely convinced that my ability in being able to use the technology could be improved. I don’t see an awful lot going on on campus to support that,” Harris said. Duening said it’s inevitable for education to be more online. “It’s moving toward hybrid, flip classrooms. I think there’s a lot more innovation to come,” he said. Harris isn’t as sure about online courses. “Whether improved technology and skills and competencies will give us an environment that’s anything like a campus situation, I’m not convinced,” he said. “There’s a different relationship that you have with the students [in the classroom.]”

Barbecue looks to increase awareness of veteran options Audrey Jensen ajensen4@uccs.edu

The Office of Veteran and Military Student Affairs and the Student Veteran Organization would like students to remember why they’re here by providing a free barbecue lunch as the semester comes to an end. On May 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Student Government Association, SVO and OVMSA are hosting a barbecue in the backyard of Forster House. Johnny Garcia, SVO event coordinator and senior geography and environmental studies major, said that while the barbecue is directed

toward student veterans, any student can show up. “We just try to make sure that we are present in the campus community with all the student veterans, we want them to know we’re here,” he said. “We don’t necessarily have a lot of big events occurring in the Springs, so it’s a good opportunity to get students to come over before they start their summer.” A new aspect to the annual barbecue will be representatives from veteran organizations such as the Wounded Warrior Project, Veterans Affairs, Team Red White and Blue, Rocky Mountain Human Services, Veterans of Foreign Wars and

Freedom and Service Dogs. “It will be nice where people can come by, grab some food, while they’re here do paperwork with us if they need to, and also meet some of these organizations and see what resources they provide,” Garcia said. Each organization will have a booth set up outside Forster House during the event. Garcia admitted that it has been difficult to get students to attend in the past, but hopes it will grow in popularity through marketing. “Email reminders, flyers posted around that will attract all different types of students. We welcome everyone to come and participate, to have

fun, it’s the week before finals, to relax a little bit,” he said. Rushana Williams, junior accounting major and SVO education benefits processor, expressed that this barbecue is to bring awareness to students about what they’re here to do. “We may not offer them [resources] but we know people in the community that offer them. Just to get them in the know, but for the most part to get students signed up for their benefits,” Williams said. Garcia said the barbecue is a good opportunity to learn about the other programs that the Forster House offers to students. Burgers, hot dogs,

vegetarian burgers and other barbecue food will be provided by Dining and Food Services. To find out more about the services that SVO and OVSMA has to offer, students can visit the Forster House on campus or go to http://www. uccs.edu/military.

The Lowdown What: OVMSA/SVO Barbecue Where: Forster House When: May 5, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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May 4, 2015 | 7 Culture ‘Age of Ultron’ uses action and humor to live up to hype Rachel Librach rlibrach@uccs.edu

5/5

“The Avengers: Age of Ultron” debuted April 30. It brought an ecstatic crowd sporting all kinds of Marvel Universe merchandise and an unbelievable movie that looks to be a bigger hit than the first “Avengers.” The movie opened with the Avengers charging into snow-covered woods, battling their way through countless henchmen, heading toward an ominous and well-defended castle. Inside the castle is the object of their mission, Loki’s scepter, which the villains somehow managed to get their hands on. The head of the villain organization has been using the scepter to experiment with genetic modifications on humans. From the experiments, twins Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) and Pietro Maximoff (Aaron Tyler-Johnson) each possess powers that they intend to use to destroy the Avengers. Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) infiltrates the castle and retrieves Loki’s scepter. After the Avengers return home, Stark wants to harness the advanced

technology within the weapon’s power source in order to fuel his latest experiment. Using artificial intelligence, Stark creates a robot that would be the Earth’s protector and shield humans from all alien threats. The programming backfires and the robot, Ultron, becomes a threat to the human race. The Avengers must face an enemy that continues to evolve and has no regard for human life while struggling to put their differences aside and conquer their inner demons. This movie will leave you guessing at every turn. While the heroes are involved in some intense combat, they still find opportunities to crack jokes and hilarious one-liners that carried throughout the show. The humor is spot on and so casually delivered by the actors, it makes the story line more realistic and relatable. The screen writing does a perfect job flowing from intense fight scenes to comic relief then back to emotional chaos. Stan Lee makes another excellent cameo that only adds to the humor of the movie. Marvel has lived up to the expectations and gave its fans a sequel they won’t soon forget.

courtesy | screencrush.com

Anatomy of golf swing focus for PGM class, instructor Jonathan Toman jtoman@uccs.edu

Jeff Broker used shoes to study the golf swing. As a part of his research in sport and orthopedic biomechanics, Broker adapted a system that measures insole pressure in shoes to analyze grip pressure on a golf club. This is one aspect of the golf swing that Broker, chair and professor in the biology department and PGA golf management program instructor, often looks at in class in tandem with his students. “I basically wrapped a very thin sensor around the golf grip and then was able to determine where all the pressure points were on the hands,” Broker said. “I could map where those were on the club using this instrumentation and then I could track those areas of the club during the swing to see where pressures develop and how they develop.” His class, developed in 2003 to help fulfill the PGA

JonatHan toman | the scribe

Jamie Grifﬁn technology.

uses

swing

requirement of an anatomy and physiology course in the PGM program, takes elements of sport science and applies them to the golf swing. Biomechanics, sport nutrition, swing plane theory, motor learning and everything in between is researched. “We study the muscles, the ligaments, the bones with the

interest being how does the skeleton and the nervous system and the muscular system support the golf swing,” Broker said. Research projects in the class are conducted with students at the swing lab in Dwire Hall. The golf swing is looked at with elements such as grip pressure, reading greens, sequencing and motion parameters, skill acquisition and changing the swing using training devices. “We develop from these projects an opportunity for the students to be scientists,” said Broker, who incorporates student swings into his own research. “It’s very helpful, to see the more technical aspect,” said sophomore PGM major Jamie Griffin. “It all applies and it’s really cool to see how it relates scientifically to golf.” The research is often presented at the World Scientific Congress of Golf, usually every 4 years, said Broker. Currently, clubs that encourage proper impact positioning are being studied.

According to Broker, students in the PGA golf management program often look to become club professionals or directors of instruction. Through his class, he helps students differentiate themselves from the thousands of people in those professions. “If you’re a new club pro or

JonatHan toman | the scribe

Jeff Broker helps put on swing equipment

a new teacher, what’s going to separate you is your ability to offer something at a higher level to your clients,” he said. Broker aims to develop critical thinking and a foundation of the science behind golf. The “higher level” not only means an understanding of swing theory, but also orthopedic limitations, unique injuries for golfers and sports psychology. “It’s the ultimate blend of the mental and the physical,” Broker said. “We’re trying to give them a tool bag to separate these thousands and thousands of instructors out there that simply have a video camera and know something about golf.” “It would be very difficult to teach myself what he teaches us,” said Griffin. Broker’s goal in his class is to have students be scientific and serve as their own coach. “Ultimately, I’m hoping to help get them to be more critical about their own swing and understand it and help somebody else with that.”

eDitOriAl

May 4, 2015 | 8

Finals week: How to avoid the alarm bells Jonathan Toman Editor-in-Chief

Samantha Morley Managing Editor

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Eleanor Skelton News Editor

Audrey Jensen Culture Editor

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Alexander Nedd

Life on the Bluffs Editor illustration By daVy mellado | the scribe

Scribe Staff scribe@uccs.edu

Panic. We at The Scribe feel it as finals approach, both on campus in general and in our own lives as students. But finals shouldn’t be so scary or so stressful, and here’s how we can make them a tolerable experience. First, put in your work before finals week to minimize the stress and chaos. We can all do this in two ways, and the first one starts well before finals week. Be present and attentive in the first 15 weeks of the class. Put in good work then, and your grade won’t be so dependent on how you do on the final. If you think you are busy at the start of the semester, think of how the end of the semester will be and take advantage of the relatively large amount of free time. Then, when we approach finals

week, start your studying well prior to the night before the test. Cramming is almost never a good idea, it adds significantly to our stress level and almost always results in retaining less information. Unless that’s how you work, then more power to you. Also, study smart. Re-reading the whole book is simply not feasible. Zoom in on sections you know you need to review, and look at both the book and your notes. The book may have a nugget of information that you missed in your notes. Second, utilize all the resources at your disposal both before and during the test. If the teacher hands out a study guide, use it. And then look at it. And then use it and look at it again. A study guide is the professor’s way of saying “Hey, look here for some of the guaranteed questions and answers.” During the test, utilize the

power of multiple choice questions. Eliminate impossible options to narrow the possible answers down. Use different sections of the test: if a topic is mentioned in a multiple choice question, use it for the short answer that mentions the same issue. Finally, and perhaps most critically, relax. At a certain point, you have done all the studying and panicking that you can do, and it’s time to take the test. At that point, it will be what it will be. If you’ve done your work, the results should be just fine. Anxiety during the test clouds your thinking, and it may lower your score to something not appropriate to your study time. Even if you don’t know an answer, being able to think it out in a calm manner often results in the correct response. Don’t panic; we can conquer finals if we use the correct tools at our disposal.

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Opinion

May 4, 2015 | 9

Raising minimum wage could damage society, job seekers

Rachel Librach rlibrach@uccs.edu

More seems better. More food. More money. Just, more. We think that the more we have, the happier we will be. But the cost to society may outweigh the personal benefits. For example, factories must produce a certain amount of pollution in order to function, but too much pollution can have

significant effects on the surrounding environment. Another example is the controversial notion of raising minimum wage. In April, Seattle raised its minimum wage from $9.47 to $11 an hour with a goal of $15 an hour by 2018. The Seattle Times stated, “No locality to date has raised wages as substantially as the Seattle wage scale promises to do over the next few years.” Essentially, no one knows the outcome of this drastic raise in commission. But I believe such significant wage increases will have detrimental effects on society. A restaurant in Seattle went ahead and raised its minimum wage to $15 an hour. As a result, the

price of food on the menu increased by 21 percent and the restaurant now discourages its customers from paying tips. Bartenders and waiters are now being compensated, along with all the other restaurant employees, by equally sharing the total business revenue. This means bartenders and waiters maintain similar wages while the bus-boys and chefs receive a significant pay raise. Previously, when bartenders and waiters gave exemplary service, they were compensated for it through tips. What are the incentives now for these workers to deliver high quality service if they are only to make as much

money as the employee who washes dishes? While private businesses are not being forced to raise their minimum wages, public businesses are mandated by the ordinance. The University of Washington, with 39,000 employees, is one of the largest public businesses in Seattle. Fox News reported that “one official said to [raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour] would result in charging all students more for their fees and services.” Since the university cannot afford to raise its wages, students are looking elsewhere for jobs. With a lack of employees at the school, the institution can only expect to decrease

its productivity and functionality. Fox News also reports that “small businesses have seven years to work up to paying $15 an hour, while big companies that employ at least 500 workers must get there in just three years.” I predict that there will be a dramatic increase in unemployment because these big companies must eliminate as many expenditures as possible in order to meet this deadline. And without businesses looking to hire, the newly unemployed will find it difficult to locate another job. Also, kids in high school or beginning college students will find it much harder to obtain

jobs since their lack of experience estimates their value as an employee well below $15 per hour. How will those students, who must put themselves through school, afford tuition if they can’t first obtain the necessary experience to be considered by the employer? “Critics say that this $15 experiment will raise the cost of living, lead to many businesses leaving, and result in higher taxes for everyone,” Fox News reported. No one knows for certain what the new minimum wage in Seattle will mean for residents and employers. But my prediction is that society as a whole will be worse off as a result.

Know the history before you party on Cinco de Mayo

DeKeveion Glaspie dglaspie@uccs.edu

Get out your margarita cups, sombreros and ponchos – it’s Cinco de Mayo!

But while you’re partying, remember why we’re even celebrating May 5. In the U.S., we have integrated holidays from other cultures, welcoming them with open arms, but often forgetting the meaning of the holiday. Cinco de Mayo, not to be confused with Mexico’s independence day on September 16, celebrates the Mexican victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. This is the history

that people should know. In Mexico, excluding the city of Puebla, Cinco de Mayo is a low-key event. In Puebla, visitors and locals can enjoy a month’s worth of events starting in the middle of April. In the U.S., the holiday has turned into a day of taking shots, heavy partying and is more of a cultural spectacle. Cinco de Mayo was started by MexicanAmerican youths in the 1950s and ‘60s. It

was a celebration that has helped establish Mexican-American pride. But like most holidays, its significance has become overshadowed by drinking and corporate sponsors who aim to make a few bucks. As a young teen, my parents required me to take a foreign language course. I chose Spanish and every year, we would celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Students would bring in food and listen to music

after reading about what we are celebrating. We celebrated the holiday in a fun way while becoming educated on its historical impact. Holidays need to go beyond just celebrating with food and music. There is so much history behind the holidays, history lost by the excuse to drink. It is wonderful that we as a nation celebrate and embrace various cultures. But we need to have a better understanding

of the significance of holidays. To promote education and understanding, UCCS should have education booths. We should know what exactly we are celebrating not only with Cinco de Mayo, but with any holiday that has a historical background. So before you take that shot of tequila or prepare tacos for Cinco de Mayo, take the time to know what you are celebrating and why. Put education before alcohol.

A fanboy’s take on ‘The Force Awakens’

Kyle Guthrie kguthri2@uccs.edu

I remember my jaw dropping the first time I saw Luke close his eyes and use the force to pull his light saber from the mound of ice in the wampa’s cave. I remember screaming “Noooo!” when Vader said the legendary line “No, I am your father.” And I remember my dread when I saw the second death star’s

weapon system come online and blast a Mon Calamari cruiser apart with a single shot. I was seven when my father sat me down and let me watch the Star Wars trilogy on VHS for the first time, unintentionally beginning a love affair that continues to this day. In the decades that followed that first night, I would watch each film at least 100 times more, read every book I could get my hands on, and buy every encyclopedia on the expanded universe that I could afford. I know that the Starfighter that killed the first death star isn’t just an X-Wing, but an Incom T-65 Alpha class X-Wing, and I know that the reason Han Solo has

red stripes on his pants is because he was awarded the prestigious Corellian Bloodstripes for his actions in freeing legions of Wookie slaves such as Chewbacca. Like every fanboy, a part of me died each time I was forced to endure the onslaught of each prequel film, but those horrible memories couldn’t kill my love of the universe. So believe me when I say that the trailer for Episode VII: The Force Awakens is a taste of wonderful things to come. Despite what a lot of fans think, the last thing we need is another story about Luke, Han, Leia, Chewie and the droids. As much as I love them, their time is over.

The original trilogy was inspired by pulp serials and television shows that George Lucas grew up with. They took classic tales and tropes such as a young farm boy becoming a knight, a roguish scoundrel with a heart of gold, the princess in peril and the wise old mentor, and incorporated them into a new universe rich with strife and conflict. So while there are countless compliments I can pay those films, being entirely original isn’t one of them. The prequels tried to expand on characters we were familiar with, and failed miserably. The characters were so flat and unlikeable that they retroactively tarnished

our image of the characters in the original films. Add the fact that the movies were filmed like soap operas and boring as hell, and you have a recipe for disaster that would become known as prequel trilogy. The key to making these new films work is to tell a new story through the lens of the Star Wars universe, and in that regard, the trailer looks like this is exactly what they are doing. The true story lies with the new characters Rey, Finn, Kylo Ren and Poe Dameron. It’s a story I can’t wait to learn more about. Most importantly, the small touches I see in the trailer conveys the fact that Abrams truly loves

and understands this universe. It’s the fact that the Millenium Falcon has a new satellite dish because Lando smashed up the original while he was inside the second death star. It’s the fact that the flesh on Luke’s robotic hand has rotted away because it was damaged in ‘Return of the Jedi.’ It’s the fact that Kylo Ren’s lightsaber looks dirty, tarnished and ragged when it comes on because the art of creating a lightsaber died with the Jedi and the Sith. And it’s the fact that despite the trailer hasn’t shown us much, it has done more than enough to earn my money on opening day.

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May 4, 2015 | 10

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Campus Chatter Kyle Guthrie, kguthri2@uccs.edu

Favorite ‘Star Wars’ Moment/Character Zachary Templin, freshman, marketing “My favorite moment would have to be when Luke was on Dagobah and got all his training from Yoda.”

Rachel Shaffer, junior, geography and environmental studies “Jar Jar Binks. I loved how he tried to eat something off the table with his tongue and totally fails.”

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Angie Flores, sophomore, English “Yoda. He’s short, green and old, but when it’s time for him to kick ass, he’s a ninja.”

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Sports

May 4, 2015 | 11

Women’s golf seventh at RMAC Championships to finish season Brandon Applehans bappleha@uccs.edu

After a last place finish at the NCAA Regional Spring Preview April 6-7, the Mountain Lions took to the course for the Colorado Mesa Invitational April 13-14, in hopes of putting together a late run in the season. On the first day, sophomore Raquell Castillo shot an 82, recording her lowest score of the spring season. UCCS finished sixth after day one. On day two, the Mountain Lions hoped to climb to a top-five finish. They finished sixth overall and sophomore Forre Zook led the way in the final day with a 79. The Mountain Lions went on to finish seventh out of 12 teams at the RMAC Championships April 20-21, concluding their second season as a team. I don’t feel like we as a team met our goals this season. We have a lot of talent and great players on our team and unfortunately that wasn’t always reflected at tournaments. – Sophomore Forre Zook Zook said the season was a struggle. “I don’t feel like we as a team met our goals this season,” she said. “We have a lot of talent and

courtesy | spots information

The women’s golf team at the inaugural UCCS Invitational March 28-29 at Pine Creek Golf Club.

great players on our team and unfortunately that wasn’t always reflected at tournaments.” “Overall, this season was pretty rocky,” she added. “We had some ups and downs as a team but I definitely feel like we ended the year on a good note and I’m looking forward to next season.” Head coach Sadie Farnsworth believes players emerged as potential threats for next season. “Every golfer on our team made some improvements,” said Farnsworth. “Alex Darwin had a great season as a freshman and really grew as an example for the team. [Sophomore] Amanda Crites really

grew as a competitor throughout the season and played well at the RMAC Championships.” But Farnsworth did say that the team did not meet the intended goals of this season. “Again, the expectations were set very high, as I still believe this team will meet those,” she said. “This season was a learning experience for our team,” said Farnsworth. “They are understanding strengths and weaknesses and they know what they need to work on to be a successful collegiate golfer.” Zook is starting to analyze the hardships of the season in order to become a better golfer over the

summer. “I think the main way we’re moving forward is to take the positives and learn from the negatives of this year,” she said. “I love the summer offseason because it’s such a great time to hone all aspects of your game,” said Zook. “Personally, I know I’ll be playing as much as possible and really focusing on short game.” For the fall season, Farnsworth believes the talent currently on the team, mixed with new recruits, will put UCCS on the map. “The team is growing and moving in the right direction to really be competitive next year,” she said.

Coach Culver moves forward without leading scorer Derrick White bappleha@uccs.edu

After a historic season for men’s basketball, head coach Jeff Culver goes to the drawing board this summer with a completely different team. With junior Derrick White transferring to CU-Boulder, Culver needs to motivate his team to step up next season. “The immediate thought is next man up,” Culver said. “We don’t have time to sit back and worry too

megan lunsford | The Scribe

Men’s basketball coach Jeff Culver.

much about guys that come and go from the program. We want to spend our time and energy coaching those that are here.” This season, the team went 27-6 overall, going 13-1 at home and winning the RMAC. Behind a 50-point night from White, the team won their first NCAA tournament game. White will leave UCCS as the alltime leading scorer. “It’s sad to see [White] go,” he said. “He’s done great things. I hope things work out for him moving forward.” Though White was the leading scorer last season with almost 26 points per game, the Mountain Lions also graduate five seniors; three of whom contributed heavily to the team’s production. Darius Pardner averaged over 9 points per game, Tim Billingsley averaged 7.5 points and 1.5 rebounds per contest and Alex Koehler added 3.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. The Mountain Lions averaged 86.2 points per game this season. With those four departures, UCCS loses over 45 points per game. According to Culver, the team doesn’t need to panic. “Our philosophy always is trying to create a team basketball environment where we are at our best

reilly flood | The Scribe

Sophomore guard TreShawn Wilford.

when we are sharing the basketball,” said Culver. “Certainly there’s times where you need someone that you trust with the ball in their hands, when the game’s on the line,” he added. “We’ve got a few guys I feel are capable of doing that for us next year.” Next season, the team will return seniors Alex Welsh, Kendall Godley, Dalton Patten and Shane Jensen, along with juniors TreShawn Wilford, Tim Haas and Neiman Lee. “I think we will be very well balanced next year,” said Culver. “If

you just look at guys like Alex Welsh and Kendall Godley as far as their shooting percentage, they were two of the top three guys. Those guys will be able to get some more looks.” “We didn’t do a very great job of getting the ball to Dalton [Patten] well enough this past year,” he added. “He was hurt most of this year, so we’re looking forward to having him have a full healthy senior season. You have a guy like Treshawn [Wilford] that dictates tempo for us.” As of April 30, Culver has signed four players to National Letters of Intent to play for UCCS next season. To start the season, the men will travel to the Disney Tip-Off Classic in Anaheim, Calif. on Oct. 30.

“

Certainly there’s times where you need someone that you trust with the ball in their hands, when the game’s on the line. We’ve got a few guys I feel are capable of doing that for us next year. – Jeff Culver Men’s Basketball Head Coach

“

Brandon Applehans

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May 4, 2015 | 12

Men’s golf struggles at RMAC Championships, top-five finish needed at regionals Brandon Applehans bappleha@uccs.edu

For the men’s golf team, the spring has been a frustrating and up-and-down season. After day one of the Western New Mexico Mustang Intercollegiate on April 6, the team finished second. Junior Zach Tripp led the way on day two, shooting a 70 in the final round and claiming second place. The team finished fourth overall out of 16 teams. But at the RMAC Championships April 2021, the team underachieved, according to senior Patrick Skakel who finished fourth with a score of 218. The Mountain Lions finished fifth overall out of 10 teams. “We’ve [had] a few really solid events and beaten some top teams,” Skakel said. “But to finish fifth in the conference was obviously very disappointing. We all know we’re a lot better than that.” Head coach Phil Trujillo said Skakel did all he could to help lead his team. “Patrick played well there last year so we

courtesy | sports information

The men’s golf team will participate in the NCAA regional tournament May 4-6.

anticipated him having a good tournament,” he said. “He finished second last year and he got off to a good start after 36 holes.” “He’s tough mentally and physically, stays positive and

has a never fail attitude,” Trujillo said. “He had a few mishits on the final day that cost him but he kept fighting and tried hard to get the win.” The team’s focus is now set for the NCAA Division II

West/South Central Region Championships May 4-6. The team must finish in the top five at regionals to advance to the NCAA National Championships May 18-22. Trujillo talked with his

team, discussing the short memory and turn-around performance they must have. “We spoke about our play a couple days [after the RMAC Championships] and now we’ll focus on trying to grab one of the five spots that go on to the NCAA’s,” he said. “[This is a] task that this team can accomplish.” “We need to play solid golf and take each hole one at a time,” he continued. “It’s a very demanding golf course, so we’ll have to stay focused for all 54 holes.” Skakel sees regionals as an opportunity to silence any doubters of the team. “I think a lot of the teams in our conference will be writing us off after the conference championship, but we know we’re good enough to advance,” said Skakel. “We all realize that talent we have on the team and it’s just a matter of putting it together for three days,” he said. “We’ve identified the areas we can improve in and know that we will be right there if we do that.” The regional championship begins May 4 in Vallejo, Calif. The team tees-off at 8:30 a.m.

More Inside: Women’s golf ﬁnishes season; Culver ready for new season

Softball misses playoffs, Peterson retires after 15 seasons Eleanor Skelton eskelton@uccs.edu

The end of the season was eventful for the softball team. The team missed the RMAC tournament and head coach Scott Peterson announced his retirement after the team’s last games April 25. “I wish him the best, he’s a great guy,” said senior captain Emily Jennings. “15 years is definitely a long time to be in any program.” Jennings explained that UCCS administrators nearly dropped the program 15 years ago, but added that Peterson “was able to take it to a consistently winning program.” “I think what he should be remembered for is that he graduated 100 percent of his students. He understood the importance of school and playing softball,” Jennings said. “It was just time, age was catching up to him. He has a lot of grandkids he likes to hang out with. He will be missed. Big shoes to fill.”

Jennings, who has known Peterson since she was eight, explained that he recruited her despite a serious shoulder injury in high school. “He always believed in me. A lot of coaches didn’t think that I’d recover from my shoulder injury, but he did. That’s always stuck with me.” Junior Dani Fonseca said she has grown under Peterson’s guidance. “I loved playing for Coach Scott,” Fonseca said. “I’ve always known I was a really good hitter, but he brought it out of me, I’ve grown so much underneath him.” “It’s hard to lose your one constant on this team your senior year. That’s difficult for me.” The team needed to win two of four games to make the RMAC tournament, but lost three, according to Jennings. “We just didn’t play to our

PHoto illustration courtesy | sports information

The softball team missed the RMAC tournament.

potential. You can’t go out there and play like that at the end of the season and expect to make playoffs,” she said. Freshman players, adjusting to college life and

It was just time, age was catching up to him. He has a lot of grandkids he likes to hang out with. He will be missed. Big shoes to fill.” – Emily Jennings, team captain

time management in classes as well as playing in the RMAC, poses challenges for a younger team, said Fonseca. “Probably our biggest struggle all season was the level of inexperience that we had. We lost five seniors last year and we had 15 freshman this year, and having that young of a team is always hard,” Fonseca said. While Jennings is

graduating, she expressed hope for next year. “I think the year was good, all the freshman will grow and next year will be even better. It was a good improvement year,” Jennings said. “Dani is a beast, she is a scary force,” she added. “Her senior year is going to be damaging, she’s just a great hitter. Probably the hardest worker on the team by far.” Fonseca led the team with 13 home runs, and is considered one of the most dangerous hitters in the RMAC. “I wouldn’t say I’m the most dangerous hitter, but I’m up there,” she said. “You can just tell when you go up to bat, the coaches are like, give her some room in the outfield, and all the girls back up.” The team doesn’t know yet who the new coach will be, according to Fonseca. “I would hope they would inform us right away, that would be very nice, but I guess whenever they find someone, there’s no specific date.”