Nov. 10, 2014

Since 1966

Vol. 39, Iss. 11

Monday, Nov. 10, 2014

IN BRIEF

UCCSScribe.com University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Construction projected to finish by December

NEWS

Winter prep

The campus prepares for pending winter storms 3

Cashless Campus Many of the campus food venues are no longer going to accept cash 4

CULTURE

Clyde’s Cupboard One student will win a basket of food for Thanksgiving 5

nooh alrashid | The scribe

The construction on Austin Bluffs Parkway is expected to be mostly completed by December. Traffic has navigated around construction equipment and orange cones since June 2013.

Apps Smartphone applications for preventing drunk texting and ensuring safety 7

OPINION

Financial aid Putting holds on accounts counterproductive 9

Womanhood Becoming a woman a state of mind more than a state of being 9

SPORTS

Women’s basketball Team picked to finish third in conference, adjusts to new coach Shawn Nelson 11

Women’s soccer Mountain Lions miss RMAC Tournament after loss to CSU-Pueblo 12

Nick Beadleston nbeadles@uccs.edu

Students may have become accustomed to unpaved roads, diesel spewing machinery and stagnant traffic as parts of their daily commute. But all that should soon be miles behind them.

Officials expect construction on Segment 1 of Austin Bluffs Parkway, which runs along the university, to be completed before the month is done.

According to a statement released Sept. 25 by the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority, “a revised schedule allows for all six lanes of Austin Bluffs Parkway between Nevada Ave. and Union Blvd to be open to traffic by Nov. 30, 2014.”

The PPRTA funded, $22.5 million Austin Bluffs Parkway Corridor project began June 17, 2013. Segment 1 was originally slated for completion at the end of September 2014.

“Personally, I think the crew has done a wonderful job accommodating and making sure students feel as little impact as possible,” Chris Roth, president of Student Government, said in an email.

According to the

transportation authority, delays to the original 16-month plan were caused by unseasonal rainfall that hindered construction and caused damage to existing work.

“Students are diligent and I think they have all made the necessary adjustments to accommodate the construction,” Roth said.

Improvements to utilities along the route and the addition of a second right turn lane at the Meadow Lane and Austin Bluffs Parkway intersection also added to construction time.

“There’s some pain with how long it’s taken,” Gary Reynolds, executive director of Facilities Services, said. “But there have been improvements for the city and us.”

Despite weather delays and increased commute times, those involved with the project feel construction has had a minimal impact on residents.

“With the university and all the shopping there is so much traffic,” said Tracee Jackson, spokesperson for Colorado Springs based Lawrence Construction, the company responsible for the work. “[Residents] can see the long range goal.” “[Construction workers

have] worked very hard to keep four lanes and turn lanes open,” Jackson added.

Others on campus have seen a more direct impact from the construction.

“We have seen an increase in accidents,” said Brian McPike, executive director of Public Safety. “We do get the complaints.”

McPike said his department has responded to more rear end collisions since construction began.

He said this is largely due to commuters who become complacent and fail to anticipate changes caused by construction.

“It’s the nature of the construction zone,” he said.

UCCS police were also called to help when heavy flooding combined with construction forced road closures on Austin Bluffs over the summer.

According to Reynolds, the university has sent one of its three project managers to weekly Tuesday planning meetings for the duration of the project to present any concerns from UCCS. The meetings have consisted of members of the PPRTA, Lawrence Construction, city planners and other subcontractors.

Jackson indicated

university representatives were vocal regarding university concerns and said, “if there was an issue, it was literally put on the table.”

Reynolds said PPRTA and Lawrence Construction have made efforts to reduce construction when the university has had major events on campus.

He added that communication with the planning committee has allowed for the extension of the university bike path and the running of internet cables down to the Lane Center.

Segment 1 is one of three road segments undergoing construction in the third and final phase of the Austin Bluffs Parkway Corridor project.

Need for the project was expressed in the city’s 18-month, 2002 East-West Mobility Study, which labeled Austin Bluffs Parkway as one of six significant city corridors in need of modifications.

“All the hard work is paying off for a beautiful thoroughfare,” Jackson said.

Though the project, from Nevada Ave. to Old Farm Drive, will be completed by the end of the year, additional landscaping and minor construction is expected to continue through spring 2015.

News

Nov 10, 2014 | 2

Campus to switch to new emergency notification system Kyle Guthrie kguthri2@uccs.edu

Students may start getting texts from an unknown number in the near future, but they can rule out the stalker possibility on this one.

Public Safety will be implementing a new emergency notification system in the spring in order to better notify students of hazards, dangers or other emergencies that may be occurring on or near the campus.

Tim Stoecklein, the program director for Emergency Management said that while Public Safety is satisfied with the current emergency notification system e2campus, they wanted to explore other options for a more efficient and flexible system.

“I wouldn’t say there was anything necessarily wrong with the other system,” Stoecklin said. “But we look for something that is more

courtesy | raVe mobiLe safeTY TWiTTer

rachel ricci | The scribe

The new Rave Mobile Safety system sent out test alerts to students starting Oct. 27.

efficient and user friendly, and can also reach out to as many channels as possible.”

The e2campus system has been used since 2007.

“My understanding is that it was our first official emergency notification system,” he said. “It came on the heels of Virginia Tech when you started to see a lot of universities and campuses across the nation looking for ways to quickly notify the student body of information.”

In the spring, UCCS will transition from e2campus to Rave Mobile Safety as

their emergency notification system. The system will include several new features.

The current program allows students to register two mobile numbers and two emails for emergency notifications from Public Safety.

RMS will allow students to register up to twelve points of contact to receive emergency information from the campus, allowing for a faster and easier dissemination of critical information.

Additionally, RMS will

have a broader and more extensive category of voice call information, allowing students to receive emergency information through an automated voice call similar to a reverse 911 call.

Many campuses have been happy with the performance of the RMS system.

“The other campuses in the CU system have utilized Rave Mobile Safety for a few years now,” Stoeklin said, “and they have had really good luck with it. They are very happy with it according to my counterparts, so we

made the decision to make the change over when our contract was up with our current system.”

Stoeklin also emphasized that the system will not spam students with useless information, but strictly information critical to student safety, including school closures due to dangerous road conditions.

“We are not going to send out a notification that is simply a guess,” he said. “It is a system that we only use when we need to let you know about a confirmed threat.”

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News

Nov 10, 2014­­| 3

Public safety recommendations for the coming of winter Alexander Nedd anedd@uccs.edu

Despite an unusually warm October with no snowfall and record highs for Colorado Springs, the familiar traces of winter are coming to campus as the first frosts begin to dust the foothills in the morning.

Brian McPike, the executive director of Public Safety, has been with the university for six years and advises students to be aware about the weather.

“The more informed you are, the more warning you have to plan for [any event],” he said.

McPike advises student to sign up for UCCS Alerts.

“Anything with weather related emergencies, such as canceling class, is on there, it’s how we get the info out,” he said.

courtesy | uccs communique

A university plow relocates snow from last year’s winter season.

McPike has learned firsthand the dangers of being ill-prepared for winter from his experience as an officer on duty during the blizzard of 1997, when a prediction of three inches of snow turned into an actual three feet.

The storm stranded McPike for three days and shut down

the city.

The experience allowed him to make recommendations to Colorado Springs Police, which are now standard for all police officers in Colorado Springs and on campus.

Each officer is issued winter survival gear.

“You need the basics in

the car such as a winter kit, backpack, blanket or sleeping bag, a winter coat, correct shoes like boots, winter clothing and water,” he said.

McPike tries to ensure the safety of students on campus during every season, working with facility services to develop protocol.

“They are the guys that make things happen,” he said. “[They] sand, drive trucks out in cold, they do very hard work to make the campus very safe.”

McPike also cautions to use personal judgment when attending school during inclement weather.

“If people can’t make it to campus, email your professors or contact them by whatever means and let them know that they can’t make it, it is an option,” he said. “Everyone has to assess that situation and where they are coming from.”

“Pay attention to winter driving, which includes on campus,” McPike said. “You don’t have to be going very fast to cause a lot of damage to your car. Give yourself more room in the winter time.”

Visit uccs.edu and check your student email for more information and other tips from public safety.

Crime summary features felons, machetes and theft Eleanor Skelton eskelton@uccs.edu

Incidents on and near campus from Oct. 27 to Nov. 5 consisted of the arrest of felons, a bank robbery, a man wielding a machete and a possible sexual assault case.

Incidents on Campus Nov. 4 between Midnight and 12:39 p.m.

Lane Center Officer responded to harassment report.

Oct. 31 between 11:57 a.m. and 2:37 p.m.

Antero House Suspicious vehicle reported.

Officer “found it occupied by a male party wanted on a felony warrant.”

Arrested Darius Paia.

Incidents in Surrounding Area: Nov. 5, 9:49 a.m.

4330 N. Academy Blvd, near Austin Bluffs and Academy intersection “CSPD officers and investigators responded to the report of a bank robbery at TCF Bank, 4330 N. Academy Blvd. Investigation revealed a black male, late 20’s to late 30’s, entered the bank and appeared to fill out paperwork at the customer service counter, before approaching the victim-teller. He pulled out a black handgun, pointed it at the teller, and demanded money. After receiving cash from the victim, the suspect ran out of the bank and was last seen on foot, going

north. He wore sunglasses, a dark knit hat, dark hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and boots. He was 5’8” – 6’ tall with a medium to stocky build.”

Nov. 2, 12:27 a.m.

503 W. Garden of the Gods CSPD Officers responded to Hyatt Place “regarding a man with a gun.”

“The reporting party related an unknown male was passed out in a vehicle with an AR-15 style rifle lying next to him.

Upon arrival of officers, the vehicle was approached safely and it was determined from the outside of the car that the weapon was an air soft type toy gun. It was secured and the suspect, later identified as Andrew Woods, was woken up and removed from the car without incident. During the investigation, the suspect had several IDs of unknown people, to include driver licenses and credit cards. The car he was in was determined not to be his. During an inventory of the vehicle, several electronic items associated to a burglary from Oct. 1, 2014 at La Plata 1755 Telstar Dr. were discovered.

Woods was initially taken into custody for Possession of a Sch. I Cont. Sub. Officers also discovered 4 additional felony arrest warrants for Woods.”

Nov. 1, 10:56 p.m.

7400 Block Austin Bluffs Parkway “Officers participating in a directed activity deployment, which focused on violent offenders, stopped a vehicle belonging to a wanted

fugitive. During the traffic stop, officers saw a firearm in plain view, which was later determined to belong to the front passenger, 19 year old Alexander Brown. The driver was arrested on an outstanding warrant, and his vehicle was impounded. A search of the vehicle, and closer inspection of the firearm, revealed that it was a “sawed off” rifle, which had its serial number obliterated. Mr. Brown was arrested on charges of possessing a dangerous or illegal weapon, possession of a defaced firearm and possession of weapons by previous offenders.”

Oct. 31, 1:10 p.m.

2400 E. San Rafael St. “COMMIT detectives developed information about drug related criminal activity in the area of 2400 E. San Rafael. The information led to the execution of a search warrant on Oct. 31 at 1:10 p.m. with the assistance of the Tactical Enforcement Unit.

One arrest has been made and more are expected.”

Arrested Mark Lobato, 46.

Oct. 30, 2:53 p.m.

Templeton Gap/Dublin Blvd “Officer McPike attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a grey SUV in the area of Templeton Gap Rd and Dublin Blvd. When Officer McPike activated his overhead lights, the vehicle took off in an evasive manner. The driver bailed out on foot and a lengthy chase ensued. The 17 YOA female driver was taken into custody at Crestdale Drive and Donahue Drive after

a brief struggle. The driver was charged with resisting arrest in addition to multiple traffic charges.”

concealed on his person.

Mr. Britten was charged and taken to the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center.”

Oct. 28, 1:36 p.m.

2903 N. Tejon St. Officers “investigate[d] a disturbance and possible sexual assault. Upon arrival, officers received information from the victim that she was assaulted and sexually assaulted by an acquaintance.

The Adult Sexual Assault/ Domestic Violence Unit was notified and responded to assist with the investigation.

Probable cause was developed for Second Degree Assault and a warrant was issued for the suspect’s arrest. The suspect is identified as 56 year old Colorado Springs resident Robert Crockford.

The investigation is ongoing at this point.”

Oct. 27, 6:21 p.m.

7720 N. Academy Blvd., near Academy and Briargate Blvd.

Intersection “Detective Vantland received information that a suspect in a sex assault on a child in a position of trust. Edgar Gonzalez was going to be in the 7700 block of N. Academy Blvd. Mr. Gonzalez was observed leaving a business and was given orders to lie on the ground. Mr. Gonzalez initially complied, but he put his hand into a bag and started reaching around inside of the bag. Officer Kelly felt the suspect was reaching for a weapon and placed canine Broc on to Mr. Gonzalez’s left leg. Mr. Gonzalez continued to reach into the bag while attempting to shake canine Broc off of the contact. Officer Montoya was able to kick the bag away from Mr. Gonzalez and place him into handcuffs without further resistance.

Mr. Gonzalez was transported to Memorial Hospital where he was treated for injuries he sustained from the canine contact. In addition to his warrant, Mr. Gonzalez was charged with Obstructing a Peace Officer. He was taken to CJC.”

Oct. 28, 3:46 a.m.

4865 N. Academy Blvd, near Academy and Flintridge intersection “Officer Spicuglia observed a suspicious vehicle driving slowly behind several closed businesses. Upon contact, with the driver of the vehicle, John Britten, Officer Spicuglia observed that Mr. Britten was armed with a large machete.

As Officer Spicuglia was checking Mr. Britten for additional weapons, Mr. Britten began to actively fight.

He attempted to punch Officer Spicuglia several times and Officer Spicuglia was able to place Mr. Britten in custody.

After Mr. Britten was in custody, it was also discovered that he had methamphetamine

For crime tips, call campus police at 255-3111 or CSPD at 444-7000.

Sources: uccs.edu/pusafety/ police/blotter.html and springsgov.com/units/police/ policeblotter.asp

News

Nov 10, 2014 | 4

Cashless campus brings change to dining, Sodexo transition continues

megan lunsford | The scribe

Cashless Campus, left, will prevent students from using cash to pay at certain campus locations. Clyde’s 2013 and 2014 menus, right, show the differences in foods and prices.

Eleanor Skelton eskelton@uccs.edu

Hard cash may no longer be helpful if you want to purchase food on campus.

Dining Services has implemented a new “Cashless Campus” policy, effective Nov. 3, for certain stations.

According Mark Hayes, director of Food Services, who is engineering the transition from Sodexo, the Dwire Hall, Columbine Hall and University Hall stations will only be accepting debit and credit cards and Munch Money.

The Lodge went cashless over the summer. Other locations, such as Café 65, Coffee @ UC and Clyde’s still accept cash.

“Less than 25 percent of all transactions in Dining and Food Services are paid for with cash,” Hayes said.

Hayes indicated that reducing wait time in line was a factor in the decision.

“In the coffee shops where cashless has most recently been implemented, we know that most students, faculty and staff want fast service,” Hayes said. “Processing cashless transactions on the whole is faster than processing cash transactions.”

megan lunsford | The scribe

Coffee @ UC is the only coffee shop on campus that still accepts cash.

Hayes also believes not having a cash drawer is more secure.

“These coffee shop locations do not have adequate areas for the secure handling of cash funds and cash deposits by our student employees, and we consider student employee welfare to be paramount,” he said.

Hayes addressed the concern that not accepting cash would be illegal.

“My understanding is that federal legal tender laws require payment be denominated in

dollars, but does not require that the merchant must accept cash,” he said. “Consider airlines and how most no longer accept cash for payment in flight.”

Hayes encouraged a transition to Munch Money.

“Students, faculty and staff wishing to use cash can pre-load funds via the Munch Money program, [which] can be set up for anyone with an active UCCS I.D. card, and Munch Money comes with the benefit of earning bonus funds for additional food purchases,”

he said.

Munch Money can be loaded at the University Center front desk, while housing will load money on to student accounts if they live on campus.

Hayes believes the overall transition from Sodexo has been smooth.

“There are no financial difficulties,” he said. “Our primary focus is building a great dining program on campus by leveraging all available resources in order to provide high quality food at the lowest prices possible.”

Comparing the fall 2014 Clyde’s menu to the fall 2013 version under Sodexo, the number of items on the menu is generally fewer for each category, but new items are now offered.

There are six starter items instead of ten, and four sides now compared to eight.

UCCS Dining Services replaced chili fries, Clyde’s Philly, fish and chips, and loaded nachos with five salad options and new features like Black Bean Burger Sliders, Sausage Sliders, Baja fish tacos and several sandwiches on focaccia bread from Old School Bakery at Ivywild.

The average price change per menu item for entrees and beers was $0.66. Four items increased in price, two remained the same and 19 decreased.

“Keep in mind that when you compare fall ’13 Clyde’s menu to fall ’14, had Sodexo still been here they would have likely increased menu prices three to five percent because the cost of food goes up every year,” Hayes said.

Hayes said Dining Services still plans to form a student naming committee to replace the generic names like Coffee @ UC “in the coming months.”

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Culture

Nov 10, 2014 ­| 5

‘Battle of the Departments’ helps Clyde’s Cupboard see increase in donations Audrey Jensen ajensen4@uccs.edu

As holiday season approaches, Clyde’s Cupboard is planning on giving away more items than they usually would and awarding one student with a multiple food, portioned Thanksgiving dinner basket.

Students who are already signed up to take food from Clyde’s Cupboard can sign up with Clyde’s Cupboard president Richard Almarode until Nov. 21 and the student will be chosen on Nov. 25.

“This if the first year we are trying this [Thanksgiving dinner give-away] so we want to see how it will turn out and if we want to try again or expand it next year,” Almarode said.

The basket of food will have turkey, green beans, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, yams and mashed potatoes, a pumpkin to make a pie with, pie crust, fried onions and rolls. It will be up to the student to cook and prepare the meal.

Clyde’s Cupboard will also be expanding the number of food items they are giving away to students for the season.

“There have been some changes in how much food we are giving away to students

megan lunsford | The Scribe

The Give and Gobble donation boxes are stationed throughout the campus. Students can donate to Clyde’s Cupboard for the holiday season.

with the current drive of Battle of the Departments. I am getting an abundance of some items so those select items we are giving away,” Almarode said.

Samantha Mickens, senior health scienes major, said that the food intake for students will increase from six to eight items.

Mickens is a part of the Battle of the Departments

between different schools and offices such as the Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences and the Financial Aid Office.

Various offices and departments have boxes located in their areas for students to donate food or toiletry items. Whichever department collects the most items will win a free continental breakfast.

Mickens is enrolled in instructor Jessica Kirby’s program planning class and is the leader for her group for the class assignment of conducting a food drive specifically for Clyde’s Cupboard.

The last day to donate for Battle of the Departments is Nov. 17.

“So far this semester, from the food drive alone we have received 1,700 different

food items. The first week we received about 980 and the second week we received about 800 different food items,” Mickens said.

“When donating food please be aware of what you are donating. Don’t donate anything expired. Keep the golden rule in mind: donate what you would want to receive. Try and make the items healthy as well,” she added.

The Daniel’s Fund Foundation is currently working to collect toiletry items for the cupboard.

Almarode is unsure of how much has been collected since the start of their drive.

Separate from the Battle of the Departments, UCCS Dining and Food Services will have boxes to collect loose change at Clyde’s and Coffee @ UC as part of “Coins for Clyde’s Cupboard.”

Almarode said they have exceed over 3,000 items donated from the food drives hosted since the beginning of the semester.

“I know at the start of the semester there was not a lot of revenue coming in. There was a lot of hype between the departments though, so I knew the revenue would be coming.

Now that the food drive is in full swing there is a huge change from the start of the semester,” Mickens said.

National Student Exchange Program brings students to UCCS Celeste Burnham Ashley Thompson cburnham@uccs.edu athomp13@uccs.edu

Students can study in another state or country and continue to pay UCCS tuition rates.

Although it is a similar concept to study abroad, students in the National Student Exchange program pay the same tuition that they are paying to attend UCCS unless the university they are exchanging to has cheaper in-state tuition, then they are able to pay that amount.

NSE allows students to participate in a national exchange where they can study in the U.S., Canada, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico or Guam for a semester or year of their college career. There are almost 200 schools currently in the program.

Margie Oldham, UCCS NSE director, wants to help students experience a different place and school while taking classes that apply toward their degree with no difference in price.

“If it doesn’t hinder you in any way with money or with your degree program then

rachel ricci | The Scribe

The National Student Exchange Program gives students the opportunity to study abroad while paying UCCS tuition rates.

why wouldn’t you go on an exchange?” she said.

There are 100 students from other universities at UCCS while 47 UCCS students are participating in an exchange at another university within the program, according to Oldham.

“Most of the students [from UCCS] that we have been placing are interested in geographies. They want to get to the water, such as Marine biologists, or people that want to do geography go to an island.

Our students want to experience a different terrain,” Oldham said.

Claudia Cantin is from Montreal and is a third year at her university. Cantin chose UCCS because of the smaller

setting and class sizes that are similar to the ones she has in Montreal.

Cantin also explained that if English is not your native language then the process of attending an American university can be a little more challenging.

“Because I am not from the United States, you have to adapt to the language. Before coming here, we had to pass a universitylevel test, so my English is good,” she said.

The program is tailored to some specific degree plans, too.

Molly Wollner is on an exchange at UCCS from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire.

“Margie and Heidi [Wardell,

NSE coordinator] have been so extremely helpful throughout the whole process so I haven’t had any difficulties,” said Wollner.

“They helped me plan out my schedule, check how everything transfers and they are really good about checking in on everything that’s going on.”

Wollner expressed that she has been incredibly pleased with her experience in Colorado and said she would not trade it for anything.

“You are given so many opportunities while on exchange, you get to take different classes, go on new adventures and even given possible internships,” she said.

Jordan Tingson is here on

exchange from Guam. Tingson chose UCCS because it is a bigger campus than most schools in Guam.

“I like how the teachers put work into making sure the students understand. It’s really important to me because I’m a really serious student,” she said.

For Tingson, there is not much to complain about within the program, except for the state’s lack of island temperatures; she said that it is just really cold here in Colorado.

Oldham thinks the program will continue to expand.

“Try something. Explore it.

We plan a year out, but you’ve got to start looking into it,” she said.

Culture

Nov 10, 2014 | 6

Klingon, Elvish and Feayran contribute to increased cultural awareness

Eleanor Skelton eskelton@uccs.edu

Klingon and Elvish lessons are not just for obsessive fantasy and sci-fi fans.

Learning fictional languages and ancient languages like Koine Greek or Celtic dialects can enrich understanding.

Linda Watts, anthropology chair, teaches the class the Nature of Language.

“Fictional languages are not generally full languages and are used by people to show their in-group status as a fan of a fictional world.”

History professor Brian Duvick says people study ancient languages and fictional languages for different reasons, but acknowledges there is overlap. “[Languages] still constitute our best means into the minds of other peoples and invariably lead to the creative reconstruction of their cultures or simply the construction of new, often fictitious worlds.”

David Edwards, who graduated with a bachelor’s in symbolic systems from Stanford University, started creating languages at age 12.

Feayran, his most wellknown language, came from a high school collaborative fantasy project.

“Feayran was spoken by a tribe of shape shifting hunter-gatherers in the harsh, cold climate of the world’s northern continent,” he explained in an email.

Edwards has created several websites and YouTube videos to host and explain the Feayran Project.

courtesy | WiKia.cooKie.neT

The Klingon alphabet.

courtesy | piXGood.com

The Elvish alphabet.

“I became enthralled with the absolutely incredible things that languages can do,” he said. “Feayran became a way to experiment with my mind, to stretch and challenge the ways I was accustomed to conceptualizing the world.”

At Stanford, Edwards joined the Esperanto club with other language creators, where they played a game called “Where are Your Keys,” intended to save endangered languages.

“The game works for established languages as well as it works for endangered ones, and it’s also highly addictive, so we ended up playing in just about any language we could get our hands on,” he said.

Edwards said his hobby has changed his career direction.

“After I had been playing WAYK for a while, I signed up to do a summer internship at an endangered language revitalization project,” he said. “Until then I had planned on pursuing a career in artificial intelligence research, but that summer convinced me that I wanted to keep helping communities and saving languages.”

Michelle Gluck learned to speak and write Feayran while

Edwards was creating it.

“Feayran became a connection to a developing world where I spent much of my time assisting in hammering out details and learning the cadences and social implications in building a language,” she said.

“That gave me a much greater understanding of the evolved world of our languages, and a greater capacity for thoughtful speech.”

“Studying languages and even helping to build one has grown me creatively to reach for the point where an imagined world becomes real, not just a ghost of an experience that could be had here, and has improved my social understanding of the world in general,” she added.

Gluck also studied Klingon, both dialects of Tolkien’s Elvish, Dwarven, Middle English, and Norse in middle school, high school and college.

Mary Nikkel, associate editor at NewReleaseTuesday. com and LeTourneau University alumna, taught herself Elvish at age 12 using online resources and studying the appendices in “Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.”

“I think I wanted to prove

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to myself that I could teach myself a made up language,” she said.

“I’d just finished a few years of Latin, so I was interested in languages anyway, but super interested in Lord of the Rings,” Nikkel said. “I felt like learning Elvish would be the next step in fully immersing myself in the story, in really engaging and living it.”

Nikkel can identify the meaning of an Elvish passage on first reading.

“My ability to actually construct sentences is rusty, particularly as my memory of the tenses and conjugations has faded a bit, but I can usually remember with brief refreshers,” she said. “At the peak of my Elvish scholarship when I was 14 or 15, I could, and did, write full metered, rhyming poetry in Elvish.”

Nikkel later took two years of Koine Greek for her Bible minor in addition to her digital writing major.

“My motivation for learning Greek later in life would be similar: to better engage on all levels the story of scripture,” she said.

In addition, Nikkel created the framework of a language for a novel she wrote as a teenager.

Katie Sawyer, sophomore majoring in creative writing and music at Metro State, uses ancient languages in her language creation and world

building for her novel, “The Valkyries of Drascera.”

Four dialects are spoken in Sawyer’s fictional world, a dystopian, steampunk parallel dimension.

The common, spoken form is “a mix of Greek and Norse languages and combines the [flow] of Greek with the sharp [consonants] of Norse.

The written version of this language is called Ruif and carefully combines the two language letterings into something new and unique.”

“Finally, there is Druim which is the spell caster language of this world. This language is a mix of Celtic, Latin and Greek and uses mostly Greek lettering with a few adaptations when written down,” she said in an email.

Sawyer’s process involves identifying parallels between the actual languages.

“By looking at their various sentence structure, word differences and verb usage, I picked and chose where the two different worlds could safely collide into something beautiful,” she said.

Sawyer has also studied some Elvish as well as German and Italian.

Do nerdy things, without fear. Creating a language adds color to an imagined setting, and you might even end up saving a language from extinction. As Sawyer explained, “nerd power unite.”

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Culture

Nov 10, 2014 | 7

Junior takes survival trips, hunts poisonous snakes and learns taxidermy Ashley Thompson athomp13@uccs.edu

Eric Tedesco is interested in anything but the typical barnyard animals.

Tedesco spent most of his childhood on his family’s farm in Parker, Colo. with chickens, ducks, pigs, geese and cows.

But now he has a strong determination to survive in nature and hunt reptiles.

Tedesco attributes his selfsufficient nature to the way he was raised.

“I grew up without TV, without a computer, without anything like that,” he said. “So I would just go out and eat a bunch of ants or dig a hole with a stick.”

Tedesco takes occasional survival trips, which are camping escapades that can involve carrying only a lighter and a knife into the mountains with the end goal being only survival.

Since sleeping bags or mats are not included as necessary items, Tedesco has had to become innovative with his sleeping methods. He uses a smoke blanket to keep warm.

“You dig trenches alongside

courtesy | Eric tedesco

Junior Eric Tedesco enjoys spending his time with atypical animals such as spiders and snakes.

your body on either side, and make small fires all along the trenches, coals and embers really,” he said.

The small flames and the smoke blowing across your body serve not only to keep you warm, but also to keep away predators.

Tedesco has gone on solo survival trips lasting up to three weeks.

“I once survived for three days on grasshoppers and plants alone,” he said. “I’ll eat worms, grubs, grasshoppers, you name it, I’ll eat it, especially when I get hungry.”

Tedseco’s dream job would involve venomous snakes.

His interest in snakes originated from his family’s love of hunting. He quickly grew bored of traditional hunting when he learned of a pythonhunting contest in Florida.

After driving all night

through the Everglades with his friend, and ultimately finding a 28-foot-long python, Tedesco was hooked.

“It’s an adrenaline rush, pythons are very hard to find,” he said.

Rattlesnakes are easier to hunt down, and can be found in Colorado, but Tedesco still prefers to go out-of-state for his snake fix. He has visited Arizona and named Texas as a great place to hunt rattlesnakes.

“We have about the same amount [of rattlesnakes] as Texas does, except Texas rattlesnakes get two, three times as big,” he said.

Since Tedesco interacts with bats, rabbits and other animals along with snakes, there are more diseases he is prone to catching.

“I get bit by everything,” he said. So far, he has been treated for rabies and tapeworms.

Tedesco said he is a snake kind of guy, but he finds all animals interesting. He is currently apprenticing with a world-renowned taxidermist in Elizabeth, Colo., learning the process of stuffing and preserving many different animals.

Apps to prevent dating violence, promote safety and stop drunk calls Eleanor Skelton eskelton@uccs.edu

October was domestic violence awareness month, but these issues have no timeline.

With most everyone constantly carrying their smartphone, the following applications can be useful. The apps range from a quick method to find a ride, a program that prevents drunk dialing and texting and a system that users can access when they feel that their safety is threatened.

Circle of 6 Price: Free Users can choose six contacts, prompting you to text those six people for a ride or receive a phone call as a distraction to escape undesirable situations while minimizing attention. The app also includes a button to dial the rape or sexual assault hotline RAINN or the Love is Respect hotline. Users can swap the six contacts for new ones at any time.

Winner of the 2011 White House and HHS “Apps Against Abuse” Technology Challenge Winner of the Avon Foundation for Women/Institute of Medicine “Ending Violence @ Home” iTunes App Store Rated: 4/5 Updated: Dec. 16, 2013 Version: 1.4

nooh alrashid | The Scribe

Apps such as Circle of 6, left, and Drunk Mode, right, help with personal safety and to prevent drunk dialing and texting.

Size: 3.4 MB Requires: iOS 6.0 or later. iPhone compatible. Optimized for iPhone 5.

Google Play Store Rated: 4/5 Updated: Dec. 17, 2013 Size: 12 MB Installs: between 50,000 and 100,000 Version: 1.3 Requires: Android 2.1 or later Drunk Mode Price: Free Prevents user from drunk dialing contacts for up to 24 hours, can block social media apps such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and SnapChat. This app texts GPS location to friends and potential designated

drivers as well as sending users reminders to not drunk drive or drunk text. iTunes App Store Rated: 3/5 Updated: Oct. 11, 2014 Version: 3.3 Size: 13.9 MB Requires: iOS 7.1 or later. iPhone, iPad and iPod touch compatible. Optimized for iPhone 5.

Google Play Store Rated: 2.9/5 Updated: April 15, 2014 Size: 6.6 MB Installs: between 1,000 and 5,000 Version: 2.0 Requires: Android 4.0 or later MyForce

Price: $14.99/month Similar to the OnStar system in automobiles, MyForce reaches a 24/7 “certified monitoring center.” Recommended for when a user is in an unsafe area or feeling threatened. The agent on the line then notifies authorities in the area. UCCS Public Safety implemented the app in spring 2011. iTunes App Store Rated: 4/5 Updated: June 16, 2012 Version: 3.1 Size: 2.7 MB Requires: iOS 3.1.3 or later. iPhone, iPad and iPod touch compatible.

Google Play Store Rated: 3.4/5

Updated: Dec. 4, 2013 Size: 2.4 MB Installs: between 1,000 and 5,000 Version: 3.0.1 Requires: Android 2.0.1 or later Safety Assistance Settings in Samsung Galaxy S5 According to Que Publishing, the phone can summon assistance from up to four contacts via a text message. The user presses the power button three times, which sends a message to the contacts with a URL to Google Maps with your current location.

Pictures from the front and back cameras, as well as sound recordings can be sent. This feature will consume battery quickly.

eDItorIAl

Nov 10, 2014 | 8

Don’t take this whole freedom thing for granted Jonathan Toman Editor-in-Chief

Samantha Morley Managing Editor

Taylor Hargis Copy Editor

Eleanor Skelton News Editor

Audrey Jensen Culture Editor

Alexander Nedd Opinion Editor

Alexander Nedd

Life on the Bluffs Editor

Brandon Applehans Vetern’s Day is Nov. 11. Don’t underestimate the efforts of those that have fought to ensure your freedom.

Scribe Staff scribe@uccs.edu

Democracy is hard. It can be frustrating, ugly and tedious. It can seem like the worst, most ineffective way of going about government.

In recent memory, it has been so frustrating as to cause the worst feeling imaginable in the citizens of this country: apathy.

Apathy is the worst emotion one can have, because it signifies an absence of caring. With emotions such as anger, at least we still know you care enough to get riled up about it. With apathy, you have given up.

Perhaps it isn’t worth trying, perhaps there’s no reason to participate in democracy. Why try with all the nonsense that goes on with our system of government? Let’s just give up and let it all go to pot, some think.

It is tempting to say nuts to this nonsense, why even bother?

But a word of caution: don’t take this “nonsense” for granted.

Democracy is still the best form of government that humans have ever

conceived. And it has to be protected, because it is frighteningly fragile.

It’s a relatively new idea in human history, democracy. For most of our existence, we have survived in systems that didn’t take the input of everyone into account: dictatorship, oligarchy, etc.

We are some of the luckiest humans in our history, to have the privileges we do when it comes to government. But it can vanish in a flash.

And as we have seen consistently, once earned, it is even harder to make democracy stick.

There are constantly those, both within and outside of this country, that seek to take our democracy and freedom from us.

But that’s where we, the average American, come in.

This Veteran’s Day, remember the sacrifices that those who came before us made to ensure the continuation of our democracy and our freedom.

Because freedom is hard. It’s not like somebody ordained that there would be freedom in this country and that it would continue forever.

Those who came before us fought and died for the ideals of democracy and freedom, however imperfect they are,

courtesy | WiKimedia

and it seems awfully disrespectful to not remember that.

It can even be dangerous for the current generation, because when we lose our perspective of how we lucky we are, we endanger the security of our own democracy and freedom.

Remember what they did, so that you can bemoan the “nonsense” of our government and not die. Use Veteran’s Day as an opportunity to appreciate the people that have made what you do and enjoy possible.

But here’s the thing about our holidays, including Veteran’s Day. We have to live what we feel every day, not just once a year. It doesn’t do to be nice to people only around Christmas, remember Martin Luther King Jr. only on his day, or appreciate our country only on the fourth of July.

It is our continued appreciation for our democracy and those that came before that will keep our democracy, and our freedom, secure for both ourselves and future generations.

It’s the best “nonsense” we’ve come up with so far, so make sure you appreciate those who have and continue to protect it.

We want to hear from you! Here’s How: Email:

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opINIoN

Nov 10, 2014 | 9

“Hold” on Financial Aid: Why some holds are pointless and hurt students

DeKeveion Glaspie dglaspie@uccs.edu

Spring 2015 registration is upon us, and with that comes another bill to foot to continue your higher education. While many will fight for the chance at an open seat in next

semester’s classrooms, a different war will be waged against those who have holds on their accounts.

Holds are amounts of money that a student has yet to pay and can bring problems when getting ready for the next semester.

With holds, students are unable to add classes for the following semester.

This system creates more problems than it solves.

Holds on student’s accounts shouldn’t be taken so seriously and financial aid should be more lenient.

College is expensive and the ability to pay

upfront is a luxury many on campus don’t have.

When grants are given out and the loans have reached their max, the student has no choice but to find other ways of paying off their balance.

Placing holds on student accounts make sense when it is the end of the spring semester. But placing holds after the fall semester can place an unnecessary burden. No student wants to think that they may have to take a semester off halfway through the academic year.

Holds are sometimes placed on students for

Womanhood defined by the mind, not by men

amounts that shouldn’t impede the ability to register for classes at all.

Will Franks, junior English major, experienced this upsetting circumstance after a late fee was attached to his account due to a small balance for Paw Prints.

“The Financial Aid Office has charged me for classes three separate times for one semester,” said Franks. “I understand the way the system works and I’m okay with going into debt, but charging $65 for a $2 paw print charge is unacceptable.”

Try outrageous. Paw

Samantha Morley smorley2@uccs.edu

I know that I am a woman. I have been one for several years, but I cannot exactly pinpoint when that happened.

Did I become a woman when I got my period at 14? No, I was too young.

Did I become a woman when I turned 16 and took a strong interest in boys? No, not quite then either.

Or did I become a woman at 21 when I had sex for the first time?

No, I already was a woman at that time.

There isn’t a specific time when I realized that I grew into my womanhood because becoming a woman is a frame of mind, not a state of physical being.

In the past, society used to dictate that a female became a woman when she menstruated for the first time. This was because she could marry a man and bear children. We don’t live in a society where 14-year-olds are

she considers herself a woman.

That’s not how it should be. I know plenty of females that are not mature enough to be considered a woman, yet they have had plenty of experience in the bed.

Instead, females should classify their womanhood as the point which they realize that the world is bigger than themselves, when they start to consider others in their decisions.

I am a woman now because I think of the future and what that means for both me and everyone else around me.

I am a woman because I don’t let little things like someone being prettier than me make me hate them.

I am a woman because I found out things like that don’t matter.

Think about your own circumstances and whether or not you have developed into womanhood. I may look back years later and realize that I actually had some more growing to do, but the fact that I consider this possibility defines me as a woman.

Not menstruation, or infatuation, or copulation.

2. Google different and unique scholarships (i.e. being left handed, being from Alaska) 3. File for COF (College Opportunity Fund) 4. Get a work-study job 5. Enroll in summer classes (the time that you are in college will decrease) These tips can help students deal with excessive and unnecessary charges, leaving one to only deal with what is really important right now: grades.

School is meant to help us, not keep us from reaching our goals.

How you can help me, confessions in working retail during the holidays

There isn’t a specific time when I realized that I grew into my womanhood because becoming a woman is a frame of mind, not a state of physical being. expected to get pregnant anymore.

Instead, womanhood becomes more of an awakening, an opening of the mind to observe the world in a new way.

It’s different for all women. Some develop a sense of wanting to become a mother, others just want to be in a stable relationship and others define their womanhood through stable finances and the ability to be independent.

My revelation occurred at some point in high school. I knew it happened when I drifted away from most of my friends. Something internally clicked and my mind opened to a new vision of the world.

I no longer found importance about which boy in the class was the cutest, or what was the next trend. Instead I saw the prosperity of good grades and hard work and what that would yield me in the future when I would need to strongly establish my independence.

Unfortunately, it seems that girls determine their womanhood through the acceptance of others, particularly men. If a girl is considered desirable by men, then

Prints automatically charges to our student accounts and many students might not expect this burden, which can make for a nasty shock when trying to register for next terms classes.

Whether you have no problem or have reached the end of the rope of patience with Financial Aid, paying tuition is a must.

Here are some tips for getting through the semester without stressing over your financial aid and avoiding holds: 1. Fill out the FASFA as early as possible

Alexander Nedd anedd@uccs.edu

“Hi, welcome to Safeway, how can I assist you today?”

I work as a courtesy clerk, giving these types of greetings to customers while I work 40 hours a week bagging groceries, pushing carts, providing customer service and ensuring a smooth checkout process that allows you to come in and out of the store.

But it gets tiring.

For the most part my job is perfect; perfect except for the minor yet important aspect that’s crucial to the running of any business globally: the people.

The holiday season is fast approaching and it’s the time that I fear most.

Usually associated with the joys of festive music and bargain deals, my holiday spirit is quickly dampened by the very people I dedicate my time to every day: customers.

I consider myself a people person. Working for others and meeting new faces is an exciting part of my job, one I look forward to everyday.

But everyone has their limits.

Retail is hard work, especially during the later months of the year.

Employees are stretched over long hours, usually over the busiest shift, with little help from either management or customers.

At times going to work can feel like preparing for a battle, a private hell masked by a cheery face and a friendly greeting to every person that walks through our doors.

The first rule of retail is always spoken and known by everyone: “The customer is always right.” It’s one of the most dangerous quotes to employee and customer conflicts, because it brings a sense of entitlement to customers and a lack of respect toward employees.

Those with problems believe they can get anything they want if they hold the dreadful thought of losing a sale over a company’s head.

Customers have never been more wrong.

Working in retail has allowed me the experience to understand problems on both sides of the shopping experience. We want your business and should properly address a problem should you have a complaint. But there is a right way and a wrong way to handle things.

Becoming snobby and threatening to speak to one’s manager is heading in the wrong direction.

Verbal harassment and physical contact is always unacceptable, both of

which I have experienced.

Employees are meant to help you, but they are human beings, too.

Many have forgotten this, a standard that direly needs to come back in 2014. The holiday season can be a stressful time for all, but it’s during these moments that people should work with one another, not tear each other down.

As a customer, try this quote instead: “You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.”

If you come to me with a problem and a respectable tone, I will do all I can to provide you a better customer experience and ensure the matter is taken care of in a satisfactory manner. When you threaten to leave a company and act rudely, there is no part of me that wants to save you. I have feelings too.

This holiday season, I encourage those who don’t work in retail to keep the holiday spirit alive. The people serving you are doing their best to make a living while also providing you the best experience possible.

Have a heart and treat these people with the respect and decency that every human being should enjoy.

It not only makes your experience better, it creates an atmosphere where employees such as myself will feel happy about going to work. Don’t take that away from us.

Help me, and I will help you.

lIFe on the BluFFs Sudoku 8

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Repaint lanes on Austin Bluffs

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Bright side of having to work yesterday at 7 am. #UCCS”

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Top Ten Alexander Nedd, anedd@uccs.edu

“God is good, all the time.

4

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Nov 10, 2014 | 10

“These little babies are all over

campus right now. They terrify me! #spiders #UCCS #nature #phobias” @thehoneybeehome

Study

Campus Chatter Ashley Thompson, athomp13@uccs.edu

What have you been doing to stay ahead of finals?

Ebony Dodson, freshman, early childhood education “I don’t have very many finals. We mostly have book reports, and I read the books before I even started out the year.”

Reid Graves, freshman, mechanical engineering “I just never procrastinate. Before a test I go over review until I know how to solve it.”

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Clyde This week 12

Budgeting Workshop 6 p.m.

Library Room 239

“Not procrastinating, staying ahead on assignments.”

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

at UCCS Wed

Mitch Rodrigues, freshman, mechanical engineering

Mon

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Thurs

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The Writers Block Club Meeting Noon Library Room 300

Documentary Film Screening - Unsung Heroes: The Story of America’s Female Patriots 5 - 8:30 p.m.

UC 302

Tues

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Veterans Day Red, White and Blue Pancakes 7:30 a.m.

UC first floor

80s Dance Party 8 p.m.

Berger Hall

Sports

Nov 10, 2014­ ­­ | 11

Mansfield excels at sport she wasn’t originally recruited for Brandon Applehans bappleha@uccs.edu

Sophomore Michaela Mansfield led the women’s soccer team in goals this season, meaning she gathered a lot of attention with her offensive mentality.

But she did not originally gather attention for her soccer skills.

At first, Mansfield was recruited to UCCS for one purpose: to run track.

And with one phone call to the women’s soccer coach, she committed.

Her freshmen year was anything but dull.

“My freshmen year I had track five days a week from 7 to 9 in the morning,” she said. “Then I would have soccer practice from 11 to 1. This included twohour soccer practices, lifting sessions and individuals. You could say I was burnt out.”

Mansfield knew she wanted to play college soccer, despite her track skill.

“Throughout high school I pretty much dominated the conference,” she said. “I always knew I was going to play soccer in college, just had to see where. There was no way I wasn’t going to play.”

Though the talent came naturally for Mansfield, there was an x-factor that made her take up the game.

“My mom was my coach,” she said. “I think every little kid plays soccer and then they realize if they want to continue. I

courtesy | sports information

Sophomore Michaela Mansfield kicks the ball down the field against Colorado School of Mines on Sept. 28.

was always good at soccer so the success just kept pulling me in.”

The sport means a great deal to Mansfield.

“For me, it’s something that I can be proud of. Being the kind of player I am, and the hard work ethic I have, it really gives me an outlet and helps me focus on something. It’s something I’ve always enjoyed,” she said.

With the team missing the playoffs, this is when the outdoor activities begin

for Mansfield.

“Lately I’ve been catching up on all the sleep I’ve missed through soccer,” she said. “Outside of soccer I like to go hiking. There are good places around here but I enjoy Estes Park. Honestly I just like to get outside.”

Mansfield, a sport management major, is working with the new semiprofessional soccer team, the Colorado Springs Switchbacks Football Club, known as Switchbacks FC. She is looking to remain

a piece of the program as it becomes more popular.

Next season the team will have a core group of multiple juniors and close to ten sophomores, and Mansfield sees the importance of the off-season.

“The spring is the time to get better and to personally train individually,” said Mansfield. “So hopefully they will be able to get their confidence there.

We have great players they just need confidence.”

Women’s basketball picked third in conference, looks to return to RMAC shootout Brandon Applehans bappleha@uccs.edu

After being picked to win the conference in the preseason last year, the women’s basketball team fell short of that prediction in the tough RMAC, losing to Colorado Mesa in the first round of the RMAC Shootout.

This year the Mountain Lions are ranked third in the RMAC preseason poll and have a different look with their new head coach Shawn Nelson.

“I don’t look into rankings that much,” said Nelson. “I’ve coached teams my first year at Carroll where we were picked seventh out of eight and we won the league and went to the national tournament. It’s good that people think you have a lot of talent but at the same time it doesn’t mean anything.”

The team had to adjust to the new style that Nelson has brought.

“At first I was nervous,” said junior guard Gabby Ramirez. “He has his own perspective on basketball but so far I love everything about him. He’s really into winning and so are we.”

Prior to taking the job at UCCS, Nelson scouted the team and did his homework to see which players play best at certain positions. When talking about clutch performance, senior guard Abby Kirchoff came to mind.

Kirchoff was picked as the Preseason Player of the Year for the second year in a row.

“Everybody knows she is a great player,” said Nelson. “I think she is a calming presence out there. You know

courtesy | sports information

Senior guard Abby Kirchoff will take the floor with the rest of the women’s basketball team to start the season on Nov. 14.

you have a go-to player out there to get you 15-20 a night. With what we do, she can play all of the guard spots.”

Kirchoff feels that preseason rankings and accolades don’t mean anything in the end.

“It’s awesome, it’s a crazy honor,”

said Kirchoff. “Last season showed anything can happen in the RMAC. I would like to get Player of the Year. It’s honestly a team honor because you can be an amazing player, but if your team isn’t there then nothing can happen.

Our team is confident this year.”

The team takes on Lubbock Christian in Golden, Colo. on Nov. 14 to start the season. The Mountain Lions are first at home on Nov. 28 against Montana Tech as part of the UCCS Basketball Thanksgiving Tournament.

Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m.

sports

Nov 10, 2014 | 12

Men’s basketball team becomes a national contender Brandon Applehans bappleha@uccs.edu

The 2014-15 season began on March 15, when the Mountain Lions walked off the court after losing to Metro State for the third time in three weeks, this time in the national tournament.

Now, the team can start to turn that disappointment into games, as the new season gets underway Nov. 14 against Arkansas - Fort Smith in Denver.

Head coach Jeff Culver is entering his third season at UCCS. From a 5-21 first season, he has turned the program into a team that was ranked 17th in a preseason national poll.

“We want a championship, we want to make it to Indiana and make it out of regionals,” said Culver. “We wanted to do the same thing in my first season here. I don’t think there was many people in the room

courtesy | sporTs informaTion

Junior guard Derrick White and the rest of the Mountain Lions begin their season Nov. 14.

believing that but now we have people believing in us and the faith is there.”

Juniors Derrick White and Alex Welsh were both named to the All-RMAC Preseason Team.

“We want to win the RMAC and host the tournament,” said White, who was also named

RMAC Preseason Player of the Year and a Preseason AllAmerican. “Last year we went to Metro and played down there where they had the home-court advantage. If we can get the home-court advantage that will be huge for us.”

“We were a good team last

year,” said Welsh. “Going from good to great is a lot harder than going from bad to good. We’re just trying to control the small things that make us a great team.”

To the team, Midnight Madness on Oct. 14 marked the official start of the season, as practice hours are no longer as limited.

“It’s nice to finally get out there with your teammates and start working with the things that will make the team succeed,” said White.

The team depth of UCCS will show again this year, according to Culver.

“We plan on redshirting four freshmen,” said Culver. “It’s tough for me to extend beyond our 10-man rotation but we might be challenged to do so.

That will certainly be a strength for us again. I felt that it was a big strength for us last year and it showed late in the season.”

“I think we are real deep with Shane [Jensen] and Tommie [Anderson] coming off

redshirts last year,” said Welsh.

“I know the guys coming off the bench are always hungry and do what they can to help the team.”

While CSU-Pueblo is the traditional rival for UCCS, the budding rivalry with Metro State has taken center stage.

“Absolutely. They are definitely our rival,” said Welsh. “I know CSU-Pueblo is a longtime traditional rival but I think we are building this rivalry with Metro and we will all get real juiced to play them and they will to play us too.”

Culver stops short of the word rivalry.

“I personally hesitate calling it a rivalry unless we beat them,” he said. “I think we are a nuisance to them as of now.”

The first home games will be Nov. 21 and 22, when UCCS takes on Northern New Mexico and Colorado College at the Gallogly Events Center. Tip-off for both games is 7:30 p.m.

Metro State will come to town on Dec. 12.

More Inside: Mansfield athlete spotlight; Women’s basketball

Mountain Lions fall in final game to miss RMAC tournament Brandon Applehans bappleha@uccs.edu

The women’s soccer season came down to the regular season finale against CSU-Pueblo in what essentially was a playoff game.

Leading up to the game, Western State lost to Colorado Christian, giving UCCS a berth in the playoffs with either a win or tie against CSU-Pueblo. The Mountain Lions lost 4-0, leaving them one spot short of an RMAC tournament berth.

Injuries sidelined multiple key players during the season.

Senior forward Hannah Levett tore her ACL and sophomore Michaela Mansfield played with a dislocated shoulder for a portion of the season.

Levett and Mansfield made up most of the offensive firepower for UCCS this season and they saw the impact of the injury bug.

“Once we stopped scoring, nobody was taking shots to score,” said Levett. “We weren’t passing the ball like we were in the beginning of the season. Nobody seemed confident.”

“We started out strong,” said Mansfield. “As we got to

courtesy | sporTs informaTion

Sophomore Michaela Mansfield, left, and senior Hannah Levett, right, led the Mountain Lions this season.

the end, people started getting hurt. We just didn’t fight for it like we should have. Players were put into positions that they weren’t used to playing.”

The Mountain Lions finished 6-11, seventh in the RMAC. Mansfield was an AllRMAC First Team selection, Levett was selected to the Second Team and junior midfielder Taylor Braden was voted to the Honorable Mention list.

“Last year I wasn’t really an impression on the team as much,” said Mansfield.

“To have made such a big difference in the RMAC, to where people noticed me and didn’t want to play against me, is really cool.”

“I was really proud of it, especially this year because I wasn’t able to play as many games as usual,” said Levett.

“This was my third year in a row getting Second Team All-RMAC so it’s a pretty big honor.”

Head coach Nichole Ridenour moved into tenth in RMAC career coaching records with a total of 56 wins. She said that the

offensive prowess of Levett and Mansfield complemented the overall defensive stance of the team.

“It was nice because we do fall into a defensive role a bit, especially having only one goalkeeper on the roster for the majority of the season,” said Ridenour. “We relied heavily on these girls. Hannah and Michaela worked really well off each other. Michaela could read where Hannah was going to place the ball.”

Levett finished off her Mountain Lion career by tying the individual points

record at 55.

“It was pretty nice to tie it,” said Levett. “I like to think that if I wouldn’t have gotten hurt I would have beat it. It’s still a big accomplishment for me so I’m proud of that.”

Ridenour thinks the team can step into Levett’s shoes next season.

“The solid core of the group right now will step up,” said Ridenour. “The freshmen are getting their feet under them and will step into those roles that Hannah is leaving behind.”