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scribe.uccs.edu Vol. 40, Iss. 2
Monday, September 7, 2015
IN BRIEF
cribe University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Alpine Valley sees new housing, dining facilities
NEWS
Library Library changes to proxy system for off-campus access 2
Health Circle TriCare now accepted at Primary Care Clinic at Lane Center 3
CULTURE
GOCA Exhibit Artist looks at culture through social movements 4
Theatreworks Organization celebrates 40th anniversary 6
megan lunsford | The Scribe
A view of one of the new Alpine Valley buildings which features both classrooms and residential housing.
New Alpine Valley Campus dining update: New facility offers variety; buildings boast The Lodge to be renovated sustainability, community Evan Musick
OPINION
Music
Listen to the lyrics of popular songs 9
Tuition We should rethink tuition loan repayment 9
SPORTS
Volleyball Team looks to rely on added experience 11
emusick@uccs.edu
In the heart of Alpine Valley sits UCCS’ newest two-story dining hall, Roaring Fork. Named after a Colorado river, Roaring Fork is a buffetstyle facility with various food options. The new facility is able to serve students at a high capacity, explained Mark Hayes, director of Dining and Food Services. Hayes pointed out the multiple food stations at Roaring Fork: Middle Eastern Tandoori, pizza, American and home style food niches. A salad bar is also in the center of the food service area across from a
cereal bar. Roaring Fork offers an allergen-free food bar as well. “All of these are either vegetarian or vegan, so it’s actually another option there,” said Hayes. Hayes also mentioned Roaring Fork has a rotisserie oven and a smoker and explained that not many other university dining facilities have those capabilities. “It offers us a lot of flexibility in menu design,” he said. The reception of Roaring Fork has been positive among students. Nekia McBride, a sophomore theatre major, said (Continued on page 2...)
WSOC Women soccer team developed new attacking style 12 megan lunsford | The Scribe
A choice variety of the foods available at the Roaring Fork buffet.
Evan Musick
emusick@uccs.edu
The newest duo of UCCS dormitories for firstyear residents, LaPlata and Cucharas, are in their first year of operation, adding to the renamed Alpine Valley housing village. Alpine Valley includes the existing Crestone, Antero and Shavano buildings as well as the two new buildings. Crestone and Antero are upperclassmen housing while Shavano is also for first year experience students and upperclassmen. The floorplans in the two newest additions, LaPlata and Cucharas, are similar to the existing buildings. San Juan, the third new building, is expected to open in fall 2016. “We have all the same types of rooms,” said Ralph Giese, director of Residence Life and Housing. But there is one new room plan. “The new room type that’s here, are the two singles. There’s two single bedrooms that share a private bathroom,” said Giese. In contrast to Summit Village, the shared common room is no longer present.
Instead, each individual floor has a common space. “We developed floor lounges, where people can actually gather,” Giese said. Giese said this was meant to foster a sense of community, which he considers especially important for first-year students. “It needs to become the floor living room, rather than all the old common rooms, which continue to separate people.” These common floor lounges will have 60-inch TVs, and wide views of the surrounding Colorado Springs area. LaPlata now contains the mailroom for all of Alpine Valley. Cucharas will feature new classrooms for the Gateway Program Seminar, the renamed Freshman Seminar classes. “It’s really the new Breckenridge. It’s seminar rooms. There are all classrooms on the first floor,” Giese said. These new classrooms offer smartboards that span the entire wall. In accordance with UCCS’ standard of constructing buildings in an environmentally sound manner, LaPlata, Cucharas and San Juan are being built to LEED Gold (Continued on page 2...)
News
September 7, 2015 | 2
(Continued from page 1) Campus dining update
megan lunsford | The Scribe
The Fryingpan Grill is one of the options at the newly created Roaring Fork dining hall.
that “Roaring Fork has the best food ever.” She continued to say that the views are also beautiful, and the two floor design is appreciated. Alfredo Macha, a freshman in electrical engineering said the food is “stellar.” Although the dining hall currently offers only a buffet, the future will bring more features. Tucked at the base of the facility is the still under construction Alpine Express.
Alpine Express is a small store that will have multiple grab-n-go food options. The store will also have an espresso machine. The possibility exists to offer small hot food offerings such as sandwiches, Hayes said. It is expected to be open late hours, with the projected opening date in fall 2016. “There’s a chance that by the time it gets done, and depending on staffing, we might look at spring semester, if not, it’ll be
next fall,” Hayes said. A scratch bakery is also planned to occupy part of Roaring Fork, but is not set to open for two more years. But Hayes mentioned that donuts may be offered from the bakery in the spring. Around 40 students are a part of the staff at Roaring Fork. “There’s only nine cooks here, all the rest are students,” Hayes said. With the opening of Roaring
Fork, the old dining facility, The Lodge, is set for renovation over the summer. Hayes said there are several possibilities for the changes. “We’re thinking of having some type of pizza oven over there, similar [to Roaring Fork] but it’s smaller,” he said. “Changing how the hot lines are, trying to create some more individual stations, it’s [currently] a very old design.” There will most likely be
similarities between the two facilities, but the menus will not be the same. The Lodge and Roaring Fork also differ in their meal times. The Lodge offers breakfast while Roaring Fork does not. But brunch is served at Roaring Fork on the weekend and an omelet bar is open. The menu is the same for lunch and dinner at Roaring Fork, with eight to 12 entrees available.
(Continued from page 1) Alpine Valley buildings
megan lunsford | The Scribe
Construction continues on the San Juan building, which is expected to open Fall 2016
standard. All new buildings on campus are required to meet LEED Gold standard. A touch screen kiosk in the main lobby will allow anyone to see energy usage statistics. According to Giese, the LEED process includes examining a myriad of items from what glue was used to what heating and cooling systems are in place and examining what construction waste was hauled away. Although Platinum is the best rating, and can be done for a residence hall, the cost is steep. The occupancy date for La Plata and Cucharas had been Aug. 1, but Colorado’s wet season pushed the date back. “That’s largely due to all the rain we had in May and June,” said Megan Bell, executive director of Community and
Learning Initiatives. This led to occupancy taking place a week before residents moved in. Bell said the priority was to complete living spaces, and leave the office spaces until later. Ensuring the Roaring Fork dining facility was also completed was a priority as new students needed to be fed as well as housed. “Maslow. Gotta meet those basic needs first,” Giese said. Once San Juan is constructed, a total of 515 beds will be available. Currently, between LaPlata and Cucharas, there are 292 beds. There are 1,415 beds in total on campus. Giese also mentioned there are plans to have a turf volleyball court along with several adult swings in the vicinity of Alpine Valley.
Library moves to proxy server for easy off-campus access DeKeveion Glaspie dglaspie@uccs.edu
With every semester comes change to UCCS. Over the summer, one of those changes involved how students access the library’s databases off campus. Previously, the Kramer Family Library allowed users off campus to install a virtual private network (VPN) on their computer and connect to it when they want to access the
library’s database. By switching from VPN to a proxy server, users are no longer required to install or configure settings to access the library’s databases. “Simply click a database link off campus and you’re prompted to enter your UCCS username and password – that’s it,” said Joel Tonyan, systems and user experience librarian and assistant professor. This is the same password that students use to access Blackboard and their student portal account.
Tonyan detailed the work that proceeded after setting up the proxy. “Once the proxy server was set up, we had to identify all of the library’s electronic resources that would need to be proxied, configure each resource to work with the proxy and then test each one of them off campus,” he said. Launched on June 15, the transition from VPN to proxy took about five months and involved working closely with UCCS’ IT department.
The new proxy works not only with computers, but also smartphones and tablets. Megan Fleming, senior elementary education major, is one of the many commuters on campus who has used the new proxy system. “It’s not very often when I use the database offline, but when I did in the past I had difficulties with it connecting with my computer,” she said. “I like it when it actually decides to connect.” Switching to the proxy was
a collective decision by the librarians after receiving many questions about the Library’s previous VPN system each semester. Acknowledging this problem, the library and IT decided it was time for a simpler system. According to Tonyan, since the June 15 launch, the server has been accessed over 9,000 times by more than 4,000 users. For students who have questions about the proxy system, go to: http://libguides. uccs.edu/basics/proxy.
News
September 7, 2015| 3
Primary Care Clinic accepting Tricare to expand health offerings
megan lunsford | The Scribe
Tricare is now accepted at the Primary Care Clinic at the Lane Center.
Rachel Librach rlibrach@uccs.edu
Although the UCCS Health Circle Primary Care Clinic in the Lane Center is affiliated with UCCS, these clinics are accessible to both the public and students. The Primary Care Clinic currently accepts Anthem (PPO, High Deductible Plan), Anthem CU Exclusive Plan, Kaiser, Multiplan, United Healthcare, Rocky Mountain Health Plans, Cigna and Medicare. This summer, the Primary Care Clinic added Tricare to its list of accepted healthcare plans. Valerie Anderson, clinic
director at the Veterans Health and Trauma Clinic, said the majority of patients they see are Veterans Health Administration referrals and Tricare patients. Tricare was accepted at the Veterans Health and Trauma Clinic before this expansion this summer. “We have accepted Tricare since the first day we opened. Tricare is a health plan that is managed by the United Healthcare Military and Veterans organization in this region,” Anderson said. Mike Bigelow, senior executive for Clinical Activities, explained that Tricare is an excellent addition to the UCCS Health Circle since active duty,
retired military and family of active duty members are prominent in the Colorado Springs community. “The military is such a huge part of this community including the campus and by acquiring the relationship and contract with Tricare for the Primary Care Clinic, we can expand the services we offer the people in this community.” The Veterans Health and Trauma Clinic specializes in behavioral health with experienced providers working with military members to help them through traumatic experiences. “About 80 percent of the patients we see have military connections, and
about 20 percent do not,” said Anderson. “We treat people with trauma, whether that be combat, military sexual assault or natural disaster trauma.” “Most of the time we receive referrals from the Primary Care Clinic since most active duty members have their health care services provided for them on base.” The main goal for incorporating Tricare into the Primary Care system is to allow various clinics to work together with veterans and active duty members in order to structure the best health care plan for that individual. “The point of the holistic approach is that one of the things we are focusing on is
if a patient needs nutrition counseling, they could just go down stairs and receive that counseling,” Bigelow said. “There could be communication between the providers to work together to improve the health of that individual.” The Primary Care model positions primary care services near one another, integrating their practices into providing the most holistic care available for the patient. While the Primary Care Clinic implemented Tricare, the Student Health Center, Aging Center, Center for Active Living and Peak Nutrition Clinic do not have a direct affiliation with Tricare at this time.
Four Diamonds area sees revamped parking as Ent Center construction continues Kyle Guthrie kguthri2@uccs.edu
With the completion of the renovated Four Diamonds parking lot as the Ent Center for the Arts continues construction, UCCS has created new sets of parking to help accommodate the commuter students. The newly finished Four Diamonds lot created an additional 150 spots for student parking. “We still have some landscaping to do in between the rows (on the lot), but it has nothing to do with parking,” said Jim Spice, executive director of Parking and Transportation Services. “The lot itself is complete.” Spice also discussed the status and use of parking lot
580, commonly referred to as the “overflow lot.” “I wouldn’t really consider it overflow, it’s just free parking,” Spice said. “We actually ended up getting a net gain of available parking lot spaces around the two areas, around 150, which is about a 35 percent increase from last year.” Spice added that a second lot is planned for the area near the Ent Center for the Arts. “There is another lot planned for down there, but it hasn’t been built yet,” Spice said. “It is lot 176, which is a future lot, and will be right next to the center for the arts.” “It’s about 30 spaces, most of which will be for handicapped parking, and when it’s finished, it will need an orange permit to park there.”
megan lunsford | The Scribe
A backhoe takes a break from its contributions to construction in the Four Diamonds area.
Culture
September 7, 2015| 4
First Student Employment Job Fair looks to open doors for students
Audrey jensen | The Scribe
Students and potential employers mingle at the first student employment job fair on Sept. 1.
Audrey Jensen April Wefler ajensen4@uccs.edu awefler@uccs.edu
Students could look for volunteer positions, workstudy openings and paid jobs on campus at the first Student Employment Job Fair on Sept. 1. Students in professional attire came to give away resumes, as other students casually walked around to see what jobs were being offered.
Over 20 offices and companies were in attendance with tables set up to greet students and hand out flyers and applications, including the Office of Veteran and Military Student Affairs, Creative Play Adventure Club, Boys and Girls Club, School District 11 and the Pikes Peak Library District. Ali Laforce, executive assistant at the Office of Research, was at the fair to fill an available assistant position in the office, which closed Sept. 3. “We have met promising
candidates,” LaForce said. “(The Student Employment Job Fair) seems to be going well; a lot of people have stopped by to chat.” Transfer student Alan Schwarzweller, a junior game design and development major, printed his resume out in hopes to receive a job at the library. Another transfer student studying game design and development, sophomore Marshall Britt, liked the volunteer opportunities available. “I love cats; if it’s helping
cats, I want to be a part of it. I never thought of it before,” she said. Britt added she had never been to a student job fair. “I prefer to speak to people in person so they can meet you,” said Britt. Becca Stephens, Student Employment specialist, said her department thought the job fair would be a great opportunity for students. “We wanted students to see what’s available, get better exposure, make it easier for students to find those jobs that they really
want,” Stephens said. She said the goal was to get as many students to find jobs as possible, since a lot of students can often get frustrated trying to find a job they want. Stephens said some students, like Britt, might prefer finding an employer in person, instead of through services like SEANs Place. Britt said she would like Student Employment to host an event like this again. “I would like to see more of these because it helps students,” she said.
Former instructor finds art in movement; exhibit brings out culture Rachel Librach rlibrach@uccs.edu
Nylon: it’s a magazine, fabric and the sheer tights women wear under dresses, but who would expect it to be used for art? From Aug. 28 to Dec. 5, GOCA 1420 will feature one of Senga Nengudi’s nylon creations in “Senga Nengudi: Improvisational Gestures.” GOCA invited Nengudi, a contemporary artist and former UCCS VAPA instructor, back to UCCS to feature her art in an exhibit in honor of UCCS’ 50th anniversary. Nengudi’s work during the ‘70s revolved around the revival of culture, incorporating stationary or everyday objects with human movement and dance. One common object she used is pantyhose, through which she tries to embody change, social constraints and flexibility. “She uses pantyhose as a symbol in responding to the way, after she gave birth to her children, that her body changed and stretched,” said Daisy McConnell, GOCA art director. “Pretty much all women in
courtesy | GOCA
One of the installations at ‘Senga Nengudi: Improvisational Gestures.’
the ‘70s had to wear pantyhose and they were not the quality that they are now. They were pretty awful.” “(Her art) was a response to that in a way, but it is also something kind of funny to look at and there is a humor there. Ultimately her work is inviting the viewer in to think about this common material the pantyhose - in relation to their own body and their own experiences.” The exhibit features still pictures and sculptures, but Nengudi created her art with
several different mediums in mind. “The goal of this experience is that you came in and you were able to see the sculptures and that they had enough space around them that you could really appreciate them,” McConnell said. “We are looking at them very statically, but they were meant to be performed and stretched by herself and her collaborators. There is definitely an energy to see all her work together from all those different angles that she’s
done over time.” There was also a big call to revive the African-American culture in the ‘70s, which evolved into the Black Arts Movement. Nengudi’s art played a large role during the movement, illustrating the different dance styles, clothing and rituals. “A lot of the work was political, and I think Senga’s work wasn’t seen as overtly political at the time, but if you think about it in terms of talking about the body and how important that is I think it is pretty powerfully political in retrospect, but still subtle,” McConnell said. In recent years, Nengudi has been receiving international attention and has had her work displayed in several prominent museums in New York and Los Angeles. In addition, her work was featured at the Cube Gallery in London, a famous art gallery known for presenting work that is cutting edge. Nengudi taught performance and sculpture at UCCS from 1998-2009. One piece, entitled “Ceremony for Freeway Fets,”
shows that Nengudi has called attention to how untraditional settings like under a freeway ramp can hold promise, originality and color. “The pictures are illustrated very much in that Japanese Butoh style,” McConnell said. According to zenbutoh. com, Butoh is a dance style created in Japan in the ‘60s. It involves slowly moving the body in a bent form for a “truthful, ritualistic and primal earthdance.” The exhibit is free to all students and is open Wednesday through Saturday from 12-5 p.m.
The Lowdown What: Senga Nengudi: Improvisational Gestures Where: Gallery of Contemporary Art 1420 Centennial Hall, Room 201 When: Aug. 28-Dec. 5 How much: Free for students
Culture
September 7, 2015 | 5
‘From Sanatorium to Scholarship’ showcases 50 years of UCCS Audrey Jensen ajensen4@uccs.edu
To continue the 50-year anniversary celebration of UCCS, the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum is displaying a UCCS exhibit as part of Colorado Springs’ history. Several glass cases display artifacts, photos and books explaining and showcasing a timeline of how UCCS came to be. One feature includes a bust of a Shakespeare head that is known as Theatreworks’ mascot. Next to the bust is a copy of “riverrun,” a compilation of poems and short stories published each year by
Audrey jensen | The Scribe
One of the main displays of the exhibit at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum.
UCCS students. In another case, there is information explaining that UCCS’ “spirit animal” (mascot) was the “’longnecks” in the ‘90s. A small statue of a giraffe stands next to it. The largest display of the exhibit features a gold shovel from the Lane Center groundbreaking along with a cap and gown layered with a MOSAIC Stoll. The Pioneers Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Located on 215 S. Tejon St., the exhibit opened May 9 and will be available and free to the public through next summer.
Summer films review: Some soar, some sink Kyle Guthrie kguthri2@uccs.edu
This summer provided a handful of movies, some of which were hits, and some duds. Here is a list of what films rocked, and what reeled at the box office:
director Josh Trank’s original cut and the studio’s interference with the film, we might never know what Trank’s original project may have looked like; the movie’s sad performance at the box office guarantees that Fox won’t care enough to release it.
courtesy | ign.com
“Fantastic Four” - Rotten Tomatoes score: 9 percent The lowest-reviewed film this summer hoped to gain $80-100 million on its opening weekend, Fox’s “Fantastic Four” only opened to $25 million on its first weekend. The biggest superhero flop since 2011’s failed “Green Lantern”, “Fantastic Four” continues to underperform at the box office. With rumors regarding
“Tomorrowland” - Rotten Tomatoes score: 50 percent While Disney was hoping for a success story similar to “Pirates of the Caribbean,” a muddled story, baffling ad campaign and poor choice for a release date led to the disastrous release of Disney’s newest sci-fi adventure film. While the negative reviews for the film certainly didn’t help matters,
“Tomorrowland” is the biggest bomb Disney has released since the disastrous 2013 “Lone Ranger.” In addition, it’s expected to cost the studio over $140 million in lost revenue from its poor box office performance. “Jurassic World” - Rotten Tomatoes score: 71 percent The king of the 2015 summer blockbusters, “Jurassic World” not only grossed $1.6 billion worldwide, but was met with generally favorable reviews from critics. Taking place 20 years after events in the prequel, 1993’s “Jurassic Park,” the film tells the story of Jurassic World scientists trying to wrangle in a genetically modified attraction that has escaped and threatens the park visitors. While the film had several flaws, particularly head-scratching logic when discussing science, it still managed to deliver many thrills.
masterpiece, “Inside Out,” manages to restore the CG pioneer to its status as the master of animated features. The film tells the story of a young Riley Andersen and her internal emotions, played out by actual characterizations, as she moves with her family to a new town. The film was touching, powerful, beautifully animated and managed to gross a respectable $344 million domestically. “Mad Max: Fury Road” Rotten Tomatoes score: 97 percent While George Miller’s latest installment in his nearly 40-year-old franchise
may not have grossed as much as the other entries on this list, it was the most critically acclaimed film of the summer, achieving a rare 97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. “Mad Max: Fury Road” continues the postapocalyptic story of antihero Max and his quest for survival. This time, he teams up with fellow road warrior Furiosa as she attempts to free a group of women from a tyrannical fanatic. The film introduced the world to one of the greatest strong female characters in Furiosa (played by Charlize Theron).
“The Avengers: Age of Ultron” - Rotten Tomatoes score: 74 percent The latest entry in Marvel’s expanded universe, “Avengers: Age of Ultron” continues the story of Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk and the other Avengers as they tackle a new enemy threatening the world. After Tony Stark inadvertently creates an artificial intelligence bent on world destruction, it’s up to the Avengers to stop him before he can follow through with his ultimate goal. It may not have lived up to the expectations set by its wildly successful predecessor, but there are still aspects to love about the newest entry to the franchise. “Inside Out” - Rotten Tomatoes score: 95 percent Pixar’s newest film
courtesy | cosmicbooknews.com
Culture
September 7, 2015 | 6
Theatreworks celebrates 40th anniversary with shows, gala April Wefler awefler@uccs.edu
In the midst of UCCS’ 50th anniversary celebrations, another area on campus is also celebrating an important milestone: Theatreworks turns 40 this year. To celebrate their anniversary, Theatreworks has created a commemorative 40th anniversary publication and has several events planned throughout the year. “The entire season is one large celebration,” said Drew Martorella, executive director of UCCS Presents. Theatreworks is also planning a gala for some point during the season. “We’re gonna have a giant party. You know, what the heck, the theatre doesn’t turn 40 every day,” said Murray Ross, a founding member and artistic
director of Theatreworks. In 1975, when it was founded, Theatreworks, like the UCCS campus, was much smaller. “I don’t think any of us realized at the time that we would be one of the best professional theatres in the state. We always wanted to do the
campus looked a bit like a stage stop. People didn’t even know where it was. It wasn’t even on the map,” he said. “The university needed an outreach into the community. What better place is there than in the theater?” By the time Martorella,
I don’t think any of us realized at the time that we would be one of the best professional theatres in the state. We always wanted to do the best and most engaging theater we could and I think that when you do that, then good things happen. – Murray Ross, artistic director of Theatreworks best and most engaging theater we could and I think that when you do that, then good things happen,” Ross said. Ross was hired to teach English and theatre 40 years ago. “When I was hired here, the
former executive director of Theatreworks, joined the Theatreworks team 20 years later, Ross had brought the company to great brand recognition, but it lacked in performances.
courtesy | theatreworks
Theatreworks is celebrating its 40th season
“We didn’t have much of a season to speak of,” Martorella said. In June 1995, “we knew we were going to do a Shakespeare play in the summer, but we actually had no idea what we were going to do the following fall, so we put together two plays for the fall,” Martorella said. “It was just me and Murray, a half-time/part-time employee, and that was it.” “Our growth and development has been slow and steady all through the years and I think that has served us very well. At the time when you’re sort of starting your work, you’re just taking it one day at a time until the path emerges before you.” The 2015-2016 season kicks off with “Private Lives,” which runs Sept. 10-27. Next is Henrik Ibsen’s “Ghosts,” from Oct. 22 to Nov. 8. “I’m excited to go see ‘Ghosts,’” said Eleanor Sturt, junior theatre major. “My goal is to see every show.” “Born Yesterday,” (“a fabulous comedy about America,” said Ross,) runs Dec. 3-24; “Satchmo at the Waldorf,” runs from Feb. 18 to March 6 starring John Douglas Thompson (“widely recognized as one of the best stage actors in the community,” said Ross); “Girl of the Golden West,” runs April 28 to May 15, which Ross said hasn’t been performed since 1910. “[It’s a] really fun play that’s actually in a way connected to our own roots here in the west,” he said. The UCCS student
courtesy | theatreworks
production, “Archangels Don’t Play Pinball” shows from March 31 to April 10. All productions are free for students to attend. Sturt said she would like to see Theatreworks expand their audience. “I’d like to see them do something directed at kids. I think that’d be fun,” she said. Ross and Martorella look forward to the future of Theatreworks. “I’m very excited about the future of arts and culture here at UCCS. The future looks so bright for our theater,” Martorella said. “I want to keep building our theater,” Ross said. “We’re already one of seven professional theatres in Colorado and I hope within the next seven years that we’ll continue to raise our standards and our community so that we’ll move toward having even a national reputation.” “I think we have done the best theatre that you possibly could over 40 years.”
2015-16 Theatreworks Schedule Part of Theatreworks 40th Anniversary Season
‘Private Lives’ Sept. 10-27
‘Ghosts’ Oct. 22 to Nov. 8
‘Born Yesterday’ Dec. 3-24
‘Satchmo at the Waldorf’ Feb. 18 to March 6
‘UCCS Student Production: Archangels Don’t Play Pinball’ March 31 to April 10
‘Girl of the Golden West’ April 28 to May 15
Increase in freshmen leads to increase in campus participation DeKeveion Glaspie dglaspie@uccs.edu
In recent years, the increase of students hasn’t gone unnoticed. Carol Kumm, director of Orientation and New Student Outreach, has experienced and seen the growth in freshmen and how it has affected the university. Unlike colleges such as CU-Boulder, who have
a maximum capacity of students they can accept, UCCS does not. “We do not have a cap because we can still take more students and we have not reached our capacity,” Kumm said. “There is still availability on Fridays and on the weekend. Since classes have not yet started for Weekend University there are still students enrolling. UCCS
is a growing campus and will continue to grow in the future.” With more freshmen events, more freshmen are engaged than previous years. Disorientation Week has increased in scale with more students attending the events designated for those who live on campus. Morgan Green, a senior communication major, is a resident assistant. She
explained how the increase of freshmen has affected Alpine, now called Alpine Valley, in a positive way. “La Plata and Cucharas (the new two freshmen dorms) have made it easier in terms of programs and events because now that there are more residents living on this side of campus it’s easier to plan events,” she said. “This year we are
planning more events on the Alpine field and have discussed doing events on the lawn between Antero and Shavano.” An increase in students, particularly freshmen, will result in more opportunities for not only the freshmen, but for those who live on campus. Exact enrollment numbers for fall 2015 will be available after census date.
Culture
September 7, 2015 | 7
DisOrientation Week welcomes students back with activities, entertainment Audrey Jensen ajensen4@uccs.edu
food and games for students. UCCS fraternities and sororities greeted students on Aug. 25 to introduce themselves to the student body. Hoping to recruit members, chapter members gave away
prizes for playing games in addition to free food. Students competed in the dodgeball tournament on Aug. 26 while Date Doctor Dave Coleman returned for his third show at UCCS to give students
dating tips on Aug. 27. The week concluded with “Bowling Blitz,” on the night of Aug. 28, and “Painting with a Twist” on Aug. 29 provided mock-tails and art lessons to students who attended.
megan lunsford | The Scribe
Zach Whitsel attended the dogeball tournament.
megan lunsford | The Scribe
megan lunsford | The Scribe
To help students transition back into the fall semester, the Office of Student Activities hosted the annual
DisOrientation Week, full of different events and speakers to entertain students. On Aug. 24 Dylan Gardner, The Distant Cousins and Sam James performed at the Concert on the Lawn that also had free
DisOrientation Week
megan lunsford | The Scribe Davy Mellado | The Scribe
Participants race to half court as part of the dodgeball tournament.
A student paints landscape of a Colorado sunset.
megan lunsford | The Scribe
Comedian Ronnie Jordan performs in Berger Hall.
megan lunsford | The Scribe
David Coleman interacts with the audience during a dating seminar.
eDItorIAl
September 7, 2015 | 8
For those new, and those returning, remember to care Scribe Staff scribe@uccs.edu
College is what you make of it. That much has always been true, no matter the size, location, culture or history of the university. As a student, you get out of your classes, and your college experience, what you put in. As a friendly reminder, remember to care. This is your university. This is where you figure yourself out and begin to perhaps understand what you want to do with your life. As a result, this time that we spend in college often finds a special place in our heart. It’s where we learned to be ourselves. But for something as important as this, we often have a criminal lethargy in the way we approach our learning. Unless you are forced into a group
project (which is the bane of some students’ existence), often students that sit in the same class don’t even glance at each other. Even then, group members are forgotten quicker than the parking spot you found yesterday. We have a habit of coming to class and going home. It’s true; there are a lot of things going on in our lives. But one of the best ways to deal with that chaos is to have balance and find other things to break the monotony. It may sound cliché, but clubs and activities are the most efficient way to meet people that care about similar things that you do. It can be easy to get into a rhythm, doing the same thing every day. That’s good, you need to stay on top of the things that need to be accomplished in your life. But don’t be a drone. If you are, you may just be wasting your money.
Don’t get stuck in your rhythm – every so often, take a chance, try something new. Get involved in something you are passionate about, outside of your job or classes. These ways to get involved have a way of making you more invested – in the campus, your classes, your life. It’s amazing when that happens. UCCS is a diverse enough campus, we have something for everybody. The cool thing about clubs, organizations or other extracurricular activities is their consistency. You get to know people on a deeper level than one or two comments in a classroom setting. You have the capability to connect with folks and you never know what you may find. The more you put in, the more you get out.
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September 7, 2015 | 9
College tuition loans shouldn’t be paid until reaching a certain income
April Wefler awefler@uccs.edu
I’m finally graduating this semester, and it’s bittersweet. Six months from Dec. 18, I’ll have to start paying back $34,000 in loans, with interest, whether I have a steady job or not. Luckily, there are payment plans, so I can pay back the loans in installments. But, if my
career is anything like my dad’s, I’ll still be paying back those loans when I’m in my 50s. According to the Federal Student Aid website, choosing the Standard Repayment Plan for loans supposedly gets you out of debt after 10 years. There is also the option to choose a payment plan based off of your income. It’s nice that the federal government takes our money in installments, instead of in one huge chunk. But what would be even better is if the government waited until we reached a certain income before making us pay back our loans.
According to gov.uk, graduates in the United Kingdom have two options for when they start paying back loans. Plan 1 is for English and Welsh students who enrolled before Sept. 1, 2012 and all Scottish and Northern Irish students. Plan 2 is for English and Welsh students who enrolled on or after Sept. 1, 2012. In Plan 1, payment doesn’t begin until earning over 17,335 pounds, the current equivalent of $27,042.60. In Plan 2, payment starts after earning over 21,000 pounds ($32,760). Maybe the U.K. actually sees their students as more than a piggybank. Clearly,
their government wants its students to get an education without selling their souls to debt collectors. A Vice article from June 15 details the differences between paying back student loans in the U.S. and in the U.K. The average U.K. student attaining a threeyear degree will pay back a total of 27,000 pounds ($42,000). Harvard tuition costs $45,278 per year. The general idea is that students attending Harvard will get wonderful careers and have no issue paying back their loans, but what if they don’t? Similar to the U.K., Australian students start
paying back their loans after reaching an income of 54,126 Australian dollars ($38,779.38), even if they’re still studying. Yearly tuition in Australia ranges from zero to 10,266 Australian dollars ($7,960 USD). Several European countries offer free tuition. While this would be ideal, this does come at a high cost to tax payers. On June 25, Business Insider reporter Abby Jackson wrote that European taxes are higher than U.S. taxes. Free college is possible because “tax payers absorb that cost.” College enrollment is also less in European
countries than it is in the U.S., which means there are less students clamoring for pricy degrees. So maybe free college isn’t the way to go because I doubt any taxpayer in the U.S. will want to pay higher taxes just to help their future generations gain more knowledge. The U.S. should follow the examples of the U.K. and Australia and wait until we make a certain amount before hounding us to pay back our loans. Unless they don’t trust us to make the payments, or worry we’ll never reach that income. We shouldn’t be penalized for wanting a degree.
It’s time to separate church and state
Alexander Nedd anedd@uccs.edu
All we wanted was equality. All we want to do is get married. And since same-sex marriage was legalized on June 26, the world has continued to turn. No one is going to die. But it seems
this act of equality is unthinkable for one county clerk in Kentucky. Kim Davis is refusing to grant marriage licenses based on her religious beliefs. As Taylor Swift would say: “Now we’ve got PRAblems.” I understand many are against same-sex marriage. It’s 2015, we are all entitled to our own opinions. But our differences become irreconcilable when your religious beliefs trump my given right as a citizen of the United States. Church and state don’t mix, and it’s time they were separated.
Davis uses her Christian faith to support traditional marriage, one that bonds a woman and man together for life. Despite being on her fourth marriage, Davis used her biblical views to halt any marriage within her district. On August 24, the Supreme Court denied her appeal and ordered her to begin issuing licenses to couples immediately. She refused. A video surfacing on the Internet depicted her discriminatory actions toward one gay couple after her request to appeal the decision was turned down.
“Under whose authority (are you told to not issue marriage licenses today)?” a person asked during the viral confrontation. “Under God’s authority,” Davis replied. This is past ridiculous. Nowhere in her job description does the state of Kentucky grant county clerks permission to deny marriage licenses based on religious beliefs. Not only that, it is now the law of the land. Samesex marriage is legal. What Davis is doing, is not. Austin Brownell, a sophomore studying math, has watched the
video, which can be viewed online. (Search “Rowan County Clerk”). “She has no good reason, she wouldn’t answer any questions, it’s just funny to me,” Brownell said. “It doesn’t make any sense, it’s legal in every state, she can’t do that.” Wouldn’t we all be lucky to find someone we truly love and want to spend the rest of our lives with? Why does the sex of our partner suddenly make our commitment to one another an abomination? Davis is wrong. These couples have done nothing but find love and are trying
to make that bond recognized in the state of Kentucky. This discrimination is the same as denying women the right to vote, or not serving blacks. Both of those were legal practices in the United States. Eventually, we progressed. On Sept. 2, Davis was held in contempt of court and jailed for her actions, an act I support 100 percent. As a civil servant, you are required to do your work for the public. That is your job. I hope Davis decides to follow the law and do it.
Listen to the lyrics in your new jam; they might hold a questionable message
Megan Lunsford mlunsfor@uccs.edu
While driving and jamming out to some tunes on the way to class, a catchy, upbeat song came on the radio. I felt inclined to turn the volume up to disturb the neighboring vehicles. As I was nodding
my head and tapping my feet to the music, I started to pay attention to what lyrics the singer/songwriter Andy Grammer was spouting at me. “So nah nah honey, I’m good, I could have another but I probably should not. I got somebody at home, and if I stay I might not leave alone,” Grammer croons. Did that song just say what I think it did? The bouncy tune masked the true meaning behind the song: Grammer has a significant other at home, but might be unfaithful
and leave with another woman if he were to indulge himself in another drink. This song reached number nine on the hot 100 Billboard chart. A song about a man’s wavering ideals concerning monogamy was well-received by the masses. Other popular songs are guilty of having the same questionable lyrics and meanings. Meghan Trainor received heat for her hit song “All About That Bass,” which has been accused of supporting “skinny shaming.” The song includes
lyrics such as “Boys like a little more booty to hold at night,” and “You know I won’t be no stick figure silicone Barbie doll.” When asked about the controversy, Trainor explained that it was a misunderstanding and that the song was about supporting all body types. Nicki Minaj received similar criticism for the lyrics in her song “Anaconda.” Not only does this particular song contain explicit sexual material and drug references, “Anaconda” seems to be full of lyrics ingrained with hatred for thin women.
“He say he don’t like ‘em boney, he want something he can grab,” the lyrics explain, adding later “Fuck the skinny bitches in the club! … Fuck you if you skinny.” This is the same woman who fans claim to be a “role model” and “inspiration” to young women everywhere. The last song worth a mention is the infamous and exceptionally catchy song, “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke. This hit was critiqued for objectifying women and for supporting misogyny and rape culture. Some lyrics include:
“I hate these blurred lines, I know you want it,” which some critics claimed implies the songwriter isn’t too concerned about consent. It’s become the norm for popular songs to have these questionable song meanings. Next time you’re listening to the radio, humming to songs you don’t quite know all the words to, take a minute to listen and absorb the words that are being broadcast to you. The song that has been stuck in your head all day might not have such a friendly message.
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Things you do not want to happen the first two weeks of class Alexander Nedd, anedd@uccs.edu
a Colorado 10 Attending College class
“10+ min waiting for bus. 5+
min stuck behind a truck. Parking at #UCCS is still not better. #latetofirstdayofclass. @bekahariyah
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September 7, 2015 | 10
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“Tbh I get here early for the parking
but also for the spot in the library so that I can have this view #UCCS @mindimaine
7 “Got electrocuted last night. . That was fun #closecall #uccs #isurvived @jessisue
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Getting hit by a shuttle bus
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Make fun of the professor not knowing she/he is the professor
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Think the first day of school is in October
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Get eaten by a bear
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Lose your $499 1-page rental book
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Get into a fist fight over a parking spot
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Spilling coffee on your laptop
your 1 Finding rejection letter
Campus Chatter April Wefler, awefler@uccs.edu
What was the most regrettable thing you did this summer? Courtney McNeilly, senior, human resource management and international business “Took three classes. I didn’t have a summer and all I did was plan a 5k.”
Alex Smith, freshman, chemistry
“Came in to work two hours late. I forgot to check my schedule that day and was too busy playing Witcher for three hours.”
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“Missing a Red Rocks show. I bought my ticket and everything and found out I had to go somewhere that weekend. It was really sad.”
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Sports
September 7, 2015 | 11
Eighth-grade student signed to volleyball team; team members to learn from example
courtesy | sports information
Eighth-grader Hannah Skrastins officially signs as a member of the UCCS volleyball team.
Taylor Garcia tgarcia@uccs.edu
On Aug. 27 the volleyball team hosted a press conference where they signed eighth-grader Hannah Skrastins, who attends Colorado Springs Christian School down the street from UCCS. Skrastins has a passion for volleyball that was put on hold last summer by the diagnosis of a medulloblastoma brain tumor.
Undergoing extensive surgery and chemotherapy through February, Skrastins now shows no evidence of disease, but the tumor took most of her eyesight and feeling in her feet. The Friends of Jaclyn Foundation made the signing possible and the Mountain Lions will have Skrastins at every event possible. “It teaches the (players) a huge lesson in humility and humanity,” said head coach Chrissy Elder. “It is always
a coach’s goal to make a player a better player, but one of the things we try to do here is help make each team member a better person as well.”
“For our girls to see her smile and enjoy life, no matter what has been thrown at her, they can’t help but do the same.”
It is always a coach’s goal to make a player a better player, but one of the things we try to do here is help make each team member a better person as well. – Head coach Chrissy Elder
Mountain Lion Volleyball Regular Season Home Schedule *All Games are at the Gallogly Events Center
Sept. 8 vs. Angelo State 6 p.m.
Sept. 10 vs. St. Edward’s 7 p.m.
Sept. 11 vs. Tarleton State 2 p.m.
Sept. 11 vs. Washburn 7 p.m.
Sept. 12 vs. Eastern New Mexico, 7 p.m.
Sept. 18 vs. Westminster 7 p.m.
Sept. 19 vs. Colorado Mesa 5 p.m.
Sept. 8 vs. Angelo State 6 p.m.
Sept. 10 vs. St. Edward’s 7 p.m.
Sept. 11 vs. Tarleton State 2 p.m.
Sept. 11 vs. Washburn 7 p.m.
Sept. 12 vs. Eastern New Mexico, 7 p.m.
Sept. 18 vs. Westminster 7 p.m.
Sept. 19 vs. Colorado Mesa 5 p.m.
Mountain Lion volleyball team to rely on added experience Taylor Garcia tgarcia@uccs.edu
A more experienced, but still young, Mountain Lion volleyball team will take to the court this fall. While only two upperclassmen return, the returning six sophomores are going to be a big factor in helping the freshmen grow and the team succeed. “We have pretty high expectations for this team, especially for the fact that we are such a young team,” said head coach Chrissy Elder. “Most of our young players have significant experience having played their freshman year last year.” The Mountain Lions were picked
sixth in the preseason conference coaches’ poll and will compete in the newly created Rocky Division of the RMAC with MSU Denver, Colorado Mesa, Regis, South Dakota Mines, Chadron State and Westminster. “Our team is still really young, but we returned most of our starters from last year,” said junior middle blocker Cassidy Bush. “This has been the best preseason we’ve had as a team since my freshman year.” The lone senior, outside hitter Kim Catlett, was named preseason All-RMAC. “I am really excited for this year,” said Catlett. “I think this group of girls is willing to put in the work that Chrissy expects from this
program.” “We have big plans for this season and everyone has completely bought in and is committed to working as hard as possible to accomplish these goals,” said redshirt sophomore setter Morgan Evans. After four games in Texas to start the year, the Mountain Lions return to the Gallogly Events Center to play five games in four days. On Sept. 8 they will host Angelo State University at 6 p.m., followed by the Steel and Silver Classic where UCCS will host St. Edwards on Sept. 10 at 7 p.m., Tarleton State on Sept. 11 at 2 p.m., Washburn on Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. and Eastern New Mexico on
Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. The 5 matches at home are against teams in the region, meaning winning those matches now will help later in the season to place the Mountain Lions regionally. The difficulty of the early season schedule is in hopes to prepare the team for regular season RMAC games. “The RMAC in general is a very tough conference, so every game will be a challenge for us,” said Elder. “Our team is built around family – we consider (the student body) a part of that family and hope (you) will want to be involved in what we are trying to build,” Elder added.
Sports
September 7, 2015 | 12
Offseason, preseason set the tone for when the lights come on Taylor Garcia tgarcia@uccs.edu
“Back to school” is a phrase heard every year by begrudging students. But for some students, back to school means more than getting school supplies, parking passes or text books. For the student athletes on campus, back to school means back to juggling school, family, friends, games and practices. Transitioning from the immense free time of the summer to class on a daily basis is hard. On top of that, there’s preseason. For volleyball senior Kim
Catlett, preseason comes second in importance to the offseason. The three months of summer are when the grind really happens. “It determines how committed you are to becoming better when no one is there watching,” said Catlett. Volleyball preseason began Aug. 16, with the first competitive game Sept. 4. Two-a-days last for a week along with competitive scrimmages at the end of that first week. Work in the weight room helps Catlett becomes stronger and improves her swing, but also prevents injury on the court. Conditioning is the main goal of offseason and preseason work for many sports. For volleyball, it takes
the form of “gassers.” A “gasser” starts on the baseline of the volleyball court and the players must run to the opposite baseline and back 12 times in 55 seconds. They have a rest period for about a minute and then have to run the 12 lengths again within 55 seconds. On the third “gasser” the time goes up to a minute, but at that point, as the name suggests, you are “gassed.” Men’s basketball head coach Jeff Culver understands the difficulty of preseason and how important it is to capitalize on the time he is given before the season starts. His preseason lasts from the second week of school until the season starts in late October.
“With such a long preseason the earlier regular season start day is keeping the boys focused,” Culver said. Culver and his coaching staff look to make sure that everyone is on the same page. This time is for “knocking off the rust” and fixing bad habits the players may have picked up during the summer. For Culver, returning players help the offseason process. “It is a luxury that we have 11 returners back this year to help acclimate our new players.” No matter the length of the preseason, every athlete focuses on surviving conditioning to get ready for their season.
Attack-minded women’s soccer team opens season with seven home games
jonathan toman | The Scribe
The UCCS women’s soccer team participates in a scrimmage on Sept. 1 at Mountain Lion Stadium.
Jonathan Toman jtoman@uccs.edu
Nicole Ridenour prefers to stay at home whenever possible. The women’s soccer head coach got her wish, as her Mountain Lion women’s soccer team will begin the season with seven straight home games, looking to bounce back from a 2014 season that saw UCCS finish 6-11 overall, missing the RMAC Tournament. “It’s a very concerted effort,” Ridenour said. “I’ll take wins at home any day over traveling.” 2014 was a season where the defense struggled, allowing 35 goals, including
17 in a stretch of five straight losses to finish the season. “We were in a situation where we weren’t ready to fill in gaps,” said Ridenour, who explained the defense was thrown into battle without a chance to digest the defensive system she likes to use. That stands in sharp contrast to the attackingminded team the Mountain Lions will field in 2015, a style Ridenour described as “in your face.” “We defend when we have to but want to bring it to the other team,” said senior midfielder Brooke Tominello. Ridenour was able to tweak the formation to a more offensive-minded strategy due to the solidifying of the defense.
That seven game home stretch to start can set the tone for the season. Junior forward Michaela Mansfield, named to the All-RMAC preseason team, sees the home stretch as an advantage with both the home crowd, and the ability to figure out any remaining kinks in friendly confines. “It’s never fun to play on a field you’re not used to,” she said. “It’s exciting, it makes us want to play even harder,” said Tominello. Along with the new team layout is an improved team dynamic, according to Tominello. “We do everything together,” she said. “That creates trust on and off the
field. We have each other’s back.” “We have more confidence,” Mansfield added. “We can now build our confidence from the (defense).” Mansfield explained that the team is comfortable pushing each other to succeed, without the motivation coming from the coaches. “There’s only so much a coach can do and tell you.” Besides Tominello and Mansfield, Ridenour expects the two central defenders, Savannah Schill and Bethany Leliefeld, to dominate the center of the field and control the more aggressive, retooled defense. “It’s really easy to get behind (and cheer for) girls in
key positions,” Ridenour said. These changes will be put to the test in the physical and competitive RMAC, where Ridenour highlighted depth on the bench as a key to success. “The worst team can be the best team,” she said. “We have to be opportunistic and take advantage of our opportunities when they come.” The Mountain Lions defeated Texas A&M International 3-1 on Sept. 3 to start the season. After taking on Texas A&M-Commerce on Sept. 5, they will face Midwestern State on Sept. 11 at 5 p.m. and Colorado Christian on Sept. 13 at 11 a.m. Both games are at Mountain Lion Stadium.
Mountain Lion Women’s Soccer Regular Season Home Schedule *All Games are at Mountain Lion Stadium
Sept. 11 vs. Midwestern State 5 p.m.
Sept. 13 vs. Colorado Christian 11 a.m.
Oct. 9 vs. Colorado Mesa 5 p.m.
Sept. 18 vs. Regis 7 p.m.
Oct. 11 vs. Westminster Noon
Sept. 20 vs. Metro State 1 p.m.
Oct. 30 vs. Fort Lewis 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 vs. Western State 7 p.m.
Nov. 1 vs. Adams State 1 p.m.