NEWS BRIEFS UNC’s fall commencement ceremonies will take place Friday and Saturday in the Bank of Colorado Arena in Butler-Hancock Athletic Center. The Graduate School ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. on Friday. About 220 students are scheduled to receive their master’s, doctoral and specialist degrees. On Saturday, about 600 undergraduates are scheduled to receive degrees during the two ceremonies. The ceremony for Monfort college of business, college of natural and health sciences, and college of performing and visual arts will be at 9 a.m. and the ceremony for the college of education and behavioral sciences, the college of humanities and social sciences, and university college will be at 12:30 p.m. Tickets are not required to attend the ceremonies, and parking is free.
A student reflection of the UNC community
KEEP WARM, BEARS THE WINTER ISSUE
The students recognized by UNC’s awards for superior academic achievement and outstanding research in graduate studies will be honored on Friday’s graduate school commencement ceremony. All ceremonies will be broadcast live online. Go to unco.edu/commencement/ webcast.asp Former UNC Professor, Charles “Gil” Schmidt, passed away Nov. 22. Schmidt was an administrator and professor at UNC from 1991 to 2011, when he served as assistant vice president for academic affairs, vice provost, professor of geography and emeritus professor of geography. A memorial for Schmidt will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, at Bethel Lutheran Church, 328 Walnut St., Windsor. UNC’s Theatre Arts and Dance program was named the best college theater program in Colorado by OnStage, an online magazine. A Mental Health First Aid certification course will take place from 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Dec. 14 and 15 in Harrison Hall den. The course is free for faculty, staff and students. Registration by 5 p.m. Wednesday is required.
GRADUATION ISSUE
INSIDE
Classes for the spring 2016 semester begin Monday, Jan. 11. The add deadline for fullsemester courses is Friday, Jan. 15th. Breelyn Bowe | The Mirror
For the week of
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News
NEWS CALENDAR
MON 12/7
Editor: Chelsea Hinspeter
Is college depriving you of sleep?
Final Exam Week
TUE 12/8 Final Exam Week
WED 12/9 Incomplete Grade Change Deadline Final Exam Week
THU 12/10 Final Exam Week 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Cap and Gown Distribution Recreation Center
FRI 12/11
Course Adjustment Deadline for Fall 2015 Undergraduates Graduating Carter Hall Deadline for Fall 2015 Undergraduates Graduating to Fulfill All Course Requirements Carter Hall Final Exam Week 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Cap and Gown Distribution 7 p.m. Graduate School Commencement Ceremony Bank of Colorado Arena at ButlerHancock Athletic Center
SAT 12/12 9 a.m. Undergraduate Commencement Bank of Colorado Arena at ButlerHancock Athletic Center 12:30 p.m. Undergraduate Commencement Bank of Colorado Arena at ButlerHancock Athletic Center
December 7, 2015 | uncmirror.com
By Chelsea Hinspeter news@uncmirror.com
Caffeine-injected 20-somethings with bloodshot eyes, illuminated by laptop screens, huddled in the darkened corners of coffee shops have transpired into society’s accepted image of the modern college student. Many would agree that the lifestyle of a college student doesn’t leave much room for sleep. Stefan Lamb, a UNC alumnus who graduated with a physics degree, said sleep deprivation seems nearly unavoidable for college students who are going to school, working and trying to get good grades. “Sometimes I put sleep ahead of other things because I know how valuable or how devastating it is when you are sleep deprived, but sometimes you don’t have a choice,” Lamb said. Lack of sleep can arise for anyone with a tight schedule, but there are some people, like UNC alumna education major Kayla Johnson, who think the reason sleep deprivation is predominant among college students is because it is socially acceptable. “I think it’s avoidable, but I don’t think it’s socially avoidable,” Johnson said. “I think it’s just something that our culture practices.” Regardless of the reasoning, lack of sleep seems to be a reality for most college students— a reality that has the potential to damage one’s health. Michael Todd Allen, a psychology professor at the University of Northern Colorado, explained that without enough quality sleep, the brain is unable to restore itself properly. “It’s going to naturally disrupt your concentration and you’re going to feel groggy,” Allen said. “You’re going to feel fuzzy-headed. You’re not going
to make the right decisions.” Lamb said that because sleep deprivation can harm a person’s mental state, he thinks it can lead to other issues as well. “If you’re constantly in a negative mental state, you’re going to make yourself sick, and if you make yourself sick, you’re not going to sleep as much,” Lamb said. “It’s just like a horrible snow ball effect.” In addition to mental health concerns, Allen also said there are many physical health issues related to sleep deprivation. “If I deprived you of sleep long enough, you’d have major body system shut downs,” Allen said. “You’d lose the ability to regulate your body temperature and your metabolism would go crazy because it would all be an attempt of the body to try to get back to this balance point. Your body’s trying to maintain itself without having that ability to rest.” Normally, sleep deprivation affects health at a relatively slow rate, Allen said. But that doesn’t dull the importance of sleep. “In extreme cases, if you had the type of insomnia where you never went to sleep again, you would die from that,” Allen said. While extreme circumstances of sleep deprivation can have severe results, such a case is highly improbable. Although it may be very difficult to catch up on lost sleep, there are ways to offset the effects of sleep deprivation by getting a deeper quality of sleep. “Get yourself in that relaxed state of mind through meditation or doing something that you enjoy before you go to bed. It sort of clears your mind and keeps you more relaxed and would help you save energy in general and then also probably be able to sleep better,” Allen said. By avoiding habits such as reading or watching television in bed or having electronics next to one’s bed, Allen said
people are more likely to fall asleep quicker and achieve a deeper sleep, longer. “There are ways that you can train yourself to power nap or get a more deep, relaxed sleep in a shorter amount of time,” Allen said. Power naps are one technique many individuals practice as a supplement to a full night’s rest. “If you can learn to take short naps -15 to 30 minutesit makes a huge difference,” Lamb said. Lamb also said if he is unable to get much sleep, consuming healthy food is the next best thing. While healthy food can help to refuel energy, many students turn to energy drinks or coffee. “The longer you’re awake, the brain builds up certain chemical byproducts from using energy and that chemical is actually what makes you drowsy,” Allen said. “The effect of caffeine and coffee is to
block that chemical.” Although caffeine may quickly and effectively fight off drowsiness, if relied upon too often, people can develop a dependency on the substance and build a tolerance, making caffeine less effective over time. “If you’re not used to drinking coffee and you are tired, it will pep you up a little bit, but then people rely on it and they make it a habit, and then it actually isn’t doing anything because your body builds a dependency,” Lamb said. Although it may be pleasant to think college students are sleep-deprived because of all the hard work they put into their education, there may be some other factors in a college environment that assist in making a sleep-deprived community of young adults. “Alcohol’s a depressant, and alcohol would make you drowsy and sleepy, but it doesn’t allow you to go into
REM sleep, so someone who drinks too much is not going to dream and is not going to get that deep REM sleep they need,” Allen said. Although the lifestyle of a college student seems like a recipe for sleep deprivation, some people think it is a phase of life that will readjust itself naturally over time. “I think that, in the long term, once our priorities are different and we’re not staying out until two in the morning at the bars, then our bodies can slowly adjust back to ‘let’s go to sleep at 10 and wake up at seven,’” Johnson said. Although she does think lack of sleep is an issue among college students, Johnson said it can also be a mechanism for students to force themselves into meeting deadlines and being successful. “If you’re going to succeed and do really well, it’s hard to not be sleep-deprived,” Lamb said.
News
December 7, 2015 | uncmirror.com
10 things college students should do over Winter Break
Social networking site for students launches onto college campuses By Riley Krumpholz news@uncmirror.com
The addictions to constant social media updates have millennials hooked. If 20 year-olds aren’t tweeting, they are browsing, updating, liking and sharing videos, pictures and posts. With the Internet dominated by select social media sites, can we give the thumbs up to an up-and-coming media platform? Use of social media has grown astronomically and become part of the daily routines for approximately 2.026 billion users according to Kadie Regan, a reporter for Social Media Today. With an average of 1 million new social media users per day, the market for fresh and new media sites is booming. “The use of social media has become second nature for so many people,” said Deanna Helton, a senior geography and geographic information science major. “It’s an industry that, in today’s day and age, will never go out of style.” Mix Of, also referred to as MXO, was introduced to college campuses a few months ago. Originally, MXO started out as a dating website for college students. Joy Kearney, the co-founder and president of the social media site, explained how with feedback from users, MXO evolved from a dating app to a social networking site for students with an “.edu” email address. “We enjoy getting feedback from our users because the app is for students, so we take all advice and alter the site as needed,” Kearney said. “As of now, the app is a bulletin board for students to interact. However, with the
advice from our students, we will be adding additional features.” “The next version will have the ability of a bulletin board; finding your ‘mix’, which allows students to find other students with the same interests; as well as the newest feature, that will allow students to upload photos on the ‘campus pulse’ section,” she continued. “This allows you to see photos of what is currently going on on your campus.” With the website just starting out, advice is crucial for success, especially coming from its target audience. According to the Pew Research Center, in January of 2014, 89 percent of 18 to 29 year-olds used social media. With a massive population checking and interacting with social media on a daily basis, MXO takes great interest in what their users are saying. Unlike other social media platforms, MXO presents itself as a networking tool—something that is becoming more desirable to students on campus. “At one point [social media] was the only way I could stay connected,” said Austin Rogers, a self-proclaimed social media connoisseur and junior English major with an emphasis in secondary education. “People make fun of me for checking my social media so often, but that’s how people reach out to me. I use it as an organizer. If an event needs to go public, I can post it. Or I can reach out to ask questions to people I don’t often see or get a chance to talk to.” With millennials thriving off of the instant gratification of social media, MXO aims to be a one-stop-shop of sorts. Kearney said the site aims to be a mix of various social networks that establishes an online community for all college students.
#1 Sleep. #2 Eat good food. Lots and lots of food. #3 Experience an actual social life. #4 Spend some quality time with the family. #5 out stressing. #6 Indulge in winter activities. #7 Have recreational “ME” time. #8 Work/save up some extra cash. #9 Fine tune resumes & internship applications, #10 Absolutely nothing,
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THE MIRROR STAFF 2015-16 Editor-in-Chief Katarina Velazquez editor@uncmirror.com Production Manager Manuel Perez adproduction@uncmirror.com
News Editor Chelsea Hinspeter news@uncmirror.com A&C Editor La’Asianee Brown arts@uncmirror.com Sports Editor Dylan Sanchez sports@uncmirror.com Photo Editor Breelyn Bowe photo@uncmirror.com Copy Editor Mikhala Krochta Marketing/Social Media Managers Libby Harrington Maria Morante marketing@uncmirror.com Advertising Manager Hannah Crowley ads@uncmirror.com General Manager Matt Lubich mlubich@uncmirror.com Office Address: 823 16th St. Greeley, Colorado 80631 Phone Number: 970-392-9270
MISSION STATEMENT
The Mirror’s mission is to educate, inform and entertain the students, staff and faculty of the UNC community and to train the staff on the business of journalism in a college-newspaper environment.
ABOUT US
The Mirror produces a print newspaper every Monday during the academic year as well as maintains a current web page. The student-operated newspaper is advised by the non-profit Student Media Corporation and is printed by Signature Offset.
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Arts & Culture
ARTS CALENDAR
MON 12/7
Staff Report
arts@uncmirror.com
Two student-run comedy groups are coming together for one end-of-the-year show. “Hello My Name is…” is a sketch comedy show, and “Chaos” is an improv comedy group. Combined they are “Hello My name is… Chaos.” On Wednesday night, the two groups will put on a show consisting of four sketches, four improv games, a short video and musical numbers. Ken Womble, associate professor of theatre arts, and Matthew Herrick, musical theatre assistant professor, will be per-
WED 12/9 3-4 p.m. Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance Candelaria Hall 6-8 p.m. Basketball Rock Band Informational Meeting Foundation Hall
THUR 12/10 4-6 p.m. Annual Campus Holiday Party University Center-Fireside Lounge
@UNCMIRRORARTS
FOLLOW FOR MORE UNC ARTS
December 7, 2015 | uncmirror.com
Comedy show provides one last laugh
12 p.m. Oral Comprehensive Examination, Brian Claxton, Jazz Studies Skinner Library 124
8:30-9:30 p.m. Hello My Name Is/Chaos Comedy Show Atlas Theater, 802 Ninth St.
Editor: La’Asianée Brown
forming in the opening sketch. Hannah Carmicheal, president of “Hello My Name is...” spoke about producing the show and her personal aspirations.
to collaborate and build with both our material.
Why did you decide to produce a show so close to the end of the semester?
My future performance goals are to hopefully feed myself with the art I do and to get on Saturday Night Live. So… either one. Or be a waitress.
It is a nice way to wrap up the semester in a positive way. It gives students a break in finals week to relax and laugh. What is one of the most memorable moments of producing the show? The most memorable for me is being able to create art with new people. It has been great
What are your future performance goals?
Do you perform in any shows produced by the performance and visual arts school? I was just in the musical “Sunday In the Park with George” by Sondheim, I was in “Jackie and Me” and I also do a lot of student produced work as well as directing.
Listening sessions address campus diversity By Trevor Reid
arts@uncmirror.com
On Nov. 12, University of Northern Colorado President Kay Norton sent out an email to UNC community members expressing “a continuing obligation to actively work to make UNC a welcoming and inclusive community.” The email was a response to the racially charged incidents at the University of Missouri and other universities across the nation, as well as the protests sparked by the incidents. In the email, Norton announced she would be hosting listening sessions for both students and faculty to speak about their experiences regarding diversity and inclusivity on campus. “My initial reaction was ‘okay, here’s another letter from another president,’” said Andrés Ramirez, graduate assistant at César Chavez Cultural Center. “But after being at some of these sessions, I think it’s been a good opportunity.” Ramirez facilitated the listening session at the César Chavez Cultural Center, where students brought up resources the cultural centers are lacking. It was mentioned and visually displayed on a TV screen that César Chavez Cultural Center still has unpaved roads, putting people at risk of injury.
Instead of each identity receiving a cultural center of their own, the Kohl House serves as the center for both Asian/Pacific American Student Services and Native American Student Services. The listening sessions were also held at Marcus Garvey Cultural Center, the Women’s Resource Center, the University Center and Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion. A problem mentioned at one of these listening sessions was that the LGBTQ community has a resource office, but no cultural center, so queer-identifying students don’t have place of their own for a listening session. “There are a lot of separate issues, but they’re all about identity,” Norton explained after the last listening session. “Because you’re talking about human behavior on an individual basis, [there are] things you can’t just pass a rule against—it’s a great challenge.” To address this challenge, students expressed demands for required diversity training for faculty and administration. Programs such as Safe Zone trainings and diversity and inclusivity trainings are given on a regular basis at the university. Though student staff are required to attend these trainings, faculty and administration typically have no such requirements.
The necessity of such trainings, according to students, stems from an overall lack of diversity on campus. Statistics from fall 2014 show that 56 percent of students identified as white, and only 11 percent of faculty designated themselves as black, Hispanic, American Indian, Alaska native, Asian, native Hawaiian or other pacific islander. Students voiced concerns about what these numbers say about campus diversity, both for students and faculty. Other issues included insufficient financial aid and health insurance coverage for low-income students, the inability of the campus salon to serve black students and a general sense of dismissive treatment toward minorities. When asked about a time she felt dismissed as a low priority, Norton drew on her experience with gender discrimination. “I do understand not being heard from that point of view,” she said. “I became aware of [gender discrimination] when people first started saying to me, “you might not be able to do that because you’re a girl,’” Norton said. “At first, it was just a shock. Then later in college, as I thought about what I should do, I knew what I didn’t want to do, which were the stereotypical roles for women: secretary, nurse or teacher. That’s why I went to law school, because
I was interested in how power is distributed in this country—how people get things done. Then later on in my career when I’d be in meetings, and I’d suggest something, [there would be] silence— nothing happens. Twenty minutes later, some guy says [the same thing] and everybody goes ‘Yeah, man, great idea!’ That’s been the bulk of my experience.” “Then you should come from that place of compassion of knowing what that feels like and make this campus better so that doesn’t happen to us,” responded sophomore English and political science major Tori Pettis. Norton said she will communicate details about the initial steps to address student concerns the first week of spring semester. “This is not the end,” Norton said. “I know there are things we can do now that will join the Campus Climate Initiative in moving us all forward.” Kourtney Bellard, outreach and development coordinator at the Marcus Garvey Cultural Center, emphasized the fact that the listening sessions are only the beginning. “This is the spark of a change that we want to ricochet across campus and university-wide,” she said. “We’re not going to stop until we can make that change that the students really need. We’re all in this together.”
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO
FALL COMMENCEMENT December 11 & 12, 2015
WHERE The University of Northern Colorado will host fall commencement ceremonies Friday, Dec. 11, and Saturday, Dec. 12, in the Bank of Colorado Arena in Butler-Hancock Athletic Center, south of the intersection of 14th Avenue and 20th Street.
FRIDAY, DEC. 11 The graduate school ceremony will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11. About 220 candidates are scheduled to receive their master’s, doctoral and specialist degrees.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GRADUATING MIRROR STAFF
SATURDAY, DEC. 12
Cassius Vasquez Mark Harro Correll Comer
About 600 undergraduates are scheduled to receive their degrees during two ceremonies Saturday, Dec. 12.
You made it! But you all will be missed. Good luck on your
The ceremony for the Monfort college of business, college of natural and health sciences and college of performing and visual arts will be at 9 a.m. The ceremony for the college of education and behavioral sciences, college of humanities and social sciences and university college will be at 12:30 p.m.
Kyle O’Neal Hannah Crowley
journey into the “real” world! And don’t forget about us little people at your old college newspaper.
-Katarina Velazquez, Editor-in-Chief
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Fall Graduation 2015
December 7, 2015 | uncmirror.com
Saying farewell to retiring professor
UNC professor and teacher of 48 years’ retirement to impact programs, UNC as whole By Riley Krumpholz news@uncmirror.com
Photo courtesy of Beta Alpha Psi, Theta Psi
Allen McConnell and his wife, Carol, pose at the professor’s recognition event Tuesday evening in the Panorama Room.
As the semester winds down to an end, some students are eager to say their farewells to professors and fellow classmates. For others, the end of the semester is a bittersweet conclusion to the year, where saying goodbye is anything but easy. After having been part of the Monfort College of Business faculty since 1968, Professor Allen McConnell will retire from UNC at the end of the academic year. After earning his bachelor’s of business administration and master’s degree in accounting at the University of North Dakota, McConnell ventured south, where he became a professor of financial accounting. In addition to his career as an educator, McConnell acted as an advisor for Beta Alpha Psi and the Professional Accounting Association, an honorary organization for financial information students and professionals. He also founded the Theta Psi chapter at UNC. While this particular chapter has received
national superior recognition under McConnell’s direction, McConnell is personally known by his students for his character and dedication to his students’ success. “Professor McConnell is a great role model who I admire,” said Beta Alpha Psi and Theta Psi reporting secretary Jennifer LaPorte, a business major with an accounting emphasis and minor in nonprofit administration. “He has greatly influenced my life. His dedication to teaching and love for students is incredible.” During his years as a professor, McConnell has received various awards from UNC in addition to other institutions. In 2003, McConnell was honored by the Colorado Society of Certified Public Accountants as a “CPA Making a Difference” for his exemplary work with students, as well as his community and professional service. In the classroom, McConnell actively engages with students, helping them to succeed throughout their academic careers by offering insight, encouragement and advice. “Professor McConnell consistently has a smile on his face and is always willing to help
students with their educational, professional and personal lives,” said Matthew Schoewe, a business accounting major and student of McConnell. Schoewe described having Professor McConnell as a “pleasure” when he had to take advanced accounting. “After 16 years of involvement and the one who started our Theta Psi chapter, McConnell’s retirement will greatly affect the program,” LaPorte said. “McConnell has been very active with Beta Alpha Psi and the Professional Accounting Association students, helping lead them to the career path of their choice and encourage opportunities like internships to gain professional experience.” In his 48 years of teaching, McConnell seems to have perfected his craft. Most students are grateful for his mentoring, but the feeling appears to be mutual. In his biography, McConnell states that he considers his greatest achievement at UNC to be the many lifelong friendships he has developed with students from his classes. “We look forward to continuing McConnell’s legacy and watching the organization and students grow even more,” LaPorte said.
Are graduates ready for the ‘real world?’ How UNC, Career Services helped students prepare for life after graduation By Julia Sobczak news@uncmirror.com
Graduating at the end of the fall semester is a popular concept, especially to students experiencing familiar woes of senioritis, but having a job lined up after the graduation ceremony is usually of greater importance than walking across that stage. Renée Welch, the director of Career Services, explained that the best career fit depends on the values of the student who is searching. “We can help them gain clarity in those values,” Welch said. Career Services makes a point to identify each student’s individual values for a job by focusing on potential income, location and a variety of other details. “UNC offers a lot of opportunities to find employment after graduation” said Brandon Vela, an education major. “I know they always have the teacher fair, where principals and office workers come in from tons of elementary schools to interview you.” This Teacher Employment Fair, offered through Career Services, is one of many student aids which are designed to identify and clarify a student’s preferred future career. Steve Wixom and Vela are both graduating this year and majoring in education. Wixom will be student teaching music classes
at Cheyenne Mountain Junior High and Air Academy, teaching at each school for eight weeks. Meanwhile, Vela will be going into his practicum at Westridge Academy, a small charter school in Greeley. While student teaching and practicums are more like “mandatory internships,” according to Vela, both are necessary steps to getting a job in the education field. Often times, students are offered full-time jobs at the same schools they start with as student teachers. Vela said UNC did a good job counseling students through the job-hunting process and helping to place education majors at their preferred schools. Welch and the staff at Career Services help students by taking their vague thoughts and goals and funneling them down into a specific career path. “It’s like a blend of coaching and counseling,” Welch said. She explained that students often think the answer to their problems will be a simple yes or no. “It takes a lot more than that,” she said. Welch explained that varying advice regarding a student’s career can come from a variety of sources—professors, counselors or trusted guardians. She said the most important thing a person who is job searching can do is be active and get out and meet people, rather than just scrolling through jobs online. Welch said searching passively can be harmful because by not
participating actively in the community, students can miss opportunities to forge connections, which may lead the way to many more unique job offers. “UNC does a good job of getting you ready to search for work,” Wixom said. “We write our resumes and cover letters as well as participate in a mock interview as we get close to the end of our degrees.” Students can schedule an appointment or drop in to Career Services 12-3 p.m. Monday through Friday. The office is located on the second floor of the University Center.
Fall Graduation 2015
December 7, 2015 | uncmirror.com
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Final words with departing Bears
UNC students share their memories, future plans post-graduation Adam “Bubba” Gardner | Communication studies major What is your most memorable moment at UNC? My most memorable moment at UNC... I have a lot of great memories from the school, so this question is rather difficult, but I would probably have to say that my most memorable moment is a speech I gave my freshman year in front of 200 students in the basics of public speaking class. The speech was about suicide prevention and awareness. Preparing and presenting that speech showed me that I have the ability to present effectively in front of people and I can make a positive change in my community and in the lives of others. How have you seen the culture in Greeley grow and change? Since beginning my journey at UNC, I have seen the Greeley community and the students begin to connect more and bond through school and community programs and events. I have seen the issues of social justice come to the forefront of UNC priorities and that has begun to positively impact the relationships that various groups of students have with administrators and Greeley city staff and businesses.
What are your future career goals? I would like to go into motivational speaking and present to young people about suicide awareness and prevention. I would first like to go to graduate school to do more research about current suicide awareness and prevention education offered to people under 25 and see how that can be improved. What piece of advice would you leave for upcoming seniors? The best piece of advice I have is this: be open and willing to change and actively seek other perspectives. I say this because when we open our minds and become accepting of other ideas and concepts, we can grow much more easily and we can find quite a few more opportunities than when we close our minds. I began my college career thinking I knew enough, I didn’t seek other perspectives or try to learn from others. But the moment I started being more open and accepting, I found that I can learn so much from others and I have become more confident. I have been able to advocate for and help more people than just myself.
Photo courtesy of Adam Gardner
Hannah Swick | Art & design major with an emphasis in visual communication design What is your most memorable moment at UNC? One of the most memorable moments I’ve had while attending UNC was studying abroad through Monfort College of Business in Trieste, Italy. How do you feel about contributing to the art scene in Greeley? I have had two “First Friday” photography shows, but have also been a part of the school of art and design’s annual juried shows in the spring semesters. Over the last four and a half years I have become an established wedding and portrait photographer all over Colorado. How have you seen the art scene in Greeley grow and change? Growing up in Greeley, the art scene has dramatically changed over the course of my college career. I remember just a few local places had galleries on “First Friday,” but now that downtown Greeley is growing, there are more locations for artists to show their work. It would be great if every local business could feature artists. Photo courtesy of Hannah Swick
Can you talk more about why you decided to do wedding photography? There is something magical about a wedding that I can never get enough of. Seeing the raw love of a bride and groom is the best part of my job. I love being able to capture stories that will be passed on to generations after generations. I told myself in the beginning that I would never do anything that I didn’t love to do, and I love being a wedding photographer. Do you plan on staying in this theme of photography? I plan on having a camera the rest of my life. I don’t know if I will be a wedding photographer forever, but I will definitely document life around me and share my adventures with my friends and family. I am excited to graduate so I can have more time for other areas of art. What piece of advice do you have for upcoming seniors? For all the upcoming seniors out there, just stay positive and remember sometimes you just need to take a day to relax and drink a latte.
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Fall Graduation 2015
December 7, 2015 | uncmirror.com
UNC athletes leaving their footprints Chris Urbaniak
Staff Report
sports@uncmirror.com
Men’s Basketball: Cody McDavis
McDavis saw gradual success in his playing throughout his time as a Bear. The 6-foot-6-inch man averaged 5.9 points per game. In 2013-14, McDavis was named the Bears’ most improved player and continued to improve, earning a Big Sky all-academic selection in the same year. McDavis will graduate from the Monfort College of Business with a degree in business administration.
Women’s Basketball: Jamie Derrieux
A redshirt for the 2014-15 season, Derrieux was a Big Sky all-academic selection in April of 2014 and has appeared in one game so far for the 2015-16 Bears, scoring her two points of the year against the University of Denver after an injury. Derrieux played in 13 games as a true freshman and started 26 of 28 games in the 2013-14 season, averaging 8.1 points per game. Derrieux will graduate with a business marking degree and a minor in pre-law.
Football: AJ Battle
UNC’s defense has a hole to fill with the absence of defensive back Battle. Battle had five pass break-ups and an interception this season for the 6-5 Bears team. Battle played in all 11 games for this season, recording 60 tackles. Battle’s most memorable play of the season came against Sacramento State, when Battle recovered a fumble and ran it 26-yards for a touchdown. Battle will graduate with a sociology degree from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Brock Berglund
In 2011, Rivals.com ranked Berglund the 15th best dual-threat quarterback in the nation, and he was also the third best player in Colorado. It appeared that Berglund might be UNC’s quarterback, but an injury in 2014 earned Berglund a medial redshirt, ultimately allowing redshirt freshman Jacob Knipp to take over the starting role. Berglund will graduate with a degree in political science.
James Davis
Davis made an impact as a true freshman back in 2011, playing in 10 games and recording 28 tackles. As a senior in 2015, the defensive back recorded 37 tackles and an interception, bouncing back after receiving a medical redshirt for an injury he received in 2014. Davis will graduate from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Thomas Singleton
Singleton was a redshirt in 2012 and played in 11 of 12 games the following year, making 19 tackles. In 2014, Singleton was put on an island and made the most of it, playing in 10 of 11 games helping the Bears create one of the most dominate defenses in the football championship subdivision. As a junior, Singleton recorded 77 total tackles, the third highest on the team, and grabbed a single interception and had five pass breakups. Singleton will graduate with a degree in communication studies. **All photos courtesy of UNCBears.com
After redshirting in 2011, the Bears defensive-end Urbaniak showed why he was a first team all-conference selection in high school. Urbaniak recorded 28 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 2012. In 2013, he continued to be a presence with 26 tackles and another fumble recovery. Urbaniak will graduate from the Monfort College of Business with a degree in business administration.
Leilon Willingham
The transfer from the University of Central Florida made his first appearance as a Bear in 2012, playing in 10 games, recording 37 tackles and three pass breakups. His most memorable moment came against Colorado Mesa, when Willingham ran back a 30-yard fumble for a touchdown. In 2013, Willingham was second on the team in tackles, nearly making the record books with 98 tackles. Willingham will graduate with a degree in communication studies.
Arts & Culture
December 7, 2015 | uncmirror.com
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Photo courtesy of Ciera Wills
Holiday how-to: Creating a festive home LIGHTS
SURVIVING THE GIFT EXCHANGE
Lights bring a festive glow to any holiday home. Not only are there white lights, there are multi-colored lights or any other color you can imagine. They are a cheap addition to your holiday home with costs ranging from $2 to $10 a box, depending on the amount or style. Once they are hung, they can stay there year-round.
HOLIDAY ITEMS
Everyone celebrates the holiday season in different ways. A tree is one way to bring Christmas to the house. Bringing in a traditional holiday item lends a festive attitude to any apartment or home away from your parents’ home. It’s a great centerpiece for individuals hosting present exchange events.
Exchanging presents can be fun among roommates and is always an opportunity to show how much you appreciate their friendship. However, as college students, giving and receiving gifts are always tricky when living on a checkto-check budget.
Be sure to follow these gift giving (and recieving) tips:
1
Specify if you cannot give. This way, your roommates are not dropping gift hints for gifts they will never receive. It also makes for less awkward gift exchange. Stay within your budget. Small but thoughtful gifts are essential for gift exchanges. Items like socks, candles or food are everyday items that double as gift options.
LET IT SNOW
Filling wall space with stockings, snowflakes or holiday family pictures make great conversation pieces. It also provides a sentimental time to share with roommates as you decorate and design. This is also a great opportunity to put all those DIY projects from Pinterest to use. DIY projects are often cheap and can be modified to your liking instead of having to buy a generic decoration from the store.
3
Always say thank you and be appreciative. Again, everyone is not rolling in the money during this time of the year. It’s important to remember the gift giver is spending their hard earned money to make you feel special during the holiday season.
Sports
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Editor: Dylan Sanchez
December 7, 2015 | uncmirror.com
For next-day game recaps, check UNCMIRROR.COM SPORTS CALENDAR YELLOW = HOME GAME BLUE = AWAY GAME
Senior etched into UNC record book
Garcia ends her volleyball career as one of UNC’s greatest defensive specialists
TUES 12/8 7 p.m. Women’s Basketball vs. Colorado State University Bank of Colorado Arena
WED 12/9 7 p.m. Men’s Basketball vs. York College Bank of Colorado Arena
THUR 12/10 All Day Track at Colorado School of Mines Early Bird Multi Golden, Colorado
FRI 12/11 All Day Track at Colorado School of Mines Early Bird Multi Golden, Colorado All Day Track at Wyoming Power Meet Laramie, Wyoming
SUN 12/13 All Day Track at Colorado School of Mines Early Bird Multi Golden, Colorado
MON 12/14 All Day Track at Colorado School of Mines Early Bird Multi Golden, Colorado 5 p.m. Men’s Basketball vs. Colorado State University Bank of Colorado Arena
By Zach Blackburn sports@uncmirror.com
The volleyball team has three seniors getting ready to take the next big step in their lives. Senior defensive specialist Meagan Garcia reflected back on her time at the University of Northern Colorado. “I’ve enjoyed my time here,” Garcia said. “UNC has a great department, and everyone from the athletic department to the janitors care about your success and want to stay involved.” Garcia is a business marketing major from Platteville, Colorado, and she said her time at UNC with the volleyball team was very special. “What I have enjoyed the most was getting to be a part of a team with 14 amazing girls,” she said. “We don’t really have a lot of time to venture out and participate in clubs on campus, so our team is our form of sisterhood. We support each other and love each other, and from that we have gained everlasting friendships.” Garcia also reflected on winning the Big Sky championship last year with her team. “It was such an awesome feeling,” she said. “You work so hard for something—workouts in
the spring, sacrificing our summer to workout and get better—and it’s so rewarding to see it pay off. It’s so amazing to come back to the Greeley community after a great victory and find that the whole community was rooting for you.” Garcia said she loved playing in Butler-Hancock for the fans and for the community, and she was grateful for the opportunity to play for a program that has a winning and strong culture. “The fans are dedicated to the team throughout the season’s highs and lows, and they make an effort to get to know you on a personal level,” Garcia said. After four seasons, Garcia said she had a lot of fun and will have many great memories to look back on. But Garcia said she is focused on finishing her academic career strongly—now more than ever. “I’m thinking about applying to grad school,” Garcia said. “I want to move to Denver and get my foot in the fashion industry. I really want to start working for a high-end retailer like Neiman Marcus or Nordstrom and work my way up the ladder to eventually become a buyer or marketing executive.” Garcia moved into fourth place in Division-I history in digs with 1,271, averaging 2.96 digs per set throughout her collegiate career.
Breelyn Bowe | The Mirror
Senior volleyball player Meagan Garcia finishes her collegiate career in fourth place for UNC Division I history with 1,271 career digs.
Two Bears earn All-District honors
Bloyer and Stansbury make NCAA Division-I District 7 All-Academic team Staff Report
sports@uncmirror.com
The 2015 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District football teams have been released to recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances both athletically and in the classroom. Both junior linebacker Bryan Stansbury and junior safety Tyler Bloyer
have earned first team NCAA Division I District 7 honors. Stansbury, a junior college transfer from Santa Rosa, has started in seven of the eight games this season for the team and has recorded 32 tackles, including 2.0 for a loss. He recorded a season high of eight tackles in the loss against Southern Utah University. Bloyer has been a part of the program since 2012 and is an important piece of the Bears’ defense at safety. He has played in all eight games this year, and he racked up 32 tackles, 1.0 for a
loss, three pass breakups and his first career interception in week 2 against Houston Baptist. Both student-athletes are in the top five on the team with well about a 3.5 GPA. To be nominated, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale at his or her current institution, and must have participated in at least 50 percent of the team’s games this season. The Academic All-District teams are
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divided into eight geographic districts across the United States and Canada. This is the fifth year of the expanded Academic All-America program as CoSIDA moved from recognizing a University Division (Division I) and a College Division (all non-Division I), and has doubled the number of scholarathletes honored. The expanded teams include NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III participants, while the College Division Academic All-America Team combines NAIA, Canadian and two-year schools.
Sports
December 7, 2015 | uncmirror.com
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Men’s, women’s basketball fall on the road By Kyle O’Neal
sports@uncmirror.com
Women’s Basketball
The University of Northern Colorado women’s basketball team lost to South Dakota State 66-62 on Saturday afternoon in Brookings, South Dakota at Frost Arena. The Bears (5-3, 0-0 Big Sky) rallied from a 15-point deficit with about seven minutes left to pull within one point, with less than two minutes left in the game after a three-pointer was made by junior guard Katie Longwell. Unfortunately, UNC could not complete the comeback. South Dakota State built its lead during a lopsided second quarter. The Jacks outscored Northern Colorado 31-14 in the pivotal quarter. At halftime, UNC trailed 42-29 and the SDSU lead remained at 13 points following a third quarter in which both teams scored just ten points apiece. Three UNC players scored in double figures with Longwell leading all scorers with 17 points. Longwell also tied her career high with five made three-pointers off just seven attempts. Joining Longwell in double figures were senior guard Kyleigh Hiser with 11 points and junior forward Kourteney Zadina with 13. Northern Colorado shot about 44 percent from the field and a blistering 46 percent from beyond the three-point arc. The Bears’ bench certainly did their part, scoring a combined 32 points. The women’s basketball team plays its next
game against in-state rival Colorado State at 7 p.m. on Tuesday night at the Bank of Colorado Arena.
Men’s Basketball
The University of Northern Colorado men’s basketball team lost to the University of California- Riverside 77-66 on Thursday night at the SRC Arena in Riverside, California. Despite a combined 42 points from freshman guard Jordan Davis and junior guard Jordan Wilson, the Bears (1-6, 0-0 Big Sky) couldn’t overcome a balanced attack from the Highlanders en route to their fifth straight loss. UC Riverside never trailed in the game and held a lead of at least 20 points for a large portion of the game, peaking at 28 points in the second half. The Bears managed to make the game more manageable in the latter parts of the second half. Behind Wilson and Davis, UNC went on a 25-8 scoring run to end the game. The Highlanders’ lead was reduced to single digits with 20 seconds remaining after Wilson hit a threepointer to make the score 75-66. Scoring has not come easy for UNC with the absence of the team’s leading scorer, junior guard Cameron Michael, who missed his third consecutive game after suffering a concussion. The Bears did not shoot the ball particularly well, but shot a better percentage from theepoint range than they did from inside the arc. Northern Colorado shot just under 37 percent from the field and 39 percent from deep. The Bears’ bench failed to pick up the slack in Michael’s absence, scoring a total of five points.
Photo courtesy of Rob Trubia
The University of Northern Colorado women’s basketball team nearly overcame a 15 point deficit on Saturday night, but fell short to South Dakota State University.
Redshirt sophomore center Jeremy Verhagen joined Wilson and Davis as the only UNC players to score in double figures with ten points.
Northern Colorado plays its next game against York College at 7 p.m. on Wednesday night at the Bank of Colorado Arena.
Wrestling wraps up 2015 schedule in Vegas By Chris Bolin
sports@uncmirror.com
Northern Colorado wrapped up the 34th annual Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational on Saturday, with Trey Andrews (125) being the only bear to place, finishing eighth. After receiving a bye in his first round match Friday, Andrews won three of his four matches to advance into the second day. On Saturday, he won his first match of the day by a medical forfeit by his opponent, guaranteeing that he would place in the tournament. In his next match, he faced Paul Petrov from Bucknell University, who he had defeated at last year’s Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. This year, however, Petrov came out on top, defeating Andrews by a 10-5 decision, putting him into
the seventh place match. In the seventh place match, he faced off against David Terao from American University, who he had faced earlier in the tournament. Despite a late comeback by Andrews, Terao was too much to handle again, closing out Andrews’ tournament with an eighth place finish. “Trey wrestled a great tournament,” head coach Troy Nickerson said. “Coming in unseeded and finishing eighth—it’s a tough weight. Anytime you come in and have the returning Nationals runner-up not place, you know it’s a tough weight. I’m proud of him. He was in every match to win it.” The only other Northern Colorado wrestler to advance to the second day was Trent Noon (197), not placing but having a strong showing. On Friday, Noon faced wrestlers from much larger schools winning his first three over opponents from Purdue, Oregon State and Ohio
State, before falling to Max Huntley from Michigan on his final match of the day. On Saturday, Noon faced Bryce Barnes from West Point in his first match of the day. Despite getting off to a good start, he was unable to pull out the victory, falling by a 5-4 decision, ending his tournament. “We saw some great signs from Trent this weekend,” Nickerson said. “The Oregon State match was a really good one for him. His match today was disappointing, he dominated most of it but just didn’t get the job done at the end. That’s the kind of thing we’ll have to continue to work on.” Along with the two that advanced to the Saturday rounds, other UNC wrestlers enjoyed success the first day of the tournament. Rico Montoya picked up a win in his first ever match at the Cliff Keen Invitational, a 19-2 technical fall over Boise State’s Josh Newburg.
Ben Polkowske, in his first event of the season, went 2-2 on the day, winning by decision over wrestlers from Northern Iowa and Cal Poly. Dylan Gabel also went 2-2 on the day, pinning his first opponent and winning by decision over his second opponent before losing his third match. He had to forfeit his fourth match due to medical reasons. “I think overall it was a good tournament,” Nickerson said. “We learned a lot about ourselves and the areas we need to work on. Overall as a team, our guys did a great job on top. We really dominated a lot of the mat-wrestling. We need to get better at getting the go-to leg attack and hand-fighting on our feet.” This was the Bears’ last competition for the year, and the team will be resuming their schedule Jan. 1-2 in Chattanooga, Tennessee for the 2016 Southern Scuffle.
8
y Fun & Games
JOKES OF THE WEEK
“Art Major” by Ethan Funk-Breay
What do you call a dead fly? A flew. What streets do ghosts haunt? Dead ends! How do spiders communicate? Through the World Wide Web. What do you call a snowman with a six pack? An abdominal snowman.
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December 7, 2015 | uncmirror.com
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