s e r v i n g t h e u n i v e r s i t y o f n o r t h e r n c o l o r a d o s i n c e 1 9 19
the mirror Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Volume 93, Number 82
uncm i r r o r . c o m
Look in The Mirr or Students tur n trash into ar t
Page 8 Arts Cultural diversity, originality UPC puts together program to celebrate cultural richness and diversity. PAGE 6
Sports Defensive backs look strong The secondary of the UNC football team will be built around a senior leader next year. PAGE 10
Online Community celebrates 4/20 legally Read an article about the festivities at a sub sandwich shops 4/20 celebrations at uncmirror.com. Wed: 66 | 42 Thur: 65 | 44
COURTESY OF UNC ATHLETICS & FILE PHOTO | THE MIRROR
B.J. Hill, right, has been named UNC’s head men’s basketball coach after Tad Boyle, left, accepted the same position at the University of Colorado.
Fri:
61 | 40
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59 | 40
Upcoming Look for an article about the events of the SPRN Etiquette Dinner in Friday’s issue of The Mirror.
FORECAST BY UNC’S AMERICAN METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY
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w w w. u n c m i r r o r. c o m C A M P U S N E W S . C O M M U N I T Y N E W S . Y O U R N E W S .
News
2 The Mirror
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Languages to be heard across campus FIZA JOHARI news@uncmirror.com
ELIZABETH FEHRINGER | THE MIRROR
Rachael Johnson, a freshman art major, poses to open a recycling bin on West Campus. Students will have the opportunity to learn about ways to keep the planet clean during Earth Week at the UC this week.
Committee initiates Earth Week activities MADISON CAPPS news@uncmirror.com
This week, UNC will raise awareness for the 40th anniversary of Earth Day by hosting activities to showcase the importance of sustainable or
“green” living. There are several campus organizations that will facilitate events for students and the Greeley community. The events will present methods for proper disposal See Earth, Page 3
Students and Greeley community members will bring different languages of Earth together Wednesday for UNC’s World Language Day, a daylong cultural immersion event sponsored by the School of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies. Melitta Wagner-Heaston, a professor in the School of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies and the World Language Day director, said the day has been an event at UNC for 40 years. “Students from high schools around Colorado and southern Wyoming participate in competitions, workshops and many other culturally rich activities,” WagnerHeaston said. She said numbers of students who attend typically range from 700 to 1,500 and about 200 University of Northern Colorado volunteers work the event each year. The university will host this year’s guest speaker at the Teachers’ Luncheon. Terry Richard, from the Colorado Department of Education for Equity and Diversity Education, will be featured at the luncheon. Wagner-Heaston said the events organized for World Language Day
FILE PHOTO | THE MIRROR
Musicians perform during the University of Northern Colorado’s 2009 World Language Day. The event is expected to attract hundreds of attendees and prospective foreign language teachers. highlight the importance of language study, cultural awareness and diversity in our region. She also said the events maintain a university faculty and public school faculty connection, as well as introduce teacher candidates to many regional foreign
language teachers and public school administrators. “Most importantly, World Language Day provides a unique opportunity for regional high school teachers and their students to experience language and culture beyond the traditional classroom setting,” Wagner-Heaston said. The competitions run concurrently with other events during World Language Day and are also available for high school students speaking French, German, Chinese and Spanish. According to the World Language Day Web site, students will be provided passports that will be stamped for each activity they attend. Students can also participate in the foreign language competition, which will be judged by foreign language professors. A complete schedule and more information are available at http://www.unco.edu/fld.
News
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
The Mirror 3
Author speaks about being environmentally mindful MADISON CAPPS news@uncmirrror.com
To put the importance of being ecologically mindful into perspective for students, Laura Prichett, an author dedicated to improving the environment, gave a presentation Tuesday in Ross Hall as part of UNC’s Earth Week. “What if it was considered being ‘white trash’ to throw away perfectly good stuff, and what if it was perfectly OK and cool to dumpster dive?” Pritchett asked. Pritchett read from her book “Going Green,” a compilation of essays from people around Colorado who committed parts of their lives to
being environmentally conscious. “Earth Day could get a bad wrap if we aren’t careful,” she said. “I don’t think that Earth Day should have the aura of badgering someone into living ‘green.’ I think that it should be a celebration of a healthy planet and healthy living.” Pritchett said in order for that to happen, Earth Day must be wide-open and celebrated however students want. “Whether you are a Republican, Democrat; young or old, (…) it should be about finding some way to celebrate the planet in your own way,” she said. Pritchett also said the best advice she can give to students is to con-
If I just put everything I don’t want into a box to take to Goodwill instead of the trash, I would be doing my part.
the dumpster.” sume and disOlivia Russell, pose less stuff. an early child“When you hood education buy less stuff, major, said she you have less thinks giving money stress things to charitaand you don’t ble contributions have to work as — Olivia Russell, an early is a good way to many hours, childhood education major keep the planet in and it is really clean shape. freeing to real“If I just put everything I don’t ize that you didn’t need those things in the first place,” she said. want into a box to take to Goodwill “When you leave at the end of the instead of the trash, I would be doing semester, consider not throwing my part.” Russell said. Pritchett spoke about how easy anything away. Try to find a home for your things and make it a per- it is to recycle aluminum cans. She sonal goal not to throw away any- said using recycled aluminum in thing that doesn’t have to go to production of new cans uses 95
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percent less energy than the production of cans using newly processed aluminum. Siusan Geddes, a freshman art major, said it is very important for communities to be more environmentally conscious. “I was persuaded to go ‘green’ by Pritchett and her presentation,” Geddes said. “It can be something as simple as throwing your can into a recycling bin. I think a lot of people don’t do it mainly because other people aren’t doing it.” More of Pritchett’s essays and philosophies on living in a more environmentally friendly way can be found on her Web site, www.laurapritchett.com.
University commits to teach about eco-friendly practices Earth from Page 2 of hazardous material, a demo about sustainable cooking and give the Greeley community the opportunity to express their concerns for the environment. There will be a poetry reading 7 p.m. Thursday at the University Center Fireside Lounge where students and members of the Greeley community have volunteered to read their literary works in tribute to Earth Day. Michael Knisely, an English professor, has volunteered his time at the Center for Honors, Scholarship and Leadership to organize the reading. “I was around for the first Earth Day,” Knisely recalled. “I was in college, (…) there were eight of us the second year who rode our bicycles abreast of each other, blocking traffic and riding about five miles until the police stopped us. They said we needed to ride single-file. We felt that we had made our point,
but we could care less — this that can be recycled. “We would like to expand the was our Earth Day. This year, I am organizing the reading and education of dumping and (show students) how easy it is to properdonating my time that way.” ly dispose of Knisely said potentially hazin the past, parardous items,” ticipants who said Angela shared their Rockwell, a Earth Day poetgraduate stury came from as — Amanda Short, a sophodent and a staff far away as more theater major member with Cheyenne. Utility Systems T h e University of Northern & Resource Conservation. The services will accept Colorado will also host Green Clean Up Day on Earth Day, a items such as cell phones, comday where students will be able puter monitors and towers, fluto properly dispose of waste orescent light bulbs, batteries,
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I think it’s pretty important to keep our society green.
cleaners, aerosol cans and other electronics. Rockwell said she has concern about the naivetie about properly disposing of these items. “Old computer towers contain mercury and seven to nine pounds of lead,” she said. “It is important to make sure these items get disposed the right way.” Amanda Short, a sophomore theater major, said she is more
than willing to participate in the Earth Week Activities in order to help Greeley stay “green.” She also said she and her roommate have a passion for recycling. “I think that it’s pretty important to keep our society green,” Short said. “And I think recognizing Earth Week is very important, and I wish that people would participate more in keeping the earth clean.”
Editor: Josh Espinoza
4 The Mirror
LETTERS The Mirror appreciates your opinions. You can submit your columns or letters to the editor to editor@uncmirror.com. Columns can be no longer than 400 words. Include your name, year and major.
Lessons learned from controversy regarding candidate’s blog Forrest BOWLICK
EDITOR’S NOTE The editorial will return in the following editions. Look for editors’ Student Senate endorsements in Friday’s issue of The Mirror.
Mirror Staff 2009-2010 KURT HINKLE | General Manager khinkle@uncmirror.com JOSH ESPINOZA | Editor editor@uncmirror.com ERIC HEINZ | News Editor news@uncmirror.com JORDAN FREEMYER | Sports Editor sports@uncmirror.com RUBY WHITE | Arts Editor arts@uncmirror.com TOD DIDIER | Visual Editor photo@uncmirror.com COREY DYBEN | Advertising Manager ads@uncmirror.com RYAN ANDERSON | Ad Production Manager adproduction@uncmirror.com
editor@uncmirror.com
O
n Monday, I wrote about some statements from a Student Senate candidate which threatened to become a major issue in the special election. Considering the immense new amount of interest in the special election, it is necessary to expand on the subject with additional context and information. The candidate in question is Josh Divine. He is a sophomore mathematics major with a writing minor. The statements in ques-
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tion came from his blog, which can be found at www.lifeshowcase1.blogspot.com. The posts, which have since been removed, were nearly two years old and written in a style that hinted at a touch of sarcasm and satire. The current post on his blog states very clearly that he “simply wrote the piece to amuse my friend, and (he) never anticipated that the blog would be read by anybody else.” There is a certain amount of humility in this statement, not unlike the clichéd “caught-with-ahand-in-the-cookie-jar” moment from our youth. Divine was exposed to the campus community for statements he may not have entirely believed in, and presented in a light that was unflattering. A clear pair of lessons can be inherited from this occurrence. The
first is that anything that one posts on the Internet can never be considered private or concealable. Our access to information is so immense that anything placed in a public forum, whether on a blog, in an email or at a public meeting, can be found and restated ad nauseum for whatever effect necessary. The second is that political hyperbole has grown out of control. Discerning minds could not determine what portions of Divine’s blog were his actual thoughts and which ones were intended as satire because the realm of political speech has exploded into many unreasonable veins. Can we ever be sure who Divine was trying to lampoon when he said that “water conservation destroys the economy”? It is unlikely. Yet when major candidates for public office around the country say far more unreasonable
things, such as New Hampshire gubernatorial candidate Jack Kimball’s statement comparing taxes to rape, how can we fairly judge the writings of a college sophomore? Political discussion has reached a point where the most ridiculous, most outlandish statement wins the most press. Divine is being opposed in the special election by two candidates: Tim Andrews, a secondary education major, and Ben Schiffelbein, a political science and philosophy double major. All three, and all other candidates, will be at the Special Election Open Forum/Debate at 8 p.m. tonight in the UC Fireside Lounge. Go and ask them all tough questions. — Forrest Bowlick is a senior geography major and a columnist for The Mirror.
Technology provides us with more-than-we-need to information Alexandria VASQUEZ
Contact Us Advertising 970-392-9323 Editor 970-392-9327 Fax 970-392-9025
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
editor@uncmirror.com
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s far as technology and social networking goes, I’m not necessarily the most savvy person. I would call myself a “recreational tech user.” I have a profile on most of the popular social networking sites, but I only have the vaguest idea as to how to correctly use them all. Recently, however, something monumental has happened. I got a new phone. Not just any phone, though. I am the (dubiously) proud
owner of a brand spanking new Motorola Cliq XT. It is the latest and greatest available on the market … or so I was told by the salesman who made commission from my purchase, at least. I can do basically anything with the light touch of a finger to the screen. My homepage is constantly updating me through both Facebook and Twitter. If I scroll one way, I can check all of my favorite Web sites, such as www.textsfromlastnight.com or www.formspring.me. If I scroll the other way, I am updated with the weather, as well as all the latest news and entertainment stories. I can update my status in four different ways and cross-post them to multiple Web sites to make it that much easier for me to stay connected to everything. In theory, this is all incredibly cool. Well … in
reality, it’s still awesome but a part of me feels really overwhelmed. Since when is it normal to be constantly connected to a piece of high-tech plastic or whatever phones are made of? It’s as if humans can no longer rest comfortably without knowing they have instant access to whatever they want whenever they want. I have access to thousands of free applications for games, restaurant finders, sports statistics, traveling tools and anything else I could think of. It takes about a minute to download any of these to my phone, and that’s if it’s going slow. Honestly, it’s all just a little exhausting. I feel as I’m suddenly a slave to technology. I constantly know what all of my contacts are doing, regardless of whether or not I’m actually
curious. It takes the mystery out of everything. I mean, I don’t even have to call anyone up and ask what they’re doing because I’ve already been informed by three different Web sites before I even wondered in the first place. I feel as if all intelligent thought in my brain has been replaced by the need to know what’s happening out in the world at all times. I kind of wish I could go back to the times when everyone had a brick for a phone and the idea of having Internet access was space age-y. At least then I wouldn’t have to answer to “Didn’t you read my status?” when I call up friends looking to see what they’re doing. — Alexandria Vasquez is a junior human services major and member of Pi Lambda Chi.
News
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Student Senate Special Election Ballot President Dan Beal Cody Harper Matt VanDriel Director of Academic Affairs Tim Andrews Josh Divine Benjamin Schiffelbein Student Trustee Michael Johnston Director of University Relations Chris Delaney Ryan Shucard Director of Student Organizations Katelyn Elliott Felicia Joy Kyle Hess Yeager
Director of Student Organizations Katelyn Elliott Felicia Joy Kyle Hess Yeager Director of Student Affairs Salynthia Renee Collier Ryan Gibbs Benjamin Welch Director of Finance Sean Jiang Kevin Bettenhausen Director of Legislative Affairs Tyler Ames Dulce Herrera Director of Diverse Relations Luke Belsito Paige Lewkow Azhia Long
The Mirror 5
Fraternity’s competition raises funds for American Red Cross JORDANE HARTBAUER news@uncmirror.com The innaugural Delta Sigma Phi competition “Queen of the Nile” began Tuesday in Lindou Auditorium. The weeklong contest is a fundraiser for the fraternity, and all of the proceeds will go to the fraternity’s philanthropy, The American Red Cross. Four of this year’s “Queen of the Nile” contestants competed in the “Riddles of the Sphinx” competition, a game similar to Jeopardy in which contestants were asked questions about UNC, the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity, The American Red Cross and ancient Egypt. Tuesday’s event was the first installment of challenges. The rest of the week’s events will include “Journey Through the Sands of Time,” in which the participants will compete in Egyptian athletic tasks, a scavenger hunt a talent
KELSEY BIGELOW | THE MIRROR
Ashley Gross, a sophomore bio-med major, and Alyse Grivell, a junior business management and administration major, participate in Delta Sigma Phi’s “Queen of the Nile” fundraiser Tuesday in Lindou Auditorium. and beauty pageant. “These competitions are going to be a lot of fun,” said
LUKE BELSITO | THE MIRROR
Nico Ruscitti, a senior recreation and tourism major and the president of Delta Sigma Phi. “Support is very important because it is a competition. I am pretty sure that it is going to be a lot of fun to watch. Another thing is that it is a philanthropy event, so all proceeds will go to a good cause. All of the money that we raise this whole week See Queen, Page 8
6 The Mirror
Editor: Ruby White
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Celebrating cultural diversity, uniqueness UPC’s ‘My Culture is Beautiful’ provides awareness, appreciation
senior Mexican-American stud- campus, it’s really empowering not only for the ies major and students perwinner of the forming them, 2010 Open Traditional performances but for students Night. from Spain to Japan provided the Mic watching, as UNC community an opportunity Renteria also well,” Renteria to glimpse a variety of customs emceed the said. “I was defiand from around the world Tuesday, event nitely really honas the University Program p r o v i d e d ored when they Council hosted “My Culture is a u d i e n c e s asked me if I Beautiful” — a celebration of with glimpses could emcee the at other pieces multicultural dance and music. event tonight.” The event was hosted in the of her work Following UC Ballrooms and featured between per— Andrea Renteria, a sen- Renteria’s poetry four acts, all drawing inspira- formances. reading were the “I feel like ior Mexican-A m e r i c a n tion from different regions of Maiko, a profeswhenever you s t u d i e s m a j o r the world. sional Japanese The night opened with slam- have cultural drum ensemble on poetry from Andrea Renteria, a events from Arvada. The all-female group, which consists entirely of musicians of Japanese-American descent, provided the audience with a glimpse into traditional, Japanese percussion. The Maiko Drumers ensemble was followed by a Flamenco Dancer who performed three dances in traditional Spanish style. The performer enlisted two University of Northern Colorado students to assist her in one of her performances; Jacquelyn Ross, a sophomore early childhood education and ESL double major, and Chris Garcia, an education leadership graduate student, were asked to sit on stage as the performer danced around them. “It was really embarrassing at first, but it was a lot of fun,” said Ross, who said she appreciated the overall performance. “It’s TOD DIDIER | THE MIRROR promoting culture and definitely Andrea Renteria, a senior Mexican-American studies major, delivdiversity within our school and ers a slam poem betwen performances at UPC’s “My Culture is throughout Northern Colorado.” Beautiful,” celebration. TOD DIDIER arts@uncmirror.com
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I feel like whenever you have cultural events on campus, it’s really empowering not only for the students performing them but for students watching as well.
TOD DIDIER | THE MIRROR
Chris Garcia, an educational leadership graduate student, sits on stage as a traditional Flamenco dancer performs a unique cultural dance around him. The night was closed out by traditional Hula dances from Hawaii and Tahiti. The Maiko Drummers ensemble seemed to be a crowd favorite. “The drummers were really cool,” Ross said. “ It was just very different. Their presence about the whole presentation was very good, and their motivation was awesome.” Overall, the event was a hit with the audience. “I think it’s great to have that opportunity for students to get to see other cultures, to see the traditions that other cultures have and be able to bring in that perspective for other students,” said Mario Hernandez, a freshman business manage-
ment major. “I think the environment was great.” UPC began planning the event in early February, and consulted with all of the cultural centers on campus, said Stacy Duncan, a senior sociology major and the UPC Diversity Coordinator. Duncan said UPC was not planning an exact replication of the event. Instead, UPC will likely hold smallscale cultural events throughout the year, and also plans to work on a large-scale step-show with the multicultural Greeks to highlight diverse cultures from around the world. Regardless of future plans, UPC considered the event to be successful. “I feel like tonight’s event went really well,” said Duncan. “I feel like it couldn’t have gone any better.”
Arts & Entertainment
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
The Mirror 7
Last Open Mic of semester offers diversity JACQUELINE LOMAX arts@uncmirror.com As an end of the semester bang, UNC students shared their talents Monday night at the University Fireside Lounge, for the last Open Mic Monday of the semester. More than 100 students attended, some regulars and some who had gone for the first time. The night started with stand-up comedy to get the audience laughing. Other performances included poetry readings, singing and musicians showing off their talents. After the first few acts, the audience would snap afterward to show their appreciation for it, but
after a while, they relied on clapping and shouting to show how much they were enjoying the performers. The audience was calmed down during a performance from a gospel choir, Voices of Unity. The crowd was very attentive and even got into some clapping during the last song, which was more upbeat than others. The crowd reacted positively to Cameron McNerney’s interpretation of Lady Gaga. The audience chuckled watching him play the piano while propping his foot on top of it. “Everyone has to love Lady Gaga,” McNerney said. The night closed with a longer performance from
Jimmy and the Coconuts. After a two-hour long event, the crowd was still very attentive and engaged in the performance. The type of acts was very mixed. There was comedy, poetry, something upbeat, then something more relaxing. Freshman musical theater major, David Chrisp, said he really enjoyed the diversity. “There are a ton of different styles and lots of different performances and different acts,” said Chrisp, who was a first-time attendee of Open Mic Monday. DeAndre Thomas, a junior psychology major, has gone to almost all of the Open Mic nights. He said he likes how
they mix up the acts through- host of such a successful event. “I’m pleased to see that out the night. “It gives you something to UNC has so much talent to do on Monday nights,” Thomas give,” Nawrocki said. “It’s been a blast watchsaid. “I ing it.” like how Nawrocki is they don’t graduating this only do year, but said he comedy hopes Open Mic and then — David Nawrocki, a night will continue only slow music or senior journalism major next year and is excited to see how s o m e and Arts and it will turn out next thing.” Entertainment coordina - year. Senior “I hope that journaltor for UPC people continue to ism major, be brave and that D a v i d Nawrocki, helped start the they come out here and share,” Open Mic nights with the help Nawrocki said. For more information on of the University Program Council. Nawrocki said he was UPC sponsored events, visit surprised students continued www.unco.edu/calendar or the to come throughout the semes- UPC office in the Student ter, but is also grateful to be the Activities Office.
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I am pleased to see that UNC has so much talent to give.
SHANNON COLLEARY | THE MIRROR
Justin Berndt, an undeclared freshman, plays his guitar and sings a song he composed himself during Open Mic Monday in the University Center.
News
8 The Mirror
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Sustainability practiced with recyclable artwork CARMEN BRADY news@uncmirror.com To honor Earth Week, the University Center hosted a recycled arts and crafts table set up Tuesday in the main lobby where students could make their own recycled jewelry, decorate boxes and learn about the many uses of plastic bags. There will be a similar set up today, which will be the T-shirt slice and tie, where students can come to make old T-shirts into new fashions. Students made jewelry out of old magazines by rolling them up into different shapes, such as hearts and spirals. Also, students could decorate boxes out of magazines, so that it was decorative rather than a plain cardboard box. In addition to the jewelry and boxes, a member from the community, Russell Marvin, displayed and sold his own recycled art. By crocheting gro-
cery store bags together, he created a variety of things like hats, purses and duffle bags. Marvin said he will return today to display his work. The event was organized primarily by Adriane Zachary, a senior audiology major, who is in a committee dedicated to raising awareness of Earth Week on campus. “We met as a committee to try to plan what was going to go on for the week, and we decided we’d like to do a few more artsy things like crafts with recycled materials,” Zachary said. “We wanted to do recycled jewelry because we had seen it before and liked it. I just did some research behind it to figure out what we were going to do and how we were going to reuse things.” Zachary also said she was excited to show students different ways of recycling, rather than just throwing them in the trash and never using them.
“Mainly, this is to show that there are ways to reuse things that might seem unusable,” she said. Haleigh Shafter, a senior recreation and tourism major, also helped set up the event. She said she thought it was important that students were exposed to new ideas of recycling. “I think, just in general, it’s important to have these events on a campus because college students are the next generation,” Shafter said. “They’re the next ones that grow up in a world that needs to have more knowledge of these processes and more knowledge of what needs to change.” Krystyna Farquhar, a junior art history major, said she was particularly excited to be able to make a craft of her own. “I think it’s a great way to reuse old materials and stuff that people just throw away,” Farquhar said. “It’s cool you can make something, and it’s fun to make.”
EMILY DAKE | THE MIRROR
Krystyna Farquhar, left, a junior art major, and Biz Farquhar, also a junior art major, tear out magazine pages to create recycled artwork Tuesday in the lower level of the University Center.
Egyptian-themed contest to crown queen at end of week Queen from Page 5
will go to the American Red Cross.” The contestants for the “Queen of the Nile” who participated in the Riddles of the Sphinxes event were Elyse Gravelle, a junior business and administration major; Ashley Gross, a sophomore bio med major; Stephanie Strukker, a
freshman German major; and Cassie Weber, a sophomore art education major. “I am just going with the flow,” Gross said. “Hopefully, it will be fun, so I am just going with it, and I studied for jeopardy a little bit, so we will see how it goes.” All of the contestants can earn
points throughout the week by raising money and collecting points from the competitions. The admission for each event is $1, and all of the students who attend the event can help their favorite participant raise money by telling members of the fraternity at the door who they want the money to go to. The partici-
pant who has the most points at the end of the week will be crowned “Queen of the Nile” Saturday and will receive a tiara and a paddle inscribed with the words “Queen of the Nile.” “I think it’s important because people will see us having fun,” Weber said. “Also, all of the money raised will go to a good cause.”
I think it’s important because people will see us having fun. Also, all of the money raised will go to a good cause.
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— Cassie Weber, a sophomore art education major
Editor: Jordan Freemyer
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
The Mirror 9
Boyle bolts for CU, Hill takes reins Top assistant assumes control of men’s basketball program from his former boss JORDAN FREEMYER sports@uncmirror.com
It was a roller coaster of emotions Monday for the UNC men’s basketball team. A few hours after reports surfaced that former University of Northern Colorado head coach Tad Boyle had accepted the same position at the University of Colorado, it was announced that UNC associate head coach B.J. Hill was the team’s new head man and the 18th head basketball coach in UNC history. “This is an unbelievable opportunity,” Hill said. The Bears players, despite being disappointed about Boyle’s departure, said they were excited about Hill’s promotion. “I couldn’t be happier with who’s taking over,” junior guard Devon Beitzel said. Around 10 a.m. Monday, several media outlets reported that Boyle had accepted the job at CU. He had coached four seasons at UNC with an overall record of 56-66. He led the Bears to a 25-8 record during the 2009’10 season, setting a school
record for wins. Boyle, a Greeley native, said that he could not pass up the CU job. “This is a destination job,” Boyle said at his introductory press conference in Boulder. “I’m humbled and honored.” Unfortunately, reports of Boyle’s hiring at CU came before he had a chance to talk to the players at UNC. “At first I was a little upset,” Beitzel said. “I would have rather heard it from Boyle first.” Although initially disappointed, Beitzel said he could empathize with his now former head coach. “I understand why Coach Boyle made the decision,” Beitzel said. UNC officially announced the hiring of Hill, 36, a native of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Monday evening with a press release and a meeting with the team and support staff. “We all think that continuity in a sports program is paramount to its success,” UNC Director of Athletics Jay Hinrichs said. Like Boyle, Hill has been at UNC for the past four seasons,
About B.J. Hill: Age: 36 Hometown: Cedar Falls, Iowa College: Grand View College (Iowa) (‘96) Coaching Career: UNC (assistant) 2006-’10 Indian Hills C.C. (assistant) 2005-’06 Coffeyville C.C. (assistant) 2000-’05 S. Dakota St. (assistant) 1999-’00 Independence C.C. (ass’t) 1998-’99 N. Iowa Area C.C. (ass’t) 1997-’98
two as an assistant coach and two as associate head coach. “I’m not going to be much different as the head coach as I have been as an assistant these past four years,” Hill said. “I’m going to demand that our players play B.J. Hill hard and try was named head to get better coach of the UNC every day.” men’s basketball Before team Monday. coming to UNC, Hill was an assistant at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa, where he worked with former Bears Jabril Banks and Robert Palacios. Beitzel said he is confident Hill will keep the Bears on the same track Boyle set them on. “He has the same mentality and the same overall concepts,” Beitzel said. “Our style of play will probably be the same.” Hinrichs said a plan was in place for the day Boyle left the program, and that Hill was a major part of that. “It was critical that we follow through with our multiyear succession plan to ensure stability throughout our men’s basketball program,” Hinrichs said. Hill played a significant role in recruiting all of the members of the UNC basketball team, including the incoming class of 2010 that includes guards Paul Garnica and Tevin Svihovec. According to Max Ivany, Garnica’s American Athletic Union coach, Hill met
FILE PHOTO | THE MIRROR
Former UNC head coach Tad Boyle coaches his team during its game against Portland earlier this season. Boyle was named the head coach at the University of Colorado on Monday. with Garnica on Tuesday to discuss his commitment to UNC in light of Boyle’s departure. Beitzel said he did not think any of his teammates would transfer, as often happens when a college coach leaves a program. “I’m not too concerned about it,” Beitzel said. Taking over the program, Hill said he did not see much that needed to change and that he looks forward to continuing the winning tradition started by Boyle. “I’m extremely excited, and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to carry on what Coach (Boyle) started and carrying it on to the next level,” Hill said.
For the Bears, the next level would presumably be a Big Sky Conference championship. The Bears lost in the semifinals of the conference tournament last season before earning a berth in and advancing to the quarterfinals of the CollegeInsider.com Tournament. “We’re going to continue to strive to bring in the high-character and high-talent student-athletes that this program has been able to get in the past and will in the future,” Hill said. “And that’s going to help us keep this basketball program going and take it to new levels.”
Sports
10 The Mirror
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Junior leads strong defensive secondary PARKER COTTON sports@uncmirror.com
The secondary is the last line of defense for every football team. UNC is fortunate to have defensive backs that make Football even their own team’s quarterback and offensive coordinator prepare extra when they go against each other in practice.
“One of the strengths of this team last year was our secondary, and they’ve only gotten better this spring,” sophomore quarterback Dylan Orms said. “It helps us out going against guys like them every day. It’s only going to make us better in the long run.” Offensive coordinator Greg Peterson said the secondary is loaded with talent and expects the unit to perform very well come the start of next season. “We have some athletic guys in the secondary, and when you
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They’re a physical group and they play with a lot of confidence. — UNC offensive coordinator Greg Peterson on the team’s defensive backs look at them as a group, I like the way they tackle,” Peterson said. “They’re a physical group and they play with a lot of confidence. They’ll have a heck of a season next fall.” Junior safety Max Hewitt leads the group of defensive backs and said he has progressed significantly through spring practices. “I had a lot of things last year that I needed to improve on, like my coverage in man cover,” Hewitt said. “So, I’ve been working on little things to try and better myself, and I’m pleased with where I’m at now to where I was at the beginning of camp.” UNC defensive coordinator Cody Deti said along with staying healthy and being productive in practice, Hewitt has improved his leadership tendencies which will be vital to the Bears defense having a successful season. “He’s got to be a player that
TOD DIDIER | THE MIRROR
UNC junior safety Max Hewitt, left, is tackled by junior safety Mike Van Portfliet in a drill during the team’s spring practice this week. Hewitt had 74 tackles last season. continues to lead us every single day,” Deti said. Peterson had a lot of praise for Hewitt and said he expects great things from him in the upcoming season. “I’ll tell you what, Max Hewitt is a very good football player,” Peterson said. “He’s a very good tackler, a very physical player, and he’s very smart in
the passing game, so I think Max is a fine football player.” For all the advancements Hewitt has made, he said the younger DBs on the team are also doing very well in spring practices. “We’ve really been looking for a couple more guys to step up and plug in,” Hewitt said. “Chuks Nweke and Rick Spencer have been doing a good job in that role.” Orms said Hewitt and junior corner Korey Askew, who Deti said was one of the best cornerbacks in the league last season, have provided guidance for the younger members of the secondary and the results have shown. “Korey and Max are really pushing the younger guys,” Orms said. “And they’re really gonna be good this fall.”
Wednesay, April 21, 2010
For Rent Apartments One & two bedroom apartments available in May and August. One bedrooms $450, two bedrooms $575. Apartments include high speed wireless Internet and heat. Tenants pay only electric. Call 970-330-7427. woodyinvestments.com. Three bedroom apartment one block from campus. Includes offstreet parking and dishwasher. Available in May. $750/month. Call 970-330-7427.
The Mirror 11 JUNE, JULY & AUGUST RENT 1/2 PRICE - CRANFORD APARTMENTS. 4 bedroom house, 2 bath. Free wireless Internet and basic cable. Walking distance to UNC. $1,400/month plus electric, $1,400/deposit. ALSO-1 bedroom apartment, off-street parking, onsite laundry & walking distance to UNC. $525/month plus electric, $250/deposit. June, July, August Rent 1/2 Price - MADISON AVE APTS! Studios & 1 bedrooms avail. Close to UNC. A/C, hardwood floors, 11’ ceilings, secured building, On-site laundry. $425-$605/mo, Deposit same as rent 811 15th St. 3469189 1 bedroom, $475/month. 18081/2 12th Ave. Craigslist #1674110840. Available May 1st. 970-454-3078.
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Arlington Apartments. Studio & 1 bedroom. Close to UNC, pool, heat paid, gated courtyard and onsite laundry. $450 plus electric, $250/deposit. Contact 353-6519.
Houses TWO BEDROOM W/D DISHWASHER. Near campus comcast included. Call Matt 970-405-1469.
For a great place to live, call Mark. I have housing suitable for 3-6 students. Fair prices. Call 3978468. 5 bedroom house. Reasonable. Walking distance to new & old campus. 2 baths, 2 kitchens. Non-smoking, no pets. W/D. Available May. 371-9050 or 356-4347. FOUR-BEDROOM HOUSE. Twobath, W/D, DW, garage, large lot, Comcast cable included. $300/room. Call Matt (970) 4051469. 4 bedroom 1/2 bathroom house available anytime between May 1st and August 1st. Rent is $300 per person plus gas and electric. DEPOSIT ONLY $150 per person.Call 388-5754
2-8 BEDROOM PROPERTIES AVAILABLE FOR UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR. All within walking distance of UNC. Well maintained and affordably priced for students. visit www.atomsproperty.com or call 970-352-3536 JUNE, JULY & AUGUST RENT 1/2 PRICE - 1932 8th Ave. 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath, all utilities paid. W/D included. Off-street parking. Close to UNC. $1,200/month, $1,200/deposit. Contact Vintage Corporation 353-3000. CLOSE TO CAMPUS! Three-bedroom, two-bath house. W/D hookup, DW. Available June 1st. No smoking. $900 + utilities. (970)590-4132.
Completely remodeled 5 bedroom house. Includes washer/dryer, dishwasher, open floor plan with a bar and off-street parking. $295/per person. Call 970-3307427.
Seven bedroom house 1 block from campus. $275 per room plus gas/electricity. Huge living room with hardwood floors, dishwasher, washer/dryer, off-street parking and large front porch. Call 970330-7427.
Deposit Special of $150 per person.4 bedroom, 1 1/2 bathroom house available at end of semester. You can move in May 1 and pay 1/2 months rent. Rent is $300 per person plus gas and electricity. Call 388-5754.
JUNE, JULY & AUGUST RENT 1/2 PRICE - 2003 9TH Ave. 2 bedroom, 1 bath, on-site laundry. Close to Wiebking Hall. Off-street parking. $650/month, $450/deposit. Contact Vintage Corporation 353-3000.
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UNC basketball in good hands with Hill as coach Jordan FREEMYER
sports@uncmirror.com
W
hen Tad Boyle left UNC men’s basketball program to become the head coach at the University of Colorado, the pressure was on the University of Northern Colorado athletic department to find an adequate replacement. Within hours of Boyle’s departure, UNC announced the hiring of associate head coach B.J. Hill
as the team’s new head coach. The hire was both an obvious and inspired one by UNC Director of Athletics Jay Hinrichs. Hill was Boyle’s right-hand man during his four years at UNC and was instrumental in building the program. Colorado had the chance to make a similar hire, as Steve McClain, the associate head coach under former CU head coach Jeff Bzdelik, was on the school’s short list of candidates for the head coaching job. CU guards Alec Burks and Cory Higgins, the team’s top two scorers, both endorsed McClain and have discussed transferring. Boyle said on several occa-
sions that he likes to give his assistant coaches significant input in the day-to-day operation of his program, both in games and in practices as well as facets of the program that take place off the court. This will help make up for any lack of experience that may hinder Hill, who is taking his first head coaching job. Hill is also very much in Boyle’s mold. He was an assistant at a successful mid-major program with no prior head coaching experience. The main difference, which will be to Hill’s advantage, is that he is already familiar with the players, program and university. Having spoken with Hill on
several occasions and seen him in action during practices, games and scouting sessions, I have no doubt he is the right man for the job. He may lack Boyle’s connection to Greeley, but his basketball knowledge and basketball acumen are second to none. He will carry on the mentality that Boyle instilled in the Bears and led them to a 25-8 record during the 2009-’10 season. “Coach Hill is a big defense and rebounding guy,” said UNC junior guard Devon Beitzel. “So I’m sure that won’t change.” Beitzel also said that Hill’s hire alleviated his concerns about his teammates transferring out of UNC.
Some in the community see Boyle’s departure as a sign of doom for the program and a return to the losing ways of the past, but Hill will keep the program moving in the right direction. He says he expects much from his players and it would not be unfair to have similar expectations for him as a coach, because he is very capable of delivering the goods. UNC has a mountain to climb in the Big Sky Conference, and they now have a Hill to lead them to the top. – Jordan Freemyer is a senior journalism major and the sports editor at The Mirror.
12 The Mirror
Sports
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
What are your thoughts on Tad Boyle leaving UNC?
“It’s tough to see him go, I wish he would have stayed, but you got to do what you got to do.” Jeremy Walrath, a junior sports and exercise science major
“It’s a little disappointing because I know a lot of the players on the team look up to him.” Michaella McGurk, a sophomore history major
“UNC’s going to miss out, and I don’t know what’s going to happen next year.” Joe VanHolbeck, a sophomore sports and exercise science major
“I’m a little disappointed, just because they did so well last year.” Sara Morton, a sophomore elementary education major