Oct. 11, 2010 e-Mirror

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 Monday, Oct. 11, 2010

Volume 93, Number 108

uncm i r r o r . c o m

Look in The Mirr or Page 6

Bears lose thir d straight

News Applicants answer questions Students apply for the Student Senate Judiciary Committee during the third interview.

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Sports Volleyball overwhelms Montana The UNC volleyball team ran its Big Sky record to 6-0 with a victory over the Grizzlies.

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Online Programs discussed during dessert SPEEC and PASC faculty members talk about their depar tments’ roles at UNC at uncmirror.com.

Mon: 67 | 40

AMANDA NEIGES | THE MIRROR

Ian Judd, left, a sophomore art education major, rides the Bear Bus with Veronica Vialpando, a sophomore theater education major.

Tue:

56 | 32

Wed:

67 | 36

Thur: 76 | 40

Upcoming Look for an article about preparing for midterm exams in Wednesday’s issue of The Mirror.

SOURCE: THE MIRROR

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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

Monday, Oct. 11, 2010

Diversity group calls for welcoming campus attitude BENJAMIN WELCH news@uncmirror.com

Many students from different walks of life are common in a college setting. The College of Humanities and Social Sciences at UNC has devised an award to recognize professors who promote this environment.

The Diversity in the Classroom Award will be presented early next semester to a member of HSS faculty who has demonstrated a commitment to diversity and looks to promote

an atmosphere of acceptance.

Members of the HSS Diversity Advisory Board said they are looking for candidates who teach philosophies and practices that incorporate diversity in the classroom, think about diversity broadly in terms of race, class, gender, orientation, disability, age, region and value classroom settings where diverse views are welcome.

“The purpose of recognizing diversity is twofold,” said Christine Talbot, the coordina-

We encourage students, faculty and administrators to enter into active and productive discourse about issues of diversity and ways to make UNC a more inclusive, welcoming campus.

“ “

— Pepper Mueller, an administrative assistant for anthropology and geography and a member of the DAB tor of women’s studies. “From an educational standpoint, it’s very important that students experience both diversity and a variety of people that they are going to engage out in the world. The second thing is it’s

important to be in an inclusive environment for a variety of diverse students, so those students can have quality education experiences.”

The award was established at the end of the 2008-09 aca-

demic year by the DAB with the goal of supporting diversity in HSS. “We encourage students, faculty and administrators to enter into active and productive discourse about issues of diversity and ways to make UNC a more inclusive, welcoming campus,” said Pepper Mueller, an administrative assistant for anthropology and geography and member of the DAB. “Through this award, we See Diversity, Page 4

Board of Trustees addresses tuition increases, enrollment rates CARMEN BRADY news@uncmirror.com

The UNC Board of Trustees’ first meeting of the year took place Friday in the University Center Panorama room.

One of the main concerns President Kay Norton addressed was the projected tuition increase submitted by the Board of Trustees last month. Norton said all universities in the state were required to submit a five-year projected increase this year and all of them have been high. She said she particularly feels good about the University of Northern Colorado’s projected

increases because they were more detailed than most other universities’ and allowed for more financial fluctuation.

Norton also said these were simply projected increases, not official. To make sure the student body was aware of that, she sent out a letter via e-mail to all students and faculty addressing it.

Dick Monfort, the chairman of the Board of Trustees, said the reason tuition is increasing so drastically is because the state is pulling more funding from its colleges and universities.

“I think within five years, there will be no more money for

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higher education (from the state),” Monfort said.

Monfort said he hopes he is being pessimistic, and the best chance higher education has is if an earmarked bill is passed with a tax for higher education.

Tobias Guzman, the assistant vice president of Undergraduate Admissions and Enrollment, and Robbyn Wacker, the assistant vice president for Graduate Admissions and Enrollment, each gave presentations on enrollment plans for graduates and undergraduates.

Guzman said although the enrollment rate is down 4.18 percent from last year, there was not too much financial loss.

Such results are to be expected because there was an over offering of financial aid to incoming freshmen last year; however, though the total number of freshmen is lower, the total amount of undergraduate students is up. The university’s retention rate rose to 70 percent.

Guzman said the challenge of getting students to attend the university comes when they

I think within five years, there will be no more money for higher education (from the state).

— Dick Monfort, the chairman of UNC’s Board of Trustees

actually enroll after they have applied and been admitted. He said there has been an increase in applications, but because students apply to more than one university, the goal is to get them to attend.

Guzman also said the board is trying to make sure to admit students who will not default or drop out after just a semester or two.

Norton said there would be a full undergraduate enrollment report at the December trustee meeting, encompassing all the finalized data for this semester.

Wacker said both the graduate applications and enrollment is up, with an enrollment

increase of 4 percent and an 8percent increase of credit hours taken by graduate students.

Wacker said they are working on ways to get more graduate students to attend UNC, and they are trying to advertise UNC as a quality institution to get a graduate education. One way Wacker is trying to do this is by making sure the different programs are not overpriced and that tuition for each course is appropriate.

Wacker also said the graduate school is decent now, but there is room for growth in certain areas, and with that growth the program would be spectacular.

The board passed a resolution naming the new basketball team room the Advantage Bank Team Room, recognizing the bank for donating $82,000 toward the facility. The donation will be paid during a period of seven years. The name will stay the same for 15 years when it will be negotiable.

For more information about the Board of Trustees, visit www.unco.edu/trustees.

Editor: Josh Espinoza

Monday, Oct. 11, 2010

The Mirror 3

POLL This week’s poll question: Did you think the SAFE Week events were successful in conveying their messages

Cast your vote at www.uncmirror.com Last week’s poll question: Have you studied for the upcoming midterm exams?

Yes

45% No

55%

This poll is nonscientific.

Mirror Staff 2010-2011 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 MELANIE VASQUEZ | Visual Editor photo@uncmirror.com ERIC HIGGINS | Advertising Manager ads@uncmirror.com RYAN ANDERSON | Ad Production Manager adproduction@uncmirror.com

Meth ads targeted at young people seem ineffective You may have noticed large pictures of dehydrated and crusty-looking people posted along our wholesome country sides. The emergence of these ever-changing billboards streaked across Colorado’s peripheral vision is part of a campaign against the use of the street drug methamphetamine.

The idea of a PSA denoting the glory of meth is perfect. If the world is curious as to what meth does to the mind and body, the announcements are designed to ward off those who are most susceptible to trying the drug “just once” by showing them what the consequences of abusing this drug really are.

The Mirror’s mission is to educate, inform and entertain the students, staff and faculty of the UNC community, and to educate the staff on the business of journalism in a college-newspaper environment.

About us The Mirror is published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the academic year by the Student Media Corp. It is printed by the Greeley Tribune. The first copy is free; additional copies are 50 cents each and must be purchased from The Mirror office.

the dirty, creepier version of her in the shower. We can all relate to an everyday woman brought down by the temptation of drugs, but how many times a day do we have flashforwards of our meth selves? The lack of correlation between realities and the commercial is what holds them back.

The message is spot on; Colorado Meth Project’s catchphrase doesn’t beat around the bush: “Meth: not even once,” is known at least statewide. The slogan was made popular through TV, print, radio and Internet, but it won’t get near the recognition it needs through actors and Photoshop.

Atrocities of abortion affecting and killing women in China Jessica GATES

editor@uncmirror.com

Front Desk 970-392-9270 ith BEARfoot for General Manager Babies crusading 970-392-9286 around campus Newsroom just last week, abortion 970-392-9341

Mission Statement

campaign is aimed toward take the commercials with caution. When discussed among peers, young adults view the commercials as humorous and make puns with phrases used by the campaign.

This is not implying the ads will have a counter effect on the youth of Colorado or that they do not deter Coloradan youth from drug use.

Rather, there is a suggestion that primary sources be used in the campaign more often than secondary sources.

A woman speaking of the bad decisions made under the manipulation of meth is far more affective than a girl getting drug advice from

Mirror Reflections are the opinion of The Mirror’s editorial board: Josh Espinoza, Jordan Freemyer, Eric Heinz, Melanie Vasquez and Ruby White. Let us know what you think. E-mail us at editor@uncmirror.com.

Contact Us Advertising 970-392-9323 Editor 970-392-9327 Fax 970-392-9025

There is credit given to the Colorado Meth Project as a monumental wake-up call to unsuspecting youth, but the dramatizations portrayed of meth-users is not accurate enough to scare anyone older than a third-grader.

It is safe to assume the focus group of the displays is young adults; the ads are flooded with teenaged robbers and hallucinating highschoolers. This piece of information deems curious because there is evidence that CMP advertisements have poor conviction when directed toward almost-adults. As sinister as the topic of drug abuse is in Colorado, none of the people the

W

became, yet again, a choice topic for heated discussions.

But today I am not here to convince you about pro-life or pro-choice. In my opinion, one topic proves to be more pressing: forced abortions.

All of us are aware (so I hope) of China’s one-child policy. This policy, which limits families and women to only having one child, began in 1980. It was actually meant to be temporary and last

only 30 years at most. Yet recent rumors of a relaxation and possible end to the strict rule are misplaced.

In 2010, Chinese officials reported the policy will remain in effect until at least 2015, after the end of China’s next birth peak.

This policy has had a profound effect on women’s rights. To have more than one child is illegal. To ensure the effectiveness of the policy, government officials are rewarded when they carry out the law. Officials are also hired to encourage women to use birth control, become sterilized or even to have abortions. If encouragement does not work, women will be coerced and threatened into using these measures to prevent pregnancy and births. In many cases, women are actually forced to have abortions — sometimes even in full term.

These forced abortions and policies have resulted in more than 13 million abortions taking place in China each year, according to a 2008 CNN report. That is 44 percent more than its number of abortions in 2003. In comparison, the United States reported less than a tenth that number of abortions in 2005, the most recent year a report was available for these statistics.

The consequences for forced abortions are many. China is the only country in the world where women commit suicide more than men. About 500 million women commit suicide in China every day.

The one-child policy has also forced families to essentially make a choice between having a female or a male child. In a country where male children are traditionally preferred, many women will abort female fetuses or abandon female

babies after birth. This is actually resulting in a gender imbalance in China, leading to gendercide and female infanticide.

As a woman, and as an American, I can’t help but marvel at these statistics in light of my own freedoms. And yet, it would be easy to reduce these atrocities to mere numbers. But they aren’t just statistics; they are people like you and me — people being forced to give up their innate human rights, and sometimes to involuntarily give up their lives. I encourage everyone to visit www.allgirlsallowed.org for more information and to sign a petition and a pledge to end this violence in China.

Source for statistics: www.allgirlsallowed.org — Jessica Gates is a senior journalism major and a reporter for The Mirror.

News

4 The Mirror

Monday, Oct. 11, 2010

Students meet new committee applicants JORDANE HARBAUER news@uncmirror.com

DAN OBLUDA | THE MIRROR

Tiffany Mulford, a junior fine arts major, interviews for a position on the student judiciary board on Friday in the University Center Spruce A suite. The dean of students and Student Senate will make selections in a few weeks.

UNC students had the opportunity to talk to applicants for the new Student Senate Judiciary Committee Friday at the third student judiciary interview meeting in the University Center Spruce A room. Input from the interviews will aid the student judiciary committee selection process.

Samantha Fox, a sophomore journalism and communication major and the Student Senate student rights advocate, works as the facilitator of different hiring committees. Fox is also responsible for facilitating the student judiciary board.

“The student judiciary board, once (it is) formed, will be taking place of both the judiciary election committee and the ethics board,” Fox said.

“The committee will also be hearing any grievances that are filed by students, especially during election time, and determine whether or not the grievances will be filed. The student judiciary board will not currently be able to determine what actions should be taken, with the exception of elections.”

The six students who applied for the positions on the student judiciary board are senior Dan Beal, junior Felicia Joy, junior Tiffany Mulford, graduate student Erica Parish Diaz, junior William Schiffelbein and freshman Stephanie Yost.

“I have just started the interview process. This was the first interview, and I have another one in a few weeks,” Mulford said. “I think it is a lot easier than I thought it was going to be — it was a lot more relaxed. I came into this not really know-

ing what to expect, but I think it is going to be a good thing. I think it is going to be a growing experience, and it gives me the chance to be able to have a voice, possibly for people who are being misrepresented. This is one way that I want to help the student body.”

Students who applied for the judiciary committee were interviewed Wednesday and Friday and will also be interviewed by the dean of students in a few weeks.

Student Senate directors were encouraged to come because the directors need to approve the candidates by a two-thirds majority. The dean of students will appoint five of the applicants, and Student Senate will be responsible for deciding whether or not the five applicants will be appointed to the Student Judiciary Committee.

Equality board calls for professor nominations Diversity from Page 2 hope that individual faculty members will realize that their efforts to promote diversity in the classroom do not go unnoticed and that the goal of promoting greater understanding about diversity is institutionally supported.”

The University of Northern Colorado has a diversity statement, and members of the DAB said they hope to capture the essence of the statement and convey the same ideals into the award. “(The HSS mission statement) encompasses the idea of teaching the whole of the human experience and the vari-

ety of influences that have led to changes and developments within societies,” said Christine Olivo, a professor of political science and member of the DAB. “The board takes that mission seriously and seeks ways to promote diversity and support the learning of all our students. I think this award will show that HSS values those contributions by professors.”

The deadline for submitting nominations for the Diversity in the Classroom Award is at noon Monday, Nov. 1. Students can pick up applications to nominate their professors at residence hall front desks, cultural centers, the GLBTA office, the

University Center information desk and the HSS dean’s office and website. The nomination form can be dropped off at the dean’s office in Candelaria Hall, room 0215.

Correction In the BEARfoot for Babies story in the Friday, Oct. 8 issue of The Mirror, we incorrectly reported the statistic of average abortions in the United States. It is 3,300 every day. Also, the BEARfoot for Babies event took place all week. It is The Mirror’s policy to correct all errors.

News

Monday, Oct. 11, 2010

The Mirror 5

Family distributes business power to convenience ERIC HEINZ news@uncmirror.com

A little paint here, some electrical repairs there and an arsenal of products aimed at the college student consumer is what has been put in to a new business near campus.

Bear Necessities, a new convenient store located on Eighth Avenue between 16th and 17th streets, will host a soft opening Friday. The official opening will be Oct. 29.

The store’s merchandise will include sodas and snacks, smoking products, posters, sunglasses and other convenient items. Bear Necessities is family owned and operated by Dino Bonacasa Sr., Dino Bonacasa Jr. and Andrew Bonacasa.

“It’s not necessarily going to be all tobacco,” Andrew said.

“We’re definitely going to do some different things.”

The three men owned a distributing company, Good House Distributors, for eight years before turning to retail. Although the bulk of the store’s inventory will be tobacco products, the Bonacasa’s said they intend to increase merchandise variety as the store grows.

“We want to diversify our products,” Bonacasa Sr. said. “As far as a smoke shop to fit in the neighborhood, (it’s) always hard. Smoke

products got us to this point when we were distributing. And we’ll have all sorts of different products for people who want different things.”

Bonacasa Jr. said he intends to listen to their customers to bring in the best items possible. In addition to diversifying product, the owners said they will include picnic benches outside and more

outdoor amenities.

The business is housed inside an old barn-shaped building. The owners of Bear Necessities said the building is about 100 years old. All three said it was an extensive project to construct functioning phone lines, new electrical outlets, plumbing and Internet in the building.

Both Bonacasa Sr. and Jr. are

ERIC HEINZ | THE MIRROR

Bear Necessities, a new convenience store located on Eighth Avenue between 16th and 17th Street, will sell a variety of products. The building is about 100 years old but has been renovated by the owners.

Students speak about new bus routes DEVON NAPLES news@uncmirror.com

Following the passage of UNC’s student-sanctioned Quality of Life Initiative, improvements to campus services and programs have been implemented in efforts to make the campus a more accessible and enriching place.

According to the university’s

2010-11 proposed operating budget, the initiative allotted $275,000 this year for the expansion of routes and hours of the campus transportation system.

The act is described by the University of Northern Colorado website as “a joint effort between Greeley-Evans Transit and the students of the University of Northern Colorado.” The new Bear Bus sys-

tem began operating in midSeptember.

The system is comprised of two routes: The daytime Bear Bus, referred to as Bear Bus Gold, makes 21 stops on and near campus from 7:45 a.m.-2 p.m. on weekdays. With each stop serviced every eight-10 minutes, the Gold See Buses, Page 8

lifelong Greeley residents and graduates from University High School. They said the idea for their business model came from their previous knowledge of product distribution.

“We love this neighborhood,” Bonacasa Jr. said. “These are our stomping grounds. It’s nice to be close to the action.”

Above all, Bonacasa Sr. said he wants the business to create a fun and entertaining atmosphere close

to campus. He also said there it will be a pressure-free business environment with no haggling.

“What will help us a lot is our product knowledge,” Bonacasa said. “We understand business.

We’ve been doing this for 10 years, and I’ve been working in different businesses 10-15 years before that.”

The soft opening on Friday will include free food and a sneak peek of what Bear Necessities has to offer.

Editor: Jordan Freemyer

6 The Mirror

Monday, Oct. 11, 2010

Bears close homestand with victory DAVID WILSON sports@uncmirror.com

The UNC volleyball team had lot to prove going into Saturday’s m a t c h a g a i n s t Montana and delivered with a Volleyball dominant 31 victory to stay undefeated in the Big Sky Conference.

A game two lapse was the only negative on the night for the University of Northern Colorado (15-4, 6-0), which ended up outscoring the Grizzlies (8-10, 4-3) 50-26 in games three and four. The turning point of the night came after a timeout from Bears head coach Lyndsey Benson in game three when UNC trailed 8-4.

UNC then snapped off a 21-7 blitz to take a 2-1 advantage and never looked back.

“I didn’t like our mentality immediately out of the break,”

a

Benson said, “I challenged our team, defensively. That’s what I really pushed the entire match.”

UNC allowed the Grizzlies an attacking percentage of .400 in game two, but responded to Benson’s challenge on the defensive side of the net, holding Montana to .143 attacking percentage in game three and an embarrassing -.031 in the clinching game four.

The Bears had a balanced attack the entire night, with three players in double figures in kills, led by senior outside hitter Ashley Lichtenberg with 17, sophomore outside hitter Kelly Arnold with 16, and freshman outside hitter Alyssa Wilson with a career-high 13 kills.

“In practice we have been running a drill to keep our attacking errors down, and that really helped us out tonight,” Wilson said.

UNC led by as many as 15 points in game four, and although the dominating second half of the match was encourag-

ing, the Bears said they know the second meeting with Montana on its home floor will not run as smoothly.

“We’ve never beat them at their place,” Benson said. “We have to prepare for the Montana team we saw in game two because that’s how they’ll play at home.”

Sophomore setter Marissa Hughes added seven kills for the second consecutive match, tying her career high and opening more opportunities for the Bears’ hitters.

UNC went 4-1 on its home stand, with its only loss coming against Colorado State. The Bears will now hit the road for three straight Big Sky Conference games, starting with Portland State at 8 p.m. Friday, before returning back to ButlerHancock Sports Pavilion Oct. 28.

“One of our major goals this year is to go undefeated at home this year and to finish off this home stand like we did was great,” Arnold said.

CASSIE NUCKOLS | THE MIRROR

Senior outside hitter Ashley Lichtenberg serves the ball in the Bears’ 3-1 win over Montana on Saturday. Lichtenberg had 17 kills in the match, which moved UNC to 6-0 in the Big Sky.

Football team stung by Hornets in 42-7 defeat STAFF REPORT sports@uncmirror.com

The UNC football team came up on the wrong end of things for the third straight week Saturday, losing 42-7 at Sacramento State.

The University of Northern Colorado (2-4, 1-3) was without its starting quarterback, junior Dylan Orms, and its starting running back, senior Andre Harris, who both missed the game because of injuries.

Orms was replaced by sophomore quarterback Matt Baca, who was 11-for-20 through the air for 156 yards with a touchdown and interception in his first start for UNC. He was also sacked four times.

Senior running back Jhamele Robinson got the bulk of the rushing attempts for the Bears, totaling 72 yards on 19 carries.

The Bears came out of the gates sluggishly, allowing Sacramento State (3-3, 2-2) to

march 85 yards on 12 plays on its opening drive to take a 7-0 lead.

UNC’s first possession ended when junior wide receiver Patrick Walker caught a 32-yard pass from Baca on third-and-13, but fumbled the ball as he went down, turning it over.

The Hornets cashed the turnover in with a touchdown just over three minutes later.

UNC seemingly got back into the game late in the second quarter when Baca hit Walker for a 9-

yard touchdown pass, cutting the Bears’ deficit to 14-7 at halftime.

The second half is when Murphy’s Law kicked in for UNC. After going three-and-out on its first possession, UNC junior punter Cameron Kaman had his punt blocked and returned for a touchdown, giving Sacramento State a 21-7 lead.

Later in the third quarter, Baca was sacked by the Hornets’ Zack Nash, fumbled, and saw it returned for a touchdown, giving

Sacramento State a 28-7 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The Hornets scored fourthquarter touchdowns on a 3-yard run by running back Bryan Hilliard and an 80-yard pass from Fleming to wide receiver Morris Norrise, giving them the 42-7 cushion that they would keep through the final whistle.

The Bears return to Nottingham Field at 1:35 p.m.

Saturday to take on No. 13 Eastern Washington (4-2, 3-1).

Monday, Oct. 11, 2010

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The Mirror 7 The Research and Graduate Studies Office has an administrative graduate assistantship opportunity available to aid in the maintenance of the Graduate School and research web sites. Those interested must be familiar with HTML code and Adobe Photoshop and Dreamweaver. For questions or to apply, please forward resume and references to frances.braafhart@unco.edu.

The Mirror is looking for a route delivery driver to distribute the newspaper every M-W-F morning.

Applicants must qualify for work study and have a reliable vehicle.

The salary is $15 per hour, and the daily route shouldn’t take more than two hours. Those interested should send an e-mail to jobs@uncmirror.com or call 3929270.

Soccer unbeaten in conference play STAFF REPORT sports@uncmirror.com

The UNC women’s soccer team began Big Sky Conference play this weekend with a 1-1 tie at Weber State on Thursday Soccer and a 3-1 victory at Idaho State on Saturday.

Junior forward Ariel Cook gave the University of Northern Colorado (8-3-2, 1-0-1) the lead against Weber State with her seventh goal of the season in the 56th minute on an assist from sophomore midfielder Danielle Birdsall (1-13-1, 0-11). The Wildcats scored the equalizer four minutes later, however, after a corner kick and a header by junior midfielder Lindsay Ortgiesen found the

back of the net.

The Bears had several chances to get another goal, including a goal that was called back on an offside call, but to no avail. Sophomore midfielder JJ Wykstra also had a shot to score ,but her header off a corner kick hit off the crossbar. The shot went back into play and another Bears’ shot bounced off the crossbar a second time.

Junior goalkeeper Kristin Salminen made a season-high 12 saves in the game.

The Bears had no trouble offensively against Idaho State (5-7-2, 0-1-1) on Saturday though, as they racked up 21 shots, nine of which were on goal.

Wykstra took a pass from Birdsall in the 25th minute and scored her second goal of the season. UNC’s defense held the Bengals scoreless in the first

half on just three shots.

ISU scored seven minutes into the second half, but the Bears took over from there.

Senior midfielder Brittani Knott scored her third goal of the season in the 70th minute off Birdsall’s second assist of the game, and third of the year.

Birdsall continued her impressive game with a goal of her own in the 83rd minute, her sixth of the season.

The Bears return home for their next three games, the first of which coming against Portland State 7 p.m. Friday at Jackson Soccer Stadium.

Next Game: Portland State 7 p.m.

Friday Jackson Soccer Stadium

FILE PHOTO | THE MIRROR

UNC junior forward Ariel Cook gets control of the ball in a game earlier this season. Cook scored the Bears’ only goal Thursday in a 1-1 draw at Weber State that opened the Big Sky season.

8 The Mirror

News

Monday, Oct. 11, 2010

AMANDA NEIGES | THE MIRROR

Columbina Jenkins, a junior biology major, rides the Bear Bus on the Gold route. There are two routes on the new bus system: the Blue route, which travels at night, and the Gold route during the day.

Campus transportation evolves Buses from Page 5 route provides students a practical alternative to a $230 parking pass or frequent 20-minute walks when traveling from class to class.

The night bus, called the Bear Bus Blue, departs from the University Center every 30 minutes from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Its route takes students off campus as far north as Eighth Street and as far south as 29th Street. Many of the off-campus Blue stops are proximal to restaurants and bars, offering students a safe way back to campus.

Matt VanBlarcom, a senior communication major, said he takes advantage of a Bear Bus stop on his street regularly.

“I walk one block to the bus stop, the bus comes at its scheduled time and it takes me to Candelaria,” VanBlarcom said. “It saves me a 25minute walk.”

Initially, students voiced concern that the extended daytime routes may obstruct the convenience of the previous Boomerang system, which offered a two-stop route to shuttle students between west and central

campuses during classes.

However, the new bus services are not a replacement of the Boomerang bus; the Monday through Friday Boomerang still runs its Gunter-Candelaria route every seven-eight minutes from 7:45 a.m.-2 p.m.

Though he said he thinks the buses are convenient, Joey Beacom, a freshman elementary education major, said the buses make too many stops.

“The routes are too complicated, and the stop at Candelaria (…) it’s a mess,” Beacom said. “Two buses will show up at once, and then one won’t come for 25 minutes.”

Beacom also said it is unclear at stops which buses are part of the Bear Bus system and which are Boomerang shuttles.

Riding is always free for students who have a UNC ID, and each semester the university collects $6 per credit hour up to 10 hours from every student to pay for the improvements stipulated in the Quality of Life Initiative.

Bus routes can be found at www.greeleygov.com/thebus.