Volume 24 issue 29 April 25, 2002

Alcohol abuse kills, injures studentsDrinking too much alcohol results in 1,400 college-student deaths each year
David Proviano
The Metropolitan

Alcohol consumption results in the deaths of 1,400 college students each year while more are injured, attacked or make poor decisions, according to a federal study released April 9.

The study by the Task Force on College Drinking estimates student drinking contributes to 500,000 injuries and 70,000 cases of sexual assault or date rape each year. Additionally, students between 18-24 reported having unprotected sex after drinking. The report also estimates many within that age group drive under the influence of alcohol.

"These numbers paint a picture of a deeply-entrenched threat to the health and well-being of our young people," said Raynard S. Kington, M.D., Ph.D., and Acting Director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

"This study, and the report released today by the Task Force on College Drinking, are an urgent call-to-action for educators, researchers, students and society in general. Today, NIAAA is sending the Task Force report to every college in the U.S. The findings of the Task Force also serve as a timely reminder for students and others to assess their personal drinking habits on National Alcohol Screening Day, which took place April 11. One fourth of the over 2,000 screening sites across the country are located on college campuses."

Metro’s counseling center passed out flyers that referred students to a web site offering confidential alcohol screenings. They also plan to offer in-person screenings on campus in conjunction with anxiety screenings on May 1, Anxiety Screening Day.

Men and women are not the same when it comes to drinking. As more and more college students binge drink during spring break and at home, women often lose. According to the report, rape occurs more often because of the differences.

While men have a large quantity of dehydrogenase, an enzyme that breaks down alcohol, women have less. During days just before a woman’s menstrual period, alcohol intoxication is faster. Men’s ability to get drunk does not fluctuate.

"The problem exists at every college campus," said Dr. Doug Smith, a staff psychologist at Metro’s Counseling Center. "At a commuter campus we don’t have that large of a problem. If we had dormitories, we would see damage and police being called like traditional campuses. With 18,000 students, the problem is there, we just don’t see it as much on campus."

In 1998, the National Advisory Council of the NIAAA created the Task Force on College Drinking. It is composed of college presidents and administrators, alcohol researchers and students to examine research evidence on the consequences of alcohol consumption by college students and the effectiveness of interventions currently in use.

That same year, Auraria was flooded with drunken rioters during the Super Bowl celebration. In 1997, rioters caused $25,000 damage to Auraria. Subsequent riots have included Cinco de Mayo and Stanley Cup celebrations in Denver.

A year ago at a small party in Greeley, more than 1,000 student partygoers began to riot at the University of Northern Colorado after drinking.

During the Greeley melee, numerous students and police were injured. The original party began at noon on a Saturday several blocks from the university. Six hours later, the party had spread down the street with more than 500 people. By 9:30 p.m., the crowd had grown. By midnight, police in full riot gear began firing tear gas into the crowds of drunken partiers, police reported.

"The harm that college students do to themselves and others as a result of excessive drinking exceeds what many would have expected," said lead author Ralph W. Hingson, Professor of Social Behavioral Sciences and Associate Dean for Research at Boston University School of Public Health in the report. "Our data clearly point to the need for better interventions against high-risk drinking in this population."

In a major city like Denver, students have access to many different venues for alcohol consumption. Having a bar on a campus where there used to be a brewery doesn’t help, Smith said.

Actually, having the bar on campus with Auraria police close by raises the awareness of employees at the bar, said Sean Barnett, manager of the Boiler Room. He said being on a college campus, they are more apt to scrutinize potential drinkers and limits legal-age drinkers are allowed to reach.

"It doesn’t exactly send a good message," Smith said. "It’s kind of an endorsement of alcohol use. The message that it sends people? I think people kind of read into it that we are not against it. It doesn’t help our prevention efforts."

The report states most people feel that college drinking is a rite of passage for students. Many did it when they were young and expect it from their children, it says. However, as more and more die, become injured and get attacked, changes need to be made, the report urges.

"The consequences of excessive drinking are far too common on many college campuses nationwide, and efforts to reduce high-risk drinking and its related problems have largely failed," said Task Force co-chair Mark Goldman, Ph.D., Distinguished Research Professor of Psychology at the University of South Florida. "But we need not accept high-risk drinking on our campuses as inevitable. If colleges and communities work together, they can change these harmful drinking patterns. We hope this report will help them do that, by providing tools to help them make more informed decisions."

‘The harm that college students do to themselves and others as a result of excessive drinking exceeds what many would have expected.’
- Ralph W. Hingson,
Boston University Assistant Dean for Research

Q & A

Alcohol Abuse Self-Test

People with alcohol problems often answer yes to one or more of these questions:

•Have you ever felt that you should cut down on your drinking?

•Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?

•Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?

•Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady nerves or to get rid of a hangover?
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Task force to monitor campus tension, increase communication on track
Mark Stratford
The Metropolitan

What does it take to bring Auraria’s new police chief to the brink of tears? A two-day terrorism conference in Vail.

"I was taken back by emotion," Police Chief Heather Coogan said of a recent conference of law enforcement officials titled "Terrorism in Colorado."

About 200 police chiefs and sheriffs from all over Colorado gathered in Vail recently to examine the changing needs of police forces in this post-Sept. 11 world.

Coogan attended the conference and said she was moved by the tremendous cooperation that occurred immediately following the attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.

"I could not have felt more proud; my heart just swelled with pride," Coogan said when learning how police and fire agencies reacted in cooperation with one another.

The Auraria Campus Police now plan on retooling their emergency on-campus plan, better coordinating information to the campus, and educating its officers on evacuation.

In fact, it seems the entire campus is trying to communicate more effectively in order to deal with either the threat of terrorism on campus or the possibility of backlash against Muslim or Arabic students.

A tension-monitoring task force was assembled shortly after the attacks to deal with the possibility of terrorism on the Auraria campus, as well as handling threats to certain students.

"The purpose was to monitor the tensions on campus after 9/11," Dean Wolf, who heads the newly-formed task force, said. Wolf, Executive Vice President for Administration for the Auraria Higher Education Center, said the task force consists of the chief of police, student life officers from the University of Colorado at Denver, Metro and the Community College of Denver, the student union director and the public relations office.

"The real purpose was to keep communication flowing so that we could deal with any situations in their early stages and keep them from growing and ballooning out of hand," Wolf said.

He said the task force has increased communication between campus police and the students. He added the task force was successful in monitoring and preventing threats against Muslim or Arabic students, and was engaged in rumor control.

The group has met at least four times and plans to continue to meet in order to ensure safety during the International Chamber of Commerce’s scheduled meeting in Denver, May 6-8.
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Hepatitis C affects 200 million worldwide
John R. Crane
The Metropolitan

Patrick Kirwan felt like he had worked 24 hours when he had only worked 12. He was nauseated and had not eaten much lately.

Kirwan went to the doctor and was diagnosed with hepatitis C three years ago. Other symptoms include abdominal discomfort, vomiting, fatigue, flu-like symptoms and yellowing of the eyes and skin. Sometimes, there are no symptoms.

"It takes about 30 years to develop hepatitis C," said Kirwan, during his speech in Tivoli 320C April 23. Kirwan, 50, is one of 4 million Americans and one of about 200 million people worldwide diagnosed with hepatitis C.

The liver stores nutrients and cleanses the blood of wastes and toxins such as alcohol and preservatives. The hepatitis C virus causes the liver to form scars which eventually conjoin to prevent blood circulation through the liver, leading to cirrhosis. Kirwan developed cirrhosis as a result.

For some people, it takes 15 years to have symptoms of hepatitis. For others, it may take 50, Kirwan said.

Kirwan said he believes he caught it sharing a straw while snorting cocaine about 30 years ago.

"There’s no way to know for sure how I caught it," Kirwan said. "But that was the highest risk factor for me from the last 30 years."

Other risk factors include: intravenous drug use, dialysis, blood transfusions, and exposure to contaminated blood through manicures, tattoos, body piercing or shared razors. With the nation’s blood supply unprotected before 1980, hepatitis C will remain on the rise until 2016, according to Kirwan.

Hepatitis C is treated with injections of Ribavirin and synthetic interferon. Interferon is produced by the immune system to fight disease. Kirwan underwent interferon therapy for a year. He said he responded to therapy and relapsed after ending it because of side effect like nausea, vomiting, body aches, loss of appetite, insomnia and itching.

"It is interferon, not the virus, that makes you feel bad when you have the flu," Kirwan said. Interferon therapy consisted of three shots a week.

Treatment temporarily relieved his liver of attack from toxins and scar formation.

"It gave my liver a rest," Kirwan said.

Kirwan said he is not currently undergoing therapy. He is waiting for an advanced form of synthetic interferon called Pegylated, which should be available later this year and will require only one shot a week, he said.

‘It takes 30 years to develop hepatitis C. ’
Patrick Kirwan, hepatitis C patient
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SGA election: polls close 5 p.m. April 25
John R. Crane
The Metropolitan

There is still time to vote in Metro’s Student Government election, which ends at 5 p.m. April 25.

Students can vote online by logging on to mscd.edu. Click "logon and vote" at the bottom of the page and enter your User ID and PIN. Select "Student Government Elections 2002." Enter your votes into the ballot and click "submit."

Students with disabilities can vote at the Combined Computer Access Center at the Auraria Campus Library.

Election results will be posted on the afternoon of April 26 at mscd.edu/~sga.

For more information, contact Joanna Duenas, assistant dean of student activities at Metro, at 303-556-8134, or by e-mail at duenas@mscd.edu.

2002 SGA Candidates:
(Candidates’ party affiliations are in italics after their name.)

President

•Bradley Kristinik - none declared

•Stephan Evans (Brotha Seku) - Positive Action Coalition (PAC)

•David Gallivan - Students Active for Voices in Education (SAVE)

•Angelika Hudson - Slumber Party

V.P. of Academic Affairs

•James Watson - Slumber Party

V.P. of Communication

•Julius Muhammad - PAC

V.P. of Student Organizations

•Yosief Abraha - PAC

•Paul Sisneros - none declared

V.P. of Administration

and Finance

•Shannon Luong - none declared

•Chris Chandler - PAC

•Hoang D. Le - none declared

V.P. of Student Services

•Hirbo Hirbo - PAC

•Robert Haight - Slumber Party

V.P. of Student Fees

•Mark Ross - PAC

•Aileen Johnson - Slumber Party

V.P. of Diversity

•Joy Walker - PAC

Student Advisory Committee to the Auraria Board

•Lauren Sullenberger - none declared

Attorney General

•Sara Moreno - PAC
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news briefs

Win book store gift certificate

Are you an avid newspaper reader? Do you check out the comics? How about the sports pages?

By filling out an online survey about newspaper readership habits, students are automatically registered to win $25, $50 and $75 gift certificates to the Auraria Book Center.

To fill out the survey, go to www.pulseresearch.com/metropolitan, which takes about 10 minutes. See the web site for rules and guidelines.

Short-term loans available soon

Applications for summer short-term loans will start being accepted May 20 by the Student Finance Resource Center.

Applications for the $210 loans are available in Tivoli 311 or at www.mscd.edu/student/resources/sfrc.

Get your 2002 Metrosphere now

Get your free copy of Metrosphere 2002, Metro’s annual art and literary magazine. Get one in Tivoli 313.

Commencement on a Saturday

Although traditionally held on a Sunday, the Metro Spring 2002 Commencement will be held on Saturday, May 18, at 2 p.m. at the Denver Coliseum.

Metropolitan goes monthly, seeks new staff

Weekly production ends for The Metropolitan this week. The paper will be out once-a-month for the summer semester.

Positions are still available for the summer Metropolitan, possibly leading into the fall:

•News Editor

•Features Editor

•Sports Editor

•Photo Editor

•Copy Editor

•Reporter

•Photographer

Apply in the Office of Student Publications, Tivoli 313, or e-mail Jenni Grubbs at grubbs@mscd.edu to set up an interview.
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Editor leaves fine legacy, big shoes
David Hindman
Staff columnist

Only three more weeks until I can relax with knowledge that finals are over. And only one more issue of The Metropolitan before it reverts to a monthly for the summer break.

It seems like not so long ago, I was researching and writing a forceful letter to Danielle Haraburda, opinion editor, to open her eyes to the wonders of conservative Republicanism and the virtues of Bush and Ashcroft. If only there were more time to bend her will to the all-encompassing power of the right wing ideologues, but alas, time is running short.

Seriously, I hope I have been a welcome influence as far as she has known me. I can say in all honesty that Danielle has been both welcome and positive as far as I have known her. She has been well worth knowing. We have had a good business relationship. Even so, I like to consider her not just an associate but also a friend.

I have never met anyone quite like her before. Despite the fact our views run counter to each other in almost every way, her commitment to editorial integrity has, at times, left me somewhere between awestruck and amazed.

When I began writing under her, I feared her leftward leanings might cause her to edit my columns with a heavy hand. What a fool I was to think that. Her skill and sense of fairness left a number of my conservative editorial letters or columns clearer and more powerful than their original form. This is the mark of an excellent editor. This is the mark of a professional.

I could wish for another year under her tutelage, but that is not to be. She’s going on to bigger and better things. Law school. I’m sure she’ll be good at it.

I remember the time when Danielle sent me a joke illustrating the supposed daftness of Bush and his administration. She wrote something to the effect of, "I thought you might enjoy reading this, or rather, I thought I might enjoy sending it to you." I liked it so much I forwarded it on.

Not to be outdone, I e-mailed her a music file titled "Who’s in de White House – (Bush, Bush, Bush!)" to the tune of "Who Let the Dogs Out"" She laughed. She’s a good sport.

I was a Met reader long before I became a staff writer. As soon as I’d pick up a copy, I’d start searching for the editorial section to see if Danielle had written a column. I’d be genuinely disappointed if she had the week off. She wrote intelligently but that’s not why I read her. I read her columns because she wrote not just with her mind, but also with her heart.

She was willing to write about the personal and the painful. She wrote about a physical attack she endured. She wrote about the fact her car was vandalized simply because of her sexual orientation. She wrote about harassment by a group of men in a parking garage simply because of her gender. And, recently, she wrote about a personal struggle with an eating disorder.

I guess when I think about it, I looked forward to the opportunity to write under Danielle because as a reader, she had touched my heart. And in so doing, she helped teach me the meaning and purpose of writing: To touch the hearts of readers. To connect in some meaningful way.

I feel honored to have been appointed to fill Danielle’s shoes as the opinion editor. I feel the anxiety of a runner in the starting blocks, eager for the chance to compete but nervous about measuring up to the performance of the one I replace. I intend to make a competent and conscientious contribution to the team. I appreciate Danielle’s confidence in me.

Finally, Danielle probably knows without my speaking the words, that I wish her the best in her aspirations. May she find success. May she discover her share of happiness, purpose and meaning in life. May the good find her and allow her the chance to embrace it.
...her commitment to editorial integrity has, at times, left me somewhere between awestruck and amazed.
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It’s time for U.S. to catch up with the world
Jenny Arribau
Staff columnist

Which country is more socially progressive; the United States or Afghanistan? Most people would quickly say the United States, of course, especially when considering the rights of women. Unfortunately, however, both are far behind most countries when it comes to enforcing equality between women and men.

Many Americans are not aware that along with Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, and the Sudan, the United States is one of the few countries that has failed to ratify CEDAW, the Convention to Eliminate all forms of Discrimination Against Women. One hundred sixty-eight countries have ratified the treaty. There is virtually a global consensus that women’s rights are worth fighting for, and it is time for our country to join the fight and ratify CEDAW.

Twenty-two years ago, CEDAW, also known as the women’s international bill of rights, was passed unanimously by the General Assembly of the United Nations. It grew out of decades of work by the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women investigating the lives of the world’s women and developing ways to guarantee their basic rights under the UN Charter. In the first of 30 articles of the treaty, discrimination is defined as "Any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing ... the basis of equality between men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms."

If CEDAW were ratified in the States, it would ensure women’s equal opportunities in education, health, and employment. This would include enforcement of equal pay in the work place, something we desperately need in this country. In 1999, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that the average annual earnings for full-time working women in 1998 were $25,862, and the earnings for full-time working men were $35,345. A recent report states that in the United States today, a woman makes 73 cents of every dollar that a man makes. America is not a Muslim country; it’s time to catch up with most of the world.

CEDAW also addresses the importance of equality for women within economic growth and development. The preamble of the treaty reads, "The full and complete development of a country, the welfare of the world, and the cause of peace require the maximum participation of women on equal terms with men in all fields."

One hundred sixty-eight countries of the world recognize that women play a prominent role in economic advancement, but the United States government does not.

The social, economic and political equity of women and men is necessary for both the national and global economies to grow and develop. In some cases, this means that the treaty must enforce men’s rights as well. According to Susan Roosevelt Weld, a member of the U.S. Delegation to the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing and a co-founder of MassAction for Women, CEDAW has proved to be an effective method used to fight discrimination. She states that, in some nations, CEDAW has been used to reform nationality laws that gave fathers more influence than mothers over the nationality of children. San Francisco, which adopted CEDAW as a municipal ordinance, has used it to equalize the funds allocated to officers working with girls in the probation system. Both the women and the men of America would benefit from the ratification of this treaty.

Those who oppose the treaty are afraid that CEDAW would encourage abortion in the United States, as Article 12 of the treaty reads: "State Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women... In order to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women, access to health care services, including those related to family planning."

Too many people in the United States associate reproductive healthcare directly with abortion. While CEDAW would include a woman’s right to choose, it would also give women access to reproductive healthcare, which includes education about abstinence, all forms of birth control and sexually transmitted infections, as well as provide yearly pap smears and mammograms. If CEDAW were ratified, millions of women who presently have no reproductive healthcare would finally be given access to it.

The United States of America prides itself on being a modern industrial country with a thriving economy and diverse population, yet a modern country that ignores women’s rights is a contradiction in terms. If the United States of America truly strives to be a socially and politically progressive place, it will ratify CEDAW.
There is virtually a global consensus that women’s rights are worth fighting for, and it is time for our country to join the fight...
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Letters Policy

The Metropolitan welcomes letters of 500 words or fewer on topics of general interest.
Letters must include a full name, school affiliation and a phone number or e-mail address.
Letters might be edited for length, grammar and accuracy.

Mailbox:
The Metropolitan
900 Auraria Parkway, Suite 313
Denver CO 80204

e-mail: haraburd@mscd.edu
phone: 303.556.2507
fax: 303.556.3421
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The 2001-02 school year saw many headlines, but none were as big as those in the Sept. 14 and 21 issues, not necessarily because of their font size. The headlines read "Attack shakes nation" and "Anger turns to activism." Sept. 11 brought a wide range of emotions to the campus. People were sad, depressed, angry, patriotic and hopeful, many all at the same time.

"It was so well-choreographed," Metro Speech Department Chair Kenn Bisio said of the attacks. "That scares the stuffing out of me."

"It makes me wonder if it’s the end or the beginning," Metro student Marcelino Caseias said.

Student Government Assembly President Candace Farmer saw the patriotic side of Auraria students following the attacks.

"While I was tabling, these two students came up and asked what we were doing," she said, "and they gave us all of these gorgeous red, white and blue ribbons. We asked if they wanted us to get a donation before we gave out a ribbon, but they said ‘No, they’re free.’"

Since then, headlines have addressed everything from the reaction seven months later to the cancellation of the World Friendship Fall Festival. MetRadio members traveled to New York to help relief efforts, and a fall poetry festival was shortened.

"I feel it’s important to take the message from the students of Colorado to the rest of the country to reach out and help people," MetRadio staff member Benzel Jimmerson said.

Many international students chose not to come back spring semester. President George W. Bush called for tighter visa restrictions only to have the Immigration and Naturalization Service approve two of the bombers for student visas six months later.

Metro international student Omar Kotondi said he feels President Bush is "trying to punish 600,000 applicants per year" because of a few bad ones.

Sept. 11 was not the only story to hit Auraria. At 18,432 students, the campus saw its largest enrollment ever fall semester.

"Over the past several years there’s been a focus on recruitment and retention by Dr. Kaplan and admissions and the academic programs," Metro Registrar Tom Gray said in September, "which have all lent to a higher enrollment."

Thefts were in the news, with record numbers of bike thefts and a plague of projector thefts from SMART classrooms that stretched throughout the year, and eventually lead to a door-locking policy that ended the tradition of an open campus.

Yet, Auraria had the lowest campus crime rate in Colorado.

Child pornography was discovered on a former AHEC employee’s computer on Sept. 12, 2001. Peter K. Dunn, 51, was charged Feb. 28 with 42 misdemeanor counts of sexual exploitation of children. Dunn worked for AHEC in the Internet Technology department and resigned Sept. 26 amid suspicion.

Several things changed around campus. Tiki Jon’s and Domino’s Pizza both closed in December leaving empty holes in the Tivoli.

"They just felt they could not make a go of it,’ said Tivoli Assistant Director Jeff Stamper.

Control of Emmanuel Gallery changed hands from Auraria to Metro and the University of Colorado at Denver.

"Since it’s being run through the fine arts departments of both schools, there will be a better understanding of what the gallery can do for the campus," Emmanuel Director Ken Peterson said.

Metro’s Speech Communications and Journalism departments merged last fall, creating the Department of Communications Arts and Sciences, chaired by Bisio.

"Things should be better-organized and run more smoothly," he said in August.

Auraria Police Chief Joseph Ortiz resigned Jan. 7 after being offered a job as executive director of the Colorado Department of Corrections.

"I was glad I was able to associate myself with this campus," Ortiz said.

In March, Metro alum Heather Coogan was hired as Ortiz’s replacement. Coogan is the first female chief of police for Auraria.

"It’s like coming home, and it’s part of my success story," she said.

Center for the Visual Arts Director Sally Perisho was fired Dec. 20. Metro President Sheila Kaplan declined to comment on why Perisho was fired. Perisho was very verbal about how upset she was.

"I started that gallery, and it wouldn’t have achieved national prominence without my efforts," Perisho said.

The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transsexual Student Services sent out a call for a shorter name. A new one has not yet been chosen.

Facilities Management worked on many long-term projects this year, including the 9th Street renovations, Tivoli renovations, electrical upgrading, Americans with Disabilities Act upgrading in the Tivoli, 7th Street Construction and the paving of the dirt parking lots. One of the problems they dealt with was blackouts in the Auraria Events Center in December that stalled basketball games.

The Tivoli theaters have been taken over by Starz Encore and have started showing movies and hosting small film festivals.

Around Metro, people got older, teams won big games, and the college kept on the path to freedom from the state system.

Metro Journalism professor Fred Gillies turned 80 on Oct. 3. Gillies said he has not even thought about retirement

"We have such professional and vital people in the journalism department right now," he said on his birthday.

Roadrunner men’s basketball added a big banner to their office with ‘Division II National Champions’ on it.

Metro came a lot closer to self-governance with the passage of HB-1165 through the House. It is currently in the Senate.

"In regards to the passing of HB-1165 on the House-side, we are very pleased an are looking forward to it going before the Senate Education Committee," said Cathy Lucas, Metro campus communications director.

The Student Finance Resource Center saw great success with its decision to open up the application period for short-term loans. SFRC Director Arliss Webster said she was very pleased with the outcome of the early application date.

"I’m very pleased with the outcome. We’re definitely going to do that again," Webster said.

The Metropolitan had a rocky year with major staff changes mid-year. Long-time editor Sean Weaver said goodbye, and features editor Chris Ward headed for the beaches of California. Reporters came and went. Deadlines were missed. But, overall, it all worked out.

Conferences on everything from globalization to a mock Arab League were held, and many, many speakers came and spoke on a wide variety of topics.

They included: rapper Ice-T, transsexual Loren Cameron, Tipper Gore, mountain-climber Erik Weihenmayer, jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves, teacher Joe Clark, genealogist Pearl Duncan, activist Angela Davis and musician Henry Rollins.

A group of Tibetan monks visited for three days and worked day and night making a painting of sand that was ceremonially destroyed when they were finished.

The introduction of Metro’s Internet message boards opened a forum for students to discuss everything from SGA performance to trash on campus.

Feng Shui, depression, dream interpretation, hepatitis C; these were all topics of seminars for Auraria students.

Overall it was a year of devastation and rebuilding, a time for paranoia and hope. Most of all it was a year of term papers, lectures, events and news.
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2001-02: Roadrunners dominate RMAC, coaches win praise
Imthiaz Hopkins
The Metropolitan

As the spring semester winds down, the Roadrunners athletic department has seen victory and defeat.

When the fall semester started, Metro’s men’s soccer team had a promising outlook for the season. They opened up the season ranked No. 11 in the nation, fighting to make their second appearance at the NCAA national tournament. The Roadrunners finished the season with an 8-7 record. For the first time in four years, the men would watch the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament from the sidelines.

On the flip side, the women’s soccer team began a new era at the start of 2001. As long-time head coach Ed Montojo stepped down, Regis assistant coach Colin Gilmartin stepped in. Although the women struggled throughout the year, they finished the season with a disappointing 6-13 record. Once the Roadrunners ended their season, so did Gilmartin, resigning only after one season as head coach. When the women’s team returned from spring break they had were acquainted with former Mesa Community College head coach Danny Sanchez.

Metro’s women’s volleyball once again showed this year they’re one of the top teams to beat. During the season they were ranked as high as No. 8 in the nation, winning the RMAC and hosting the Southwest Regional tournament. Even though the Roadrunners were knocked out in the semi-finals round of the Southwest Regional tournament by the University of Nebraska-Kearney, RMAC Coach of the Year Debbie Hendricks returns a number of players that will give a number of teams a headache next season.

Metro’s women’s basketball team started the year 0-4 and struggled to find chemistry. Then winter break came and the Roadrunners squad traveled to West Palm Beach, Fla.

Although they found success down on the sunny beaches, they struggled most of the season. Some critics said I never gave credit to the women’s basketball team, but they did do the unthinkable. They went into University of Nebraska-Kearney and upset the No. 21 ranked Lopers. They fought and played with the heart and desire they needed, and when things came down to it, they slipped into the RMAC tournament when no one really expected them to.

Although the Roadrunners were knocked out in the first round, they have the makings of a team that can compete with some of the tougher teams in the RMAC. Now all they need is a coach.

When the RMAC preseason polls came out, Metro’s men’s basketball was predicted to finish at the top. At the beginning of the season, they hit some bumps in the road with lack of game experience.

The Roadrunners squad knew that was going to happen, and they wanted it to happen early on.

They began beating a number of nationally-ranked teams, proving to everyone that this was their year to go back to the NCAA Division II National Championships.

Head coach Mike Dunlap got his 200th career victory and Bulletin Coach of the Year honors, along with National Association of Basketball Coaching honors as he coached the Roadrunners squad to its second Division II National title.

The Roadrunners lost only five seniors this year, and only one of them is a starter. RMAC Co-Player of the Year Patrick Mutombo returns next year to help the Roadrunners defend their national title.

Metro’s men’s baseball team started the year on a 9-0 winning streak. They did find a few bumps in the road, only to have another win streak snapped by Colorado School of Mines. With the season winding down, the Roadrunners are trying to keep their post-season dreams alive by trying to get the last spot in the RMAC tournament.

Both men and women’s tennis went undefeated in the fall season, and when the spring season started, they both were ranked No. 1 in the North Central Region. RMAC Coach of the Year Eduardo Provenico knew at the start of the season that this was going to be the strongest year Metro has ever seen on both sides of the net for tennis.

The men’s team won its second RMAC title and the women won its first RMAC title. Now both teams will be hosting the North Central Regional tournament May 3 and 4 trying to end the season on a high note.
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Oh the thrill, the spill, the tease, the please, the intoxication, the sedation, the release, the peace, the agony, the ecstasy and the sweetness of it all.

Thanks to Colorado School of Mines and Metro men’s tennis team, this love-love relationship with sports was rekindled on a wintry spring day at the Metro Tennis Courts April 20.

In a riveting three set match for the all marbles, Metro’s quiet No. 5 singles player Karabo Makgale escaped with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 triumph over Mines’s Brian Buck to give the Roadrunners a 5-4 duel match victory and its second consecutive Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championship.

"After match point number six, I was like ‘Oh my gosh! I can’t watch anymore,’" said Metro co-captain Bruce Dicker while walking with the RMAC trophy. "I had a heart attack on every match point he [Makgale] had. Geez."

With two April wins over Mines, ranked No. 1 in the North Central Region, the Metro men jumped up three places in the rankings to No. 2, a distinction that will allow them to host the men’s regional tournament May 3-4.

Not to be overlooked is the continued domination by the Metro’s women’s tennis team as they captured its first RMAC title in a 5-0 victory over Mesa State. It didn’t come without a sudden display of nervousness from the women’s No. 1 and No. 3 doubles teams.

"Our girls just seemed unbelievable nervous," head tennis coach Eduardo Provencio said. "They knew what was riding on it; we had a really good, solid year and they wanted to make sure they finished it off."

They did just that, but the women’s season won’t end just yet. As the top ranked team in the region, the women will also host the North Central Regional tournament, looking for more post-season hardware.

"I’m pretty confident we can win regionals," said Jasmon Crabb, the region’s top singles player. "We are undefeated in our region, and when we beat teams in our region, we didn’t have our No. 2 (singles player), Rebecca (Meares). So I think we should be able to do it. But anything can happen."

While the dramatics of the women’s match were dwarfed in comparison to the men’s, the win tasted just as good and a bit more sugary for Lisa Pascual, the only senior on the women’s squad.

"This means so much to me because I’ve been from the very low with the team from my sophomore year when we were not so good, and now we are just the best," Pascual said. "It means more to me since I’ve realized how it is to lose all the time and now we are winning all the time. It’s even sweeter."

Pascual and Natalie Ilott (No. 3 doubles) along with freshmen Crabb and Hande Gorur (No. 1 doubles) struggled a bit in their matches, but they settled in for 8-6 and 8-5 wins, respectively. Together Crabb and Gorur are the No. 1 doubles team in the region, but it was their singles play that sealed the Roadrunners’ victory over the Mavericks. Crabb defeated Emily Hydrick 6-0, 6-3 and Gorur swept Laura Brownson 6-0, 6-0.

"Everyone is playing so good and had such a good year," Crabb said. "Hopefully we can keep it going into regionals."

After all is said and done, it’s the men’s match that fans will remember most. As prophesized by Provencio, Mines came out "looking for blood" after losing to Metro 8-1 earlier in April.

Mines promptly took two out of the three doubles matches, putting the Roadrunners in a hole they have failed to overcome all season. Twice this year, Metro has been down 1-2 heading into the singles portion only to lose outright. Then Provencio made another prediction as he gather the team together.

"I just told them, ‘This is going to be the first match all year that we win after being down 1-2,’" Provencio said.

"We just came out there wanting it badly," Dicker said. "That’s all really. We just wanted it badly."

Dicker, a senior, doesn’t merely lead with his words, but also by his play. The 27-year-old set the tone for a comeback, tying the score with a quick 6-4, 6-0 victory over Matt Rychlik. Freshman Magnus Bohman, who overcame a hip flexor injury, and junior Carlos Delgado soon followed, each with straight-set wins to give Metro a 4-2 lead.

But Mines rebounded to tie it at 4-4 behind the solid play of Dinuka Ranaweera and Almed Sejati.

Now Metro’s hopes rested on the slender Makgale.

"It has come down to (Makgale) two other times this year and that hadn’t worked out for us," Provencio said. "One time it was in a tiebreaker against Cameron, who was ranked 27th in the nation."

Leading 5-2 in the final set, Makgale was unable to serve out despite six match points opportunities. His lead shrunk to 5-4. Makgale’s self-assessment of his play afterward was short but honest: "I was quite nervous. I just wanted him to make the mistake."

Stunned by the turn of events, Dicker sat down behind the crowd, legs crossed, with his head in his hands. The rest of the team pressed against the chain link fence, hanging on every volley.

With Buck serving, Makgale took a 40-15 lead. A win appeared certain until Buck fought back with two straight winners to tie it at deuce. Then it was a roller coaster ride. Makgale had the advantage. Lost it. Buck held the advantage. Lost it. Watching from a distance, Provencio turned to Metro athletics director Joan McDermott and said: "We will take anything at this point. Anything."

Prophetic indeed.

Buck double faulted on match point. Metro got the win. And as Makgale calmly reached for his water bottle afterward, his teammates danced around him.

"When he got that last point," Dicker said, pausing to breathe, "it was such a relief."

RMAC Tennis Honors

RMAC Coach of the Year

Eduardo Provencio
Men’s Tennis
Player of the Year, Magnus Bohman

First Team All-Conference

No. 1 singles Bohman; No. 2 singles Carlos Delgado; No. 3 singles Bruce Dicker; No. 4 singles Jojo Mmopi; No. 6 singles Alexei Sologoub

Honorable Mention

No. 5 singles Karabo Makgale

Doubles First Team All-Conference

No. 1 Bohman/Dicker; No. 2 Delgado/Makgale; No. 3 Sologoub/Tim Green

Women’s Tennis

Co-Player of the Year/Freshman of the Year, Jasmon Crabb

First Team All-Conference

No. 1 singles Crabb; No. 2 singles Rebecca Meares; No. 3 singles Hande Gorur; No. 4 singles Jess Meares; No. 5 singles Lisa Pascual; No. 6 singles Tania Zuveia

Doubles First Team All-Conference

No. 1 Crabb/Gorur; No. 2 J. Meares/R. Meares; No. 3 Pascual/Natalie Ilott
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Roadrunners fall to Orediggers
Jason Sheehan
The Metropolitan

The Metro baseball team had its nine game winning streak snapped April 21 as Colorado School of Mines out-slugged the Roadrunners 15-10.

The loss spoiled an otherwise successful weekend for Metro, as the team picked up three victories in the race for the fourth spot in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament. By taking three of four games in the series against the Orediggers, the Roadrunners improved its record to 24-19; 10-10 RMAC.

After slumping early in conference play, Metro has surged recently to keep their hopes for a RMAC title alive. After winning seven of their last eight conference games, Metro holds a one game lead over crosstown rival Regis University for the last spot in the tournament.

"We’ve been hitting the ball a lot better lately," sophomore Brian Edwards said about the team’s current hot streak. "If someone is struggling, someone else is going to pick them up. Earlier in the season it wasn’t happening that way."

In the series finale, it was the Orediggers who took advantage of the wind blowing out of Auraria Field. Colorado School of Mines smacked three homeruns, including two by centerfielder Terry Packer. Metro countered with two bombs of their own, one by Aaron Garcia and another by David Dudley, but it wasn’t enough to complete the series sweep.

Freshman pitcher Burly Burns struggled for the Roadrunners as he allowed five runs in only two and a third innings of work. The relief pitchers did not fair much better, as Steve Neely, Pat Reilly and Dan Morasci were roughed up for 10 runs in five and two thirds.

Metro opened the series with a 10-2 route over the Orediggers. Once again, senior Jason Humphrey pitched a good game by allowing only two earned runs in eight innings to pick up his fifth victory of the season. The senior scattered six hits to go along with his five strikeouts.

The Roadrunners were led offensively by John Burney who went three for four with four RBIs. Dudley also had a strong game at the plate with a homerun and two RBIs.

The second game of the series went to the Roadrunners as well. Once again, strong pitching by senior Steve Fox led the way. Fox went six strong innings allowing three runs as Metro won 6-3.

In the third game, Metro grinded out a one run victory. The offense got on the board early when Garcia homered and back to back doubles by Donnie Gwinner and Jared Devine gave Metro a 3-0 lead after the first. But the Orediggers got right back in the game with three runs of their own in the top of the first.

With the seesaw battle tied at eight in the bottom of the sixth, Garcia scored the winning run on an error by Mines first baseman Ryan Hessler. Senior Eric Cummings then shut the door in the seventh to preserve the 9-8 victory.

With Metro in a tight race with Regis for the last spot in the tournament, Metro will need to stay hot.

"I think we still have a chance of making it (to the RMAC tournament) if we win every series," Edwards said. "But I think the whole team looks at it as we need to sweep every series."

After struggling earlier in conference play, Edwards believes his team has turned it around at the right time.

"I think our attitudes have changed. We have a lot more confidence now after getting a couple of wins."

Metro travels April 26 to New Mexico Highlands University for a four-game series. For the team to be successful, Edwards says the team should not change anything.

"We just need to go out and play the way we’ve been playing," Edwards said. "Just relax and play our type of baseball."
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