Volume 23, issue 12, November
3, 2000
Metronews
Young alienated from politics
Sean Weaver
The Metropolitan
More than three-quarters of 18 to 24 year olds said they were likely to vote in the Nov. 7 presidential election, according to a nationwide poll.
Additionally, the poll, conducted by students at Hamilton college in Clinton, N.Y and the Zogby International polling firm, found more than 90 percent of the age group said the follow politics "some of the time" or "all of the time."
"The last time I looked, 18 to 21 year olds were citizens," said Norman Provizer, chairman of Metro’s political science department. "Therefore, issues that affect the country affect that group as well."
The idea that young people are indifferent to politics is a misconception, said 21-year-old David Zane, a student in Alabama who worked on the Hamilton study.
"We aren’t really apathetic. We’re just alienated from politics in general," he said. "We feel politicians are involved with big-money donors and don’t focus on issues in general. Young people want to hear about issues.’’
The Hamilton survey found 68 percent of young people felt politicians were giving too little attention to them, compared to 29 percent feeling the attention was just right.
"If you pay taxes, if you might be in a situation where an abortion is discussed, or there are questions of public policy in general, all of those things are part of the process even if they’re not given the youth label," Provizer said.
"(Younger voters are) not as involved, despite our vision of youth being involved," Provizer said. "A lot of those issues have not sunk in as yet. Periodically, you can get an issue that is directly connected to young people, such as the draft.
"Part of the problem is there’s a chicken and egg structure," Provizer continued. "Younger voters claim politicians aren’t talking to them, and politicians aren’t talking to them because they don’t vote."
Andrew West, a 21-year-old University of Colorado at Denver student, said he feels several issues in this year’s election are important.
"I think both (Al) Gore, and (George) Bush are exploiting Third World countries," said West, who said he plans to vote for Green Party candidate Ralph Nader. "I don’t agree with politics in the major scale anymore. I think both major parties are just puppets. I don’t think the major candidates care about the individual."
Many young voters disagree with West, however. Nader trails behind Bush and Gore, in in polls, claiming 12 percent of the younger voters, 51 percent favored Texas Gov. George W. Bush, and 40 percent back Vice President Al Gore.
Paul Jones, a 19-year-old sophomore from New York, attributed Nader's popularity to his actively reaching out to the younger generation.
"He’s an issue-oriented candidate," Jones said. "He levels with you. He responds to young Americans well."
More than half of those surveyed in also said more political information on the Internet would help a lot in encouraging younger people to participate in the political process. Forty-four percent said more political information in nontraditional outlets like MTV and the World Wrestling Federation programs would also help.
"For my 18-year-old brother, that’s where he gets the information,'' said Cristen Sargent, a 21-year-old Hamilton College senior from Rochester. "Politicians should reach out to young people in venues that they feel comfortable in."
The poll’s results were not surprising; it just reaffirms "a cycle of mutual neglect'" between politicians and young voters, said John Dervin, a spokesman for Youth Vote 2000, which is working on voter registration efforts across the country.
"Young adults feel politicians aren’t making politics relevant to them whereas politicians felt young people won’t vote," Dervin said.
Dervin said young voters will respond to candidates if candidates take the time and effort to reach out to them and make issues relevant to their age group.
The survey result shows young voters "do pay attention to campaigns," he said. "Young adults really respond to you when you respond to them."
Questions for the poll were developed by Hamilton College students as part of a project to involve their age group in the political process and the survey was conducted by Zogby International, of Utica.
Provizer said it is important for younger voters to make their voices heard.
"Whatever the defects are in the electoral process, and there are defects, voting is power," he said. "When you don’t vote, you can be ignored because you are not a threat. When you do vote, you have to be taken into account at least."
The poll of 402 people between the ages of 18 and 24 was conducted from Oct. 13-18 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 6 percentage points.
Associated Press Writer Anny Kuo contributed to this report.
When you don’t vote, you can be ignored because you are not a threat."
-Norman Provizer,
Chairman, Metro’s Political Science Department
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UNC president wary of 23
Sean Weaver
The Metropolitan
The president of the University of Northern Colorado said a proposed amendment
to fund public schools in Colorado might hurt higher education.
"I think the people who proposed (Amendment 23) have the best of intentions, and are working for the public good," said UNC President and former Colorado Senator Hank Brown. "My concern is really not related to normal times, but if we have a downturn in the economy, it could put us between a rock and a hard place."
Brown, in a phone interview from his office in Greeley, said in a recession, the state legislature would have no choice under Amendment 23 than to cut funding for colleges and universities.
"So what you’re looking at is anywhere from a 10 to 25 percent cut in higher education," he said. "That’s simply something the legislature doesn’t have a choice about. They will be strapped with the constitutional limits under TABOR, so it will be enormously difficult for higher education."
Under current law, the Colorado General Assembly determines any increase or decrease in funding for public schools. Last year, Colorado public schools received an estimated $5 billion, for an average of $7,323 per student. Amendment 23 would constitutionally establish a minimum increase in funding by at least the rate of inflation plus 1 percent for the next ten years.
In addition, the amendment would establish a state education fund for education reform, programs to meet state academic standards, reductions in class size, technology education, improvements in student safety, preschool and kindergarten programs, performance incentives for teachers and school construction. The proposal would require revenue from a tax of one-third of 1 percent of Colorado's taxable income be deposited in the fund each year. State officials estimate revenue to the fund would reach $313 million in 2001, growing to $638 million in 2010, and increase each year. The total for the first ten years is estimated to be $4.58 billion.
According to the proposal’s authors, the amendment would reduce the average tax refund by approximately $113 per taxpayer or $226 for a married couple in the first year. The total ten-year expense would be approximately $1,500 per taxpayer or $3,000 for a married couple.
"A portion I thought was good policy," Brown said. "It calls for higher spending during normal times. The Achilles heel is what happens in a downturn. If they had not mandated increases in recessionary periods, it would have been much more workable."
Cary Kennedy from the Colorado Education Network said she disagrees with Brown.
"We don’t see a risk," she said. "We would have to have a recession that we have not seen since the Great Depression to wipe out the funds.
"The premise of this amendment is the funding comes with a rise in inflation,"
Kennedy said. "We’ve had a historical commitment to maintaining a
strong education system even during downturns in the economy. I don’t see
this amendment presenting a risk to any state government program. This allows
the state to keep money that would otherwise be refunded to the taxpayers."
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Students get second chance to vote on fee
Chris Ward
The Metropolitan
The second vote to approve or deny a student bond fee was held Nov. 1 and 2.
The proposed bond fee would add $18.50 to student fees. The money would be used for Auraria campus services. The fee was voted down May 11 after the Community College of Denver voted against it; the support of all three Auraria colleges was required for the fee to pass.
Metro’s student government met with CCD representative Mark Pitcher Oct. 28 to discuss the fee. While Metro’s government supported the bond fee, Pitcher was there to outline the reasons CCD was against it.
"We respect your position, and we hope you can respect ours," Pitcher said shortly after the meeting began.
Pitcher argued that Auraria didn’t use all of its resources before asking the students for more money. He specifically sited Auraria’s reserve fund, which he said contained far more than the balance Auraria was required to keep.
"What keeps coming into play are the amount of money in the reserves and the amount of money being brought in by AHEC," Pitcher said. "AHEC didn’t use all their resources before turning to the students."
"The reserve should stay in the reserve," Raaki Garcia-Ulam, Metro’s vice president of student organizations, responded. "If lightning hits this 100-year-old building (the Tivoli), then the money is there to fix it."
Garcia-Ulam also pointed out that the effects of the bond fee would be felt long after most current students have graduated. "How is this going to benefit the people in five years, in 10 years?" she asked.
Metro student government president Stefanie Vassilaros, concentrated on what she saw as problems in the voting process. When the bond fee was rejected in May, the total number of Auraria students voting for the fee outnumbered those who voted against it. Because 51 percent of the votes from CCD students were against the fee it didn’t pass.
"When there’s an issue that involves all three schools, wouldn’t you agree that the campus should all vote together?" Vassilaros asked Pitcher.
Pitcher responded by saying the schools should comply with current policy. "I don’t think that it’s right, but that’s the world we live in," he said. "Would it be fair if our students voted not to have this referendum and then we went back to them and said, ‘Sorry, you have to.’"
Regardless of the election results, which were not available at press time,
Vassilaros expressed a desire to reevaluate the voting procedure. "If it
does or it doesn’t pass, we need to sit down and discuss the policy,"
she said.
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Campaign lacking in political heros
Walter R. Mears
AP Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans liked Ike before and long after Dwight D. Eisenhower’s
presidency. They honored the legend of John F. Kennedy’s White House Camelot.
Even people who opposed Ronald Reagan policies came to admire his leadership
style.
But this campaign is lacking in political heroes and, by the polls, in real enthusiasm among independent-minded voters for either Al Gore or George W. Bush.
That may tell why a national survey two weeks from election day found that nearly a quarter of the electorate had yet to finally decide now to vote Nov. 7, in a campaign rated dead even.
It may also explain the prospect of another low turnout election, with about the same rate of voting as the 49 percent four years ago, according to a specialist on the subject.
That comes with a caveat — forecasts of the closest election in 40 years are no guarantee that it is going to happen.
Still, a Pew Research Center survey suggests that neither Bush nor Gore has been able to break through in pre-election support because of doubts about each man, the Republican governor on experience and confidence on handling the issues, the Democratic vice president on personality and trust.
The Pew poll also found that 45 percent of voters see Gore as a typical politician, while 29 percent view Bush that way. In an era of cynicism about politicians, being typecast as one is a liability.
Then again, politicians never have been popular; candidates always avoid that job description in favor of positive terms like leadership. And political reputations tend to grow in retrospect, not in the divisiveness of a campaign, and sometimes, not soon afterward.
Political heroes do tend to grow in retrospect.
Harry S. Truman left office in low regard and now is one of the most esteemed of modern presidents for his decisiveness in the ending and aftermath of World War II and at the start of the Cold War.
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s standing among the greatest presidents was earned on his leadership in the crisis of the Great Depression and in World War II; they made him a heroic figure to most, not all, Americans.
"Nobody is going to be a hero to everybody,’’ said Stephen Hess of the Brookings Institution. "Eisenhower came pretty close.’’
He entered politics as a national hero, the supreme commander of the armies that defeated Nazi Germany. "To have a hero you usually have to have a war,’’ says Hess, who served in the White House near the end of the Eisenhower presidency. "It has to be a popular war and a just war.’’
Eisenhower’s standing was as a general, not a career politician. Hess notes that "I Like Ike’’ was a Broadway show tune before it became a campaign song in 1952.
Kennedy was a wounded, decorated veteran of the war in the Pacific, a senator before he won in 1960 by the narrowest popular margin in history and became the first Roman Catholic president. He brought the style and flourish of a new generation to the White House, after the staid Republican years.
But the achievements of his administration, like his time, were limited. And the Camelot image was created after he was assassinated in 1963, not while he was in the White House. The image-denting exposes of his affairs and unsavory contacts came much later.
Reagan’s skill as an orator, some said performer, was the trademark of his persuasive leadership style, overcoming the resistance of Democrats and not a few Republicans to his conservative policies. He won the White House with a mandate, a 10-point victory over President Jimmy Carter in a 1980 election the pollsters said was too close to predict.
For all his political arts, President Clinton began his national career with his flaws and evasions showing. His personal misconduct, scandal and impeachment, heightened cynicism about politicians. No role model there.
"People don’t like politics any more,’’ says Curtis Gans of the Committee for the Study of the American Electorate, who expects a Nov. 7 turnout not much different from that in the 1996 election, which was the first time since 1924 that fewer than half the eligible voters had cast ballots in a presidential election.
He sees the rise of consultant-driven messages and campaigns, the intrusiveness of the media and the emphasis on the personal lives of candidates as among the factors that turn people off on politicians.
The nonstop exposure, especially on television, has narrowed the distance between leaders and the led, and eroded the mystique that once led people to hold their small children above the campaign crowds, just to see the man who could be president of the United States.
But that hasn’t ended American esteem for the man in the White House — even if he has been impeached and people don’t think much of him personally. When the Gallup Poll conducts its annual survey of the world figure Americans most admire, it has been the sitting president all but eight times in the past 54 years.
That includes President Clinton in 1999, although he ranked only narrowly ahead of Billy Graham and Pope John Paul II.
EDITOR’S NOTE — Walter R. Mears has reported on Washington and national
politics for The Associated Press for more than 35 years.
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Metroeditorial
Our kids need Amendment 23
Danielle Haraburda
For the past several years, Colorado has enjoyed an unprecedented prosperity,
growing at a rate of 25 percent more than the rate of inflation. Unemployment
is at a record low, and the standard of living has steadily increased for the
majority of citizens. So it’s almost embarrassing to talk about the state
of our public schools.
Back in the 1980s, when times weren’t so good, funding for many services was drastically scaled back. Among the many casualties of those times were funds to Colorado’s schools. The economy has recovered from those years, but our schools have not. Colorado continues to lag far behind most other states and actually spends $500 per student less today than during the recession of the 1980s. As a result, Colorado now ranks 8th in the nation for class size and, in many schools, has had to drastically reduce its programming.
Amendment 23 is an attempt to rectify this situation. This initiative would match education funding to the current inflation rate plus 1 percent per year for the next ten years. Because Colorado currently enjoys a $832 million surplus, with a projected $5.13 billion surplus during the next five years, this funding can be accomplished without a tax increase.
Opponents of this initiative claim Colorado already spends enough on education and bewail the fact that tax refunds would decrease.
In actuality, Colorado ranks among the very worst for overall funding for public schools. If we expect the growth of our state to continue beyond our generation, it makes sense to invest in the future of our youth. Additionally, given the prosperity in Colorado, it seems selfish and petty to bemoan an overall tax refund decrease that will not affect the overall standard of living. If the shortage guarantees a stable future for Colorado, and a brighter future for our children, it seems obvious Colorado can afford it. The impact this amendment will have on taxpayers is negligible.
However, the impact Amendment 23 could have on Colorado’s classrooms is substantial. Increased funding could restore many programs such as music, art, and physical education, while also providing competitive salaries for additional teachers. This amendment would alleviate bloated classrooms, lack of textbooks, and reinstate programs for a whole range of students from those needing special education, to pupils capable of advanced and gifted curriculums. Further, Amendment 23 would grant monies to use toward technical education and computer equipment, giving our students a competitive chance with their peers across the nation.
Everyone talks about the importance of youth these days. Education issues,
both good and bad, have become buzz topics for those seeking public approbation
or those complaining about the state of affairs in America today. Amendment
23 is our opportunity to improve the education of tomorrow’s citizens.
We are either dedicated to raising the standards for our children or we are
not.
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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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Metroactive
Artist gains recognition
Troy Markgraf
The Metropolitan
Emerging from a forest green and yellow haze are two green eyes and what is
possibly a head. The head loses opacity and a hybrid charcoal-black human figure
merges with a branch, which becomes the landscape of a mountain scene on the
side of a woman’s face.
No, you are not hallucinating; you are just viewing one of the many paintings that complete the work of Michael Gadlin.
Gadlin, a former Metro student, is an abstract artist who is now gaining local and national recognition. Gadlin has an entry, along with four other artists, in the current showing Landmark at the William Havu gallery.
Gadlin’s current showing, and his previous work, may be described as mixed media and abstract art. However, the terms "mixed-media" and "abstract" are not enough to illustrate Gadlin’s work.
"It’s about trying to put in visual terms what I’m thinking, feeling, what I find beautiful," Gadlin said. "It’s about trying to put these things into one or a series of visual statements. And it all comes back to the sub-conscious thought process. Painting for me is a compilation of all these things."
This might all sound fairly premeditated, but that is not the approach that Gadlin takes when he begins a painting.
"It takes a creative mood for me to start any kind of art," he said. "When I do start, I don’t know exactly what I want to paint until the first brush stroke. After that, I can look at the beginning and know where I want to go."
The result is a painting in which audience interaction is crucial. While Gadlin’s paintings are viewed they invite the audience to look deeper for form and movement. Not the same form that you might find in a Where’s Waldo? book (apologies for the comparison), but for emerging form that is only loosely defined.
Instructions on How to Move Mountains & Part the Sea, one of Gadlin’s paintings on display at the gallery, is just such a painting. The color scheme is an organic set of yellows, greens, browns, and black. On the surface of the painting a pasted fragment of canvas adds to the painting’s depth. Viewer’s impressions are deceitful as the dominant image of two half-sketched eyes fade away to reveal other lurking images.
"My paintings are about learning. I am not here to dictate what you should see. I think we get enough of that," Gadlin said.
The question to ask is, "what would happen if this sentence were upside down, changed to a Greek alphabet, and written in yellow wax?" Chances are you would not finish this article, but there is also a chance that you might stop to ponder the situation. That moment of contemplation is something akin to Gadlin’s artistic purpose.
"I just want people to have an experience. I want them to have an experience where they might have not before. I wanted to get in touch with the viewers emotions. I don’t know if I am always successful, but these are my goals," Gadlin said. "It is about capturing a different emotion. If I were to throw a red ball at your upper body, you would react differently than if I threw a black ball at you. You may not consciously realize it, but it will hit a different part of your brain."
The works of Michael Gadlin are on display at the William Havu Gallery until
Nov. 25.
‘I am not here to dictate what you should see. I think we get enough
of that.’
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‘Requiem’ affects viewers long after leaving
theater
Chris Ward
The Metropolitan
It is not uncommon that a filmmaker’s first movie will be made with almost no budget, nor is it uncommon for that filmmaker to use skill and creativity to create a compelling, original piece of cinema, despite (and sometimes because of) lack of funding.
Unfortunately, it is quite common for filmmakers, after their initial success, to falter, creating something far less than the debut film in an attempt to cash in on their new-found fame. Kevin Smith and Daniel Myrick are among the many independent filmmakers who have fallen into this trap just within the past decade.
Which is just one of the reasons Requiem for a Dream is so refreshing. Darren Aronofsky, who made his debut with 1998’s ¹, has actually gotten better, making one of the best films so far this year.
Adapted from Hubert Selby Jr’s novel, Requiem tells the story of four interconnected characters who attempt to achieve their dreams, only to succumb to drug addiction. The major difference between this and other movies about junkies hitting rock-bottom is that Aronofsky actually makes his audience care for the characters, to the point where the viewer actually wants to believe that every obstacle is only a minor setback on the way to a happy ending.
As the title implies, however, the dreams get farther and farther away from the characters as the film progresses from summer to winter. The tone of the movie itself changes with the seasons, starting out bright and optimistic and slowly deteriorating toward the dark, pessimistic final act.
Several of the techniques Aronofsky used in ¹ are present in Requiem. The repetition of a series of shots throughout the movie and the rigging of cameras to the actors are both devices used in ¹, then actually improved upon in Requiem. Here there seems to be a reason behind the use of each technique; a series of rapid cuts indicates the feeding of an addiction, while the body-rigged camera always shows a character realizing that things are getting worse, not better.
Also impressive are the performances Aronofsky gets from his actors. Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, and Marlon Wayans all give unprecedented dramatic performances here, as does Ellen Burstyn. Although Burnstyn’s talent has been seen before, it is tragically rare that she gets as strong a role as she does in Requiem.
Everything about Requiem builds steadily toward the climax. All the indications of what will happen to the four lead characters are there, but those signs are ignored and brushed aside, only to be recalled during the final reel.
What happens to these characters as a result of their drug use is never presented
in a preachy manner, but is still far more effective than any anti-drug campaign
shown to date. These were likable characters, and none of them was destined
to sink to the depths they did, but circumstance and addiction let them there.
The haunting finale is all the more tragic because of the relationship Aronofsky
creates between the audience and the victims. The actual climax, after which
there is very little dénouement, stays with audiences long after they
leave the theater.
"The major difference between this and other movies about junkies hitting
rock-bottom is that Aronofsky actually makes his audience care."
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Politicking threatens film
Chris Ward
With the elections drawing near, both Republicans and Democrats have taken the
opportunity in recent months to attack movies and their impact on the nation’s
youth. While some of their complains are well grounded and have been addressed
by Motion Picture Association of America president Jack Valenti, several people
in both Washington and Hollywood are sill at ends with he current MPAA rating
system.
Sen. John McCain, R Ariz., has been a leader in Washington’s attack on he film industry, followed closely by vice presidential candidate Joseph Lieberman and Lynne Cheney, wife of vice presidential candidate Dick Cheney and former chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities. All three have accused inadequate enforcement of he MPAA’s voluntary rating system for he corruption of today’s children,
Cheney has also attacked the content of films, regardless of rating. During the Congressional talks on Hollywood, she singled out Miramax president Harvey Weinstein, accusing him of funding "work that debases our culture and corrodes our children’s souls."
At the recent Denver International Film Festival, several filmmakers and film historians took the chance to defend their craft and express concern about the possible implications of politicians’ recent interest in childproofing it.
"These discussions are going to impact movies. Good movies, movies that deal with violence in a positive way," said actor, wrier, and director Sean Penn. "The MPAA is a dead protector and it’s alive and well to burn books."
Actor and director Jason Alexander had similar views of the system, suggesting that the MPAA ratings be eliminated.
"Washington would be happier, Hollywood would be happier, if we got rid of the ratings altogether," Alexander said. He went on to suggest a system that simply warned parents of what was actually in he movie that they might find objectionable.
Although many are worried about he implications of the recent talks in Washington, film critic and historian Leonard Maltin seems to be correct in his assessment of he situation.
"Politicians are always trying to take he easy way out," Maltin said. "Every four years we have these campaigns for more family movies."
Maltin also expressed his doubts that anything drastic would come of it, probably an accurate assumption considering how little the rating system has changed since its creation in 1968.
Some have suggested that there is nothing wrong with the current rating system except that it is enforced, for the most part, by high school students earning minimum wage. While it has been recommended by some, legal enforcement of the rating system would go against the very purpose Valenti created it for, to keep the government from controlling the content of movies.
After all the shouting and accusations have cleared, the solution is simple. A system that follows Alexander’s solution (though he is not he first to suggest it) and informs moviegoers about the content of a film, rather than lumping films with a few curse words into he same category as those with gratuitous sex and violence.
Until such a system is devised, the only refuges from the ratings battle will
be independent studios that are willing to distribute unrated films and he independent
theaters that are willing to show them.
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‘Metro Max’ prepares for graduation
Trey Lambert & Chris Stutters
The Metropolitan
Hello everybody. My name is Metro Max, and I am counting the days to graduation.
The only hitch is I woke up the other day and realized the only preparation
I had done for graduation was to order the keg. While this takes care of the
festivities, it does not do much for my future career. I decided that my best
option was to see what resources were available here on campus to help me prepare
for my post-graduation experience.
I decided my best starting place was Metro’s Office of Career Services, located in Central Classroom, Room 203. Once I explained my lack of preparation, they agreed that I needed to get started right away in order to increase my chances of being employed after I graduate. They suggested I attend a series of workshops designed to familiarize students with the job finding process. These workshops help students develop the skills that they need to impress potential employers. The series includes resume development, job search strategies, interviewing skills, and videotaped mock interviews. All of these sounded very helpful, and they are free to students.
In addition to these workshops, they also recommended I participate in their Career Connections program. This is an active on-line resume service that links students to employers. For a cost of five dollars, my resume was posted on the web. The program has area employers who search the site when looking for potential job applicants. Employers can view your resume and contact you if they are interested in setting up an interview. Career Connections allows students to reach a wide variety of potential employers and is very easy to participate in.
Another strategy they suggested was to start building a career network. This is a network of contacts who help you better understand the realities of different careers. One way to start developing this network is to attend an employer forum. Career Services is sponsoring one of these forums on November 15, 2000. The forum will present information about various local companies. Representatives from local businesses will discuss job market trends in their industries. They will also discuss the various career opportunities that are available for graduating students. There will be a question and answer session at the end of the forum so you can ask questions of potential employers. You can sign up to attend in Metro’s Career Services office.
Another great way to start developing a career network is to speak with Metro alumni. By finding alumni who have graduated with your major, you can see what steps they took to find their career. This is excellent first-hand knowledge because these alumni have been through the post-graduation process that many of us will be going through.
After talking with the staff of Metro’s Office of Career Services, I went to the Tivoli on my lunch break. I happened to see the University of Colorado at Denver Career Center. I figured with graduation coming up in May, I should stop in and see what they offered.
A counselor came out and we went back to her office. She asked some good questions like what my major was, and what I wanted to do for a job. I knew my major, but as far as my career was concerned, I was not really sure. She suggested that I take one of the self-assessment tests they have to figure out what I like to do. From that we would be able to determine an effective course of action.
After we had the results of the test, she said I should start researching companies in the field I liked. From there I could start to find specific companies that I might be able to work for. The next step would be to tailor a resume and a cover letter that would grab the attention of that company. I got so excited I could hardly take the test, but finding a career is not an overnight process. It takes time to properly prepare yourself to undergo a successful career search.
The counselor then handed me a sheet showing the up-coming events for the month of November. As it turns out, November is National Career Development Month. The CU-Denver Career Center is going to host a number of events including workshops on how to prepare a resume, doing job research, and a really interesting presentation on "The Fine Art of Small Talk." This presentation will take place on Nov. 8, 2000 and will highlight skills needed to converse in professional settings. Tickets are five dollars for students and are available in the CU-Denver Career Center in the Tivoli. There is an event or workshop planned for almost every day in November, and a listing of these will be available in the CU-Denver Career Center. I will be going to as many of these as possible because I need some serious help.
By taking the initiative and actively participating in the resources offered
on campus, I will be ordering that keg not only to celebrate graduation, but
also to celebrate my new career.
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horoscope by miss anna
ARIES: It's time to pull out the stops and go ahead with plans... everything
you need is now in place. Your partner is annoyed at your independent nature,
so resolve this conflict as soon as possible. The idea of how things are supposed
to be, and reality, are different.
TAURUS: Don't jump to conclusions, if it looks great, it probably is. Look beyond appearances and check all facts. Your intuition is right on target, so play your hunches. You have alot going for you, and your energy level is high, be careful of your own strength.
GEMINI: Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Crying over spilled milk will get you nowhere. Look around you and realize how full your life truly is. Take a lesson from a friend and let their enthusiasm and upbeat nature rub off on you. Don't bite off more than you can chew.
CANCER: Check your financial dealings - you may have overlooked something that will only cause problems later. Since you are not fond of change, don't alarm when a timeless tradition unravels, do your best to roll with the punches. Don't let someone get away with what is yours.
LEO: With your cool approach you have managed to accomplish a task of quite the magnitude. Congratulations. Plan time to unwind, with your significant other. Your week will fly by because your hard work will give you quite a bit of satisfaction.
VIRGO: It's time to examine your dependence on those who are normally undependable. Financial matters need juggling this week. Look at cutting your losses and moving on. Don't save your love for the perfect person, there are those around you now who would be a great partner.
LIBRA: There is good cause to keep from letting your feelings get the best of you. A cool and reasonable appearance will get you farther than roller coaster emotions. Your primary love relationship is heading in a new direction. This will be beneficial to the both of you.
SCORPIO: The weight of the world seems to be on your shoulders this week. Continue doing a good job, but try not to take such a serious attitude. There may be an unexpected gift of money, use it wisely. The one who loves you best will make things easier for you.
SAGITTARIUS: There is a business opportunity which may present itself and needs to be snatched up before someone else takes advantage of the situation. Things are a little slow at home - humor will remedy any ruts. Focus your attentions on working hard, there will be a reward.
CAPRICORN: Your energy is excellent, and this vim and vigor may be related to a new exercise program. A relationship or person in your life, which you have always considered a fortress, may be crumbling - it's a perfect opportunity to rebuild according to your own design.
AQUARIUS: All matters pertaining to legal procedures must be dealt with efficiently. Prompt action can save you from paying fines or overdue fees. Good communications cannot be stressed enough during the week. Making your home a more comfortable place may require a small investment.
PISCES: The choices you make will rest on your ability to tell the difference between what looks good and what really is in your best interest. If looking for a diplomatic solution concerning co-workers, it's best to take everyone involved into consideration. Do something nice for someone.
IF THIS WEEK IS YOUR BIRTHDAY: Extravagant spending may result from
any volatile emotions and unfinished business. Resolving past problems will
do absolute wonders for you, and the freer you feel emotionally, the more you
will be ready to experience everything around you. Time spent with your significant
other will be memorable.
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Metrosports
Metro finds winning way with Mesa
Adam Dunivan
The Metropolitan
The curse was broken, and it could not have come at a more opportune time.
On Oct. 27, the Metro women’s soccer team, knowing it needed a win in order to stay alive in the race for post season play, defeated a Mesa State team which has been a thorn in the team’s side for the last three years.
The 3-1 victory is only the second in the last eight meetings against the Mavericks. The Roadrunners avenged an earlier loss to them this season, a 3-1 game on Sept. 29 in Pueblo.
"When we played before, we knew that we were the better team, and they got some lucky breaks," said senior Janice Armstrong. "They had more heart in the last game, and we just needed to pick it up this game.
"We definitely knew that we could play against them and beat them."
The victory also put the Roadrunners closer to gaining the third and final spot in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament. They needed the victory in the biggest way, and Armstrong said that determination was the key factor in the game.
"We knew what we had to do," Armstrong said after the game. "We had that thought, that we were going to go anyway, that’s why we lost (the last two games). Now that we know we have to work hard in order to get in, it is definitely determination."
The factor was just one reason why Metro was able to dominate on both sides of the ball.
Coach Ed Montojo developed a strategize for the game based on what Mesa showed him the last time the two teams met.
Montojo said he tried to overload one side of the field, and then bring the ball in from the opposite side.
He also tried to bring the forwards outside, drawing the defense with them. That allowed Armstrong to be free in the middle, forcing more one-on-one situations.
Montojo said the strategy allowed for Metro to control Mesa’s game, which the Mavericks were not used to.
"They were occupied with dealing with us, rather than us dealing with them," Montojo said. "We were able to shut off everything they had."
Metro put together a strategy that saw it control the game’s tempo from the outset, and also had it on offense for a majority of the first half. Although they held the offensive advantage in the first half, scoring chances were few and far between.
Metro managed four legitimate scoring opportunities in the first half, compared to Mesa’s one.
Mesa had the first scoring chance of the game, a scramble in front of the Metro net that had sophomore keeper Bridget Gallagher on the ground. Mesa managed to get a shot off, but a Metro defender was able to block the shot, and Metro cleared the ball.
Metro finally capitalized on its fourth scoring chance, just before the half ended.
With 35 seconds left on the clock, junior Sara Norkoli headed in a goal off a corner kick from junior Monica Carbone’s foot. Carbone’s left-footed kick curved in toward the players in front of the net, and Norkoli out jumped her opponent and put the ball past Maverick keeper Lindsay Blose.
The 1-0 lead at halftime was a boost for the Roadrunners, and the momentum would carry over into the second half.
When the offense was in need of a goal during the season, they would turn to Armstrong. And in the second half, she would supply all the offense the Roadrunners would need.
Taking matters into her own hands, Armstrong scored an unassisted goal twelve minutes into the half, after a breakdown of the defense led to a one-on-one situation with Blose.
Armstrong added another goal off a perfect pass from freshman Adrianne Wright, just nine minutes later. She shot the ball just below the crossbar, just out of reach of the outstretched Blose.
Mesa still had some fight left in them, and began to put a little more pressure on Gallagher and the rest of the defense.
A bad play off a Metro corner kick allowed Mesa’s Raina Fine to get open on the other side of the field. She was able to break away from the Metro defense, leaving a one-on-one situation for Gallagher.
Fine won that battle, but Gallagher responded just minutes afterwards with a save that defined the game, and gave the Roadrunners the confidence they needed to hold off the Mavericks.
The last scoring chance for Mesa came when Maverick Tiffany Opp drove in on the Metro defense after receiving a pass on the top left side of the field, 18 yards away from the goal.
Opp managed to drive by the Metro defense rather easily, leaving her alone with Gallagher at the top of the penalty box. Gallagher met her at the top of the box, and when Opp shot the ball, Gallagher made a dive to her right to make the save.
"Bridget played well in goal, and that save was on the money," Montojo
said. "She is starting to come out a little bit more, and not relying on
our defenders to win those loose balls."
"They were occupied with dealing with us rather then us dealing with
them... We were able to shut off everything they had"
— Metro Coach Ed Montojo
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Weekly Wrap-Up
Volleyball (20-6, 15-2 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference): With the two wins from this past weekend against Colorado Christian and Chardon State, the Roadrunners have doubled the amount of wins from a year ago (10-21).
Freshman Jessy Roy led the attack against Colorado Christian, recording 14 kills in the 15-9, 15-8, 15-9 win. Junior Mei-Rong Lu and freshman Michelle McBurney both recorded double-digits in kills with 12 and 10 respectively.
Against Chadron State, junior Marina Bazana had 20 kills in No. 22 Metro’s 15-4, 15-9, 16-14 victory. Freshman Devon Herron led both teams with 32 assists.
Herron, who recorded 65 assists in the two wins, was named the RMAC East Division Player-of-the-Week.
Men’s Soccer (14-3-1, 9-3): No. 20 Metro won all three games it had this past week, defeating CU-Colorado Springs 4-0, Fort Lewis 3-1 and Colorado Christian 3-1.
Four different players scored goals in the win against CU-Colorado Springs. Senior Brett Manning scored in the first half, then junior Juan Jiminez and sophomores Danny Gallardo and Michael Ramirez scored in the second.
Metro came home to host Fort Lewis and won 3-1, taking the season series from the Skyhawks. Gallardo scored three times.
The Roadrunners finished the regular season with a 3-1 win at Colorado Christian. Junior Tony Thomas scored first, then Gallardo added his 17th goal of the season, just one shy of tying the school mark for goals in one season, and sophomore Domonic Duran scored his first goal of the season.
Women’s Soccer (11-7-1, 8-4): At the start of the week, the chances of getting into the conference tournament was not good for Metro. But after impressive wins against conference leader Mesa State (3-1) and an overtime win against Fort Lewis (2-1), Metro got in the tournament as the third seed.
Metro scored early against Mesa State, jumping out to an 3-0 lead and held off a late charge by the Mavericks to preserve the win. Senior Janice Armstrong was named RMAC Player-of-the-Week after becoming the first player to score two goals in a game against Mesa.
The Roadrunners ended the regular season in need of a win to get in, and they
got it against Fort Lewis. In the extra period, junior Megan Schmactenberger
scored the game winner eight minutes in.
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Metro sweeps series from Fort Lewis
Nick Garner
The Metropolitan
Going into the second period of Metro’s men’s soccer game with Fort Lewis on Oct. 29, it looked as if the Skyhawks and its zone defense were going to walk away from the Auraria Fields with a 1-0 win and the right to host the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference soccer tournament Nov. 4-5.
Fort Lewis forgot one thing: Metro has one of the best offense’s in the conference and they also have the conference’s leading goal scorer in sophomore Danny Gallardo.
Gallardo scored three goals in the second period, with junior Tony Thomas getting credited for all three assists, as the Roadrunners defeated Fort Lewis 3-1.
Despite scoring all three goals for the Roadrunners, Gallardo felt that his game was a bit off.
"I didn’t do too much different (from the first half to the second) I knew that my touch was off, it was really off in the first half.
"I thought maybe I would switch sides, I played on the left side in the second half, and I just made space for myself, to allow Tony (Thomas) to play me balls, which the majority of them were sitting in front of the goal."
For Gallardo, he has 16 goals on the season and with one game remaining, he has a chance to break the school record for most goals in one season (18) set back in 1990 by Tim Yunger.
"I know that I’m getting close," Gallardo said. "But I’m not worried about that, trying to put away goals. If I break it, it will be awesome, that is one of my goals since the start of the season.
After Gallardo gets his personal goal, he wants to turn his focus to his team.
"After I get my goal, the goal will be to get my team as far as they can go in NCAA tournament see if we can do it all."
Gallardo isn’t the only one trying to break a record. The team is trying to break a ten year old record.
The 13 wins by the Roadrunners (13-3-1, 7-3 RMAC) on the season, it ties the school mark set back in 1990 when Metro went 13-5-1 and they were the Colorado Athletic Conference champions.
The 13 victories is also is the most won by coach Brian Crookham during his tenure at Metro.
"We played well today," Crookham said. "We showed a bit of character going down a goal against a very good team, who got a good win this weekend (1-0 against Colorado School of Mines).
"This is not the end of our season, we will see them again on Friday, we play Fort Lewis again at Mines."
To Crookham, the team goal at the beginning of the season was not to be done with the regular season was over with.
"We can’t celebrate too much yet," Crookham said. "Our goal wasn’t to end with a win against Fort Lewis at the end of the regular season, it was in the conference championship."
The celebration looked grim early on for the Roadrunners.
Eight minutes into the contest, Fort Lewis forward Chris Greer took the rebound off a shot by teammate Anthony Bonannon and put it past Roadrunners sophomore Eric Butler to give the Skyhawks the first half lead.
Then Gallardo would get the Metro offense going.
Thomas came from the left side of the field, threaded a pass through the Skyhawks defense to Gallardo whom out guessed Fort Lewis keeper Steve Berglund and went over the top to tie the game.
Eight minutes later, the two found another gap in the Skyhawk’s defense. Thomas came from the right side of the keeper, gave the dish to Gallardo who then squeaked it past Berglund to give the Roadrunners its first lead.
Then Gallardo added the nail in the coffin for Fort Lewis when he scored with
17 minutes left in the game. Thomas went to the Berglund’s right, dished
it off to Gallardo, who was setting up right in front of net, and put it past
Berglund of the last goal of the contest.
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Tickets still on sale for men’s basketball game with
the Harlem Globetrotters
Metro men’s basketball, who are the defending NCAA Division II national
champions, will host the world famous Harlem Globetrotters on Nov. 10 at 7 p.m.
at the Auraria Events Center.
After playing the Roadrunners, the Globeltrotters will travel to East Lansing, Mich. to take on the Division I national champions Michigan State Spartans.
General admission tickets are available to the public for $15, reserved seating tickets are $20. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Metro Athletic Ticket Office at (303) 556-8300.
The men’s basketball team will hold it’s annual Media Day/Luncheon at 1 p.m. on Nov. 9 in the Conference Room of the Auraria Events Center.
Before Media Day, there will be a prep rally with Globetrotters starting at
12:15 p.m.
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on deck
Men’s Soccer:
Semi-Finals, Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament:
Saturday, Nov. 4 at 11:30 a.m.
No. 20 Metro vs. Fort Lewis — This series has become a rivalry in the past few years, with Fort Lewis sweeping the season series last year and Metro claiming it this season.
All-time series: 11-7-2
Championship, Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament:
Sunday, Nov. 5 at 2 p.m.
Fort Lewis/No. 22 Metro vs. Colorado School of Mines/CU-Colorado Springs— This game will have serious baring on who goes on to the NCAA Regional, with the winner moving on while the loser stays home and plans for next season.
All-time series:
Mines: 18-18-1
CU-Colorado Springs: 21-7-1
Women’s Soccer:
Semi-Finals, Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament:
Friday, Oct. 3 at 1 p.m.
Regis University vs. Metro— The two teams split the season series, with each getting a win at their home fields. Things will be different, with the game being at Mesa State.
All-time series: 14-6-4
Championship, Rocky Mountain Athletic
Conference Tournament:
Saturday, Nov. 4 at 1 p.m.
Regis/Metro vs. Mesa State— The Roadrunners finally were able to get a win against Mesa last weekend, but history has not been nice to Metro when they have traveled to Pueblo.
All-time series: 4-7-0
Women’s Volleyball:
Friday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m.
No. 22 Metro @ Colorado School of Mines —Metro defeated Mines in three games 15-10, 15-1 and 15-8 back in September at the Auraria Events Center.
All-time series: 16-3
Saturday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m.
No. 22 Metro @ Regis University — This will be the final game of the regular season for the Roadrunners. The next time Metro will be on the court will be in Kearney, Neb. in the first round of the RMAC tournament.
All-time series: 14-24
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Metro men face tough task in Fort Lewis
Nick Garner
The Metropolitan
If The Metro and Fort Lewis men’s soccer teams aren’t considered rivals now, wait till after the first round of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament.
"The last couple of years, these games have meant a lot," said Metro coach Brian Crookham. "But this is a big step to making this a very serious rivalry, with both a conference title and a berth in the NCAA tournament on the line."
Even though Fort Lewis coach Jeremy Gunn has only been at the school for two seasons, he feels that there is a rivalry there between the two teams.
"There have been some good competitive games between us," Gunn said. "Last year, we were ahead of them and this year they got some of the edge back. The players are looking forward to playing them again."
The Roadrunners and Skyhawks will meet for the third time this season in Golden on Nov. 4 with tensions still arise after the last meeting of the season, a 3-1 win for Metro. The Roadrunners won in a double overtime thriller 3-2 on Sept. 29 in Durango.
With the Roadrunner win, Fort Lewis was denied hosting the tournament for the third time in four seasons, which is nice for Crookham and the rest of the Roadrunners, since not many Skyhawks fans will make the long drive from Durango to Golden.
"We get to sleep I our own beds, there is a little change in the environment," Crookham said. "We can take some of our fans down to (Colorado School of) Mines, which will be an advantage for us and we can take some of their (Fort Lewis) advantages away."
But Crookham knows that beating Fort Lewis for a third straight time will not be an easy task.
"It’s hard to beat a team on three times in the same year," Crookham said. "If we do the same things that we have dine to win all this season, we will be just fine."
Waiting for the winner of the Metro/Fort Lewis game will be the winner of the Colorado School of Mines/CU-Colorado Springs.
If Metro gets past Fort Lewis, they would like to rather see CU-Colorado Springs then Mines.
Metro swept the season series with CU-Colorado Springs, defeating them by a count of 6-0 in two games. Sophomore Danny Gallardo has enjoyed success against the Mountain Lions, scoring two goals and junior Tony Thomas has recorded three assists in the two contests. Sophomore Eric Bulter has nine saves and has seen 13 shots on goal.
Metro has not faired well against Mines this season, though, being swept in two meetings with the Orediggers, losing 6-2 in Golden and 1-0 at the Auraria Fields.
The Roadrunners were able to get the lead early in the first contest, but Mines stormed backed with five goals, including three from JamesTrask. The Roadrunners scored late in the game to make the score more respectable.
The second meeting in the regular season was the biggest game of the season
for both teams, with the winner getting the upper hand in both the conference
and in the NCAA region. The game was even throughout, but a late goal by Mines
propelled them into the top spot in the conference and No. 1 in the region.
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Metro women will renew a long time rivalry
Eric McConnell
The Metropolitan
The opponent is familiar, but the stakes are much higher.
For the third straight year, the Metro women’s soccer team is back in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament. They finished the regular season with an 11-7-1, 8-4 RMAC record. To the Roadrunners, the tournament berth is nothing new and neither is the adversary.
Waiting at Mesa State, the site of Metro’s first round game that will take place Nov. 3 at 1:00 p.m., is the Regis. Having split the season series with the Rangers 1-1, the Roadrunners are confident there will be no surprises.
"We know how they play," said coach Ed Montojo. "We’re real familiar with Regis and they’re real familiar with us. They’re pretty predictable."
Not so predictable, however, were the night-and-day outcomes of the two games these teams played earlier this season.
In the first meeting , Metro put on an offensive clinic, scoring seven goals en route to the easy 7-3 win at home.
In the second match up , Regis countered with a blowout of their own, holding that once-potent Roadrunner offense to no goals in a 4-0 victory at Regis.
"We were at an emotional peak in that first game," said Montojo. "Regis came in highly ranked nationally and we felt we could beat them. That was the spark we were missing in the second game."
That spark has recently been re-lit. Knowing they had to win out in order to have a chance at the RMAC tournament, the Metro women stepped up last weekend with huge wins over Mesa and Ft. Lewis, 3-1 and 2-1 respectively. The winner of Friday’s game will go on to face Mesa in the championship match Nov. 4 at 1:00 p.m.
"We’re real excited," said sophomore forward Sara Norkoli. "I think we pulled it together and made a statement with that win over Mesa last weekend . . . and we match up real well with Regis. I think we can take them. Everybody’s positive right now. We just have to finish when we have the opportunity."
Finishing may be the key since Regis outscored its opponents 26-16 in the second half this season. If they’re down in the second half, they’re most certainly not out.
"They won’t lie down for us," said Montojo. "We have to get our rhythm going and just take control."
One person Metro will definitely want to take control of is senior Danielle Thorn, who boasts 12 goals on the season and is the all-time leading goal scorer for the women’s soccer program at Regis.
"Dani and Diana (DiMatteo) are their key players," said Montojo. "We know how they play . . . they can cause some problems."
Assuming there are no problems, Metro will be one step closer to the ultimate goal.
"We want to win the tournament," said Norkoli. "We need to focus, one game at a time."
For Janice Armstrong, though, there’s some added incentive to the upcoming battle.
"It’s my senior year," said Armstrong. "Regis is always a big game for me since I used to play there."
Whether a friendship is renewed or a rivalry rekindled, this game promises
to be as good as they come.
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