Volume 23, issue 20, February 16, 2001
Metronews
Teacher training reform slated for summer
Edward B. Winslow
The Metropolitan
Implementation of a teacher training legislation mandating more field-based training and a more focused major field of study for aspiring Colorado teachers is expected to be complete this summer.
The new teacher education program requires a minimum of 800 hours of field-based training that would require Colorado’s graduating primary and secondary school teachers have sufficient professional knowledge to apply their skills in pre-school to 12th grade classroom settings, according to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education’s teacher education policy.
In addition, the new teacher education program forces aspiring teachers to have majors that directly apply to curricula in the public schools, the commission teacher education policy says.
The purpose of the law is to ensure that Colorado’s colleges and universities produce qualified schoolteachers.
"We don’t want teachers who can’t teach to the standards students are being tested on," said Jeanne Adkins, director of policy and planning for CCHE.
This week Metro’s education department was in the midst of a three-day CCHE review to determine if it is in conformance with the new requirements, said Associate Dean of Education, Barbara Baker.
Baker said she is confident Metro State’s teacher education program complies with new education requirements that the state’s colleges and universities must meet by July.
"We’ve met the challenge," she said.
Baker also said Colorado has a critical teacher shortage, but the new education requirements will not affect this shortage in any way.
"All of the colleges (in Colorado) have risen to the occasion" to meet the new requirements, Baker said, thereby averting an additional shortfall of teachers.
The compliance by the education departments around the state ensures that none of the state’s teacher education programs will be closed. Last year, Colorado’s colleges produced about 2,200 graduates with teaching endorsements.
CCHE is charged with making certain that the new teacher education requirements are properly implemented and maintained. If colleges in Colorado do not meet the new standards by July 1, their education programs will be terminated, according to the CCHE education policy.
The teacher education policy is based, in part, on the following principals:
• Teacher education programs are student-centered and performance-based. This is measured by the students’ performance.
•Teacher education programs are designed to give teachers the ability to effectively communicate with students and parents, assess student learning and, if necessary, modify the curriculum.
‘We don’t want teachers who can’t teach to the standards students
are being tested on.’
Jeanne Adkins
Director of Policy and Planning for CCHE
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State colleges board support Metro major
Jaime Jarrett
The Metropolitan
The Board of Trustees for the State Colleges in Colorado unanimously voted to
support Metro’s African American Studies department in its fight to continue
an African American Studies major at Metro.
Dale Mingilton, chair of the board, invited members of the African- American community to meet with the board on campus Feb. 9 to discuss the Colorado Commission of Higher Education’s cutting of the major.
The board is going to recommend to the commission that Metro be granted four exemptions for low-demand programs as opposed to the present three, with African American Studies being the fourth program and the African American Studies major will be extended for the next three years. During this period of time it would be expected that the department would increase the number of major retention and graduation rates.
"This is a very community-oriented major," Mingilton said. "The board heard that this was an important major for the city of Denver and that the community was wiling to help and nurture the program."
Four speakers from the African American community spoke: Edna Mosly from the Aurora City Council and a member of the first graduating class of Metro; Rachel Noel, professor and one of founders of African American Studies at Metro; Rev. Langston Boyd, pastor of Shorter Community AME Church; and John Mosly, former Tuskegee Airman, and community activist.
C.J. White, chair of the African American Studies department, said he is pleased the board had the opportunity to meet and hear statements from the community.
"Our decision was based on the fact that we heard four very compelling speakers who are willing to work with the college community to make it a part of the greater Denver community," said Lee Halgren, acting president and vice president for academic and student affairs for the board.
Mingilton said this is something he and the rest of the board believe in and are willing to go to bat for.
"The ball is in CCHE’s court now,"
Halgren said. "We will work in any way to help them understand the importance
of it."
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Transportation bill on the road despite Governor’s
objections
Steven Paulson
Associated Press
DENVER (AP) — The House and Senate approved a revised plan for transportation
funding Feb. 12 over the objections of Gov. Bill Owens, who said last-minute
changes made it vulnerable to revenue shortfalls.
Under House Bill 1267, the state would use a cash reserve fund to avoid a one-year delay in some highway construction projects approved two years ago by voters.
The bill passed the Senate unanimously Feb. 12. Later in the day, the House adopted the Senate's changes and voted 49-15 on final approval.
The measure was designed to restore to the Colorado Department of Transportation $212 million that was shifted to public schools as a result of voters' approval of Amendment 23.
With the loss of that funding, Transportation Department Director Tom Norton has said a dozen major highway projects, including widening Interstate 25 in southeastern Denver, would have to wait a year.
Under the bill, the money would be transferred from a trust fund that generates interest used to pay for maintenance on state-owned buildings. The fund would be repaid with an unexpected $300 million windfall the state will receive in 2002-03 as a result of population underestimates.
Senate Democrats said the revenue projections were over-optimistic, and recommended that the amount "float" with sales tax projections. The latest figures show only $168 million could be available. The rest of the money from the trust fund would remain in the General Fund to ensure the state's budget could grow at the minimum 6 percent over last year's spending.
Owens sent senators a letter Friday threatening to cut funding for new state facilities if the shortfalls occur.
"The voters clearly told the government in the last two elections that their priorities are to fund transportation and K-12 education," Owens told legislators.
Senate Minority Leader John Andrews, R-Englewood, said Monday the amendment made sense in light of revenue projections, but said the changes should have been made sooner.
"I don't think we were working at our best," Andrews said.
In the House, opponents argued against stripping money from state building-maintenance projects. They also criticized a move that made it appear as if the Legislature was doing everything it could to ensure at least 6 percent budget growth.
Maintaining that minimum figure is necessary, however, because if the growth rate was allowed to dip slightly one year, lawmakers could not move back up to the 6 percent allowed in the Constitution without a popular vote, said House Speaker Doug Dean, R-Colorado Springs.
Rep. Brad Young, R-Lamar, co-chairman of the Joint Budget Committee, said lawmakers were left with little choice with the passage of Amendment 23.
"Is it the best of all possible worlds? Not by a long shot," he said. "But given the situation we're in right now, I think it's the best use of this money.''
Dean suggested the possibility of asking voters
to change the Constitution to allow growth above 6 percent if necessary to make
up for a slower rate of growth in a previous year.
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Committee rejects state
employees gay partners benefit ban
DENVER (AP) — The Senate Judiciary Committee rejected legislation that
would have barred the state from using public funds to provide benefits to partners
of state employees in same-sex relationships.
Critics of Senate Bill 139 said Feb. 12 it was "mean-spirited" and aimed at harming homosexuals.
The bill was defeated on a party-line 4-3 vote, with Democrats opposing the bill by Sen. Marilyn Musgrave, R-Fort Morgan.
Sen. Mark Hillman, R-Burlington, said the bill was not aimed at harming gays.
Musgrave said her bill affirmed the fact that domestic relationships are not recognized under Colorado law.
The bill would have barred the use of state funds
to any domestic relationship partner of a state or university employee. Colorado
currently does not offer benefits in those relationships, although some cities
have similar programs.
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UNC laboratory school moving off campus
GREELEY (AP) — The University of Northern Colorado Laboratory School
will be moving off campus into a new home in the western part of the city.
The lab school’s Board of Governors will make the announcement at a meeting Feb. 12, said co-chairwoman Rebecca Koppes Conway.
In June, UNC President Hank Brown and school provost Marlene Strathe announced plans to end the university's relationship with the Lab School, which had been on campus for 108 years.
The school trains eight teachers a year and costs the university about $1 million to operate. Brown said teachers can receive better training in public schools for less money.
With the announcement, the university ended its
five-year contract created when the 600-student elementary and secondary school
went to charter school status.
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Democrats, Republicans fight over office equality
DENVER (AP) — Members of Colorado’s House of Representatives are
fighting over some big issues this session — and some smaller points too.
The Democratic minority's 27 members are struggling against some of the problems of partisanship such as not getting the office supplies they need and having to jump through hoops to use the copy machine.
Democrats allege that the Republicans are taking all the good office space and the better office equipment. They even say that Republicans took office machines from the House minority office.
"It sort of grates," said Bob Bacon, D-Fort Collins, who is serving his third term in the minority. "At times I resent we don’t have the equipment they do."
But some lawmakers say those sort of antics should be taken in stride. They call it American political tradition.
Even some Democrats who say they’ve been on the receiving end of petty Republican snubs also say that’s to be expected, throughout every state capitol and in Washington, D.C.
"My advice? Spend $25 at Office Depot and stop whining," said Sen. Bob Hagedorn, D-Aurora, who spent the past eight years serving as a House Democrat.
Republican lawmakers argue it’s not just the Democrats, and that their staffs are also scrambling for equipment.
There is no fax machine in the Republican House press office, and workers there have to sweet-talk others for use of the copy machines.
"I bought my own printer, and I buy my own reams of paper," said majority caucus chairman Rep. Rob Fairbank, R-Littleton. "It’s not like a private business where you have a supply closet and can raid it every two days."
There are also allegations of high school-style high jinks in the Senate. Freshmen Sens. Deanna Hanna, D-Lakewood, and Andy McElhany, R-Colorado Springs, were hazed when they introduced bills.
Both were shocked when the bills failed on the Senate floor.
It turned out the ‘no’ votes from their
fellow senators was a prank. Both bills were later reintroduced and passed.
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police briefs
A University of Colorado at Denver student was arrested during a car accident Feb. 3.
Dena Suzanne Piscotte, the editor in chief of the CU-Denver newspaper, The Denver Free Press, was arrested on charges of giving false information and interference. The police reports states that alcohol was involved. The driver of Piscotte’s vehicle was Jonathan Cypher. As Cypher left the Tivoli parking lot, he lost control of the car, jumped the curb and struck a steel pole, the report said. Cypher was issued a ticket for careless driving. There was moderate damage to Piscotte’s vehicle and slight damage to the steel post.
A Community College of Denver student reported threats had been made to her at the South Classroom Building Feb. 5.
The student employee reported that she went outside for a smoke break, and a black man with a thin build, about 5 feet, 8 inches, and 160 pounds, with brown eyes, and silver framed prescription glasses, had exited the South Classroom Building and stopped next to her. The man then began talking to her in a rude manner and foul language. Before the man left he gave her a flyer. Neither the victims name nor the current suspect’s name have been released.
A female Metro student reported an assault by her ex-boyfriend Jan. 30.
The female student said in the police report that her ex-boyfriend had shoved and pushed her in between the Karl King Center and the Plaza Center. He prevented her from calling 911 on her cell phone and then spit on her, the report said. The ex-boyfriend is described as a white male 5 feet, 6 inches, 155 pounds with short black hair and a moustache with a goatee. The ex-boyfriend then fled the area on foot going north. The victim then contacted an officer on Jan. 31 to file a report.
— Micaela Duarte
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School of Mines gets chance at becoming state’s
first charter
Steven Paulson
Associated Press Writer
DENVER (AP) — Colorado School of Mines got initial approval Feb. 13 from
a Senate committee to become the state's first charter university, but it still
has to convince the rest of the Legislature, the governor and students that
it will work.
The Senate Education Committee gave tentative approval to Senate Bill 176 by Sen. Norma Anderson, R-Lakewood, to set up a charter university system with Mines as the first school.
Charter universities would get more freedom to shape academic programs and set tuition rates without approval of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education. In return, they would have to prove they can retain students and meet other goals.
If the experiment is successful, the bill provides for it to be expanded to three state-funded universities within three years.
Committee members said they are concerned about the effects on the state's higher education system, especially community colleges and transfer credits.
"My constituents are somewhat concerned about cutting loose the institutions of higher education and privatizing,'' said Democratic Sen. Ron Tupa, who represents Boulder, home of the University of Colorado.
Tim Foster, director of the Commission on Higher Education, said Colorado already allows universities substantial freedom to set courses and requires accountability.
"I don't think it's that radical," Foster said.
Anderson said other universities, including the University of Northern Colorado, have indicated they would like to participate.
The bill establishes the charters as millennium institutions and allows them to create, modify, or eliminate academic programs without approval of the commission.
Those universities would have authority to establish resident and nonresident tuition rates for the institution, subject to a negotiated cap. They also would continue to receive state funds, as block grants.
Charter universities that fail to meet their goals would return to state control.
John Trefny, president of Mines, told legislators the bill gives him the flexibility he needs for academic programs.
Trefny said his institution recently got more than $1 million to endow a graduate program and had to warn the donor that the program might not be approved.
"We want to be entrepreneurial," Trefny told legislators.
He said the bill also would allow the school to set tuition to meet market demand.
Senate President Stan Matsunaka, D-Loveland, insisted on an amendment that would require institutions to come back to the Senate Education Committee, which he chairs, for approval of their programs and any changes.
"This is designed to say the Legislature is making policy. We want them to work out an agreement and bring it to us so we have an opportunity to make changes,'' Matsunaka said.
"I’m willing to take this first baby step
as long as we have control of the process,'' he said.
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Metrobriefs
UPCOMING EVENTS FOR FEBRUARY
Feb. 20, from noon to 2:00 in Tivoli 320 A,B,C, GLBT is sponsoring Free Lunch and Fabulous Flicks, "Tiny and Ruby: Hell Divin Women" and "Bill Turner’s Secret."
Feb. 22, Dr. Joycelyn Elders will speak at the Tivoli Turnhalle on "21st Century Healthcare: A Case for the Poor and Powerless Minority Community."
Feb. 23 at 2 p.m. in King Center 486, former U.S. Ambassador to Somalia, Peter Bridges, will hold a roundtable discussion on "Failed States and American Foreign Policy."
Feb. 26 at 11 a.m. in Tivoli 640, Israeli Druze leader, diplomat and former member of the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) Zeidan Atashi will speak on "Pursuit of Peace: Palestinians and Israelis."
Feb. 27 at 1 pm in the Golda Meir Center, author Mark Kurlansky will speak on "Basques and History."
Library Scholarship open for application
The Auraria Library and Media Center, in conjunction with the Auraria Book Center, are offering the second annual Read, Succeed at Auraria Library Scholarship.
The scholarship will be awarded to one student from each of the three Auraria academic institutions.
A complete application includes: A 300-500 word typed statement on how the applicant successfully used and benefited from the library resources and services, a faculty nomination letter, GPA 3.0 or higher, and an evidence of enrollment for the current semester.
The winner will receive a $350 certificate to purchase textbooks and supplies
at the Auraria Book Center. The deadline for application is 5 p.m. on March
20, and should be sent to Mary Dodge, Auraria Library, 1100 Lawrence St., Denver,
80204. Please direct questions to 303 556-3526, or mdodge@carbon.cudenver.edu
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Metroeditorial
Where is Denver’s affordable housing?
Walter Gant
The Metropolitan
There are many things that you hear about, but you never see. Talking dogs,
the new Method Man album and the new Quentin Tarintino movie. How about affordable
housing in Denver? Who do you know who’s not paying $550 to $600 for a
one-bedroom apartment? It’s an atrocity to every poor person, student and
single parent in the city.
The average rent for a moderate two-bedroom apartment in Denver is nearly $800 a month. Housing costs have increased nearly 100 percent in the last 10 years. The growth in employment has come from low-income jobs. A single parent would have to average between $13 to $15 an hour to afford decent housing. 44 percent of the renters in Denver can’t afford the median rent of $765 a month. That’s nearly half of Denver struggling every month for rent. Add the rising energy prices of gas/electric, phone and food, and it’s difficult for anyone to just get by. More than 60 percent of the renters in Colorado are paying more than the federally recommended 30 percent of their income on housing.
Gentrification is what city officials are trying not to call it. Sure, they are doing a good job "cleaning up" the city, but in the long run many will suffer. The people who make a city interesting will find themselves pushed away from their communities every time rents increase. I walk around my neighborhood and I see more pseudo rich kids ruining my neighborhood. They don’t even understand the history of the streets on which they live.
A perfect example of this is Mercy Hospital. I live across the street from Mercy. Soon it will be no more. Developers are planning to replace it with luxury condos, selling in the $80,000 range. Many of my friends’ parents and grandparents were born in that hospital. Some have even died there. I know that soon, when the condos are finished, my rent will shoot up and I’ll join the statistics that I’ve told you about. I walk through the Eastside and Capitol Hill neighborhoods and dread to think about what it will look like 20 years from now. Maybe, by then rent will be $7,000 for a one-bedroom apartment.
I’m a product of affordable housing. Until my family moved to Denver, we lived in Section 8 housing all through the South. Section 8 housing is one of the few programs helping people in America to find decent places to live. The government requires that the tenant pay roughly 30 percent of his monthly income on rent and utilities. Right now about 6,000 Section 8 homes are approaching extinction or are already extinct. The way Denver is behaving on this issue, the future is looking pretty bleak.
The only bright thing I’ve heard in this whole situation is the building
of affordable housing on the old Stapleton Airport. They plan to build approximately
1,600 units during the next 15 years. Unless they start tomorrow, it won’t
really matter to you or me. We are entering a very rough period. More people
will be laid off and most American families are in serious debt. Every day things
are just getting more expensive and the American dream for many people is dying.
The nightmares start in 2001. Affordable housing in Denver indicates that.
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Aging is a matter of attitude
Reema Al-Omari
The Metropolitan
I can’t wait to be a fossil. That’s right, I absolutely cannot wait
to tell my life story to every Tom, Dick and Harry who attempts to help me at
the grocery store. I guess I’ve just been blessed with parents who have
fun as they grow old, along with the rest of my family. I realize a lot of people
would wonder if I’m on something saying something like that. I mean, after
all, the fountain of youth is something that people, along with science, have
been looking for a long time.
I recently came across an advertisement in a local newspaper, which stated that with a spray taken orally, one could take 20 years off his or her age. Along with taking 20 years off, this spray can also help one lose weight, reduce wrinkles, improve memory and heck, even give you enthusiasm! All of this can happen in six months according to the advertisement. I’m not going to sit here and argue or talk about whether this spray really works. I’m not a scientist and don’t really have the desire to look in medical journals to check the validity of this scientific find. I will, however, sit here and talk about my beliefs concerning growing old and the true fountain of youth in my mind.
You see, I think it’s very important for everyone to go through the motions of getting old. Everyone should experience memory loss, gray hair, joint problems, bellies and even saggy body parts. The reason I say this is because there are many people who are experiencing these things but don’t think a minute about how old they are.
Take for instance, my father. He is the perfect example of someone who has found his fountain of youth past the age of 55. On top of having bad eyesight and graying hair, my father has high blood pressure which he must monitor on a regular basis. He also must take medication to keep it under control, and watch his diet. He has taken the extra step of purchasing a treadmill to keep that blood pressure at a healthy level, )and for his belly to shrink, of course.)
Even though my father has all of these "aging" nuisances to deal with, he is probably the most vibrant person I know. His days are filled with busy work, and his energy level shoots through the roof on some days, when all I wanna do is sleep in… ok, hibernate to be more exact. I sometimes wonder how someone almost three times my age can have so much energy and always want to be doing something. I’ve come to the realization that it has nothing to do with age, it’s the attitude… the true fountain of youth that each of us possess when we’ve reached a point of happiness in our lives.
I feel society is to blame for the phobia many people suffer from so-called aging. Look at television. Remember the mystery series, Murder, She Wrote? How about the sitcom The Golden Girls? Those were good shows, and had enough wit and wisdom to serve an entire generation. Both of those shows were cancelled and have been off the air for several years, along with other shows with "older" characters. A recent episode of the Ally McBeal show tackled the issue of a department store replacing its traditional Santa Claus who is old and chubby, with a young and thin Santa Claus to represent the image of the store for the changing times of the millennium. I think all of these happenings in Hollywood, television in particular, are enough to show the large number of people suffering from the phobia of getting old. I really hope that society wakes up soon and realizes that being old isn’t all that bad, and if anything, it’s a part of life that shouldn’t be missed. Like turning 21.
Knowing when to have fun and knowing when to loosen up is what the fountain
of youth is all about. Drugs might take 20 years off your body, but they won’t
change how old you truly feel inside.
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Public misinformed about NAS
Dear Editor,
The report on four Colorado teacher education programs prepared by my organization for the Colorado Commission on Higher Education has recently become the subject of public attention. I am writing to set the record straight with respect to a number of matters where public comment or news coverage has been misleading and ill-informed.
What is the NAS? The National Association of Scholars is not a politically conservative association. It is a scholarly association of university professors with thousands of members from across the political spectrum.
What unites us is not a political program, but our commitment to high academic standards and the unbiased pursuit of knowledge in higher education. We stand against ideological indoctrination in higher education, whether it hails from the left, right, or center.
Who is David Warren Saxe? The researcher and author for our report, David Warren Saxe is a scholar with a superb background and unimpeachable credentials for conducting a study of teacher education programs.
He is also an associate professor of curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education at Pennsylvania State University and is a member of the Pennsylvania State Board of Education; he is a well-known national authority on state standards for K-12 education; and he has extensive experience not only as a teacher educator but as an educator at the pre-collegiate level.
Was the report adequately researched? The dean of University of Colorado at Boulder’s School of Education has been reported as suggesting that professor Saxe’s report was based on nothing more that a brief and inadequate on-site visit. The truth, however, is that Saxe was in direct e-mail and phone contact with the deans of the four programs for more than three months.
Those deans sent Saxe boxes of data, stacks of course syllabi, NCATE records, faculty vitas, and other relevant materials, which added to the substantial amount of material on Colorado law, NCATE, and the four programs that Saxe was able to acquire without those deans’ assistance.
Saxe had been working through this mountain of data for nearly eight months before he stepped foot on the Colorado campuses. His site visits served the very limited purpose of confirming what the data told him and filling in any remaining gaps.
It is unfair and untrue for anyone to suggest either that Saxe was the wrong man for the job or that he did not base his evaluation on sufficient evidence.
Is the report "biased"? In our report, Saxe is very forthright about his perspective. His view, he informs the reader, "highlights objectivity, the search for truth, intellectual pluralism, and the importance of essential knowledge and skills." As this view applies to schools, it "centers on direct and proven instructional methods where teachers are fully knowledgeable and skillful in the teaching of particular subject matter." Finally, his view "places a premium on basic skills, discipline-based knowledge, and scholastic achievement."
Rather than being a political ideology, this is nothing but sound educational philosophy that most Americans embrace for their children.
Saxe devotes part of his report to contrasting the above educational philosophy with the politically and ideologically driven philosophy that dominates some of the teacher education programs he evaluated, and which he argues is a major hindrance to the kind of educational reforms required by Colorado law. Critics within those programs are now attempting to discredit Saxe’s (and the NAS’s) common-sense perspective and "what works" approach to education as "conservative" and therefore biased. This only provides further evidence of their intoxication with ideology.
We stand by the importance to the citizens of Colorado of the report we submitted to the CCHE. It finds much to commend, particularly in the teacher education programs of the University of Northern Colorado and Mesa College.
But it also documents the fact that at the CU-Boulder and Metro, the teacher education programs are in the grip of rigid and intolerant political ideologies and pedagogical theories that are stumbling blocks to the kind of education reform that is now mandated by Colorado law. To us, this is the real story, and the one that needs to be fully addressed.
Sincerely,
Bradford Wilson, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Editor, Academic Questions
National Association of Scholars
221 Witherspoon Street, 2nd floor
Princeton, NJ 08542
609/683-7878
609/683-0316 (fax)
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Politically correct correction insulting
Dear Editor,
I enjoy reading Elena Brown's articles. However, the article on the Tuskegee Airmen was edited to be "politically correct." I find that insulting.
She was writing about an era when the word "colored" was used. The Metropolitan changed the word to black....defusing the issue. The article should have said the colored man..., the Negro..., the Black man..... This shows a progression and power. You made it sound like a badly worded phrase!
I read the article about race and erotica and when you should have edited the four letter word -- it wasn’t. You could have put the standard s*** and the meaning of the sentence would not have changed.
I think the editiorial process is either faulty or lacks the backbone to print articles that acknowledge that the readers are intelligent.
Stop being scared "white" people.
Viola B. Nathan
Metro Student
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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
Professor learns much from sabbatical
Jennifer Grey
The Metropolitan
Whatever happened in Montgomery, Ala., after Rosa Parks refused to go to the
back of the bus in 1955? What happened in Birmingham, Ala., after the 16th Street
Baptist Church was bombed by members of the Ku Klux Klan in 1963, killing four
young women waiting to participate in a youth day program? What happened in
Selma, Ala., after police on the Edwin Pettus Bridge attacked activists as they
were marching to Birmingham as a way to demonstrate for their right to vote
in 1965?
Chair of the Metro African-American Studies department, C.J. White asked himself these questions and decided to take a year-long sabbatical last year to conduct research on the civil rights movement in the South, particularly Alabama. He focused on three cities; Montgomery, Birmingham and Selma, where a considerable amount of activism and resistance took place in the 1950s and ‘60s. He found a great deal of change and people committed to documenting what happened and commemorating those involved. White said he plans to use his research findings in his classes, especially "Social Movements and the Black Experience." He also plans to present his findings to community groups and public schools.
White visited the Rosa Parks Museum Library, which had recently opened in Montgomery, complete with a big bus inside as a reenactment of what happened when Parks refused to go to the back of the bus. He also found a memorial that was established by The Southern Poverty Law Center for 40 civil rights activists who were killed as a result of their involvement in the Civil Rights Movement.
"I was quite pleased to hear comments, to hear conversations related to the need and the value of educating the young concerning what happened," he said. "They would say we can not afford to repeat this part of our history and we must educate the young to increase the chance of moving forward and doing the right thing for the greater good."
White found that the citizens of Birmingham established a Civil Rights Museum in the Civil Rights Historic District and that the 16th Street Baptist Church was restored with a memorial for the women killed.
In Selma, he found that The Voter’s Rights Museum was established at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge to commemorate their struggle for the right to vote. Also, Selma had recently elected its first black official.
White said he was pleased to discover a great deal of change within Alabama’s political arena as well. In a state where 30 percent of the population is black, in 1965 there were only 20 black elected officials because so many blacks were denied the right to vote due to the strict Jim Crow laws. Today, Alabama is a state with one of the highest number of black elected officials, 726.
"Politics is still a vehicle that can be utilized to bring about change and for black Americans being denied the right to vote for so long we still find black Americans putting forth a special effort in welcoming the oppurtunity to become involved in the political arena," he said.
White said he thinks the celebration of Black History Month is important because it gives all of us the opportunity to pause and focus on the contribution of a group that was neglected in the account of world and American history for a long time. He added that the founders of Black History month strongly believed that the inclusion of the role and the contribution of Blacks should be ongoing, not just for the month of February.
"This is a busy month and I would like to thank Zav and Khushnur Dadabhoy. I have received a great deal of help, from providing a calendar of events to bringing in "big names" speakers such as Sonia Sanchez. I also appreciate the department’s excellent relationship with the Metro and (University of Colorado at Denver’s) Office of Student Affairs," he said.
White earned a Ph.D in Sociology and American Ethnicity from Florida State University in Tallahassee, Fla., and was an undergraduate when the civil rights movement began. He came to Metro during the 1984-85 school year and was appointed head of the department in 1995. He has studied and traveled extensively in Africa and the Caribbean, and continues his commitment to the retention of the African culture in the Americas, the Civil Rights Movement and the South.
"When the work is no longer challenging, I will retire or find something
else to do. At this point, I find my work to be challenging, so I plan to be
around a bit longer," he said.
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The ‘Mutiny’ started at Metro
Sarah Carney
The Metropolitan
During a time when women were still trying to gain equal treatment and artists
foraging new ground experimenting with new mediums were banned from showing
their art, a mutiny arose and is still in full swing. Twenty years after Metro
refused to show Jack Jensen’s work, he is still producing successful gallery
shows. His last one, titled 20 Years of Mutiny Art was held Feb. 9 at Bump and
Grind on East 17th Avenue. The show will continue to be displayed through March
along with his show at the Snake Pit on East 13th Avenue.
His mutiny began while he was attending Metro during the late 70s. There was a group known as the LFC, Le Femme Criminals, which was primarily a women’s art movement that worked towards the equal treatment of women in art.
"A lot of the women there were not being treated as equals or graded as equals," Jensen said. "There were definitely a few art professors who graded down on the women, and being a student aide in the print shop and the jewelry shop, I saw that going on all the time."
The women would be doing the same type of work, with the same type of technique, the same type of design element and sometimes would even have to do more work to compensate, Jensen said. So, the LFC would spray paint the school from time to time and use other forms of rallies to try to get the message across and let it be known that there was some discrimination going on.
"The only way for them to get a write up in the paper or to get a little extra recognition in the community there was to do things like that," Jensen said.
During the same time, Jensen and his classmate Phil Bender had their own group of artists called the Denver Dada Club, which had its roots in the Dada art movement, which began after World War I primarily in Germany and Switzerland. It was an anti-art movement that emphasized going against the grain, Jensen said.
"They would say, ‘this is art,’" he said pointing at a cardboard cup on the table. "Rather than going to a big school and having a bunch of diplomas they could turn anything into art. They would show in unconventional places, kind of like what the mutiny is doing now, they would do unconventional acts portraying satire."
The reference to the Dada movement in their club name was really a comparison to the punk movement that was just getting started during the late 70s, Jensen said.
"It started in ’76, but it was really gaining momentum, the attitude, the music, the clothing, the whole fashion statement and political statement, in the Boulder and Denver areas," he said. "Bands were popping up and night clubs that would actually promote it were showing up.
"We felt as students, this was the same sort of thing that was going on in the Dada movement, which was anti-art. Basically get rid of these old farts and show some new blood. Stop saying, ‘you can’t show that because you don’t have a degree.’"
So, the Denver Dada club followed the lead of their anti-art predecessors to encourage people to take notice of their work. They would have events like a cup drop and a shirt burning. There was a "decorate your locker day" that was judged by the LFC. They were all things to get people interested in alternative ways of thinking, Jensen said.
"Another time we buried four ice trays. They’re probably still there under the cement by the Emmanuel Gallery. They hadn’t poured the cement yet for the walkway, we had four ice trays with ice in them, and we buried them under the dirt along with two copies of The Meaning of Modern Sculpture and now that’s all cemented over," Jensen said.
Some people criticized these tactics as being destructive but no arrests were ever made, according to Jensen. He referred back to the LFC. He said these groups all had a purpose and that sometimes it is necessary to take a look at that when determining whether the ends justifies the means.
Jensen graduated in 1979, and immediately started putting together art shows with Bender and others from the LFC at the summer flea markets. The group eventually grew into a new name and a space for their own gallery — Pirate. Pirate is located at 3659 Navajo St., and is still owned by Bender. They used this gallery as an opportunity to show the art that no one else was willing to show.
Bender and Jensen continued working together producing off-the-wall gallery openings with twists and unexpected announcements for quite awhile, until Jensen eventually broke away and started his own Mutiny in February 1981.
Now he has teamed up with Danica Bomar, a young artist with the same kind of visions. The two of them have had a few shows together and they have been very successful. The first show called Bad Health 2000 in August was also held at the Bump and Grind and was sold out a week before the opening, Jensen said.
"Our work is very complimentary," Jensen said. "We both like working with bold colors and fun themes."
Jensen has worked with various mediums from silk screening to silversmith work. He was also a chef at the Brown Palace for a while. His artwork is all over Denver and the world including, Budapest, Berlin, Barcelona and Tokyo.
Along with producing his own shows, he is also the manager of Ichabod’s
and volunteers at Grant Avenue Street Reach to help feed the homeless. Jensen’s
next opening will be at the Buzz Café on East Sixth Avenue and Marion
Street in April, which may include a scooter rally, depending on the weather.
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Problems with little gold men
Chris Ward
On Film
On Feb. 13, at 6:38 in the morning, those of us interested enough to watch saw
actress Judi Dench announce the nominees for the 73rd Academy Awards.
Because the academy didn’t want the nomination press conference to take as long as the actual award show, only the eight most popular categories were announced. For anything outside of acting, writing, directing, and producing awards, a full list was available online within seconds of the announcement.
With the poor quality of movies overall last year, it should have been hard for that list to disappoint me, but it managed. I had resolved myself to the fact that Gladiator and Erin Brockovich, two entertaining but forgettable movies, would have reserved seats in the Best Picture category while better films would be left out.
What caught me off-guard was the degree to which Requiem for a Dream, Wonder Boys, and other innovative films were ignored. You know things are bad when The Grinch is up for three Oscars (how it got nominated for art direction when The Cell was left out is a mystery to me).
Because academy members can only nominate films in their own category (directors vote for the Best Director nominees, writers for Best Screenplay, etc.), I was surprised to see Requiem, the best film of the year 2000, fail to garner nominations in the film editing and original score categories.
Editor Jay Rabinowitz skillfully pieced together the more than 2000 cuts (the average movie contains 600 to 700 cuts) and used it to create a seamless flow of images, while composer Clint Mansell matched his music to the look and feel of the film. Still, both aspects of Requiem were passed over in favor of more conventional movies.
In fact, the only nomination Requiem did receive was a Best Actress nod for Ellen Burstyn, but it is doubtful that she will win. If good taste prevails, the award for that category will go to Joan Allen or Laura Linney, both of whom gave excellent performances in their respective films. It is far more likely, however, that Julia Roberts will be rewarded for not doing her usual mediocre work in Erin Brockovich.
On a more positive note, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon received 10 nominations, the most by any foreign-language film in the academy’s history. This elegant martial arts film from Taiwan also is only the third movie with subtitles to be nominated for Best Picture, though its actors, most notably Michelle Yeoh and Ziyi Zhang, were unfortunately ignored.
The other rare occurrence was Steven Soderbergh’s double nomination in the Best Director category, for Erin Brockivich and Traffic. The only other time this has happened was in 1938. Unfortunately, it threatens to divide votes for Soderbergh, who deserves to win for Traffic, and give the award to a less deserving director.
As bad as things look now, there is still hope that my pessimism will be disproved,
and the awards could go to the people who deserve them. But I’m not holding
my breath.
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Students learn how love has changed
Joann Loviglio
Associated Press
RADNOR, Pa. (AP) - Love. Whether true or tragic, unrequited or eternal, it has
been the subject of artists and writers for thousands of years.
But when students in professor Harvey Lape’s "Philosophy of Love" class at Cabrini College discuss matters of the heart, it’s closer to Descartes that Dame Cartland.
"Love doesn’t come with an operating manual," Lape said. "Everyone’s going to have failures in relationships; maybe it’s something they won’t feel so bad about if they have a little more understanding of how views on love have changed over time."
For the past eight years, students have flocked to Lape’s "Philosophy of Love" class. The course is so popular that two classes, each with 30-plus students, are held each spring semester at the 2,000-student Roman Catholic College in suburban Philadelphia.
In what the school says is one of the fastest-filling classes on campus, students discuss desire from the viewpoints of Plato, Sappho, Dante, Ovid, Freud, Fromm and others.
Students learn in Plato’s "Symposium" that the path to eternal happiness was not love of another, but of all things. In "La Vita Nuova," Dante waxes poetic about his love for his mistress Beatrice — a relationship that was never consummated because of the strict societal rules of courtly love and arranged marriages.
Freud conducts a scientific analysis of love, which he sees as surrounded by various neuroses that need to be overcome in order to have healthy relationships. And Eric Fromm’s The Art of Loving discusses how a desire to be "upwardly mobile" has led to commodification of love — that is, getting the best deal in a partner.
"I always had a sort of idealistic notion about love, but I learned that it’s not so concrete," said Cabrini senior Leigh Ann Tenore, 21. "There are so many gray areas, because real love isn’t like this perfect ideal that everybody carries."
Lape hopes that’s just what students will take away from the course.
"I try to show them that the human condition is fairly consistent over time, but our views are shaped by the society we’re living in," he said. "Certainly I don’t want them to become cynical, but maybe they’ll come away with a less fantastical view about love."
Perhaps not surprisingly, female students outnumber men in Lape’s love class — generally, the ratio is about 3-1. Though women outnumber men at Cabrini 60 percent to 40 percent, Lape is uncertain why the scales are still tipped more toward female students.
"We had about six guys in a class of about 20. They were pretty obnoxious at times," said Tiffany Platt, a junior who took Lape’s class last year. "They definitely put in their voice during the discussions, but they kind of shut up when we talked about what love really meant."
Similar philosophy classes are offered at the University of Tennessee, Oklahoma State University and Michigan State University, but Lape says courses about love typically have more of a sociological or psychological tone. Looking at love through the eyes of philosophers shows how the concept of love evolved over time, he said.
"It’s not that philosophy claims to solve the things we find difficult
about love," Lape said.
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horoscopes by miss anna
ARIES: You will be challenged to put forth your very best, so keep any rebellious
thoughts to yourself. Being filled with high energy, make sure you are sensitive
to other people's feelings. It's time to come out of your shell and live a little.
TAURUS: Guard against any undue stress - someone or something has hit just the right button and drained your energy. Your mate may be having problems coping, and moodiness will no doubt result - remember that actions will always speak louder than words.
GEMINI: Make time to stay home and rest, tension from all sides may be stressing you out. Your fresh, new ideas in the workplace will be received very favorably. Conditions are excellent for rapid progress at work. Get in contact with an old friend you've lost track of.
CANCER: There may be heavy demands on you, so try to stick to routine and all will go well. If you have been clinging to either a child or lover, you need to let go a little, they need more space now. Angry words may flare between you and another, be cautious.
LEO: Your mind is usually quick and perceptive. You will no doubt captivate others with your wit and wisdom. Authorities at work are interested in hearing your opinions, and the ability to see the big picture will be greatly appreciated.
VIRGO: If you can grasp an opportunity to better yourself financially don't pass it up, the effort is worth it. Again, the extra effort may be needed at work - go early and stay late. Your understanding of the needs of both men and women helps you mediate gender-based disputes.
LIBRA: Heavy demands are made on your time and energy. Disputes with family members can be resolved through thoughtful discussions. Any business meetings will also be productive. Your mate will end the week with a romantic interlude, and, if unattached, a new love is waiting.
SCORPIO: Your keen memory and problem-solving abilities will help you to impress your bosses. It's reality check time for you, with memories and intuition playing major roles in your actions for the next few months. There are powerful spiritual insights dominating your innerself.
SAGITTARIUS: It may be time to step back from current projects to think things out, to give you a better perspective on long-term career strategies. It's a good time to share bright ideas with receptive colleagues. There seems to be an old adversary back on the scene, be cautious and patient.
CAPRICORN: It will be a challenging week, and you are assertive in getting your ideas across. A friend will no doubt welcome your help, and may be either combative or irrational, so be patient with them. But there will also be a limit to patience, so know when to say enough is enough.
AQUARIUS: Your health is in question during the week. Be reassured that there is nothing wrong with you that more rest and less stress won't cure. Take extra time for your mate, and have a long and loving talk with a loved one. Your communication skills will get you through the week's challenges.
PISCES: You may need to talk your ideas out. Nobody will mind though,
because what you have to say is fascinating. The work week will start out with
opportunity for monetary gains. There are differences of opinion which may threaten
a friendship; resolve them now.
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Metrosports
New season, new faces
Adam Dunivan
The Metropolitan
It’s the same story for every college coach, no matter what sport he or
she directs.
With the turnover ratio of so many players, it is difficult to stick with the same game plan from year to year. With new players come new strategies that will hopefully render success.
For Metro baseball coach Vince Porreco, the success of this year’s Roadrunners team will come through a foundation of speed and fundamentals, rather than power and clutch hitting.
"We’re not going to be able to sit around and wait for a big home run this year," Porreco said. "What’s exciting about this year’s club is that we will be able to do a lot of different things that are more speed-based."
Porreco said there are players who have power and can drive the ball, but they will be producing more runs this year by applying pressure on the basepaths against opposing defenses.
"We’re going to use all facets of the game to create runs," Porreco said.
Offense was not a problem for last year’s team. The Roadrunners hit .351 as a team last season, good for seventh in the nation at the Division II level. The run production helped the team finish with a solid 34-16 record, which tied the school mark for the most wins in a season.
Despite the tremendous season, Porreco’s team fell short of its goal with a dismal performance at last year’s Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament.
Going into the tournament, the Roadrunners had the second seed. After a disappointing 7-6, extra-inning loss to Mesa State in the first round, Metro went on to face Fort Hays State (Kan.). The Tigers, who eventually became the NCAA national runner-up, destroyed Metro’s hopes of attaining their goal of the RMAC championship.
Once again, the team is striving to get its hands on the RMAC title, something they have yet to achieve under Porreco.
Porreco said the team has come together well, and they look forward to beginning the season Feb. 17 at Auraria Fields against Hastings College (Neb.).
"With all the hard work that we’ve done in the off-season, all that
we’ve done thus far, I’ve seen guys come together quickly, and I think
we will play very well as a team," Porreco said.
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Out with the power…in with the speed
pitching
Returning players: Bryce Gehlen, Sr. (2000 stats: 16 appearances, 6-3 record,
5.51 earned run average); Caleb Parmenter, Sr. (12 app., 7-0, 5.27); Tim Price,
Jr. (15 app., 3-1, 9.50); Jason Ash, Jr. (12 app., 2-2, 12.50).
Who’s new: Mike Amarillas, Jr. (Phoenix, Ariz.); Robbie Carson, Jr. (Lakewood); Eric Cummings, Jr. (Denver); Stephen Fox, Jr. (Albuquerque, N.M.); Steve Neely, Jr. (Daly City, Calif.); Jason Richardson, Jr. (Flagstaff, Ariz.); Brad Whitworth, Sr. (Englewood).
The scoop: New pitching coach Anthony Gutierrez has a group of experienced players to work with this year. The starting rotation is set with Gehlen, Parmenter, Price and Ash. Most of the remaining pitchers will see occasional starts. As Gutierrez puts it, however, roles are constantly changing.
"Roles are earned, not assigned," Gutierrez said. "They can be lost just as easily as they can be won."
Gutierrez has worked hard on developing the change-up pitch that he said is the "pitch of the millennium."
"The change-up has become the most important pitch in the game," he said. "If you have a change-up that is 8-to-10 miles per hour less than your fastball, but still have the same arm speed, you’ll have hitters guessing all day long."
One noticeable aspect of the pitching staff is the prominence of right-handed pitchers. Whitworth is the only left-handed pitcher on the team, but he is expected to miss most of the season recovering from shoulder surgery.
With Whitworth out for the season, there is one left handed pitcher left, so to speak.
"The guys call me the ‘goofy left-hander,’ so I joke with them and say that it is the opposite and they are the ‘goofy right-handers,’" Gutierrez said.
He added with the different techniques from the different pitchers, the lack of left-handed pitchers will not be as evident as may be with other teams.
Breakdown: Gehlen will start out as the No. 1 pitcher on the staff. The side-armed pitcher has a fastball that has been gunned in the low 80 mphs, but his motion often leaves batters guessing. He has developed a change up that dives down and away, a great asset to have. According to Gutierrez, Gehlen will beat players mentally more than physically.
Parmenter is the team’s fire baller; his fastball is constantly in the upper 80s, but tops out at 90 mph. Gutierrez has worked with Parmenter to develop a change up that is 8-to-10 mph less than the fastball. His breaking ball is still in the works, but he is gaining more confidence after each attempt.
Hard work has paid off for Price, and he has developed a nasty curveball for his efforts. After a rough season in a relief role last year, Price has worked to make all of his pitches move around. Gutierrez said Price is ready and excited to take on the role as a starter.
Ash had a torturous 2000 season as a reliever, but is looking to rebound as a good compliment to Price at the back of the starting rotation.
"Jason’s fastball really sinks downward," Gutierrez said. "Just in the time that I’ve been here, I’ve seen him throwing a lot more quality pitches as time has gone on."
The rest of the staff will be out to spoil the party for the other team.
"Every pitcher on this team sees his role, knows his role, and goes out and performs his role," Gutierrez said of his staff. "It is going to be real tough for another staff to outmatch us."
Outfield
Returning players: Jack Edwards, Sr. (.375 batting average, 5 home runs,
30 runs batted in); Chad Gonzalez, Jr. (.333, 2 HR, 17 RBI); Matt Olson, Sr.
(.317, 3 HR, 20 RBI); Caleb Parmenter, Sr. (.271, 4 HR, 9 RBI).
Who’s new: Josh Coe, Jr. (Colorado Springs); David Dudley, Jr. (San Jose, Calif.); Brian Filizetti, Jr. (Santa Clara, Calif.).
The scoop: The outfield has depth and speed— two aspects of the game that will benefit the team in the long run. Edwards will lead the core of outfielders on a daily basis and will be placed in the heart of the lineup on offense. Dudley, a junior college All-American at West Valley, provides the team with a strong acquisition in right field and at the plate.
A change has come by way of moving Gonzalez to the outfield, a transition that Porreco said has gone rather smooth.
"I have a good feeling about him offensively," Porreco said. "If he stays healthy, we’re going to be solid in the lineup."
Infield
Returning players: Jerod Stultz, Sr. (.345, HR, 15 RBI); Tim Uhls, Sr. (.298,
3 HR, 21 RBI, 22 Hit by pitch); Josh Vickers, Sr. (.300, one HR, 27 RBI); Bryce
Gehlen, Sr. (.000, 0 HR, 2 RBI).
Who’s new: Steve Guerrero, Jr. (Torrance, Calif.); Bill Gustin, Jr. (Chesterton, Ind.); Nate Lavrenz, Jr. (Fountain); Tyler Wood, Fr. (Arvada).
The scoop: Infield coach Cory Linteo is optimistic about improving on a defense that was third in the nation in fielding percentage (.968) last season.
"There’s no reason why we can’t be number one in fielding this year," Linteo said. "That is our goal right now… to be the best in the nation."
Uhls returns to the team as the backbone of the infield. His vocal leadership and skillful play have made him a team captain. Vickers will return at third base as the only player on the team to have three years with Porreco. He committed a team-high 11 errors last year, but also turned 10 double plays.
Guerrero appears to be the strongest defensive second baseman, but Linteo said the starting role is up for grabs. Stultz and Wood are both utility players that can back up any position in the infield.
"We have a little bit of backup for every position," Linteo said. "We’re actually having everybody play every position except for first… we want to get them accustomed to every position just in case somebody goes down."
With the likes of power hitters Miika Autio, Dana Reichers and Brian Aguiar no longer available, Porreco had to find capable first basemen in the worst way. Similar to last year, first base will be manned on a rotating system with Gustin, Lavrenz and Gehlen. Both Gustin and Lavrenz are tall and bulky, and will fill in the fourth, fifth, or sixth spots in the lineup as the main power hitters. According to Porreco, Gehlen has positioned himself to see a significant role at either first base or designated hitter because of his offensive skills.
Catching
Returning players: None.
Who’s new: Brian Edwards, Fr. (Littleton); Donald Gwinner, Jr. (Chandler, Ariz.); Jeff Wood, So. (Pagosa Springs).
The scoop: The Roadrunners won’t have standout Billy Wallace in the lineup in 2001, but will have his presence in the dugout as he joined the coaching staff for the upcoming season. His guidance should help the core of catchers that include three newcomers to the team.
The opening day catcher will most likely be Edwards, but Gwinner is capable of jumping in at any time. Wood might be redshirted this year but according to Porreco and Wallace, whoever is hitting well will be found in the lineup.
Defensively, the team will not miss a beat whoever ends up playing the position. Both are skilled at blocking the ball and each has a different format of playing the game.
"We’re going to be strong, but a little young," Wallace said.
"Edwards has a better arm, but accuracy has to go to Donnie Gwinner."
opening day lineup
Outfield: Left Field — Junior Chad Gonzales
Right Field — Junior David Dudley
Center Field — Senior Jack Edwards
Infielders: First Base — Junior Bill Gustin
Second Base — Senior Jerod Stultz
Shortstop — Senior Tim Uhls
Third Base — Senior Josh Vickers
Catcher: Freshman Brian Edwards Pitcher/DH: Senior Bryce Gehlen
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Bethea finds a permanent home at Metro
Eric Eames
The Metropolitan
When Metro basketball coach Mike Dunlap offered a scholarship to San Joaquin
(Calif.) Delta College sophomore Lee Bethea last summer, Bethea didn’t
think twice.
After all, the Roadrunners are a championship team and on that first day in town, Denver left Bethea breathless. The city was unlike any other place–foreign or domestic– he had before. He was able to acclimate to the new environment in no time.
For his first 14 years, adaptability was essential in Bethea’s life. His life is filled with blurred memories of his birth in Georgia; five years he spent in North Carolina, and the stop-and-gos through Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Massachusetts.
"I’ve been to dang near every state in the United States," said Bethea.
Also stirred into Bethea’s head are two years in Germany, two days in Rome and 20 hours of France. When he returned to American soil in the eighth grade, it may as well have been foreign land, because he was starting over yet again.
"The traveling was cool, but after awhile it just started getting old," said 23-year-old Bethea. "You didn’t want to travel as much because you would leave behind your friends."
Having been born in a military family, this was protocol for Bethea and his younger brother, Antoine–one foot in the door; the other one out. But when Lee Bethea Sr., a first class sergeant, was ordered to go to Korea, Bethea and Antoine, did not follow. They had grown tried of zipping suitcases and trundling from one would city to the other. It was time to settle down.
These days, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Bethea is defending the basket the way his father helped the United States defend Kuwait during the Persian Gulf War–not giving a inch to foes trying to penetrate Metro’s defensive zone.
Shoulders with muscle, Bethea harasses any opponent in his coverage area with physical off-ball, denying defense and maniac hustle.
Bethea is as loud on defense as he is cackling among teammates off the court. Yet there is a dignity about him and a maturity forged from the years of traveling and growing up with a parent who was rarely there.
"It was hard growing up because we didn’t get to see as much of my dad as we would of have liked," Bethea said. "It was just me and my brother, then one of my youngest cousins; we were the only three to pretty much entertain each other."
When Bethea and his brother did see their father, outside Army fatigues, the conversations resembled that of two strangers trying to get to know each other.
"When we saw him it was like, ‘Hi. How doing?’" Bethea said, "It was hard, but it made me grow up faster."
Secretly, Bethea really is the player every coach looks for: The perfect workaholic–"He’ll definitely get on the floor and get dirty for you," Dunlap said–and the type who doesn’t brag about numbers.
"He’s sacrificed his offensive talent for the team," Metro assistant coach Kelley Crosby said. "Never complains. Not the kind of guy who looks at the box score after the game. I say he is epitome of a team player."
Offensively, Bethea admits his skills are suspect. But he has been solid enough to keep defenders honest.
Since the New Year, Bethea has defended his stance in the starting lineup. He has average of 12 points a game in 30.8 minutes, compared to the 7.5 points in 23 minutes during the first month and a half of the season when he was coming off the bench.
Against Chadron State Jan. 19, he poured in 27 points on 10 of 16 shooting and knocked down five three-pointers. But talking about his achievements is not what Bethea is about.
"The whole team needs to be recognized because we all put out a lot of energy, a lot of minutes and time," Bethea said. "Most people think we just come out and practice. It’s a lot of effort that each guy puts forth.
"From (point guard) Clayton (Smith) working on his shot and his ability
to led the team to (forward) Rashawn (Fulcher) being a voice, being a vocal
leader on the court to (guard) Chris Ford for putting his part in. When I’m
having a bad day he’ll come over and talk to me and help me get through
games mentally, when I’m not up to par."
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2001 Roadrunner Baseball Schedule
FEB. 17 SAT HASTINGS (2) NOON
FEB. 18 SUN HASTINGS (2) NOON
FEB. 21 WED PANHANDLE STATE (2) NOON
FEB. 24 SAT TEXAS WESLEYAN (2) NOON
FEB. 25 SUN TEXAS WESLEYAN (2) NOON
MAR. 2 FRI NEB. -OMAHA (2) NOON
MAR. 3 SAT NEB. -OMAHA (1) NOON
MAR. 6 Tue at Northern Colorado (2) Noon
MAR. 10-11 Sat-Sun at Mesa State Tournament TBA
MAR. 14 WED NORTHERN COLO. (2) NOON
MAR. 15 Thu at Regis (non-conference) (1) 2:00 PM
MAR. 20 Tue vs. Willamette (1) @ S.F. State TBA
MAR. 20 Tue at San Francisco State (1) 2:00 PM
MAR. 21 Wed at San Francisco State (1) 2:00 PM
MAR. 24 Sat * at Southern Colorado (2) 1:00 PM
MAR. 25 Sun * at Southern Colorado (2) Noon
MAR. 31 SAT * N.M. HIGHLANDS (2) 11:00 AM
APRIL 1 SUN * N.M. HIGHLANDS (2) 11:00 AM
APRIL 7 Sat * at Colorado Mines (2) Noon
APRIL 8 Sun * at Colorado Mines (2) Noon
APRIL 10 Tue at Air Force Academy (1) 2:00 PM
APRIL 14 Sat * at Mesa State (2) 1:00 PM
APRIL 15 Sun * at Mesa State (2) Noon
APRIL 21 SAT * REGIS (2) NOON
APRIL 22 SUN * REGIS (2) NOON
APRIL 27 Fri * at Nebraska-Kearney 1:00 PM
APRIL 28 Sat * at Nebraska-Kearney Noon
MAY 5 SAT * FORT HAYS STATE NOON
MAY 6 SUN * FORT HAYS STATE NOON
* Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference games
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2001 Roadrunner Baseball Roster
No Name Pos Ht Wt Yr B-T Hometown
2 Tyler Wood INF 5-9 180 Fr. R-R Arvada, Colo.
3 Stephen Fox RHP 6-2 180 Jr. R-R Albuquerque, N.M.
5 Jack Edwards OF 6-1 185 Sr. R-R Fresno, Calif.
7 Jerod Stultz INF 5-9 180 Sr. R-R Clearlake, Calif.
8 Mike Amarillas RHP 6-2 170 Jr. R-R Phoenix Ariz.
9 Jason Ash RHP 6-1 185 Jr. R-R Billings, Mont.
10 David Dudley OF 6-0 185 Jr. R-R San Jose, Calif.
11 Chad Gonzalez OF 6-0 180 Jr. R-R Colorado Springs, Colo.
13 Steve Guerrero INF 5-10 170 Jr. R-R Torrance, Calif.
15 Donald Gwinner C 6-0 205 Jr. R-R Chandler, Ariz.
16 Tim Uhls INF 5-11 190 Sr. R-R Santa Clara, Calif.
17 Matt Olson OF 6-1 180 Sr. R-R San Ramon, Calif.
18 Jeff Wood C 5-10 185 So. R-R Pagosa Springs, Colo.
19 Tim Price RHP 5-11 195 Jr. R-R Thornton, Colo.
20 Joshua Coe OF 5-10 190 So. R-R Colorado Springs, Colo.
22 Brian Filizetti OF 5-10 180 Jr. R-R Santa Clara, Calif.
23 Josh Vickers 3B 6-3 195 Sr. S-R Thornton, Colo.
25 Caleb Parmenter OF/P 6-3 205 Sr. R-R Dinuba, Calif.
26 Steve Neely RHP 5-10 170 Jr. R-R Daly City, Calif.
27 Brad Whitworth LHP 6-2 170 Sr. L-L Englewood, Colo.
28 Jason Richardson RHP 6-3 165 Jr. R-R Flagstaff, Ariz.
29 Robbie Carson RHP 6-1 165 Jr. R-R Lakewood, Colo.
30 Eric Cummings RHP 6-1 200 Jr. R-R Denver, Colo.
32 Bryce Gehlen RHP/1B 6-0 185 Sr. L-R Vancouver, Wash.
33 Brian Edwards C 6-3 180 Fr. R-R Littleton, Colo.
40 Nate Lavrenz 1B 6-3 245 Jr. R-R Fountain, Colo.
44 Bill Gustin 1B 6-2 190 Jr. R-R Chestorton, Ind.
Head Coach: (4) Vince Porreco
Assistant Coaches: (24) Tim Carlson, (21) Cory Linteo, (31) Anthony Gutierrez,
(14) Billy Wallace
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