Volume 23, issue 28, April 20, 2001

Metronews

Colorado education commission extends African American studies
Chris Ward
The Metropolitan

The Colorado Commission on Higher Education announced April 5 Metro’s African American Studies major would be available to students for at least two more years. Now members of the African American Studies department, Metro and the surrounding community are working to meet the requirements outlined by the commission.

"Needless to say, we are pleased with CCHE’s decision," African American Studies chair CJ White said. Several members of Metro and the community, many of whom campaigned for the extension, seconded that reaction.

The major faced cancellation after failing to meet the commission’s minimum graduation requirements of three students over a three-year period. Since its inception in the mid-1970s, the African American Studies major has graduated 13 students, and only one in the past year.

With the extension, Metro has two years to bring the African American Studies degree up to the commission’s standards. To this end, Metro hired a consultant to review the program and propose ways to increase graduation rates. "We will study the recommendations made by our program consultant concerning effective methods to recruit, retain, and graduate majors in the African American Studies program," White said.

"It’s obvious that CCHE’s primary concerns relate to…the numbers of majors and graduates," White said. "So it becomes our responsibility to increase the number of majors and graduates.

"At this point, our numbers are increasing in reference to majors and in reference to minors," White said, pointing out that in recent weeks the program has signed up three new majors and six new minors. "We will continue to publicize our major in the campus and in the community as we have done in the past."

It is this effort which motivated the extension, said CCHE director Tim Foster. "They’re going to put resources into it to try and succeed," Foster said. "The other reason is the nature of an urban institution in the state’s biggest city." Foster also cited the significance of an African American Studies major at a school as diverse as Metro.

White emphasized the importance of an African American Studies Metro too, saying it was something the school owed its students.

"The major in African American Studies uniquely adds to the whole of our mission at Metro State," White said. "(It) is a part of Metro’s history and legacy…to discontinue the major would denote regression, and at MSCD we are totally committed to building upon the past and moving forward in a progressive fashion."

Since the commission announced its plans to cut the major in October, several campus and community members have spoken out defending the major. Several meetings have been held as well as an organized demonstration at the flagpole March 29. White cited "the strong show of support coming from the campus and community" as one of the reasons for the extension.

"I suppose we were able to make a good case for the necessity of the program," said Edna Mosely, a member of Metro’s first graduating class. Mosely and her husband, Retired Lt. Col. John Mosely, were both active in supporting the African American Studies major and plan to continue helping the program succeed.

"We will help out whatever way we can, and however we are needed," Mosely said.

In order for the program to survive, more students will have to declare majors in African American Studies, and more of them will have to graduate. Plans are being made to increase recruitment and retention of students in the program as well as raising community and campus awareness and support.

If it is unable to graduate the required number of students within the next two years, it’s not definite Metro’s African American Studies will be shut down. However, Foster said, "at some point if you have a degree program that no one wants to take, I think the institution has to come to grips with that."

‘It’s obvious that CCHE’s primary concerns relate to ...the number of majors and graduates.’

CJ White
Chair, Metro’s African American studies department
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Domino’s robbed, suspect apprehended
Micaela Duarte
The Metropolitan

Auraria Police arrested a woman April 16 in connection with an armed robbery at the Domino’s Pizza in the Tivoli.

Police arrested Sara Elizabeth Imani at Ninth Street Park at 7:40 p.m., in connection with the robbery, which occurred the same evening.

A robber pointed a black handgun at the clerk on shift at Domino’s, Malshini Perera, and demanded money, a Denver Police report said.

The clerk handed the suspect $112 from the front cash drawer, said Tivoli Domino’s Pizza general manager, John Smith.

The Denver Police report then stated the suspect said to the clerk, "I am sorry, but I have two kids and I have no money, call 911."

The report said the suspect then fled the restaurant south bound toward the Events Center. At the time of the robbery the suspect was not found.

An hour and a half later, Imani, whom police said matched the description of the suspect, was seen walking through the campus, by an on-duty Auraria Police officer, the report said.

The report said officer Mike Schwartz observed her counting a large wad of money while she was walking. Schwartz approached her and asked to search her backpack, the report said. She refused, and began to walk away from Schwartz, the report said.

As Schwartz began to detain the suspect, the report said she reached into her waist-band and pulled out a black Semi-automatic pistol. The report said she said to the officer, "I’ll shoot you."

Schwartz then wrestled the suspect to the ground and disarmed her, the report said.

Auraria Police Chief Joe Ortiz said Imani could be charged with aggravated robbery and first degree aggravated assault.

A spokesperson for the Denver Police Department said Imani had her first advisement April 17, and is scheduled to have another April 27, where they will set the date for the arraignment.

As of April 18, Imani was still being detained at the Denver Police Department. Her bail is currently set at $50,000.

The Auraria police report states Imani was a Metro student, but further investigation reveals she is not registered at Metro nor at University of Colorado at Denver or Community College of Denver.

Ortiz said the Domino’s Pizza restaurant in the Tivoli has been robbed once before.

"About two years ago, around closing time, the suspect was a male and was not apprehended to my recollection," Ortiz said.

Since 1997, there have only been six other robberies on the Auraria campus, according to Auraria Campus Clery Report.

The Auraria Campus Clery Report is a report of criminal offenses on campus that is compiled at the end of each month and then totaled at the end of the year.

This report is available to students at the Auraria Police Department located in the Administration building.
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metro briefs

Golden Key ‘Advisor of the Year’

Lyn Wickelgren, chair of Metro’s psychology department, was named Advisor of the Year for the Mountain West Region of Golden Key International Honor Society April 3.

Wickelgren was honored not only for her work in Golden Key, but also for her involvement in academic, civic, community and church activities.

She has been Golden Key Advisor since 1995. The award was based on recommendations from student members of Metro’s Golden Key and fellow faculty members.

Students Leah Necker and Oi Teng Tang recieved the 2000-2001 Outstanding Sophomore award April 3 from Metro’s Golden Key chapter.

Food drive aides sandwich line

Members of the Auraria community donated 50 boxes of food and $105.03 to the St. Elizabeth’s Sandwich Line for the Homeless.

Metro’s Speech Communication and Academic Afairs departments tied for the most food and money collected at seven boxes each.

The Biology department collected five boxes, the Administration Building collected four boxes, and the Child Care Center and CU’s main building both collected over three boxes each.

Spring Fling

Auraria’s annual Spring Fling will be held April 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the center of campus.

The festival will include music, food, and vendors.

For reservations on a table, contact Bridget McMechen at 303-556-2595 or call 303-556-4247 for more information.

Text book buy back

The Auraria Book Center textbook buy back is being held May 2-12 in the lower level of the Tivoli as well as various locations around campus.
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Cyber-stalking: the dark side of the Internet
Deborah Grigsby-Smith
The Metropolitan

While advances in Internet technology have contributed to improving the quality of life for many, it has also become fertile grounds for a variety of illegal activities. A special Department of Justice report cites the low cost, ease of use and anonymous nature make cyberspace "an attractive medium for fraudulent scams, child exploitation and increasingly, a new concern known as ‘cyber-stalking.’"

Almost anyone can be stalked online, but a vast majority of victims are female, according to Cyberangels.org, one of the largest Internet safety organizations. The organization reports stalking estimates show 80 percent of such victims are women and that most cyber-stalkers are male. Cyberangels makes it clear these estimates are not meant to infer that stalkers are never women because there have been several reported cases; it just means that most offenders reported are male.

Cyberangels.org estimates that there are approximately 200,000 real-life stalkers in America today. That’s roughly 0.008 percent of the U.S. population. Statistics also show more than 1.5 million Americans today have been or are currently stalking victims: about 1 person in 166. "If these ratios were reflected on the Internet (and no one really knows these figures) then out of the estimated population of 79 million people worldwide on the Internet, we would find 63,000 Internet stalkers traveling the superhighway, stalking approximately 474,000 victims."

As more and more people venture online — particularly children and teenagers — the impetus for ensuring safety become more prominent. But according to the Justice Department report, as cyber-stalking grows in scope and complexity, lack of law enforcement training and expertise can frustrate victims and slow response times.

In addition, there are also a variety of legal issues hindering progress. One major problem deals with the complications of multiple jurisdictions. Because cyber-stalking cases can take place from virtually anywhere in the world, it can be difficult for local law enforcement agencies to determine proper jurisdiction and allocate resources to each reported case.

Another challenge comes in the form of online anonymity. According to the department, anonymity provides many important benefits, including protecting the privacy of Internet users. Unfortunately, cyber-stalkers and other cyber-criminals can exploit the anonymity available online to avoid accountability for their conduct.

But there is some good news. Some specialized cyber units are showing promise in the fight against cyber-stalking. Larger metropolitan areas, such as New York and Los Angeles, which have seen numerous incidents of cyber-stalking, have developed highly specialized and equipped teams to investigate and follow though with the prosecution of these cases. For example, Los Angeles’s Stalking and Threat Assessment Team unites special sections of the police department with its district attorney’s department. The combo seeks to ensure adequate resources are available, including highly trained investigators.

Also, several consumer groups have teamed up with industry organizations and Internet Service Providers to educate and inform consumers of the potential dangers lurking online. The Department of Justice and the Information Technology Association of America have formed the Cybercitizen Partnership. The Cybercitizen Awareness Program educates children and young adults on the dangers and consequences of cyber crime.

The program is designed to establish a broad sense of responsibility and community in an effort to develop in young people smart, ethical and socially conscious online behavior. According to the organizations charter, they accomplish this by creating context about the proper uses of the new medium by drawing parallels between the off-line and online worlds.

However, until adequate legislation, resources and training can be achieved, cyber-stalking will remain a very real part of the Internet. But even with increased legislation, online safety still begins with the user.

Cyberangels offers a complete online guide for Internet users at http://www.cyberangels. org/internet101/index.html designed to help new users know and understand online safety rules.

Some online safety recommendations include:

• Don’t respond to provocation online

• Choose a genderless screen name

• Don’t flirt online, unless you’re prepared for the consequences.

• Save offending messages and report them to your service provider

• Don’t give out any personal information about yourself or anyone else.

• Get out of a situation online that has become hostile; log off or surf elsewhere.
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Metroeditorial

New law won’t kill teen drug use

Dear Editor,

The Colorado Legislature recently passed a law banning all underage club nights and events. This is the state’s attempt to keep drugs, especially Ecstasy, out of teens’ hands while solving the hysteria the media has caused. Unfortunately, this state just made a huge step backward in saving teens from drugs.

First off, I would like to make something clear. The teen who died at the beginning of this year died because she drank three gallons of water, her brain drowned. And she was at a house party, not a rave, and not a club. And why did she drink so much water? Because she and her friends didn’t know any better.

The media somehow forgot this. Instead of drowning being the cause of death, it became the Ecstasy. Simply put, the media needs a new platform to rally around. It didn’t report the whole story; it reported what it thought would get the most ratings. Only the newspaper told the true story.

Because of this media craze, the government passed a law that is likely to lead to more teens’ deaths than it is to save. Being a part of the not "quite" 21 age group, and just graduating from high school three years ago, I know how these things go. And I’m not proud to say that I tried drugs in high school, including Ecstasy.

Being on both sides of the spectrum, I can say they made a mistake. I’m not in anyway saying drugs are okay. But I am saying taking more activities away from teens is just making the problem worse. Very few teens stay away from drugs because they’re illegal or because adults tell them not to do them. That is half the thrill. And clubs or raves aren’t the main source of drugs either. It’s their peers.

The teen who died was at a house party; the one who went to the hospital was at a rave.

In no way was a club involved. At a club or a rave there are people who are trained to spot problems and get the person the proper help. Unlike at a house party where teens don’t know what to do, or are too scared to get help.

I don’t know why legislators don’t try education. I’m here because I knew the rules. As I said, I don’t condone drug use, but I do condone education on drugs. I was always aware that I should watch my water consumption while on Ecstasy. I knew not to mix uppers and downers. This could have saved some of my friends. The young girl could have been saved, and hundreds of teens around America could have been saved.

Recently an underground prevention group went into Colorado schools to educate teens about the choices they make and the precautions they should be aware of. Instead of getting praise, they were told that they were condoning drug use and they were no longer welcome.

Telling teens "no" obviously is not working. Instead of giving more rules and killing more teens, why don’t we try a new approach? Educate teens on the risks they might make. Teach them what can happen and what they should do. Telling them no is making the problem worse, not better.

Joanna Sequeira
Metro student
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Prisons don’t solve problems
Walter Gant
staff columnist

A few times throughout the month, I receive collect calls from state and federal penitentiaries throughout the country. I have a few cousins and uncles locked up in different states. I don’t know how they get the number. The first time they call I usually accept, but after that I won’t. The first reason is that calls from prison are just so expensive. The second reason is I really can’t help them. My family sends them certain things they need like snacks and books and after that I can’t do much more. Once you get behind that wall you basically become forgotten, almost a mystery.

The original goal of prison was to rehabilitate, but that goal has been changed. The goal of American prisons is to simply get all the bad people off the streets. We have a system that constantly arrests drug users and other non-violent offenders for lengthy terms. We also put millions away on mandatory drug laws no matter what their circumstances are. The problem we face in America is really what to do with convicts once they return to the general population. Also, I want to discuss rights of prisoners after they return home, specifically their voting rights.

Last year, one of my cousins returned home from prison for the first time in 15 years. Before going in, he didn’t do much. He had job on and off before going to jail. He gets out and the world has basically made a completely different turn. With no job skills and a felony record, most places aren’t trying to hire him. To be honest with you, we only see my cousin on holidays and I couldn’t tell you what he does or where he sleeps on a daily basis. We helped him as long as we could until we all decided he needed to help himself. The point of this story is all his time in prison was used working on farms in Louisiana, and not learning trades for his eventual release. If the main goal of prison was to rehabilitate, why is my cousin one of the millions released that wants to abide by the law but can’t find jobs? This, in most cases, leads to criminals returning to crime and filling up our already overcrowded prison system.

The current influx of criminals is largely due to the mandatory drug laws instituted throughout the 80s. Instead of arresting kingpins, instead they caught most of the middlemen and lower people selling drugs. The black and Latino communities have felt the repercussions the most, due to the general state of those communities. This leads to whole families being destroyed because parents aren’t at home with their children. The children, not understanding life or being raised without true supervision, repeat the cycle, which will often lead them to jail. The cycle continues until many of the males in certain communities will either have a criminal record, be in prison, or deal with some type of parole or probation situation. It's not a coincidence these people suffering this are poor, a minority, or both.

I also have a severe disagreement with stipulations that occur after a person has come out of the prison system, specifically their right to vote. Many issues could be raised about this, but regardless of what they've done, they still are citizens of the United States. If politicians can count them as people living in their district, which gives them more power, those people shouldn't have that right taken away from them. There is a large amount of black men in the country who can't vote. Almost 10 percent of the black men in Colorado can't vote. If you can’t vote, you don’t have a say in your community.

I’m not defending all criminals, but life in prison isn’t always the right solution. If we really want to change criminals, we must rehabilitate instead of treating them like cattle.
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Service, smiles rare at Auraria
Danielle Haraburda
Opinion editor

It’s a fairly common analogy that the better the economy in a given area, the worse the service. I guess the idea behind this little piece of wisdom is that so many people have money to spend, so treating each and every customer well is a waste of time. Eventually, somebody else will spend their money who doesn’t require the little niceties, such as "please and "thank you."

If this theory is correct, then the average income bracket of Auraria’s students must be pretty high. The service I’ve encountered in many of our campus eateries is appalling. Perhaps these establishments know they have a captive clientele, or perhaps the employees are students who, like myself, are headed toward the annual end-of-semester breakdown. Neither of these scenarios matter to me. I just want to be able to purchase my lunch without incident.

I should say, before I begin my personal critique of our some of our food establishments, I am the very worst person for the job. I waited tables for more than 6 years. This means I am probably a bit more critical of things other people just wouldn’t get worked up over. If you’ve ever had dinner with a current or former drone from the service industry, you’ll know what I’m talking about. That said, I’ve tried to limit my narrative to those things I imagine most anyone would find objectionable.

Let’s start with last week. I am more a slave to routine than I would like to admit, but sometimes life in the "rut" is just easier. More mornings than not, I get breakfast, or at least coffee, at the Tivoli’s Daily Grind. I started this ritual nearly 5 years ago, back when then supervisor Sasha perked up my morning with her constantly changing hairstyle. I love the space at the Grind; it’s comfortable, the menu is good for just about everyone, and, unless someone is in a weird mood, the music is pretty decent. But lately the staff seems to wish they were somewhere else. Not all of them, of course, I’ve had pretty good luck with the afternoon crew. They seem relaxed, yet helpful and cheerful. The a.m. group, however, is another cup o’joe.

What a group of malcontents. One girl, working the espresso machine, got her feathers ruffled when I repeated my beverage order to her. It was, I thought, a simple misunderstanding. I thought she hadn’t heard me, since she seemed a bit dazed, and I repeated the words, "large, skinny, latte" to her. No real harm done, but apparently I grossly overstepped my place as a paying customer. "I heard you the first time," she snarled in reply. I just stood there feeling reprimanded while she produced my latte. When she was finished she let me know by screaming the order out, despite the fact that I was standing 3 feet away from her and she was looking directly at me. I hear that drinking too much coffee can make a person uptight. She might consider a non-caffeinated beverage for a while.

The next time I stopped in wasn’t much better, but at least nobody yelled at me. Nobody got me breakfast, though, either. It was a slow morning, something pretty rare in the Grind, to be sure, but I waited at the register for quite some time before the woman (a different one this time) noticed me. The fact she saw me waiting, however, did in no way expedite her presence at the register. She looked at me several times without speaking, looking more and more agitated that I was still there. Finally, she came up to the register to inform me she was busy making several other breakfasts and I would just need to wait until she could take my order. Needless to say, I took the hint and left.

These aren’t isolated experiences at the Grind, but they do seem to occur most often in the morning. Good thing they serve breakfast burritos all day long.

Another popular place for breakfast at Auraria is The Mercantile. To its benefit, The Mercantile has greatly improved on its past service problems. The cashiers have been nothing but polite and helpful to me and the guy who rustles up my bagel is cheerful too. The fry cook, though…good lord. Is this man there against his will? Is he chained to the grill as some sort of penance? If anyone from the Mercantile reads this, please, LET THE FRY COOK GO! He desperately needs a vacation.

Speaking of which, some very unhappy man at the Campus C-Store could use a few days of R&R. He very impatiently explained to me, in varying tones, why I needed to pay another quarter for cheese sauce. I’ll admit I was having a bad junk food day and I did put an awful lot of cheese sauce on my nachos (it’s self-serve). Too much, apparently, as I then received an unsolicited sermon about the hardships of using too much cheese sauce. I found out I was singularly responsible for driving up costs for my fellow students. To those of you whose lives have been altered by my unconscionable gluttony of this non-dairy, cheddar-like product, I apologize. Had he kindly informed me this supplementary cheese sauce charge existed, even though this extra charge was nowhere advertised in the store, I would gladly have given him an additional 25 cents. I had no idea condiments were such a serious business. Please remember this the next time you stop by the Campus C-Store, and don’t forget to bring an extra quarter.

Almost everyday for the past month or so I’ve been getting lunch at the Mandarin, in the Tivoli’s food court. It might be because I am a creature of habit, or it might be because the nice girl who works lunches behind the counter smiles at her customers. But really, that’s good enough for me.

To those of you whose lives have been altered by my unconscionable gluttony of this non-dairy, cheddar-like product [cheese sauce], I apologize.
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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

Tibetan student promotes change through music
Story by Thomas McPherson
Photos by Adam Houseman

The air just outside the Tivoli carried with it the sound of record needles scratching vinyl and mixed tracks in a DJ symphony. Throughout the sets by the men working the turntables and performances by Bop Skizzum and Katalyst, literature was passed out to the onlookers. All the while, the man primarily responsible for the event looked on with a smile. Tenzing Shrestha organized the event to raise awareness of the injustices committed in his homeland, a homeland few have seen.

The truth is, it’s a homeland he hasn’t seen either.

The event was the Free Tibet concert, an all-day event stretching from 10:30 a.m. until 3:30. Performing at the concert were Katalyst, Bop Skizzum, DJ Chonz, DJ Discord, and DJ Vtek. All performed tao help Shrestha and his organization spread the word on Chinese occupation of Tibet.

Shrestha was born in 1978 in Nepal, but his family roots lie squarely within neighboring Tibet. He acknowledges himself as Tibetan.

Shrestha’s parents and the thousands of other Tibetans he referred to fled their homeland following its invasion and occupation by the People’s Republic of China. Since 1949, China has held dominion over Tibet. Tibet’s spiritual and political leader, the Dalai Lama, was also forced to flee. As a result of this mass exodus, an entire generation of Tibetans like Shrestha has grown up outside their homeland; some without ever setting foot within Tibet’s borders. As a result, there has been a worldwide effort to try and end China’s occupation and free Tibet once more.

Shrestha has been fighting China’s occupation in his own way, trying to raise awareness of the crisis in Tibet by organizing events such as the concert on April 17. The event even attracted radio station Jammin 92.5, which covered the concert live. Denver’s Mt. Everest restaurant sold cultural cuisine as well. All of the attention helps Shrestha’s effort to raise awareness of Students for a Free Tibet’s campaign against awarding China the 2008 Olympic Games. Such political activism runs in Shrestha's family.

"Both my parents are politically active in Nepal, actually," Shrestha said. But advocacy for such causes carries a price. Though he is Tibetan, he has never seen his homeland, and risks much should he try under the current circumstances.

"There is a certain risk factor," he said, "The Chinese government knows who is politically active." He believes because his family name might be on a list, he risks possible incarceration should he ever enter Tibet as long as the Chinese government remains in control. He referred to a friend who went to Tibet "to record Tibetan songs and shoot a Tibetan video. He’s still in prison," he said. According to Shrestha, his friend has remained imprisoned for almost a year now.

As to his life in the United States, Shrestha credits the University of Colorado.

"The University of Colorado – they opened a school in Nepal, so I studied for a year and a half and then I came here," he said. In the spring of 1999, Shrestha came to the University of Colorado at Denver, majoring in music. He plans to use his talents toward the same cause his parents continue to fight for back in Nepal.

"I plan to write revolutionary kinds of songs about the Tibetan movement," he said.

Today, Shrestha played the role of concert organizer rather than performer.

But his fervent advocacy for a free Tibet does not stop with songwriting. Shrestha has used the situation of his homeland along with the example his parents have set to become politically active himself. He is a member of Students for a Free Tibet, a national organization of students, both Tibetan or otherwise, campaigning for a free Tibet. To help in this effort, he has set up fund raisers, organized protests and handed out literature to try and educate the masses on the situation in his homeland.

He believes Americans know little or nothing of the situation in Tibet. "They don’t even know what it is," he said, recalling a time when he was distributing shirts that read "Free Tibet." He mused that people thought it was a free giveaway of something called "Tibet" instead of realizing the political message. But despite Americans’ general lack of knowledge regarding the Tibetan crisis, Shrestha’s feelings toward America in general are complimentary.

"Actually, I think Americans are really lucky," he said, "There is something called freedom of speech, not being bound by the government." He added that even in Nepal, which is free of direct Chinese control, he might still risk incarceration for his activities. "These kind of activities I am doing now, if I did them in Nepal, I would be in prison," he said.

Shrestha also noted the learning opportunities a country like the United States provides. "If I was going to study music in Nepal, there would be no facilities for me," he said.

Those who have known Shrestha both during his time in Nepal and here have taken notice of his socially active demeanor. Suvekshya Bhattarai is a Nepalese graduate of the University of Colorado in Denver. She met Shrestha during their time as students in the University’s branch in Nepal.

"Tenzing and I were always keen on organizing events," she said.

But despite their shared enthusiasm for planning events, Bhattarai admitted she was rather aloof to the crisis in neighboring Tibet. "I wasn’t really aware…I’m still in the learning phase," she said. Bhattarai credits people like Shrestha for getting her involved in the movement for a free Tibet. She is now a member of Students for a Free Tibet. She also admits that while she is active, she is not quite as active as Shrestha. "I’m not as dedicated as Tenzing," she added.

Migyur Shrestha, who is not related to Shrestha but shares his heritage, had the opportunity to do what Shrestha and many other Tibetans do not have the chance to do – see Tibet. She noted that China’s atrocities are not apparent to the casual observer.

"I’ve been to Tibet and I met my relatives there," she said, "It looks like everything’s okay, but that’s not how it is." She added the only way to peel back this apparent façade is to ask questions repeatedly. "Then they really break down," she said.

The opportunity for Migyur Shrestha to return to her homeland was a unique one, an opportunity that is likely no longer available. "It’s really impossible to get a visa nowadays," she said.

But even one who has seen the tragedy of her homeland up close, applauds Shrestha's dedication.

"He has contributed sincerely to his cause. He’s been really devoted," she said.

For Shrestha and so many countless other Tibetans, the struggle goes on. "I still have this dream of going back to Tibet," he said. That dream may become a reality, as long as people like Shrestha continue to spread the word.
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Metro student inspires older crowd
Elena Brown
The Metropolitan

On May 13, Barbara Novick will celebrate Mother’s Day, graduate from Metro and her 56th birthday.

Not many people graduate at 56 years old.

"I did things in reverse. But at least I got it done" Novick said.

Novick will graduate this May with a degree in journalism with an emphasis in public relations. She has a grade-point average of 3.71. According to data complied by the Office of Institutional Research, women 56 or older make up 1 percent of Metro’s total population but have the highest GPAs of 3.5 or higher. Metro will graduate 36 students over age 50 this May. The are also 78 students who enrolled in the spring 2001 semester older than 50.

The Center for Individualized Learning, is a service that aids students with, designing their own major or minor and earning college credit for life experience.

Novick began her life in Connecticut and then moved to the Bronx. Her Russian mother and her father from New York raised her. Her mother worked in the welfare department and her father was a caterer.

In the 60s and without the training in journalism, she began to write the beauty columns for your Romance magazine and she wrote captions for TV Star Annual.

She married a civil engineer, and began to move around. Her husband was transferred to New Jersey, Pennsylvania and then Denver. The couple has lived in Denver for the past 24 years. Novick spent 15 years in the floral design business. Once again, she had no formal training in the industry, but managed to flourish in yet another career.

" I was lucky; everything I seemed to touch snowballed."

She sold floral arrangements to Denver department stores and various hotel chains as well as creating arrangements for weddings. She then entered the craft show arena.

"I didn’t even have business cards," Novick said. "One show I helped with turned into 10 shows."

Novick was a stay-at-home wife and mother raising two children, a boy and a girl. She continued to work out of her home.

"I like to be busy," she said.

Despite her busy lifestyle, she still felt a void. Something still remained unfulfilled. "I was missing a degree in my life," she said.

In 1996, she began an evening class at Metro. She was working with the "Just Say No" program, the "Yes 2 Youth" program and "Youth Power" program. Each of the programs worked to help encourage inner-city and troubled youth to excel. Novick, once again without formal training, managed to excel in the volunteer programs as a fund-raiser and grant writer. She even managed to raise $100,000 in one evening of fund-raising. It was during this experience that Novick nourished her passion of caring for the children and fighting for the underdog. "I wanna do something for kids."

In 1998, she began a full-time Metro schedule, with the help of The Center for Individualized Learning.

Novick managed to complete her college career in 3 years. She credits the Center for Individualized Learning for her fast-tracking college experience.

"I just remember someone talking about it," she said. "And then I went over to the center."

The center is under a close observation of Charles Scillia, coordinator and Maureen Lancaster, director.

Under the Credit for Prior Learning program, Novick received more than 15 credit hours for journalism, non-profit and management classes.

The student in the program must write portfolios stating that the outside knowledge and experience is enough for the class. Once approved, the student receives credit for the class and pays 1/3 of the tuition.

The center has been around since the mid-70s. Lancaster has been with the program since 1981. She has seen many students take advantage of the Individualized Degree Program, but has seen a decline in the Credit for Prior Learning program.

"Many people are anxious about beginning the process," she said. "They haven’t been to college in so long."

But people shouldn’t feel apprehensive about taking the first step and re-entering college, because the support system is there for them. "This program is a very useful tool." She said. "We take people’s dreams, add the correct curriculum and make their dreams realized."

Novick has used both programs to excel in her college career. She feels everyone should know about the center. The center is mentioned in the course catalog and the student handbook. Information is even incorporated in the new student orientation.

On the small staff is work-study student Donna Whitsitt. The 52-year-old will graduate in two years with a degree in multicultural studies. This will enhance her degree in Elementary Education. She has a current GPA of 3.88.

"It’s higher than both my daughters," she said.

She, too, only heard of the center by word-of-mouth.

The center has plans to meet with the faculty of every department to inform and reacquaint professors and department heads about the program. They have begun an Emeritus Program, which allows, with the approval of the professor, people older than 60 to sit in on a class for free.

"I’m excited in what we do," Lancaster said. "I’m passionate to make each student feel honor in what they do and have done.

"The center will be holding an informational session April 26 and May 8.

Novick’s cousin just got her Ph.D. from Columbia University, and she’s 79.

"She’s my role model,"Novick said. "It just goes to show that learning is lifelong."
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Violence, subtitles cause walkouts
Chris Ward
On Film

A lot of people are walking out of Amores perros.

Not entire audiences, mind you, but an average of three or four per show, according to Esquire Theatre assistant manager Edward Martin.

"We definitely have at least one person walk out of each show," Martin said. "I haven’t seen it play once without someone leaving."

One of the primary reasons people are forfeiting the price of their tickets is the realistic violence of the film. There’s nothing worse than what most people have seen before, but two factors make it harder for most people to handle.

One is where the violence is directed. The first of the film’s three segments deals with brutal dogfights, filmed with enough realism that the audience is informed before the movie starts that no animals were harmed in the making of the movie. Still, many people have trouble watching animals get hurt, even though several movies depict similar injuries being inflicted upon humans.

The other factor is the after effects of violence. The fights, shootings and car wrecks in Amores perros are not funny, glamorous, or at all entertaining, like so much movie violence. They are tragic. As Martin put it, "For the first time in recent memory, they depicted violence accurately." We see the pain, the suffering, the scarring and all the other after-effects that are so often left out of standard action movies. For once, we see violence as a bad thing. If people don’t want to look at it, I can’t blame them; some moviegoers don’t want that much reality on a Saturday afternoon.

As for the other reason people have left the theater, it is far less understandable. I must say that I am often surprised at what some people need spelled out for them.

On opening night, Martin told me, several people asked for their money back because they didn’t realize they would have to read during the show. By the end of the night there was a sign posted at the box office informing moviegoers that Amores perros is a Spanish language film with English subtitles," and that "No refunds will be given after the feature begins."

Now, I knew this going into the movie, because there were a few telltale clues. The title, for one, is in Spanish; loosely translated it means "Love’s a bitch," in reference to the importance of dogs to the film’s interweaving plots. Add to that the fact that it was produced in Mexico, and was nominated in the best foreign language film category at last month’s Academy Awards, and the language of the movie becomes less of a mystery.

Leaving because a film is unsettling I can understand. The R rating has gotten to the point where it’s not always taken seriously as evidence of graphic material in a movie. But leaving because you expected it to be in English? I had hoped most moviegoers would have more sense than to go into a movie without knowing anything about it.
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horoscopes by miss anna

ARIES: It's time to consider the difference between balance and basic stagnation... and to take note of just what state you are really in. You tend to be quite critical of yourself, and judging yourself so harshly could be holding you back from bigger and better things.

TAURUS: A loved one may unknowingly hurt your feelings this week. Let them know what has hurt you, and how to avoid such problems in the future. Be willing to look at any over-sensitivity on your part. A personal philosophy you hold dear may be questioned, so try to go with the flow.

GEMINI: There is no such thing as perfection, so don't expect as much from yourself, and those around you. Stop being so critical and learn to be good to yourself and to others. Follow your hunches this week, you will be glad you did, or sorry you didn't. Delegate responsibilities.

CANCER: Your belief system may seem to be disintegrating before your eyes, and although this does not seem to be good news at the present time, it will in the long run. Take advantage of the support and care family members want to give you... family has always been there for you.

LEO: Try to set aside time during the week to explore any new ways of self-expression, you may uncover creative avenues that you never had previously thought of. Let a special person in your life know that they are appreciated and loved. Spend some time alone.

VIRGO: Facing the truth in a situation may not be as damaging as you may think. Relax into the newness and you will find that it really isn't so bad, there are advantages to a new way of looking at situations. Someone may put you in your place if you monopolize others.

LIBRA: Gather all that excessive and positive energy to get a task accomplished this week - there is no use in putting off what needs to be done eventually. Do not get caught up in a situation which is going no where.

SCORPIO: It's time for a well deserved rest this week. Along with rest should come self introspection. Pay attention to any health matters, no matter how trivial they may seem. Romance may be on hold for the time being until you review your feelings and options for how you want to proceed.

SAGITTARIUS: This week you probably come to some important conclusions regarding the best use of your money. Lively discussions with family members will bring new information to the group. Be cautious of letting another know your feelings, you may just need to sit on this one awhile.

CAPRICORN: Any information you may be able to glean from a family member, no matter how authoritarian this figure may seem, will be well worth any uncomfortableness. Daydreams do serve a very useful function, but try not to get caught up in such fantasies.

AQUARIUS: You may be able to teach another the lesson of focusing energies to profitable ends. You have good ideas for the workplace, but you aneed to soften your approach so that you don't turn off others. A cherished part of your life is coming apart at the seams.

PISCES: Bask in the admiration of others for a job well done, and then start a clean slate. Time alone can be a real treat, so surround yourself with quietness, beauty and serenity. If you are working only for money, find additional work which will leave you satisfied.
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Metrosports

Metro slugger looking to break mark
Metro baseball player Jack Edwards has a chance of breaking the school homerun record
Eric McConnell
The Metropolitan

If you’ve got tools, you’d better know how to use them.

We’re not talking about those Bob Vila gadgets you see on the Sears commercials, though.

We’re talking about athletic tools — skills that are necessary to succeed at any level. More specifically, we’re talking about baseball skills, five of them: speed, power, average, arm, defense.

Not every player is fortunate enough to possess all of these assets at once, but Metro senior Jack Edwards is one of the few who does.

"He’s just an athlete," Metro baseball coach Vince Porreco said. "He’s definitely a five-tool player."

When or where Edwards developed those tools is beyond even Edwards himself.

"I wasn’t blessed with any God-given ability," Edwards said. "It’s just what I love to do. I guess all the hard work has paid off. But when you love what you do, the hard work isn’t hard at all."

That’s the attitude of a competitor. No amount of success will ever be enough.

Take for example Edwards’ offensive production thus far this season.

As of April 16, he was batting .316 with eight doubles, nine home runs, 37 RBI and his slugging percentage was above .600.

Now, if that’s not enough to have pitchers from around the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference shaking, add nine stolen bases in 12 attempts, and you’ve got yourself a very solid year of offense, right? Well . . . .

"I could definitely be doing better," Edwards said. "My average isn’t where I want it to be. If I could put it together, I’d like to bat .400."

.400?! By a show of hands, how many of us baseball enthusiasts would be perfectly content with the .316?

But, that’s why we’re reading this article about Jack Edwards and not the other way around.

As long as he’s played the game of baseball, Edwards has placed very high expectations on himself. At times, those expectations have worked against him.

"Jack has started slow with his bat the last two years," Porreco said. "He’s just been pressing a little bit. He was an All-American shortstop at his junior college in California. I believe he can be the top hitter in the RMAC.

"But he puts so much pressure on himself to do well. He just wants the results now, like any competitive athlete would."

Edwards isn’t like just any competitive athlete, though. He’s a true gamer, always willing to work for the betterment of the team. How so?

Well, for starters, he’s not a shortstop anymore.

All-American or no, Edwards had no reservations whatsoever about moving to right field a year and a half ago when told it would be best for the team.

"You need somebody in the outfield who can cover a lot of ground," Porreco said. "Jack can do that. He has great instincts and an exceptional arm, which makes for a very solid right fielder.

"His number-one concern is how he can help his team," Porreco continued. "He’s a leader by example. He uplifts the rest of the team. A lot of people respect him."

What’s not to be respected?

Statistical production put aside, Edwards brings so much more to the Roadrunners than just a quick bat and consistent defense. He brings that leadership that only the fiercest of competitors can bring to a ball club, though he’d never admit to it.

"I wouldn’t say I’m one of the big leaders or motivators on the team," Edwards said. "I’ve been playing baseball for 19, 20 years now. It’s just what I love to do. You gotta love it."

He may not think he does, but like Porreco said, Edwards definitely leads by example. For him, it’s not about the numbers. It’s not about the attention. It’s about winning.

"Jack’s not gonna talk the talk," Porreco said. "He’s gonna walk the walk. You can see it in his eyes. He’s got that competitive attitude. There’s not one guy on the team who wouldn’t do anything for him."

And in return, there’s nothing Edwards wouldn’t do for his team.

"We still have 16 games to go," Edwards said. "We still do have a chance to make the RMAC Tournament. I feel good about the rest of the season."

That seems to be the resounding sentiment among the Roadrunners in the dugout these days. No one can deny it’s been a tough season, maybe even disappointing in spots. But spirits are high.

"This has been a frustrating season with a lot of close losses," Edwards said. "We’re taking it game—by—game now. The key is just to relax, play within yourself. You really can’t press too much."

Edwards swears he’s going to follow his own advice when it comes to the remainder of his individual season.

If he does find a way to loosen up and get back into that groove he found at the end of last season, we could see some very exciting baseball in the days to come.

"His power numbers this year are above last year’s," Porreco said. "The team record for homers in a season is 15. Right now Jack’s got nine.

"It would take a real push to get there, and I’m not sure with 16 games left we could say he’s chasing."

True, it would take an offensive outburst like those rarely witnessed at any level for Edwards to tie or surpass the school mark. That doesn’t mean it won’t be fun to watch, though.

"I was never even thinking about the home run record," Edwards said. "If you do, you’ll overswing."

Edwards attributes little factoids such as that one to the great coaching he’s received at Metro.

"Carlson, the hitting coach, has been huge," Edwards said. "Vince has taught me the game, too. I used to just get up there and swing. Now I know about hitting."

It’s safe to say Edwards probably doesn’t draw many arguments on that point. Still, as productive as he’s been this season, there will always be more to baseball than individual accomplishments.

"One player doesn’t make a team," Porreco said. "But Jack has given me nothing but pleasure watching him for the last year and a half. As a coach, we love to get guys like Jack. He’s hard-working and ready to play."

If they’re going to make a run at the post season, the rest of the Roadrunners had better be ready as well, because there is more to a team than just one player, even if his name is Jack Edwards.

What’s On Deck

Regis University @ Metro baseball, April 21-22, starting at noon both days: Regis won an early encounter with the Roadrunners earlier this season, 15-14, but this time, the games count in the conference standings. Metro plays well at home against the Rangers, holding a 24-13 edge all-time when playing at the Auraria Fields.

Metro baseball @ Nebraska-Kearney, April 27, 1 p.m. and April 28 at noon: The Lopers will try and get revenge from last year after losing three of four games to the Roadrunners. Kearney holds a slight edge over Metro when playing in Nebraska, 9-7 all-time.
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Tough 2001 schedule awaits volleyball
Nick Garner
The Metropolitan

After moving from worst to almost the top of the conference in her first season, Metro volleyball coach Debbie Hendricks will have more of a challenge in the 2001 season.

The 2001 volleyball schedule was announced today with Metro enduring a rigorous seven-game road trip at the end of the season, including a stretch playing three games in as many days.

Hendricks said there was an attempt to spread out the games, but the conference denied the request. Even though they have to play the games, there is a bright side to it.

"If you enter the regional tournament lower then a No. 1 or a No. 2 seed, you have to play three games in three days just to get through it," Hendricks said. "This is good for us, it will prepare us, just in case we have to play three in a row again. It will be a good learning experience for us."

The Roadrunners start off the season Aug. 24 in California when they play in the University of San Diego tournament.

Even though this isn’t as glamorous as the Colorado Premier Challenge, which Metro will participate in when they get back from California, there are some teams in the Roadrunners region that play in this tournament.

"It’s a great tournament and some of the teams that are playing in it were ranked last year, so it will give us a good challenge."Hendricks said.

Following a trip to Greeley to face the University of Northern Colorado, the Roadrunners start the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference portion of its schedule.

Metro will play nine of its first 10 conference games at home, which includes matches with Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State.

Getting off to a good start at home is important before heading off on a long road trip.

"It’s imperative that we do well," Hendricks said. "With us playing three games in three days, doing well at home before the trip will give us more confidence going on the road."

The road trip begins Oct. 12 when Metro takes on the New Mexico Highlands and ends Oct. 27 against Chadron State. In between, Metro will face tough challenges from CU-Colorado Springs (Oct. 12), Southern Colorado (Oct. 14), Kearney (Oct. 19), Fort Hays (Oct. 20), and Colorado Christian (Oct. 26).

The Roadrunners will finish out the regular season at the Auraria Events Center, taking on Colorado School of Mines (Nov. 2) and Regis (Nov. 3) before going into the RMAC tournament Nov. 9-10.
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