Volume 24, issue 7, October 5, 2001

GLBT month kicks off
Speakers, workshops and round tables planned throughout October
Jenni Grubbs
The Metropolitan

Keynote speaker Loren Cameron kicked off Auraria’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Trans Awareness Month on Wednesday, Oct. 3.

Cameron spoke about his documentation through photography of his own transition as a man, and how that led to the photography of transsexual and transgendered people that has made him famous.

"Everyone who has the task of keynote speaking wants to be profound and memorable, to impart something wise and indelible on the audience," Cameron said, and according to GLBT program assistant and Metro sophomore Nico Baker, Cameron achieved that goal.

"I haven’t slept all week, I’ve been so excited," Baker said. "His art really moved and intrigued me, especially since it is taken from a part of our community that often gets lost."

Baker discovered Cameron’s art last February and began e-mailing him in May. "He’s such a sweetheart," Baker said, adding that Cameron was "thrilled" to come to Denver and speak on a topic so central to his life.

"Before I realized that I was transgendered, and it took a while, I was curious about transgendered bodies," Cameron said. This curiosity led to his book of photography "Body of Alchemy," which is primarily photographs, including nudes, of transgendered males, or female bodies transitioning into male bodies.

Cameron’s speech focused on the subjects of his pictures, which were shown in a slide show. "These people are very courageous," Cameron said. "I’ve interviewed all of my subjects, getting to know them pretty well. It was a very intimate process.

"Nudes are a little hard to come by," he said. "We’re all a little afraid to take off our clothes, but imagine if you’re transgendered."

"For a lot of the GLBT community that was there, it was so new," Auraria GLBT program director Karen Bensen said.

Cameron’s speech was only the first of 10 events planned for October; other events include workshops, speakers, roundtable discussions, and a high tea.

According to Bensen, October was chosen as a month to "raise awareness in the greater community of our existence, as well as our needs and issues."

Program Assistant Ron Dawson Jr. said he views GLBT Awareness Month as a time to create "more dialogue between our community and our potential allies. I like to see it as taking one more potentially ignorant and hateful person off the streets."

An ally to the GLBT community was defined by Bensen as "someone who is sensitive and aware of the issues facing GLBT people." She said there are "a lot of allies on this campus.

One of the events planned is National Coming Out Day Closet on Oct. 10-11. National Coming Out Day was started in 1987 with the first march on Washington, which is what Bensen traces as GLBT Awareness Month’s start.

"We took that and ran with it," she said. "We used to do a week of activities," but now she feels a week is not sufficient to spread the word.

Although Pridefest would seem the opportune time for an awareness-raising, Bensen said, its June timing is "terrible for campuses" since only a fraction of the students take summer classes. Thus, with National Coming Out Day, October was chosen. The next problem was deciding on the activities and events.

"We try to decide what is most interesting and applicable for the time," Bensen said. "It’s really hard to choose activities that will appeal to all groups. We want everyone to feel seen during the month."

"I try to look at what we haven’t done recently, as well as our budget and my personal interests," Baker said.

Bensen added that if the student employees are excited about a speaker, they will work harder to make it work, as was the case with Cameron.

In addition to the activities and events, the GLBT Student Services Center offers a speakers’ bureau, a safe zone with free training for faculty and staff on how to be an ally, information and referrals, and an e-mail newsletter with information about upcoming events, programs and services.

Bensen said that, while these services are offered year-round, it is important to set aside this month to really recognize the community.

"Part of my purpose in this world as a lesbian is to expand the level of tolerance surrounding GLBT issues," she said.

"I just want to be able to be me wherever I go and be accepted," Baker said. "I also want to make it easier for the next generation of queer kids."

"It is important to do this now so that one day it won’t be important," Dawson said.
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Film Fest Schedule Announced
Chris Ward
The Metropolitan

The Denver Film Society announced the schedule for this year’s Denver International Film Festival Sept. 27.

The 11-day event will bring more than 150 films from around the world to the Tivoli theaters Oct. 11 through the 21st. The selections are foreign and domestic, contemporary and classic, fiction and documentary. They range in length from six minutes to nearly five hours. Several of the movies will have their world or U.S. premiers at the festival, and more than 70 filmmakers are scheduled to introduce their works.

For the past 23 years the festival has only lasted ten days, but it was extended this year because a venue wasn’t available for the usual Saturday closing night.

"The upshot is that it is a benefit to filmgoers, because they have one more day to see films," Film Society media representative Connie Young said. She also noted that the opportunity for repeat screenings of popular films was a factor in deciding to lengthen the festival. "Last year we were able to repeat several films that were popular, and we wanted to be able to do it again this year."

Among the movies scheduled for the festival are a series of films representing Latino cinema. The "Salute to Latin Cinema" includes 14 movies about various aspects of Latin culture.

The festival will also pay tribute to documentary filmmaker Albert Maysles, showing three of his movies including his newest, LaLee’s Kin. Young said Maysles was being honored because he "has made major contributions in documentary filmmaking." Maysles will be present to discuss his films at the festival.

Two of the festival’s three main events will take place at the Buell Theatre. The opening film, Lantana, will play there Oct. 11 along with a gala party. The centerpiece event, a showing of Life as a House, will be held at the Buell the night of Oct. 13.

The third main event, the festival’s closing night and subsequent party, will be held at the Continental Theatre. Director Peter Bogdanovich will be presented with the Mayor’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and his new film, The Cat’s Meow, will be shown. The event is taking place at the Continental because the Buell was unavailable for that night.

"It’s a beautiful and very large theater," Young said of the Continental, where festival events have been held in the past. "And there aren’t a lot of very large theaters around here."

"Last year we were able to repeat several films that were popular, and we wanted to be able to do it again this year."

- Connie Young, Film Society Representative
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Radio stations’ no-play list touchy subject
Summer McElley
Rocky Mountain Collegian

(U-WIRE) FORT COLLINS, Colo. - In response to a list of possibly offensive songs compiled by Clear Channel Communications last week, other radio stations have become sensitive to the needs of their listeners.

On Sept. 19, program directors of Clear Channel Communications released a list of more than 150 songs to local radio stations that they suggested should not be played due to the recent terrorism acts.

Although Colorado State University’s KCSU radio is not operated by Clear Channel Communications, the list was posted for all disc jockeys to review. The purpose of this is to help get a better understanding of what to play and to make DJ’s think twice about what they are playing, said Nathan Dewey, music director of KCSU.

"We have no list, but we are sympathetic and here for CSU and Fort Collins," Dewey said. "We care what our listeners think."

KCSU has also removed some CDs they found that may be inappropriate, said Jen Rotert, KCSU’s program director. Some of these include Ramstein and Eat Static who have a song titled, "Crash and Burn."

Another step KCSU has taken is stopping the promotion of a local band called Burning Airlines, Dewey said.

"They are being careful as well, but what can they do?" Dewey said. "That has always been their bands name."

Dewey and Rotert are listening to KCSU as it is on air to make sure everything is running smoothly and no complaints are being brought to attention.

"We did have a complaint on Eat Static’s "Crash and Burn," Rotert said. "Its lyrics go along with the title, it was inappropriate."

The station is also aware not to offend their audience by doing too much censoring, Dewey said.

"Clear Channel Comm-cations is a big corporation and has more listeners, this doesn’t mean we don’t care, but we are still trying to represent the college scene," Dewey said. "Music is a freedom of speech, we can’t tell Rage Against the Machine what they can and cannot play."

Another local radio station, TRI 102.5 FM, is also taking a sensitive viewpoint, but they are not following a no-play list, said Michael Stone, morning show host.

"It pretty much comes down to whatever the DJ thinks is best," Stone said.

According to Stone, his morning show has received just as much, if not more emotional attachment to the patriotic songs the station has been playing.

"The other day I played the pledge of allegiance. Each word was explained for what it meant," Stone said. "You wouldn’t believe the responses I got, they were very emotional."

Songs that haven’t been played by Stone, are Billy Joel’s "Didn’t Start the Fire" and Cole and the Gang’s "Celebration," which was requested the week after the attacks happened.

"I didn’t find it appropriate at the time," Stone said.

According to Dr. Charles Davidshofer, director of the counseling center at CSU, the list provided by Clear Channel Communications is questionable on how successful it will be.

"Most songs are not going to have an effect on the majority of people," Davidshofer said.

BREAK OUT BOX

Just a few of the songs Clear Channel programmers suggested not airing.

"The Boys From New York City," Ad Libs "Rooster," "Sea of Sorrow," "Down in a Hole," Alice in Chains "Falling for the First Time," Barenaked Ladies "Sure Shot," Beastie Boys "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," "Love is a Battlefield," Pat Benatar "And When I Die," Blood, Sweat and Tears "Speed Kills," Bush "Rock the Casbah," The Clash "In the Air Tonight," Phil Collins "Travelin’ Band," Creedence Clearwater Revival "The End," The Doors "Knockin on Heaven’s Door," Bob Dylan/Guns and Roses "Bad Day," Fuel "When You’re Falling," Peter Gabriel "You Dropped the Bomb on Me," The Gap Band "Bennie & The Jets," "Daniel," "Rocket Man," Elton John "That’ll Be The Day," Buddy Holly and the Crickets "Crash Into Me," Dave Matthews Band, All Rage Against the Machine.
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SGA contemplates promotional video
Matt Gavin
The Metropolitan

The Student Government Assembly’s meeting on Sept. 27 focused on various aspects of media coverage to promote both Metro and the SGA.

Bill Hathaway, the director of Admissions for Metro, gave a brief presentation concerning a new video that would give the school an advantage in recruiting high school students. The video is approximately eight minutes long and highlights positive aspects of Metro that might persuade prospective students to attend the college.

Hathaway was formerly with the University of Colorado at Boulder and, "at that level college videos are the thing to do," he said. He also added that Metro needs a promotional video because, "we have a great story to tell."

The video will attempt to communicate that Metro is a highly respected institution of a "dynamic nature" with a diverse background and a college that offers students "real-world experience," according to Hathaway. It interweaves success stories from students and "colorful professors." It also highlights scenes from Lower Downtown and markets the school as being in a fun, safe environment, he said.

The main purpose of the video is to increase enrollment and make prospective students think "Metro is a great place for me." The videos will target high school seniors and be distributed to high school college career centers.

Some SGA members raised concerns that programs from their particular departments of study were not represented. Another complaint was that Metro’s championship basketball team was not present in the video. But, according to Hathaway, if the video were to be nine minutes or longer the audience would be lost. This meant that not everything about the college could be mentioned. Hathaway said that the video is to serve as a sampling of what Metro has to offer in the hopes that prospective students will write or call for more information. After watching the video, Jorge Hernandez, V.P. of student services, said, "it makes me want to go to Metro."

SGA members continued the meeting by discussing the possibility of creating new SGA pamphlets. The pamphlets will be general ones, discussing SGA’s roles and objectives and will feature current SGA members and their responsibilities on the back. Pamphlets will be available for students to pick up throughout the Auraria Campus.
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Universities offer credit cards to students
Dan Prazer
The Miami Student

(U-WIRE) OXFORD, Ohio - When Miami University junior Mariah Mercer walked out of the bookstore during her orientation session in the summer of 1999, she found a pre-approved application for an MBNA credit card at the bottom of her bag.

Her first semester books cost $450. Coupled with her first-year necessities, car insurance and trips home for breaks, her balance continued to grow.

"At this point, I’m about $2,500 in debt," Mercer said. "I worked a lot this summer, though ... The past two summers, all of my money has gone to paying off my credit cards or paying off my car."

Miami University, in October of 1997, granted the exclusive licensing of the school’s name for credit cards to MBNA America Bank, promising the company updated mailing lists of students in exchange for a minimum $1.88 million.

The contract is in effect until Sept. 11, 2002, but automatically extends in successive one-year terms until either MBNA or Miami decides to opt out.

Miami receives $1 for each account opened that remains open for 90 days, plus one-half of one percent on the balance of alumni cards and four-tenths of one percent on student balances. In exchange for the royalties, Miami agreed to provide the mailing list of current students and alumni, and MBNA has the rights to at least four direct mailings and two telemarketing campaigns each year.

The interest rates for students stipulated in the contract is 9.99 percentage points above the prime rate – currently 16.49 percent after the Federal Reserve’s last interest rate cut. Ray Mock, assistant vice president of alumni relations, said that the money has been used for scholarships, but the $1.38 million advance MBNA paid the university has already been spent. Mock is responsible for supplying alumni mailing list to MBNA, comprising about 120,000 alumni.

The university’s stance has been that the use of credit cards, when distribution is managed by the university, helps students learn to use credit.

"It’s that balancing act between trying to use credit – and use it responsibly," said Richard Little, senior director of university communications. "It’s not as simple as saying that credit cards are necessarily bad or good things."
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police briefs

Bike Stolen

Kenneth Wayne Kennedy reported a theft on Sept. 21. Kennedy parked and locked his bicycle in a bike rack in between Central and South classrooms at 8:30 a.m. When Kennedy returned, his bike and lock were missing. The report stated the theft occurred between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 21.

Purse Stolen

Katherine Anne Razum, a University of Colorado at Denver student, reported a theft on Sept. 22. Razum left her purse in the Tivoli Student Union TV lounge. When she returned to get her purse, it was missing. The report stated the theft occurred between 1 p.m. and 1:10 p.m. on Sept. 22.

Student Arrested

Meghan Victoria Callen, a Metro student, was arrested on Sept. 25 in connection with an outstanding warrant.

Bicycle Stolen

Gereald Tabele Jr., a Metro student, reported a theft on Sept. 26. Tabele parked and locked his bicycle in a bike rack between the Event Center and North Classroom building at 9:30 a.m. When Tabele returned, he discovered his bike missing. The report stated the theft occurred between 9:30 and 11:10 a.m. on Sept. 26.

Student Arrested

Victor Munoz, a classroom aide in Auraria’s Child Care Center, was arrested on Sept. 25, in connection with an outstanding warrant.

Munoz was riding his bicycle in a "dismount zone" when an officer stopped him.

"The cop wasn’t sure if he’d issued me a warning about riding in a dismount zone before...so he checked his records," Munoz said. Munoz said he was shocked when the officer told him he had an outstanding warrant.

According to police records, the outstanding warrant was for failure to appear in court for an alleged ordinance violation involving marijuana – two years ago.

Munoz has been an employee of the child care center for approximately two months. "He is very good with the kids," Penny Cordillo, Munoz’s co-worker, said. "He’s funny, dependable and responsible." Cordillo has worked with Munoz during the last two months.

Auraria Police Chief Joseph Ortiz said the charge against Munoz is "very minor."

- Aimee Potter
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Peace-niks aid and abet terrorists
David Hindman
Staff columnist

Wanted: American peace demonstrators to protest weapons of mass destruction, the murder of innocents and the insufficient pursuit of diplomatic channels to settle disputes. Rally to be held in Kabul, Afghanistan!

I am not surprised but am very nonplussed at the unmitigated gall of the peace terrorists — I mean Marxists -- oh, I mean demonstrators, you know, the ones aiding and abetting mass murder in New York City? The ones trying to deny justice to the 10,000 newly parent-less children there and in Washington, D.C. The people that claim they are anti-globalists yet still want to prosecute terrorists in an international tribunal known as the United Nations International Criminal Court, instead of in the United States.

They are made up, similarly to the terrorists, of a network of "peace" oriented groups, with names like the Anti-Capitalist Convergence (the short spelling is c-o-m-m-u-n-i-s-t), who are still searching for the eternal, earthly, global, man-made Utopia that will never come, (the same Utopia pursued by the communists in the former U.S.S.R. that led to the slaughter of millions) and who pursue this pipe dream at the expense of American freedom and sovereignty.

I’ve got news for these people. This is the jurisdiction of the United States of America, and we don’t need the U.N. to prosecute our enemies for us. Even international law recognizes the right of a nation to defend itself, which is exactly what we are doing. And if you’re not with us, you’re with the terrorists. So go crawl back under the communist rock from under which you slithered, or better yet, one in Afghanistan (you'll find plenty there).

I don’t want innocent civilians in Afghanistan to die. Neither does the President. That’s why he is pursuing terrorist organizations with the finest of surgical tactics. However, the fact is that I don’t want the death of thousands more, even millions more innocent American lives because we fail to punish the terrorists sufficiently, thereby emboldening them to pursue additional "military" action on U.S. soil against U.S. citizens (and non-citizens alike).

It is my view that the United States should meet diplomacy with diplomacy and acts of war with self-defense. Who of these Marxists — oh, there I go again, I mean peace demonstrators — would not use deadly force to defend his or her children against a murderous intruder in the home? Do you really expect they would flash a peace sign and say, "Dude, I’m really bummed that you’re trying to kill my wife and kids. Wait right here while I call the proper authorities, okay?" At that point, the owner of the home is the proper authority, and has not only the right, but the moral responsibility to defend his family. Well, it’s time to defend all of our families. Every single one in this country. The intruder drew first blood. We’re not going to sit around waiting for him to spill even more of the blood of our relatives.

The peace-niks use a quote that I believe is attributed to Ghandi. "An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind." Aside from the fact that their quote is a religiously insensitive perversion of Old Testament Scripture, it is also a saying that is hopelessly short-sighted (pardon the pun). The fact is, the failure to prosecute a just war leads to the murder of the innocent.

Americans need to understand the seriousness of the situation we are dealing with. The terrorists are not like the Mafia. They are connected to a network of terrorist organizations, based in terrorist states like Iraq, Iran, Algeria and more. They are receiving funding from these countries and these states in turn are cooperating with the communist government of China to develop biological weapons, chemical weapons and nuclear weapons. China is profiting in the billions of dollars on the tidy little terrorist trade by supplying equipment to purify bomb grade uranium, and to build nuclear research facilities and biological weapons factories. Americans are in far more trouble than most of them know. We certainly don’t need the peace-niks clouding the minds of the uninformed and weakening our resolve to stand united.
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Everyone should question assumptions
Jenny Arribau
Staff columnist

I am a racist. I am also a sexist, a classist, an able-ist and an agist. I didn’t know this until recently, nor did I realize that I am also a weightest, a clothesist, a religist a hairist and a heightist. So are you and so are all of us. What we believe that we know about others is not based on fact, it is based on merely what we assume about one another, and these assumptions are usually false. In our presentday society where the term politically correct is used almost as often as the word terrorism, we are all afraid to verbalize stereotypes about others for fear of stepping on someone’s toes. Yet if we didn’t share the same assumptions, then TV shows like "Southpark" and "The Simpsons" wouldn’t be funny!

All of our assumptions stem from the generalizations that we make about each other. Some of them are so over-emphasized by institutions, the media and those around us that even the most outrageous assumptions that we make about our fellow humans don’t sound strange. Here’s a short list:

All women want to lose weight. All men want to be rich. All lesbians have bad haircuts. All black people love rap music. All Hispanic men are "macho." All Native Americans like gambling. All Asian women are quiet. Old people are cute. Fat people are unhealthy. Disabled people don’t have sex. Poor people do drugs. People with illnesses are useless. People with southern accents are idiots. Accountants are boring. Blondes are sexy. Artists are loners. Lawyers are liars. Muslims are anti-American.

Many of these stereotypes are considered facts to people all over the continent, if not the world. But how can we define an entire segment of the world’s population when we have trouble defining ourselves? As our lives change, so do our identities. One year you may just be known as Bob. The next year, "Bob, the daddy," and then perhaps, "Bob, the bowling champion," or "Bob, the one with cancer." Our identities are just too complex to summarize in one phrase.

I am just as guilty of pre-judging people as anyone else is. For example, when I see a woman with light brown skin and what I think are Hispanic features, my first assumption is that she is Mexican-American. Maybe I won’t even add the American part. Next, I might assume that she speaks Spanish fluently, and that she has an accent. If I think about it any further, I imagine her living in a neighborhood with other Mexicans, and then it starts getting even more ridiculous. All of the sudden this person who just passed me on campus and whom I know nothing about is working a factory job, living in a small apartment with 18 other family members, cooking enchiladas and hitting piñatas in the backyard on a regular basis.

Don’t I know better? Well, of course I do! But as soon as I made the assumption, I should have said, "On second thought, I know nothing about her." She could be from Costa Rica, or Uruguay. Or maybe she isn’t even Central or South American! Maybe she’s Rumanian, or Tajik, or British. She could be wealthy and single, she could speak 4 different languages or English alone. Furthermore, stereotyping doesn’t just happen from one race or class to another. Ironically, we are often most critical of members of our own race, and this is just one reason why we have trouble communicating with each other.

One last thing. To assume is only human. We cannot help it and we will not stop it, no matter how hard we try. But maybe by admitting that we know almost nothing about a person’s identity when we first see them, we can then open our minds to understanding that person as an individual. This is especially essential at a time of such tension in our country after the recent terrorist attacks. Racism started this war, and all people of both sexes, all colors, all ages and all classes must rise, come together, and end it.

But how do we do that? I propose that we start with ourselves. Let’s admit that concepts such as racism, sexism and classism are a part of who we are. The only way to break down the walls between us is to ask ourselves questions, and then perhaps we can communicate with each other on a more personal level.
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Conflicting thoughts about Columbus Day
Columbus Day; a celebration of enslavement and genocide

Some consider Christopher Columbus a hero, but to me he is just a greedy man who was after wealth, power and land. He wanted all of these, and he was willing to do anything to get them, even if this meant wiping out a whole community.

Columbus and his men first approached the Taino Indians. These Indians seemed easily conquerable from the beginning. They had no armor, no weapons, and were susceptible to disease. As the years went by the population of these Indians declined. They were killed, starved to death, or they committed suicide.

How can we celebrate a day that has consisted of so much pain and anguish? Columbus Day is not a day to celebrate; yet, it is a day to remember. There were thousands of people's lives sacrificed on one man's behalf. Columbus was so concerned about claiming land, finding gold, spreading Christianity and gaining power that he did not think about who he was hurting.

From now on, we should celebrate October 8 as "A Day to Remember." What about the people who believe that Christopher Columbus was a hero? To these people I suggest they review the facts. I know it's hard to blame thousands of people's deaths on one man, but this one man wanted fame and glory, and that's just what he got. We should remember Christopher Columbus as a selfish man.

Kim Tremblay

Italian Americans are planning a Columbus Day Parade at the capitol again this year in honor of their heritage. According to them, Columbus was a hero, responsible for the migration of Europeans to the Americas. I do not dispute this argument, but I propose that Columbus is not a man we should honor and celebrate. Columbus did not actually discover America. Moreover, he was a man whose intentions were to gain wealth and power, regardless of the consequences.

Columbus and his men set sail to reach India (Asia). Instead, Columbus collided with Haiti. Even after his arrival, he was still convinced that he had found the Orient. Although Columbus sailed along the coasts of South and Central America up to the Isthmus of Panama, he never actually set foot on what would become the United States of America.

There were people in America for thousands of years before Columbus' arrival. Historians suggest that in 1492 there were more people in the Americas than there were in Europe. Although he acknowledged that the natives had built a thriving society, he showed complete disrespect for them by claiming the island as his own and renaming it Hispaniola.

The guiding force behind Columbus' mission was the possibility of great wealth. Columbus' journal conveys his obsession with finding gold.

Columbus also planned to convert the natives to Christianity. However, he hinted of the possibility of conquering the natives through force when he noted they had no arms and did not realize the use of European weapons. He was prepared to subdue these people in his quest for "gold, God and glory."

In their pursuit of wealth, the European settlers killed thousands of natives, moved others from their land, and enslaved them. Starvation, European attacks and European diseases killed Native Americans.

Europeans did not bring the idea of an egalitarian society to America. Early European settlers saw how peacefully the Native Americans seemed to live together. There was no poverty to speak of in any Native American village. Our forefathers embraced the idea of equality coming from the Native Americans in our founding documents. Native American society became a model on which we based our new society. Europeans admired the strength of Native American practices, yet they treated the people like savages.

The knowledge of such inhumane treatment of the very people who taught us such precious values pains me. Last year, Native Americans and other groups gathered at the capitol to protest the Columbus Day Parade, asking that Columbus not be mentioned at the event. If people must celebrate Columbus Day, then the least they can do is grant them this simple wish.

Erica Anderson

I am proud of our nation. Americans stand for equality. We value diversity and the mutual respect of all people. Yet, I find it troubling that as Americans we contradict these beliefs each year on the second Monday of October. Cities across our continent gather in the streets to celebrate "the discovery of the Americas." Through celebrations of Columbus Day as a national holiday, Americans are saying that we value Christopher Columbus and all he stood for. We are condoning, in essence, his horrific actions by observing this day.

Any person with access to a library card can read about Columbus and find the one resounding theme. This theme is the cultural genocide, enslavement, persecution and murderous violence perpetuated by Columbus on the natives of the Americas. Beginning in Haiti, Columbus led Spanish troops in the systematic "wiping out" of almost every native population within the Caribbean islands.

I can only imagine how Native Americans often still feel the impact of their own persecution. To celebrate Columbus' achievements is to celebrate the wrongs he has done to an important cultural group in our society.

The acts of Christopher Columbus contradict what most Americans hold dear. It is only with ignorance and blatant denial of facts that one would say Americans should honor Columbus' contributions to the founding of America. We need to stop celebrating the actions of an evil, self-righteous man and begin celebrating the true foundations of our great nation: diversity, equality, and freedom of all persons from persecution.

Theresa Ray
The acts of Christopher Columbus contradict what most Americans hold dear.
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Exploration and conquest are unavoidable acts of human nature
What is October 8 really about? If a person were to think of the history of civilization, then compare it to Columbus' story, what is the difference? Invading and conquering was and still is prevalent, from the Romans defeating the Germanic tribes, to the recent Desert Storm war. People still die in these conquests. Columbus was not the last person to conquer a populated land.

Columbus and the early settlers adopted the Native American' way of government. However, how does progress in any situation come about? Nobody ever starts from scratch. Doctors, engineers, and politicians all look at what has been done, research that has been accomplished, then they go and take the next step. People learn from the past. So if Columbus saw the Native American' way of government, and saw that it worked, who cares if he used it?

So do I believe that we should celebrate Columbus Day? If only for the fact that a man took a chance with the unknown, fought uncertainty and an unhappy crew, and came out in the end finding the land we now live in. Christopher Columbus did something and took a risk that I am sure only a small few of us would take today. Where would we be? How would we live, if it were not for his bravery and success?

Kris Farrugia

Lately, many people have described Columbus as a savage who stole America away from the Indians. Even more, they say that Columbus did not discover America at all. Should we celebrate Columbus Day? Yes.

The fact that Columbus accidentally ran into the Americas is irrelevant. The world would not be as it is today if it were not for accidents. Medical advances would not be where they are today if doctors had not stumbled on a cure for one disease while searching for another. We must take risks.

Another aspect that those who oppose Columbus Day fail to realize is that if Columbus had not encounter the Americas the way he had someone else would have. It is human nature to explore and investigate the world. The Columbus encounter was a result of the human desire to learn the unknown.

So, are the celebrations and parades justified? Those who celebrate are not celebrating the conquest of a culture. They are celebrating the beginning of the reality we know today. Columbus was an Italian explorer. Naturally, the Italians who live here owe something to Columbus or else life would not be what it is today. Those who celebrate should be happy and joyous. Those who are against the whole aspect should not be angry with the people who are here today. They did nothing wrong. Columbus Day is different for everyone and people celebrate it in their own way. However, it is obvious that the celebration is not for the desecration of a culture, but for the reality we all enjoy today.

Mike Del Cuore
...if Columbus had not encounter the Americas the way he had someone else would have.
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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:
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King Center combos
Elena Brown
The Metropolitan

The evening was a non-stereotypical jazzy night. No smoke-filled bars, no waitress screaming for your order.

The Jazz Combo, directed by Ron Miles, is in its seventh year. The 18 students, from Metro and the University of Colorado at Denver, were just a few of dozens chosen to perform in the Jazz Combo concerts. The auditions are held in the beginning of the fall semester. It is open to both music majors and non-majors. The concert has two runs and features a wide range of jazz based selections. The next performance is at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13.

Many of the students are veterans to performing in the Jazz Combos. They appeared calm during each selection.

"I wasn’t nervous," Tohbias Juniel, said. "It was a good group, and to see family and friends out there helped." A marketing major at Metro, this is his second year in the combo. He also plays in an eight-member band called Pure Soul. After a congratulatory shake of hands in the lobby from his band-mates, he has to rush off for practice. His band performs locally and had a gig at Herman’s Hideaway the next night.

The students and the director collectively choose the musical selections. If a student has his own piece, it’s more than welcomed, Miles said. Two students even arranged some original pieces and guitarist Joel Van Horne submitted his original piece, "Summer Down," to be played.

The students like the opportunity to play new and challenging material with others. Some of the selections included: John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy and Miles Davis.

The Jazz Combo has seen its share of performance spaces. From the Mercury Café to the St. Cajetan’s Center, Miles would rent the places to hold the combos.

"The recital hall is perfect," he said. "It’s nice and intimate." Not to mention free. The concerts are free of admission, and sponsored by the Music Activities Committee and the Metro Student Affairs Board.

Miles admits the beginning years were difficult. The mixing of students and the selections of pieces preformed. But even as a teacher you still go on learning, he said.

The goal is being able to mix both students and musical selections that will help everybody grow. Remember, it’s still school. Miles is proud of the last few years with the combos. "They’ve been pretty solid," he said.

The students and fans were pleased with the performances. Bass player, Chris Kirkbride’s family was in the audience. "All those lessons paid off," his mother said. "That was great!" This was Kirkbride’s first year appearing with the combo.

The freshman has a family musical background — his father plays the guitar. Most of Kirkbride’s experience comes from playing with a symphony.

"I had to pay attention more here," he said. "I am used to the music being written out, it’s less thinking. But this was pretty exciting, especially the interaction." He has plans to try out for the combo next year.

Michael Yaussi, a CU-Denver junior, has been playing for five years and this is his first concert with the combo. "This was great." He said.

Tenia Sanders, a Metro Junior, played in the combo with Yaussi. Sanders plays the piano. The 20-year-old music education major arranged a piece in the combo. "I think it came off pretty well," she said. Sanders is currently enrolled at 17 hours and found the time to practice twice a week for an hour. She aspires to be a "big-time jazz musician."

Many of the students who played in the combos were heading to jazz bar El Chapultepec. It was rumored, "big-time jazz musician" Wynton Marsailis was a surprise guest.

The evening wasn’t filled with lip-synched choreography or mimed instrument playing. These were real students and real fans feeling the beat of jazz.
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Metro professor turns 80
Gillies celebrates with former students
Jenni Grubbs
The Metropolitan

Fred Gillies became an octogenarian Oct. 3.

Gillies, who has taught journalism at Metro for the last 14 years, celebrated his eightieth birthday with his colleagues and students, both past and present.

"Fred you’ve had a profound impact on my life and my wife’s and I would like to thank you," one of Gillies’ former students, Brian Gallagher said. Gallagher, a Metro journalism graduate, came back to celebrate with Gillies and to give him a present of a reconditioned antique typewriter.

Metro senior Anya Kosich was one of Gillies’ more recent students who showed up to support her teacher on his big day.

"Mr. Gillies, I had you my freshman year and I thought you were the neatest man in the world," she said.

"Because of what I learned in his class I never misspelled, thankfully, a name," Frank Bell, a 1998 Metro journalism graduate, said.

Metro Journalism Professor Deborah Hurley-Brobst put together the party for Gillies.

"Somebody who has had such an impact on students in journalism, especially in Denver, deserves to be celebrated," she said. "He’s always giving to everybody else. It’s very rare to be able to return that. It was time for a birthday party."

After World War II, Gillies, who was born in 1921, went to Harvard on the GI Bill, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English and philosophy. After that, he moved to Colorado and worked for newspapers in Colorado Springs, Salida and Pueblo. Working for the smaller papers, he said, was key to learning the skills he would later teach.

"You had to be the reporter, and you had to write the editorials, and take the photography, and help with the make-up of the paper," Gillies said.

His next move was to Denver in 1968, for a general assignment reporting position with the Denver Post. Gillies came to the Post during a period that he describes as "fierce competition" with the Rocky Mountain News. Gillies also said "Always trying to stay on top was exhilarating."

During his 19 years at the Post, Gillies covered a wide variety of stories, including the Rocky Flats hazards, the disappearance of University of Colorado professor Thomas Rhia and numerous cases of child abuse and neglect.

However, the story he remembers the most clearly was the death of three people in a car accident on Capitol Hill one Saturday morning.

"I did the news story and then the feature story that followed up on it," he said. "I asked the families why these three people, an American Indian, a Catholic nun and a hair stylist, happened to all be there at the same time." Gillies said this was just one of those stories that sticks with him.

After 19 years Gillies retired from the Post and came to Metro in 1987 to teach journalism. During the last 14 years, Gillies has found he really likes teaching, mainly because of the students, but also because of those he works with.

"We have such professional and vital people in the journalism department right now," which makes it more fun to keep working he said.

The best part, he said, is "to see the students begin to comprehend the exercises. I think I and other instructors learn as much from the students as you learn from us."

Gillies has taught all levels of journalism classes, from the basic introduction to journalism and mass media to advanced classes, but he said that he most likes to teach a feature writing course.

"Feature writing takes the beginning skills and expands on those and gives the students a chance to cultivate creativity while using factual matter," he said.

"All stories should be factually informative, and provide the public with good solid information," he said, adding that features just left a little legroom for how to write the story.

Gillies said he looks forward to teaching even more students how to write a good feature story and make sure the names are spelled correctly in the upcoming years.
"You had to be a reporter, and you had to write the editorials, and take the photography, and help with the makup of the paper."

-Fred Gillies
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Volleyball moves to No. 7 in polls
Eric Eames
The Metropolitan

Metro’s women’s volleyball team cracked into the national top ten according to the American Volleyball Coaches Association/NCAA Division II polls.

The Roadrunners were on the verge of upsetting the fourth-ranked team in the nation.

Senior Bonnie DeLaughter eyeballed Western State outside hitter Michelle Morris in attack mode.

"Before she attacked I thought, I got to get her, I got get her," DeLaughter said. "I was just excited. I really wanted to block her and then afterward I got her."

With DeLaughter’s stuffing of Morris’ shot, The Roadrunners began to celebrate its four-set victory over Western State, 30-19, 28-30, 30-24 and 30-16, Sept. 29. They climbed up four spots to No. 7 in the polls and Western fell to No. 12.

Marina Bazana (20 kills; 14 digs) and Diana Marques (19 kills; 17 digs) headed the Roadrunners, while Michelle McBurney (10 kills and 8 blocks) and Mei-Rong Lu (12 kills) helped bring Western down to size as Metro claimed the top spot in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

Despite Western State’s (14-3; 7-2 RMAC) loss to Regis Sept. 27, the match between the Mountaineers and Roadrunners still pack the same amount of punch.

"There is no telling how Western will come out," head coach Debbie Hendricks said before the match. "If that loss to Regis lit a fire under them or they lost confidence because of it."

After a few questioned referee calls by Metro, Western turned cold while Metro took advantage to steal seven straight points and out-hit the Mountaineers .441-.194 to take the first game.

"I don’t expect it to be easy for any team to walk through the match," Hendricks said.

In the second set, Western tied - 28-28, and Mountaineer Andrea Raymond finished off the Roadrunners with a kill and by blocking a Bazana attack.

"We had fallen out of system in that second game and we had a couple real bad frustration strings later on," Hendricks said. "I just knew we would recover from the loss. More than anything I hated that we had to wait eight minutes. I wanted to get back out there."

After the intermission, Metro fell behind 6-10 in the third set and was scrambling to get control.

"We knew we had to stay within ourselves and not get down just because they were making some good plays," senior Tiffany Baird said. "The biggest majority of it was keeping our composure and doing what we do best, controlling our side."

Hendricks said Metro began to distribute the ball better to its vast array of talented hitters which were Bazana, Marques, McBurney and Lu.

"The reasons we are effective the way we’ve been this year is that in many cases we are playing better athletes," Hendricks said. "And when we are running a balanced offense we are hard to stop."

Western found out how hard it was as Metro chipped away at the small deficit to tie the set at 17-17, and then watched as the Roadrunners outscored them 13-7 down the stretch.

The Mountaineers, already on the brink, broke in the final game.

Metro dictated the action in the fourth set and took a 20-9 lead with Metro’s big hitters providing most of the damage.

"This proves to ourselves and to others what we can accomplish and it’s by far not our stopping point," DeLaughter said. "We need to push on from here and do so much better."

The next day, Metro won its 12th straight match by beating unranked Mesa State, 30-28, 30-25 and 30-18. Bazana recorded 18 kills and 16 digs in a rather inelegant win as Metro improved to 15-3 overall and 8-0 in the RMAC.

"We had a mental break down, because last night was such a huge night for us," setter Devon Herron said after the Mesa State (9-8; 5-4 RMAC) game. The Roadrunners struggled through inconsistent play, until they took control in the final set.

"By the third game, for pride more than anything, we knew we weren’t representing ourselves very well and we did turn things up a notch in the third game," Hendricks said. "But in the first two games we did absolutely the minimum it took to win."

"We knew we had to stay within ourselves..."

- senior Tiffany Baird
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Women’s soccer fall to West Texas A&M, 5-1
Jennifer DeWolf
The Metropolitan

Metro State women’s soccer team (4-8-1 overall; 0-5-1 Rocky Mountain Athletic) standing last in the RMAC, added another loss to it’s record against West Texas A&M on Sept 28.

The Roadrunners took the field with the power to beat the Lady Buffs since Metro’s midfielder Sara Norkoli, with an assist from Jenelle Brandt, scored the first goal of the game.

"We came out strong, we scored the first goal, and they usually score first," defender Jessica Westerberg said.

Less than 10 minutes later, freshman Aubrie Hunter, of West Texas, scored her first two goals of the game. The Lady Buffs went on a scoring streak- they scored one more shortly before halftime off a penalty kick, and then three more by Hunter (2 goals), freshman Ashleigh Scott (2 goals) and Kathy Clutterback after halftime. That ended the game, 5-1. Metro goalkeeper, Danielle English saved seven of twelve shots on goal.

Westerberg said after halftime, they lost their focus on the game.

"We knew we could still do it. We just didn’t play." Metro might have been the strongest team physically, but Westerberg said they got beat in the mental game.

A little over 25 minutes into the game a West Texas offender collided with Westerberg, which ended with the opponent’s leg and thumb both broken.

"It was a clean tackle, I talked to the ref," Westerberg said.

The Roadrunners lost to West Texas last year, as well.

The Roadrunners next game is Oct. 7 against Barry University out of Miami, Florida. This could be a big game for Metro, since Barry (8-2-0 overall) is ranked No. 18 nationally for Division II.

"This could be our hardest game of the season," Westerberg said. The team is looking forward to the game and preparing by still working on the basics of soccer. Westerberg says they’re working on getting a pass with good speed, since they haven’t been doing well on passing lately. "The simple fundamentals," Westerberg said.

Metro battles Barry at noon on at Auraria Fields.
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Men’s soccer

Metro men’s soccer (6-5-1 overall) team ended it’s Oklahoma road trip .500. The Roadrunners traveled to the University of Tulsa Sept. 30 to take on the Golden Hurricane.

Hurricane, a Division I school had a come-from-behind 2-1 win over the Roadrunners.

Just before halftime midfielder Juan Jimenez scored on a penalty kick, to give the Roadrunners the advantage going into halftime.

The Roadrunners were outshot by the Golden Hurricane 16-6 didn’t score until the 63:09 mark. Freshman Kyle Brown scored the final goal for the Golden Hurrican at the 83:12 mark.

On Sept. 28, the Roadrunners played Northeastern State University. Forty-nine seconds into the game the Redman scored, that would be the only time the team would score. The Roadrunners got help from Jimmy Zanon (assist from Brent Thomas) and Thomas to put away the Redmen 3-1.

The Roadrunners are in action again Oct. 5 against Incarnate Word at Auraria Field at 3 p.m.

Roadrunners on Deck

October 4

• Women’s Volleyball vs. Adams State, 4p.m.

October 5

• Men’s Soccer vs. Incarnate Word, 3p.m.

• Women’s Volleyball vs. Ft. Lewis, 7 p.m.

October 7

• Women’s Soccer vs. Barry University, noon.

October 8

• Men’s Soccer vs. St. Edwards, 2 p.m.

• All games at Auraria Field and Events Center
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