Volume 21 Special Edition 1999/2000 |
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Contents:
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MetroACTIVITIES |
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African American Studies
reaches beyond Metro Last year a Metro professor found himself in a South African prison cell. The cell had no window, a concrete floor, no bed and a bucket for a toilet. For two decades, anti-apartheid activist and former South African President Nelson Mandela occupied the cell. Today, guides have replaced guards and the prison, located on Robben Island approximately four miles from Cape Town, is a museum. The museum was one of many sites professor C. J. White, chairman of Metro's African American Studies Department, visited during his two-week trip to South Africa. "I consider my travel experience invaluable to African American Studies," White said. "I try to bring the experiences to the classroom." "(Visiting Mandela's jail cell) was a very, very moving experience," White said. "It added to my admiration of Nelson Mandela. It was a reminder to the character and quality of the man, because he came out whole. It was also a reminder to the strength of the human spirit. "I saw tangible examples of change in South Africa, but needless to say, you can't wave a magic wand for change," he said. "Customs and traditions die hard." White said talking with younger people in South Africa made him optimistic for the future of the country. "Many young whites indicated apartheid was all wrong," he said. "I'm a firm believer that the seed of change can be found in the young." White, who has taught at Metro for 15 years, has traveled to several counties in Africa, including Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, Ghana and Tanzania. White has also traveled through the Caribbean to study African influences in countries such as the Dominican Republic and Haiti. "To fully understand the American experience, we must understand the black experience," White said. "I think African American studies adds the missing pages to the American experience. Those missing pages should be infused into the American experience instead of being a footnote. We can't infuse unless we master facts about black history and culture." White said he feels courses in African American Studies can benefit any student regardless of his or her major. "You can't be responsive to your clientele unless you master the facts of history and cultures of different groups," he said. White said Metro's African American Studies Department not only serves students, but the community as well. "We serve as a resource for community organizations such as public schools, the Black American West Museum and the Urban League," he said. White said the department "adopted" the Choices, Challenges and Images Academy in Aroura. The department provides supplies, mentors and tutors for the pre-school through high school students at the academy. "It is a very diverse school," he said. |
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Go beyond the classroom with Student Activities How would you like to spend an afternoon with Jesse Jackson or Jacki Joyner Kersy? Metro has more to offer students than just classroom lectures. Metro can be a lonely place if you only come here for classes. "If you spend most of your time in the parking lot, you're not getting the most out of Metro," said Kari Tutwiler, associate director of Student Activities. Every day, Student Activities helps students get involved with Metro beyond the classroom. The office can match students with one of the more than 100 clubs or one of the many weekly campus events offered by Student Activities. Student Activities is segmented into four areas. Programming organizes events for students to continue learning outside of the classroom.
RAP Sessions, a discussion and lecture series, focuses on diversity issues.
Along with education outside of the classroom Students Activities helps students get involved with Metro's many clubs and organizations. Joining a club can make socializing and making friends easier, according to Student Organization Coordinator, Brendan Haymaker. "When you join a club, there's a sense of belonging," Haymaker said. "I didn't get involved with any clubs until my sophomore year, and I feel like I missed out on a lot my freshman year because of it," he said. Metro COOL (Campus Outreach and Opportunities for Learning) matches students with community service programs in Denver and around the world. Metro COOL sent students to Costa Rica to build nature trails through the cloudforest. Student Leadership and Development has several workshops for new and continuing students. "We like to introduce new students to all the resources and avenues for involvement at Metro," Tutwiler said about her leadership programs. |
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coming up FALL FEST This year, Fall Fest will be held on Sept. 1 and 2 at the flagpole in the center of Campus. "We have food vendors, crafts and live music," said Julie Rodriguez, director of Student Activities. Brethen Fast, a local band, will play at the festival and a DJ will slam out tunes when the bands take a break. Other bands will play at the fest, too. All three campuses participate in Fall Fest. "All three schools are welcome to join the fun," Rodriguez said. Stop the Hate Stop the Hate is a student organization created to raise awareness about hate and violence. Students are welcome to join the organization at anytime. Nov. 8 to Nov. 11 Stop the Hate will hold several events. Nov. 8, Morris Dees, executive director of the Southern Poverty Law Center, is a civil rights activist and an attorney who pursues "hate groups" such as the KKK and Neo-Nazis. He will speak at the Tivoli Turnhalle at 1 p.m. |
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Parking around campus Where can you get gas, a jump start, a flat tire fixed and a trustworthy person to accompany you to your vehicle at night? At the Auraria Parking and Transportation Services! All of these services, and more, are free to all students, faculty and staff.
"The NightRider service has been in effect for more than a decade," said Mark Gallagher, director of Auraria Parking and Transportation Services. Students, faculty and staff can call in on any week day and request a night escort or call and arrange a regular pick up for an entire semester, Gallagher said. This service is available during the fall and spring semesters from sundown to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday by calling (303) 556-2000, and at all other times by calling campus police and security at (303) 556-3271.
"Students, faculty and staff must leave the Pepsi Center by 4 p.m., and times might change on certain days due to events," Gallagher said. The Pepsi Center might have cars already parked in the lot leave and then re-enter the lot if they plan on staying to attend an event, Gallagher said.
A special Auraria Higher Education Center permit is needed for all parking
customers who wish to park in all disabled parking spaces on campus.
With a valid Student ID, students will also receive a discounted price of 75 cents for the express routes and $1.75 for the regional routes. For more information on the services provided by RTD, you can call (303) 299-6000.
"The best thing for bikes are to hook up bikes on campus and to use a U-shaped lock," said Andrew Liska, technician for the Campus Police and Security. Liska said the best kind of lock to use on your bike is a U-shaped lock instead of a chain, or cable lock. "Bike racks closest to the core of the campus are the safest," said Liska. The Auraria parking lots and bike racks are patrolled 24 hours a day, Liska said. "Guards will especially watch during the high peak times, such as warm weather seasons, like the beginning of school in the fall," Liska said. No bike ride zones are enforced, he said. "Students can be cited and their bikes can be impounded," Liska said. "Bikes can also be impounded when bikes are attached to anything but a designated bike rack." Guards will attach a second lock, covered in rubber, around the bike and leave a note detailing what has happened and what number they need to call to release their bike from impound, Liska said.
The Shuttle will take customers from Lot N, to the Auraria Campus and back again. The Auraria Parking and Transportation Services will also sell a pre-paid, three and five day Shuttle pass. The Shuttle will run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday.
~Fall 1999-Spring 2000 Parking Guide |
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MetroRECREATION |
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Take advantage of Campus
Recreation at Auraria So with the way your schedule turned out you've got a long two-hour break between classes. What are you going to do with all that free time, study? Not this early in the semester. How about a little one-on-one instead? Shooting hoops, lifting weights and swimming cost less than a soda at the campus recreation center. Yet few students take advantage of the facilities. "About 20 percent of the campus uses it," said Ann McKelvey, director of Campus Recreation at Auraria. "About 50 percent of those are Metro students." Metro students help pay for CRA, which is one of the 17 programs included in the Student Affairs fee, said Karen Raforth, interim associate vice president of Student Services and dean of Student Life. This fiscal year $257,000 of Metro student fees has been allocated to the program, Raforth said. CRA also receives money from the University of Colorado at Denver and the Community College of Denver. About 80 percent of the funds CRA receives from the three schools pay salaries of employees, McKelvey said. The rest of the funds pay for publicity of upcoming CRA events and programs and new equipment. The fitness center and the cardiovascular equipment are the most used, said Tony Price, assistant director of CRA and coordinator of the Drop-In program. The Drop-In program gives students the opportunity to come in to workout or play whenever it is convenient. "Drop-In is synonymous with informal sports," Price said. "People just want to come in and check out equipment and play basketball, go swimming, or workout in the weight room." Lifting weights, swimming, playing basketball and volleyball are all virtually free with a valid student ID. If you forgot your towel or basketball, it will cost you 50 cents to rent one. Todd Hylton, a Metro psychology major, takes advantage of the Drop-In program regularly. He can be found in the rec. center about four times a week. "I come here, one, to play ball and two, to workout and lift weights," Hylton said. Hylton and his friends like to use the rec. center not only because it's free, but it's convienent too. "You don't want to leave campus if you have a two hour break," said Joe Cao, a Metro computer science major who plays basketball at the rec. center with Hylton. Along with the unstructured workouts and sports, aerobics classes are offered through the Drop-In program. Each class has a specific start time and is 50 minutes long, Price said. A variety of classes are offered including step and water aerobics. The aerobics classes are free to students and are usually packed during the lunch hour, providing a great way to meet new people, Price said. "Students can develop new friendships and be exposed to new activities," he said. Or you could just drop-in for a game of one-on-one with your friends during that break between classes. The Drop-In program isn't the only thing that CRA has to offer to Metro students. CRA sponsors five other recreational programs.
Intramural Sports is a structured program in which teams are formed to compete against each other. This fall there will be flag football, volleyball, racquetball, and other intramural sports. Wins and losses are recorded in this competitive program.
Club Sports provide the opportunity to learn or compete in different sports that are not offered through intramural sports. The variety of clubs include rugby, lacrosse, skiing and more.
Hiking, rock climbing and mountain biking trips are just a few of the options the Outdoor Adventure Program has to offer. CRA plans trips for students or students can rent equipment and create their own adventure. The rental center rents everything from rollerblades and snowshoes to tents and kayaks.
This program provides guidance to any student who needs help using the campus rec. facilities. Personal training and recreational outings include horseback riding and skiing, are part of the Physically Challenged Program.
An expansion of the Drop-In program, Healthy Lifestyles is a program aimed at making fitness a life long commitment. The program offers a variety of recreational activities and clinics about healthy living.
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MetroGOVERNMENT |
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Student government, representing
you Student Government Assembly members attend meetings and act as the voice of the student community. President, Jennifer Darnell, said SGA members attend committee meetings, legislative sessions, panel meetings and keep in close contact with faculty members, so they know what students want. If the legislature proposes a bill that might make college life more difficult, student government lobbies to remove that proposal, Darnell said. "We lobby to say, 'Students don't want this,'" Darnell explained. SGA members try to persuade the committee members to understand and connect with the wishes of students, according to Darnell. Student government can also help an individual student who might have a problem or an idea concerning Metro. "We try to help students connect with the proper channels and advise them as best we can," Darnell said. Sept. 9 SGA will have a gathering for students to meet their student government representatives. Jennifer Darnell
Lisa Wohletz
Jeremy Perkins
Helen Giron-Mushfiq
Hektor Munoz
Jennifer Smith
Taryn Browne
Not Pictured: Chuck Dugan; Administration and Finance, Alumni Association, Student Affairs Board, Student Fee Panel, Student Employee Network |
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The
Met Online is a student-produced online version of the weekly student-produced
The Metropolitan newspaper, both operating under the direction of
the Metropolitan State College of Denver Office
of Student Publications.
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