THE OREDIGGER

The student voice of the Colorado School of Mines

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STEVEN WOOLDRIDGE / OREDIGGER

Volume 92, Issue 11

November 28. 2011

STEVEN WOOLDRIDGE / OREDIGGER

News

Plaza policies debated at ASCSM

Features 4

Victorian dining at Golden Tea Time

A great weekend for Mens and Womens basketball with double wins on Saturday, November 19. Womens basketball beat out Minnestoa Duluth in overtime 65-64 and Mens won over South Dakota School of Mines 70-66. See page 7.

Sports

Joshua Kleitsch Staff Writer

Italian economy ACS makes has new hope chemistry fun

improvements in the economy. Monti has made it very clear to the nation that, in order to bring Italy out of the financial trouble it is in, the entire nation will have to make sacrifices. He said that the government will also be cutting back and hinted at lowering the salaries of government officials. To further strengthen the economy, he also spoke of reinstating the property tax, which Berlusconis government had abolished.

Mens CC places top 5 at Nationals

Jordan Francis Staff Writer

Opinion 9

Obamacare may be declared unconstitutional

Satire

10

Occupy the plaza movement gaining support

The new Prime Minister of Italy, Mario Monti, was sworn into office last Wednesday amid economic turmoil that has threatened to cause the Euro to tank. Italy took this new step under significant pressure from the international community, whose interests in Italy lie in maintaining the good status of the Euro. After forcing former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to resign last week, the new unity government Continued at Economy on page 2 has moved forward to restore the economic COURTESY GIUSEPPE LILLO status of the state by appointing bankers, high-ranking civil servants, and financiers to positions of influence within the government. Monti hopes that this move towards an apolitical governm e n t w i l l New Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti was a l l o w f o r sworn into office amid the economic turmoil s i g n i f i c a n t threatening the status of the Euro.

The Colorado School of Mines members of the American Chemical Society did their best to show students the fun side of chemistry through fire, explosions, and free food. The ACS members started out the night with a Magnesium Lantern demonstration, which Continued at Fun on page 2 involved lighting a pile of magneKEVIN EMERY / OREDIGGER sium and surrounding it with dry ice. The magnesium remained lit for a short time while covered by dry ice. This experiment demonstrated how hungry magnesium is for oxygen and how useful it is for providing bright light in unusual or environments with low oxygen levels. The following demonstration lit ice on fire using the reaction between ice and solid Calcium Carbide to produce flammable acetylene gas. Next, the ACS members set up The thermite demo involved mixing an oscillating clock iron oxide and aluminum powder.

reaction, which involved mixing chemicals in such a way that the solution of the reaction switched periodically between four colors. After that demonstration, the ACS members filled a 2 liter soda bottle about a quarter of the way with liquid nitrogen and set this contraption aside inside a protective explosion box.

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Italian economy Open pit mining utilizes has new hope optimization
Continued from page 1
labor-related laws are likely to stall in Parliament, which could deepen the While many nations have ex- financial problems facing Monti if he pressed their lack of confidence in cannot force Parliament to comply. Further complications have arisMontis ability to turn around the Italian economy, they have con- en from problems that Monti cannot ceded that the change is a move solve, such as the current bailout in the right direction. Among them plan that does not allow for Italy to is Chancellor of Germany, Angela borrow from the European Central Bank. Many within Merkel, who has stated her ap- Many within the Italian the Italian government are saying proval of the move to appoint government are saying that until the bailout plan involves Monti to Prime that until the bailout plan the European Minister. On Central Bank, Italy the other hand, involves the European will not be able to investors are more reluctant Central Bank, Italy will solve its own financial crisis. to restore their In light of the confidence in Itnot be able to solve its great challenges aly, and will likely own financial crisis. facing Monti in remain skeptithe month and cal until Monti years to come, shows he has Italy must face a detailed plan to deal with the roughly $2.6 trillion extreme changes to its culture and lifestyle if it is to survive this financial debt that the country now holds. Although an economist by na- crisis and grow to be a functional ture, Monti must also deal with the part of the European Union once political establishment he is now more. This postwar welfare state leading. With no previous political will have to be stripped down to the experience, he will have a hard time bare skeleton of what it once was passing new laws and legislation and rebuilt to function in the 21stthrough Parliament, which is com- century world of integrated, globalposed of left-leaning bureaucrats ized economies with high rates of with strong relationships with labor labor participation and democratic unions and the like. As such, any involvement.

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november 28, 2011

Deborah Good Content Manager

Efficient optimization of open pit mining is possible, according to Marcos Goycoolea and Eduardo Moreno of Universidad Adolfo Ibaez in Santiago, Chile. The duo explained their research in this topic in their presentation, Pushing Optimization to the Limit: Challenges in Open Pit Mining at the Division of Economics and Business Seminar November 18. Goycoolea began by explaining a bit about the mine planning process. Its about deciding where to dig the hole, when to dig it, and what to do with the stuff that you dig up those are the three main questions that as a mine planner you have to answer. As that is a big, complex problem, the only way to analyze it is to break it down into small, simple problems we can understand and then recombine these pieces. Traditionally, a block model of the site is sculpted first. From this model, a production schedule can be constructed based upon capacity, priority, and timing. The third step is to make the solution operational, and actually initiate the project. What weve been trying to do is to change this classic approach we like to use some kind of optimization process to solve all these problems concurrently and do it in such a way that we get better solutions, Goycoolea said. The research team believes this is possible and practical and can be

Continued from page 1

ACS makes Chemistry Fun

As the bottle of liquid nitrogen expanded from the heat of the room going into the nitrogen and changing it from a liquid into a gas, the ACS members delighted the pyromaniacs in the room by bringing out a thermite demo. This involved mixing and lighting iron oxide and aluminum powder in a funnel inside a flower pot above a beaker of water, which resulted in a large flame and the formation of molten iron. Afterwards, the chemists brought out a series of chemicals that glowed in the dark when mixed together, although it did not stay luminescent for long. Around this time, the pressure of the expanding gases in the bottle of nitrogen became too much for the plastic to bear and it exploded with a violent bang. The chemists then proceeded to dip various objects into a vat of liquid nitrogen, including a racquetball (which was promptly

thrown and shattered) and several bananas and apples, which were broken into pieces and given to the audience. In quick succession, the ACS members set off nitrogen triiodide, which is an easy to make explosive that can be set off with a very light touch and makes a loud bang when it goes off, but does not cause a whole lot of damage. The chemists moved on to the finale by filling one balloon with a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen and another with pure hydrogen. The former produced a loud explosion while the latter resulted in the balloon getting engulfed in flames. The chemists ended the demonstration by making chocolate and vanilla ice cream for the whole audience using liquid nitrogen. Not all of the demonstrations worked perfectly, but as the ACS members kept reminding the audience, Chemistry is an experimental science, and after all, the ice cream was delicious.
KEVIN EMERY / OREDIGGER

ASCSM debates plaza

accomplished by developing new algorithms and programs to conduct this optimization. The goal is to actually take the input block models and be able to tell companies which blocks should be extracted when and in what order in order to maximize net present value. The issue is that the problems are very large. By Goycooleas approximations, for a typical problem, its very easy that youll have five million different blocks. Each of these blocks can have three variables, totaling 15 million different variables that cover upwards of fifty years. The amount of memory necessary to solves these problems often exceeds the amount of memory available. In fact, when provided a large variety of data sets, only five were able to be solved with standard methods and even these five took substantial time. The first thing we started developing was some special linear programming technology, said Goycoolea. However, this was easier than might be supposed because Were developing a linear programming structure for a very specific problem. The team began with a heavily simplified model mine and continued to make modifications. Ultimately, they can make approximations by taking a convex combination of the pits closest in size to the goal. These approximations, known as the critical multiplier algorithm, allow most of the problems to be solved. We set out and looked at the same data set It turns out

we can solve a big majority of the problems, Goycoolea said. The team also investigated with great success the independently developed Bienstock-Zuckerburg algorithm. This other algorithm offered a more general solution, and could model multiple constraints. When the research team applied this algorithm with some modifications, it also accurately and efficiently approximated results. This method was able to solve six previously un-solved problems without modifications and with modification was able to solve even more problems. The researchers also offered three case studies, showing that problems could be run more efficiently and better results achieved with these new algorithms. The first example was a large production mine, which showed a higher total revenue with their Opt-Maths approximations than with other figures. The second mine had two different products, with different values. The Opt-Maths model was able to eliminate cash-flow gaps and help decide which products should be produced when and in what quantities. Finally, the third mine had to manage high arsenic levels, which was also shown to be possible with the new methods. Moren and Goycoolea concluded that managing large scale data sets such as those for open pit mining optimization was possible. They also added that these processes would be effective in non-mining industries as well.

One of the demos performed by ACS was Magnesium in dry ice.

nouncing the plans for the new continue to be restricted until it policy. Public Safety plans on would no longer be a reasonimplementing a phase-in strat- able transportation option. The On Thursday, November 17, egy with the new response from The response from the student government met in policies which Hughes was that Ballrooms D and E of the student will give students if further restricHughes was that if center for their bimonthly meet- time to adjust to tions occurred, ing. The meeting started with a the new rules be- further restrictions oc- he would support presentation from guest speaker fore they receive the students in reChief of Police George Hughes citations. Hughes curred, he would sup- sisting it. about the new rules against rid- also expressed a After a brief port the students in break, the meeting bikes and skateboards on desire to reward the newly-completed pedestrian students for foling then moved resisting it. plaza. Hughes explained the lowing the laws onto fielding conbiker/boarder collisions and sub- during the warncerns from stusequent complaints that inspired ing stage so as to encourage what dents around campus that have the new rules. he called a change in behavior. posted on the website Whats He explained that while he At the end of his presentation, Your Beef, which enables sturealized the policy was not the the students asked Hughes ques- dents to post their suggestions most popular around campus, tions concerning both the best for changes they would like to see sometimes policies are made out ways to implement the rule and around campus. Suggestions that of necessity, not public opinion. possible alternative routes for bik- were discussed on Tuesday night Still, he claimed that the ratio for ers. Students expressed a con- included the possibility of having those who complain about reck- cern about the lack of bike racks students fill out teacher evalualess riders to near the end tions twice a semester instead of those who sup- Still, he claimed that the of the pedes- just once, thus enabling teachport allowing ratio for those who com- trian plaza, and ers to morea actively change their bikes on the while Hughes methods in way that current stuplaza is actually plain about reckless rid- expressed un- dents can benefit from. Some stu2 to 1. derstanding, he dents expressed a concern that Hughes indi- ers to those who support explained that evaluations for freshman would cated that the there was re- simply turn into a way to scapepurpose of the allowing bikes on the ally nothing that goat the blame for receiving a bad new rules is to could be done grade on a test. No conclusive plaza is actually 2 to 1. to create new opinion or decision was reached. both protect pedestrians and bike racks that The meeting concluded by reto protect the is not already capping the faculty senate meetschool from costly liability law- being done. The main concern of ing and the proposals discussed suits. The presentation also in- the students seemed to be that as there as well as discussing this cluded an apology from Hughes the administration tries to create a weekends upcoming Spudlymfor failing to seek input from the more pedestrian-friendly campus, pics and the jobs of the individual student government prior to an- bike and skateboard routes would classes.

Lucy Orsi Content Manager

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november 21, 2011

h e a d e r

page 3

Joshua Kleitsch, Staff Writer

Cambridge, Massachusetts - One strain of a species of worm appears to have the ability to distinguish between foods that are poisonous and foods that are not, similar to how humans avoid bad-smelling foods. This worm feeds on clumps of bacteria, and in the study the researchers gave several different strains a patch, or lawn, of a bacteria that is known to be lethal. The researchers observed that one strain of the worm avoided the bacteria, while the others consumed it and subsequently died. By studying this worm, they found that this ability to identify dangerous foods originates from the expression of one unique gene that was found to be mutated and basically inoperable in the other worms.

Madrid, Spain - Tractor beams may not be the subject of science fiction any longer. In a set of studies performed by four independent teams, scientists and researchers have found that light can be manipulated to produce an attractive force on very small objects. Scientists are already discussing the possibility of using this technology in the medical field as a micro-scale tractor beam made of light would be a of great use in manipulating individual biological cells. The tractor beam effect is produced by emitting a beam of light that contains several beams at different angles. This polarizes the object while limiting the forward push that the photons exert on the object, allowing it to be pulled toward the source.

Oxford, United Kingdom - The effect of associating a color with a number, or a taste with a certain sound, is gradually becoming more understood. This effect, known as synesthesia, has been studied for years, and recently a group of researchers at the University of Oxford have reached what looks like a breakthrough. The reason for synesthesia may be that one part of the brain is more easily excited than it should be, and so the person sees or tastes something when a different part of their brain is stimulated. When the visual center of the brain is stimulated, it stimulates the tastes center simultaneously, which results in a taste associated with certain sights.

Nanjing, China - The massive extinction that paleontologists believe happened about 252 million years ago appears to have happened much faster than they thought. In a new study of several rock outcrops in South China, it appears that a massive set of volcanic eruptions caused the extinction event, concluding that it took place in as little as tens of thousands of years.

Oredigger Staff
Ryan Browne Editor-in-Chief Katie Huckfeldt Managing Editor Robert Gill Business Manager Steven Wooldridge Webmaster Barbara Anderson Design Editor Zach Boerner Copy Editor Ian Mertz Asst. Copy Editor Ian Littman Asst. Business Manager, Web Content Carissa Summerfelt Asst. Business Manager Trevor Crane Content Manager Deborah Good Content Manager Stephen Hejducek Content Manager

Headlines from around the world

Joshua Kleitsch, Staff Writer
Islamists in Cairo have begun protesting the current military government which took over after the forced exodus of Hosni Mubarak nine months ago. The military and the Muslim Brotherhood initially had a truce dating back to the beginning of the civil unrest in Egypt over a year ago. But now that Mubarak is firmly out of power and the military has taken over, the Brotherhood wants Muslim involvement in the government and are protesting their exclusion. The pressure against the Syrian oppression is mounting, as Turkey and France are now calling for the Syrian government to make greater efforts in preventing the killings of its own people. In the past week reports indicated another 15 people were killed, in spite of the Syrian governments previous promise to end the bloodshed. The International Atomic Energy Agency, a global nuclear watchdog program, issued a stern rebuke to Tehran regarding Irans continuation of their uranium enrichment process. An Iranian envoy adamantly replied their country would not cease its nuclear program, maintaining that it exists for peaceful purposes only. Amidst financial turmoil and considerable international market pressure, the Italian unity government has forced the resignation of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and appointed technocrat Mario Monti as an interim Prime Minister to revive Italys struggling economy. Much of the international financial community is skeptical that Monti will be able to fix the Italian economy in time, but many European politicians support the change. In the aftermath of the Fukushima Daichi meltdown last spring, Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO), has been struggling to keep up with energy demand in Japans capital city. The government of Tokyo has chosen to build a new power plant powered by natural gas that would match the output of Fukushima Daichi. The government is pursuing this option in order to weaken the stranglehold that TEPCO has had on the nation and to spur new economic growth. The Occupy Wall Street movement that is sweeping the nation has involved hundreds of arrests and some violent confrontations. Last week thousands of protesters converged on the New York Stock Exchange in an failed effort to shut it down. Meanwhile, about 100 people in the Occupy Denver movement marched on government and financial buildings downtown causing major traffic problems.

Local News
A new Colorado law that allows state universities to recruit more international students has prompted schools to start aggressively pursuing foreigners who want to study in the United States. The new law, enacted last year, no longer requires Colorado Universities to limit the number of nonresident students to one-third of the student body. According to The Daily Camera, Colorado State University is seriously considering hiring an outside agency for recruitment of international students. The Colorado Department of Transportation is developing a smartphone application that will alert drivers to traffic conditions and suggest pit stops for dining and wasting time while waiting for traffic to improve. The new app will be supported by advertising, not tax money, and the state officials hope to have the app ready for testing by next summer. In Aspen, Colorado, the suspected ringleader of an a cocaine trafficking ring may be changing his plea to not-guilty. 65-year-old Wayne Alan Reid, entered a not-guilty plea in June and was one of 10 defendants indicted by the Denver federal grand jury. The Drug Enforcement Administration believes Reid to be the primary figure of a cocaine ring that ran high volumes of cocaine between Aspen and Los Angeles for 15 years.

M B A P

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M Z Q Y O

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Mashing potatoes in style

The exciting way to get ready for the holidays
Andrew Cook Staff Writer
Those who ventured out of their basements were rewarded with a Saturday spectacle as Spudlympics made its Mines debut this weekend. The event, sponsored by ASCSM and Weekends at Mines (WAM), turned a typical Mines Saturday into an exciting, potato-filled event for spectators and participants alike. Spudlympics played on two weaknesses of college students - free food and explosives - to help draw in a pleasant Saturday crowd. A delicious baked potato bar and potato-cannon contest, as well as a variety of other events, set the stage for a day of potato-filled pleasure. The potato-cannon firing contest featured a variety of cannons, ranging from air pressure based to the Mines shower substitute (AKA Old Spice) based. Each group had three chances to show their cannons worth, and awards were presented for longest distance and most precise. Joe Spaur, whose potato-cannon won the competition for longest distance, said that his invention took only about a half an hour to build and that he was thoroughly impressed by his cannons strong showing. Artists also got their chance to shine in contests such as the french fry architecture competition, which featured creations built from waffle fries and toothpicks, and the potato carving competition. While some creations displayed the artistic ability of, or rather lack thereof, the average Mines student, others proved to be creative and unique. The winners were also awarded with prizes for their efforts. The potato find, an event similar to bobbing for apples, tested the wills of those involved. Par-

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F e a t u r e s

november 28, 2011

fun. rocks impressive beat

Lucy Orsi Staff Writer
In February 2008, Nate Reuss band The Format was supposed to release a new album to follow up their sophomore album Dog Problems. Instead, the increasingly popular band broke up. The news devastated fans, but it was not long before lead singer Reuss debuted his new project, a band called fun. Despite an unfortunate name with awkward punctuation, the bands first demo Benson Hedges featured the same powerful vocals and surprising instrumentals that had become The Formats trademark, but whereas most of The Formats song centered on a brooding Nate and his struggles with women, this single was more upbeat. The song featured gospel singers and fast paced lyrics about Nates desperation to get out of Arizona. The song is about moving on, and while it was clear that fun. would still have obvious ties to The Format, this was a different band. When the full length album was released in August of 2008, it featured ten songs that all seemed to confirm what fans had heard in Benson Hedges. Gospel singers were featured on more than one song and full band arrangements backed up Nates refreshing vocals. The album begins with Be Calm, one of its strongest tracks that is sure to grab the listeners attention, which is anything but calm. The lyrics on Aim and Ignite as a whole were far more positive than those of The Formats, and while the songs are shallow at times, fun.s songs succeed by charming you into not caring about occasional lapses in writing quality. The catchiest track, All the Pretty Girls, is not a lyrical masterpiece, but the melody and instrumental arrangement are both so strong that the lyrics become an afterthought. The album dips slightly on the trite and uninspiring I Wanna Be the One, but it rebounds with At Least Im Not As Sad (As I Used to Be) which (along with the final song of the

ticipants were tasked with digging through a potato with their mouth, retrieving 5 gumballs, and blowing a bubble with the gumballs. As the participants soon discovered, blowing a bubble with five pieces of gum in your mouth, in addition to potato residue, is significantly harder than it sounds. Other Spudlympic events included a potato sack race and a potato eating contest, which inadvertently ended up combining the game hot potato with ravenous eating. Spudlympics managed to bring in a solid crowd, with ages young and old turning up to watch and participate. When asked how he felt about Spudlympics, Noah Langford, one of the masterminds behind the event, stated that we was definitely happy with the way the event turned out. As for future tater thrills, Langford was uncertain, but mentioned that it might work well as an annual event.

Potato cannons, potato sculptures, and more were on display for Spudlymics.

Spice up your rice

Jessica Ho Staff Writer
White rice is a staple in most, if not all, Asian homes. It is quick to prepare and can be eaten with almost any dish, and it is a musthave in the homes of college students. The shrimp in this recipe can be omitted or substituted with chicken, ham, tofu, or any other protein of choice. Fried rice can be made with freshly cooked rice or leftover refrigerated rice. Ingredients: 1. 1 Cups rice (or 2 rice cups), measured when uncooked 2. 2 Cups assorted frozen vegetables of choice (I used 1 cup green beans and 1 cup corn. A peas, carrots, and corn medley would work nicely as well.) 3. 4 Eggs, beaten 4. 1/3 Cup chopped white onion 5. Cooking oil 6. About 15 raw frozen shrimp, thawed and peeled (tail off) 7. Soy sauce, sugar, salt, and pepper to taste Directions: 1. Cook the rice according to the directions, using a rice cooker or a pot on the stove. 2. In a small pan, heat the frozen vegetables until they are defrosted and hot. Set them aside in a small bowl. 3. Using the same pan, scramble the eggs. Set these aside as well. 4. Season the shrimp with a little sugar, salt, and pepper. Cook the shrimp in a pan on mediumhigh heat until done. 5. In a larger pan or wok, cook the chopped onions on high heat in about 2 tablespoons of cooking oil. After a minute or two, when the onions are slightly browned, add the cooked rice, vegetables, eggs, and shrimp to the pan. Season the rice with generous amounts of soy sauce, salt, and pepper. Stir-fry the rice until it turns a golden brown and everything is heated through.
JESSICA HO / OREDIGGER

Exploring life with snippets

Lucy Orsi Staff Writer
On July 24, 2010 approximately 80,000 people from 192 different countries all uploaded videos to a single YouTube page for the same purpose, to document their days. Academy Award winning director Kevin Macdonald had tasked the world to participate in what seemed to be a modern day time capsule. On the same day, all participants would film all or part of their day, answering a few questions if they felt so inclined. On first glance, it sounds like a terrible idea. There is nothing special about the 24 of July and, for the most part, the videos depict the monotony that no one on earth seems capable of escaping. However, when the 4500+ hours of footage is condensed down and organized into an hour and a half of edited film, the monotony turns into something that unites not just the 80,000 amateur filmmakers, but the entirety of the human race. Usually when you commend a film director, it is for his amazing work with actors, his keen eye for detail in setting up a scene, or his delicate filming of a gruesome scene. Needless to say, he usually plays a crucial role in the development of the film, but Kevin Macdonalds greatest accomplishment in this documentary is that he remained humble and kept his influence to a minimum. This is not a story about humans as seen through Macdonalds perspective, but rather a collection of individual stories woven together seamlessly by Macdonald and film editor Joe Walker. Describing this movie is difficult, as no one scene is all that enticing, but through showing the similarities in our daily routines of waking, eating, working, and resting, Macdonald successfully highlights the similarities between opposing cultures that unite us all.

album) tosses a bone to fans of The Format by referencing some old The Format songs. At Least Im Not As Sad (As I Used to Be) and Walking the Dog are two of the more experimental songs on the album that at times seem to pay homage to Queen, especially with the first. Even when they simplify things and slow the melodies down, fun. never loses their charm. In fact, The Gambler and Light a Roman Candle With Me are two of the most impressive songs on the album, and their placement gives the listener a much needed respite from blaring trumpets. The album is certainly different from those of The Format. It is happier and more mature in the themes it addresses, but the writing itself is not as tight as it was when Sam Means helped refine the lyrics. The lack of Means negatively affects the quality of the lyrics, but Nates new bandmates excel in backing up his wide vocal range with instrumentals that are equally as impressive.

Shrimp and fried rice make a delicious meal.

The movie is, without a doubt, overly optimistic. Save for one scene in which a cow is shot, the movie depicts very little violence. There is no footage of wars or starvation and while the differences between standards of living is apparent, it is done so more to show the superficiality of these discrepancies. It is a documentary that fills you with hope and compassion for your fellow man. Surprisingly, it does not evoke feelings of pity for those less fortunate, but instead feelings of interconnectedness. The movie feels a bit long at times, and sometimes the individuals seem too interesting to only get a few minutes of screen time, but Walkers editing is so smooth that you dont spend too much time dwelling on past clips. In its simplest form, this is a documentary meant to capture what living in July 2010 was like, but the film goes further and tells the story instead, of what it means to be human.

Learn about renewable energy happenings on campus and the real world!

Forum on Renewable Energy

December 1, 10am - 4pm Student Center Ballroom A
Stop by for some fun and free food

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november 28, 2011

Geek Week
Surviving Mines. Dont ask how. Whats your favorite thing about Mines? The ability to have the various nerd conversations. Comparing various universes and such. Always fun. Whats your least favorite thing about Mines? Theres never enough spots in the LAIS courses or never enough LAIS courses period. If you could be dropped into any fictional universe or setting, what would it be and why? Star Wars, because I love the

f e a t u r e s

of the ...Ben Musson, Super-Senior, Electrical Engineering

Mandalorians. Do you have any plans for the future? Get a job in the power field somewhere as a field engineer. Screw designing. Do you have a favorite quote or saying? When you dont know whats happening, whats happening is always bad. translated from Mandoa. Do you have any advice to fellow geeks and Mines students? Never compromise your principles.

Drink up at Golden Tea Time

Carmella Caltagirone Staff Writer
Golden Tea Time sits just to the northeast of downtown Golden on Washington Avenue in a quaint white cottage. The front of the house is enclosed by a small porch, within which is a small window that offers a peek inside at the dainty tea rooms. Entering Golden Tea Time is akin to stepping inside a time portal. The dining rooms feel a little like a Victorian grandmothers home in all of its glory. The walls are covered with posters and pictures of past patrons and open cupboards display teacups of all shapes and sizes, some of which can be purchased. Wooden chairs and tables are dressed with seasonal dcor, such as ceramic turkey centerpieces this

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Jordan Francis Staff Writer

As students at this school know, life at Mines can be, at times, just a little bit difficult. Occasionally, the workload around here can cause people, especially freshmen and sophomores, to question whether it is possible to actually make it through the school. Luckily, there are people like the Electrical Engineering super-senior Ben Musson to remind the rest of the population that as rough as life at Mines is, its not impossible and it is worth the time and effort it takes. [Oredigger]: Why did you decide to go with Electrical Engineering? [Musson]: Initially, I was a Comp. Sci but I had more fun with hands-on stuff. Also, I realized I dont have the patience to debug code. Whats the coolest thing about your major? When things are done improperly, sparks fly. Whats your favorite class and why? Human systems because I like history. Do you consider yourself a geek and why? Yes. A geek is someone who obsesses over one thing to the exclusion of all societal distractions and I do that by memorizing the weapons specifications of various sci-fi universes. How would you respond in the event of a hostile alien invasion force landing at Mines? [I would] grab my gun and take the nearest tactically defensive location on campus. What are some of your greatest or favorite accomplishments?

Know a geek? Nominate candidates for Geek of the Week at GOTW@oredigger.net

JORDAN FRANCIS / OREDIGGER

time of year, china teacups, and a doily to make the table setting complete. The lovely ladies who run the shop are very friendly, and ensure that every customer has a pleasant experience. Golden Tea Time serves two options for their menu. The first is lunch, and the choices range from soup and salad to chili relleno puffs. The second option is high tea, and includes a pot of tea along with finger sandwiches and delicious desserts that include daily cakes and chocolate raspberry brownies. Golden Tea Time is quite an experience, and if in search of something unique, is a perfect option for mother-daughter dates. Fun conversation cannot be avoided in a place with an atmosphere and company like this.
CARMELLA CALTAGIRONE / OREDIGGER

Musson spends time memorizes sci-fi weapons.

The dining room feels like a grand Victorian home.

Modern Warfare 3 has lackluster debut

Ian Mertz Asst. Copy Editor
Among the most highly anticipated video game releases are those of Activisions Call of Duty franchise, which recently released their latest installment in the form of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (MW3). Every year, these games break sales records and this year MW3 was no different. According to Activision, MW3 grossed over $775 million in its first week on the shelves, $125 million more than Activisions previous sales leader, Black Ops. It is clear that MW3 has sold very well and has done better than its predecessors, but that does not necessarily promise a quality game. Like most first-person shooter games, the appeal of the game lies in the online, multi-player experience. The campaign is often a nice play-through, but after the story has been completed, multiplayer offers the variation needed to keep the game interesting. The goal of MW3 multiplayer as stated by game developer Infinity Wards Creative Strategist Robert Bowling was to create a fast paced, gun-on-gun experience reminiscent of Activisions 2007 release Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. This game is considered by many in the Call of Duty community to be the best one made in terms of its simplicity and balance. Whether or not this has been achieved and whether or not MW3 lives up to its hype requires an analysis of its perks, weapons, and maps. As far as perks are concerned, MW3 has a wide selection from which to choose. Perks are split up into three slots, with five available for each slot. Many of these are reincarnations of past perks, but there are a few new ones which add wrinkles to game. Some examples are the Recon perk, which shows an enemys location on the mini-map if he has been hit by any kind of explosive damage, and the Stalker perk, which allows faster walking speed with weapon sights raised. Although some perks are very strong, they are generally balanced within each slot because of what must be given up to gain a particular advantage. For the most part, the developer got the perks right. More important than the perks to of any Call of Duty game are its weapons, and there are a staggering 50 unique firearms to choose from ranging from assault rifles to launchers to shotguns to pistols. Similar to MW2, but unlike Black Ops, most seem to be genuinely useful. The player can almost always find success with certain weapons on a given map. To increase the pace of the game, the developer increased weapon damage as a way to replace the Stopping Power perk seen in previous Call of Duty titles. This has the effect of ending gunfights quickly, but has some poor side effects. In actuality, the high damage makes the game less about gun-on-gun skill and more about luck. When weapons took longer to dispatch enemy players in earlier games like Black Ops, strafing and evasion would often allow a more dexterous and skilled player to come out on top. Awareness meant more in the past game, and the most aware player held the ad-

vantage. In MW3, the high weapon damage helps both new and experienced players get the kills they are looking for, but hurts better players who rely on precise aim instead of just spraying. It is very frustrating to lose a gunfight after getting first shots on an enemy simply because of weapon damage. Continued online at www.oredigger.net/lifestyle

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Dessert on a college budget

Stephen Hejducek Content Manager
While on a college budget, many students are forced to go without dessert. Cost, ingredients, or a lack of kitchen appliances are the most common limitations. The solution is to create a dessert that costs less than ten dollars and can be easily cooked in a microwave. In compliance with these requirements, this cake consists of only basic ingredients and simple cooking processes. Ingredients: 1. 4 Tablespoons of flour (nonself rising) 2. 4 Tablespoons of sugar 3. 2 Tablespoons of baking cocoa 4. Teaspoon of baking powder 5. 1 egg 6. 3 Tablespoons of milk

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f e a t u r e s

7. 3 Tablespoons of oil 8. A splash of vanilla 9. Two coffee mugs Preparation Begin by mixing all the dry ingredients together. Then, add the egg, oil, milk, and vanilla. This should create a consistency equivalent to pancake batter. Once the batter is ready, pour it into two coffee mugs in equal proportions. The cake batter does rise and if too much is in the mugs, they will overflow. Once the batter is poured, place the mugs into a microwave one at a time and cook on the high setting for 2 2.5 minutes. Once the cake is finished cooking, it can be removed from the mug. Whipped cream, caramel, or chocolate syrup are all excellent toppers. For a little extra flair, try adding chocolate chips or peanut butter to the mix.
STEPHEN HEJDUCEK / OREDIGGER

Inheritance continues Eragon universe

Will Parker Staff Writer

november 28, 2011

A simple yet delicious brownie can be made with ease.

When Eragon first appeared on store shelves in 2003, it was an instant hit among fantasy novel fans. It brought about a revolution in the way dragons were portrayed in literature. Instead of being evil, dragons could be on the side of good. Eragon, the protagonist, was just a simple farm boy until he met Saphira, the last female dragon in all of Alagaesia. Saphira and Eragon bonded, making him her rider. This bonding, however, throws Eragon into a myriad of dangerous foes and various challenges that he must overcome. Through the first three books, Eragon, Eldest, and Brisingr, Eragon learns about Galbatorixs destruction of the dragons and Eragons family. By Inheritance, the fourth and final book of the Inheritance Cycle, Eragons goal is to destroy Galbatorix and finally bring peace to all of Alagaesia. With this series, Christopher Paolini has rocked the fantasy world with his imagination and his twist on a familiar plot, which culminate in Inheritance. As readers of the series will remember, Brisingr ended with many loose ends. How would Eragon counteract the power of the Eldunari? What would be the

fate of the Dragons? What is the an amazing read and is of perfect Rock of Kuthian? Paolini wraps up length to occupy a Winter Break. all of these loose ends and ends Due to the engaging story of a the book in a manner that will sat- farmer boy turned Dragon Rider, along with the ultimate triumph isfy the readers. The novel proves to be difficult of good over evil, Inheritance to put down as Eragon struggles receives nine out of ten werecat to bring peace to Alagaesia. It is prophecies. filled with action, COURTESY CHRISTOPHER PAOLINI and the few parts where war is not occurring are used to effectively and quickly further the plot. A fascinating tale in its own right, the plot of the Inheritance Cycle also offers an interesting twist on the plot of Star Wars. Paolini took the science fiction movie plot, and transformed it to his own purposes. This final novel showed how closely Paolini followed the Star Wars plot, but thankfully, Paolini changed the plot enough that, though it may remind readers of the film, the Inheritance Cycle stands on its The fourth book in the Eragon series, own. Inheritance, released on November 6th. Inheritance is

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november 28, 2011

Mens and Womens Basketball both pull out thrilling wins at home
Trevor Crane Content Manager
into overtime. Mines scored the first five points of overtime, and hung on Both the mens and womens late for the win. Helbig converted teams pulled out thrilling victo- on four critical free throws in the ries in the opening weekend of final minute to seal the game. In the second half of the douthe basketball season Saturday bleheader, the men held off a 11/19 at Lockridge Arena. The Lady Orediggers opened resilient South Dakota School of the night with a physical battle, Mines and Technology team for a grinding out a 65-64 victory in 70-66 victory. Playing in just his second overtime against the University of collegiate game, redshirt freshMinnesota-Duluth. The game was a back and man Brian Muller hit eight three forth fight, featuring seven ties pointers en route to a game high 28 point perforand seven lead The Womens game mance. changes. True Mines jumped freshman Taylor Helbig scored was a back and forth to an early lead, pulling ahead six of her game leading 19 points fight, featuring seven 19-10. For the straight in overtime and ties and seven lead second Oredignight, the Angie Charchgers scored at alis added 11 as changes. least 40 points in Mines won for the the first half and first time in this led their cousins from The Mount seasons four games. The Lady Orediggers were Rushmore State 42-35 at the up by as many as 10 in the sec- break. Although the first half score ond half following a Helbig three pointer, but could not hold onto did not reflect it, the Orediggers the lead, immediately falling vic- dominated play through the first tim to a 14-5 UMD run that put 20 minutes. Despite this, SDSMs the game within one at 41-40. Hardrockers fought back to take Neither team could pull away af- a five point lead, 57-52, with unter that, and the score remained der nine minutes left. Mines responded, as Muller hit within two points for the rest of three three pointers and scored the contest. Trailing by two with 14 sec- 11 of the Orediggers final 18 onds to go, Minnesota-Duluths points to hold off SDSM. Senior Emma Van Winkle gathered an Dale Minschwaner finished with offensive rebound and put in the 14 points and Brett Green added tying bucket to bring the score to 13 as Mines moved to 2-0 on 52-52. A last second, game-win- the season. The Orediggers play ning effort by Charchalis missed again Friday, hosting Sioux Falls at the buzzer to send the game University at Lockridge Arena.

s p o r t s

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ALL PHOTOS STEVEN WOOLDRIDGE / OREDIGGER

Above, Trevor Wages (#32) blocks the layup in the first half of Saturdays game.

Angie Charchalis (#25) outmaneuvers a UMD defender.

Brett Green (#11) scored 12 points in the first half.

Lucy Orsi Staff Writer

College basketball Mens Cross Country opening weekend finishes 5th in nation
was a talent influx in college basketball as this years field of teams is among the best in recent memory. For the first time in a long time, last years performances will actually be relevant to this season as many of the powerhouses have rebounded from their down years. The polls are filled with classic basketball teams and coaches, giving the game a sense of reinvigorated tradition. So it seems fitting that at the top of this mountain for college basketball we find Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski. With Dukes 74-69 win over Michigan State on Nov. 15, Coach K won his 903rd game, passing Bob Knight to become the winningest coach in Division I Mens basketball history. While Paternos fall from grace has caused the world to doubt the infallibility standard placed on most winning coaches, it is hard to criticize a man who has never even come near a scandal and has also helped win our country an Olympic gold medal. Coach K certainly has his faults, and college basketball faces many of the same issues and obstacles as college football does, but at least for now the coach and the game seem to be reassuring sports fans that no matter what, the game will go on. dividual times, defeating three time defending champion Adams State for the team title. Grand Valley State On a snowy course in Spokane, finished in third place with 100 points Washington, the mens cross coun- and Chico State came in directly try team pulled out a fifth place fin- ahead of the Orediggers with 110 ish at the NCAA Division II National points. Championships Saturday. The fifth place finish for Mines Sean Gildea was the Orediggers was the third straight top five finish top finisher, placing 13th overall for the Orediggers at the National in 31:37.9. For Gildea, the perfor- Championships. In 2009, Mines mance was his best finish at the placed third and last year they finnational championships and earned ished fourth. Mines also had three him All-American honors. runners earn All-American honors Behind Gildea, Derek Alcorn Saturday, the most in school history placed 23rd (31:53.4) and Russell for a single season. In Division II, AllDrummond came in 27th (31:58.3). American honors are awarded to the Andrew Eppertop 40 individual The fifth place fin- finishes at the Nason finished 35th (32:10.2) and Neal tional ChampionAnderson came in ish for Mines was the ships, and therefore directly behind him to third straight top five were awardedand at 36th (32:13.5) to Gildea, Alcorn, round out the scor- finish for the Oredig- Drummond. ing. Senior Mack Mines entered McLain finished in gers at the Nationals the race ranked 48th (32:31.9) while fourth in the nation teammate Tyler and all of the scorCurtis placed 55th (32:41.8). ers will return for the fall 2012 seaWith 135 points, Mines turned in son. Both the mens and the womits lowest and best national champi- ens teams will continue competition onship total in school history. Con- with the indoor track and field seaference foe Western State College son which begins December 9 at ended up pulling out an upset with the Air Force Academy in Colorado 27 points and four of the top ten in- Springs.

Womens Soccer playoff recap

Trevor Crane Content Manager
RMAC Champion Colorado School of Mines begun their playoff career in the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament. November 13 #8 CSM 1, Minn. St. 0 OT With less than a minute left in regulation, Erin Onat knocked home an Anna Evans pass to give CSM the victory in the first round of the NCAA Div. II Tournament. In Mines 10th shutout of the season, the Orediggers prevented Minnesota State Mankato from having so much as one shot on goal. November 18 #8 CSM 1, Ft Lewis 0 Anna Evans scored her 13th goal of the season and Megan Woodworth earned the assist as Mines recorded its third consecutive shutout to advance to the Elite Eight for the first time in school history. Penny Rogers made one save in her seventh shutout of the year. November 20 #8 CSM takes on Grand Valley State in the NCAA Quarterfinals. The game went tied 0-0 into penalty kicks where CSM lost.

Trevor Crane Content Manager

Sports are in a mess right now. The most popular stories on ESPN have more to do with off-the-court or off-the-field drama than actual game day scores. The NBA isnt even going to have a season. Conference realignment in college sports has been entirely dictated by money without any regard to tradition. Rivalries are dying. Recruitment rules are becoming so numerous and strict that its no longer a question of if a school violated them but instead if they actually knew they were doing it. Sports as a whole seem to be going through somewhat of a slump, but then last week, the start of the college basketball season brought new hope to sports fans across the country. This basketball season promises to be one of the best in recent history. The NBAs loss was the NCAAs gain. With the NBA lockout predicted long ago, there is a temporary reprieve from the oneand-done cycle of college basketball. Stars that normally would have jumped to the NBA, like Jared Sullinger of Ohio State or Harrison Barnes of UNC, opted to stay in college. The result of the lockout

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Athlete

of the

Trevor Crane Content Manager

In 2005, just two years after CSM standout quarterback Chad Friehauf finished his Oredigger career, the Mines football team finished 2-6 in RMAC play. The future was up in the air for a team that was rebuilding and had lost a leader and icon. But the next year, the incoming freshman class included current seniors Clay Garcia, Alex Vigil, Josh Ruff, and several linemen on both sides of the ball who have anchored the last five winning seasons. While Garcia, Vigil, and Ruffs hard work is visible on the statistic sheet, the work of another member of that class, cornerback Bunmi Adetutu, often goes unnoticed. The stats may not tell the full story, but Adetutus play has. The senior from Austin, Texas, is among the smallest players on the roster at only 510 and 185 pounds. As a defensive back, Adetutu is often charged with shutting down opposing wideouts that are nearly a foot taller and weigh much more

Week Senior, Mechanical Engineering: Football ... Bumni Adetutu,

lot more pressure on us. If the Dline messes up, they could gain a couple of yards. If we mess up, its a big play. Favorite NFL team? Gotta be my Cowboys. Super bowl pick? Oh, Ive got my Cowboys in it. Tony Romo will turn it around. Theyre what, 5-4? So theyll finish 12-4 and win the division. And Ill say they win against the Broncos, just to make it interesting. That way theyll run over Tebow and the Broncos. What about the Packers? Could you cover Greg Jennings? Haha. Bring it on! Whats your opinion of Tim Tebow? Haha. Well, hes not a QB. Hes definitely not a good QB, but he definitely has the it factor and hes always winning. Favorite NCAA team? UT Longhorns. When it came down to picking colleges, it was between here and UT for my top two. BCS National Championship

s p o r t s

november 28, 2011

The Football Informant: Some men just want to watch the world burn
James Kergosien Staff Writer
After a slow start, the world of college football has fallen into chaos once again. It is a beautiful thing to see, an insane free-for-all that, for better or worse, is only possible in NCAA football. Every non-SEC team in the top 7 of the BCS rankings lost this week, and the national title picture has been shrunk as Oklahoma and Oregon have been eliminated beyond doubt. Realistically, barring a stunning upset by Auburn (vs. Alabama) or Georgia (in the SEC Title Game), no team outside of the SEC West has any shot at even reaching the BCS Championship Game in New Orleans. This week, the rankings will be capped by LSU, Alabama, and Arkansas. The Razorbacks have roared from nowhere and now control their own destiny for a national championshipbut perhaps not for the SEC West. All Texas A&M fans looking at the rankings this week could be forgiven for wondering what the hell they were thinking by moving to the AFCer, SEC West. Virginia Tech and Oklahoma State are the teams most likely to crack the top-ranked triumvirate, but their potential remaining quality wins - Clemson and Oklahoma, respectively - lost a lot of their luster this week. Stanford is essentially out of it, as the Cardinals strongest remaining opponent is Notre Dame, and unless Oregon somehow loses to Oregon State, the Cardinal will not even reach their conference title game. In the Pac-12, Oregon needs a win to clinch the North Division, while due to USCs postseason ban, the South is up for grabs between Arizona State, Utah, and UCLA. Clemson awaits the winner of Virginia and Virginia Tech for the ACC title, while the Big East has quietly slipped into a nightmarish five-way tie of rampant mediocrity. It seems highly unlikely that this conference will maintain its BCS automatic qualifying status for much longer. Unless West Virginia wins out, the conference will have to invent a new rule on the spot to solve the tiebreaker crisis, because the Big East has no tiebreaker beyond the BCS standings, and only the Mountaineers are even receiving votes in any BCS human poll. West Virginia is most likely to make it through, but anything can still happen. The Big 12 comes down to Bedlam, as OU and OSU will square off with the title directly at stake. Michigan State has clinched the Legends Division title, and Penn State, leaders among the Leaders, will travel to Wisconsin with the division title at stake. Houston continues to roll, and in breaking news, Case Keenum has just set a record for most records set. The Cougars appear destined to for Sugar Bowl berth, but they will avoid the SEC power trio if two SEC sides meet for the championship. Regardless of what happens, the third-place SEC West team will almost certainly be the highestranked team to miss a BCS bowl, because of the two-team-per-conference limit in place. So how will all of these races play out? Oregon should have no trouble gunning down Oregon State and the South champ to win the Pac-12, and Wisconsin seems a good pick to handle Penn State. The Badgers should manage to beat Michigan State in a rematch of the Spartans miracle win earlier this season. Virginia Tech and Clemson will play a good game, but the Tigers have already routed Tech on its own field, and they have the star power to win the rematch. Clemson should have little difficulty should Virginia make it through, as well. I honestly have no clue about who will win the Big East mess, but the favorites at this point are West Virginia and Rutgers, and the Mountaineers won the head-to-head match. I have long suspected that for the high-scoring, defense-optional teams that abound in the Big 12, motivation and mental preparedness are more crucial than anything else. This was emphatically reaffirmed this week, as both teams were apparently caught looking ahead past road trips against underrated traditional punching bags Iowa State and Baylor. Earlier, I thought that the mental anguish of a sky-high ranking would come back to bite Oklahoma State, and I was right in the wrong way. Now that the national title hopes are gone and the Oklahoma game is just the Oklahoma game again, OSU should be under far less pressure. Throw in a strong, post-loss bounce-back and a ravenous home crowd, and Bedlam looks likely to go to the Cowboys this time. The only remaining mess is the big one in the SEC West, and what an incredible mess it is. Under the Magnifying Glass - Arkansas. This new, weekly segment will focus on the strengths and weaknesses of one team of interest. Arkansas is suddenly the most interesting team in all of football. The Razorbacks have lost only once, a competitive game at Alabama that was closer than the 38-14 score indicated. Aside from that, however the Razorbacks resume is questionable. They have a desperate comeback win over a not-so-great Texas A&M team, as well as comfortable wins over iffy South Carolina and Auburn. Arkansas also has a number of unsightly close calls, most notably at Vanderbilt. The Razorbacks are an offense-first team, although their defense is capable. They try to draw opponents into shootouts because of their dynamic playmakers. Once again, reference the highlight reel of the Razorbacks game against Tennessee. However, Arkansas is just as inconsistent as the Big 12 leaders, and they tend to play up and down to the competition. Earlier in the season I referred to the Razorbacks as a Good Bad Team, one that wins the games it should win and loses against the big boys, and although the South Carolina game raised my opinion of the Hogs somewhat, this largely remains true. The fact is, outside of the incredible top three, the SEC is in a notable down year, with the second tier of Auburn, Georgia, and South Carolina being well short of the top teams. A complicating factor is that the Razorbacks have always played strong against LSU. As a Tiger fan, I am terrified of having to go through Arkansas to reach the title game. The Razorbacks were responsible for what would have been the most devastating loss in LSU history, 50-48 in three overtimes in 2007, handing the Tigers their second loss and seemingly knocking top-ranked LSU out of the national title hunt. Of course, the seasonending meltdowns of Missouri and West Virginia let the Tigers sneak back into the title game. In 2007, Arkansas was playing for pride. This time around, they are playing for a shot at a crystal football. LSU is clearly the better team, but in college football that doesnt necessarily mean anything. I expect the Tigers to take it in a thriller, and I personally hope to attend the game. It should be an incredible spectacle regardless. As I understand them, here are the possibilities for the SEC West race. An LSU victory over Arkansas means the Tigers win the SEC West. Arkansas will drop out of the national title picture with its second loss. LSU cannot afford to lose to Georgia in the SEC title game, unless Alabama is upset by Auburn in the Iron Bowl. If LSU wins out and Auburn beats the Tide, the Tigers will face either Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech, or Oregon, in that order of priority, for the national championship. An Arkansas win throws the SEC West into a three-way tie. Alabama

than than he does. Plus, with modern football favoring fan-preferred pass-heavy, high-scoring offense, his job is not an enviable one. But that has not stopped Adetutu from success, as he helped lead an Oredigger defense that just completed a fifth straight winning season. In the turnaround, the team averaged seven conference victories per season since the 2-6 2005 record. For his efforts in leadership throughout his career, Adetutu is this weeks Athlete of the Week. [Oredigger] How did you start playing defense? [Adetutu] Ive always played defense. I wanted to play Pop Warner in the 4th grade but Momma wouldnt let me because she was scared I would get hurt. Why defense? Because of the intensity of defense. And you get to hit people on defense, which makes it better than offense, where they hit you. Why do you like cornerback? The coaches say we have to be the fastest and most athletic dudes on the field. But theres a

party-every-night mode. Pick? Biggest thing you have LSU-OU. Oklahoma is going to beat Oklahoma State, and I still got learned from football? Definitely the ability to fight LSU in there, easy. What are going to do with no through adversity, like when I had football for the first time since to cover guys bigger and taller than me. Its the same thing with 7th grade? I dont know. Just rest, I guess. school, that adversity. We dont really get to sleep enough COURTESY CSM ATHLETICS in season. Ill catch up on school, and Ill be back here next fall to finish my grad degree. Favorite class at Mines? Well, itll sound crazy, but Fluids I. Neal Sullivan is just the coolest guy, and its pretty much because of him that Im taking an upper level fluids class. Least favorite class at Mines? AEM. I thought they were making that stuff up. I hated it at the time. What would you differently if you could do your college career over? Work harder freshman Bumni Adetutu has played football year, not always be in the since 7th grade.

or Arkansas would become the new overall number 1, and because of the SECs tiebreaker rules, Alabama would advance to the conference final regardless. Arkansas can only win the division if it beats LSU and Alabama also loses to Auburn. Should the Iron Bowl upset occur, Arkansas would likely face off against LSU again for the national title, assuming that the Razorbacks handle Georgia. If Alabama wins the West, Arkansas would still be in the top two in the BCS and would take on the Tide for the title. Regardless of what happens, the team that finishes third in the division will not be allowed to play in a BCS bowl. Because of Thanksgiving break, I will be picking games from the next two weeks, with the matchups of the second set contingent upon the expected results in the first. -LSU by 3 vs. Arkansas -Alabama by 24 at Auburn -Wisconsin by 10 vs. Penn State -Oregon by 30 vs. Oregon State -Utah by 21 vs. CU -Upset: Virginia by 6 vs. Virginia Tech -Oklahoma State by 7 vs. Oklahoma -SEC Championship: LSU by 17 vs. Georgia -Big Ten Championship: Wisconsin by 10 vs. Michigan State -Pac-12 Championship: Oregon by 27 vs. Arizona State -ACC Championship: Clemson by 14 vs. Virginia BCS Bowl Predictions -Sugar Bowl: Oklahoma vs. Houston -Rose Bowl: Wisconsin vs. Oregon -Orange Bowl: Clemson vs. West Virginia -Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Stanford -BCS Championship: LSU vs. Alabama

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november 28, 2011

o p i n i o n

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Minds at Mines Thanksgiving

Ian Mertz Asst. Copy Editor
As the end of November draws closer, it brings with it Thanksgiving and the beginning of the holiday season. Thanksgiving is and has been a time to connect with family and friends and give thanks for all of the things we have. Recently, shopping and football have made their way into the Thanksgiving tradition, but the core values remain the same. Whether it be the food, the football, or the Black Friday sales, Thanksgiving is a joyous holiday and certainly a highlight of an otherwise dull month. In the spirit of connecting with others, Minds at Minds asks, What is your favorite part of Thanksgiving?

Grinds my gears
have a visitors lot with a single kiosk, rather than the numerous machines all over campus. Another problem is that I do not see any new parking popping up even though the student population is constantly expanding. The Weaver Parking lot is closed. The paved lot at the entrance to the dirt lot is now restricted. Half of the lower CTLM parking lot is closed. The former Sigma Nu parking lot is closed. Even the Guggenheim parking lot is now inaccessible to vehicles after hours because you need to drive on a sidewalk to get there. Parking services is playing a musical chairs game with us. It starts off that there are plenty of spaces for everyone, but parking lots slowly get taken away, leaving more and more students without any place to park. Sure, a few more spaces may have been added to the Ford Lot, but adding parking spaces to the boonies of campus does not add convenience to anyone; not to mention that it is often like a game of Frogger to try to get in and out of the Ford lot. The solution? Mines needs a parking garage. Either that or have one of the mining classes blast us an underground lot under the current dirt lot. Honestly, this would be a great addition to the campus. Those who park there would not have to worry about having to brush off ice or snow due to inclement weather, Mines would not have to plow acres of parking lots if it snowed the night before, and construction could not fit their big equipment in a parking garage to take up space that students have paid for. I am tired of having to arrive at school earlier than I want just to find a parking space; I am tired of feeling that if I drive anywhere during the day, I will have to add 20 minutes of walking to my schedule because I will have to scavenge for a spot; and I am tired that the limited parking that does exist is being taken away from those who paid. A collective group of engineers can build bridges, blast caves, and get oil from many miles below the ground, but I guess building a parking structure is just too hard of a project. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what grinds my gears.

Jarrod Sparks Staff Writer

You know what really grinds my gears? The Parking here at Mines. First of all, it seems the entire goal of parking services is to pit students against each other. They avoid condemnation by sending one of our own to do their dirty bidding. In their parking services lair, they slowly turn the innocent work study students into parking death eaters, in an attempt to gain more money. That brings us to the money issue. Last year I read that hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent on putting those self-pay parking machines up. Hundreds of thousands? Why not spend that money on maybe building a new parking lot, or buying those kids who go around barefoot some shoes (we know that you want attention but it is the wrong kind of attention and it is less hygienic than the dreadlocks of the people at occupy Wall Street)? Now, even if these machines will turn a profit in 40 or 50 years, I would rather

My favorite part is the time off from school and being able to visit my family. I also enjoy the food - especially my moms green bean casserole. -Tim Grogan

About Thanksgiving, I like how we come together to celebrate each other. The smells of the holiday bring back memories. Whenever I smell chopped green onions, it reminds me of cooking Thanksgiving food. -Antonia McMullan

Will Parker Staff Writer

Will Obamacare soon be repealed?

I like the food the most. Turkey and stuffing are my favorites. It is also nice to be with family. -Tyler King

I like the Pie Day that we have at the career center on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Last year, I went home with three whole pies. -Melissa An

I dont have to go to class, and I get to experience awkward moments with my family. And cranberry sauce. -Ryan Broden

ALL PHOTOS IAN MERTZ / OREDIGGER

from the federal government, the uninsured persons decision not to buy insurance falls under the It appears that Obamacare commerce clause. Another arguwill be declared unconstitutional ment for the constitutionality of by the Supreme Court by June the individual mandate is that if the of 2012. This past week, the Su- federal government can require preme Court of the United States drivers to purchase car insurance, they can also decided to indihear the case Another argument for the require viduals to puragainst Obamacare, officially constitutionality of the chase health insurance. known as the There are Patient Protec- individual mandate is that several flaws tion and Affordif the federal government with these arable Care Act. guments. First, The legal iscan require drivers to pur- the car insursue is the individual mandate chase car insurance, they ance argument is invalid beclause of the law. This man- can also require individuals cause people still have a date requires that every- to purchase health insur- choice in that situation. If they one purchase do not want to ance. health insurpay for car inance by 2014 or face a fine of $695 for individu- surance, they do not have to als and $2,085 for families. The drive. The health insurance mantheory behind this is that insur- date, on the other hand, allows ance companies need a larger only a select few, including those base of healthy customers to covered by Medicaid and those offset the costs of covering those with religious objections, to avoid with preexisting conditions. The purchasing health insurance. Second, the commerce clause Florida State Attorney General and twenty-five other state at- argument is invalid because the torney generals are suing on the commerce clause does not alpremise that the individual man- low the government to regulate date is unconstitutional because inaction. If the government wants the government cannot force the ability to regulate inaction, it needs to pass a constitutional consumers to buy a product. The Obama Administration ar- amendment. This course of acgues that the individual mandate tion actually has precedent. Beis constitutional because it falls fore the 16th Amendment, the under the Unite States Constitu- United States Supreme Court tions commerce clause. When ruled in Pollock v. Farmers Loan an uninsured person is sick and and Trust that certain taxes on goes to the emergency room, incomes were unconstitutional taxpayer dollars are used to help because they were not apporcover the costs. Therefore, be- tioned direct taxes. When these cause some of this money comes income taxes were declared un-

constitutional, Congress passed the 16th Amendment, The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration. Unlike taxes, the purchase of health insurance is not addressed specifically in the Constitution. Therefore it would fall under the 10th Amendment, The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively or to the people. Thus, without an amendment, the individual mandate is unconstitutional because the federal government is usurping the states power. On these grounds, it appears, that the states lawsuit will be ruled to be valid, and the mandate will be ruled unconstitutional on a 5-4 vote, most likely with Justice Kennedy being the deciding factor. In the end the Justices will decide whether the bill can stand without the individual mandate. If they decide it can, then the health care law will most likely remain mostly unchanged. If they strike down the entire law, the debate over health care will go back to square one, and maybe politicians will be able to craft a truly helpful bill.
Editorials Policy The Oredigger is a designated public forum. Editors have the authority to make all content decisions without censorship or advance approval and may edit submitted pieces for length so long as the original meaning of the piece is unchanged. Opinions contained within the Opinion Section do not necessarily reflect those of Colorado School of Mines or The Oredigger. The Oredigger does not accept submissions without identification and will consider all requests for anonymity in publication on a case-by-case basis. Submissions less than 300 words will receive preference.

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Police ensure pedestrian Online piracy act safety at the cost of others New-speak
Lucas Quintero Rebel Biker
Recently, the campus police have been ticketing long boarders and cyclists who refuse to dismount on the new plaza in front of the Student Recreation Center. But reports have shown that riders are not deterred by receiving a ticket. One skateboarder, Marty McFly, says Why should I stop for [the police]? It is not like they are going to catch me! Especially on foot! Rather than fearing a ticket, most riders have shown less respect for the law by ignoring the police outright. In response, police have designed a tactic which is more physical and will deter all those who dare to ride in the plaza. The tactic has been in place since the beginning of the month and it has been very effective. 12 skateboarders and 5 cy- the 1986 classic Trashin will be clists have been sent to the hos- as common as a failed test. pital for refusing to stop. Police When asked about the recent have been seen clothes-lining, injuries and if the tactics were tackling, and tripping these riders. working, police said, Dismount At times, the new plaza can be now! But yes, the police force is in seen littered full belief that with shatthose who do Why should I stop for tered boards not dismount and bent tire [the police]? It is not like should learn a frames. lesson and all they are going to catch the police is Currently the police are trying to do is me! Especially on foot! decrease the trying to allow field ofamount of peficers to use destrian-rider riot shields and make the plaza a accident. training ground for the police inSince the police have enforced volved in the occupy movements the new tactics, pedestrian-rider downtown. accidents have decreased a full If this proposal is denied, then 100% from 1 to 0. surely the Shredding 101 for the The police has been in full sup5-oh (loosely translated to Po- port, with applause, and with the lice Skateboarding Academy) will programs recent success, there be instated. Soon skateboarding is no reason for them to change chase scenes like the one from their tactics.

James Kergosien Sailor of Digital Sea

Stop Online Piracy Act was write by Comrade Lamar Smith and American Inner Party, thought by some as Congress, is talk about making it Truth. Law is Truth. Crimethinkers and crimespeakers have lived in Internet for big time, and now the Party tries to disappear them. Net places Google, Facebook, Youtube, Wikipedia, others now need watch crimespeak on sites and disappear it. Crimethinkers will be sent to Ministry of Love if they still write crimespeak on Net. American Net policy will be made same with our comrades in China and Iran. Is plus good that crimethinkers must obey Party and its Truth. Law is Truth. Party is Law. Crimethinkers and enemies

disobey Truth and claim freedom from Party. Is hatespeak. They speak rights and anonymity and they are enemies of Party and Business. Is doubleplusbad hatespeak. Stop Online Piracy Act is help Business to disappear stealers who unhelp Business and give Business Speak and Party Speak on Net. Disobedience is death. Crimethinkers are enemies. Law is Truth. Inner Party will pass Act in small time. RepCrat leaders speak together that Act will be Truth. Enemies and crimethinkers will be disappear. Oneness will be victoryful, and Party will destroy enemies of State. Remember Big Brother is watching you, and Big Brother now will watch Net. Crimethink is untruth. Law is Truth. Party is Law. Hate is love. Slave is free. Obey.
JAMES KERGOSIEN / OREDIGGER

Mines to offer 400-Level LAIS course on Artistic Complaint

Joshua Kleitsch Artful Dissident
how modern practitioners of the student must write an artful comart have brought complaint to a plaint to the course instructor, new level. explaining how horrible and disThis falls registration period Some have asked why Mines gusting the class is. They must was a headache for many stu- students need a class on com- do it artfully, so it cannot be a dents at the Colorado School of plaining, beblind, mushMines, due to the abysmal lack cause it seems In an effort to make Ar- m o u t h e d , of 400-level LAIS courses that as thought flabby whine tistic Complaint a well- about the class. Juniors and Seniors actually want they do it well to take. already. This It must be Per usual, Science in Litera- is just stupid, attended class, the total thoughtful, use ture and Film Studies filled rap- said one stuclass enrollment will be proper words idly, Leading to many Facebook dent. Why do and terms, and posts whining about how stupid we need a class be eloquent in capped at 670. our Liberal Arts and Internation- on how to comchiding the inal Studies department is for not plain? Every structor. We having enough space for every single person feel that this senior at this school. Ive met at this school complains class will raise the collective qualIn response to the belliger- all the freaking time. We must be ity of the complaining culture ent outcry, Tuniz Righton, one experts by now. here at Mines said Man Dillard, of the associate professors in The reality is that most Mines the LAIS department head. The the departs t u d e n t s disturbing lack of thoughtful, ment, has Part of the coursework will suck at com- creative complaint here must be announced plaining. I remedied, and I think we can do a new class have noticed that with this class. involve a project in which 400-level a great lack In an effort to make Artistic course which in artful, well Complaint a well-attended class, each student must write will be open t h o u g h t - the total class enrollment will be to all majors an artful complaint to the out com- capped at 670. and years. plaint within Films and discussion will be The course, course instructor, explaining the student held in Bunker auditorium, with Artistic Combody here complaint sessions held in Lockplaint, will how horrible and disgusting at Mines. ridge arena. take a hosaid RighInterested students are enthe class is. listic look at ton. What couraged to read up on some how to artthey need is of the great complainers, as well fully express a comprehensive examination of as watch speeches by politicians your distaste for any particular what makes a good complaint. and the president, to get a good subject, event, or entity. This They have the quantity, but it is idea for what artful complaint course will be an in-depth study of dismal quality, if I am honest. looks like. of how the art of complaining has Part of the coursework will The class will open up for fall evolved over the centuries and involve a project in which each 2012 enrollment.

Disobedience is death. Crimethinkers are enemies, Law is truth.

Sudoku

See solution online at oredigger.net/satire

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