Volume 90, Issue 14February 1, 2010
News 2Features 3sports 8opiNioN - 11
~world headlines~scientific discoveries~taste of russia ~tech break - ipad~men’s basketball~superbowl preview~what’s wrong with nhv ~minds at mines
satire 12
~rumor mill~social circle
Mines alum writes from Haiti
See story and more photos on pages 6 and 7.
courtesy andrew ferguson
As you may have already heard,the City Council voted on January28 to implement a parking permitsystem for the areas surround-ing the CSM campus. What youmay not have heard is that theCity Council voted to implementthe parking permit system shortlybefore or after our spring break (March 14-19). You should knowthat they did so over repeatedrequests made by Ashley Young, ASCSM Vice-President, and my-self to postpone the parking man-agement system until after the endof this semester. The reasoning behind theCouncil’s decision to start permitparking can be summed up asfollows. First of all, the membersof the Golden Historical Neighbor-hood Association (GHNA), led by Tom Atkins, made a compellingcase about their inability to park in front of their own homes duringpeak campus hours. Additionally,many of the GHNA’s membersgave emotional testimony to theCity Council about how they haveunfairly shared the burden of thecampus’s parking problems for thepast 20 years. Another argumentin favor of this system, was that theMines administration is perceivedby the Council to have basicallyswept the parking issue under therug many times in the past. Bydoing so, the Council believes thatthe administration has fostered alack of trust between itself, theGHNA, City Council and othercommunity groups. Even thoughwe pointed out that implementingthe system mid-way through thesemester would basically displacehundreds of students, the Councilwas not swayed by the loominginconvenience to the students.Lastly, the Council repeatedlystressed that our students areintelligent, capable of adapting toother circumstances, and that theywish to see more students usingalternative forms of transportationinstead of cars.Obviously, the implementationof the proposed parking manage-ment system has the potentialto create a mess of the parkingsystem. As students, we are quiteclearly facing an issue of massiveproportions, but please be assuredthat your student representativeswill be working hand-in-hand withthe administration in the next fewweeks to ensure that parkingconcerns are taken care of in theshort-term. In the long-term thestudent government will work toensure that students are fairlyrepresented in some pending deci-sions regarding long-term parkingobjectives for the Fall semesterand the future.We understand that manypeople will be upset regarding theremoval of crucial parking spaces,but at this time the student gov-ernment would ask that studentsplease refrain from making brashdecisions, and/or directly appeal-ing to either the Mines Administra-tion or the Golden City Council. If you have any concerns, pleasebring them to either myself (jgod-win@mines.edu) or your ASCSMstudent representatives.Please be on the lookout forupdates in the Oredigger, via cam-pus wide-emails, yers, and otherchannels in the coming weeks. As always, ASCSM welcomesyour feedback, and you are allwelcome to attend our bi-weeklymeetings, the next of which is onFebruary 11th.
Jeff Godwin
ascsM a-l cmmirpiv
Change will go into effectaround spring break
City Council approvespermit parking
Ian Littman
a Bi M wb c
Nyikos discusses tuition, Capital Construction at ASCSM
Dr. Michael Nyikos, chair of theMines Board of Trustees, discussedthe future of Mines at Thursday’s ASCSM meeting. Nyikos, whoseposition on the board will expire atthe end of this year, explained that,while the Board of Trustees takesinput from faculty and students,they are held legally responsiblefor the direction they choose forMines, whether in regard to parking,nances or other large decisions.Nyikos noted that nances, orthe lack thereof, are a large issue forthe current board and the campusas a whole. 2010 capital expendi-tures must come from either alumnidonations or the Capital Construc-tion Fee assessed to students eachsemester. Two donations of the for-mer nature surpassed $10 million;one of them will be used to nanceMarquez Hall. The latter fundingsource is what made the Brown Halladdition possible.Nyikos then explained Mines’srelationship with the state, spe-cically with regard to the campusbecoming something similar to a“Public Authority Institution,” likePenn State, among other universi-ties. Mines can’t go private; “Thestate’s not going to give away a$500 million asset,” Nyikos said.However each year Mines becomesmore independent of the state,though unfortunately this indepen-dence translates into nancial issuesand tuition increases. Tuition willincrease by 9% for in-state studentsand 5% for out-of-state studentsfor the 2010-2011 academic year,and the gap between in-state andout-of-state tuition will continue toclose as time goes on, since the realcosts per student aren’t any differ-ent. Nyikos stated that real costs persemester for a Mines undergraduateare currently $18,860 per semester.One point of contention betweenMines and the state of Coloradois the number of credit hours in adegree. The Colorado Commissionon Higher Education, or CCHE, ispushing for uniformity of degreeprograms, with 120 credit hoursas the goal for all undergraduatedegrees. Mines was able to overturnthe CCHE’s attempt to legislate thislimit. Nyikos stated that the lengthof degree programs will stay in thehands of Mines faculty.Nyikos continued to lament thebureaucracy imposed on highereducation by the state, describingthe six committees constructed tostudy the situation as “politicizedbeyond sense.” ASCSM Faculty Advisor Derek Morgan then took the oor, encour-aging Mines students to ll out the2010 national census survey andnoted that college students arenot counted on parents’ censussurveys. He also noted that stu-dents can donate textbooks for theHaiti relive effort; proceeds of soldtextbooks go to aid organizationsworking in the country. The Feburary 11 ASCSM meet-ing will also include a presentationfrom Aramark’s Senior Directorof Sustainability on how to hold asustainable club or organizationevent at Mines. Announcements at the end of the meeting included a remainderthat Legislature Day is this Thursday,February 4th at the Colorado HistoryMuseum from 5:30 pm until 8:00pm. The event, which will includefood, is designed to showcasestudent organizations from CSM tomembers of the state legislature. An e-mail with further details isforthcoming.
The DenverHarlequinscome toMinespage 9
N e w s
february 1, 2010page 2
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Faculty Advisor
Headlines from around the world
Local News
Emily Trudell,
Staff Writer
Jake Rezac,
Content Manager
Western Mongolia:
Arche-ologists have found what appearsto be the skeleton of a man fromeastern Europe or northern India ina 2,000-year-old cemetery. Genesin the bones of the skeleton haveproperties often associated withmale speakers of Indo-Europeanlanguages. This skeleton, alongwith others which appear to be for-eign, indicate that Indo-Europeansbegan migrating to China over4,000 years ago. This theory mayhave important implications on thespread of ancient languages.
Cambridge, MA
: Scientists havedetermined that running shoes likelychanges the way a shoe-wearerruns. Compared to shoe-wearerswho strike the ground with their heel,barefooted runners hit the groundwith the forefoot or mid-foot. Thisdifference could cause more repeti-tive stress injuries for shoe-wearingrunners. Scientists hope to use thisknowledge to design better shoes.
Amsterdam, The Netherlands:
New research suggests that large amountsof stress – like that associated with depression and post-traumatic stress dis-order – and insomnia may be correlated with a smaller-than-average amount of gray matter in the part of the brain which evaluates pleasantness. Researchershypothesize that, because insomniacs have trouble determining comfort due tothis difference, it is harder for them to fall asleep. Insomnia is associated withmany psychiatric disorders involving high amounts of stress, possibly for thisreason.
Atacama desert, Chile
: Astronomers have detected ablack hole further from the Earththan any previously-knownblack hole. The newly-discov-ered object is also the secondmost massive black hole everfound. The black hole is alsonotable in that it’s outside of theMilky Way Galaxy. Only threeobjects of this type have everbeen found. A massive star or-bits the black hole and will, with-in a million years, also become ablack hole, creating a merger of the two black holes.
The Bill and Melinda GatesFoundation
donated $10 billionover the next 10 years towardsbuying vaccines for the world’spoorest countries. This is report-ed as the single largest donationto one cause to ever be pledged. The Gates Foundation is the Unit-ed States largest philanthropy,with $34 billion in assets.
Ojore Nuru Lutalo
, 64, wasarrested on an Amtrack train trav-eling from Los Angeles to Chi-cago after talking about terroristthreats during a cell phone call.Lutalo was recently released fromprison, and is now free in Denveron a $30,000 bond. The Commerce Departmentreported that the United States
economy grew 5.7%
in thefourth quarter of 2009; the fast-est since 2003. This good newswas an optimistic end to a dismalyear, as the economy declined anoverall 2.7% in 2009, the rst an-nual decline since 1991.
J.D. Salinger
, author of thefamed novel “Catcher in theRye,” died at the age of 91. A new study conduct-ed by the
Highway LossData Institute
foundthat the banning of cell phones and otherhand held electronicswhile driving has notdecreased the amountof vehicle crashes.Nineteen states havea ban on texting whiledriving, and six statesban talking on cellphones while driving.Darlene Etienne,16, was pulled fromthe rubble of a building after 15days of being trapped after the
earthquake in Haiti
that killedan estimated 200,000 people.Etienne has been given a 90%chance of survival, is stable andis able to eat soft foods, whichhas astonished doctors.Police at Rutgers Universitysuspended the Sigma GammaRho sorority after charging 6 of its member with
hazing
. Policesay the girls paddled and deniedprospective pledges food. Thegirls have been charged with ag-gravated hazing but are free on a$1,500 bail. Toyota announced a
recall
of 75,000 sport utility vehicles withpotential accelerator problems,as part of a worldwide recall of 5.3 million vehicles over the pastyear.South African President JacobZuma defended his right to havethree wives after he was criticizedby the World Economic Forum.
Polygamy
is legal in South Afri-ca, though a highly debated prac-tice. Zuma married his third wife, Tobeka Madiba, in early Janu-ary, and argues that his personalchoices do not affect his abilitiesas a political leader.President Obama announceda plan to invest $8 billion for anation-wide
high speed train
system, funded through the gov-ernment stimulus package. Theprojects will take place in 31 U.S.States, with the hope of creating jobs.Mines police attemptedto stop a Dodge Neon lastWednesday after a report of suspicious activity. An emailfrom Keith Turney, Chief of Po-lice, was sent out on Thursdaywith more information.Mines’ wrestling claimed 14top-six nishes in the RockyMountain Collegiate Open, in-cluding 1 rst place, 4 secondplace and one third place nish.Mines’ Women’s Basketballteam beat Regis University 78-74, improving their record to13-6 overall.Mines’ Men’s Basketballteam are on a four-game win-ning streak with an 84-73 vic-tory over Regis University.Colorado School of Mines’Jesse Dennis and Sarah Mooreboth earned RMAC Diver of theWeek honors while Kevin Shawwas selected as the RMACMen’s Swimmer of the Week NASA Student Ambassa-dors were recently announces,including two Mines students,Kennda Lynch, a Mines gradu-ate student and Luke Richards,an undergraduate.
f e a t u r e s
february 1, 2010page 3
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Image: Downtown Chi-cago
“There are two kindsof truth; the truth thatlights the way andthe truth that warmsthe heart. The rst of these is science, and thesecond is art. Withoutart, science would be asuseless as a pair of highforceps in the handsof a plumber. With-out science, art wouldbecome a crude mess of folklore and emotionalquackery.” - RaymondChandler
Do you consider yourself ageek?
Yes, of course I consider myself a geek... but not in any standardgeek mold.
How did you come to be atMines?
I applied and was accepted atthree schools: Rensselaer, Rose-Holeman, and here. I had grown uphere and Ohio kinda blows. Need Isay more?
What is your favorite geeky pick up line?
Can’t say I’ve used many, butIch grethe Þae, maec Cwen. “Igreet you, my queen” in old Eng-lish.
What is the geekiest thing you have seen or done?
The geekiest thing would haveto be a pulley system to moveblocks and electrolysis to breathein a Dungeons and Dragons game.
What is your favorite geek joke?
“You’d better be prepared forthe jump into hyperspace, it’sunpleasantly like being drunk.”“What’s so unpleasant about be-ing drunk?” “Ask a glass of water.”-Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Star Wars or Star Trek? Why?
Star Trek. Scottish engineers areamazing.
What are your hobbies?
My hobbies would be rock climbing, mountain biking, Dun-geons and Dragons, World of War-craft, Ultimate Frisbee, Halo, read-ing, and music.
What is the geekiest thing you own?
That would be an autographedpicture of Chuck Yaeger.
The
Chuck Yeager, who rstbroke the sound barrier?
Yes, in the “Glamorous Glennis.”
What has been your favorite class atMines?
Hmmm, my favoriteclass is Statics.
Dear god why?
I love statics, itcomes naturally. I hadthe best professor whois no longer here.
Who?
Gared Dean.
What is your favor-ite piece of technol-ogy
?iPod, for sure.
What is your favor-ite movie?
Equilibrium.
It’s like1984 meets the Matrix.Really hard for me todecide since I watch alot of movies, but it hasChristian Bale in it.
What is your favorite book?
So very many... how about
Be- yond the Summerland
by LB Gra-ham.
What clubs or activities are you involved in?
Club Ultimate, RP club, Boardand Gaming Club, Campus Cru-sade for Christ, InterVarsity Chris-tian Fellowship, ASCE, and SWE.
Who is your role model andwhy?
Role model is fairly easy- IsaacNewton for a few reasons, butmainly he was a great leader, verydevout Christian and still brilliant.
What is your favorite OS?Why?
Windoze 7. Ease of use. I woulduse Linux if more were written for it,due to stability. But I have more of afavorite type of laptop.
Ok, then. How about your fa-vorite laptop brand?
Lenovo, they are indestructibleand have an ungodly battery life. Also I got a great deal [wink wink].
What is your favorite formulaand why?
Pythagorean Theorem, becauseof the Chinese proof, not the stupidSaxon proof...
If you were stuck on a de-serted island and you couldonly bring 3 items, what wouldthey be?
Knife, iPod with innite battery,and my hat.
If you were to come up with aclass for CSM what would it be?
Comparative Analysis and Prac-ticality of Science Fiction Series/ Movies.
If you could be anyone else,who would you be?
I like being me, I don’t want tobe anyone else.
What is one thing you loveat Mines? One thing you wouldlike to see changed?
The locale. I love the mountainsbeing so accessible. As for change,more residence halls would be nice.
Geek Week
ofthe
Daniel Haughey
Staff Writer
...Stephen Bartels, Sophomore; Civil Engineering
Nearly every student mustendure a rigorous semester of Physics 200 here at Mines. It isone of the few commonalitiesshared as a student body. Tryingto make sense of the class formany undergraduates can be lik-ened to trying tounderstand whysome people goto a liberal artscollege. It justdoes not com-pute. This is whereDr. Patrick Kohlenters; a bril-liant man withthe unreal task of making sense out of electricityand magnetism.Dr. Kohl spent most his earlyyears growing up under the in-fluence of a military father. As aresult, Kohl spent many yearstraveling the country before brief-ly settling down in eastern Wash-ington as a teen. The next destination for thephysicsteacherwas West-ern Wash-ingtonUniversity.When de-ciding topursue aphysicsmajor, Kohllaughedthat, “[Be-ing a phys-ics ma- jor] wassomethingI settled onwhen I wastoo youngto knowwhat I wasdoing.”However,he admit-ted, “Physics is just a lot of fun,learning the fundamentals of theworld around us and how every-thing works.” As for teaching at Mines, Dr.Kohl explained it as the nextlogical stepafter obtain-ing his PhD atCU-Boulder.“It just kindof evolved.Like manystudents,I thought Iwould get intothe industry.” However, industrywas not calling the young physi-cist. Instead, Mines offered him a job he just could not turn down.“I was impressed with the qualityof students here. They are reallymotivated and are very interest-ing people.” He then joked that,“It is a bunch of nerds, but in agood way.”But as for his favorite part,Kohl simply said that “there isreally nothing bad about it.” Hehopes that students realize howwell they have it here. If he werea student at Mines, he expectsthat he would be excited to bein a place where the focus is onwhat he likes to do, especiallyas opposed to other campuses,which cultivate a more cutthroatenvironment.We all have some nerdy partof us, a part of math or sciencethat we think is just the coolestthing we have ever seen. As forDr. Kohl, he studied his favoritepart as agraduateprojectinvolvingultra-fastlasers. Hiswork in-volved thestudy of the lasers,their col-ors, andspeeds. “Lasers are just fun. And[the ultra-fast lasers] are quirky,interesting little beasts.”Dr. Kohl’s influence at the Col-orado School of Mines goes be-yond teaching Physics 200. He isinvolved in an educationally-fo-cused research group. He stud-ies the influences and techniquesthat provide the best learningexperi-ence forstudents.While notdirectlylinked tothe LON-CAPA system,Kohl likeshow thesystemimple-ments thehome-work forthe class.“If youforce stu-dents todo theirhome-work,they ac-tually dobetter,” he commented. Studiesshow that this method helps stu-dents better than the traditionalclassroom that leaves the rep-etition and homework up to thestudent, which leaves them withlittle structureor framework in trying tolearn a dif-ficult curricu-lum.Outside of Mines, Pro-fessor Kohllives at homewith his wife. Other hobbies in-clude a love for the outdoors of Colorado and an enjoyment of pet rabbits, which he describedas being “very cute, they are like16-year-olds, except that theydon’t burn the house down.”Dr. Kohl did not think any of his own experiences during col-lege would be very appropriatefor a school newspaper.But, as for advice for currentcollege students he concluded, “Iknow it is a cliché, but take ad-vantage of this opportunity. You’llnever have an opportunity likethis again.”
Trevor Crane
Staff Writer
Faculty spotlight:Dr. Patrick Kohl
Art of science
“...and an enjoyment of petrabbits, which he described asbeing ‘very cute, they are like16-year-olds, except that theydon’t burn the house down.’” His work involved the studyof the lasers, their colors, andspeeds.
“Lasers are just fun.And [the ultra-fast lasers]are quirky, interesting littlebeasts.”
ERIK LORD / OREDIGGERCOURTESY STEPHEN BARTELSTREVOR CRANE / OREDIGGER
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