THE OREDIGGER

The student voice of the Colorado School of Mines

2
Volume 94, Issue 12 November 25, 2013
KATERINA GONZALES / OREDIGGER

News

Mathematicians study the brains functions.

Features 4

Stars Above Mines refocuses on Earth.

Sports 7

Humanitarian engineering asks why service benefits CSM students

Jessica Deters Staff Writer
attribute value to things like being a member of EWB or being in the HE minor, and, as far as, I know Greg is the only one asking these Why do employers look favor- questions in a systematic way. ably on candidates with experiRulifson, who is studying the inence in engineering service? Why fluence of learning through service does participating in Engineers activities such as Engineers WithWithout Borders or minoring in out Borders on hiring decisions, Humanitarian Engineering make for closed out the Humanitarian Engia strong resume? Greg Rulifson, a neering Lecture Series for the fall Ph.D. student at the University of semester. Prior to enrolling in the Colorado-Boulder, is not only ask- Ph.D. program at CU Boulder, Ruing these questions, he is finding lifson earned his Bachelors Degree tangible and logical in Civil EngineerYou learn ten times ing with a minor in answers. I do not know Global Poverty and anyone else, be- as much from a practi- Practice at the Unisides Greg, who versity of Califori s i m p l e m e n t - cal experience than a nia, Berkeley and ing a systematic theoretical. You might worked on a tsumethodology and nami relief mitigaframework to un- have a leg up because tion project to earn derstand somea Masters Degree thing that to many you have (practical) at Stanford. of us sounds trivial, Rulifson ofexperiences. but we dont know fered insight into why its trivial, the importance of Juan Lucena, professor and direc- engineering service and how to tor of Humanitarian Engineering at best market such experience to Mines, said. Why do we join EWB employers. Throughout Rulifsons or why do we do humanitarian en- research, he has interviewed a gineering? Why would employers dozen employers in civil, envieven care or attribute value to a ronmental, and mechanical engiminor in humanitarian engineer- neering fields. Employers shared ing or a membership in Engineers their views on the importance of Without Borders? There are a lot engineering service and how such of answers as to why employers service plays into hiring decisions. You learn ten times as much but it helps, one corporate interfrom a practical experience than a viewee told Rulifson of engineering theoretical. You might have a leg service experience. It absolutely up because you have (practical) differentiates you once you meet experiences, one employer told the minimum qualifications. Rulifson. Entry level students that Participating in Engineers have that experience are about a Without Borders and minoring in year ahead than what we would Humanitarian Engineering will not see out of a regular program. guarantee a job. Rulifsons interviews allow Rulifson reminded students him to quanthat they must still tify which skills Engineering service is have the minimum learned via qualifications and e n g i n e e r i n g very valuable...A very key must retain their service proj engineering knowlects make ap- differentiator (in hiring) e d g e l e a r n e d i n plicants who is extracurricular activi- academia. participate in Youre not gosuc h s ervi ce ties that are related to ing to get away with projects more ditching all of your appealing to schoolwork and engineering. employers. having (engineering According to Rulifson, Employ- service) take over your life, Rulifers want technical and professional son said. Youve got to balance skills, practical skills, a holistic those things. understanding of engineering, pasEngineering service does make sion, leadership, and international a difference when it comes hirexperience. Working on engineer- ing time according to Rulifsons ing service projects allows for the research. Companies do find development of all of these skills. service valuable and engineering Engineering service is very service in particular. So however valuable, Rulifson said. Nobody you feel like youve been most imspoke to me (and said) its not pacted by the engineering service really that big of a deal actually. A that youve done and the more very key differentiator (in hiring) is effectively you can speak towards extracurricular activities that are it, then the better chances youll related to engineering. have of having them know what It does not get you in the door, you bring to the table.

Mines prepares to transition from autumn to winter. This week, many students will journey home to celebrate Thanksgiving. After Thanksgiving, only Dead Week and Finals remain before students leave for Winter Break.

Mens basketball is victorious.

Opinion 8

Minds at Mines asks about snow.

w w w . O R E D I G G E R . n e t

page 2

n e w s

november 25, 2013

Bradley Wood, Staff Writer

Milton, Oxfordshire, UK - Genetically modified insects can be used to combat themselves. A company called Oxitec has developed a gene that they breed into male insects that causes young female insects to die as they develop. It is in use in Brazil to combat mosquito populations, in an effort to prevent the spread of deadly diseases. In Europe they are hoping to use this gene in olive flies to reduce the loss of olive crops.

NASA, Florida - NASAs Maven mission launched this week with a final destination of Mars. The probe launched from Cape Canaveral Air Base on an Atlas V rocket. The goal of this mission is to orbit Mars to study its atmosphere and learn if water ever could have existed on the Mars surface. The probe has a ten month flight to the red planet with many maneuvers along the way but if all goes according to schedule the probe should be orbiting Mars on September 22, 2014.

MIT, Massachusets - Scientists at MIT have created the new standard in waterproof. Their new super-hydrophobic coating is 40% more water resistant than previously thought possible. This revolutionary new micro ridge design has been inspired by waterproof objects in nature. The micro ridges added to the surface of objects reduces the surface area of water in contact with the surface and allows it to roll off quickly. Objects coated with this repel water so quickly that even in supercooled conditions water rolls off before freezing. This breakthrough will lead to more waterproof fabrics and airplanes that ice up less easily.

Earth - The recent death of a star about 2,500 light years from earth is now believed to be the brightest in recorded history. During the collapse, the star emitted large amounts of radiation into the universe. Scientists say that had the star been within 1000 light years of Earth that life on Earth could have been adversely affected. Scientists also predict that a star will only implode that close to earth once every 500 million years.

Oredigger Staff
Deborah Good Editor-in-Chief Emily McNair Managing Editor Taylor Polodna Design Editor Connor McDonald Webmaster Lucy Orsi Business Manager Arnaud Filliat Copy Editor Katerina Gonzales Content Manager Jared Riemer Content Manager Karen Gilbert Faculty Advisor

Headlines from around the world

James Davis, Staff Writer
Two men were arrested in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh for offering free hugs. After observing the free-hug movements in other countries, Saudi citizen Bandr al-Swed was inspired to start his own. He attempted to brighten peoples day by offering strangers free hugs, believing that it could make the country a happier place. The religious police stated that the practice was exotic and offending public order. After the arrest, the two men were obligated to sign a pledge stating that they would not offer free hugs again. Eye witness reports confirm the flight of an unmanned stealth craft in China. Claims made stated that the drone, dubbed Sharp Sword, made a 20 minute test flight in Chengdu. Earlier in the year, Chinese drones were piloted near contested territory in the East China Sea, increasing tension in Japan. These reports have made it clear that China is ready to join the western world with regards to advances in unmanned aerial vehicles. New tests done on a meteorite, titled Black Beauty for its black, glossy appearance, has been confirmed as one of the oldest Martian meteorites collected. Original tests on the rock aged it at about 2 billion years, but new tests suggest that it may date back further than 4.4 billion years ago. According to scientists, this is during the Red Planets infancy. Many igneous rock types can be observed, suggesting that early Martian formation experienced much volcanic activity. 22-year-old Norwegian chess prodigy Magnus Carlsen beats former world champion Viswanathan Anand. Carlsen dominated the tournament competition, only needing a draw against the former world champion to earn the title. Carlsen took home a hefty $2.24 million for his victory. After two months in prison, five British Greenpeace members were released with bail. The organization was protesting Russian offshore drilling in the Arctic. The members were separated when processed in the prison system, each living with Russian inmates. The activists originally faced charges of piracy, but this was reduced to hooliganism. Scientists in Spain have received funding to make another attempt at cloning the bucardo. The bucardo, also known as the Pyrenean ibex, is a species of mountain goat that went extinct in the year 2000. Prior to its extinction, tissue samples were collected and frozen in liquid nitrogen. The experiments will study the viability of tissue samples after extended freezing. Lead scientist Dr. Alberto Fernandez-Arias stated that this is not an attempt to bring back an extinct species; it is just a test on cloning techniques. The cloned cells will be artificially implanted in female goats to test this.

Local News
A car crashed into the first floor of an apartment building around 3am at 872 Park Avenue West. At least one person involved was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. The extent of the damage to the building is unknown at this time and the crash in under investigation. Federal agents raided several marijuana businesses this past week. The businesses may have a possible connection to Colombian drug cartels. The agents believed that the businesses were all one big operation. Two men died in a tractortrailer crash in Trinidad Thursday morning. The driver did not negotiate a curve. This led to him losing control of the truck. Neither of the men was wearing seat belts. The accident is still under investigation. Paul Nohan died after falling from the Narrows on Longs Peak on August 15. The Boulder County Coroner has ruled the death an accident. A ruptured pipeline near Canon City spilled contaminated water. This pipeline came from the Cotter Corp. uranium mill. The contamination did not leave he property.

Correction
The Oredigger misattributed the Geek of the Week article in the November 18th issue. Jordan Francis was the author, not Katerina Gonzales. The Oredigger apologizes for the error.

w w w . O R E D I G G E R . n e t

november 25, 2013

Brain network structure unsurprisingly complex

Chris Robbins Staff Writer
esis, human subjects with varying emotional responses (from no conditions to documented As one might imagine, the schizophrenics) were exposed to workings of the human brain are different visual stimuli and empirian extremely complex subject, cal data collected was of a time and while a great deal has been series via non-invasive imaging discovered in this field over the techniques such as fMRI. While years, there is still much more subjects were exposed to the that remains a mystery. As part stimuli, these imaging techniques of her current research, Profes- monitored and recorded signals sor Anca Radsent across cerRadulescu and her col- tain areas of the ulescu of the Applied Math brain. These redepartment at leagues were hoping to cordings were CU-Boulder is then converted to part of an ex- determine...whether or usable data and ploratory study by whether not a persons emotional sorted on the brains the signals were n e t w o r k - l i k e imbalances were due to purely random organization white noise and interac- the circuitry in their pre- versus pink-or tions within brown-colored that network. noise (emissions frontal lobe. At this sethat seem to mesters final AMS department have a preferred temporal scale) colloquium, she provided some through the use of the signals brief insight into this research in Fourier spectra. her presentation, Network CouUpon analyzing the data and pling, Dynamics and Emotional sorting the data into categoResponses. ries by subject (low response to What Radulescu and her col- stimuli, high response to stimuli, leagues were hoping to determine low anxiety over stimuli, and high from this study was whether or anxiety over stimuli), the results not a persons emotional imbal- were rather interesting. Due to ances were due to the circuitry in the highest levels of noise betheir prefrontal lobe, particularly ing transmitted to the amygdala, the underperformance of regula- or excitatory, arousal nodes, the tory modules within the prefron- high response group also had tal cortex. To test this hypoth- among the highest releases from

n e w s

page 3

Polar Express still charming

Sarah Dewar Staff Writer
Chris Van Allsburg wrote The Polar Express in 1985. This childrens book has become a Christmas classic. Children and adults alike all over the world have become enchanted with the story of a little boy who awakes in the middle of the night to find train outside his house, beckoning him to the North Pole. The book itself has beautiful illustrations that incorporate the darker shades that are associated with winter - rich reds, deep greys, thick greens. Each page draws the reader further and further into the story, building anticipation, just as if he was going on the same journey to the mystical North Pole as well. Like most childrens books, the physical size of the book is large and lends to an encompassing experience when flipping each wide page. The 2004 adaptation for screen brought this wonderful story to life in a fresh visual way. Executive producer Tom Hanks led the movie both starring and narrating the story. Chris Van Allsburg was included as another executive producer, which ensured the authenticity and unique nature of the book being adapted into film. The Polar Express has definitely become a must see, in addition to a must read, every Christmas season. Accompanying the movie is a stellar soundtrack, which includes the astounding voice of Josh Groban and the compositional genius of Alan Silvestri. The overall message of The Polar Express rings true for many of us. It follows the experience of a young child. He believes in magic and in the existence of the North Pole as more than just a symbolic location. As he grows older, he continues to believe, even though his friends and family are unable to share in his enthusiasm for the magic of Christmas. He keeps a small bell, which he received from Santa Claus during his trip to the North Pole, and he is able to hear the bell ring throughout his entire lifetime. All of his friends and family slowly lose the ability to hear the bell. Even as he grows old, the once-young boy is able to hear the bell ring loud and clear. This is an important message to all. Even when faced with the harsh realities of the world, where science disproves magic, it is comforting to fondly remember the time as a child, when the magic of Christmas was experienced. Returning to the feeling can be comforting and inspiring. The most creative and imaginative people in the world are somehow able to maintain a close connection to childhood dreams - a sort of free spiritedness - that is joyful and fun. Christmas is the perfect time to revisit childhood dreams and put ones current life in perspective. Many dreamed the same dreams as children, and it is important to keep those dreams relevant and to continue to pursue what those dreams have transformed into today.

Courtesy of Mines Newsroom

Mines researchers earn Maji Crew wins NSF Yosemite grant trade fair
An NSF RAPID proposal was recently awarded to Colorado School of Mines researchers to investigate the potential impacts on water quality in the Rim Fire area near Yosemite National Park. The Rim Fire, the third largest fire in California history, was started on Aug. 17, 2013, and burned for nearly 10 weeks destroying 402 square miles of forest and wildlife habitat. It is the largest fire in the recorded Sierra Nevada history and cost more than $127 million to fight -- $4.3 million will be used towards watershed treatment to mitigate potential downstream impacts. The research, led by Mines Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Terri S. Hogue along with her colleagues John McCray, Richard Luthy, and Alexis Stichler, Chris Higgins, and Alicia M. Kinoshita, will involve monitoring reservoir and regional stream system water quality as well as alterations in snow patterns and associated spring runoff. The Rim Fire threatened the OShaughnessy Dam and reservoir in the Hetch Hetchy Valley, which supplies water for the San Francisco Bay Area. It also has the potential to impact the Tuolumne River water system, which supplies water to San Francisco and 29 other wholesale buyers in San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Alameda counties. RAPID proposals allow quickresponse research on natural or anthropogenic disasters and similar unanticipated events. The project is also supported by funds from the NSF Engineering Research Center on Urban Water Infrastructure.
COURTESY MINES NEWSROOM

the BA45 (Brodmann area 45, an inhibitory/extinction module found in the frontal cortex), which was to be expected. However, the high anxiety class received the smallest levels of noise to the amygdala in the study, yet also received the absolute highest levels of release from the BA45. It would make sense that the highest levels of inhibitors combined with the lowest levels of exciters would result in very low responsiveness rather than high anxiety, but as the data suggests it is actually the opposite. Trying to make sense of this, Radulescu proposed a basic theory that high anxiety levels result from weakened inhibitory devices in the prefrontal lobe, making even the slightest noise within the system difficult to extinguish. Using the data as a starting point, Radulescu has developed a simple model of the situation, and, at this point, it does a decent job of mapping out the basic workings of this system. However, she admits that the model is still very rough and in need of some editing and that, for the time being, this basic understanding of the situation will have to do. As part of her future research, she plans on working out the issues with the model and hopes to produce and even more accurate description of the brains networking structure.

Brenda Shelley wins Broader Impacts Essay Competition

Courtesy of Mines Newsroom
The Maji Crew, sponsored by International Development Enterprises (iDE), won the Trade Fair Championship Thursday, Nov. 21 in George R. Brown Hall. Their project focuses on redesigning the value and filter for iDEs existing pressure drip irrigation systems to be more cost effective and easier to use. Some of their design objectives include irrigating a 1,000 square meter field, providing a value to shut off water and a filter that is easy to remove and clean. Civil environmental engineering professor John McCray, senior research associate Kathryn Lowe and liberal arts and international studies associate professor Juan Lucena are leading six students on the project with support from mechanical engineering professor Jered Dean. Other winners include mechanical engineering student Brenda Shelly, who finished first in the Broader Impacts Essay Competition. The topic for the essay assignment this year was to highlight specific ethical responsibilities that were significant in a students project design. Shelleys essay emphasized environmental, economic and social impacts relative to the development of an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle. The full list of the Maji Crew is listed below. Maji Crew: iDE (client): Ryan Weber and Leslie Light Faculty Advisor: Professor John McCray Technical/Social Context Consultants: Ms. Kathryn Lowe and Mr. Juan Lucena Team Members: McLain Cowan (Mechanical Engineering), Benjamin Fox (Civil Engineering), Michael Fremming (Civil Engineering), John Kuyt (Civil Engineering), Taryn Mantta (Environmental Engineering) and Whitney Welch (Mechanical Engineering)

CSM researchers recently received an NSF RAPID proposal to investigate the Rim Fires effects on water quality in the Yosemite National Park region.

w w w . O R E D I G G E R . n e t

page 4

The Stars Above Mines

Letter from the author

f e a t u r e s

november 25, 2013

Catching Fire ignites in theatres

revolution as well as the importance of sacrifice for the greater good flow throughout the emotionally charged film. Catching Fire proves to be no heart-warming holiday flick but rather offers insight into life under totalitarian rule and the importance of revolting and regaining basic human rights. The film overflows with pathos, allowing viewers to sympathize with and understand the horrendous positions characters are forced into. In addition to the emotionally charged plot and well-developed themes, the cinematography is simply breathtaking. Everything from the portrayal of the victory tour to the victor village, from the capital to the 75th annual Hunger Games, proves mesmerizing. Costumes captivate as well, as Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks) returns in flamboyant and bizarre yet typically Capital costumes that channel everything from monarch butterflies to Marie Antoinette. Katniss dons her signature braid along with stunning extensions of her girl-on-fire gown from the first film. Though the books always seem to be better, Catching Fire offers hope to Hollywoods movie-adaptation franchise. The film flows impeccably, grabbing viewers and leading them on a thrilling journey through the dystopic world of Panem. Thankfully the film lacks extensive background information, allowing the film to ignite immediately without dull moments of rehash. Whether a fan of the novels or a fan of the first film, the incredible cinematography coupled with a captivating cast and plot (not to mention the breathtaking costumes) make Catching Fire a must see for the holiday season.

Jessica Deters Staff Writer

Fans in Colorado and across the globe grabbed their blankets and settled into theaters on Thursday night as they waited for the premiere of one of the seasons most anticipated sequels, Catching Fire. Catching Fire, the second film in Suzanne Collinss The Hunger Games trilogy, picks up a year after Katniss Everdeens (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellarks (Josh Hutcherson) dual victory in the country of Panems 74th annual Hunger Gamesa nationally televised event in which two children selected from each of twelve districts are forced to fight to the death until one victor remains. The games function as a reminder of the populous of the capitals absolute power and the pain the capital can inflict should rebellions occur. Katniss, about to embark on a Victory Tour with Peeta through the twelve districts and the capital, faces the impossible task assigned to her by President Snow (Donald Sutherland) of diffusing revolutionary thoughts and spirits growing and spreading in the districts. Witty backand-forth dialogue and reactions between the victor and president drive the plot and offer insight into Snows desire to destroy Katniss image as a symbol for revolution and rebellion. The exchanges between Katniss and President Snow are tantalizing and offer real insight into the structure and fragility of Panems system. Portrayals of the capital captivate viewers and lead them through the diluted world that the countrys elite enjoys. Themes of the need and cost of

COURTESY SITE07

John Bristow Staff Writer

Dear Fellow Astronomer, It is not rare for me to get a passing comment along the lines of Wow, you are really into astronomy. What sort of telescope did you have as a kid? My answer often surprises people; in short I was not into astronomy in my youth. Sure, I thought black holes were wicked awesome and I knew the Earth went around the Sun, but I had very little fascination with the realm beyond our atmosphere. The story I would like to tell is one part thoughtful reflection and a whole helping of a basic plea. When I started driving, I gained the ability to see a world beyond what my schedule had dictated before. No longer was I always home by supper, and no longer was I cooped up inside while the skies did their dance. I knew of the moon, I had seen it thousands of times, but suddenly with my schedule placed under my control, I started seeing it more than ever. I found it to be purely fascinating that one night the moon would be high in the sky, then a few nights later, at the same time, it would just be on the horizon. My world was not one of magic, but this observation astounded me and inspired me to my core. After a while, curiosity got the better of

Aquaman: The Trench: A new beginning

Jordan Francis Staff Writer
Aquaman is, without a doubt, one of the most underrated superheroes of all time. He is part human, part Atlantean royalty, telepathic, able to withstand the pressures of the ocean, super strong, extremely resistant to physical damage, fast on land and faster in the water, has super-hearing, and can command almost any form of sea life. And if all of that fails him, he is still fully capable of stabbing enemies with his trident. In the hands of a competent, well-versed writer, he is an engaging superhero and a compelling character, but due to a combination of prior bad stories, poor use of the character, and plenty of parody, Aquaman has gotten a bad reputation as nothing more than that guy who can talk to fish. Interestingly though, during the superhero relaunch of 2011s The New 52, the creative team recognized Aquamans floundering reputation. Rather than fighting the tide of negative opinions surrounding the character, they chose to incorporate that into the story and highlight the fact that no matter how much good he does, Aquaman gets no respect in his universe either. Aquaman: The Trench dives headfirst into the DCnUs reimagining of Aquaman and introduces both the characters and the readers to the hero the world always seems to forget. The story is simple enough. Aquaman, known to the few who care enough to ask as Arthur Curry, is in the process of establishing himself the city of Boston, trying to protect it even with the residents all but laughing at him along the way. He has arrived with his wife, Mera, another denizen of the sea who stays with him even when he decides that he will not be starting a new life on the surface instead of returning to Atlantis as its king. A short time after Aquaman starts settling into his new home, creatures from the ocean that look like some strange hybrid between humans and deep sea fish rise up and begin attacking the citizens of Boston. Aquaman and Mera are summoned and the two of them fight the creatures back into the sea. The two of them take one of the creatures bodies to a marine biologist named Stephen Shin, who tells them that the creatures are likely from one of the oceans deep and dark trenches and were probably searching for food on the surface. Aquaman concludes that a species living at such depths would only come to the surface in a desperate attempt to prolong their survival. He and Mera go down to the colony and find cocoons full of people captured from the surface. They break off the wall of cocoons and Aquaman reluctantly fights the creatures to give Mera time to escape. Ultimately, he is forced to use a volcanic vent to collapse the trench on the creatures, presumably killing them all, but he and Mera do manage to save most the people COURTESY DCCOMICS of who were captured and wind up taking in a dog whose owner did not survive the attack. Soon after the attacks, the authorities start investigating an artifact that was in the cocoons. They are interrupted by a group of mysterious soldiers who attack the investigators and steal the artifact. Aquaman grabs onto their plane as it takes off and discovers the soldiers are Atlantean right before the plane explodes and leaves him stranded in the desert. After the artifact plays a recorded transmission about the sinking of Atlantis, Aquaman is rescued by the Navy and returns home. Mera, meanwhile, tries to get food for the dog but winds up at odds with some of the townspeople. After saving a few people and being thoroughly confused by human nature, Mera returns home with mixed impressions on humanity and she and Arthur set off to answer a new question: who sank Atlantis? This comic is a lot of fun, if confusing at times. The writer and artists do a great job of taking the reader through Aquamans journey, making them feel his frustration at the people who constantly misunderstand and demean him while showing readers his pride, nobility, and drive to do right despite the ridicule that seems to follow him everywhere. The citizens who underestimate him work well with most readers impressions that Aquaman is nothing special and the story does a great job of slowly but surely subverting that belief. The artwork does a great job of sucking the reader in as well, with a particular emphasis on shadows and facial expressions and shadows that add emotion and mystery to the adventure. The art is realistic and visceral for most of the books, but the misty, golden look of the flashbacks provides a nice break and draws the reader into Aquamans nostalgia. The writing, the art, the setting, and the characters really combine to make splash for Aquamans solo introduction to the rebooted universe. His interactions with others, be they civilians, enemies, or his wife, are realistic and understandable. The revelations and discussions of his and Meras past are sometimes confusing, especially to new readers, but such things are to be expected when details are revealed in more of

me and I began to borrow an old World War I spotting scope from my father so I could sit out and look at the moon more closely. What I saw astounded me even more than I could have imagined; the areas originally seen as gray smudges were rimmed by spectacular mountain ranges and sometimes craters would stand out against the bright surface. I was hooked. It would take a few more years full of cold dark nights to produce who I am today, but every step has shown me more than I could have ever imagined. It would have been easy just to get lost in the stars, living every day with my head several hundred kilometers up; fortunately everything changed on one fateful night. Just like children looking up at the clouds and seeing shapes, I often would look up at the stars and picture massive wisps of history passing above. Regardless of their actual existence, I would picture the ancient gods battling, armies lead on by hopes placed on a falling star, and ancient stellar prophecies abound. Then something went a bit weird with my perception. I knew space was a three-dimensional volume; but mentally, all of the stars were about the same distance from me; when suddenly, that shifted. It started with a triangle of stars; the dimmest star in the triad slid away from me while the brightest

stayed near, and with that space went from two-dimensional, to the full on three. This would only be the beginning, through the dizzying encounter with reality, I began to feel more like a rock climber holding on for dear life as the great void grew deeper and deeper; it was exhilarating. It was at that moment, as I gazed into the depths of space that I became fully aware of the object that was holding me close. We live on a silent and forgiving mass of rock, clay, and metal. Despite being such a small speck in the whole of reality, the Earth is something to be treasured. Regardless of theological or national views, the Earth is an essential element of being human. The species did not start on Mars, nor Venus, or a moon of Jupiter; while we will visit these some day, we are all from Earth. So here is my plea: appreciate the whole of reality, from the Orion Nebula to the shifting sands of the Sahara. You are as much of a part of the universe as any other star, dust cloud, or tree. Beyond that, never lose that drive to explore, and if has already departed fro your imagination, rekindle it. Every day satellites and rovers send back exciting news, unheard of species are discovered, and the Earth slowly churns below us. On top of all, may the stars always shine bright in your skies.

a chaotic story format instead of an expository monologue (though it is funny that a reboot designed to appeal to new readers is so confusing for them initially). The strength of this comic really lies in its main characters, who are both very believable, if initially a bit one-dimensional. Aquaman is painted as the tragic hero, soldiering on through tragedy and ridicule to continue being a hero, even if he knows that he is not anybodys favorite and he spends a great deal of his time proving his doubters wrong, even when nobody is watching. Mera is portrayed well as a fish out of water, a woman who spent most of her life in the sea but has given up almost everything to stay with her beloved Arthur and who will continue to follow him, even when she cannot understand why he would sacrifice so much to protect the frustrating surface-dwellers. However, her interactions with Aquaman clearly show that she thinks for herself and does not trust him blindly and her dealings with others make it clear that while she is proud of her association with him, she is much more as a person than just Aquamans girl. The two are memorable, fun, and perhaps most importantly, imperfect. Character flaws and secrets are hinted at many times in this book, making these somewhat alien characters much more human to the audience. Overall, this comic tells a good story and does a great job of setting Aquaman up to make some serious waves in the new DC Universe.

w w w . O R E D I G G E R . n e t

november 25, 2013

Geek Week
of the
got up in Boulder, malachite that I got went I went to Ouray, Ive got some marble, Ive got some gold and silver, Ive got some quartz that I actually bought from the rock museum, I have some dark pink fossils, Ive got some coal that I found once, and Ive got a lot of kfeldspar. Ive got a lot of quartza staple in a rock collection. My family and I go on rock hunting trips together when Im on vacation, which is really nerdy but really fun. One time we found some really cool rocks and some dinosaur poop. I know that sounds gross, but its fossilized dinosaur poop, called coprolite. Its really legit. Then this other time we found this magnetized fossilized petrified wood. Its really cool; its sitting in our backyard right now. Yeah. I like a lot of rocks. Why did you decide to come to Mines? Well, like most people say, I applied because there was no essay. I really liked that. But I mean, I had heard about Mines before that and wanted to go to school in Colorado because its much better than TennesseeI had to get out of the South. I dont know, it seemed like a pretty cool school and it had geological engineering, which I wanted to do at the time because my dad was a geologist and it seemed pretty cool and a like rocks. Also I dont think theres a college with geological engineering in Tennessee. But I love Colorado, so I was like, Ive gotta get out there. Then Mines gave me a scholarship, so I was like, Why not? What do you do in your spare time? Watch a lot of Netflix. Yeah. Hang out with friends, more NetflixCurrently Im watching Breaking Bad, and its pretty good. I have to be like, People, dont tell me what happens! I like to do outdoorsy stuff when its not cold and when Im not doing homework. If you could be a superhero, who would you be and why? Spidermanbecause hes Spiderman. He can climb on walls he can shoot and sling spider web thingies everywhere, and he just swings. I just wanna swing around, like down in Denver or New York, and I would just do that all the time. People would be like, Oh my gosh, come help me, Im getting mugged! and Id be like, Im sorry, Im swinging around. I dont wanna come down there! Im gonna get me a Spiderman onesie. I was gonna buy it, but theyre out of stock right now. What advice would you give to younger Mines students? My advice would beoh, this is a hard one. Id say make sure youre doing something you like. Dont just do it for the money. Money is not your whole life. Dont sell your soul. [coughs] petros. [laughs]. No, my mom is a petroleum engineer, and she liked it. Whats your favorite thing

f e a t u r e s

page 5

...Andrea Christians, Junior: Geology

about being a geology major? We go on a lot of field trips. Its fun. Ive been on I think four field trips in the last three weeks. And our field session is one of the best because we get to go around looking at rocks all the time and its really fun. Its a tight-knit major where everybody knows each other, which is good and bad. But everybody likes each other. My professors wear a lot of flannel, which is really cool. Random fact: if you ever want to see people wearing flannel, go into the geology department. Khakis and flannel, man. All day, every day. They say a lot of funny things a lot of the time too. Theyre just funny people, making a lot of rock puns. What is your favorite rock pun? Its not rocket science, its rock science.
COURTESY ANDREA CHRISTIANS

Katerina Gonzales Content Manager

The geeks at Mines come in all different varieties with varying types of geekiness. Compared to this school, Im quite normal, laughed Andrea Christians. But to those not at Mines and even those not in geology, as Andrea is, she certainly is qualified as a geek; both outstanding and out standing in the field. Between homework, field trips, and watching Netflix, Andrea found time to chat with The Oredigger about her geekiness. [The Oredigger]: Are you a geek or a nerd and why? [Christians]: Hmm. Wait, what is the big difference between geeks and nerds? Cause I feel like nerds are more into school and stuff and geeks are more intogeeky thingslike geeky shows and video games and stuff. I feel like Im a nerd most of the time, but I am a geeky nerd, but I do a lot of schoolwork [laughs]. What distinguishes you as a geeky nerd? Or, what geeky nerdy things do you like to do? I have a lot of geeky shows that I like to watch, like Doctor Who is that geeky? Yeah, thats geeky. I like sci-fi a lot. Like Star Trek. I like to collect rocks. I feel like my rock collection is pretty nerdy. I got a lotta rocks. So currently, in my Colorado School of Mines collectionIve got more at homeIve got some fluorite that I

Elizabeth Starbuck-McMillan Staff Writer

The warm spices and chocolatey goodness makes pumpkin brownie muffins the perfect fall treat. These muffins will impress all your friends with little effort on your part. The muffins take about thirty minutes to make and fifty minutes to bake. First combine the dry ingredients: 2 c Flour 1 tsp Baking powder 1/2 tsp Salt 1 tsp Cinnamon 1/4 tsp Cayenne 1/4 tsp Nutmeg Then heat the chocolate and butter on the stove at medium heat, by putting them in a bowl over a boiling pot of water. 6 oz Chocolate 1/2 c Butter Keep stirring the chocolate and butter to keep from burning and make sure they dont get too hot. Next comes: 1 3/4 c Sugar 4 large Eggs 1 Tbsp Vanilla 1/4 c Oil Mix these with a blender for approximately five minutes till fluffy. If you dont have a blender some good ol elbow grease and a whisk will do the trick too, it may just take a little longer. After the sugar, eggs and oil are a light yellow slowly add the dry ingredients. After their thoroughly combined split the batter into two bowls and add the stars of the show to each. In one bowl add the warm chocolate and butter concoction and to the other bowl of batter add the pumpkin.

Spice pumpkin brownie muffins Hold On - Beach girl wanders onto the dance floor
1 1/4 c Pumpkin The batter can be made into muffins or brownies. Use a nonstick pan or butter a tray to keep them from sticking. To get the marble appearance add a little of the pumpkin batter and then a little of the chocolate batter alternating till desired muffin size is reached (the muffins rise quite a bit so it is recommended that you fill the muffin tin halfway with batter.) For the final touch, sprinkle chopped hazelnuts (or almonds) and white chocolate chips if youre really feeling spiffy. Finally comes the hardest part, baking the muffins for fifty minutes (in oven at 350.) This time seems like forever with the warm aroma of the muffins filling your home, but it must be done. These muffins are tasty and their smell is so taunting they caused a few of my friends to go against their morals, stealing the muffins from a well covered and labeled platter. One friend, Erica French, said It was the most delicious muffin Ive ever had. This recipe is simple for something with so much flavor and so delicious. The only areas the muffins arent perfect in are the health and nutrition wise they are little much. Try to make the muffins on the smaller side to avoid excessive portions of sugar. The muffins could also be made a little more healthy by substituting applesauce for some of the sugar and whole wheat flour or ground oats instead of the typical all purpose flour. Its fun to experiment with recipes to find a good balance of tasty and nutritious, but this can also lead to some interesting food. Let your right brain have a little fun and see what you can do with these muffins the next time youre feeling like you need a little spice in your life.

Andrea Christians enjoys her tight-knit major and faculty.

Sarah Dewar Staff Writer

Colbie Caillat released a new single this month entitled Hold On. The song was co-written and produced by One Republics Ryan Tedder, who worked with Caillat on her 2011 album, All of You. This new track has an entirely different sound than Caillats previous recordings. Fans of Caillat revel in her laid-back acoustically driven songs, fit for a summer day on the beach. This new single showcases Caillat in a different light, with club beats and strong rhythms layered behind her voice. Frequent listeners of Caillat may be slightly put off by this new single while listening to it for the first few times; however, fans of music can appreciate artists to be confident enough in their abilities and branch out from their comfort zones, experimenting with music in ways that they have never tried before. In a recent interview, Caillat revealed that she really enjoys the creative processes involved with being an musical artist. She feels has reached a point in her career where she feels comfortable with expanding boundaries and exploring new genres that she has not recorded before. It is extremely exciting as a dedicated

ELIZABETH STARBUCK-MCMILLAN / OREDIGGER

Spice Pumpkin Brownie Muffins bring a little spice to your life.

listener anticipating work from artists who spend time cultivating a new sound and adding more dimensionality to their identities. Hopefully, her newfound direction will not prove to be disappointing, as many fans of Caillat appreciate her genuine approach to songwriting. Her newest album is expected to be released early in 2014, but many details are still in development. The exact release date is yet to be announced, as is the title for the forthcoming full length album. This will be the first album from Caillat in nearly a year. Her last album entitled Christmas in the Sand was available during the last holiday season. It is certain that this new album will not be reminiscent of any album Caillat has released previously. Expect more upbeat tracks and higher energy levels, perfect for dancing. Caillat will not entirely transform into a dance diva; her lyrics will probably remain close to her previous works - mostly innocent and encouraging - about romance, friendship, trust, and love. It will be the overall sound and presentation that will change and present itself in brand new packaging. For fans who have seen Caillats rise to fame in the past five years, it will be exciting to see a new era develop for the artist.

w w w . O R E D I G G E R . n e t

page 6

f e a t u r e s

november 25, 2013

Oredigger Fiction Column The Line

Benjamin Elliott Staff Writer
It is difficult to sleep without a tent, and yet, I find myself without one. I suppose one does not truly need one in this place. The ground is soft enough, but the endless day interferes with sleep. I am tired, so tired, but I must keep walking until I find something to make a tent out of, or the end of the Long Sands. Some water would be a welcome sight, but its been a long time since I saw anything except for what I continue to carry on me. I am beginning to believe that there is no end to the desert; that I will die here before I complete my mission. Even with my equipment, I wont last long when the water runs out. The horizon is a constant thing. If one could see the horizon, one could always see where one was, at least so far as one direction went. The light sat where it always sat, shining from the desert across the edge of the world. The orb lit the sky higher than it had before- almost as if it were taunting me. I was chasing the light, but it was running away, up above into the sky. Still, I trudge on. There is nothing else to do. Back in the village, my people are of the opinion that when a man or woman grows too old to serve the people, or become otherwise incapacitated, that they must make a choice. They must choose where they are to die. The choice is usually made carefully. A person may choose to die in the Long Sands, where their spirit is received by Liren. Alternatively, they may cross into the Long Snow, where their spirit becomes the possession of Vaden. A person who does not make this choice is shunned, hated even, for their resistance against what is, after all, a natural thing. They will be received by neither Great Spirit, until another chooses to carry their spirit for them. Liren and Vaden are known by many names, in many villages. All agree however, on certain things. Liren is the Spirit of fire, blood, light, action, violence, and love. Vaden is the spirit of ice, mystery, darkness, preservation, knowledge, and discipline. Lirens love for Vaden, and her refusal of his advances, is the oldest legend told by my people; even today, Liren races towards Vaden, hoping to win her heart with his laughter and energy. Yet, Vaden still runs from him, hiding in the snows she brings to hide herself. These old legends speak of the Great Spirits that are said to inhabit our world- there are others as well, but Liren and Vaden form the greatest of the spirits. The other spirits inhabit the Middling, where my people survive. Here the land is fertile, neither too cold nor too hot, and the hosterlillies grow. The plants are small, but they grow quickly and robustly. They are enough to feed the people as we travel with the changing Middling Line. So long as Liren continues his chase after Vaden, the Middling Line, often known as simply the Line, continues to move towards Vaden, and my people follow. We cannot live as physical beings in the Long Sands, or the Long Snow, for very long. There is not much to tell of my journey. It remains much the same as it has before. A hardier breed of hosterlily blooms at the edge of the Long Sands, but I have not seen one since I last saw water. The suit I wear should keep nutrients cycling through me without much loss, but the small losses will begin to add up. My only hope is finding something my people can use, whether the palace of Liren, or simply a place to live. The Line, though it has long been our home, is no longer livable. As Liren continues to chase Vaden, the ground under the Line has given way to water. Depending on how far towards Vadens realm one passes, the water may very well be ice, but hosterlillies cannot grow on ice. Some members of my village cut down into the ice to confirm that water sat below it, and no earth for a plant to take root. To make matters worse, the water seems to have no end in sight. While the great spirits may survive in such conditions, we cannot. So a villager and I set off in opposite directions- one towards the sun and the Long Sands, and one away from it, to the Long Snows. We seek a home, at the very least. I have lost count of time, out on the sands. The moons have always been a fair measure of time on the Line, but I cannot always see them in the sky as bright as it is. I will find my way to Liren, even if it kills me. I can glimpse the moon on the horizon. It is the beginning of another day. My muscles seem to have every intention of failing on me. I have finally seen it- Lirens palace. It seems to be hung in the sky, so I know not how I will reach it, but my resolve is set. My people are depending on me. I stumble across the terrain, distracted by momentary ripples in the dunes, shifts caused by the wind. But then, back again, to the sight. Spires, all hung together like a hosterlilly bush,like a womans hair by firelight. They shine as a metal does, immobile. Yet I could have sworn they were moving, by the ripple which has moved to the air. It is a shroud of heat, preparing to lay me to rest. Not yet. In an hour, I am closer. The palace is more clear now, as a crystalline fortress. It was not held in the sky by magic, but rather by pillars of glass, or perhaps salt, raising it well above the surface. In the center of the pillars appears a stairway. The pillars themselves are each tilted, and disappear into the sand below. Were the pillars hollow, a single one could contain my entire village,I make my way to the steps. Lirens palace. I am at the end of my strength- I know I dont have enough energy for the journey back. Yet it is either surrender, or climb, and I cannot imagine climbing these stairs. Each step is as tall as a man, and open to the force of wind and heat above. I raise my arms to the first step, and somehow pull myself to the next. Tendons strain, bones buckle. And I am one step closer. I climb again. And again. The progress is slow, but I cannot stop. If anything were to happen to me, my village would die. I heave and rise. And I am at the top. An engraved circle is cut into the hot glass (for now I am sure this is the material of the palace). I crawl to it. And then, I am gone. I slip into a labyrinth. The light, the heat, the wind, the grit, all gone. It is dim, but not impossible to see, and my eyes grow accustomed to their surroundings. The room I have entered is sparkling slowly, quietly, and I hear the chime of a quiet mechanism. Before me is a console. I step to it, recognizing its like. I have seen consoles before, on longdead sand bikes and abandoned settlements. I can only assume that Lirens palace used to house my ancestors, who traveled both the ice and sands. Unlike the ones I have seen, this one glows with light. It is alive. I am too dry to speak, but lay my hand across the console. The room lights up, as if the shutters had opened up. Beams illuminate the floor and walls, as the ceiling grows brighter. I have been recognized. I sit against the wall. Liren has granted me an audience, and I am safe. I can now sleep. I wake up, in the room again. I am incredibly stiff, but pull myself to my feet. I will go slowly. I walk to the edge of the room, and the wall opens to allow me passage. I step into a walkway. I whisper feebly, but it seems I am not heard. I take small steps, balancing on my blistered heels. And what appears to be a throne room appears. No retainers of any kind inhabit this spaceperhaps I simply cannot see them. The throne beckons, and I step to it. I examine it- it is simply crystal, like the rest of this castle. I debate sitting down. Is it wrong to assume the honor of lordship here? I cannot decide, but in minutes, my legs have decided for me. I sit. I sink into the throne, as if it were liquid. No time to cry out, no time to shift. In the sitting position, I slip backwards into the crystal of the fortress. I smell citrus, and blood. I hear the call of my father, beckoning my brother and I to return to our home to pack for the next migration. I feel the fur of a govoso, my first kill. I taste the sweat of my first love. I see the light. Oh, the light. It overwhelms me. I smell the embers of a fireside. I hear the cacophony of assembled musicians. I feel the sting of a wound, taken from the sharp thorns at the base of a hosterlilly. I taste the salt of the ocean, a moment of great excitement, but also of impending doom for my people. I see the strike of a flint, the shine of the sun, the reflection off of a mirror. When I wake once more, I am older. A beard runs from my chin to halfway down my chest. What delirium, what madness, overtook me? What fire consumed my years, as surely as I walked the sediment of the world, as surely as I found adventure in the brooks of my younger years? I have slept, and I have woken. The palace is still quietly chiming, and there are still no people to be seen. I slip through the hallways, pass through rooms. Each room contains a different dream. In one room is a soldier guarding a chest filled with ancient gems. In another room is a row of horses, heads bowed. In another room I find a perfectly preserved house of cards reaching to the ceiling. I do not come across the console room, nor will I, ever again. The palace has many rooms, but one can never come across the same room twice. I pass through the invisible city. There is a room with a full feast prepared, but the guests at the table are all skeletons. I do not take any food. There is room painted to seem like a dark place, yet the light destroys that illusion. A library makes up one of the rooms, with books of all kinds lining the shelves. The shelves themselves lead from one side of the room but do not seem to terminate. I am certain that if I followed them, I could find any book ever written. The next room is full of writhing snakes. When I have been walking through the rooms of Lirens palace for some time, I stop to rest. I am tired, and hungry here, yet never seem to need to sleep or eat. I would say I was dreaming, but for the constant reminder of the palaces constancy- all of the walls, floors, and ceiling are the same glassy crystal I have seen before. This is the palace I saw from the desert sands, I am sure of it. Next to the snake room, there is a room where music is always in the air. I passed on to the next room, where three bald people sat in a circle. They would, each in turn, make a sound, then wait for the other two to follow. I tried to communicate with them, but they did not seem to notice I was even there. The next room contained a pyramid, at the head of which was a three-headed cat. Below was a crowd of cats, gazing up at their mutant leader. I left here with a sense of awe in my heart, which I do not know was artificial or simply inspired. The next room appeared to be covered in spiderwebs, but on closer inspection, each web was made of a thin strand of paper. I began to see a rhyme, a reason, to the rooms and their sequence. I could, on leaving one room, predict the kind of room that would follow, and sometimes even guess specifics as to its contents. One room was a set of platforms, some raised above others. The surfaces were mirrored, polished, depending on their height. It was as if I were crossing hills, fields of grass and leaves and trees, yet the whole room was simply flat squares of crystal. A room was full of a smoke, which made me cough. I somehow passed from this one, only to find myself moving slowly, deliberately in the next room. The room was simply slower- there is no other way to describe it. Another room contained countless boxes, inside of which lived a tiny people. I was able to communicate with them, and they told me that I had been the first visitor from outside in some time. They were too afraid to venture beyond the confines of their room- I wondered at whether this were a feature of the labyrinth itself, or merely a facet of the people themselves. There was a room where gears and clockwork turned with ruthless efficiency to support some grand machine. I could not understand its purpose, but the valves and gauges led me to believe it was some sort of engine. Perhaps it was providing power to the labyrinth, but I doubted it (in fact, it was much more likely that it was the other way around). I never stopped at any room forever. Though I found many rooms pleasant, and some special few blissful, I could not help but wander on to the next one. My purpose had not been forgotten, but it was no longer what drove me. The rooms, the potential of a world unimagined of, were simply too fascinating for me to stand still for long. I was filled with curiosity. I finally found a room, in the center of which was a globe. One side was yellow, the other side blue. On one wall was a glowing light, far brighter than I had seen in most other rooms. This was my world. I pushed on the globe, and it began to spin. The color of the globe began to mix as it span, and the aggregate seemed a green. My purpose had been fulfilled, if indeed this room had any bearing on the world I had come from. Yet I continued to walk. I ambled ponderously into a room full of flowers I had never seen, with cretins of some kind hiding in the buds. They would scamper from one to another when disturbed, but otherwise seemed content to poke at me with long claws. In one room I climbed a stairway that ended where it had begun. Yet, on leaving the room, I came across a room where numbers and symbols covered the walls. It was some kind of obtuse equation, I could not decipher nor place any meaning on, other than that it seemed impressive. I walked on, finding a room where a giant slept. A room with inflated plastic tunnels and slides. A room with germane trifles and amusements, but from which no reward was forthcoming. And then I came to a room with no doors. It was in this room I stopped, and it is in this room I have been ever since.

w w w . O R E D I G G E R . n e t

november 25, 2013

Season champs stumble in RMAC tourney

Jared Riemer Content Manager
The Colorado School of Mines volleyball team entered the week ranked sixteenth in the nation and were prepared to make a run at the RMAC tournament championship. After a win in Tuesdays opening round over Fort Lewis, Miness hopes of capturing both regular season and postseason titles came to an end against Adams State, but the lady Orediggers are still in good shape to make the NCAA Championships as the top eight in each region make the tourney. Mines was ranked No.2 in this weeks regional ranking. In Tuesdays quarterfinal matchup against Fort Lewis, the Orediggers controlled the match and wound up with the 3-0 victory. In the first set, Mines took the early lead 7-1 and led comfortably for the remainder of the match, grabbing the 25-12 first set victory. The second set was much the same, as Mines captured four straight points with the match tied at eight apiece, and rolled to the 2516 set victory. The third and final set was the closest as the three, as Fort Lewis tried to hang on in the match. Fort Lewis led late 20-18 after the two teams traded points for the early portion of the set, but Mines took the next four points and seven of the final eight to grab the 25-21 final set victory. Leading the way for the Orediggers were senior Melanie Wannamaker and freshman Alanna Winfield who both recorded 12 kills. Wannamaker recorded her 12 on a .571 hitting percentage and added four blocks, and Winfield on a .346 hitting percentage to go with three blocks. Sophomore Danielle JohnsonHazlewood tallied 41 assists and 14 digs, freshman Abby Reuland chipped in five kills, two blocks, and seven digs, and junior Sarah Pekarek added 10 kills, one ace, one block, and six digs. Junior Cassie Vick added 13 digs, senior Hannah Margheim added five digs, freshman Taryn Huber had seven digs, and freshman Samantha Fischer recorded eight blocks. Friday nights semifinal matchup between Mines and Adams State did not go as planned as the visiting team knocked out the host 3-1. The loss dropped Mines to 24-6 on the year. The Lady Orediggers captured the first set 22-25 in a hotly contested affair, coming back from down three at 20-17. The second set was another close affair, but Adams State pulled out the 25-21 victory after leading for most of the match. The third set was back and forth as both teams struggled to take a lead. With the set tied 16-16, Adams State won the next three points and gained enough of a cushion to grab the 25-20 win and two sets to one advantage. The Orediggers won the first three points of the fourth set, but soon fell behind 15-10. Mines fought back from their deficit to take the 17-16 lead, but their lead ended up short lived as Adams State captured the final set of the night 25-20. The loss was tough for the Orediggers who had beaten Adams State earlier in the regular season. As a team, Mines recorded 10 service errors and had an overall hitting percentage of .212. Wannamaker led the team with 17 kills and added three digs, while Winfield and Pekarek both contributed 16 kills. Winfield added four digs and two blocks, and Pekarek recorded eight digs and three aces. Johnson-Hazlewood recorded 52 assists and 10 digs, Corrine Din contributed 11 digs and Margheim tallied 15 digs. With their win, Adams State moved to the finals to take on Metro State on Saturday night at Mines, and Metro walked away with the victory winning three sets to none. The Orediggers will learn their NCAA postseason fate on Monday during the Division II Volleyball tournament selection show, starting at 5:30 pm.

s p o r t s

page 7

COURTESY CSM ATHLETICS

The Lady Orediggers defeated Fort Lewis 3-0 in the quarter finals, but were stopped short of their tournament dreams after falling 1-3 to Adams State in the semifinals.
COURTESY CSM ATHLETICS

Basketball improves to 3-0 Hockey ices foes

Chris Robbins Staff Writer
Being on this team has been one of my favorite experiences at Mines. The hockey team is basically what keeps me sane here at Mines. Deciding to join the team was the best decision I have made at Mines. According to the players themselves, the Mines club hockey team is a fantastic opportunity for any hockey players here at CSM. Between the fun of playing the sport, the travels across the region, and the camaraderie and friendships made between teammates, the experience of being a part of this club is certainly worth the commitment to those who enjoy the sport of hockey. The club typically holds tryouts at the beginning of each fall semester, and anyone with some experience and interest in hockey is welcome to try out. The team generally has two late night practices and two games each week, which may sound daunting at first when added onto the already hectic schedule at CSM, but as assistant captain and club president Chris Asmussen explains, Being at Mines, we all understand the workload that could set in, so if someone misses a practice here and there its not a big deal. In addition to practicing and playing games locally at Apex in Arvada and the Edge in Littleton, playing in AHCA Pacific Regions Division 3 leads to road contests against teams across Colorado, New Mexico, and Nebraska. Besides simply playing for the love of the game, the Oredigger hockey team also plays to win, and has become more and more successful and competitive over the past few seasons. As team captain Gabe Gusey points out, Mines hockey has changed immensely since a few years ago. Last year we were happy to have the first season over .500 in Mines history. This year we are 13-3 and actually have a shot at making regionals, which would without a doubt be a major accomplishment. The team has one game remaining on their fall schedule against UCCS at the Ice Ranch in Littleton, a team they defeated 7-4 earlier this year. Anybody interested in finding out more about the club is welcome to check out the clubs webpage at recsports.mines.edu or simply talk to some of the players and coaches. As stated by Gusey, Our team has lots of intense competition, and I would recommend joining to anyone interested, so any aspiring hockey players here at Mines should definitely take the first step and go check it out.

Seniors Cassie Vick, Melanie Wannamaker, Hannah Margheim, and Sarah Pekarek pose with the RMAC regular season title before the semifinal match on Friday night.

Chris Robbins Staff Writer

The Oredigger basketball team improved to 3-0 on the season after going on the road and taking down the South Dakota School of Mines 79-65 on Saturday night. Mines started the game off hot, jumping out to a big lead after a 16-4 run and never looking back. The offense continued to stay sharp throughout the first half, where they led by as much as 20 points and went into the locker room up 47-33. However, the opening of half number two saw the Orediggers hit a bit of a

Cross Country in Spokane

Jared Riemer Content Manager
The Colorado School of Mines mens cross country team traveled to Spokane, Washington this past weekend and left with a top-five finish and three repeat All-Americans. This was the fifth top-five finish in as many years for the mens cross country team after their second place showing last year. RMAC rivals Adams State and Western State finished first and fourth respectively, with Grand Valley State taking second, and Augustana third. In his final cross country race as an Oredigger, senior Andrew Epperson finished the 10k course in a time of 30:44.6; good enough for 13 out of 246 racers, and claimed his second consecutive All-American honor after finishing twentyninth last year. Hometown boy Derek Alcorn, junior, garnered his third All-American honor after finishing in thirty-third, just one spot ahead of fellow junior Phil Schneider, who finished the race by gaining 10 positions to claim thirty-fourth. Alcorn and Schneider finished with respective times of 31:11.9 and 31:12.0, and Schneider received his second

slump. SDSM was able to fight back to within six points only three minutes into the half, but that would prove to be as close as the game would get. CSM pulled away the rest of the game, and came away with the 7965 victory. Four Orediggers ended the night with double-figure scoring, led by Brett Greens 19 points to go along with 18 from Brian Muller, 13 from Trevor Wages, and 14 from Gokul Natesan off the bench. Green had the most well rounded night of the team, contributing five rebounds, four assists, and three steals along with his 19 points.

Despite barely being beat by SDSM in terms of shooting percentage from the field and free throw percentage, the Orediggers prevailed in every other team statistic, out rebounding the Hardrockers and completely outshooting them from beyond the three point arc. The Hardrockers also committed more turnovers than the Orediggers, leading to a 24-11 points off turnovers edge for CSM. The Mines basketball team hits the court again on Friday, November 29th here in Golden as they look to improve to 4-0 against Northwestern Oklahoma. That game tips off at 7pm in Lockridge Arena.

All-American award. Rounding out the scoring for the Orediggers was sophomore Marty Andrie and senior Frank Socha who completed the course in 31:49.1 (74th) and 31:54.0 (78th). Red-shirt freshman Seth Topper made his nationals debut finishing 117 out of 246 in 32:30.9 and Sophomore Drew Kerschieter finished 144 in 32:42.9 in his debut. The lone qualifier from the womens cross country team, junior Chloe Gustafson, finished a career best 52 out of 244 runner with a 6k time of 22:02.7. Her previous best was 79th at last years nationals.

w w w . O R E D I G G E R . n e t

page 8

o p i n i o n

november 25, 2013

Wonderful Christmas time

Jessica Deters Staff Writer
Tis the season to be jolly, so why not start the season early? Why not initiate the holiday festivities as soon as the trick-or-treaters return to their homes to demolish all of the candy they collected? Every year as October comes to a close, social media seems to erupt with complaints about supermarkets already switching to Christmas displays and neighbors already hanging lights and assorted Christmas decorations. But why are Christmas celebrators met with such disdain? Some people argue that Christmas should not be celebrated before Thanksgiving. They believe that Thanksgiving deserves recognition and, by beginning the Christmas festivities in early November, Thanksgiving is simply overlooked. Most agree, however, that Christmas celebrations can begin on Black Friday, but ostracize those who begin celebrating earlier. The holiday celebrations handbook for 2013 contains no restriction on how many holidays can be celebrated at once. Christmas lasts for an incredibly short time; for some the festivities end the second that all of the wrapping paper hits the floor. For others, the celebrating continues all day, but once the day comes to a close, everyone is faced with the depressing reality that the Christmas season is over. No more Christmas music or brightly-lit houses synchronized to festive songs. No more family visits and eggnog. Only memories and toys remain. So, why not prolong the fleeting season and enjoy the warmth of Christmas for a tad bit longer. Why not enjoy looking at those Christmas lights and elaborately decorated homes for an extra three to four weeks? Why not spend the majority of November studying to Christmas music and enjoying the holiday season? Life is short. Why procrastinate enjoyment, happiness even? Comfort, joy, excitement, and Starbuckss red cups fill the holiday season. Do not be a Scrooge. Prolong the season of love, put up those decorations and celebrate Christmas now.

Minds at Mines Colorado Snow

Katerina Gonzales Content Manager
Colorado winters are usually sneaky, coming in a time set aside for autumn and making autumn a short three weeks or less. This season stayed relatively dry and warm, but snow showed its face last week. Whether welcome or long awaited, the presence of snow generates strong emotions amongst CSM students. This week, Minds at Mines asked, What do you think about the snow?

Its really tasty...as long as its not yellow. Andrew Blaney

KenKen Puzzles
How to play:
1) Use numbers 1-3 for 3x3 puzzle, 1-6 for 6x6 puzzle, etc. 2) The heavy-outlined sections are called cages. In the upper-left corner of each cage is a target number and operator. 3) Use the operator with the allowed numbers for the puzzle to solve for the target number. The numbers you enter can be read in any order to solve for the target number.

5) There is only one real solution for each puzzle.

See 3x3 example and solution at right for beginner practice.

4x4 Hard Im definitely for snow. Devin Thewlis

6x6 Medium WOOOOOO SNOW WOOOOOOOO Charlotte Adams

I dont like snow because its taunting you with no days off of school. Kelsey Kalmbach
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.

COURTESY KENKEN

w w w . O R E D I G G E R . n e t

3 1

1 2

2 3

I dont really like snow because it means its cold outside, even if its pretty. Molly Baron

4) You cannot enter repeating numbers in any given row or column, however, you may enter repeating numbers in a given cage so long as they do not repeat in a column or row.