The Associated Students of Colorado State University and RamEvents brought drag to CSU in bingo form. The event took place Oct. 17 at the Lory Student Center Theater. It was hosted by Brittany Blaze-Shearz and Juiccy Misdemeanor with special appearances by Aurora M. Blaze and Miss Zarah Misdemeanor.

The event brought students together to watch the performances and gave participants a chance to win prizes, such as a stuffed ram, an ASCSU mug and clothing merchandise.

Energy was high as attendees chatted among themselves and enjoyed the food provided.

When asked what she was most excited about, CSU student Jackie Thompson said, “Winning!”

This event featured a mix of drag performances, bingo and an interactive bit that Juiccy and Brittany called “Get to Know a Queen.” They answered a wide variety of questions from the crowd, ranging from “Juiccy, what’s your misdemeanor?” to questions focused on their aspirations and important parts of drag.

“What makes a good drag queen a great drag queen is your behavior on and off stage,” Juiccy Misdemeanor said.

Throughout the event, the queens heavily emphasized the importance of kindness. They consistently spoke highly of each other and gave praise to other queens in the community. They work closely with each other, sharing advice and creative insights.

“When I was starting out in pageants, I was told drag is 90% what you do off stage and 10% what you do on stage,” Brittany Blaze-Shearz said. “Whether that’s making costumes, interacting with the crowd or interacting with venues. It definitely speaks a lot more about a person (and) what they do off stage versus on.”

The crowd eagerly engaged in the conversation, adding to the welcoming energy that filled the room. The support and kindness shown by the attendees and drag queens was widely felt.

“(It was) very lively, very enthusiastic, supportive (and) a nice comforting space for sure,” student Esther Ambrose said.

Many people discovered the event through social media and posters around campus. However, some gave kudos to the growth in marketing for such events.

Karla Garcia, a fourth-year student, said that even though there’s been events like this over the years, it has recently increased in popularity. She spoke about how the advertising has gotten better, and she knew about the event months in advance as opposed to hearing about it the week before.

Events like this greatly boost community engagement at Colorado State University. It can serve as an outlet for LGBTQIA+ students while opening the space for anyone else interested in learning more about the culture.

“In regards to the community, it just shouts that we are here and there’s a space for everybody,” Ambrose said. “We are all a family.” 

As evidenced by the event’s liveliness, Fort Collins’ drag scene has dramatically expanded.

“It’s booming; I’ve seen a lot of growth in the past couple of years,” Brittany Blaze-Shearz said.

During the event, each of the four queens performed with unique outfits, styles and music. They each brought energy and a strong personality that kept the audience entertained.

“It just comes to show the queer community is not one size fits all,” student Juan Hernandez said. “We are a plethora of different identities — a little crock pot of everything.”

As more events pop up around Fort Collins, the community will have more opportunities to attend and show support for this unique art form.

“Supporting local drag is the only way a lot of us end up on (RuPaul’s) Drag Race, (The Boulet Brothers’) Dragula or Camp Wannakiki — any of those places,” Blaze-Shearz said.

Following a split series with Kansas and Houston, the University of Utah Women’s Soccer team (8-5-5, 5-3-3 Big 12) returned to the field for their final set of games for the regular season. On Sunday, the Utes took on the Baylor Bears for their final home game of the year. Then, on Friday, Utah traveled east to take on the Colorado Buffaloes on the road.

Baylor

Looking to continue their momentum, Utah returned to Ute Field on Sunday to battle with Baylor in a Big 12 conference match-up. The game opened with an early yellow-card, which the Bears’ Natalie Vatter earned in the sixth minute.

Baylor found themselves with some early offensive opportunities, earning three corner-kicks in the first 12 minutes. Additionally, the Bears were the first to attempt a shot, missing the net out-left in the ninth minute.

Despite the offensive chances for Baylor, it was the Utes who found the back of the net first. In just Utah’s second shot of the game, Kelly Bullock scored in the 17th minute and Taliana Kaufusi and Devi Dudley were awarded assists on the play. The play marked Bullock’s second goal of the year, with her scoring crucial goals in consecutive games.

From there, the Utes outplayed the Bears offensively, putting up eight shots in the remaining time as opposed to Baylor’s one. With the Utes maintaining their one-goal lead, both teams headed into halftime looking to produce in the second half.

Six minutes into the second half, Utah’s Brooklyn Blaylock earned a yellow card, the team’s first. Looking to knot the score, the Bears were eager to get on the board. Baylor had two early shots in the half, with both sailing over the top of the net.

The Bears continued to attack, earning seven shots in the period. Furthermore, Baylor earned seven corner-kick opportunities, seven more than the Utes. Despite the plethora of chances, the Bears were unable to convert.

With less than three minutes remaining, Lillah Blum netted the Utes’ second goal of the game, sealing the deal. The 2-0 Utah victory consisted of 16 shots, two saves and one corner-kick.

Colorado

Coming off the home victory, the Utes took to the road for their final game of the regular season. On Friday night, Utah matched up with the Colorado Buffaloes in Boulder. Looking to end the season on a high note, the Utes aspired to gain the early advantage.

Utah came out firing in the first half, putting up 11 shots in the period. With an early attack that consisted of four shots, two of which were shots-on-goal from Kaufusi, the Utes attempted the tone for the game.

In the 17th minute, Colorado’s Shyra James earned the only yellow-card of the match. Roughly seven minutes later, the Utes found themselves with another scoring chance, but Bella Woods’ shot-on-goal was stopped by the Buffalo goaltender.

Later, in the span of less than a minute, Utah attempted four quick shots and had a corner-kick opportunity. Three saves from Nytes Jordan prevented the Utes from getting on the board, though, and the game remained scoreless.

Further back-and-forth battle led the game into halftime with both teams knotted at zero. The Utes had five more shots than the Buffaloes in the half, while Colorado posted an impressive seven saves.

In the second half, strong defensive efforts from both teams continued to be the star of the show. The Utes opened the half with a quick shot-on-goal from Bullock, which was saved yet again by Jordan. 

Colorado then earned two corner-kicks early in the period, but was unable to convert on either attempt, with one being saved by Utah’s Kasey Wardle. From there, a Colorado offensive barrage began, as the Buffaloes put-up four unanswered shots. Thankfully for the Utes, Wardle saved two of the shots and the other two were off target. 

As the half continued, both teams were eager to get on the board, but despite their wishes, the stalemate remained. In the final two minutes of play, the Buffaloes gave it their all to score a late goal. Despite their three corner-kicks and five shots, the Utes stood strong and prevented a potential goal.

The final seconds ticked off the clock, leaving the match drawn, 0-0. The game finished with a collective 37 shots and 23 fouls between the two teams. Utah’s Wardle earned the shut-out with eight saves.

Next Up

With the conclusion of the regular season, the Utes are off to the Big-12 Tournament. Utah finished the season with zero losses in their final five games. They will travel to Kansas City next week and their match-up has yet to be determined.

j.marriott@dailyutahchronicle.com

@jonahmarriott

The post Utah Soccer Defeats Baylor, Draws with Colorado to Finish Big 12 Play first appeared on The Daily Utah Chronicle.

We all like to believe that regardless of how many romantic partners come and go, our true friends will stick around no matter what. This is why friendship breakups often hurt more than regular breakups. While romance is usually complex, you’d think friendships would be anything but. 

With Election Day just around the corner, politicians are working to try and win the votes of Maine citizens. There are a number of important races for federal and local offices taking place locally and nationally, and the discussion around campaign policies is intensifying as the season reaches its peak. The following is a brief guide to understanding Maine federal and local election candidate options with linked resources for more information. 

Maine U.S. Senate Race (Federal)

Angus King (Independent, incumbent), David Costello (Democrat), and Demi Kouzounas (Republican) are the leading candidates in Maine’s U.S. Senate race. 

Angus King, the incumbent Senator, is an Independent candidate who was born in Virginia, but has been a resident of Maine for approximately 55 years. He earned a juris doctor degree in law from the University of Virginia and served as the 72nd Governor of Maine. King is campaigning with policies to tackle climate change, support women’s right to choose and lower healthcare costs. He served on multiple government committees and worked to address the national drug crisis, climate change and rising costs in the economy.  

David Costello is a Democratic candidate, who was born in Bangor and raised in Old Town. He earned degrees from the University of Maine, George Washington University and the London School of Economics and Political Science. With over 25 years of senior-level governmental experience, he worked on domestic policy and international humanitarian efforts in conflict zones such as Cambodia and Kosovo. Costello’s campaign focuses on issues like climate action, healthcare reform, economic equity, gun safety and supporting education initiatives.

Demi Kouzounas, a Republican candidate from Saco, earned a doctorate degree in dentistry from Tufts University and served in the U.S. Army. Kouzounas advocates for a secure border, reduced inflation and Maine families. She dedicated much of her career to expanding access to health and dental care for low-income residents, children and migrant workers. She also co-founded “Dentists Who Care for Maine” to support rural healthcare initiatives. 

U.S. House, Maine’s 2nd Congressional District (Federal)

Jared Golden (Democrat, incumbent), Austin Theriault (Republican) and Diana Merenda (write-in candidate) are the main candidates for U.S. Representative in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District. 

Jared Golden is a Democratic candidate from Leeds who served in the Marines following the 9/11 attacks. Golden is campaigning for border security, greater education funding, and stronger labor unions. He helped create educational programs in Afghanistan and has policy experience from working with the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Austin Theriault is a Republican candidate from Fort Kent, Maine. He drove for NASCAR but stepped away to focus on business and politics, serving as a state representative for one term. Theriault is campaigning for Maine’s lobstermen, moderation in Congress and economic initiatives to reduce energy costs. He intends to create jobs and strengthen infrastructure.

Diana Merenda is an Independent candidate from Surry, Maine. She served as a government worker for eight years and a professor at Baruch College (CUNY) for seven years. Her campaign emphasizes an anti-war stance, including opposition to the U.S. support of Israel’s actions in Gaza and calling for a redirection of military funds toward domestic needs. She also expressed views on economic policies, such as advocating for corporate tax incentives only if they directly benefit consumers by lowering costs.

Maine State Senate, District 8 (State-level)

Mike Tipping (Democrat, incumbent) and Leo C. Kenney (Republican) are the primary state candidates for Maine State Senate District 8.

Mike Tipping, the incumbent Democratic candidate, is from Orono and earned a degree in political science. Tipping is known for his work as an advocate, writer and senior strategist with the Maine People’s Alliance. His campaign focuses on issues supporting seniors, workers, unions and environmental initiatives. He has been an active voice for environmental restoration efforts, including a successful lawsuit to address mercury pollution in Maine’s Penobscot River. Tipping also campaigned for increases in Maine’s minimum wage and policies aimed at broader economic justice and public health improvements.

Leo C. Kenney is a Republican candidate from Orono, Maine. He is a small business owner. Kenney is campaigning for affordable healthcare, better education and lower energy costs. His platform includes expanding access to mental health services, promoting business-friendly policies to create local jobs and enhancing vocational programs to prepare young people for careers in technology and skilled trades. Kenney also advocates for affordable housing initiatives and energy efficiency improvements to help lower costs for Maine residents.

Maine House of Representatives, District 25 (State-level)

Laurie Osher (Democrat, incumbent) and Thomas Casey (Republican) are the primary candidates for Maine House of Representatives District 25.

Laurie Osher, the incumbent representative, is a Democratic candidate originally from Pennsylvania. She holds a Ph.D. in soil science and worked as a soil scientist, professor and business owner focused on energy efficiency. Osher’s campaign advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, tribal sovereignty, accessible healthcare and environmental protection. She worked to improve the environment, address sexual assault on college campuses and support research on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that weakens muscles and gradually impairs movement.

Thomas Casey is a Republican candidate. Available sources do not provide specific information regarding his career, platform or policy positions. He has also not responded to major voter guides or questionnaires such as those by Vote411, Ballotpedia and Bangor Daily News. 

Election day

Election day is Nov. 5. If you are an Orono resident, you can vote at the Collins Center for the Arts on Oct. 30 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or Nov. 5 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you’re voting for the first time, you will need identification and proof of residency. You can find out more about voting in Orono here.

It is also important to note that some candidates have provided more campaign and personal information than others. Ballotpedia and this Bangor Daily News article have a more in-depth profiling of mentioned candidates if you would like more information.

“The Great Impersonator” by popstar Halsey, released on Friday, is a meditation on the struggles of fame and grief.

The singer-songwriter, whose real name is Ashley Frangipane, unpacks their two-year-long battle with chronic illness by asking what would have been different if she had debuted throughout different music eras.

The 30-year-old artist, who uses she/they pronouns, said in an interview with PAPER magazine they had been diagnosed with a rare T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder on their birthday two years ago. Being on tour and a new mother to a young son, Halsey formed her fifth studio album as a collection of impersonations of influential artists that inspired her throughout her life as she thought she was dying.

The album is the circus act of the century, according to Halsey’s official website.

The description of the album said, “Witness the uncanny ability of a woman who can become anyone. Anything your heart desires. Friend, lover, foe. She transforms before your very eyes, her voice and visage a reflection of your deepest dreams and darkest fears.”

But Halsey’s chameleon-like ability to change personas is something to be on guard against, as the description goes on to describe Halsey as “the Queen of the Uncanny, the Mistress of Metamorphosis. Beware of the Great Impersonator!”

The diagnosis and treatment process infused her writing process for the album as she unpacked in her Britney Spears-esque song “Lucky.” The early 2000s-inspired song appeared to dissect the pressure of her illness compounded with the weight of her fame.

The refrain “Cause I’m so lucky, I’m a star” was surrounded by the anxiety of pursuing fame and accompanying scrutiny of strangers online, like the criticisms of her fluctuating weight due to treatment or shaving her head for the fifth time in her life.

Pulling inspiration from iconic musicians like David Bowie, Fiona Apple and Dolly Parton, Halsey seamlessly slips between genres, performing the 70s Fleetwood Mac-inspired “Panic Attack” as an ode to Stevie Nicks as Halsey equates falling in love to an oncoming panic attack.

Examining her journey through motherhood, “I Believe in Magic” is another love letter to Halsey’s 3-year-old son, Ender. A tribute to Linda Ronstadt, Halsey examines the early years of her son’s life while she was sick and her own relationship with her mother. Beautiful and emotional, the song is a testament to her love for her son and her mother. 

“And I remind myself a time will come when he sees me turn gray/ And realizes too late / Like I did with my mother / So now I tell her to her face / With all my roots above / and all my branches down below / Please tell my mom I love her so,” said Halsey in the second verse of “I Believe in Magic.”

Throughout the shifting genres of the album, Halsey addresses her anxiety about treating her illness while being a single mother. The voice of her son is woven throughout certain songs, like in “Letter to God (1998)” where the singer begs a higher power to answer her questions and intervene — Do people love her or her fame? Why make her so sick now that she is a mother?

Another highlight of the album is “Dog Years,” the third track on the album. The first verse plays into Halsey’s struggles through the treatment process and sets the tone for the grunge-rock ballad inspired by PJ Harvey saying, “They said I have a universal blood type/ I can give to anyone in need/ But only receive from someone exactly like me.”

Continuing with references to blood types and treatment the song reflects the darkest aspects of chronic illness, as Halsey likens themself to a lame horse that needs to be put down. The lyrics sound like a dog lashing out in anger and confusion as the songwriter expresses her frustrations as her health worsens.

Despite the wide-ranging genres of the album, “The Great Impersonator” is a cohesive and vulnerable journey through Halsey’s two-year struggle with her health, fame and motherhood. There is a song for everyone on the album, no matter your music taste, each unpacking an aspect of growing older and withstanding change.

The Boston University women’s soccer team tied the American University Eagles on the road in their penultimate regular season game with a 2-2 final score on Saturday. This tie maintained the Terriers’ (4-7-6, 4-0-4 Patriot League) undefeated record in the Patriot League.

Oregon kept its two-loss record in its new conference Sunday afternoon and secured a 2-0 record on the week after a sweep of the bottom-of-the-conference Rutgers Scarlet Knights. 

The No. 11 Ducks (16-3, 8-2 Big Ten) rolled into Sunday’s contest off the back of a gritty, but impressive sweep of Maryland. Rutgers (5-16, 0-10 Big Ten) stumbled into Sunday losing all of its previous nine matchups. The Knights showed fight in the first set, but Oregon’s offense could not be stopped today, as the Ducks powered themselves to a resounding sweep (26-24, 25-18, 25-14). 

“It’s always different. Look at those three sets, those are three completely different sets. Same people, same teams, but you never know how it’s gonna go, so for us it’s about consistency,” head coach Matt Ulmer said. 

Oregon opened the match with a clear gameplan in mind — defense. The Ducks sat back for the first set and allowed Rutgers to desperately try to open up the block, which forced the Knights onto their back foot.

The Ducks started with a 6-1 run, which included two kills each from Mimi Colyer and Noemie Glover — they finished with 12 and 8 kills, respectively. Rutgers started catching the Ducks sleeping, which translated into a small Scarlet Knights run that made the opening set competitive. 

Onye Ofoegbu also added 12 of her own kills to join Colyer to co-lead the match. 

“[The setters] were putting us in great situations, and Roberta [Purashaj] did a good job of that today, just putting me in great situations,” Ofoegbu said. 

Once Rutgers figured out how to set up the defense to take away the outside for Oregon, the Knights forced the Ducks into mistakes. After a defensive miscue between Colyer and libero Mackenzie Morris, Rutgers took its first lead in the match at 16-15. 

What hurt the Ducks was their complacency on offense. While Ulmer’s squads tend to play much faster than their opponents, the offense was working too fast. At the same time, Oregon had a 13 point stretch where it only served three times, which prevented the Ducks from forcing the game to be played at their pace. 

Almost as soon as that stretch ended, Oregon started its comeback in the set. In fact, Oregon would lose just one more point in the first set. The Ducks took a 6-1 run at the end of the set to an emphatic 1-0 set lead — one which didn’t seem all too possible just seven points before. 

Oregon’s offense started the second set retaining all the momentum they secured at the end of the first. The Ducks found success spreading the ball out wide and forcing the Knights’ back line to drop, which allowed the strong arms like Colyer and Michelle Ohwobete to secure easy kills. 

Rutgers kept trying to slow the match down, but Oregon’s offense was too hard to stop, especially when the Ducks served. 

“We had a handful of people that went back there [to serve], and put runs together to put some pressure on them. I thought we executed from a pretty high level, and that was exciting to see,” Ulmer said.

The Knights put together a small spurt of scoring towards the end of the second set, but the control Oregon had over the game was clear and unrelenting. The Ducks easily took the second set 25-18, and the score doesn’t reflect how much Oregon dominated in the frame. 

Even if the defense slightly regressed at times, the offense never slowed down, which fueled the Ducks to a 2-0 lead. 

“[The Knights] don’t get blocked very often, and in the first set, I don’t think we had any blocks, which for us, that is very rare. It took us almost too long to adjust to what they were,” Ulmer said.

The Knights didn’t allow the third set to mirror the second, and they shored up their defense and stayed consistent on offense to force the Ducks into mistakes. The score sat at 13-10 at one point, and it looked as if Rutgers had a route back into the set, but Oregon’s excellent serving and suffocating attack shut down those hopes. 

The Ducks marched on the rest of the set and posted their second-straight sweep, which capped off a very successful week for the squad. 

“Overall, going 6-0 in sets on the weekend at home in this conference, feeling good about that, and we’ll have quite the stretch going forward, so we’ll continue to get better,” Ulmer said.

Oregon returns to action Wednesday night in Seattle to take on the Huskies at 6:30 p.m.

A major water main break occurred on Martin Luther King Boulevard in front of the University Lofts on Saturday affecting the east side of UH campus. 

Students were informed through an email Sunday morning. 

“The City of Houston is on site assessing the repairs,” the email said. “Please avoid driving in the area of MLK north of University Drive and around Campus Loop Road.”

The streets are closed near the UH Law Center and University Lofts. The water pressure is being monitored in campus buildings as well. The email also suggested a possible discoloration of water.

The residents of University Lofts were also updated about the water break as it directly impacted the road in front of the building. 

“I am writing to inform you of a significant water leak affecting the main supply from the City of Houston to the university campus,” the update said. “As a result, all chill, hot and domestic water services will be temporarily shut down throughout campus from today, October 27th, until Tuesday, October 29th, at 12:00 AM.”

The update also mentioned that residents will be updated if the water service is restored before the scheduled time.

The University informed students that today’s exhibition basketball game at the Fertitta Center will proceed as scheduled. 

However, spectators are advised to enter the campus from Scott Street or Cullen Boulevard and avoid MLK north of Wheeler Avenue.

Students can check for updates as more information becomes available at www.uh.edu/emergency. 

news@thedailycougar.com  

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“Water whoops: UH suffers a major water main break” was originally posted on The Cougar

What is Jazz Assistant? Jazz Assistant is a computer software program which generates computer music . It uses specific design criteria (an algorithm) to create a printout (a musical composition). The printout can be played by humans for any musical instrument. It is designed for jazz and the blues Benefits of Jazz Assistant No writers […]