The Emory Wheel hosted its 10th annual Wheel Debates for the 2022-23 Student Government Association (SGA), College Council (CC) and BBA Council elections on March 16. Over the course of an hour and a half, candidates pushed for their respective campaign platforms, responded to both scripted and audience-written questions and debated various social issues. 

While candidates ranged from SGA president and vice president, CC president and vice president and BBA Council president, the underlying thread that tied all prospective leaders together was an urgent call for radical change. 

SGA presidential debates

The four SGA presidential candidates at the time discussed key points to their campaigns while responding to underlying academic, social and cultural issues at Emory. 

Since the debate, however, former SGA presidential candidates Elisabet Ortiz (24C) and Ranjan Kesavan (24C) have been disqualified from the race by the Elections Board.

In a March 17 email to Ortiz, the Board of Elections stated that she was ineligible to run due to her status of not being a full-time enrolled student. In a March 20 email to Kesavan and his former SGA vice presidential candidate running mate Ben Arnoldsen Crawford (24C), the Elections Board noted their disqualification for sharing “unapproved posts that included profanity and obscene language.”

As current SGA Speaker, Alyssa Stegall (21Ox, 23C) intends to focus on a variety of long-neglected initiatives on mental health, diversity, sustainability and the arts. Stegall pushed for a reframe of the writing process for bills and resolutions. 

SGA presidential candidate Alyssa Stegall (21Ox, 23C). Photo courtesy of Alyssa Stegall

“By establishing a university-wide listserv, we can keep administration accountable while facilitating discussion and conversation,” Stegall said.

Stegall also hopes to alleviate transparency in SGA and OxSGA through bolstering Oxford-Atlanta liaisons, while acknowledging that the Oxford campus has a separate, unique structure. 

“Oxford students don’t really know what goes on here,” Stegall said. “There is no Oxford student in this room right now.” 

Ortiz, who dropped out of the SGA presidential race on March 21, focused on the overlooked and underserved students at Emory University. 

During her first year at Emory, Ortiz faced homelessness, food insecurity and inadequate health insurance that led her to create the mutual aid organization Students For Students. In advocating for more equitable services for low income and minority students, the organization has raised thousands of dollars for funds.

“I am running because I did not fall through the cracks created by the large failings of the University,” Ortiz said. 

Students For Students served as a foundation for the primary building blocks of Ortiz’s platform, such as the recent initiative to advocate for a $15 minimum wage for federal work study students as well as to doll out stipends for student leaders in clubs like SGA. 

“46% of this campus receives financial aid, so including more voices, especially marginalized ones, the ones that are affected by these platforms, is a very important first step,” Ortiz said. In fact, 46% of first-year students, not all students, receive need-based financial aid in 2019. 

Even though Ortiz did not attend Oxford College, she proposed initiatives to better integrate the Oxford community, such as a transportation model that would make the Oxford-Atlanta commute easier. In addition to increased shuttle services, Ortiz hopes to connect Oxford students to Atlanta-based opportunities while also producing events at Oxford for Atlanta students to attend.

Having served as the SGA president of Oxford last year, Eleanor Liu (21Ox, 23B) made a straightforward address. 

SGA presidential candidate Eleanor Liu (21Ox, 23B). Photo courtesy of Eleanor Liu

“I kept my platform fairly simple, and I kept it simple for a reason,” Liu said. “I don’t want to make promises I can’t keep.” 

By creating support that walks students through the resolution process and collaborating with resolution authors, Liu wants to turn the written words on such resolutions into reality. 

From cultivating more flexible pass/fail guidelines and widespread menstrual products on the Oxford campus, Liu is adept in driving ideas to fruition.

As the current Vice President of Finance for SGA, Liu has had experience in holding clubs financially accountable.

In regards to holding elections for the Student Programming Council (SPC) president, Liu condemns this proposal due to its lack of scope and applicability toward all student-run organizations. SPC is one of six executive agencies, which are responsible for serving the Emory community at large, rather than specific divisions of the school. 

“It’s not about targeting  SPC, but how we can create a policy that applies to everyone,” Liu said. 

Along the same lines, Stegall remarked that hosting a university-wide election for a role that requires detailed specialization and rapport amongst the organization could potentially harm the core mission of the club in the long run. 

“At the end of the day, before we get SPC specific, we need a specific doc regarding [executive agency] guidelines, because those don’t exist right now,” Stegall said. 

If elected, Liu affirms that her website will stay updated on new initiatives and highlights.

“In my campaign, I promised that I want to hold open forums, specifically a campus wide event to gather student input similar to what the Residence Hall Association (RHA) does,” Liu said. 

By implementing these checks of power, Liu hopes to honor her commitment to radical transparency and authenticity, clarifying her campaign to clear-cut, actionable steps.

Kesevan said he wants to address systemic issues “beyond just funding and events.”

“If we want to make change, it can’t be just the 100 people of SGA, we need to advocate change to the entire campus,” Kesavan said.

Criticizing the fractured system of Oxford continuees as they move onto the Atlanta campus, Kesavan pointedly indicated that current Emory College underclassmen have few chances to meet Oxford first and second years, despite being in similar grade levels. 

“How are we supposed to build a community that fosters integration between the campuses if nobody is communicating, meeting and talking with each other?” he said. 

To close off their portion of the night, the candidates answered an audience question about the concern of rises in antisemitism. All candidates agreed to work towards an unambiguous, working definition of hate crimes.

SGA vice presidential debates

During the SGA vice presidential debates, SGA Vice President Candidate Noah Marchuck (24C) spoke, while his former opponent Crawford was absent. Marchuck is running on a joint ticket with Stegall.

SGA vice presidential candidate Noah Marchuck (24C). Photo courtesy of Noah Marchuck

“I am running with Alyssa because I can’t imagine doing it with anyone else,” Marchuck said. “But that being said, I think collaboration is also important to running an effective student government. Anyone who is running obviously has a passion and I would be happy to work with them.” 

Marchuck was a first-year during the 2020-21 academic year, when few upperclassmen were on campus. He said this helped him recognize what the Emory community means to him. 

“I really am inspired to run to take back some of the autonomy that I lost being home for so long,” Marchuck said.

With two years of legislative experience under his belt, Marchuck has worked alongside many administrators and faculty. During his initial semesters serving on SGA, Marchuck initiated diversity programs such as the Race and Difference Colloquium Series with Sexual Assault Peer Advocates. 

Marchuck is also advocating for mental health awareness by petitioning for an increase in staffing at  Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). In light of the recent increase in annual tuition, he said he hopes the administration can allocate the additional finances toward hiring more therapists. 

Marchuck also discussed the “really big gender equity gap in athletics,” pointing to the lack of full uniforms and apparel for the women’s soccer team, as well as the absence of tailgates for women’s varsity sports. 

BBA Council presidential debate

As a current junior representative on the BBA Council, Natalie Spitzer (23B) is running for BBA Council president based on a platform of scholarship, respect and community. 

BBA Council presidential candidate Natalie Spitzer (23B). Photo courtesy of Natalie Spitzer

Spitzer’s experience as a pre-BBA coach has allowed her to gain key insight on the worries of incoming business students upon the perceived homogeneous culture at Goizueta Business School. In order to foster a concise line of communication and advertisement toward underclassmen on both campuses, international students and transfer students, Spitzer said she aims to introduce a vice president of outreach for all-encompassing purposes. 

Building off of her executive involvement at Goizueta Investment Management Group, she hopes to promote education for all regardless of background. 

“I’ve seen the benefit of it first hand, and if done correctly, it’s really an amazing experience for all BBAs,” Spitzer said.

Spitzer also wants to create a vice president of academics role to offer holistic support that the BBA staff may fail to address

By creating an environment that values attentive listening and connection to the administration, Spitzer wants to create a business-themed spinoff of Emory College’s EPASS tutoring to better prepare students for the transition from their undergraduate college to Goizueta.

“I hope to spearhead initiatives to make sure that all students can pursue academic excellence to the best of their ability,” Spitzer said. 

Spitzer’s opponent, BBA Council presidential candidate Dani Nakash (23B), said she will be “as much a listener as [she] will be a leader.” She emphasized her ability to be down-to-earth and adaptable to student concerns of academics, social life and diversity while maintaining bi-directional transparency. 

BBA Council presidential candidate Dani Nakash (23B). Photo courtesy of Dani Nakash

“I want people to feel comfortable approaching me with issues and for me to talk about issues that the BBA Council is facing as well,” Nakash said. 

By prioritizing synchronization and collaboration among the different councils, Nakash hopes to market business school events, such as company information sessions and professional panel speakers, to all undergraduate students at Emory. 

This year marked the first time Goizueta accepted transfer students straight into its school, and Nakash hopes to give them a voice as well. 

“It’s too hard to guess what the needs of a transfer student are,” Nakash said. “I believe the best way to address their underserved needs is by implementing a transfer student representative.” 

While the business school environment can be dismissed as hostile and competitive, Nakash believes that a cultural shift of the business school is imperative to foster relationships with fellow peers. 

“The grading bell-curve is an integral part of the business school,” Nakash said. “So I want to continue programming and making sure people can hang out with each other outside of classes in a more social setting.” 

College Council president debate

As the sole candidate for College Council president, Akshat Toshniwal (23C) endorses a platform of advocacy, connectivity and accountability. With extensive financial policy experience in the audits and budgets wing of College Council, Toshniwal said he hopes to drive forward a more concrete and resound fiscal structure. 

College Council presidential candidate Akshat Toshniwal (23C). Photo courtesy of Akshat Toshniwal

By reinstituting a bill and resolutions framework, consistently updating the College Council digital media and working with administration, Toshniwal hopes to redefine the student involvement experience. 

“I want to start building on what we’ve already been working on for the past three years,” Toshniwal said. 

Having faced obstacles through navigating supplemental funding and outdated database systems in managing his own club, Dhoom Emory, Toshniwal understands the weaknesses of the current College Council system.

“Something that has not been extremely prominent within the College Council is remaining accountable to the student body,” Toshniwal said. 

He noted that one of the most productive meetings that College Council has hosted this year was with members of SGS and SILT. They left the meeting with actionable steps that can be implemented on a timeline. 

“We need to start working with administration to make change, besides just liaising between the student body,” Toshniwal said. 

Particularly in regards to student-wide critiques of Emory’s mental health and counseling services, Toshniwal hopes to turn CAPS around. Specifically, Toshniwal points to providing more accessibility during non-business hours, integrating mental health training into CC’s internal structure, and coordinating a robust first-year orientation program that destigmatizes the conversation surrounding mental health. 

“These are the resources that should be available as soon as they enter the university,” he said

College Council vice presidential debate

Running for vice president of College Council, Neha Murthy (24C) spent her entire first year at home. Due to her desire to find community, Murthy founded her own student organization called SWARA, an Indian classical music club for vocalists, instrumentalists and music enthusiasts. She experienced first hand how disjointed the club chartering process was and how difficult it was to join exclusive organizations. 

College Council vice presidential candidate Neha Murthy. Photo courtesy of Neha Murthy

Having served on the College Council as the vice president of organizational management, Murthy aims to simplify club resources and fiscal policy to streamline the process of student involvement. 

“One of the things I want to do is see if I can advocate to have the school club fair outside of the school day and start hosting more events on the quad to foster that community,” Murthy said.

Several College students thought that the debates were informative and polite. 

“I thought the questions were really interesting and geared towards certain people, everyone did a really great job being polite and it was really informative,” Eliza Oren (25C) said. 

Amongst the SGA presidential candidates, all four were students of color with intersectional identities.

“I believe there was good direction and pointed questions and reasonable diversity,” Sruti Kumar (22C) said. “I love that three of the candidates were women, that was really cool to see that representation.” 

Nathan Yang (22C) said that while he previously refrained from tuning into election season, he  has recently made an effort to be more informed of student government politics. 

“I’m hoping that people will actually make a difference this time around,” he said.

The post 10th-annual Wheel Debates displays a bravado of respect, camaraderie appeared first on The Emory Wheel.

The war in Ukraine continues to escalate. Unfounded claims and inflammatory videos have flooded the internet, facilitated by both Russian trolls and Westerners looking to go viral. With this war in particular, misinformation is playing a crucial role.

After two tumultuous presidential elections and a global pandemic that polarized the meaning of truth, American society should have learned something about online misinformation. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case so far. Standing on the outskirts of a global conflict, misinformation poses a threat to our relationship with truth and global connection. With fact-checking abilities at our fingertips, everyone has a personal obligation to ensure factuality.

Misinformation is a Slippery Slope

Social media platforms almost immediately became live video documentation of war in Ukraine as Russia initiated bombings in Kyiv. One video falsely claimed that 13 soldiers had died, stealing audio from a Ukrainian news outlet reporting that Russian officials asked the soldiers to surrender.

Those in support of Ukraine may think that as long as fake footage looks similar enough to real events it still raises awareness. But giving credence to misinformation is a slippery slope. We can’t normalize accepting any video as fact without a level of skepticism. As technology advances, so does the potential for harmful misinformation to spread. Deep fakes and targeted algorithms ensure that media users will encounter increasingly more falsified videos and posts.

Russia itself poses as an example of a society intentionally detached from the truth, and the result is evident in the Kremlin’s forced regime. Earlier this month, Russia criminalized reports that contradict the Kremlin’s state-sponsored media depiction of the war. These restrictions forced several independent news organizations to shut down, and protestors in Russia were imprisoned. Meanwhile, Kremlin media has deliberately spread lies to Russian citizens, claiming Ukrainians were the aggressors and labeling bomb victims as crisis actors.

Putin’s authority depends on a repeated and intentional spread of disinformation. He actively suppressed the truth relating to the missing MH17 flight in 2014, and after imprisoning his sole political opposition in 2021. “Propaganda works when it coincides with your existing assumptions,” said Pierre Vaux, a senior investigator at the Center for Information Resilience to the New York Times. Russia’s older generation has not forgotten the prosperity and stability Putin brought to Russia after a financial crisis, which makes them more susceptible to his fabricated truth. Now, this lack of skepticism may be the only thing fueling Russian support for the war in Ukraine.

The Potential for Global Connection

Misinformation is a crucial tactic in war. During the first World War, the U.S. Congress passed The Espionage and Sedition Acts, which criminalized any “disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language” about the U.S. government or military. Making decisions during war relies on information. When one side successfully misinforms the other side, or even misinforms their own citizens to gain support, they become one step closer to victory.

With access to the internet, we now have the potential to deconstruct this war tactic and render it ineffective. Any person across the globe could potentially come to the same accurate conclusions with diligent truth-seeking.

We have the potential to be the most globally-connected generation. We can empathize with Ukrainians and watch their first-hand documentation of war. But that is meaningless if we aren’t valuing their truth.

Your Responsibility

Accepting misinformation, whether ill-intentioned or not, devalues truth. It devalues the reality Ukrainians currently live in. 6.5 million people have been internally displaced in Ukraine as of March 17. At least 816 civilians have been killed. Families are torn apart and Putin has manipulated the press to maintain public support. Checking your facts is the least you can do on an individual level. And on a larger scale, it amounts to a lot.

Information travels fast during war and claims are made faster than news can properly verify them. Many young people get their news from social media. This isn’t inherently bad, but it means misinformation has the potential to impact young people disproportionately. But young people also have the tools to better identify misinformation.

Online tools like Google Earth and reverse image search allow anyone to independently locate where and when a video was taken. While this can be time consuming, you can at least acknowledge your responsibility to prevent unverified claims from spreading by not engaging with inflammatory content. Scroll by and seek out truth from a reliable news outlet. Don’t buy into media designed to get a reaction — instead support media designed to keep you informed.

We have the incredible ability to connect with people in Ukraine. It makes war seem more real for those of us who have never experienced it first-hand. The internet has the potential to make us more globally engaged citizens. But without recognizing the danger and taking steps to combat it, we risk becoming the most misinformed generation in history.

m.bringhurst@dailyutahchronicle.com

@maggie_bring

The post Bringhurst: Do More Research to Prevent the Spread of Russia-Ukraine Misinformation appeared first on The Daily Utah Chronicle.

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After her second season playing with Minnesota, redshirt junior forward Kadi Sissoko announced that she will be entering the transfer portal on her Instagram Tuesday.

Sissoko, originally from Paris, France, transferred to Minnesota from Syracuse following the 2018-19 season. After sitting out the 2019-20 season due to NCAA transfer rules at the time, she has been an integral part of the Gophers team since.

She averaged 12.8 points and 6.6 rebounds last season, starting 19 of 20 games. This season she averaged 10.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per contest in 27 starts.

Veteran point guard Jasmine Powell and post player Klarke Sconiers entered the transfer portal during the season. Sissoko now is the third Gophers player to leave the team since the start of the 2021-22 season.

The Gophers 2021-22 campaign officially ended Sunday with a second-round loss in the WNIT. With the No. 10 ranked in-coming recruiting class according to ESPN, newly-extended head coach Lindsay Whalen will have a new-look team next season.

UH point guard Jamal Shead entered the NCAA Tournament with the most assists out of any player in the Big Dance. | Sean Thomas/The Cougar

While the overwhelming opinion from the outside was that Houston’s season was a wash once guards Marcus Sasser and Tramon Mark went down with season-ending injuries in December, the Cougars have continued to surprise people and have once again found their way to the Sweet 16 after defeating UAB and Illinois in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

Next up, UH heads to San Antonio to take on the Pac-12 champs and South Region’s No. 1 seed — Arizona.

A look at the Wildcats

The Bennedict Mathurin show

Bennedict Mathurin has taken the country by storm for his play during his sophomore season.

The 6-foot-6-inch guard led the Wildcats in scoring with 17.8 points per game on his way to being named the Pac-12 Player of the Year.

Bennedict Mathurin (0) — SAN DIEGO, CALIF. — Men’s basketball vs. TCU in the second round of the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena. | Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Athletics

Mathurin, a projected lottery pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, checks all the boxes that scouts look for in an elite guard.

Shooting? Check.

Mathurin shoots the ball at a high clip at 45.5 percent overall from the field and 37.2 percent from 3-point range and it is extremely difficult to affect his shot due to his size and high release on his jumper.

On top of that, Mathurin has transitioned from the spot-up shooter he was as a freshman to a guy who also is a great transition scorer and has also made major improvements in his ability to score off the bounce.

Mathurin’s best skill set on offense is the way he moves without the ball in his hands. Mathurin is an elite cutter, possessing the speed and athleticism to get around screens and knock down tough shots.

BENNEDICT MATHURIN

30 Points
8 Rebounds
4 Assists
1 Nasty Poster Dunk
1 3PT To Force OT@BennMathurin | @ArizonaMBB pic.twitter.com/pni24y4nKR

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) March 21, 2022

Solid defender? Check.

The 19-year old Canadian guard’s defense has improved immensely from his freshman season.

Mathurin has proven his ability to defend on-ball isolation situations as well as pick-and-roll ball-handlers at a high level.

Mathurin’s size and athleticism give him the versatility to defend both guards and forwards which is another major plus.

Monster in the paint

After facing one beast in Illinois’ Kofi Cockburn in the round of 32, UH has another tough test in Arizona’s 7-foot-1-inch Christian Koloko.

Koloko took home two pieces of hardware for his play in the regular season, earning the Pac-12’s Defensive Player of the Year and Most Improved Player awards.

Christian Koloko put a lid on the rim on one end, and made All-American Hunter Dickinson look like a 7'1 traffic cone operating out of handoffs and ball-screens in Arizona's blowout win over Michigan. 22 points, 7 rebounds, 4 blocks for the potential first round pick. pic.twitter.com/g3mfRo5Wq5

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) November 22, 2021

The junior center from Cameroon has been one of college basketball’s best rim protectors, blocking 86 shots to lead the Pac-12 during the regular season and another 14 in the conference tournament and the Wildcat’s first two NCAA Tournament games. Even when he’s not blocking shots, Koloko’s massive wingspan allows him to affect the shot of any player in his general area.

Christian Koloko (35) — SAN DIEGO, CALIF. — Men’s basketball vs. TCU in the second round of the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena. | Photo by Mike Christy / Arizona Athletics

Koloko has also doubled his offensive production from last season, improving from averaging 5.3 points per game as a sophomore to 12.7 points this season.

Supporting cast

Arizona will be the biggest team UH has faced all year.

Along with Koloko, 6-foot-11-inch forward Azuolas Tubelis averages 14.2 points per game, second-most on the team. Tubelis is not afraid to shoot the 3, attempting about one per game, but shoots at a clip of only 27 percent from deep.

Kerr Krissa and Dalen Terry round out the Arizona starting guard group, combining to score nearly 18 points per game. Both are 3-point shooting threats, shooting 34.2 and 35.1 percent from deep respectively.

Pelle Larsson, a 6-foot-5-inch guard from Sweeden, won the Pac-12’s Sixth Man of the Year award. Larsson averages 7.2 points on 21 minutes off the bench per game. Larsson is also a good 3-point shooter, shooting 36 percent on the year.

How UH matches up with Arizona

Controlling the offensive boards

Offensive rebounding has been the bread and butter of the UH program under Kelvin Sampson. While the Wildcats rank No. 2 in the NCAA in defensive rebounds per game, pulling down 30.08 defensive boards per game, they rank a mere 159th in defensive rebounding percentage at 74.2 percent.

The struggle to pull down defensive rebounds was on full display in Arizona’s round of 32 game against TCU as the Wildcats allowed the Horned Frogs to pull down 20 offensive boards.

UH has been of the country’s best offensive rebounding teams year after year and that hasn’t changed this season. The Cougars rebound nearly 38 percent of their misses.

If UH is to knock off the South Region’s No. 1 seed, it must continue to do what it has done all season on the offensive glass because the Cougars simply do not shoot the ball well enough on their first shot to score enough points to beat the Wildcats.

Team defense

Defense has been the foundation for UH and the No. 1 reason for the Cougars’ immense success under Sampson, but the Cougars have their hands full against a high-powered Arizona offense that can hurt teams in many different ways.

Expect lots of double teams from the Cougars when Koloko or Tubelis gets the ball in the post, just as they did against Cockburn.

Kyler Edwards, who Sampson called the American Athletic Conference’s best defender, will likely draw the assignment of guarding Mathurin.

Edwards’ ability to hold his ground against Mathurin will be key if the Cougars are to advance to the Elite Eight.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“Previewing UH’s Sweet 16 matchup against Arizona” was originally posted on The Cougar

Gerald Sastra/The Cougar

The UH women’s golf team concluded its play at the MountainView Collegiate with a 12th-place finish at a total score of 877 (+13).

Senior Ariana Saenz picked up the best score of the first round with a 1-under 71 to place her in a tie for 21st-place.

Senior Annie Kim shot even on par-72 to sit in a tie for 28th-place while sophomore Nicole Abelar hit a 76 in her first round to place tied for 58th.

Sophomore Delaney Martin hit 7-over par for a 79 to move her into a tie for 77th-place.

Senior Maria Jose Martinez struggled to get things going early on with an 84 to tie for 89th-place and round out the first day for the Cougars.

The second round was the best of the tournament for UH as Kim led the charge with a 67 to place in a tie for seventh.

Abelar improved her score by five strokes to post a 1-under 71 and boost her position to a tie for 47th-place.

Saenz, Martin and Martinez all recorded 1-over 73 in their respective second rounds to place in ties for 34th, 66th and 88th after 36-holes.

The final round saw the UH struggle in similar fashion to its first round of the competition, as Martin was the only player to hit under par with a 70 to end her run in a tie for 46th.

Kim and Martinez both posted 2-over 74 in the third round to finish tied for 18th and 74th respectively.

Saenz hit her highest round on the final day with a 77 to fall into a tie for 42nd-place.

Abelar encountered a difficult last round with an 82 to finish tied for 70th-place.

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“UH women’s golf grabs 12th at MountainView Collegiate” was originally posted on The Cougar

When it comes to coffee spots in Fort Collins, it can be a bit overwhelming to figure out the best one. I have narrowed it down to two spots for your next coffee craving. 

Everyday Joe’s Coffee House, 144 S. Mason St.

With an open-concept feel that showcases art, a workspace area and a gathering area, Everyday Joe’s Coffee House welcomes you into an environment of wholesome hospitality. Located on the south side of Old Town, the sanctuary-like space operates on the weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

I’m a sucker for a great interior, and this go-to coffee spot did not disappoint. Everyday Joe’s has the classic bright red brick walls, exposed piping and a massive front window looking out on Mason Street. What keeps me coming back is the staff; they are incredibly welcoming and friendly. 

Everyday Joe’s is truly something special. With every sip you take, you can taste the blood, sweat, tears (not literally) and love in each cup. This is a perfect spot in town for a cup of joe and a place where you can concentrate while studying for classes or have an intimate conversation with a friend. 

I tried something new for myself and ordered a 10-ounce soy latte. I’m hooked. The soy almost seemed to dilute the black coffee aftertaste, which made it much easier to drink. Beyond the soy, the influence of the sweet staff made the coffee delicious too.

This coffee shop does it all if you want above and beyond. They gather in person at 9:30 a.m. for Timberline Old Town church on Sundays. They also host concerts, community events, weddings and private events. Who knew all your needs could be met at a quaint coffee shop?

I give this place a 10/10 for meeting all the possible needs someone could want in a community meeting place and a hot cup of joe. 

Mugs at CSU, 306 W. Laurel St.

Mugs at Colorado State University has resided on its Laurel Street corner lot since 2010, so there’s a good chance you’ve either strolled in or around the premise. If you haven’t been to Mugs, you’re in for a treat. 

This CSU alumni-owned coffee joint is open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mugs is another incredible spot to eat, study and chatter among study groups and peers. It is family-owned and -operated, and you feel that as soon as you walk in. The hours make it easier to study, stay put and be focused. 

Large wooden tables allow for a calm community feel. For those uninterested in the community ambiance, there is single seating available near windows. The coffee here is deliciously created, and the baristas offer stellar customer service. They are also often CSU students and alumni, making Mugs a more fun and relatable environment. 

Mugs also provides a full food service menu, with scrumptious bakery bites, smoothies, alcoholic beverages and — if you really enjoy the service — catering. Because of their catering capacity, they host events here as well, whether it’s a work party, birthday, private event or bridal shower. They’re a coffee shop of many hats. 

I changed it up here and ordered ​​a small soy Bhakti Chai. If you’re a fan of ginger and spice, this drink is for you; it warmed my insides right up. This drink’s ingredients are also sustainably sourced and vegan-friendly. I also wanted to snag a little snack, so I chose Outrageous Baking’s gluten-free lemon poppy seed bread. It was delicious. Gluten-free bread tends to break, but this one was moist and stuck together.

For the studious ones who need a hideaway in a warm, cozy full-menu space to study all day, look no further. Mugs at CSU is just that. It is a 10/10 coffee spot.

Overall, I love the concept of Everyday Joe’s Coffee House, but when it comes to ticking all the boxes off and the menu variety of not just drinks but food items too, Mugs at CSU is my favorite. It’s also right across the street from campus, making it the perfect place for studying, a date, hosting an event or just sitting down and enjoying a meal.

Reach Sierra Grimm at entertainment@collegian.com or on Twitter @CSUram5.

A cease and desist to Marvel

Armaan Mumtaz/Senior Staff

The first time I heard about a Marvel movie, I was in elementary school. It was “Iron Man,” and all the kids in my class were very excited. I remember seeing it and thinking it was fine. Then, and now, I feel the same way about Marvel movies as I do quiche –– they’re fine for some people, but not me, someone with taste. 

If you rounded up all of the money spent on quiche in restaurants (and in materials preparing quiche), you wouldn’t approach the amount of money these movies are making. I spend money on dumb things too. I once spent more than $100 on a mullet haircut. It admittedly turned out to be a worthwhile investment when the arts department needed someone with a mullet to write its mullet journal, but I digress.

If taste alone cannot stop people from watching Marvel movies, what about fiscal responsibility? What do movie tickets cost these days, $12? Well, add a zero interest, federally backed loan and that’s how much your aunt bought her house for in 1986. 

Today, you could buy maybe one to two adderall for that price. (Remember to use coupon code “mullet journal” for 20% off of an adderall prescription from your local pharmacy). My point is, you could get a lot more bang for your buck than watching Samuel L. Jackson cash checks. 

I’m getting tired of the personal financial responsibility schtick. I’ve actually seen most of the Marvel movies from when they were on Netflix. As a refresher, allow me to summarize the big plot points of these movies. As a disclaimer, this may not be entirely accurate as I am doing this off memory.

In “Iron Man,” Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is abducted and builds a big suit out of iron. This is the coolest looking Iron Man outfit in any of the movies. As the series progresses, Iron Man’s suits get more CGI and more features as his problems only get bigger. Typified as a raging playboy, the answer to what seems like a massive sex addiction comes in the form of Pepper Potts, played by Goop’s Gwyneth Paltrow – although this is only hinted at because Marvel characters are having less sex than an EECS major in a liberal arts class. 

In “Captain America,” the United States military conducts a scientific experiment to transform a twink (skinny Chris Evans) into a bear (buff Chris Evans) to fight Nazis. Eventually, another character whose main feature is that he’s a brunette shows up. 

I have no idea what happens in the “Avengers” movies. There seem to be frequent alien invasions, and I don’t understand Thanos. Is he supposed to be scary? He’s purple – Thanos looks like what would happen if someone mixed the genetic code of André the Giant with a purple dildo. 

Moving further across the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I had fun with one of the “Thor” movies, but most of them feel less planned out than Gwnyeth Paltrow’s vagina candle. I haven’t seen any of the “Spiderman” movies because I’m conceptually disinterested in Tom Holland. If you’re under 40 and named Tom, please stay a minimum of 50 feet away from me. 

Are there other Marvel movies? Maybe! I wouldn’t remember. There’s “Doctor Strange.” I think Doctor Strange should be more strange – you could find a more interesting man on Frat Row. 

My problems with Marvel unfortunately expands beyond this list. First off, Marvel is a subsidiary of Disney, and like most of the company’s content, it is intended for children. Just as Marvel is a subsidiary of Disney, the adult Marvel fan is a subsidiary of the Disney Adult. 

In 2021, Disney made up 25% of box office profits, ahead of Sony’s 16%, whose biggest hits were “Spiderman: No Way Home” and “Venom,” two films that also center on superhero IP. The world’s moviegoers are increasingly resembling petulant children who will only eat chicken fingers for dinner. Coincidentally, this is also what I see Tom Holland’s eyes telling me he eats for every meal.

I think of Marvel and Disney’s ever-growing cinematic empire almost as a form of cultural stagnation brought on by the commercialization of art. In this corporate dialect, when a story-telling formula is financially successful, it should be copied as much as possible to maximize profit.

This formulaic monotony breeds content that can be described as neither good nor bad, and fans hold such devotion that critical appraisal holds little importance. Criticizing a Marvel movie feels as artistically insignificant as reviewing individual cars of the same make and model. As consumers, it’s time to reject this sameness. 

Look, you could tell me to just let people enjoy things, but you would be wrong. You know what kind of sick, twisted things some people enjoy? Besides, I have the power of the printing press behind me and could cancel you faster than you can say intellectual property licensing.

Ryan McCullough writes the Monday A&E column on exploring the irritations of art. Contact him at rmccullough@dailycal.org.

The Daily Californian

The Boston University men’s basketball team defeated the University of North Carolina Greensboro in the first round of the Roman College Basketball Invitiational.

Minnesota was on the wrong side of a three-game sweep over the weekend against Creighton. The Gophers starting pitchers struggled in the first two games, while the offense went silent after the first inning in the finale.

Game One

As hot as junior Sam Ireland was in the first month of the season, he finally ran into some struggles in the series opener. Ireland found trouble early in the game as the Bluejays jumped out to a 4-0 lead through three innings.

Ireland lasted just one more inning, a season low, giving up four earned runs on six hits and striking out just one batter. The bullpen came in and shut the door for the next five innings and Minnesota rallied from behind.

Redshirt senior Jack Kelly was a big part of that comeback accounting for three hits, a home run shy of the cycle, and an RBI. Sophomore Boston Merila accounted for two more RBIs and Minnesota tied the game at four apiece heading into the bottom of the ninth.

Creighton walked it off to take the first game of the series 5-4.

Game Two

Starter J.P. Massey was able to shut out the Bluejays through two innings before his rough patch. Massey kept Creighton hitless in the first two innings before giving up the first two runs of the game. Minnesota answered right back to tie the game in the top of the fourth.

Then it all blew up.

Creighton put together four hits to score five runs and run Massey out of the game. Massey was an out away from getting through the fourth unscathed. Relief pitcher Jack Liffrig was called upon to clean up the mess, but the Bluejays plated three more before the frame was over.

Minnesota outscored Creighton 4-1 over the final three and a half innings, but the Bluejays already had a comfortable 13-3 lead.

The Gophers dropped the second game 14-7.

Game Three 

Minnesota took its first lead of the series in the opening frame, scoring two runs courtesy of outfielder Brett Bateman. Bateman accounted for two hits, including an RBI-single and would later come around and score in the first.

That was the only offense that came for the Gophers which took away from a solid outing from starter Aidan Maldanado. He kept Creighton scoreless for four innings before giving up a pair in the fifth and getting pulled.

Reliever Josh Culliver kept the damage at just two when he came in with bases loaded and just one out. Culliver got out of the jam and the game remained tied at 2-2 through five.

The Bluejays had bases loaded with no one out in the eighth and plated two late runs on groundouts to take the lead.

Creighton completed the sweep with a 4-2 victory.

Up Next

Minnesota is back home for its next series, and the last one of the year at U.S. Bank Stadium when it hosts Western Illinois.