THE OREDIGGER

The student voice of the Colorado School of Mines

Volume 93, Issue 26 August 15, 2013
DEBORAH GOOD / OREDIGGER

Advice 2

Learn how to prepare for Mines

CSM

Learn what to do on the CSM campus

Golden

Message from the CSM President

Dear Class of 2017, Welcome to the Colorado School of Mines. What an exciting time to be an Oredigger! Mines continues to be one of the premier engineering and applied science schools in the country, and we just keep getting better. There many exciting new facilities, programs, and services available on campus as we continue to fulfill our goal of excellence. Our focus is now to help you reach your goals. You want to be a part of the next generation of scientists and engineers to address global challenges and opportunities affecting the earth, energy sectors, and the environment. We strongly believe that your education at Mines will give you the skills, knowledge, and attributes youll need to realize your goals and dreams. Youll work harder, reach farther, push yourself out of your comfort zone, and accomplish more in the next four years than you ever thought possible. And the payoff will be confidence in knowing exactly what youre capable of, what you can achieve, and a whole world of opportunity ahead of you. In the coming weeks and during your first semester here youll learn more about Mines academic programs and also about the many ways to get involved in campus life outside of the classroom, such

The Oredigger is excited to welcome the Class of 2017 to the Colorado School of Mines. Go Orediggers!

Message from your USG

Welcome to Mines, new students! I know you are all ready for the challenge that awaits in the new semester. I hope youve all had a great summers rest in preparation for school. Needless to say, you picked the right place to spend four years. With just a quick glance around you, the beauty of Golden is apparent and the town has so many great things to do! Located within 15 minutes of town are ideal cycling roads and mountain biking paths, rock climbing crag filled Clear Creek Canyon, and Clear Creek itself for kayaking. The sunny creekside park is a great place to hang out and read, or take a nice, exciting ride downstream on a tube. Whatever your fancy, Mines has a student organization for it, everything from the Free ride Collective to watching gnar ski videos to the Urban Gaming club for some Humans vs. Zombies. Dont be afraid to get active on campus! There are many opportunities for everyone to become leaders and members of the 170 clubs and organizations. Not only will participation in these improve your resume, there is no better outlet from your rigorous studies. I would like to introduce one of the great organizations to get involved in; the Undergraduate Student Government, or USG. USG is one of the big players in the student life at Mines, and oversees the use of upwards of $800,000 to benefit the student body.. We discuss policy, campus issues, and plan traditional events each year such as Into the Streets (a community service day) and the E-Days Undie Run. The growth of student government in the last few years has been great to see, and it will continue through this next year. We hope to see you active and successful on campus, and indeed we have our own opportunities for freshman. The four freshman representatives have not yet been decided, and will not be until the semester starts. The positions include Freshman Class President, and three Freshman Senators, all of whom will be chosen by your class through elections. Keep in mind all of this as you start out the year and please feel free to meet with any of the council. To end, I want to welcome you again to the Colorado School of Mines. Congratulations! I hope youre excited for your first year in college! Samuel Scoop Cooper USG President For a complete list of USG council members, see page 8.
COURTESY USG

Learn about the highlights of Golden.

Oredigger 8

as club sports and intercollegiate athletics, residence halls activities, and student groups. I encourage you to jump in, get involved, and truly embrace Mines as your second home. You have already enjoyed achievement in your lives, and now youre ready to take on new challenges. I cant wait to see what YOU bring to Mines- see you in August! Sincerely,

M.W. Scoggins President

COURTESY CAROL CHAPMAN

Learn about campus publications

Editorials Policy The Oredigger is a designated public forum. Editors have the authority to make all content decisions without censorship or advance approval and may edit submitted pieces for length so long as the original meaning of the piece is unchanged. Opinions contained within the Opinion Section do not necessarily reflect those of Colorado School of Mines or The Oredigger. The Oredigger does not accept submissions without identification and will consider all requests for anonymity in publication on a case-by-case basis. Submissions less than 300 words will receive preference.

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Upon your arrival, before your classes

Deborah Good Editor-in-Chief

o r e d i g g e r

August 15, 2013

Advice for surviving and thriving during your time at Colorado School of Mines
friends. The number one thing to Of course, joining every orgaremember in making friends at col- nization is an obvious exaggeralege is that one tion. The principle, must actually talk Chances are, at least though, is that you to other people to should take on only one semester during what you can. The make friends. The plain readfastest path to stress your time at Mines, is in joining or being of that sentence, an indictyou will take on too coming an officer in ment of reclusive one too many clubs. behavior, is valid, much. Prioritize, do Chances are, at least and I know some one semester during here who need your best, and make your time at Mines, the reminder. you will take on too However, there is the changes you need much. Prioritize, do a second aspect your best, and make to that straightfor- to make for the next the changes you ward advice: you need to make for the semester. cannot tell withnext semester. out speaking to As with most someone whether they are friend things in life, the path to a producmaterial or not. tive and happy four years at Mines At some point in their lives, ev- lies through moderation. Do not be eryone has known someone who the most arrogant, nor the most looked nice and was a jerk or unsure. Be involved, but not so someone who looked uninviting involved you do not have time for but was a great friend. When mak- your classes. ing friends, set aside your pre-supFind what you truly enjoy, both positions as much as possible and as a field of study and as extraconverse with the actual human in curricular activities, and pursue it. front of you. Mines is too much work to wind up Life outside the classroom is a stuck doing something you hate for critically important part of college. four years at school and for your You will hear more than once in this career. publication alone about the plethoAbove all, remember that you ra of student organizations here at are surrounded by people who Mines. It is important to partake in want you to succeed. Sometimes it these activities and to enjoy your may not feel like it. Sometimes you college years. Do not squander the will get a bad lab partner or a bad opportunity by studying 24/7. professor who will not support you. On the other hand, know your They are not the majority, and do limits. You could never join all 170 not give up just because of one or clubs and organizations. Do not try. two or even three bad experiences.

continue at Mines. youll have a crisis on your hands. For you, it is important to avoid One piece of advice I received developing a condescending atti- when I started Mines, and which Youve applied, youve been tude, particularly to those outside has served me well, is this. Within accepted, youve agreed to come, of Mines or STEM in general. Re- the first week or two of the semesand now all that awaits you in your member, everyone has a different ter, go to all of your professors ofquest to begin college is to, well, set of abilities. Perhaps you are the fice hours, even if you do not have actually begin college. Perhaps very best civil or petroleum engi- any questions for them. At least you are moving across the country, neer or geophysicist ever to exist. introduce yourself, and then when or perhaps just across town. Per- Remember, though, that there is you do have questions later in the haps you cant wait to strike out on some field you are not the best at. semester, it will be easier for you your own, perhaps you are appre- When tempted to believe yourself to go to the professor for answers. hensive. Most likely, you have just better than others, ask yourself They will seem like a real person, finished high school or a gap year, When was the last literary analy- not some sort of academic mabut it is also possible you have a sis essay I wrote? When did I last chine. Many of you have probably allot more life experience under your revolutionize thinking on Chinese belt. Whatever your background, history? or other similar questions, ready decided on a major. I know Mines will be challenging, but re- to highlight that your superiority is I had when started at Mines. If you not universal. have a program of study in mind, warding. Both the doubting Oredigger start looking at the flowchart of Mines will also most likely be courses you need different than any other school you and the gloating Oredigger might to take. These can There is no prize have attended. be found on the deMany of you cruised through wonder why it awarded for attending matters if they partment websites. the first thirteen years of your eduAt the same time, cations. A very small percentage of question or brag. office hours the least do not consider you will be able to cruise through In many ways, yourself married to Mines as well, but most of you will it does not. On times or being the your major. You will the other hand, have to study more than you have ever done before. For that segment a properly confi- most invisible student. not officially declare until later in your of the incoming class, the next four dent but not overly cocky Oredigger is tenure at Mines, years may bring unusual challenges. You may drop from one of the more likeable. Plus, that Oredigger and between now and then, you smartest in your high school class- is less likely to send him or herself may change your mind. Leave es to the middle or even lower tiers into a mid-exam panic attack or yourself open to liking something else better. of your college class. This is not decide to not study at all. On a similar note, it is imporIf, on the other hand, you do not unusual at Mines. It is okay, and tant to seek help when you need know what you want to major in, you will get through it. For any of you who find your- it. There is no prize awarded for at- do not panic. You have plenty of tending office hours the least times time, and you can get something selves mired in feelings of insufficiency, Remember this: If or being the most of a feel for various fields of study invisible student. in your freshman classes. Ask your remember this: If If something chemistry, physics, and EPICS TAs you were not one of you were not one of does not make and your CSM 101 Peer Mentors the smartest people around, you would the smartest people sense to you, about what they like and dislike seek out a pro- about their fields. Poke around on never have made it this far. Most of the around, you would fessor, a teaching the department websites. Go to a assistant (TA), or colloquium or two in the departworld will never learn never have made it at least a friend ments you are interested in. (Do multivariate calcuwho is better at not expect to really understand lus or SolidWorks, this far. the class in ques- whats going on - not even all the but you will. Also retion. Do this right professors there are fully tracking member that feelings away; do not wait - you just want to see if the topic of inferiority are actually very common amongst people until the night before the exam. If is someting you might like to know you wait too long, not only will you more about.) Look around, and in your shoes. There is another segment of the still be confused, you will have choose based on what you most population that will rarely if ever feel trouble with any concept based on love. Another common worry on inferior. In fact, many of you will the original problem. When you finally move to address the problem, starting Mines lies in making become incredibly arrogant as you

JOSH KLEITSCH / OREDIGGER

This is a calculator- free zone

Before you buy: know what to look for
tor on any test for Calculus I, II and III. Also, the use of graphing calculators is prohibited on the PhysThe first reaction of many stu- ics I and II exams and, historically, dents upon hearing that they are Chemistry I and II exams. headed to the Colorado School This may seem like a cruel and of Mines for a high-quality en- unusual punishment, but it doesnt gineering education is that they have to be. Instead of buying the are going to require a much more brand new, ultra-powerful calcupowerful callator for culator. Wait Invest in a cheap, functional h u n d r e d s just one secof dollars ond, though: scientific calculator and learn only to let it before you languish in go out and how to use the trigonometric your dorm spend three room or functions hundred dolbackpack lars on a for the enbrand new TI or Casio, you should tire year, stick with the calculator be warned that you will have few you already have. chances to use it. Invest in a TI 30X IIS. This is the Professors at Mines are onto calculator you will be provided durthe tactic of programming equa- ing all Physics I and II exams and tions and information into the generally Chemistry I and II excalculator to bypass the need to ams. It can be finicky, therefore it memorize material that the profes- is important to make sure you are sor deems necessary. Students competent in using this calculator are not allowed to use a calcula- before the day of the exam.

Lily Giddins Guest Writer

Most important of all, dont panic. You can, and will, learn to derive and integrate in your head, or at least without a calculator. Teachers are not trying to make you fail their class; they are trying to teach you skills that you will need and constantly use in your tenure at Mines. For practice, it would be beneficial to attempt at least part of your homework without the aid of a graphing calculator. This reminds you, in a low-stress situation, how to do the problem by hand, and you can practice using the scientific calculator to help you in the parts that you absolutely cannot do by memory or by hand. Bottom line, its not really such a bad thing that teachers will not allow the use of high-tech graphing calculators on exams. It takes a little more concentration to complete the exams without a graphing calculator, but its ultimately beneficial to know that you can do calculus on your own.

School mascot Blaster the Burro welcomes new students.

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CSM campus and parking map

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Find where you are going before orientation starts

COURTESY COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES PARKING SERVICES

Minds at Mines Advice to younger self

Katerina Gonzales Content Manager
The end of the year is a time for many things, including frantically getting projects done, studying for finals, and cleaning out rooms for the summer to move back home for a little while. The end of the year also provides a time to look back and learn. At the end of this year, Minds at Mines asked, What would you say to the incoming freshman version of yourself?

Dont trust anyone, and if youre sick for more than a month, go to the health center! Antonia McMullan

Get as much sleep as you can. If you can take a nap, DO IT! Andrea Christians

Study hard, trust yourself, dont give up, and ask for help. Mengyuan Yu

Deborah Good Editor-in-Chief

What school supplies to bring and why

Most of your packing time will probably be occupied in corralling missing socks and purchasing cheap microwaves. However, you are coming to Colorado School of Mines first and foremost to attend school. With that in mind, its important to have a sufficient stockpile of school supplies. The Essentials: -Mechanical pencils: You neither want your writing to be perfect, nor do you want to have to find a pencil sharpener all the time. -Extra lead: Be sure it actually fits your pencils before you buy it. -A pen: While you will probably use the pencil more, dont forget you will sometimes have to sign official documents. -A large eraser: You will make mistakes. This will clean them up -A calculator: If you have a graphing calculator, feel free to bring it, but a scientific calculator will be the standard for your freshman classes. -Paper: You will certainly want some sort of paper. For freshman classes at least, its exact nature is fungible. Many students use engineering paper or graph paper, though others use primarily computer paper. -Notebooks: Be sure to bring some paper place to write down class notes. Using your computer to take notes will rarely be both allowed and practical your freshman year. -A stapler: It seems really random now, but if you bring your own stapler, complete with extra staples, you will save yourself a lot of time and hassle. Plus, youll meet a lot of people who didnt bring a stapler. -Textbooks: This may seem obvious, but in the internet age

Dont forget this!

many students never buy books. It is useful to make sure you have at absolute minimum guaranteed, long-term access to your books. The Options: -Three-ring binders: Many professors post complete lecture notes online. If you print hard copies of these notes, binders are the best way to store these. -Three-hole punch: If you plan to use binders, it only makes sense to bring your own punch. -Two-pocket folders: While they may seem a little juvenile, folders are an effective way to store paperwork from your classes, such as old homework and quizzes. Youll appreciate the organization at finals time. -Flash-drive: More often than you might think, it is convenient to transfer files between school computers and your personal computer. E-mail and Dropbox work too, but sometimes a physical memory device is helpful.

Never take 19 credit hours! Corbett Crook

College can be stressful but not everything has to be about homework, you can do other stuff too. Nohemi Almaraz

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Matthew Pusard Mines Alumnus

As all freshmen will learn shortly here at Mines, college is a whole different animal compared to high school. The academics are stepped up a notch, but so are the outof-classroom events. There is a mentality at Mines of work hard, play hard, and this institution has a plethora of events for students to play hard. The following are some of the most notable:

Traditions and Events all academic year long

There is a little preparation needed to take part in this rite of passage, though: all incoming students are asked to bring a 10 pound rock from their hometown. Freshman carry these rocks and wear their class-issued school hard hats as they hike up the mountain. At various points along the way, students get snacks and refreshments from upper-class students in student organizations. Its also a great time for students to learn the school fight song, as its sung the entire way up the mountain. Eventually, the experience concludes at the top when every freshman arrives with rock in hand. The rocks are placed on the M and barrels of whitewash are brought out. From here, a giant whitewash fight amongst the freshman class ensues which is visible down below in Golden. Students dip their hard hats into the whitewash barrels to paint the rocks as well as their classmates. After the whitewash runs out, the class is taken back down the mountain on buses to continue on with their introduction to Mines. The circle of life is completed every spring during graduation when the graduating seniors go back up the mountain to take a rock back down with them as a symbol of their completion of college.

Sorority and Fraternity Recruitment:

JOSH KLEITSCH / OREDIGGER

E-Days: First and foremost on any Orediggers mind is EDays, short for Engineering Days. E-Days started out as a career fair in the early 1930s. The students who helped start it wanted an event to showcase their engineering talents to potential employers and each other. Over the years it has evolved into a celebration of all things Mines. A typical E-Days, which usually occurs in early April, kicks off with a hilarious comedy show. In the past, comedians like Adam Hunter, Alexandra McHale, and Owen Smith (from the show Everybody Hates Chris) have performed in front on a large crowd in Bunker Auditorium. This is followed by a casino night and poker tournament. The next day, Friday, which is a school holiday, starts off in the morning with an Ore Cart pull that eventually ends up at the State Capitol. Chipotle is served to all participating students, T-shirts are handed out, and the governor gives his annual E-Days proclamation. That evening events have historically included a laser light show, band showcases and a DJ dance party. Other hits of E-Days include the Carnival on Saturday. From free lunch to inflatable novelties like the Velcro wall and the bungee race, theres something for everyone to enjoy! The carnival also includes events like a trebuchet contest, burro races, and carnival games hosted by student organizations. Additionally, a cardboard canoe race down Clear Creek is always held on E-Days weekend. Saturdays climax, however, is the concert. The concert is typically performed by a high-energy, well-known band in the field house and is usually a hit with the student population. Weve had the likes of Blink 182, Seven Mary Three, Unwritten Law, Everclear, and Flogging Molly. More recently weve hosted Goldfinger, I Hate Kate, Tech N9ne, and Less Than Jake. The festivities wrap up on Saturday night with an explosive fireworks show. Students, staff, faculty and Golden residents pack the intramural field for a fireworks display youll never forget! M-Climb: It is not every day that people get to interact with 100-year-old artifacts, but at the very beginning of college, every Mines freshman will. On the day before classes begin, freshmen embark on a journey up Mount Zion to the M, the school emblem which can be seen for miles when it is lit up at night.

Every year, the Greek houses on campus hold a recruitment week to replenish the house after graduating seniors have left. The fraternities and sororities will hold recruitment activities the first week of classes. Events include opportunities for new students to meet the current members (game nights, house tours, meals, etc.). Over the past 5 years, there have been an average of 130 students that join the Greek Community in the fall. Currently 14% of the campus is a member of the CSM Greek Community.

The first weekend in November, Mines will be hosting a time for parents to come to campus and visit their students to see how everything is coming along in their college experience. Weekend activities include tours of the different centers on campus, a comedy show, a reception and concert, and a home football game.

Parents Weekend:

Students wake up early on a Friday morning during E-Days to pull an Ore Cart to the Colorado capitol.
JON DEMPSTER / OREDIGGER

Homecoming: Incoming students have seen homecoming on the high school level, but the festival is grander on the college stage. While an important home football game is a cornerstone of every homecoming celebration, the college level includes a parade celebrating the alumni coming back to Mines. But there is more to the festival than these finale events. In addition to the Homecoming parade and football game on Saturday, there are other various events on Friday and Saturday including Powder Puff football, a concert, and a tailgate.
One of the big advantages of going to Mines, besides its top notch college education, is its proximity to the mountains. Hikers gets to enjoy this advantage during the spring, summer, and fall while the skiers and snowboarders have the time of their lives every winter. Every ski season, the Blue Key organization on campus organizes a day of skiing and snowboarding at one of Colorados renowned slopes, Eldora Ski Resort. Hitting the slopes can be a costly endeavor, especially on a college budget, so the organization sells tickets to students for the carnival at a fraction of the retail price. The carnival includes transportation to and from the resort for all participating students, a free lunch, and team events such as snow football and human bowling. Students even receive a T-shirt commemorating the event, as is the case at many school events. College students can never have enough spare clothing.

Movie Nights: Each week the Mines Activities Council (MAC) shows a movie on campus. It is typically a recent movie that is just about to be released on DVD. The movies are free and students are served complimentary popcorn and 50 cent sodas. The movies act as a great break from studying. Friday Afternoon Club: Every other Friday, MAC
brings in an act, typically a comedian, to start off the weekend the right way for students. Many of the comedians have appeared on television in some capacity and perform for an entire hour starting at 5:00 PM. Students are served complimentary food and beverages during the performance. A few of the comedians have become big after visiting Mines, including Josh Blue, the winner of Season 4 of Last Comic Standing, and Dane Cook.

The CSM marching band parades through downtown Golden to celebrate homecoming.
KC KENT / OREDIGGER

Winter

Carnival:

Off Campus Activities: There is a lot going

on in the city of Denver and MAC encourages its students to go out and visit the city by selling discounted tickets to students for various events. In the past, MAC has offered tickets to performances at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Avalanche games, Rockies games, and a cooking class, all at a discounted price.

WAM (Weekends at Mines): Dont leave

campus every weekend: there are many things to do on campus and in the Golden area! The Weekends at Mines (WAM) program provides great options including concerts, tickets to local events, game nights, and unique events such as Spudlympics, live Battleship and pre-finals Moonlight Breakfasts. Watch for postings for WAM events throughout the year.

E-Days festivities wrap up on Saturday night with an explosive firework show for CSM students.

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Mines students use engineering to reach out

Taylor Polodna Design Editor
munity. Despite the long hard days faced by the team, there was time to talk A group of Mines students, reprewith the locals and feast on home senting Engineers Without Borderscooked meals. As with nearly all inUSA (EWB-USA), travelled down to ternational travel, the most memoraNicaragua to the small community ble experiences were those groundof Los Gomez to complete a pedesed in the creating and building of trian footbridge over the frequently relationships. Another member of flooded Rio Ochomogo River. The the travel team, Jake Montgomery bridge had been under construc a sophomore in Civil Engineering, tion for the preceding year. The coshared his cultural experience in Nihort included six students, a faculty caragua. He said, We worked some mentor, and a professional mentor, very long days - sometimes throwranging in majors from civil to huing rocks and sometimes mixing manitarian to chemical engineering, concrete. On these days lunch was all of whom donated their spring rather light. So when at 6 oclock breaks to helping those less forturolled around we headed to whernate than themselves. The trip COURTESY BARBARA ANDERSON ever we were eating that night marked the 4th trip to the small and were ready for food. Now community over the last year in at these dinners there was alwhich the team was able to finways a decent variety of food, ish hand mixing and pouring two ranging from plantains to chaconcrete anchors, stringing five yote and even homemade torsteel cables, and laying the decktillas, of which everyone would ing and fencing of the 42 meter be careful to take just enough pedestrian footbridge. of each dish to allow everyone EWB-USA Mines is a student else to get some. But when the led campus club that focuses rice and beans hit the table this on sustainable development of was never a concern; there communities outside of the US was always more than the with six core values: integrity, The travel team enjoyed the local wildlife. group could eat and with this service, collaboration, ingenuity, a capital donation (i.e. a bridge), new found freedom we feasted. leadership, and service. In addition, but rather growing the community Despite the teams ultimate goal the club participates at a local level sustainability such that every citizen to complete the bridge, there was in a variety of on-campus and offcan meet their basic human needs enough time to build and strengthen campus events including Relay for independent of the organization. the relationships that mean so much Life, Up Til Dawn, and many Habitat One of the keys to the success of to the community and the travel for Humanity builds. EWB projects is the ability to foster team alike. Not only did the compleBarbara Anderson, a graduating community driven projects that re- tion of the bridge increase the health senior in Civil Engineering accounts quire an investment of either time or and safety of community members, her experience nearing the end of a small portion of the project cost. but also demonstrated the compasthe bridge completion. As we began The result is a community that dem- sion of Mines students towards othputting the decking on the bridge we onstrates ownership of and pride in ers. were able to muster a lot of commua project which ultimately creates a Looking forward, EWB-USA nity support and could tell that the stronger and more sustainable com- Mines is planning a similar projcommunity members, even the ones that didnt come to work site, were getting excited for their bridge to be completed. Kids would walk by on their way home from school and just watch us work on the bridge for hours and, as soon as we left, would play on it. At the end of the week, we had an opening ceremony for the bridge with the whole community. It was an awesome experience to see all the people that had worked with us, fed us, and welcomed us into their homes gather together and celebrate the success of their project. EWB-USA prides itself on their ability to foster the sustainable development of communities by not just supplying the community with ect in the neighboring community of La Conquista, Nicaragua. The new project is expected to take an innovative approach to involving the community beyond the typical scope of EWB-USA. The intention is to partner with a local university in order to involve their engineering students in a hands-on opportunity that would allow them to design as well as construct a pedestrian bridge under the guidance of EWB-USA Mines. The opportunity not only allows the students to apply their knowledge of engineering to a real world problem, but also creates a pathway for future projects and ongoing relationships among local communities. Ultimately, EWBUSA Mines hopes to encourage the growth of a communitys sustainability as well as increasing the livelihood of its residents. The club is open to all majors on campus and has several weekly committee meetings including the Logistics Committee, which focuses on fund-raising, publicity, and event coordination, the Nicaragua 1 Committee, which is responsible for the erecting of the new bridge, and lastly the Nicaragua 2 Committee, which is currently assessing the viability of a new project in the community of La Conquista, Nicaragua. For more information and meeting times please visit their OrgSync page and personal web page at mines.orgsync.com/ org/ewbmines.
COURTESY BARBARA ANDERSON

Courtesy of Student Activities

CSM Orientation

Welcome to Mines! Orientation is one of the most important weekends of your college career. During Orientation you will meet and socialize with fellow classmates, learn about classes and campus resources, and participate in a number of Mines traditions! New Student Orientation is a mandatory proPHOTOS COURTESY OF MINES PR OFFICE gram for all new students (no registration necessary). Plan to arrive in time for check-in on Saturday, August 17 between 9:00am and 12:30pm in the Student Center. The residence halls will open on Friday, August 16 at Students carry a 10 pound rock up to the M. 8:00am providing plenty of time to move-in prior to Orientation. Families are welcome to join you for Convocation, the official kick-off to the academic year, on Saturday, August 17 at 1:00pm in the Student Recreation Center. Plan to give final farewells at the reception follow- The M climb begins at Kafadar Commons.

ing Convocation. Dont forget to bring a 10 pound rock from your hometown. You will need it for the M climb. If you have any questions or concerns about Orientation, please do not hesitate to contact us at 303.273.3970. Or, to see a complete schedule for Orientation weekend, visit our website at http://studentactivities.mines. edu/orientation.

OrgSync is your gateway to involvement at CSM! Follow these simple steps to register for an account and join student organizations!

Several members of the travel team in Nicaragua install the crossmembers leading to the installation of the decking.
COURTESY ERIC ROSING

Create a Personal Account

1) Go to http://www.orgsync com/ 2) Select Sign Up at the top right of the page 3) Find Colorado School of Mines in the dropdown box 4) Enter your name, your mines email, and create a password 5) Complete your profile information

Join an Organization
1) Log in to OrgSync.com 2) Select Organizations in the Navigation bar and search for organizations that interest you 3) Request to join by clicking the Join Now button to the right of organizations that interest you. 4) Go meet the organizations at Celebration of Mines on August 31st from 10am-2pm on Kafadar Commons Need more info? Contact the Student Activities Office at: (303)-273-3234 or Stactiv@ mines.edu

After some apprehension, the community of Los Gomez tested out their new pedestrian footbridge.

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Hiking ACROSS GOLDEN

Neelha Mudigonda, Guest Writer

Colorado is well-known for its scenic beauty, which provides us with several outdoor activities such as skiing, hiking, and mountain-biking. Living in Golden makes it possible for residents to conveniently access many of these hiking and biking trails that are close to town. Here are some interesting trails in the area.

matthews / winters park trails

Located just south of I-70 at the Morrison exit and close to the Red Rocks Amphitheater, the Matthews/Winters Park Trails consist of three trails - the Dakota Ridge Trail, Red Rocks Trail, and Morrison Slide Trail. The park contains a total of approximately 8 miles of trails.

dakota ridge trail

This trail is more familiar to mountain-bikers than hikers because of its rolling sections and technical loops; it also provides great views of the Eastern plains as well as the Red Rocks in the West.

red rocks trail

Adjacent to the Red Rocks amphitheater, this trail starts out in the midst of meadows. The trail begins above a creek, where many native species of birds and insects are present. The plains and the meadows are good for beginning hikers. Also, the exposure to sunlight on this trail makes it welcoming even in the midst of winter. People often go horseback riding on this trail as well.

morrison slide trail

With its steep rocks and narrow dirt paths, Morrison Slide trail easily attracts both climbers and bikers. The hogback in the Matthews/ Winters Park Trails separates the mountains from the plains. To the east of the hogback is the Dinosaur Ridge Visitor Center, another attraction to visitors; furthermore, the hogback is the center of wildlife views in the area.

Giddy-up! The Matthews/Winters Park Trail system offers terrain for horseback riding, hiking, and biking.

chimney gulch trail

A couple of access points to this trail are from Lookout Mountain west of US 6 and the roadside parking on US 6 eastbound from Highway 58. This trail is a major attraction to mountain-bikers and hikers who like to challenge themselves with intensely elevated heights. The Chimney Gulch Trail climbs 2000 feet in a relatively short distance of 2.5 miles from US 6 to the peak of the Lookout Mountain, taking its visitors through grass prairies and pine forests, and to streams and creeks. The gulch gets its name from the fast moving wildfires in the area, which explains the natural vegetation that grows in the area. I see deer up on Chimney Gulch every time I bike up there, a local mountain biker recalled. Going late in the afternoon is the best time to go, said another biker. Thats when the trail is the prettiest. The tourist attractions at the top of the trail include Buffalo Bills Grave, the Boettcher Mansion, and the Lookout Mountain Nature center, which is located at the summit of the mountain where the trail ends.
ALL PHOTOS: NEELHA MUDIGONDA / OREDIGGER

Up the chimney. Beautiful views greet hikers at the top of the Chimney Gulch Trail.

south table mountain

South Table Mountain is located just southeast of Golden with an intriguing formation history. Its highlight is its cap, formed of basalt from ancient lava flows. An access point to hike South Table Mountain is in a neighborhood at the end of 19th street. The curvy path makes the hike easier because of the rapid elevation gain, but the path gets rockier and steeper towards the summit. South Table Mountain is renowned for the view from the top. Hikers are well rewarded with an amazing view of Golden and its surroundings, as well as the mountains. The hike is well-worth the view of the city, said a hiker. The view of the sunset from the very top is the best.

apex park
Starting at the Heritage Square parking lot, Apex Park is approximately an 800 foot climb between the parking lot and Lookout Mountain road. One of the trails of the Apex Park runs parallel to the Chimney Gulch Trail, making the Chimney Gulch Trail and the Apex trail close neighbors. The park consists of all levels of difficulties for hiking and biking. Many horseback riders as well as visitors who come to enjoy the scenery are often present on the easier hiking trails. The view of the snow-capped mountains in the background is a treat for many of its visitors. One of the most popular routes that the mountain bikers take is the Apex Trail West to Apex gulch, which in turn leads to the Pick n Sledge trail and the Grubstake loop. This route climbs uphill for approximately 2 miles before meeting the Enchanted Forest.

enchanted forest trail

Mountain-bikers who seek more adventure and difficulty and want to return to the foothills rather than continuing uphill choose the Enchanted Forest path. This path is hard and known for its rapid drops; sometimes, the mudslides make it even harder, said a biker.

Birds eye view. The view of Golden from the top of South Table Mountain is worth the climb. w w w . O R E D I G G E R . n e t

At the Apex. From Heritage Square, hikers can embark on a 800 ft climb.

A great rivalry
Guest Writer
In the middle of November, a shockwave woke Colorado School of Mines students and Golden residents. Golden looked up to Mt. Zion to see that an explosion had left the M lacking a 20 ft section. This act was the final shot in a war that erupted between the Colorado School of Mines and the University of Denver, a war that began just over a week previous, on November 5, 1919. At the time, the University of Denver and the Colorado School of Mines were bitter rivals in football. Only a few years previous, pranks between the two schools were common, but had been ceased by mutual agreement. However, a report in a Denver newspaper of a plot by the Denver Pioneers to repaint the Mines symbol, the iconic M set on the side of Mt. Zion, in their crimson colors caused a furor on campus. The University of Denver immediately responded, claiming that the report was false, but actions were set in motion that would not easily be undone. Early in the morning on Wednesday, November 4, several small explosions were heard on the Denver campus, and when the noises were investigated, buildings around campus were found plastered with posters saying, Get DU and then what? Give them hell Mines. Beyond the posters, no other damage was reported. The following morning, 4 blasts shook the Denver campus. 25 sticks of dynamite, split into 5 clutches, had been planted on campus in front of the administration building. Fortunately for the buildings on the Denver campus, 1 clutch of 5 of the sticks of dynamite failed to detonate. Even so, windows were blown out in buildings around campus including the chapel, library, and residential buildings. In addition, the front wall of the administration building was cracked. While there was not direct evidence of Mines involvement, evidence was found that indicated that the dynamite was stolen from a clay plant in Golden, whose owner, ironically enough, was a DU alumnus and trustee. Regardless of the legal evidence, it was clear to the DU students that this was the work of CSM students. Late on the morning of November 6, the same day of the bombing, several students from the University of Denver Dentistry School left for Golden with enough crimson paint, the color of the Denver Pioneers, to paint the 104 x 107 foot M. Unfortunately for these students, the Orediggers, who had seen many attempts at defacing the M, had taken precautions to protect it. As the Pioneers were defacing the M, they were spotted from campus, which secured a humiliating fate for the Pioneers. When an alarm went off on campus, they tried to flee the mountain, however, CSM students set up a roadblock on the road leading from Mt. Zion, and captured the charlatans. There were reports of shots fired by the fleeing Pioneers, but it was later reported that they might have been firing blanks. The CSM students made sure that this was not an experience to soon be forgotten by the culprits. They dressed them in prisoner overalls, shaved their heads, and dyed a purple M into their scalp using silver nitrate. Silver nitrate is a chemical used to dye biological material, usually for study under a microscope. The DU students were going to

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Mines battled Denver in 1919 Ryan Browne

Taste of Golden
COURTESY PATRICK BESEDA

Page 7

Zach Aman and Deborah Good

be walking advertisements for the School of Mines for 6 or 7 months. The Orediggers were on a roll at this point, and decided to kill another bird with this stone. They lured a Denver Post reporter to Golden with the bait of a huge story. Instead of finding a story, he was subjected to a similar treatment as the DU students. However, he was spared the shaving and branding. He did join the University of Denver students in a parade through the street of downtown Golden. Later that evening, both the reporter and the DU students were released. The reporter was sent back with a warning to the Denver Post to stop their slanderous reporting. Mines students, fearing another attempt at the M, set up patrols armed with rifles and bayonets on the roads leading into Golden. In addition, a barricade was set up at the base of Mt. Zion in a manner designed to force vehicles to slow or even stop to successfully navigate the impedance. The students claimed the right to search all cars to ensure that DU students were not concealed inside. CSMs President Victor Alderson gave official sanction to the actions of the students. While the school administration supported the actions, Colorados governor Oliver Shoup expressed his concern over the situation, noting that striking miners whose actions had caused militia forces to be sent in to ensure peace were not permitted rifles, and yet college students were arming themselves. As he was currently dealing with more important issues, he expressed his hope that the school administration could find a solution without need of state assistance. Finally, the schools were tired of the war, or perhaps they merely ran out of explosives. Either way, representatives from both schools met to negotiate a cease fire. They decided that at this time the contest should be decided by the football teams, those who should have determined it in the first place. The truce managed to stand for a day, and both teams fans acted the part of good sportsmen. A winter storm struck the region, creating terrible conditions for a football game. The field was covered in snow, so plays were short and fumbles were common. Both teams fought hard, but in the end, they had managed to fight only to a 0-0 tie. This frustrated the abused Pioneers, and they sought revenge. The storm that ruined the football game gave DU the opportunity they needed. On the morning of November 13, Golden was shaken awake by the blast that left the M scarred. Upon inspection, it was determined that the blast could well have destroyed most of the M, were it not for the dynamite being poorly placed. Responding quickly to the bridge leading from Mt. Zion, Mines students were unable to apprehend the conspirators due to the severe snow. A raid on the University of Denver was contemplated to kidnap some students to act as the manual labor to repair the M, however, this suggestion was rejected. The decision was made to allow a group of seniors to determine the next steps. As a Grand Jury was investigating the bombing of the University of Denver, the governor was threatening military intervention, and the likelihood of mutually assured destruction was increasing, both schools met to work out a lasting truce. This truce, unlike the last, stood for nearly 10 years, but that is a story for another issue.

Goozell Yogurt and Coffee

DDeli

1200 Washington Ave Golden, CO 80401 (303) 279-2000 www.goozell.com oozell Yogurt and Coffee offers premium frozen yogurt and coffee, as the name implies. At Goozell, customers grab a dish, fill it with yogurt, then add toppings to their liking. Once the customer is satisfied with their embellished yogurt, they pay for it based on its weight. Yogurt flavors include mango, caramel, and cheesecake, while toppings include chocolate rocks, gummy bears, and strawberries.

Woodys Woodfired Pizza

DEBORAH GOOD / OREDIGGER

1305 Washington Ave Golden, CO 80401 (303) 277-0443 www.woodyswoodfiredpizza.com o visit to Golden would be complete without a trip to Woodys. Every day from 11 am to midnight, Woodys offers an all-you-can-eat pizza buffet, featuring every possible combination of their 23 toppings, 9 cheeses and 6 sauces, for only $9.19. For those who prefer other cuisine, Woodys also offers fantastic burgers, pastas, sandwiches, strombolis and salads.

1207 Washington Ave Golden, CO 80401 (303) 279-8020 f youre in the mood for a light and tasty bite, DDeli is absolutely a must! Nestled right in Goldens downtown strip, this little sub shop features a boatload of choices. With 10 cheeses, 19 topping choices and 12 spreads available, DDeli can customize your sandwich or wrap with precision and taste. Full sandwiches and wraps are $7, with half sandwiches for $5.35. Open 7 days a week from 11 am to 5 pm, DDeli offers a 10% discount for CSM students.

COURTESY PATRICK BESEDA

COURTESY PATRICK BESEDA

Halu Sushi

17525 South Golden Road Golden, CO 80401 (303) 279-5231 www.halusushigolden.com alu Sushi & Asian Bistro, located on South Golden Road, serves a variety of Asian dishes. The restaurants specialty, though, is sushi. Halu Sushi offers classic sushi dishes, as well as a variety of specialties. Specialties include such dishes as the Philadelphia Roll, with cream cheese and salmon, and the Cajun Roll, Shrimp Tempura with Spicy Crab.

DEBORAH GOOD / OREDIGGER

Higher Grounds Caf

Bobs Atomic Burgers

1310 Ford St (303) 278-1601 bobsatomicburgers.com obs Atomic Burgers offers customizable hamburger, quinoa burgers, chicken sandwiches, and hotdogs, starting from $5.25 for a hamburger and $2.75 for a hot dog. Like chain competitors SmashBurger and Five Guys, Bobs Atomic burgers allows customers to customize their sandwiches with free and paid toppings. Free toppings include lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and jalapeos. Additional toppings include onions, mushrooms, guacamole, sauerkraut, green chili, bacon, egg, and cheese. Bobs also serves milkshakes and malts.

803 14th St # B Golden, CO 80401 (303) 271-0998 favorite hangout among CSM students, Higher Grounds serves up top-notch bites, meeting space for classes, a musical area for CSMs Anonymous Right Brains (ARB) and the best coffee and tea youve ever tasted. With local artwork adorning the walls, Higher Grounds offers an inexpensive menu and tremendous atmosphere.

1122 Washington Ave Golden, CO 80401 (303) 279-6390 pecializing in American food, the Old Capital Grill is a great place to pick up top-notch burgers, steaks or ribs. Entrees range from approximately $10 to $20. Its very casual atmosphere, combined with a killer nacho plate, makes this restaurant a favorite. With parties of 5 or more, be sure to call a couple hours ahead for reservations

Old Capital Grill

COURTESY PATRICK BESEDA

COURTESY PATRICK BESEDA

Table Mountain Inn

109 Rubey Dr # F Golden, CO 80403 (303) 279-2228 www.alibabagrill.com his international restaurant features an expansive selection, a quaint atmosphere and good service. Entrees range from approximately $10 to $15. If youre a fan of Lebanese or Mediterranean food, be sure to stop by; Ali Baba Grill serves up the best gyros in the area.

Ali Baba Grill

DEBORAH GOOD / OREDIGGER

1310 Washington Ave Golden, CO 80401 (303) 277-9898 f youre in the mood for some western cooking, Table Mountain Inn or TMI has everything you need. Known for its Pinon Cherry Chicken, TMI offers a very diverse menu with dinner prices ranging from $10 to $25. For those of age, be sure to check out TMIs fabulous happy hour, serving up $4 appetizers, $3 premium cocktails and $2 Coors Light drafts.

COURTESY PATRICK BESEDA

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Page 8

Letter from the Editor

Welcome to the Colorado School of Mines! As Scoop and President Scoggins have already told you, we are so excited to welcome the class of 2017 to the CSM. I hope the information presented in this issue will help you in your acclimation to Mines. During the semester, The Oredigger is published weekly and distributed to most buildings on campus. We strive to provide the Mines community with accurate, up-to-date, and relevant news and features stories. We specifically attempt to partner with campus organizations such as Student Activities, MAC, USG, and our many CSM sports teams. To accomplish this task, The Oredigger employs about 50 students as writers, photographers, and Editorial Board members. Writers and photographers are the backbone of our staff. They provide the content found in The Oredigger, content ranging from reporting on campus events to media reviews to satire. The writers and photographers have a great deal of freedom to investigate content that interests them. Our editorial staff includes several branches. Our Content Managers and Copy Editor manage writers and edit the articles in the paper. Our Business Manager works with our advertisers and manages our budget. Our Design Editor is in charge of laying out the paper each week, and our Webmaster manages our website, oredigger.net. Lastly, myself and our Managing Editor handle the administrative work, find story ideas

O r e d i g g e r

August 15, 2013

and provide assistance wherever necessary. The Oredigger was founded in 1921, and has continued for over 90 years by virtue of its dedicated and talented student employees. If you are interested in joining us in any capacity or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at oredig@gmail.com. We will get back to you as soon as possible. Additionally, look for us at Celebration of Mines when the school year resumes. We at The Oredigger look forward to welcoming all of you to CSM, and we congratulate you on your decision to come here. You will likely find Mines challenging, but we hope that you will also find it rewarding. We hope to see some of you joining us as well.

USG 2013-2014 Council

Cooper, Samuel President Hedberg, Kaitlin Vice President Rogers, Sydney Board of Trustees Representative Ashwood, Melissa Senior Treasurer Fleischauer,Chris Senior Secretary Semmens, Stephen Parlimentarian Sullinger, Sydney At Large - Faculty DeBartolomeis, James At Large - Institution Hoffman, Joshua At Large - Community Hoffman, Joshua Board of Student Organizations President Troyer, Aaron Board of Student Organizations Vice President Bogie, Ryan Board of Student Organizations Treasurer Lyssy, Kate Board of Student Organizations Tier Structure Director Ross, Amanda Marie Board of Student Organizations Secretary Morton-Gaught, Ethan Board of Student Organizations Webmaster Roman, Scott Class President Masur, Matthew Class Representative Peters, Bethanne Class Representative Pacher, Chris Class Representative Jacobsen, Tyrel Class President Sands, Luke Class Representative Marshall, Leah Class Representative Schumacher, Lauren Class Representative Daubenspeck, Jordan Class President Snively, April Class Representative Lanham, Ryan Class Representative Liss, Cameron Class Representative

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

Deborah Good
Editor-in-Chief

COURTESY ELIZABETH OSBERG PHOTOGRAPHY

Students - Why Join?

There is only one required, writing-intensive class at CSM. At The Oredigger, we have designed a multi-tiered editing and feedback approach that can help you refine your craft and enter the workforce with premier writing skills. Whats more, we ensure the flexibility to write what you want and when you want. You can take a couple weeks off or pick up an in-depth feature, whatever fits in your schedule.

Write for the Oredigger!

Impeccable Writing

High Design

All Oredigger publications are constructed with Creative Suite 5.5 on a Macintosh platform. Our unique organizational structure generates a team atmosphere on every project, empowering student designers to flex their creativity in a fun and relaxing environment. Whether you would like to learn the methods of leading a team, experience the opportunities of running a small business, or both, The Oredigger can give you a distinct and valuable perspective on management.

Management Mastery

See our website at www.oredigger.net

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