Go Figure!

Thirty-two year-old Shara Martin walks into her local Whole Foods Market to buy some groceries before heading back to the gym. To her left she hears a mother quieting her young son as she shoots a menacing look in Martin’s direction. “That’s just gross,” said the woman, “only men should look like that, honey.” Martin recalls countless encounters like this on her battle with people that don’t understand her sport on a daily basis. It is so hard for people to understand why somebody would practically starve themselves, and put their bodies through as much as they do for something so ‘insignificant’. Comments like the one in the supermarket are certainly not uncommon for women like Martin, but it is not enough to deter them from pressing on in their sport.

Who is Targeting Metro State Students?

Walking around campus it is hard not to notice the screaming over-filled bulletin boards covering the hallways. It is almost impossible not to at least notice some of the brightly colored or outrageous posters.

Finding New Ground in the World of Nutrition

“I look at each client as if they are a newborn. What does this body need to grow, and what will do the best job of nourishing this particular person.” Said Linda Potter, of Parker, CO. Potter is a triple certified nutritionist that has spent her entire life building her career from the ground up. Potter goes above and beyond to add a unique element to her services while reaching out to as many people as possible.

What's in a Smile?

  It is probably not too bold of a statement to say that the majority of people in this world have experienced the dreaded fake smile. Whether you work in a job that requires frequent friendly exchanges, or you are the kind of person that can tell when others are not being real with you, the fake smile is a staple in our everyday lives. When ten people at local Denver hangout spots were interviewed, most of them had the same general thoughts on the subject; fake smiling can take it's toll on a bad mood.

Changing the Future of Journlism Education

Frederick Cole, 83, a thin man of a medium height and a strong handshake, has worked arduously his whole life to establish his reputation as a tough and successful editor. With a resume that includes being editor to White House, and major establishments like The Chicago Sun, The Houston Chronicle, and The San Francisco Examiner, Cole has developed a keen sense of what it takes to be a true journalist. Read more to find out what Frederick Cole believes we should change about journalism education in America.

"The Fittest Loser", Big Hope for a Small Community

Picture by: Aspen Schmidt

Stayin' Fit and Lovin' it, a community gym located in the small town of Elizabeth Colorado, hosted a major event that mimicked the efforts of the hit TV show, The Biggest Loser. 15 contestants were chosen to compete in a mentally and physically demanding challenge to lose weight, and change their lifestyles forever. More about their moving journey below.

Confetti and Fireworks for Metro State- the Dream of One Student

Photo by: Jeanine Putnam

"Metro State will never be a big sports university like CU, but it would be awesome if our generation could change the dynamic and make sports a big priority... I want to see some fireworks and confetti at these games!"-Jonathan Morse, Sophomore at MSCD

Reported by Aspen Schmidt and Jeanine Putnam

Curious Encounters at Metro State

On my quest about campus, I came in contact with a woman named Trianna Horner. Trianna happened to be the president of the Metro State sorority Phi Sigma Sigma. I did not even know that Metro had sororities! I was very interested in what Trianna had to say, and I could tell she was very passionate about her role as the club’s president. While talking to Trianna I learned that Phi Sigma Sigma is a relatively small club that consists of female Metro State students of all ages. Trianna emphasized that the club was all about sisterhood, and acceptance. If you are ever feeling like you need a great group of friends, or a great support system, this is the club for you. Phi Sigma Sigma is very unique in its values. As a club they love to host events, and do many acts of community service. Last year they did various events like put on a Book Fair where there were seven different local authors, and all of the proceeds went to the National Kidney Foundation. They also held a Sapphire Ball, and did many exciting fundraisers like a night at Noodles and Co., and a bake sale. This year they are just starting to begin their exciting recruitment process. Trianna informed me that they plan on doing many more great events this year as well. Phi Sigma Sigma will be hosting a blood drive, karaoke nights, and another U.S. Mint tour to celebrate life-long learning. Phi Sigma Sigma’s goal is to unite the women of Metro State. “At a college like Metro, it is easy to become disconnected, and dislodged from the actual community, and it can be tough to meet new people. Joining a club like Phi Sigma Sigma, is a wonderful way to get involved and go out of your box, while making life-long friends”, said Trianna. The club is hosting a recruitment parties tonight and tomorrow at 6:30 in the Multi-cultural lounge, they would love to see anyone and everyone there.

While wandering through campus I also met a man named Nathan Wilson. He was hanging out in the Art department, and was carrying a guitar, so I decided to strike up a conversation with him. Nathan is a music major in his senior year here at Metro State. I learned that he is in a band, and plays the guitar and the drums. Nathan told me that he eventually wants to teach music to youth, that was his dream. Nathan also told me that Metro is a really great place to be if you are interested in the Arts, and that it was a really great program. “There is a lot of talent wandering through these halls”, he assured me. I thought it was interesting that we could go to the same school, but have two totally different experiences, and different stories to share about Metro. I learned that Nathan liked to play rock, and some heavy metal, but also appreciate classical music. “Going to Metro has really opened my eyes to new kinds of music, and also the music that has always been here”. I thought that was a really cool thing to hear. Nathan really made me appreciate the arts at Metro. When you just go out of your circle of friends and places, there are a lot of interesting, and unique people out there!

Aspen's Top 5 News Sources for Reporters and Consumers!

Hello fellow Media students! Sometimes research can be agonizing and difficult, but over the last few years I feel like I have come up with some sources that would really help me if I was a true reporter. Depending on what kind of a story I was covering, I would try to stick to only direct sources of information. If my story was a political story, I would use a website like http://www.senate.gov/, where you can view recent floor activity, and all pieces of legislation from previous years. I have used this website before to research a piece of controversial legislation called the DREAM Act, and it really helped! Another great source I have used before is the website http://www.jstor.org/. This website lets you type in keywords and pulls up already published articles from various sources like medical journals, and encyclopedias, and it is a much more reliable source than wikipedia! Another great website like JSTOR is http://www.lexisnexis.com/. On this website you can pull up millions of different documents, and press releases, and it is a very reliable place to start gathering ideas and finding points of reference. Sometimes when you are writing you just need some facts, am I right?! Where better to look than the CIA World Factbook? You can find the website at https://www.cia.gov/index.html. At this website I can find maps, fact, stats, and other vital pieces if info when I am in a crunch. Another great place to start your research is via old news archives. You can find news archives on almost any online News source, for example: http://www.nbcnewsarchives.com. You can use news archives to get a baseline for your research! As a consumer, there are many different sites that I love to get my news from. The first is http://www.cnn.com/. The reason why I love to read CNN is because it you can have immediate access to breaking world news, and not just U.S. news, and I feel like the site is really organized and accurate. As a true Denverite, I love to read the Denver Post, http://www.denverpost.com/. I can keep up on breaking news worldwide as well as news here in Denver! I like to keep up on sports, and my favorite sports website is obviously ESPN, http://espn.go.com/. As a female college student, I like to read a blod called College Candy, http://collegecandy.com/category/buzz/. College Candy lets me keep up with interesting College News, and it is very fun to read. Last but not least, as a consumer, I love to keep up with my music news! I love Rolling Stone! http://www.rollingstone.com/music, it is a great source to use.