SPRING 2021 INSIDE: CUI needs to refund COVID-19 poses difficulties CU and COVID: for student-run political students for mandatory fees organizations Students reflect on CU’s COVID-19 CU football team is doing its best to stay healthy Best albums of 2020 response Graphic by Mengchen Gong INSIDE... THE RECAP: NEWS BRIEFS 24 CU Bluffs: Sorority wins award for “Most Feminist” 3 Reflections on Indigenous Peoples’ Day SPORTS 4 COVID-19 poses difficulties 25 CU women’s basketball drops for CU’s student-run political heartbreaker to No. 6 Arizona organizations 27 CU football team is doing its 5 What happens “behind the best to stay healthy flames and the smoke” 29 An unprecedented preseason according to “Megafire” author underway for Boyle, Buffaloes PHOTOS 31 Tad Boyle’s “Fantastic Four” 7 Through the lens: CUI photos ready to contribute NEWS ARTS 11 Students reflect on CU’s COVID 32 Declan McKenna reflects response on “Zeros” OPINION 34 CU alum Andy Hackbarth takes on his biggest project yet 19 CU needs to refund students for mandatory fees 37 Soviet Fourth Grader combines Cold War aesthetic, political 21 Sustainability amidst a satire on new punk project pandemic is no easy task 39 CUI Playlist: Best of 2020 23 Women must vote in 2020 CU Independent Magazine is produced by students for the CU and Boulder community. All of the content in this magazine was created in January 2021, after the University of Colorado Boulder’s Fall 2020 semester. This masthead reflects the Spring 2021 positions of those involved with the creation of this publication. Contributors, in last name alphabetical order: Nigel Amstock (operations manager), Adam Bender (sports editor), Liam Benjamin (staff writer), Ben Berman (arts editor), Jack Carlough (sports editor), Isabella Fincher (arts editor), Thomas Gahan (staff writer), Mengchen Gong (web and visual design), Anna Haynes (editor-in-chief), Altug Karakurt (staff writer), Georgia Knoles (managing editor), Emily Ladd (staff writer), Vayle Lafehr (opinion editor), Tory Lysik (managing editor), Savannah Mather (staff writer), Erica McNamee (staff writer), Maddie Mueller (staff writer), Casey Paul (digital director), Zoe Schacht (opinion editor), Ben Titelbaum (staff writer), Noelle Videon (former senior news editor), Kara Wagenknecht (photo editor), Marion Walmer (staff writer), Chloe Wasserstrom (staff writer), Jivan West (staff photographer), Kevin Wu (staff photographer) 2 SPRING 2021 NEWS BRIEFS “The name alteration does not change the COVID-19 poses difficulties for CU’s horrors of the past”: Reflections on Indigenous student-run political organizations Peoples’ Day by Erica McNamee and Maddie Mueller by Chloe Wasserstrom The 2020 U.S presidential election between maintaining its focus on student involvement. Donald Trump and Joe Biden is shaping up to “It was never really about Bernie,” Mannik In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue, and returning physical land to Indigenous people to be different from prevous elections due to the explained. from that day forward the European occupation of support their ceremonies.” pandemic. On the University of Colorado Boulder The group was very successful in promoting stolen land has been celebrated. That is until the Cowell also believes there should be campus, student organizations on both sides of voter registration during the presidential primary city of Boulder changed the name from Columbus compensation for Indigenous people living on land the aisle are struggling to organize their approach elections and plans to continue its work in Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day three years ago, stolen from their ancestors. to the upcoming election, in the face of new partnership with organizations such as the Student with this past Monday being the third annual “We believe there is a moral obligation for the challenges onset by the pandemic. Action Network. A recent email from the group Indigenous Peoples’ Day in the city. system in fact to allow any student who is enrolled “We were so used to being on the ground and called on its members to sign up for phone and text Andrew Cowell, Director of the Center for Native in any tribe that is historically associated with in-person, like yelling at people about healthcare banks to talk to student voters in Iowa about the American and Indigenous Studies, said that the Colorado to have in-state tuition,” Cowell stated. in the UMC,” Head Campus Corps Leader of CU’s upcoming election. Mannik anticipates that virtual name alteration does not change the horrors of Although physical reparation is necessary, Myhal Buffs for Progress Shay Mannik said. “COVID is Buffs for Progress meetings will start up soon via the past. addresses the need for listening and education. making things so much harder.” Zoom. “Indigenous Peoples’ Day is part of a broader “As a guest on Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho Joey Fratino, president of the CU College Buffs for Bernie had about 800 people on its reckoning with the problematic history in the lands, it’s really important for non-Natives to follow Republicans, has also felt the impact that the emailing list and Mannik hopes they can get as United States — the way native people and the Indigenous communities lead for celebrating pandemic has taken on their discussion based many people as possible to attend meetings and minority people have been treated,” Cowell added. Indigenous Peoples’ Day,” Myhal explained. “Ute, organization. join its new list for Buffs for Progress. Natasha Myhal, co-founder of the Native Cheyenne and Arapaho voices need to be centered “It’s hard to operate a discussion on Zoom,” “Even with 50 really dedicated people, we can do Graduate Student Group, said the day is still and engage with these communities on topics they Fratino said, mentioning how he was previously a lot of stuff,” said Mannik. This includes registering nationally framed to celebrate Columbus, and the want to talk or speak about.” used to reacting and responding to the body student voters; something that is relatively easy American education system is at fault for this. Cowell notes the mindset white people should language of the groups members to advance the in Colorado due to its same-day and online “Columbus Day is not something that should have in relation to being privileged in America, as conversation during meetings. registration options. be celebrated,” Myhal said. “Columbus Day opposed to Native people. CU College Republicans is primarily a While members of Buffs for Progress find that represents the memorialization and celebration “You are not personally guilty, but you personally discussion-based organization that focuses less mail-in voting is also a strong way to increase voter of genocide of Indigenous people, Indigenous girls have been a beneficiary of a system that has been on involvement in campaigns and more on talking turnout, Fratino mentions how mail-in ballots (in) sex slavery and transatlantic slave trade.” slanted in your favor and other white people’s about issues and policies from libertarian and might lead citizens to complete their voting prior to To combat the past murders, rapes and thievery, favor,” he adds. conservative perspectives. That being said, the forming complete opinions on candidates. along with current oppression, Cowell explained a Additionally, Myhal emphasized the importance group does usually see more student involvement While both student-leaders acknowledge that this land acknowledgment is crucial. of the day itself. prior to big elections. Fratino said that the is a critical election year, they have differing views “It actually says there is a history with “It’s a celebration of Indigenous cultures, organization had 30 students come to the first on what the results will mean for the country. Indigenous people,” he said. “Everything is still not languages, and lifeways and most importantly we meeting this year, yet they have 106 that are on “I think the importance of this election is primarily good because Native people are still suffering, are still here,” she said. their email list. about the economy, how fast the pace of our stuck on reservations, in economically marginal Nevertheless, Indigenous Peoples’ Day can be “They (members) will only be attending economic recovery is going to be,” Fratino said. areas, still do not have adequate legal status and stressful for those with indigenous heritage, as it meetings until the election and then after the Mannik, in contrast, was more focused on how freedom of religion.” entails extra work to explain the importance and election, they’re not going to be engaged that issues such as climate change, immigration and Indigenous people were kicked off their land history. much,” Fratino said, stating how the election year Medicare For All would be addressed by both Biden when the Europeans arrived to colonize. Thus, “I fully support Indigenous Peoples’ Day; typically changes membership turnout. and the Trump administration. Myhal stresses the importance for land back. however, we are Indigenous all other 364 days of In contrast, Buffs for Progress began as a Despite the challenges presented due to the “Colorado, specifically the city of Boulder, should the year,” Myhal said. “This should not be the one campaign-based organization, supporting pandemic, both organizations are striving to find ways to materially support Ute, Cheyenne, day to learn about and engage with Indigenous democratic primary candidate Bernie Sanders as advance a dialogue this election year. and Arapaho peoples,” she said. “It means communities.” ‘Buffs for Bernie.’ Following Sanders’ loss in the “Our work doesn’t end on Election Day,” Mannik primaries, the group changed its name, although said. “It pretty much only begins then.” 3 4 SPRING 2021 NEWS BRIEFS categorizes the driving forces behind wildfire it did historically,” Kodas said, emphasizing the What happens “behind the flames and the in “four umbrella topics”: climate, forest importance of prescribed burns. management, development and economics/ He also added that this is not universal and that smoke,” according to “Megafire” author politics.