THE CATALYST Vol. 48, No. 2 The Independent Student Newspaper of Colorado College February 3, 2017 Families who made about $20,000 or less per year. (Colorado College: 2,357 of 2,395) CC Ranks High on List of Least Economically Diverse Colleges By CHANEY SKILLING IRS tax records, allowing them to know our student body is aluent after further inquiry, it is clear that mographics of CC in the late ‘90s perform an in-depth analysis of based on how many students don’t these numbers require a larger and early 2000s were very diferent According to a recent study pub- economic diversity within higher apply for any inancial aid, but context beyond the scope of the from today. Since President Tiefen- lished by the New York Times, Colo- education and track students’ so- without access to tax returns and New York Times article. thaler arrived, the priorities of the rado College enrolls more students cial mobility in the years following the other information provided by he data included in the Equality school have shifted signiicantly in the top 1 percent of the income graduation. From the Ivy Leagues the Free Application for Federal of Opportunity Project’s study re- along with the priorities of higher scale than the bottom 60 percent. to highly selective colleges to state Student Aide (FAFSA), we have no lects that of the graduating classes education.” Based on data from the graduating universities, the 94-page study pro- way of knowing the details. his of the early 2000s—meaning stu- Such shifts include CC’s in- classes of the early 2000s, CC comes vides extensive data on numerous is the irst study that has revealed dents who started college in the creased eforts to recruit applicants in second just behind Washington schools’ student demographics. something as speciic as the 1 per- late 1990s. herefore, the study is from lower-income families and University in St. Louis, where 24.2 Upon publication, the results were cent.” not necessarily representative of the college’s capitol campaign. In percent of the student body origi- met with mixed feelings of shock Citing the highest median fam- current day demographics. “When 2012, shortly after President Tief- nated from the top 1 percent, and and surprise from the CC adminis- ily income amongst highly selec- you look into the actual study, you enthaler arrived, CC joined Quest- only 10.5 percent fell within the tration and students alike. tive colleges at $277,500, with more ind that the data is actually rather bridge, a non-proit that matches bottom 60 percent. “We got no warning or pre-read- than half of CC students falling old,” said Lyrae Williams, Associate low-income, high achieving stu- he irst study of its kind, the ing, and were just as surprised as within the top 5 percent of the in- Vice President and data analyst for dents with the U.S.’s leading col- Equality of Opportunity Proj- everyone else,” said Mark Hatch, come scale, the study speaks to the the CC Oice of Institutional Plan- leges and universities. Questbridge ect was granted special access to Vice President of Enrollment. “We aluence of CC students. However, ning and Efectiveness. “he de- Continued on pg. 4 Families who made about $630,000 or more per year. (Colorado College: 2 of 2,395) Median parent income for approximately the class of 2013, in 2015 dollars. (Colorado College: 1 of 2,395) Graphics courtesy of he New York Times Denver Native Neil Gorsuch Nominated Pipeline Rally Mobilizes to Supreme Court Colorado Springs Residents the same. This means the Senate extent permitted by law and war- By NATHAN MAKELA would need 60 votes to end the By NORBERT MCGETTIGAN ranted.” Depending on whether filibuster and confirm Gorsuch. a new Environmental Impact The Court has had a vacant “This is a stolen seat,” said Hundreds gathered in front of Statement (EIS) is conducted, seat for nearly a year, since the Merkley. “This is the first time a Colorado Springs City Hall on the construction could start as death of Justice Antonin Scalia Senate majority has stolen a seat. Sunday afternoon to protest the soon as next month. on Feb 13, 2016. We will use every lever in our Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) Concerning the KXL, Trump Originally from Denver, Gor- power to stop it.” and the Keystone XL Pipeline signed an order encouraging such is a federal appellate on the But, relative to past Supreme (KXL). TransCanada to reapply for its United States Court of Appeals Court nominees, Senate Demo- The nonviolent rally, organized border-crossing permit, one that for the Tenth Circuit, having crats have little justification to by Unite Colorado Springs and former President Obama reject- been nominated to the position block the nomination. By most Colorado Springs Council for ed in 2015. Once TransCanada by President George W. Bush in metrics, Gorsuch is a qualified Justice, was a response to Presi- reapplies, the State Department 2006. Gorsuch, a vocal admirer candidate. Having practiced law dent Trump’s recent signing of will have 60 days to issue a final of Scalia, shares many similari- THE NEW Courtesy of Al Drago, for well over 20 years, he has executive orders assisting prog- decision. ties with the late Justice’s ideol- YORK TIMES experience working in private ress on both pipelines. In attendance on Sunday were ogy. Supreme Court, following an practice as well as within the U.S. Last week, the president or- speakers Jane Ard-Smith, Politi- Both Gorsuch and Scalia re- unprecedented effort by Senate Justice Department. dered the Assistant Secretary of cal Chair of Sierra Club - Rocky ceived their law degrees from Republicans to push back the Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida the Army for Civil Works and the Mountain Chapter, Amy Gray, Harvard Law School, and just confirmation vote until after the described Gorsuch as a “highly U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to local activist with 350 Colorado like Scalia, Gorsuch considers November election. The Senate qualified, mainstream jurist.” review and approve the DAPL himself a Constitutional origi- Republicans got what they were Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has de- “in an expedited manner, to the Continued on pg. 6 nalist. While many of President hoping for – maintained control scribed Gorsuch as a “home Trump’s cabinet nominations of the Senate and the election of run.” have received widespread criti- their party’s nominee, Donald President Trump has urged cism for lack of experience, Gor- Trump. Senate Republicans to trigger the such’s credentials are strong. But Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon “nuclear option” in an attempt to the opposition to Gorsuch is not said on Monday morning that he block a filibuster. At only 49 years born from criticism of his judi- will filibuster any nominee that old, Gorsuch could be a promi- cial experience. is not Merrick Garland, and that nent member of The Supreme Gorsuch replaces former Presi- the majority of his caucus will do Court for decades to come. dent Obama’s nominee for the Colorado Springs locals rally for DAPL. Photos by Jack Truesdale News Opinion Sports Life 10 Questions CC Continues Push for Executive Orders Leclerc Shines Against UND Winter Ball 2017 he Catalyst sits down with Kate to discuss her spiritual journey, the Increased On Campus Housing Men’s hockey upends #13-ranked Trump’s executive orders might not CC students grab Winter Ball by the state of the world, and how opening East Campus Residential Develop- be as undemocratic as we thought. North Dakota as TIgers split week- Antlers. Page 12 one’s heart is the irst step to peace. ment project continues on schedule. Page 15 end series. Page 7 Page 3 Page 5 National Parks For Sale Cornerstone Arts Week 2017 Keller Venture Grant Half Find us online at: Blocks Our nation’s national treasures Highlights and photos from the catalystnewspaper.com Grants ofer CC students opportunity threatened by Trump’s EPA. Page 9 week-long arts initiative. Page 11 Facebook: /CatalystNews to bring creative dreams to life. Twitter: /catalystnews Page 2 2 February 3, 2017 News The Catalyst Students Take Advantage of Keller Venture Grant Program Over Half Block By EMILY KRESSLEY “Keller Venture Grants, made possible While Jurney is an environmental sci- structured a study abroad by the Keller Family Foundation, allow ence major, Venture Grants do not have program is, however that you to imagine, articulate, and bring to to be pertinent to an applicant’s major, too was very valuable. life your own original research project” rather a field they would like to investi- Junior Leo Turpan also reads Colorado College’s website. Last gate. The Kellers “want to give students took a Venture Grant trip year, the program was able to fund 109 CC the opportunity for experiential learning over Half Block. His re- students’ individual research projects all in what they desire,” said Jurney. “It also search brought him to over the world. A grant offers up to $1,000 doesn’t have to be research as long as it’s a Havana, Cuba for a street per student, but can be extended another learning experiential process,” he contin- photography project. He $500 to match another separate institu- ued. While the project proposal has to be was initially drawn to tional funding source. well researched and extremely thorough, Cuba after hearing vari- While Venture Grants can be used at any complete with a set of carefully thought ous accounts of people point during the year, out research questions, who traveled there and two of the most recent the topic is quite “fluid.” took in the rich culture.