thedenverpost--2020-08-02--Frank Bruni: How to go to college during a pandemic

Hundreds of thousands of undergraduates in America won ’ t be allowed on their campuses this fall , or the campuses welcoming them will be hollowed-out , locked-down , revelry-leeched shadows of their former selves .
What kind of college experience is that ?
The kind that Natalie Kanter had by design .
She did college without the campus — four demanding and exhilarating years of it .
And I don ’ t mean that she lived off campus , commuting in as needed .
There was no campus to commute to .
No lecture halls .
No rec center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and her schoolmates , remote learning wasn ’ t a crisis-prompted compromise .
It was the whole point .
Kanter , 23 , belonged to the first graduating class of a sort of startup college , Minerva , which opened about five years ago .
All of its instruction is online from professors scattered far and wide .
And while students in a given grade live together in a residential building so that they have peers at hand and a center of gravity , they do so all around the globe , moving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their new campus , but only temporarily .
Kanter and her roughly 105 classmates spent their first two semesters in San Francisco , where Minerva ’ s bare-bones administration is , before migrating for one semester each to Berlin ; Buenos Aires , Argentina ; Seoul , South Korea ; Hyderabad , India ; London ; and then San Francisco again .
Minerva has a footprint — well , more a toe dimple — in each of those places , plus Taipei , Taiwan .
It ’ s defined not by physical structures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ digital platform that professors use for their seminars .
The seminars are capped at 20 students ( but are usually smaller ) and emphasize participation to a point where the platform — a far cry from Zoom — shows a professor how long he or she has been droning on .
“ Having a campus is one of the least important parts of the university experience , ” Kanter , who graduated in May 2019 and now works for the social advocacy organization DoSomething.org , told me .
Yes , she said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buildings , weathered statues and “ rubbing the left foot of this or jumping into that fountain when you graduate ” might have been nice .
But necessary ?
Not for learning .
Not for extracurricular enrichment , to which a campus can sometimes be a cloistering , coddling barrier .
A campus also inflates the cost of college .
Tuition , fees , and room and board at Minerva are about $ 32,000 a year — easily half the sticker price of many prestigious private colleges — for students paying full freight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them .
That ’ s made possible by the absence of gleaming campus structures .
Bob Kerrey , the former senator and a Minerva board member , told me that the importance of a snazzy or traditional setting is a falsehood “ set up by people who really don ’ t want to lose the investment in classrooms.
” “ I ’ m part of it , ” he added , referring to the 16-story , roughly $ 350 million University Center that he helped to create when he was president of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 2010 .
“ It ’ s lovely .
The students love it .
But it ’ s built for the old way of doing things .
Once you ’ ve made the investment , it ’ s not easy to let it go.
” Minerva drew attention at the outset because it was one answer to intensifying questions about the affordability of college , the country-club excesses of some campuses and the erratic devotion to actual instruction .
But it ’ s an object of even greater fascination now because it willingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forced to consider , thanks to the coronavirus .
Mitchell Stevens , an associate professor of education at Stanford , told me that even before the pandemic , higher education “ was in many ways being held together by prayers , Band-Aids , international students and a lot of debt.
” “ What the pandemic creates , ” he said , “ is a kind of existential challenge to so many colleges and universities and business-model presumptions .
That ’ s an opportunity for fairly radical rethinking.
” Minerva ’ s rethinking isn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students , Minerva would be a disastrous psychological or practical fit .
Others have obligations or limitations that forbid globe-trotting .
Its course catalog is a haiku next to a conventional university ’ s epic poem .
It doesn ’ t own and give students instant access to cutting-edge scientific equipment or stacks of old books .
But it ’ s a creative mix of disruptions and rebellions that could , in some form , have application elsewhere .
For example , it completely bucks the trend at many schools toward a dizzying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Minerva ’ s founder , Ben Nelson , argues that those are often a distraction from academic pursuits and that students who want to perform music or play soccer with one another can arrange that for themselves , foraging for resources in the diverse , teeming city around them .
“ The richness that students can get by being independent , by figuring out how to navigate a place , is infinitely better for their personal development than the glee club having a room in the student center , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They can leverage what happens in the real world.
” That they use kitchens in their residential buildings to cook for themselves rather than plopping down in a student cafeteria isn ’ t a hardship , he added .
It ’ s , well , an education .
Nelson , of course , has an investment in believing that .
But he ’ s hardly the first person to suggest that the country ’ s richer schools are more concerned with pleasing students than with challenging them and are better at delaying adulthood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And Minerva students and graduates I spoke to said that the school indeed gave them something — maturity , initiative , ingenuity and , ultimately , confidence — in return for what they sacrificed .
Alexander Sanchez , who left Washington University in St. Louis after one year to do Minerva from start to finish , told me that he “ lost access to a dance studio and to the critical mass of students I would need to form a dance club.
” But Sanchez , 23 , who graduated this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harvard , told me that he learned the tango in Buenos Aires , studied hip-hop in Berlin and developed “ friendships that challenged my conceptions of what ‘ normal ’ was every single day.
” “ We were exposed to such a diversity of opinions and cultural upbringings , ” he said , referring to himself and his Minerva classmates , most of whom aren ’ t from America .
He ’ s Colombian-American and went to high school in Puerto Rico .
Minerva is an antidote to provincialism .
Megan Perpich , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this fall to begin her junior year , told me that the school made her feel “ small.
” That ’ s a compliment .
She feels small , she explained , because the world feels so very inexhaustibly big .
And Minerva has carefully considered and tried to address the pitfalls of online education .
One reason that someone taking a large lecture course alone on a computer at home may not finish or glean much from it is the absence of a nearby support network of peers .
But Minerva students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and community , and several told me that a classmate taking the same seminar that you are might be doing so on a laptop set up next to yours .
There might be three or four of you huddled together , although not this coming semester , when Minerva will exhort students to observe social distancing in their residences .
Those seminars all happen live , and Minerva ’ s digital platform has interactive facets that prevent students from dozing or drifting away .
Their distant professors hold office hours — virtually .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand in each Minerva city to assist and check in on the students .
“ But what , ” I asked Kanter , “ about school spirit ?
” Does it survive a reliance on wireless and airports ?
“ It ’ s reimagined , ” she said .
“ It ’ s not sitting in bleachers and chanting.
” It ’ s about being in an unconventional group of undaunted adventurers who are having an unfamiliar college experience , in part because they ’ re fashioning it themselves .
“ That definitely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said — a rush that may even be immune to a pandemic .
Frank Bruni has been with The New York Times since 1995 and held a variety of jobs — including White House reporter , Rome bureau chief and chief restaurant critic — before becoming a columnist in 2011 .
He is the author of three best-selling books .
To send a letter to the editor about this article , submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail .
To send a letter to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail .

Hundreds of thousands of undergraduates in America won’t be allowed on their campuses this fall, or the campuses welcoming them will be hollowed-out, locked-down, revelry-leeched shadows of their former selves. What kind of college experience is that?
The kind that Natalie Kanter had by design. She did college without the campus — four demanding and exhilarating years of it. And I don’t mean that she lived off campus, commuting in as needed. There was no campus to commute to. No lecture halls. No rec center. No football stadium.
For her and her schoolmates, remote learning wasn’t a crisis-prompted compromise. It was the whole point.
Kanter, 23, belonged to the first graduating class of a sort of startup college, Minerva, which opened about five years ago. All of its instruction is online from professors scattered far and wide.
And while students in a given grade live together in a residential building so that they have peers at hand and a center of gravity, they do so all around the globe, moving periodically to a new city that becomes their new campus, but only temporarily.
Kanter and her roughly 105 classmates spent their first two semesters in San Francisco, where Minerva’s bare-bones administration is, before migrating for one semester each to Berlin; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Seoul, South Korea; Hyderabad, India; London; and then San Francisco again. Minerva has a footprint — well, more a toe dimple — in each of those places, plus Taipei, Taiwan.
It’s defined not by physical structures but by a proprietary, highly interactive digital platform that professors use for their seminars. The seminars are capped at 20 students (but are usually smaller) and emphasize participation to a point where the platform — a far cry from Zoom — shows a professor how long he or she has been droning on.
“Having a campus is one of the least important parts of the university experience,” Kanter, who graduated in May 2019 and now works for the social advocacy organization DoSomething.org, told me.
Yes, she said, the “additional pizazz” of grand buildings, weathered statues and “rubbing the left foot of this or jumping into that fountain when you graduate” might have been nice. But necessary? Not for learning. Not for extracurricular enrichment, to which a campus can sometimes be a cloistering, coddling barrier.
A campus also inflates the cost of college. Tuition, fees, and room and board at Minerva are about $32,000 a year — easily half the sticker price of many prestigious private colleges — for students paying full freight, which is only about 20% of them. That’s made possible by the absence of gleaming campus structures.
Bob Kerrey, the former senator and a Minerva board member, told me that the importance of a snazzy or traditional setting is a falsehood “set up by people who really don’t want to lose the investment in classrooms.”
“I’m part of it,” he added, referring to the 16-story, roughly $350 million University Center that he helped to create when he was president of the New School in Manhattan from 2001 to 2010. “It’s lovely. The students love it. But it’s built for the old way of doing things. Once you’ve made the investment, it’s not easy to let it go.”
Minerva drew attention at the outset because it was one answer to intensifying questions about the affordability of college, the country-club excesses of some campuses and the erratic devotion to actual instruction.
But it’s an object of even greater fascination now because it willingly made changes that other schools are suddenly forced to consider, thanks to the coronavirus.
Mitchell Stevens, an associate professor of education at Stanford, told me that even before the pandemic, higher education “was in many ways being held together by prayers, Band-Aids, international students and a lot of debt.”
“What the pandemic creates,” he said, “is a kind of existential challenge to so many colleges and universities and business-model presumptions. That’s an opportunity for fairly radical rethinking.”
Minerva’s rethinking isn’t the solution. For many students, Minerva would be a disastrous psychological or practical fit. Others have obligations or limitations that forbid globe-trotting.
Its course catalog is a haiku next to a conventional university’s epic poem. It doesn’t own and give students instant access to cutting-edge scientific equipment or stacks of old books.
But it’s a creative mix of disruptions and rebellions that could, in some form, have application elsewhere.
For example, it completely bucks the trend at many schools toward a dizzying array of clubs, activities and amenities. Minerva’s founder, Ben Nelson, argues that those are often a distraction from academic pursuits and that students who want to perform music or play soccer with one another can arrange that for themselves, foraging for resources in the diverse, teeming city around them.
“The richness that students can get by being independent, by figuring out how to navigate a place, is infinitely better for their personal development than the glee club having a room in the student center,” he said. “They’re entrepreneurial. They can leverage what happens in the real world.”
That they use kitchens in their residential buildings to cook for themselves rather than plopping down in a student cafeteria isn’t a hardship, he added. It’s, well, an education.
Nelson, of course, has an investment in believing that. But he’s hardly the first person to suggest that the country’s richer schools are more concerned with pleasing students than with challenging them and are better at delaying adulthood than at ushering their charges into it.
And Minerva students and graduates I spoke to said that the school indeed gave them something — maturity, initiative, ingenuity and, ultimately, confidence — in return for what they sacrificed. Alexander Sanchez, who left Washington University in St. Louis after one year to do Minerva from start to finish, told me that he “lost access to a dance studio and to the critical mass of students I would need to form a dance club.”
But Sanchez, 23, who graduated this year and works in the psychology department at Harvard, told me that he learned the tango in Buenos Aires, studied hip-hop in Berlin and developed “friendships that challenged my conceptions of what ‘normal’ was every single day.”
“We were exposed to such a diversity of opinions and cultural upbringings,” he said, referring to himself and his Minerva classmates, most of whom aren’t from America. He’s Colombian-American and went to high school in Puerto Rico.
Minerva is an antidote to provincialism. Megan Perpich, 21, who will head to Berlin this fall to begin her junior year, told me that the school made her feel “small.” That’s a compliment. She feels small, she explained, because the world feels so very inexhaustibly big.
And Minerva has carefully considered and tried to address the pitfalls of online education. One reason that someone taking a large lecture course alone on a computer at home may not finish or glean much from it is the absence of a nearby support network of peers. But Minerva students have one another for counsel, company and community, and several told me that a classmate taking the same seminar that you are might be doing so on a laptop set up next to yours. There might be three or four of you huddled together, although not this coming semester, when Minerva will exhort students to observe social distancing in their residences.
Those seminars all happen live, and Minerva’s digital platform has interactive facets that prevent students from dozing or drifting away. Their distant professors hold office hours — virtually. And there are a few adults on hand in each Minerva city to assist and check in on the students.
“But what,” I asked Kanter, “about school spirit?” Does it survive a reliance on wireless and airports?
“It’s reimagined,” she said. “It’s not sitting in bleachers and chanting.” It’s about being in an unconventional group of undaunted adventurers who are having an unfamiliar college experience, in part because they’re fashioning it themselves. “That definitely gives you an adrenaline rush,” she said — a rush that may even be immune to a pandemic.
Frank Bruni has been with The New York Times since 1995 and held a variety of jobs — including White House reporter, Rome bureau chief and chief restaurant critic — before becoming a columnist in 2011. He is the author of three best-selling books.
To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail.
To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail.


thedenverpost--2020-08-02--Woman arrested in fight over social distancing at Colorado Springs Walmart

COLORADO SPRINGS — An argument over COVID-19 social distancing led to a fistfight in a Colorado Springs Walmart between two @ @ @ @ @ said .
One of the women complained that the other was not staying 6 feet @ @ @ @ @ Springs police .
An argument ensued and the first woman threw the other to the @ @ @ @ @ police said .
The woman , whose name was not released , was arrested on @ @ @ @ @ The Gazette reported .
Health experts recommend people try to stay at least 6 feet @ @ @ @ @ slow the spread of the coronavirus .

COLORADO SPRINGS — An argument over COVID-19 social distancing led to a fistfight in a Colorado Springs Walmart between two women on Friday, police said.
One of the women complained that the other was not staying 6 feet away, according to Colorado Springs police. An argument ensued and the first woman threw the other to the floor inside the store, police said.
The woman, whose name was not released, was arrested on suspicion of third-degree assault, The Gazette reported.
Health experts recommend people try to stay at least 6 feet away from each other to slow the spread of the coronavirus.


thedenverpost--2020-08-03--Retail rout gains pace, Lord & Taylor seeks bankruptcy

NEW YORK — Lord & Taylor , America ’ s oldest retailer , is seeking bankruptcy protection , as is the owner of Men ’ s Wearhouse and Jos .
A .
Bank , lengthening the list of major retail chains that have faltered in the pandemic .
Household names , many longtime anchors in malls nationwide , were already struggling to keep up with a radical reformation in what people buy , and where they buy it .
Much of that activity has moved online .
Thousands of store closures forced by the arrival of COVID-19 has proved too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began as a Manhattan dry goods store in 1824 , was sold to the French rental clothing company Le Tote Inc. last year .
Both filed for bankruptcy protection , separately , in the Eastern Court of Virginia on Sunday .
Lord & Taylor says it ’ s looking for a buyer .
The company last year , before the emergence of coronavirus , sold its 11-story flagship building on New York ’ s Fifth Avenue which it ’ s owned for more than a century .
Tailored Brands , which owns Men @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bank stores , was struggling even before shelter-in-place orders smothered any demand for suits or ties .
It wasn ’ t alone .
Last month , Brooks Brothers , the 200-year-old company that dressed nearly every U.S. president , filed for bankruptcy protection .
Its rival , Barneys New York , is being dismantled after filing for bankruptcy last year .
Tailored Brands filed for Chapter 11 protection Sunday in the Southern District of Texas .
Men ’ s Wearhouse and Jos .
A .
Bank stores , along with K & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Men , all owned by Tailored , with continue to operate during restructuring .
The company expects to reduce it ’ s funded debt by at least $ 630 million .
Dozens of retailers , big and small , have filed for Chapter 11 protection this year .
The pace through the first half of 2020 far exceeds the number of retail bankruptcies for all of last year .
About two dozen stores have sought bankruptcy protection since the pandemic started .
Others include J .
Crew , J.C. Penney , Neiman Marcus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Group , which owns Lane Bryant in addition to Ann Taylor .

NEW YORK — Lord & Taylor, America’s oldest retailer, is seeking bankruptcy protection, as is the owner of Men’s Wearhouse and Jos. A. Bank, lengthening the list of major retail chains that have faltered in the pandemic.
Household names, many longtime anchors in malls nationwide, were already struggling to keep up with a radical reformation in what people buy, and where they buy it. Much of that activity has moved online.
Thousands of store closures forced by the arrival of COVID-19 has proved too much.
Lord & Taylor, which began as a Manhattan dry goods store in 1824, was sold to the French rental clothing company Le Tote Inc. last year. Both filed for bankruptcy protection, separately, in the Eastern Court of Virginia on Sunday.
Lord & Taylor says it’s looking for a buyer.
The company last year, before the emergence of coronavirus, sold its 11-story flagship building on New York’s Fifth Avenue which it’s owned for more than a century.
Tailored Brands, which owns Men’s Wearhouse and Jos. A. Bank stores, was struggling even before shelter-in-place orders smothered any demand for suits or ties. It wasn’t alone.
Last month, Brooks Brothers, the 200-year-old company that dressed nearly every U.S. president, filed for bankruptcy protection. Its rival, Barneys New York, is being dismantled after filing for bankruptcy last year.
Tailored Brands filed for Chapter 11 protection Sunday in the Southern District of Texas.
Men’s Wearhouse and Jos. A. Bank stores, along with K&G Fashion Superstore and Moores Clothing for Men, all owned by Tailored, with continue to operate during restructuring. The company expects to reduce it’s funded debt by at least $630 million.
Dozens of retailers, big and small, have filed for Chapter 11 protection this year. The pace through the first half of 2020 far exceeds the number of retail bankruptcies for all of last year. About two dozen stores have sought bankruptcy protection since the pandemic started.
Others include J. Crew, J.C. Penney, Neiman Marcus, Stage Stores, and Ascena Retail Group, which owns Lane Bryant in addition to Ann Taylor.


thedenverpost--2020-08-03--Previewing the CU Buffs’ 2020 football schedule

No Rocky Mountain Showdown , no trip to College Station and no welcome mat at Folsom Field for the Oregon Ducks .
Colorado ’ s football schedule isn ’ t the same slate of the games that the Buffaloes had been preparing to play , but at this point , that doesn ’ t seem to matter .
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact the world , the fate of the college football season is unknown .
Last month , the Pac-12 announced a conference-only schedule for football , which scrapped CU ’ s annual showdown with Colorado State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Buffs ’ first trip to Texas A & M since 2008 .
On Friday , the Pac-12 unveiled its revised schedule , a 10-game model with built-in byes for possible rescheduled games .
While the coronavirus could cause more changes , the Buffs , for now , are targeting an Aug. 17 start date for fall camp and a season opener on Sept. 26 at Oregon .
Here ’ s a quick glance at the Buffs ’ schedule for the upcoming season ( kickoff times will be announced at a later date @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to host the Ducks on this date for the conference opener .
Instead , they ’ ll return to Eugene , Oregon , for a second consecutive season .
The change was made in an effort to give each team five home games .
This won ’ t be an easy trip for the Buffs , who were thumped in Eugene last year , 45-3 .
The defending Pac-12 champion Ducks ( 12-2 , 8-1 Pac-12 in 2019 ) lost star quarterback Justin Herbert , but they ’ re the overwhelming favorite to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publications have the Ducks in the preseason Top 10 .
The defense is loaded and Oregon has the most talented , deepest roster in the conference .
After facing the defending league champ , the Buffs have to deal with the two-time defending South division champs .
This is somewhat of a rebuild year for the Utes ( 11-3 , 8-1 ) , who lost their quarterback , running back and almost the entire defense .
Seven Utes – more than any other team in the conference – were taken in the NFL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has done this before , though .
He ’ s coming into his 17th year with the Utes and he ’ s led them to nine-plus wins in five of the past six years .
Utah has dominated this series the past three years by a combined 109-35 and will still be very good .
The best news for CU is that Khalil Tate won ’ t play .
The former Arizona quarterback , who shredded the Buffs the past three years , has graduated .
Arizona is rebuilding on offense , although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ step in ; he threw for 1,239 yards , nine touchdowns and only one interception filling in for Tate last year .
The Wildcats ( 4-8 , 2-7 ) have missed bowls in coach Kevin Sumlin ’ s first two years and national expectations are low again .
Several starters return to defense , but it ’ s a unit that ’ s been one of the Pac-12 ’ s worst for a few years .
Arizona comes into the season riding a seven-game losing streak ( its last win coming at Folsom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the favorite to win the South this year , the Trojans rebounded from 5-7 in 2018 to go 8-4 last year ( 7-2 Pac-12 ) and that was despite losing starting quarterback JT Daniels in the opener .
True freshman Kedon Slovis stepped in and played so well ( 3,502 yards , 30 TD , 9 INT ) that Daniels is now playing at Georgia .
Slovis is one of 18 returning starters for coach Clay Helton .
CU is still looking for its first-ever victory against the Trojans ( 0-14 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get it this year .
After a bye , the Buffs welcome ASU to Boulder .
The Buffs have defeated the Sun Devils ( 8-5 , 4-5 ) three times in the past four years , including 34-31 in Tempe , Ariz. , last year .
This should be an improved ASU team , however .
In his third season , coach Herm Edwards might have his best team .
Quarterback Jayden Daniels threw for 2,943 yards and 17 touchdowns ( with two interceptions ) as a true freshman last year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the defense returns seven starters .
ASU is a potential Top 25 team coming into the season .
The Huskies ( 8-5 , 4-5 ) are traditionally a power in the North division , but they are coming off a disappointing season and no longer have head coach Chris Petersen – who resigned .
His replacement , former defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake , is highly regarded , but new as a head coach .
This is Lake ’ s seventh season at UW , however , and he ’ s always had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ starters on that side of the ball .
There is almost no experience at quarterback , however , after Jacob Eason left early for the NFL Draft .
CU snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Huskies last year , 20-14 , but haven ’ t won in Seattle since 1989 .
One of CU ’ s worst performances of the 2019 season came against the Bruins , a 31-14 loss at the Rose Bowl .
UCLA lost its last three , however , sealing another disappointing season .
The Bruins ( 4-8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coach Chip Kelly and there ’ s no expectations of a dramatic change this year .
Junior quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson returns ; he ’ s talented , but has been inconsistent .
Defensively , UCLA has just three starters coming back from a unit that ranked 11th in the Pac-12 in points allowed .
Stanford ( 4-8 , 3-6 ) missed a bowl game for the first time since 2007 and ended a streak of four consecutive years with nine-plus wins .
Last season included a 16-13 loss to the Buffs in Boulder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coach David Shaw looks to reestablish the Cardinal as a power .
Quarterback KJ Costello is gone , but junior Davis Mills ( 1,960 yards , 11 TD , 5 INT ) played most of the 2019 season anyway , because of Costello injuries .
There are a lot of holes in this roster , but 16 starters are slated to return , so the Cardinal should be a better team .
OSU was added to the Buffs ’ schedule on Friday , and it gives CU a chance to host one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Beavers ( 5-7 , 4-5 ) can ’ t be overlooked , however .
Third-year coach Jonathan Smith is just 7-17 at OSU , but nearly took the Beavers to bowl eligibility last year .
Seeking its first winning season since 2013 , OSU must replace quarterbacks Jake Luton and several other starters on offense , but running back Jermar Jefferson is one of the Pac-12 ’ s best playmakers .
The Beavers also return several starters on defense .
Coach Mike Leach is gone ( now leading Mississippi State ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) need a new quarterback , but first-year coach Nick Rolovich steps into a good situation .
After leading Hawaii to 10 wins and a Mountain West division title last year , Rolovich takes over a WSU program that has played in five consecutive bowls .
In all , 13 starters are slated to return , including versatile running back Max Borghi , who led the Cougars in rushing and catches last year .
This isn ’ t a top-25 team , but it ’ s a potentially dangerous opponent .

No Rocky Mountain Showdown, no trip to College Station and no welcome mat at Folsom Field for the Oregon Ducks.
Colorado’s football schedule isn’t the same slate of the games that the Buffaloes had been preparing to play, but at this point, that doesn’t seem to matter. As the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact the world, the fate of the college football season is unknown.
Last month, the Pac-12 announced a conference-only schedule for football, which scrapped CU’s annual showdown with Colorado State, a visit from Fresno State and the Buffs’ first trip to Texas A&M since 2008. On Friday, the Pac-12 unveiled its revised schedule, a 10-game model with built-in byes for possible rescheduled games.
While the coronavirus could cause more changes, the Buffs, for now, are targeting an Aug. 17 start date for fall camp and a season opener on Sept. 26 at Oregon. Here’s a quick glance at the Buffs’ schedule for the upcoming season (kickoff times will be announced at a later date).
Sept. 26 – at Oregon
The Buffs were originally supposed to host the Ducks on this date for the conference opener. Instead, they’ll return to Eugene, Oregon, for a second consecutive season. The change was made in an effort to give each team five home games. This won’t be an easy trip for the Buffs, who were thumped in Eugene last year, 45-3. The defending Pac-12 champion Ducks (12-2, 8-1 Pac-12 in 2019) lost star quarterback Justin Herbert, but they’re the overwhelming favorite to win the conference again and many national publications have the Ducks in the preseason Top 10. The defense is loaded and Oregon has the most talented, deepest roster in the conference.
Oct. 3 – vs. Utah
After facing the defending league champ, the Buffs have to deal with the two-time defending South division champs. This is somewhat of a rebuild year for the Utes (11-3, 8-1), who lost their quarterback, running back and almost the entire defense. Seven Utes – more than any other team in the conference – were taken in the NFL Draft this spring. Coach Kyle Whittingham has done this before, though. He’s coming into his 17th year with the Utes and he’s led them to nine-plus wins in five of the past six years. Utah has dominated this series the past three years by a combined 109-35 and will still be very good.
Oct. 10 – at Arizona
The best news for CU is that Khalil Tate won’t play. The former Arizona quarterback, who shredded the Buffs the past three years, has graduated. Arizona is rebuilding on offense, although sophomore quarterback Grant Gunnell is ready to step in; he threw for 1,239 yards, nine touchdowns and only one interception filling in for Tate last year. The Wildcats (4-8, 2-7) have missed bowls in coach Kevin Sumlin’s first two years and national expectations are low again. Several starters return to defense, but it’s a unit that’s been one of the Pac-12’s worst for a few years. Arizona comes into the season riding a seven-game losing streak (its last win coming at Folsom Field, 35-30).
Oct. 17 – at Southern California
Widely viewed as the favorite to win the South this year, the Trojans rebounded from 5-7 in 2018 to go 8-4 last year (7-2 Pac-12) and that was despite losing starting quarterback JT Daniels in the opener. True freshman Kedon Slovis stepped in and played so well (3,502 yards, 30 TD, 9 INT) that Daniels is now playing at Georgia. Slovis is one of 18 returning starters for coach Clay Helton. CU is still looking for its first-ever victory against the Trojans (0-14) and it won’t be easy to get it this year.
Oct. 31 – vs. Arizona State
After a bye, the Buffs welcome ASU to Boulder. The Buffs have defeated the Sun Devils (8-5, 4-5) three times in the past four years, including 34-31 in Tempe, Ariz., last year. This should be an improved ASU team, however. In his third season, coach Herm Edwards might have his best team. Quarterback Jayden Daniels threw for 2,943 yards and 17 touchdowns (with two interceptions) as a true freshman last year. They lose key playmakers on offense, but the defense returns seven starters. ASU is a potential Top 25 team coming into the season.
Nov. 6 (Friday) – at Washington
The Huskies (8-5, 4-5) are traditionally a power in the North division, but they are coming off a disappointing season and no longer have head coach Chris Petersen – who resigned. His replacement, former defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake, is highly regarded, but new as a head coach. This is Lake’s seventh season at UW, however, and he’s always had good defenses. The Huskies return seven starters on that side of the ball. There is almost no experience at quarterback, however, after Jacob Eason left early for the NFL Draft. CU snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Huskies last year, 20-14, but haven’t won in Seattle since 1989.
Nov. 14 – vs. UCLA
One of CU’s worst performances of the 2019 season came against the Bruins, a 31-14 loss at the Rose Bowl. UCLA lost its last three, however, sealing another disappointing season. The Bruins (4-8, 4-5) are 7-17 under head coach Chip Kelly and there’s no expectations of a dramatic change this year. Junior quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson returns; he’s talented, but has been inconsistent. Defensively, UCLA has just three starters coming back from a unit that ranked 11th in the Pac-12 in points allowed.
Nov. 21 – at Stanford
Stanford (4-8, 3-6) missed a bowl game for the first time since 2007 and ended a streak of four consecutive years with nine-plus wins. Last season included a 16-13 loss to the Buffs in Boulder. Now in his 10th season, coach David Shaw looks to reestablish the Cardinal as a power. Quarterback KJ Costello is gone, but junior Davis Mills (1,960 yards, 11 TD, 5 INT) played most of the 2019 season anyway, because of Costello injuries. There are a lot of holes in this roster, but 16 starters are slated to return, so the Cardinal should be a better team.
Nov. 28 – vs. Oregon State
OSU was added to the Buffs’ schedule on Friday, and it gives CU a chance to host one of the bottom teams in the North division. The Beavers (5-7, 4-5) can’t be overlooked, however. Third-year coach Jonathan Smith is just 7-17 at OSU, but nearly took the Beavers to bowl eligibility last year. Seeking its first winning season since 2013, OSU must replace quarterbacks Jake Luton and several other starters on offense, but running back Jermar Jefferson is one of the Pac-12’s best playmakers. The Beavers also return several starters on defense.
Dec. 5 – vs. Washington State
Coach Mike Leach is gone (now leading Mississippi State) and the Cougars (6-7, 3-6) need a new quarterback, but first-year coach Nick Rolovich steps into a good situation. After leading Hawaii to 10 wins and a Mountain West division title last year, Rolovich takes over a WSU program that has played in five consecutive bowls. In all, 13 starters are slated to return, including versatile running back Max Borghi, who led the Cougars in rushing and catches last year. This isn’t a top-25 team, but it’s a potentially dangerous opponent.


thedenverpost--2020-08-03--Federal payments don’t come close to covering Colorado hospitals’ COVID-19 losses

Most Colorado health care providers received less than $ 4,000 in federal funds meant to partly offset their losses due to COVID-19 , and even the winners who got far more say the payments haven ’ t come close to filling their revenue gaps .
The $ 2.2 trillion economic stimulus bill passed in March included $ 50 billion for health care organizations , with billions more for specific groups , like rural providers or nursing homes .
Colorado received about $ 808 million from the general distribution , which was divided among 4,430 outpatient providers , hospitals , emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ payment was $ 3,940 , meaning half of recipients got more and half got less .
The payments ranged from a high of $ 79.3 million for the University of Colorado Hospital Authority to a low of $ 1 for a pharmacy in Ignacio , with 27 providers getting $ 10 or less .
Even the larger payments didn ’ t fully cover revenue losses from COVID-19 , though .
Dan Weaver , spokesman for UCHealth , said the health system lost about $ 176 million in revenue in March and April as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lose more if patients continue to delay care .
The system has received a combined $ 97.5 million , but still needed to ask some employees to take time off this summer , he said .
Some executives also gave up their paid vacation time .
“ Though the federal assistance has not fully covered our losses , we do appreciate the support which has helped us avoid furloughs , support our employees and continue providing excellent care for our patients , ” he said .
Smaller hospitals also recovered only a portion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facilities were exempt from an order halting non-emergency procedures this spring , but put them on hold anyway because they needed to conserve protective equipment in case of local coronavirus outbreaks , said Michelle Mills , CEO of the Colorado Rural Health Center .
The payments have been an important lifeline for rural providers , including the 18 hospitals already operating at a loss before the pandemic hit , Mills said .
While none are in imminent danger , it ’ s possible some could close before the pandemic is over , because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t rebound quickly , she said .
“ We ’ re not really sure what things are going to look like , ” she said .
Hospitals that treated few or no COVID-19 patients also faced substantial losses .
Children ’ s Hospital Colorado received about $ 22.1 million , but estimated it lost about $ 100 million .
If revenue declines continue as projected , the federal funds will only offset about 9 % of this year ’ s losses , said David Biggerstaff , executive vice president and chief operating officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the general federal funding was distributed based on a formula using how much care facilities normally provided to Medicare patients .
Typically , children are only eligible for Medicare if they have end-stage kidney disease , which is rare .
A $ 15 billion pot was available for providers who didn ’ t get a piece of the $ 50 billion in general funding , including children ’ s hospitals , but it was only intended to cover about 2 % of the revenue a hospital normally would get from patient care .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ people hospitalized in Colorado for coronavirus were younger than 20 , but Children ’ s still had extra expenses from expanding telemedicine , setting up a lab for coronavirus testing and collecting plasma from survivors as a possible treatment , Biggerstaff said .
The lab processes tests from other facilities , as well as in-house samples , and the plasma program primarily benefited hospitals trying it as a treatment for adult patients , he said .
Any future payments should consider the needs of children ’ s hospitals , because they ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t turn away families who can ’ t pay , Biggerstaff said .
“ Adult systems and Medicare providers have been given more opportunities then children ’ s hospitals to offset these devastating losses , ” he said .
Smaller pediatric providers have had difficulty getting the payments at all , said Dr. David Keller , a board member of the Colorado chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics .
Most got nothing from the first funding rounds , because they don ’ t treat any children on dialysis , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then excluded them from more substantial help that became available in June and July , he said .
“ There was this tiny amount , and they didn ’ t know where it was coming from , ” he said .
The pandemic has been particularly hard for pediatric practices , because children who weren ’ t in school didn ’ t need treatment for common illnesses like flu , Keller said .
Now schedules are starting to fill up again as parents schedule routine check-ups during the summer , and some providers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the glitchy process of applying for financial help , he said .
“ A lot of people don ’ t have the energy to do it right now , ” he said .
“ Practices are strapped .
Everybody ’ s stressed.
” Trade groups representing hospitals , doctors and nurses have asked Congress to appropriate at least $ 100 billion more to offset the costs of extra protective equipment , staffing and temporary facilities in areas dealing with outbreaks , and to compensate providers for reduced revenue from canceling procedures and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not clear what the odds of such a large package passing are , though .
A Democratic proposal for another stimulus bill includes $ 100 billion , while the Republican proposal would set aside $ 25 billion .
Lawmakers in Congress are working on another aid package .
Democrats approved a $ 3 trillion proposal in the House , while Republicans are negotiating on a $ 1 trillion counteroffer in the Senate .
Peter Banko , president and CEO of Centura Health , which owns the five Adventist hospitals near Denver , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one passes , should be tailored to address how the pandemic is impacting communities differently .
The business unit including the five Adventist hospitals received about $ 24 million in relief funds , but lost about $ 80 million from March to June , not counting the cost of buying protective equipment , retrofitting rooms to contain the virus and giving bonuses to frontline employees , he said .
Nikki Sloup , spokeswoman for SCL Health , said that if additional stimulus passes , it would be best to focus on funding testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for essential workers and supplies to administer a vaccine when it becomes available .
Saint Joseph Hospital , owned by SCL , was one of the top recipients in Colorado , with $ 11.5 million from the general distribution and $ 12.9 million from a “ hotspot ” fund for hospitals that treated more than 100 people for COVID-19 by April 10 .
Sloup estimated Saint Joseph spent about $ 3.5 million to prepare for coronavirus patients , not counting staff time , and lost about $ 37 million by not providing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has recently started to recover but it has not fully restored to normal levels , ” she said .
Join our Facebook group for the latest updates on coronavirus in Colorado .

Most Colorado health care providers received less than $4,000 in federal funds meant to partly offset their losses due to COVID-19, and even the winners who got far more say the payments haven’t come close to filling their revenue gaps.
The $2.2 trillion economic stimulus bill passed in March included $50 billion for health care organizations, with billions more for specific groups, like rural providers or nursing homes.
Colorado received about $808 million from the general distribution, which was divided among 4,430 outpatient providers, hospitals, emergency response organizations and municipalities. The median payment was $3,940, meaning half of recipients got more and half got less.
The payments ranged from a high of $79.3 million for the University of Colorado Hospital Authority to a low of $1 for a pharmacy in Ignacio, with 27 providers getting $10 or less.
Even the larger payments didn’t fully cover revenue losses from COVID-19, though.
Dan Weaver, spokesman for UCHealth, said the health system lost about $176 million in revenue in March and April as non-emergency procedures were canceled, and could lose more if patients continue to delay care. The system has received a combined $97.5 million, but still needed to ask some employees to take time off this summer, he said. Some executives also gave up their paid vacation time.
“Though the federal assistance has not fully covered our losses, we do appreciate the support which has helped us avoid furloughs, support our employees and continue providing excellent care for our patients,” he said.
Smaller hospitals also recovered only a portion of what they lost. Many rural facilities were exempt from an order halting non-emergency procedures this spring, but put them on hold anyway because they needed to conserve protective equipment in case of local coronavirus outbreaks, said Michelle Mills, CEO of the Colorado Rural Health Center.
The payments have been an important lifeline for rural providers, including the 18 hospitals already operating at a loss before the pandemic hit, Mills said. While none are in imminent danger, it’s possible some could close before the pandemic is over, because the number of procedures likely won’t rebound quickly, she said.
“We’re not really sure what things are going to look like,” she said.
Little funding for children’s care
Hospitals that treated few or no COVID-19 patients also faced substantial losses.
Children’s Hospital Colorado received about $22.1 million, but estimated it lost about $100 million. If revenue declines continue as projected, the federal funds will only offset about 9% of this year’s losses, said David Biggerstaff, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Children’s.
Much of the general federal funding was distributed based on a formula using how much care facilities normally provided to Medicare patients. Typically, children are only eligible for Medicare if they have end-stage kidney disease, which is rare.
A $15 billion pot was available for providers who didn’t get a piece of the $50 billion in general funding, including children’s hospitals, but it was only intended to cover about 2% of the revenue a hospital normally would get from patient care.
Only 148 of the more than 6,000 people hospitalized in Colorado for coronavirus were younger than 20, but Children’s still had extra expenses from expanding telemedicine, setting up a lab for coronavirus testing and collecting plasma from survivors as a possible treatment, Biggerstaff said. The lab processes tests from other facilities, as well as in-house samples, and the plasma program primarily benefited hospitals trying it as a treatment for adult patients, he said.
Any future payments should consider the needs of children’s hospitals, because they’ve been hit hard by revenue losses and don’t turn away families who can’t pay, Biggerstaff said.
“Adult systems and Medicare providers have been given more opportunities then children’s hospitals to offset these devastating losses,” he said.
Smaller pediatric providers have had difficulty getting the payments at all, said Dr. David Keller, a board member of the Colorado chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Most got nothing from the first funding rounds, because they don’t treat any children on dialysis, while others received a minimal check, which then excluded them from more substantial help that became available in June and July, he said.
“There was this tiny amount, and they didn’t know where it was coming from,” he said.
The pandemic has been particularly hard for pediatric practices, because children who weren’t in school didn’t need treatment for common illnesses like flu, Keller said. Now schedules are starting to fill up again as parents schedule routine check-ups during the summer, and some providers don’t have time to work through the glitchy process of applying for financial help, he said.
“A lot of people don’t have the energy to do it right now,” he said. “Practices are strapped. Everybody’s stressed.”
More stimulus could face uphill battle
Trade groups representing hospitals, doctors and nurses have asked Congress to appropriate at least $100 billion more to offset the costs of extra protective equipment, staffing and temporary facilities in areas dealing with outbreaks, and to compensate providers for reduced revenue from canceling procedures and seeing fewer patients.
It’s not clear what the odds of such a large package passing are, though. A Democratic proposal for another stimulus bill includes $100 billion, while the Republican proposal would set aside $25 billion.
Lawmakers in Congress are working on another aid package. Democrats approved a $3 trillion proposal in the House, while Republicans are negotiating on a $1 trillion counteroffer in the Senate.
“]
Peter Banko, president and CEO of Centura Health, which owns the five Adventist hospitals near Denver, said the next round of stimulus, if one passes, should be tailored to address how the pandemic is impacting communities differently. The business unit including the five Adventist hospitals received about $24 million in relief funds, but lost about $80 million from March to June, not counting the cost of buying protective equipment, retrofitting rooms to contain the virus and giving bonuses to frontline employees, he said.
Nikki Sloup, spokeswoman for SCL Health, said that if additional stimulus passes, it would be best to focus on funding testing, contact tracing, personal protective equipment for essential workers and supplies to administer a vaccine when it becomes available.
Saint Joseph Hospital, owned by SCL, was one of the top recipients in Colorado, with $11.5 million from the general distribution and $12.9 million from a “hotspot” fund for hospitals that treated more than 100 people for COVID-19 by April 10.
Sloup estimated Saint Joseph spent about $3.5 million to prepare for coronavirus patients, not counting staff time, and lost about $37 million by not providing the normal mix of care.
“Volume has recently started to recover but it has not fully restored to normal levels,” she said.
Join our Facebook group for the latest updates on coronavirus in Colorado.


thedenverpost--2020-08-03--Q&A: Denver’s new sheriff on learning from protesters, modeling Denver’s jails after Norway, and mor

Q&A: Denver’s new sheriff on learning from protesters, modeling Denver’s jails after Norway, and more

Denver ’ s new sheriff is taking over leadership of the city ’ s two jails at an unprecedented time , as a global pandemic and national civil rights movement are changing the way the country thinks about crime and punishment .
Sheriff Elias Diggins took over as Denver ’ s jails remain the site of one of the largest COVID-19 outbreaks in the state , 140 of the agency ’ s 871 deputy positions are unfilled and the names of men killed in the city ’ s jails have been chanted by protesters in the streets .
Diggins joined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way through the ranks , including a stint as interim sheriff from 2014 to 2015 .
He has been in high-ranking positions during the jail ’ s many controversies over the last several years and has become embroiled in them himself , including a secretly-recorded phone call that cost him his previous position as interim sheriff and a lawsuit alleging he covered up mistreatment of an inmate .
Both he and Mayor Michael Hancock acknowledged that history during a news conference announcing his appointment and said it was time for Diggins to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Denver Post on Wednesday about his priorities as sheriff , calls for criminal justice reform and more .
The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity .
There is a lot of discussion in the city , and nation , about criminal justice reform .
What reforms would you like to see here at the Denver Sheriff Department ?
It ’ s different from reform .
It ’ s transformation .
We have been through a lot of reform over the past few years .
We ’ re now in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do , we ’ ve got to revisit and understand what is the community ’ s expectation for who the Denver Sheriff Department is .
What does the community expect us to be ?
And through all of the protest , through the civil uneasiness and unrest , law enforcement as a whole has to transform .
I want to ensure that humanity is infused in everything that we do , that we lead with our humanity at all times .
And that we recognize that the people who are with us — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people that we ’ re dealing with in the community or the courts — that we deal with them in the way that we want somebody to deal with our mom or our dad , treat them with the dignity and respect that we give to our sisters or to our brothers .
The other thing that I want to share with everyone , with our staff , is that we ’ ve got to understand that deprivation of a person ’ s freedom is their punishment .
We all , through our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inalienable rights : life , liberty , and the pursuit of happiness .
And when we take away a person ’ s inalienable right of liberty , when we take that away , that ’ s enough .
We don ’ t have to punish anyone further .
In previous interviews , you referenced an interest in following the Norweigan model of incarceration , specifically when it comes to re-entry .
Are you interested in looking at the other parts of the Norway model , like creating a homier setting and building more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I haven ’ t been to Norway yet .
But I have been to Las Colinas , which is the the women ’ s detention facility run by the San Diego Sheriff ’ s Department .
They have taken the ideas behind that and actually done it in the United States , where the color palettes that are on the walls are something that you would see in your home .
The way that the campus is laid out is very open .
The housing areas are bright , the furniture , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done with the sense of understanding that jail doesn ’ t have to be a hardened environment in order to keep it secure .
And that ’ s what the Norway model is .
It ’ s about understanding that the environment has a direct impact on someone ’ s psyche while they ’ re in your custody .
What we have already done is attempt to replicate portions of that with our Building 24 project .
We actually sent a group out to San Diego to see the Las Colinas model .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ campus it has different color palettes that are intentional .
I would like to eventually see that we move in the future to replicating that in everything that we do .
One of the things that I know is in Norway , and even at Las Colinas , the interaction between the staff and the people in custody is way different .
There ’ s a level of respect that begins with the way that ( deputies ) address people , they address people with sir and ma ’ am .
And I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re addressing everyone with a sense of dignity .
And that begins to let people know that you still have your dignity .
How do you get to people on board with that idea who aren ’ t already ?
Well , we have people that will serve as ambassadors inside of our agency .
It ’ s about ensuring that I ’ m selecting leaders that actually believe in it that can help to make the transformation , and for those who are a little harder to buy in , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those places so that they can see how this works .
So they can see how the environment can be different and hopefully get them to that place .
Do you plan on making any of those kind of environmental changes at the Downtown Detention Center ?
We ’ ll look around to see where we can do that .
The biggest change that you can make something that ’ s very simple , is changing the color patterns to be more inviting .
Jail doesn ’ t have to be just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get out of the recession that we ’ re in and have an opportunity to perhaps change the furniture , fixtures and equipment .
There are companies that are now making equipment that is still detention grade .
It ’ s safe in a jail environment .
But it ’ s seats that you see in an office or that you see in a conference room , things of that nature that just look a little bit different than what you see a in a typical jail environment .
The Denver jail population @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its pre-pandemic numbers due to changes in arrests and bond procedures intended to reduce the number of people locked up during COVID-19 .
Is that something you ’ d like to see continue in the future , this strategized way to reduce the number of people locked up here ?
Absolutely .
I absolutely hope that we can stay in the space where we are only jailing people when it ’ s absolutely necessary .
As a last resort .
What are your other priorities for the next six months ?
Getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documenting a couple of things .
The first is the challenges that they see with our agency , but also what they believe to be the solutions .
And I think that ’ s really where you get those things is from the people that are on the ground that do the work , the rank and file staff , uniform and civilian that can bring those great ideas .
So I ’ m getting out .
I ’ m going to be touring and talking with them .
I ’ m gon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people that are in our custody and talk to them and also talk to the community .
Speaking of the community , I ’ m also standing up a board that ’ s going to meet every single month .
The title of it is the Community Employee Leadership Council .
It ’ s gon na include community advocates , as well as some folks that I ’ m not going to talk about yet because I ’ m still trying to get them to the table , as well as the leadership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Denver Sheriff ’ s Department to ensure that our employees have a voice .
And that group is going to be completed by myself , my two chiefs , the six majors , and some of our other senior leaders , and we ’ re going to meet every single month , and we ’ re going to keep minutes and the leadership team is going to be responsible for responding and taking action on the ideas that are brought to that table .
That ’ s going to help to lift morale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help lower attrition .
And it ’ s going to be something that is seen as an effort towards the goodwill that the community expects from the Denver Sheriff Department .
What are the biggest challenges in the department right now ?
It ’ s absolutely retention .
When it comes to morale , we ’ ve got to ensure that we give our staff a voice and that we are actively moving towards those solutions .
And so that ’ s going to be a priority for every single leader in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do with some of our supervisors to help them to understand what it means to be a leader .
To be able to direct the actions of staff is something that sometimes can be a challenge .
But every single supervisor , especially the sergeants , which are the most important leadership rank in our agency , they have got to be comfortable in doing .
Those are probably the biggest challenges for us besides the overall trust that has been broken with the community with all law enforcement and figuring out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you attend or watch any of the protests that have happened here in the past months ?
I was actually deployed during the protest and worked there .
And there ’ s a video on Twitter of the protesters came right up to 14th Avenue to the fence line that we have .
There was a mother , who told me that her daughter was so afraid of law enforcement that she was afraid that she was going to die .
And she asked me if I would speak to her .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of my staff back behind me .
And I told that young lady that I love her .
And we ’ re here to serve you .
We ’ re here to help .
One of the things that I remember vividly was the protesters chanting , “ I don ’ t see no riot here , why are you in riot gear ?
” And at the time , we were all dressed with helmets , and all of the gear that you see in those videos , and that changed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the protesters were generally peaceful , but we continued to dress up .
I told our staff , “ We ’ re not going to put that on .
Everybody take their helmet off .
Unless there is something that we know is a specific threat to us .
We ’ re going to be out here .
We ’ re going to wait in our vehicles , but we ’ re going to listen to them and we ’ re not going to be dressed up and all this riot gear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Are there any specific changes you plan to make in your agency as a result of the protests ?
Overall , just that humanity is something that we all have to have in law enforcement .
Imagine if the officers that were involved in George Floyd would have led with their humanity .
It ’ s about what do we in uniform .
We need to look in the mirror about who we are and what we do .
So you ’ re talking about a kind of a broader culture change , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a lot of changes over the past few years .
And we ’ re ahead of a lot of agencies but we still have a lot of work to do , to really get to the place where the community really believes that the Denver Sheriff ’ s Department is an agency that they believe in .
There are some community members that obviously support us .
But there are those that still have some questions about who we are , what we do .
And we want everyone to believe that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we serve the people .

Denver’s new sheriff is taking over leadership of the city’s two jails at an unprecedented time, as a global pandemic and national civil rights movement are changing the way the country thinks about crime and punishment.
Sheriff Elias Diggins took over as Denver’s jails remain the site of one of the largest COVID-19 outbreaks in the state, 140 of the agency’s 871 deputy positions are unfilled and the names of men killed in the city’s jails have been chanted by protesters in the streets.
Diggins joined the department in 1994 and worked his way through the ranks, including a stint as interim sheriff from 2014 to 2015. He has been in high-ranking positions during the jail’s many controversies over the last several years and has become embroiled in them himself, including a secretly-recorded phone call that cost him his previous position as interim sheriff and a lawsuit alleging he covered up mistreatment of an inmate. Both he and Mayor Michael Hancock acknowledged that history during a news conference announcing his appointment and said it was time for Diggins to have a second chance.
Diggins spoke with The Denver Post on Wednesday about his priorities as sheriff, calls for criminal justice reform and more. The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
There is a lot of discussion in the city, and nation, about criminal justice reform. What reforms would you like to see here at the Denver Sheriff Department?
It’s different from reform. It’s transformation. We have been through a lot of reform over the past few years. We’re now in a state of transformation. Everything that we do, we’ve got to revisit and understand what is the community’s expectation for who the Denver Sheriff Department is. What does the community expect us to be? And through all of the protest, through the civil uneasiness and unrest, law enforcement as a whole has to transform. I want to ensure that humanity is infused in everything that we do, that we lead with our humanity at all times. And that we recognize that the people who are with us — whether they’re in custody or people that we’re dealing with in the community or the courts — that we deal with them in the way that we want somebody to deal with our mom or our dad, treat them with the dignity and respect that we give to our sisters or to our brothers.
The other thing that I want to share with everyone, with our staff, is that we’ve got to understand that deprivation of a person’s freedom is their punishment. We all, through our constitutional rights, are endowed with three inalienable rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And when we take away a person’s inalienable right of liberty, when we take that away, that’s enough. We don’t have to punish anyone further.
In previous interviews, you referenced an interest in following the Norweigan model of incarceration, specifically when it comes to re-entry. Are you interested in looking at the other parts of the Norway model, like creating a homier setting and building more equitable relationships between deputies and inmates?
I haven’t been to Norway yet. But I have been to Las Colinas, which is the the women’s detention facility run by the San Diego Sheriff’s Department. They have taken the ideas behind that and actually done it in the United States, where the color palettes that are on the walls are something that you would see in your home. The way that the campus is laid out is very open. The housing areas are bright, the furniture, the fixtures, the equipment, everything is done with the sense of understanding that jail doesn’t have to be a hardened environment in order to keep it secure. And that’s what the Norway model is. It’s about understanding that the environment has a direct impact on someone’s psyche while they’re in your custody.
What we have already done is attempt to replicate portions of that with our Building 24 project. We actually sent a group out to San Diego to see the Las Colinas model. If you go to the county jail campus it has different color palettes that are intentional. I would like to eventually see that we move in the future to replicating that in everything that we do.
One of the things that I know is in Norway, and even at Las Colinas, the interaction between the staff and the people in custody is way different. There’s a level of respect that begins with the way that (deputies) address people, they address people with sir and ma’am. And I think that goes far to say that you’re addressing everyone with a sense of dignity. And that begins to let people know that you still have your dignity.
How do you get to people on board with that idea who aren’t already?
Well, we have people that will serve as ambassadors inside of our agency. It’s about ensuring that I’m selecting leaders that actually believe in it that can help to make the transformation, and for those who are a little harder to buy in, perhaps we even take them to some of those places so that they can see how this works. So they can see how the environment can be different and hopefully get them to that place.
Do you plan on making any of those kind of environmental changes at the Downtown Detention Center?
We’ll look around to see where we can do that. The biggest change that you can make something that’s very simple, is changing the color patterns to be more inviting. Jail doesn’t have to be just all stark gray walls. Once we get out of the recession that we’re in and have an opportunity to perhaps change the furniture, fixtures and equipment. There are companies that are now making equipment that is still detention grade. It’s safe in a jail environment. But it’s seats that you see in an office or that you see in a conference room, things of that nature that just look a little bit different than what you see a in a typical jail environment.
The Denver jail population has been hovering at about 50% of its pre-pandemic numbers due to changes in arrests and bond procedures intended to reduce the number of people locked up during COVID-19. Is that something you’d like to see continue in the future, this strategized way to reduce the number of people locked up here?
Absolutely. I absolutely hope that we can stay in the space where we are only jailing people when it’s absolutely necessary. As a last resort.
What are your other priorities for the next six months?
Getting out and talking to our staff and documenting a couple of things. The first is the challenges that they see with our agency, but also what they believe to be the solutions. And I think that’s really where you get those things is from the people that are on the ground that do the work, the rank and file staff, uniform and civilian that can bring those great ideas. So I’m getting out. I’m going to be touring and talking with them. I’m gonna do the same thing with the people that are in our custody and talk to them and also talk to the community.
Speaking of the community, I’m also standing up a board that’s going to meet every single month. The title of it is the Community Employee Leadership Council. It’s gonna include community advocates, as well as some folks that I’m not going to talk about yet because I’m still trying to get them to the table, as well as the leadership of every single employee organization inside the Denver Sheriff’s Department to ensure that our employees have a voice. And that group is going to be completed by myself, my two chiefs, the six majors, and some of our other senior leaders, and we’re going to meet every single month, and we’re going to keep minutes and the leadership team is going to be responsible for responding and taking action on the ideas that are brought to that table.
That’s going to help to lift morale. I think it’s going to help lower attrition. And it’s going to be something that is seen as an effort towards the goodwill that the community expects from the Denver Sheriff Department.
What are the biggest challenges in the department right now?
It’s absolutely retention. When it comes to morale, we’ve got to ensure that we give our staff a voice and that we are actively moving towards those solutions. And so that’s going to be a priority for every single leader in this agency. We have some training to do with some of our supervisors to help them to understand what it means to be a leader. To be able to direct the actions of staff is something that sometimes can be a challenge. But every single supervisor, especially the sergeants, which are the most important leadership rank in our agency, they have got to be comfortable in doing.
Those are probably the biggest challenges for us besides the overall trust that has been broken with the community with all law enforcement and figuring out ways to earn that back.
Did you attend or watch any of the protests that have happened here in the past months?
I was actually deployed during the protest and worked there. And there’s a video on Twitter of the protesters came right up to 14th Avenue to the fence line that we have. There was a mother, who told me that her daughter was so afraid of law enforcement that she was afraid that she was going to die. And she asked me if I would speak to her. I walked up to that fence line with all of my staff back behind me. And I told that young lady that I love her. And we’re here to serve you. We’re here to help.
One of the things that I remember vividly was the protesters chanting, “I don’t see no riot here, why are you in riot gear?” And at the time, we were all dressed with helmets, and all of the gear that you see in those videos, and that changed my perspective. Because at that time, the protesters were generally peaceful, but we continued to dress up. I told our staff, “We’re not going to put that on. Everybody take their helmet off. Unless there is something that we know is a specific threat to us. We’re going to be out here. We’re going to wait in our vehicles, but we’re going to listen to them and we’re not going to be dressed up and all this riot gear because they’re peacefully protesting.”
Are there any specific changes you plan to make in your agency as a result of the protests?
Overall, just that humanity is something that we all have to have in law enforcement. Imagine if the officers that were involved in George Floyd would have led with their humanity. It’s about what do we in uniform. We need to look in the mirror about who we are and what we do.
So you’re talking about a kind of a broader culture change, but nothing absolutely specific.
We have had a lot of changes over the past few years. And we’re ahead of a lot of agencies but we still have a lot of work to do, to really get to the place where the community really believes that the Denver Sheriff’s Department is an agency that they believe in. There are some community members that obviously support us. But there are those that still have some questions about who we are, what we do. And we want everyone to believe that we are a department that understands that we serve the people.


thedenverpost--2020-08-03--Protests in the long term: How is a lasting legacy cemented?

NEW YORK — What sort of staying power does it take for a protest movement to be judged a success ?
This year , without a centralized team of senior leaders , perhaps the largest protest movement in U.S. history has been unfolding nationwide since the May 25 death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police .
By some calculations , more than 15 million Americans have taken part — decrying racial injustice , reinforcing the message of Black Lives Matter .
There ’ s no way to know now what the movement ’ s legacy will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major breakthroughs in curbing racism and inequality .
But at this moment , other major protest movements of the past — both in the United States and elsewhere — can offer clues about what endures or what , at least , leaves a tangible legacy .
“ It ’ s important to see the changes over time and not be discouraged , ” says Beth Robinson , a history professor at Texas A & M-Corpus Christi .
By some measures , it took the women ’ s suffrage movement in the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting rights for American women .
In the late 1980s , HIV/AIDS activists motivated by anger and fear made huge advances in just a few years thanks to a confrontational protest campaign .
The U.S. civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s achieved monumental changes over a 15-year period , including landmark federal laws .
Yet racism and discrimination remain pervasive problems today .
“ After Martin Luther King was assassinated , the movement kind of fractured and lost momentum , ” says Tyler Parry , a professor of African American history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ After the major laws were passed , many white Americans felt that was adequate.
” The civil rights movement had some fundamental assets that helped sustain it , according to James Ralph , a Middlebury College historian .
It had multiple prominent leaders in addition to King , and multiple national organizations that generally agreed on key goals even as they sometimes differed on tactics .
That approach produced such tangible successes as the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1968 , and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 .
This year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers of people and is more diverse .
But it ’ s too early to gauge what tangible results it will achieve .
Parry advises the new wave of activists to maintain the multiracial nature of the movement and work doggedly at every level to address inequities .
“ What the modern movement needs to do is not be complacent if one or two things change , ” says Parry , who advises both depth and endurance : “ If you destroy a few Confederate monuments , don ’ t stop there.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of U.S. history since before independence , and the American Revolution itself commenced after a more than decade of protests against British-imposed taxes .
Over the ensuing decades , there was scarcely a lull .
The Revolutionary War had barely ended when , in 1791 , the Whiskey Rebellion flared — a multistate protest against a liquor tax imposed by the new federal government .
Anti-slavery protests hastened the outbreak of the Civil War .
The Seneca Falls convention in 1848 is widely viewed as the launch of the women ’ s suffrage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gain the right to vote until ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920 .
Compared to that long struggle , the protests of HIV/AIDS activists achieved tangible goals within a few years of organizing in the 1980s .
Activists staged “ die-in ” demonstrations , provoked mass arrests , and in 1988 converged by the hundreds outside the Food and Drug Administration ’ s headquarters for day-long acts of civil disobedience .
In response , the FDA agreed to speed testing and approval of new therapies — a key step in curbing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Larry Kramer , who died in May , said the protesters ’ sense of rage made a difference .
“ Until you have anger and fear , you don ’ t have any kind of an activist movement , ” he told Metro Weekly , a Washington-based LGBT publication , in 2011 .
The largest single-day protest in U.S history — the Women ’ s March — came on Jan. 21 , 2017 , the day after Donald Trump ’ s inauguration .
An estimated half million people marched in Washington , supporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s misogynistic remarks .
Millions more marched in several hundred other U.S. cities and scores of foreign countries .
Assessing the march ’ s impact is difficult .
With Trump in office and Republicans controlling the Senate , there ’ s been no breakthrough legislation on reproductive rights , immigration or other issues .
Yet the mobilization lent strength to the MeToo movement , which began nine months later and caused hundreds of prominent men facing sexual misconduct allegations to lose jobs and reputations .
Some protest movements are short-lived but leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Street movement that emerged in New York City in 2011 .
It was criticized for lacking racial diversity and a specific agenda yet helped change the discourse about economic inequality with its “ We are the 99 % ” slogan and denunciations of the wealthy 1 % .
Nelini Stamp , a director of strategy and partnerships for the Working Families Party , cites Sens .
Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as politicians whose economic platforms reflect the spirit of the New York protest .
In 2006 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress seeking to classify undocumented immigrants as felons , and penalizing anyone who assisted them .
The bill passed the U.S. House but died in the Senate .
Chris Zepeda-Millán , a professor at UCLA in the departments of Chicana/o studies and public policy , credits the protests for stopping the bill and encouraging voter registration among Latinos .
But he said the protests also intensified congressional polarization , dimming prospects for any immigration overhaul and citizenship for undocumented immigrants .
Congress also failed to pass tough new gun-control measures in the aftermath @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests organized in 2018 by students from the Parkland , Florida , high school , where a gunman killed 17 people .
Nonetheless , gun-control activists have taken credit for numerous election victories , notably helping Democrats take control of Virginia ’ s legislature in 2019 .
One advantage for U.S. protest movements : Government security forces generally permit them to mobilize .
The recent deployment of federal tactical teams in Portland , Oregon , outraged protesters and Oregon officials but has been the exception , not the norm .
Outcomes can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hong Kong has a long tradition of public demonstrations dating from its days as a British colony .
Many of its people strongly supported the 1989 student-led pro-democracy protests in Beijing ’ s Tiananmen Square .
Until this year , marches and candlelight vigils were held annually to commemorate victims of the military crackdown , and hundreds of thousands turned out to oppose moves by Beijing to impose its political will on the city .
More recently , however , protest activity has been tamped down since Beijing enacted a sweeping security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In 2011 , a fruit seller in Tunisia who died after setting himself afire to protest economic conditions touched off a mass uprising against autocrats in the Arab world — what became the Arab Spring .
There were inspirational moments , notably in Cairo ’ s Tahrir Square , where hundreds of thousands of people converged in daily protests , televised globally , that eventually pressured strongman Hosni Mubarak into stepping down .
However , subsequent turmoil brought to power general-turned-politician Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi , whose government has muffled dissent .
Uprisings in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests against dictators — turned violent .
Hundreds of thousands have died in Syria , while Libya after the fall of Moammar Gadhafi is an ungovernable , dangerous mess .
Texas A & M ’ s Robinson emphasizes that protest movements produced many of the freedoms and protections Americans treasure — including several Depression-era initiatives undertaken during President Franklin D. Roosevelt ’ s New Deal .
Yet , she says , those reforms didn ’ t fully benefit women or people of color , setting the stage for the new wave of dissent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ With protest movements , it ’ s three steps forward , two steps back , ” Robinson says .
“ We all want this perfect victory , to close the book and say that oppression is over … but it ’ s unlikely that those are going to be achieved completely.
” She adds : “ It ’ s always going to be a long march to justice .
”

NEW YORK — What sort of staying power does it take for a protest movement to be judged a success?
This year, without a centralized team of senior leaders, perhaps the largest protest movement in U.S. history has been unfolding nationwide since the May 25 death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. By some calculations, more than 15 million Americans have taken part — decrying racial injustice, reinforcing the message of Black Lives Matter.
There’s no way to know now what the movement’s legacy will be — whether it will wither or compel major breakthroughs in curbing racism and inequality. But at this moment, other major protest movements of the past — both in the United States and elsewhere — can offer clues about what endures or what, at least, leaves a tangible legacy.
“It’s important to see the changes over time and not be discouraged,” says Beth Robinson, a history professor at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
By some measures, it took the women’s suffrage movement in the United States more than 70 years before it won voting rights for American women. In the late 1980s, HIV/AIDS activists motivated by anger and fear made huge advances in just a few years thanks to a confrontational protest campaign.
The U.S. civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s achieved monumental changes over a 15-year period, including landmark federal laws. Yet racism and discrimination remain pervasive problems today.
“After Martin Luther King was assassinated, the movement kind of fractured and lost momentum,” says Tyler Parry, a professor of African American history at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. “After the major laws were passed, many white Americans felt that was adequate.”
The civil rights movement had some fundamental assets that helped sustain it, according to James Ralph, a Middlebury College historian. It had multiple prominent leaders in addition to King, and multiple national organizations that generally agreed on key goals even as they sometimes differed on tactics. That approach produced such tangible successes as the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1968, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
This year’s protest movement has mobilized larger numbers of people and is more diverse. But it’s too early to gauge what tangible results it will achieve. Parry advises the new wave of activists to maintain the multiracial nature of the movement and work doggedly at every level to address inequities.
“What the modern movement needs to do is not be complacent if one or two things change,” says Parry, who advises both depth and endurance: “If you destroy a few Confederate monuments, don’t stop there.”
Since the beginning
Protest movements have been at the core of U.S. history since before independence, and the American Revolution itself commenced after a more than decade of protests against British-imposed taxes. Over the ensuing decades, there was scarcely a lull.
The Revolutionary War had barely ended when, in 1791, the Whiskey Rebellion flared — a multistate protest against a liquor tax imposed by the new federal government. Anti-slavery protests hastened the outbreak of the Civil War. The Seneca Falls convention in 1848 is widely viewed as the launch of the women’s suffrage movement, yet women didn’t gain the right to vote until ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920.
Compared to that long struggle, the protests of HIV/AIDS activists achieved tangible goals within a few years of organizing in the 1980s. Activists staged “die-in” demonstrations, provoked mass arrests, and in 1988 converged by the hundreds outside the Food and Drug Administration’s headquarters for day-long acts of civil disobedience.
In response, the FDA agreed to speed testing and approval of new therapies — a key step in curbing the high death toll from AIDS. Activist Larry Kramer, who died in May, said the protesters’ sense of rage made a difference.
“Until you have anger and fear, you don’t have any kind of an activist movement,” he told Metro Weekly, a Washington-based LGBT publication, in 2011.
The largest single-day protest in U.S history — the Women’s March — came on Jan. 21, 2017, the day after Donald Trump’s inauguration. An estimated half million people marched in Washington, supporting women’s rights and assailing Trump’s misogynistic remarks. Millions more marched in several hundred other U.S. cities and scores of foreign countries.
Assessing the march’s impact is difficult. With Trump in office and Republicans controlling the Senate, there’s been no breakthrough legislation on reproductive rights, immigration or other issues. Yet the mobilization lent strength to the MeToo movement, which began nine months later and caused hundreds of prominent men facing sexual misconduct allegations to lose jobs and reputations.
Some protest movements are short-lived but leave enduring legacies. Consider the Occupy Wall Street movement that emerged in New York City in 2011. It was criticized for lacking racial diversity and a specific agenda yet helped change the discourse about economic inequality with its “We are the 99%” slogan and denunciations of the wealthy 1%.
Nelini Stamp, a director of strategy and partnerships for the Working Families Party, cites Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as politicians whose economic platforms reflect the spirit of the New York protest.
In 2006, millions turned out to protest legislation in Congress seeking to classify undocumented immigrants as felons, and penalizing anyone who assisted them. The bill passed the U.S. House but died in the Senate.
Chris Zepeda-Millán, a professor at UCLA in the departments of Chicana/o studies and public policy, credits the protests for stopping the bill and encouraging voter registration among Latinos. But he said the protests also intensified congressional polarization, dimming prospects for any immigration overhaul and citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
Congress also failed to pass tough new gun-control measures in the aftermath of the massive March for Our Lives protests organized in 2018 by students from the Parkland, Florida, high school, where a gunman killed 17 people. Nonetheless, gun-control activists have taken credit for numerous election victories, notably helping Democrats take control of Virginia’s legislature in 2019.
One advantage for U.S. protest movements: Government security forces generally permit them to mobilize. The recent deployment of federal tactical teams in Portland, Oregon, outraged protesters and Oregon officials but has been the exception, not the norm.
Beyond American shores
Outcomes can be different in other parts of the world. Hong Kong has a long tradition of public demonstrations dating from its days as a British colony. Many of its people strongly supported the 1989 student-led pro-democracy protests in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.
Until this year, marches and candlelight vigils were held annually to commemorate victims of the military crackdown, and hundreds of thousands turned out to oppose moves by Beijing to impose its political will on the city. More recently, however, protest activity has been tamped down since Beijing enacted a sweeping security law banning speech seen as promoting secession.
In 2011, a fruit seller in Tunisia who died after setting himself afire to protest economic conditions touched off a mass uprising against autocrats in the Arab world — what became the Arab Spring.
There were inspirational moments, notably in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, where hundreds of thousands of people converged in daily protests, televised globally, that eventually pressured strongman Hosni Mubarak into stepping down.
However, subsequent turmoil brought to power general-turned-politician Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, whose government has muffled dissent. Uprisings in Libya and Syria — once unthinkable street protests against dictators — turned violent. Hundreds of thousands have died in Syria, while Libya after the fall of Moammar Gadhafi is an ungovernable, dangerous mess.
Texas A&M’s Robinson emphasizes that protest movements produced many of the freedoms and protections Americans treasure — including several Depression-era initiatives undertaken during President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. Yet, she says, those reforms didn’t fully benefit women or people of color, setting the stage for the new wave of dissent from the 1950s through the 1970s.
“With protest movements, it’s three steps forward, two steps back,” Robinson says. “We all want this perfect victory, to close the book and say that oppression is over … but it’s unlikely that those are going to be achieved completely.”
She adds: “It’s always going to be a long march to justice.”


thedenverpost--2020-08-03--Avalanche power rankings: How the national media ranks Colorado in the Stanley Cup qualifiers

It ’ s a little weird to be thinking that hockey is roaring in August , but here we are .
The Avalanche kicked off its round-robin play to determine its seeding with an insane buzzer-beating win over the Blues Sunday night .
So how does Colorado compare to the other NHL hopefuls ?
Here ’ s a look at how various media outlets across the U.S. and Canada rated the Avs in their power rankings : Bleacher Report ( No .
4 ) : “ Led by Hart Memorial Trophy finalist Nathan MacKinnon , the Avalanche overcame a series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rantanen and captain Gabriel Landeskog .
The additions of Nazem Kadri , Joonas Donskoi , Andre Burakovsky and Vladislav Namestnikov since last summer provided an invaluable boost of experienced depth , ” Bleacher Report ’ s Lyle Richardson writes .
CBS Sports ( No .
5 ) : “ Colorado has been building momentum over the past few years and they may be ready to take the next step this postseason .
They proved to be one of the conference ’ s best teams throughout this season and are led by one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nathan MacKinnon .
At the very least they should be one of the most fun teams to watch over the next few months , ” CBS ’ Pete Blackburn writes .
SportsNet ( No .
4 ) : “ If the Avalanche ’ s inexperienced goaltenders can rise to the occasion , there is enough here to go four rounds .
Nathan MacKinnon is one of the best three hockey players on this planet .
Mikko Rantanen is healthy .
Cale Makar is a Calder finalist .
And unheralded role players like Nazem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Ryan Graves have all excelled this year , ” SportsNet ’ s Luke Fox writes .
theScore ( No .
3 ) : “ There ’ s no question that all eyes will be fixated on how far Nathan MacKinnon can carry a Cup-ready Colorado squad .
The Hart Trophy finalist is one of the game ’ s most dynamic players , and if the Avalanche claim their first title since 2001 , you can bank on MacKinnon leading the way.
” USA Today ( No .
6 ) : “ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be hard to stop .
Young defenseman Cale Makar makes the offense more dangerous .
Gritty Nazem Kadri will have to avoid the playoff suspensions that led to his trade from Toronto.
” If you enjoy the Denver Sports Omelette , tell a friend it ’ s easy to sign up here for our daily sports roundup .
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It’s a little weird to be thinking that hockey is roaring in August, but here we are. The Avalanche kicked off its round-robin play to determine its seeding with an insane buzzer-beating win over the Blues Sunday night.
So how does Colorado compare to the other NHL hopefuls? Here’s a look at how various media outlets across the U.S. and Canada rated the Avs in their power rankings:
Bleacher Report (No. 4): “Led by Hart Memorial Trophy finalist Nathan MacKinnon, the Avalanche overcame a series of injuries to stars such as Mikko Rantanen and captain Gabriel Landeskog. The additions of Nazem Kadri, Joonas Donskoi, Andre Burakovsky and Vladislav Namestnikov since last summer provided an invaluable boost of experienced depth,” Bleacher Report’s Lyle Richardson writes.
CBS Sports (No. 5): “Colorado has been building momentum over the past few years and they may be ready to take the next step this postseason. They proved to be one of the conference’s best teams throughout this season and are led by one of the best players in the world in Nathan MacKinnon. At the very least they should be one of the most fun teams to watch over the next few months,” CBS’ Pete Blackburn writes.
SportsNet (No. 4): “If the Avalanche’s inexperienced goaltenders can rise to the occasion, there is enough here to go four rounds. Nathan MacKinnon is one of the best three hockey players on this planet. Mikko Rantanen is healthy. Cale Makar is a Calder finalist. And unheralded role players like Nazem Kadri, Andre Burakovsky, Joonas Donskoi and Ryan Graves have all excelled this year,” SportsNet’s Luke Fox writes.
theScore (No. 3): “There’s no question that all eyes will be fixated on how far Nathan MacKinnon can carry a Cup-ready Colorado squad. The Hart Trophy finalist is one of the game’s most dynamic players, and if the Avalanche claim their first title since 2001, you can bank on MacKinnon leading the way.”
USA Today (No. 6): “The Nathan MacKinnon line is healthy and will be hard to stop. Young defenseman Cale Makar makes the offense more dangerous. Gritty Nazem Kadri will have to avoid the playoff suspensions that led to his trade from Toronto.”
— Joe Nguyen, The Denver Post
If you enjoy the Denver Sports Omelette, tell a friend it’s easy to sign up here for our daily sports roundup. If you have any questions or suggestions, hit me up on Twitter @joenguyen or by email.
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Ask The Experts
+ Broncos Mailbag: Have a question about the team? Ask Ryan O’Halloran here.
+ Nuggets Mailbag: Have a question about the team? Ask Mike Singer here.
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+ Rockies Mailbag: Have a question about the team? Ask Patrick Saunders here.