Biker gang fight erupts at Greeley sports bar

Greeley police were investigating a large fight Thursday night at the Road Kill Sports Grill that involved biker gangs, reports of gun shots and possible injuries.

“We had some type of a fight at the bar here. There were reports of shots fired, and it appears to be gang related,” Greeley police Sgt. Bill West said at the scene, clarifying that the incident likely involved biker gangs.

Earth week prom promotes good habits for the environment

About 50 UNC students showed up in their secondhand best for a Thrift Store Prom, an event put on Friday to have fun and encourage Earth-friendly practices.

“Thrift Store Prom is a dance party to celebrate living a more environmentally friendly lifestyle and to acknowledge all that Student LEAF and SEA club has done this year in promoting a more sustainable campus,” said William Woods a senior environmental sustainability studies and journalism major.

As a way to let loose and enjoy the evening, the prom was used to market the importance of going green and taking care of the planet.

The Mirror hires editorial staff for 2013-14 year

After interviewing interested candidates over the past two weeks, The Mirror has recently hired its editorial staff for the 2013-14 school year.

Alexander Armani-Munn, Michael Nowels, Nadia Pedroza and Ben Stivers were hired onto the editorial board, while current A&E editor Shimon Lidmark will retain her position.

Vacant location of former Greeley bookstore draws interest from potential tenants

Since The Book Stop closed its doors at the end of February, the store’s physical location remains vacant.

The location, on the corner of 10th Avenue and 16th Street, has been closed for some time now and is now in the market for new business.

Bears baseball team stays alive in conference tournament

UNC’s baseball team staved off elimination by defeating host New Jersey Institute of Technology 4-2 in the Great West Conference tournament Thursday on the strength of an impressive pitching performance by senior Jake Johnson.

Johnson went eight strong innings allowing just two runs on four hits. Both Highlanders runs were scored in the first inning and they only managed two hits after that initial frame. Johnson walked only one batter and struck out five as he stretched his pitch count to 122 before senior closer Kevin Willman came in and shut the door in the ninth for the save.

UNC baseball team homers past Chicago State in first round of conference tourney

UNC’s baseball team took its first step toward a possible Great West Conference championship Tuesday as it defeated Chicago State 13-1 after jumping out to an early lead and sealing the victory with three home runs.

The University of Northern Colorado scored three first-inning runs on a bases-loaded walk by right fielder Ben Netzel and a two-run single by senior catcher Derek Baum.

UNC baseball team plays in conference tournament today

UNC’s baseball team takes on Chicago State (8-43, 5-23 Great West) in the Great West Conference championship tournament today in Newark, NJ.

The University of Northern Colorado (29-22, 20-7 GWC) holds the top seed in the tournament after taking first place in the regular season conference standings.

UNC baseball team plays in conference title game today

UNC’s baseball team takes on Chicago State (8-43, 5-23 Great West) in the Great West Conference championship tournament today in Newark, NJ.

The University of Northern Colorado (29-22, 20-7 GWC) holds the top seed in the tournament after taking first place in the regular season conference standings.

Graduating student tells how to make the most of local music and art events

To leave or not to leave, that is the question; as a graduate student, the answer is as timeless as Hamlet’s famous words, though paraphrased. Since I am writing my last story for The Mirror, do you mind if I tell you a story about a place I like to call Greeality?

My experiences have been a serendipitous display of trust, doubt, and perfect timing culminating as a piece of paper that will recognize my English M.A. from the University of Northern Colorado at 7 p.m. Friday in Butler Hancock and a resume of journalism writing and editing for The Mirror.

The diverse socioeconomic and racial factors that compose this low-key agricultural community are vast. Some, especially those students and faculty that commute into Greeley everyday from larger cities, might say Greeality is low-key and isolated, but my experience as a journalist, student, scholar and teacher in Greeley has fostered a different viewpoint.

Visual artist at first Friday reception audience interactive

Descriptions of pieces from Kati Stanford’s “Fool’s Gold” collection were lines of poetry as audience members responded to questions the graduate asked at her reception at The Blue Mug @ Margies. It was one of almost a dozen of May’s first Friday shows at various locations around town.

The questions were typed and laid on a table at the entrance of the cafe beside magnifying glasses with flowers taped to them. They included the questions, “How does the art make you feel?” and “Why do those things even matter?”

Stanford also invited her audience to take a magnifying glass and examine the details of her art work, a bold move for an artist recently inducted into the world of professionalism when her multi-layer direct trace viscosity monoprint piece, “Lady Soul,” won the Dean’s Choice Award and was purchased for the university.

Launch party held for new concert venue in downtown Greeley

The Moxi Theatre’s doors opened to a crowd of Greeleyites craving a show at a venue with class, and they were not disappointed. The Moxi’s launch party occurred last Thursday and featured Northern Colorado bands The Photo Atlas and In the Whale.

Those attending paid $5-20 to get on the guest list for this show, which went toward the Moxi’s Indiegogo campaign. The campaign is to raise $10,000 for stage equipment and remodeling projects. So far, more than $7,200 has been raised.

With tiered standing and seating room available, everyone at the concert had a clear view of the rather large and spacious stage. With the stage kissing the dance floor, an intimate setting was created.

Environmental club hosts thrift store fashion prom in honor of Earth Day

Thrift store shopping can be a fantastic way to save money and be fashionably unique, as showcased by those in attendance at Friday’s Thrift Store Prom dance party for the environment.

The party was coordinated by the Students for Environmental Action and Student LEAF in an effort to recycle donated prom dresses for School District 6 students who are unable to afford their own dresses and tuxedos.  

The event was successful in that it demonstrated just how fashionable savvy thrift shopping can be if the newest trends are sidelined in favor of dressing for less.

COLUMN: There are a lot of people to recognize behind one graduate

A science teacher I had in seventh grade once told me that as I get older, the school years will seemingly go by faster than the previous one. Those words have resonated with me every May since then, but none more so than this year.

My senior year was the most enjoyable and without a doubt the fastest academic year of my life.

I intended on writing this column as a way of expressing how much I love this university and the jobs Iʼve had at this newspaper over the last four years, but first I want to thank the people who helped get me this far.

EDITORIAL: A message for the graduating class of 2013

So graduates, this is it. After many long years fighting through primary and secondary education, you have arrived. For many of you, your formal education ends today.

Congratulations, you are no longer our future.

EDITORIAL: Don’t forget that the details matter in Jason Collins’ coming out story

Sometimes people are heterosexual. Sometimes they’re not. As a society, Americans are coming around on accepting that, whether current laws truly reflect that or not.

When a male athlete who is supposed to be the image of masculinity comes out, though, people tend to be a little less understanding.

This week, Sports Illustrated ran a piece by NBA veteran big man Jason Collins stating that he is gay. In doing so, he became the first active male athlete in major American sports to come out.

COLUMN: Graduation: A time to reflect on graduates’ dubious futures in low-pay jobs

It’s that time of the year again. Students all around campus are either in the midst of their finals or just about to enter into one of the most stressful weeks of the semester. There are few times when anxiety and stress levels are higher at a university. For graduating college students, surviving four or more years of these excruciating finals weeks and their accompanying semesters, will not guarantee a comfortable income. In fact, a college degree doesn’t even guarantee a career based employment position anymore.