Geek of the Week: Stephen Bartels, Senior, Civil Engineering

Geeks sometimes have a dual nature that does not follow the stereotype. Senior Stephen Bartels fits in that category as he is often seen walking the streets of the Mines campus barefoot or in a knee brace, from his latest accident, and not in his room studying. He roams the campus and participates in sports and activities all the while talking enthusiastically about some aspect of his Civil Engineering major.

[Oredigger]: What’s your favorite part about Civil Engineering?
[Bartels]: Bridges. I’m on the steel bridge team. I messed up my knee… so I get to time them and yell at them when they mess up.

What’s been your favorite class?
Steel Design or Surveying. I like Steel [Design] because it confirmed that I was actually supposed to be a Civil because it actually made sense. [Surveying] was just fun. [I] got to play outside… with expensive equipment with two of my best friends. We made
“Major Payne” jokes all the time.

Are you a geek and why?
Let’s see, how many different ways am I a geek? Yes, I’m a geek or a nerd or a dork depending on who you talk to and what day of the week it is. I play video games (mostly League of Legends) and I role-play. I’m currently GMing a game of Sundered Skies (of the Savage Worlds system). I also enjoy my schoolwork related to my major way too much.

How do you spend those elusive moments of free time?
League of Legends is the obvious answer and every so often I go snowboarding with [my friend] Will.

What are some of your greatest accomplishments thus far?
I’m still alive after having been in a couple of nasty mountain biking accidents and two concussions playing ultimate and one minor concussion snowboarding.

If you could be dropped into any fictional setting, what would it be and why?
The “Eternal Champion” universe. If anybody recognizes this, I’ll be very impressed. Within the universe, you literally have everything, from dark fantasy to sci-fi [and not just normal] sci-fi; we’re talking weird, plane-shifting-ness.

What is the coolest thing about Mines?
The mountains. That’s easy. Back when I actually could, I had mountain biking and climbing and hiking trails fifteen minutes away and snowboarding pretty close too.

Do you have any advice for your fellow geeks and Mines students?
Don’t take it too seriously. A 4.0 isn’t worth the headache, unless you’re already a natural prodigy.

Who watches the Watchmen?
Harrison Ford. After all, he taught Chuck Norris everything he knows. Chuck Norris ain’t got nothing on Harrison Ford.